A Day with Talitha: Adventures, Fears, and Teenage Wisdom

What does the world look like through the eyes of a confident, thoughtful 13-year-old? Today's adventure with Talitha offers a refreshing glimpse into teenage life that will leave you smiling and perhaps reconsidering your own approach to everyday joy.

From the moment we discovered our missing soccer ball, the day transformed into an unexpected journey through shopping centres, playgrounds, and conversations that ranged from lighthearted to surprisingly profound. Talitha's natural ability to find fun in every situation—whether beating me 3-1 at basketball, conquering her fears on a towering slide, or convincing me to skip through the mall wearing pink heart-shaped sunglasses—reminds us of the joy we often leave behind in adulthood.

What struck me most was Talitha's wisdom about navigating the challenges of teenage life. Despite facing bullying at school, she's developed remarkable resilience: "All you've got to do is just be yourself. Just be who you are inside." Her perspective that bullies often perpetuate behavior they've experienced themselves reveals compassion and understanding beyond her years. Between impromptu Taylor Swift performances and discussions about her favourite things (Mountain Dew, art class, and spaghetti bolognese made by her dad), Talitha shares insights about friendship, family movie nights, and finding confidence in your own skin.

Whether you're a parent seeking to understand the teenage experience better, someone who works with young people, or simply need a reminder about approaching life with more playfulness and authenticity, this conversation delivers wisdom wrapped in laughter. Join us for a day of gummy hamburgers, snake stories, and skipping through life with the kind of confidence that comes from simply being yourself.

Listen now and rediscover the perspective that might just be the antidote to the complexity we've added to our adult lives.

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:17

Welcome to another edition of GW Unspoken Beyond the Plan. I'm here on behalf of EngageU. I've got a very special guest on the line again Talitha how are you?

Speaker 2 0:25

I'm great.

Speaker 1 0:26

How has it been A week?

Speaker 2 0:27

or two. Oh yes, it's been amazing actually.

Speaker 1 0:30

Yes, when was the last time I spoke to you?

Speaker 2 0:31

Oh, it was over a week ago, yeah, over a week ago.

Speaker 1 0:35

And a lot has happened, hasn't it? It has. We've had a very busy day today. We have indeed, but before we start, I'd better ask you a couple of questions, of course, out of five, how are you feeling today? If five's the best and one's the worst, how are you feeling?

Speaker 2 0:46

I'm feeling a 10.

Speaker 1 0:47

Oh, you're feeling a 10. That's awesome. Yeah, that's good. And let's talk about something that you're really, really grateful for. What are you?

Speaker 2 0:54

thankful for. I'm grateful for my parents, yeah that's good. Again, they're good, aren't they? Yeah, they're amazing.

Speaker 1 0:59

I walked through your house today and all I could smell was yummy dinner for tonight. Yeah, I know you guys are so spoiled. You've got good food, haven't?

Speaker 2 1:05

you. I know my dad has table dinner tonight, so it's me and my movie nights.

Speaker 1 1:08

Ooh, do you know what you're going to watch? No, we're thinking about it. Do you guys both get to choose, or do you usually choose, or does mum choose?

Speaker 2 1:16

We both choose. All right yeah pretty good, Hi Dad.

Speaker 1 1:22

Hi Dad, how are you going? Dad's just arrived back Just in time for the podcast again. Yeah, just in time, all right, well, let's go through. Take me through, before we get into what we've done today, tell me how's your last week been.

Speaker 2 1:36

Oh, it's been amazing actually, holidays. Yeah, it's been pretty good. Next this Saturday, we're going to go see my Aunt Kath and Uncle Shane.

Speaker 1 1:46

Oh good, when do they live?

Speaker 2 1:48

They live in Toowoomba.

Speaker 1 1:50

Oh, so is that about an hour and a half drive? Yeah.

Speaker 2 1:53

It's me, my mum, and we're going to go see my mum's brother, uncle Shane. Yep, it's just me and mum. Really, okay, dad's going to work and stuff. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, dad's going to work and stuff.

Speaker 1 2:02

Okay, yeah.

Speaker 2 2:04

But we're going to have a blast there. That's good. They spoil me.

Speaker 1 2:07

Do they? Yeah, they do. That's good. It's good to be spoiled every now and then, isn't it? Oh, it is, it is Now. Tell me about. This is your last week of school holidays. Yes, how's your holidays been?

Speaker 2 2:17

Oh, it's been pretty good. I've enjoyed it, but I'm also very excited to go back to school.

Speaker 1 2:22

You're ready to go, yeah, yeah. What are you looking forward to the most about going back to school?

Speaker 2 2:26

Oh, we're going to do some new stuff like singing and acting and drama this time actually.

Speaker 1 2:30

Oh yeah, yes, that's so cool.

Speaker 2 2:32

I know I'm really excited to do that.

Speaker 1 2:34

That's really good and you're good at those things. I've seen you several times. Oh, you're very good at ad-libbing things. Do you know what ad-lib means? No, actually, ad-lib means on the spot. You can just go and do it. Oh, yeah, you did it in the car. You went for a drive today. You did it straight away. Yeah, you did a bit of rapping today.

Speaker 2 2:51

Oh yeah, I can do all that piece of cake.

Today's Activities and Outings

Speaker 1 2:54

See Exactly what I'm talking about. All right, so when I arrived today, I was around midday. Yep, take me through some of the things that we did today.

Speaker 2 3:06

We actually did. We played some soccer, we did we played cricket.

Speaker 1 3:10

We did.

Speaker 2 3:10

We also ate pizza.

Speaker 1 3:11

Meat lovers pizza baby, we did have a good pizza, oh, we did.

Speaker 2 3:15

And when we got, like we were just handing it off, like as soon as we got out of the car, you are a bit upset because your girls, your daughters, took the soccer ball.

Speaker 1 3:24

They took the soccer ball out of the car. Yes, and we planned to play soccer today. Yes, well, that was maybe bad planning for me. I should have double checked, shouldn't I? Yeah, you should have, because I thought it was just in the big box at the back of the car, but it wasn't.

Speaker 2 3:38

Yeah, but so we actually went to go get a new soccer ball. Oh, we went to Big W and then we found a ball, a red ball, a red soccer ball.

Speaker 1 3:48

Yes, and you wished it was pink, because it's your favourite colour. Yes, I did wish that, but we also went to another shop that you loved.

Speaker 2 3:53

Yes, remember, that is Big.

Speaker 1 3:55

W. Before that. Oh yeah, before that, here we go, testing your memory. Now. The candy shop. That was at the end. So you're right, we did go there. You're doing well. Yes, what about the other one we did before and it had big. Dominus no I don't want to say the word Park, the things I hate the most.

Speaker 2 4:14

Oh no, you mean you going on the big slide.

Speaker 1 4:19

We did go on the big slide.

Speaker 2 4:20

Yes, you were terrified, we did.

Speaker 1 4:21

Yeah, you were terrified, we did. Yeah, you took me up higher than the buildings. Oh who?

Speaker 2 4:25

cares really, unless you conquered your fears, that's all that counts.

Speaker 1 4:29

You're a very good mentor actually. Thank you, you made me feel safe, thank you. Thank you very much, although the slide was very fast on the way down. Oh, that's okay, it is, but we did go to another shop. Yes, and one thing that I'm terrified of what am I scared of?

Speaker 2 4:43

You're scared of snakes.

Speaker 1 4:46

Oh, you remember now? Yes, we went to Mr Toy's world. We did, didn't we and I?

Speaker 2 4:51

got a snake and you were like you hid behind a wall.

Speaker 1 4:56

Well, even the fake ones I'm scared of. I don't know. This is not right. Yeah, but it was. Even the bite is bad for you.

Speaker 2 5:02

No, it wasn't that bad I don't know. I actually hold it a snake when I was five.

Speaker 1 5:09

Do you think I've got a phobia or something? Maybe I think you do. And you told me today you've actually touched a real snake when you were younger yes, I have Were you freaking out, oh, I was After, oh. And then you also told me you saw a snake around here somewhere Also tell me you saw a snake around here somewhere.

Speaker 2 5:23

Oh yeah, that was like months ago though.

Speaker 1 5:24

And it was in your fence, wasn't it?

Speaker 2 5:25

Yeah, it was on my fence right over there.

Speaker 1 5:28

And what kind of snake was it? It was a python. Did they hurt you?

Speaker 2 5:31

Oh, I don't think so. They can strangle you though.

Speaker 1 5:33

Oh my gosh.

Speaker 2 5:39

Yeah, and by the way, did you know one of big bite like oh, and there we go, you're dead.

Speaker 1 5:48

So why are you telling me this right now?

Speaker 2 5:50

Because I just want to. I'm just telling the gang.

Speaker 1 5:54

So we've done a lot of things today. Yes, we did. And then you had a really juicy, healthy hamburger on the way home.

Speaker 2 5:59

Oh, it was a gummy gummy, bear bar gummy bear bar.

Speaker 1 6:03

What was the best part of that? Was it the lettuce, or was it the meat patty or the cheese?

Speaker 2 6:06

All of it, all of it was good yeah no-transcript.

Speaker 1 6:10

Oh yeah yeah. And then we bought some handballs. Yes, so we bought a soccer ball. We bought handballs. Yes, we had pizza. You had a little gummy hamburger. Yep, we went on a slide you went to the bathroom. You went to the bathroom too. Yeah, I know Okay.

Speaker 2 6:28

We also bought a Mountain Dew.

Speaker 1 6:31

We had a Mountain Dew. I haven't had a Mountain Dew for ages. They're very sweet.

Speaker 2 6:34

I never, I still have mine, oh you, could I have to still drink mine.

Speaker 1 6:38

There was something else we did that I don't really want to talk about at the start of the day when I first arrived, because you beat me at it. Do you remember what it was? Yes, basketball. What was the score? 3-1.

Speaker 2 6:47

Yeah 3.

Speaker 1 6:49

I'm like, hey, watch out, there's a snake behind you and you made me run off the court and then you scored a basket, yeah.

Speaker 2 6:55

Yeah, I told you, you can trick one another.

Speaker 1 6:58

Oh.

Speaker 2 6:59

I did tell you that.

Speaker 1 7:00

I remember you flogged me 3-1. That was a flogging, yeah, piece of cake. Oh, I'm a piece of cake. It was easy at cricket. I noticed today, yeah, and you were at basketball. I noticed today, yeah, and I love how you're an outdoorsy girl, like, how you like getting outside, yeah, and I like that. We did a bit of shopping today. Yes, a bit of shopping around. That was fun. We sure did. It was good. I enjoyed it. It was a really good day. Yeah, it was. We did a bit of singing. Do they come from Dad or do they come from you?

Speaker 2 7:31

Oh no, they come from me.

Speaker 1 7:33

Do they? Yeah, what about Dad? Does he have some bad Dad jokes?

Speaker 2 7:37

Yeah, he's terrible at jokes.

Speaker 1 7:39

That's a Dad's job is to have bad Dad jokes. Meh, meh, meh. All right, so what's the plan for you? It's only Monday today and this is the last week of holidays. Yeah, and this weekend you're going to for the rest of the week, this week.

Speaker 2 7:51

I have no idea, honestly.

Speaker 1 7:52

No, no, no, no, no, no. So movie night tonight with mum, yep, okay, and then I don't know, up to you.

Speaker 2 8:01

Yeah, pretty much, and I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow. No, I think I'm going to go see the Smurfs movie.

Speaker 1 8:12

Oh, that's on at the scary.

Speaker 2 8:14

Oh, it was terrifying.

Speaker 1 8:15

Did you go?

Speaker 2 8:15

Yeah, I showed off my sport worker Sammy. Oh my gosh you should have seen it. It's terrifying.

Speaker 1 8:22

Oh, did you get scared? Yes, do you watch scary movies and then you find it hard that night to go back to sleep or anything.

Speaker 2 8:27

Yeah, I don't watch many horror movies because my parents don't allow me.

Speaker 1 8:31

Yeah, I don't like them. Eh, okay, yeah, okay, what's your favourite kind of movie? Is it like romance, or comedy, or action or drama? What is it? I love all of them, do you? Yeah, I reckon you'd be someone who likes all the Romance, yes, but also I reckon you'd like the ones with all the dance and the singing. Do you like Sing 1 and Sing 2? The ones with all the dance and the singing? Do you like Sing 1 and Sing 2?

Speaker 2 8:56

Yes, yes, but I also love Kissing Scenes. Oh my gosh.

Speaker 1 9:00

This is G-rated at the moment. Yeah, I know what about. I think we talked about this last on the podcast, but what do you say? Your favourite movie was ever Fatherhood. Oh, that is a comedy movie, that is. Yeah, it is.

Speaker 2 9:12

It's a true story, is it? Yeah, I didn't know that it's set on a movie.

Speaker 1 9:17

Oh, it must be true.

Speaker 2 9:19

Yeah, I don't know really, but I think it's just actors.

Speaker 1 9:22

Okay, all right.

Speaker 2 9:23

They say it's a true story, but I don't think it is.

Upcoming Plans and Entertainment

Speaker 1 9:25

Okay, well, I'd like to. Actually, we couldn't do the last one because it was a bit clunky, but this time I want to, so I'm going to ask you similar questions to last time, so people get to know you, if that's all right? Yeah, that's okay. Are you ready for some quick questions again? Yes, because last time we did this you were really good at this, I know. All right, so you ready? Yes, oh, sorry, you have to answer it. Favourite number.

Speaker 2 9:53

Seven.

Speaker 1 9:54

Lucky seven. Do you have like a favourite? You said favourite movie is Fatherhood, right yeah, so do you have like a favourite food?

Speaker 2 10:03

Favourite food Spaghetti bolognese.

Speaker 1 10:07

Who makes the best? Is that mum Dad? Dad makes the best spaghetti bolognese. Yeah, that's his specialty. I love that. Yes, that's good. All right, it's so yummy, nice. Okay, what about your favorite drink?

Speaker 2 10:19

My favorite drink is definitely Mountain Dew.

Speaker 1 10:23

Oh, that's good to know. Yeah, yep, are you a thick shake girl? Do you like thick shakes or milkshakes? Not really, no.

Speaker 2 10:30

Ice cream Boysenberry.

Speaker 1 10:31

That was quick, favorite fruit.

Speaker 2 10:33

Strawberries.

Speaker 1 10:35

Favorite vegetable. Don't have one, okay, favorite type of meat oh, roast pork. Oh yum, red crackling, oh that sounds delicious. Yummy, you just lick your lips then, yeah, that's good. Favorite song type Tell Swift. Swifty.

Speaker 2 10:55

Yep Cruel Summer.

Speaker 1 10:57

Do you want to sing some?

Quick Questions with Talitha

Speaker 2 10:59

Cruel Summer. It's a cruel summer with you, baby. There's something I don't Baby not done that it's a cruel summer with you.

Speaker 1 11:14

That's like perfect. Thank you, I actually thought Taylor Swift was on the show. I thought you were Taylor Swift in a small version, in a 13-odd version. Alright, let's talk about now your favourite subject at school.

Speaker 2 11:27

My favourite subject at school is art.

Speaker 1 11:30

Your worst subject at school.

Speaker 2 11:32

History.

Speaker 1 11:34

I thought you liked PE too, wouldn't you? Because you like the outside.

Speaker 2 11:37

Yeah, I do, but sometimes it can get a bit boring.

Speaker 1 11:39

Can it.

Speaker 2 11:40

Yeah, they only play one game.

Speaker 1 11:43

What is it?

Speaker 2 11:43

Which is what was it called Great? Now I don't even remember the name. That's right, yeah, it'll come to me.

Speaker 1 11:51

That's right. So what grade are you in now? I'm in year eight. What grade are you in now? I'm in year eight Ooh, second year of high school.

Speaker 2 11:56

Yep, I'm 13,. I'm a teenager.

Speaker 1 11:59

What's it like being a teenager? Is it hard?

Speaker 2 12:02

No, it's exactly like the same as being a preteen.

Speaker 1 12:04

Is it yeah?

Speaker 2 12:07

What's the hardest thing about being a teenager? The hardest thing being a teenager is getting more bullied. Yeah, because I do get bullied. Sometimes at school People call me like a pipsqueak or they call me a son of a bee.

Speaker 1 12:21

That's good. Yeah, I'm sorry if you hear that too. How does that make you feel?

Speaker 2 12:25

It makes me feel a bit sad because I don't like the names that they call me and I get really mad easily.

Speaker 1 12:31

Yeah.

Speaker 2 12:31

So I try to stay calm and I just ignore them.

Speaker 1 12:34

Yeah, that's good yeah, you tell a teacher.

Speaker 2 12:36

Yeah, I do?

Speaker 1 12:37

Yeah good, yeah, well, that's no good. Bullying's no good for anyone. It's not. No, it isn't no, and I know it's not a good thing. But no doubt it makes you stronger too, doesn't it? Exactly it doesn't. And so what? Do you see? Other people get bullied too. Yeah, I do sometimes, but not all the time. Yeah, okay, yeah, why do you think people do bully?

Speaker 2 13:06

Because I think when they were younger, probably, they probably got bullied and that's the only thing they know how to do is be a big bully or that's what they know. Yeah, that's all they know, really.

Speaker 1 13:15

Maybe they need to be educated, shouldn't they? Yeah, how it hurts people's feelings.

Speaker 2 13:19

And you guys, you need to be yourself, be like you. Don't always have the bully kids and stuff, because that makes them really sad and that's what bullies only want. They want a reaction.

Speaker 1 13:29

That's right.

Speaker 2 13:30

But all you've got to do is just be yourself. Just be who you are inside. That Be yourself, just be, who you are inside. That's right, that's what I do. Yeah yeah, I'm just being myself. I love singing, I love drama, I love dancing. That's just who I am.

Speaker 1 13:45

And you're an amazing self because you actually made me even skip down to the mall today. Yeah, and the shops.

Speaker 2 13:49

And I don't give two hoots what anybody thinks.

Speaker 1 13:52

You actually made me wear pink sunglasses. Yeah, With love hearts.

Speaker 2 13:56

Yeah exactly what did you think of that? I think that was pretty cool. You're still wearing them now.

Navigating Bullying as a Teenager

Speaker 1 14:00

I am still wearing them. And you know what? I thought people were going to actually laugh and tease me. I actually saw people smiling and giggling and say he's having a good time with her Like you could tell they're actually having fun. Yeah, so I know. So, yeah, we did some skipping, Although we did have a bit of a race in the shopping centre too, didn't we we?

Speaker 2 14:22

sure did.

Speaker 1 14:23

Who won Me? You know, I tricked you a little bit and I got out in front and I hid behind one of the shelves to see if you got lost. Next thing, I just saw you running straight towards the sports station going ah bye, I went. What? You went way faster than me. Yeah, you were quick, thank you.

Speaker 2 14:39

I'm very fast.

Speaker 1 14:40

You are very fast. I know when do you speed from.

Speaker 2 14:43

Primary school.

Speaker 1 14:45

Primary school yeah, okay. I was always fast in primary school, okay, yeah, all right, tell me something else that you really love doing.

Speaker 2 14:52

Oh, I love to play outside play with my dogs Angel and Rainy.

Speaker 1 14:57

Yeah.

Speaker 2 14:58

They can be troublemakers. I love going on my swing, that's cool. Yeah, I do all these different kinds of tricks on it.

Speaker 1 15:04

Yeah, nice, but.

Speaker 2 15:05

I just really enjoy being outside here yeah it's nice Going on my trampoline, and maybe there used to be my sandpit down there. Yeah, and now it's a rose garden.

Speaker 1 15:15

That's all right.

Speaker 2 15:15

And and now it's a rose garden. That's all right, and I do like going on my phone sometimes like colouring. You used to see my bedroom. Yeah Well, you already have, but it's really fun.

Speaker 1 15:24

All different figurines you've got in there too, and unicorns yeah, yeah, that's good. And we did play a game of hide and go seek and I couldn't find you in the kitchen. You were like, hiding across like three or four chairs, yeah, hiding across like three or four chairs. Yep, I couldn't even find you. I could hear this noise coming out every now and then. What?

Speaker 2 15:41

is that noise? It's just, I do that, so I go like ka-ka, ka-ka, because that's how I make it more funny.

Speaker 1 15:48

It's funny. I had no idea where you were, so you're very good at hiding. My hiding spot was terrible. It was.

Speaker 2 15:58

Behind the cupboard. Yeah, I saw the cupboard open and said I know where he is, he's right there.

Enjoying Life and Being Yourself

Speaker 1 16:00

I was trying to hide behind it, but then I thought I bet she can probably see my shoes now too. No, I just saw your face. Oh, that's funny, I know it is. Oh my gosh. Well, look, you've spoken for another 16 minutes already on this podcast, I know. Now I've got a question for you, yep. Is there anything that we haven't spoken about yet that you want to talk about before we close off this edition of the podcast? No, no, yep, all good. Did you have a good day?

Speaker 2 16:21

Yeah, I did.

Speaker 1 16:21

I had a good day too, thank you. I had lots of fun and, oh, I have to tell people listening to this out there if you get to listen to this on podcast, and I hope you do amazing Talith of direction. She didn't even use Siri Maps or Navman or any of those apps. She knew exactly where to go to Orion today. Yeah, the shopping center, which was amazing. Yeah, it's got everything there. Yeah, and even on the way back, oh, we missed one turn off because we were talking, yeah, but were we seeing what we were doing then, when we missed the turn off, we were like rapping and stuff.

Speaker 1 16:53

And it's such a great day. So, look, I want to say thank you for a great day. You're a legend. I'm looking forward to hearing how you go back to school, yes, and I hope you enjoy your last week. Thank you very much. Bye guys. Thanks for coming on the show. Thank you, bye, bye.

Speaker 2 17:09

Bye, bye.