Because we're all still figuring it out.

Girl by the river

No matter how old you are you're never fully…

No matter how old you are you're never fully Grown

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meet the hosts

Both in their early 20s, Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo may have “grown up” on paper, but they’re still navigating adulthood - dealing with stuff like post-college jobs and moving out of their parents house for the first time.

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Fonzo Lacayo

Fonzo is a Moth alumni who was first introduced to the organization through their EDU program in 2013. He is a passionate creative from the Bronx who appreciates the art of storytelling and self-expression.

Aleeza
Kazmi

Aleeza is a multimedia storyteller passionate about using the power of storytelling for social good. Her own stories have been featured in Teen Vogue and The Moth’s New York Times bestselling story collection, Occasional Magic.

Previous episode—

Secrets: Diaries, Twilight, and prom

Shhhhh. In this episode, we spill the tea. Shania tells us about getting her sibling ready for a dance, and Tim Manley’s love takes on a physical form. Plus, we step out into NYC to hear some secrets, and Aleeza reads excerpts from her diary. (Yes, there’s Twilight involved.)

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Previous episode—

Culture and Identity: Periods, religion, and personal boundaries

Natural hair. A culture festival. Middle school jerks. In this episode, we hear stories of culture, identity, and how the two intertwine. Oleeta Fogden gets her first period, and Katiana Ciceron talks about the time her pastor touched her hair. Then, Aleeza and Fonzo get an update from Katiana on how she feels about her story now.

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1/31/2024

Parents: Moms, Dads, and What They Don’t Understand

So... do they just not understand? In this mommy AND daddy issue episode, we take a look at how much our parents shape who we are. Alyssa Ladd finds comfort in her dad, and Daniela Llerena tries to get her parents to understand anime. Plus, we get to meet Aleeza and Fonzo's moms!

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1/17/2024

Comfort Zone: Safety, Independence, and Spreading Your Wings

We explore the balance between being safe and spreading your wings. Diavian Walters shares a harrowing experience on the train and Ianna Banfield becomes a little more independent. Content warning: a story in this episode deals with sexual harassment.

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1/3/2024

Great Expectations: Pressure, Hopes and a Live Show

Pressure. Expectations. What the heck do you do after high school?!?! In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience, we look at how we live up to, or ignore, the expectations people set on us.

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12/20/2023

Making Friends: BFFs, and Frenemies, and Cliques

BFFs. Frenemies. Finding your clique. We'll explore how we actually make friends. Eric Carrera goes on a pizza run and Jenna Ulizio finds her people at camp. After that, we talk to high school students about the dos and don'ts of modern friendship.

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12/6/2023

Moral Compass: Mishaps, Mistakes and Youthful Indiscretions

Mishaps. Mistakes. Youthful indiscretions. In this episode, we'll explore how to create your own sense of ethics. Christian Garland learns a lesson from his grandpa and Stacey Bader Curry plans a heist. Then, Moth EDU students tell us about a time they had to choose between right and wrong.

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11/22/2023

Nerding Out: Passions, Obsessions, and Media

Anime. The Jonas Brothers. Twilight. We'll figure out how your passions shape who you are. Abigail Loor shares a story about finding a space in an anime convention and Roger Lam wears his superhero t-shirts with pride. Plus, Fonzo talks One Piece and David Lepelstat goes to the Brooklyn Comic Con.

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11/8/2023

Outside Looking In: FOMO, Friends, and Falling outs.

FOMO. Friends. Falling Outs. Feeling like you don't belong. We'll find out what happens when you're on the outside looking in. Moth EDU Storyteller Anaïs Cerina Irizarry Austin listens to some cool music and Hannah Citron understands a squid. Plus, Aleeza and Fonzo talk about the times when they tried to fit in.

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10/25/23

Siblings: Bonds, Rivalries and Drama

Bonds. Rivalries. Drama. In this episode, we explore how much our siblings shape who we are. Saad Najam finds peace with his brother and Meredith Morrison takes center stage. Then, we talk to Moth EDU students about the best and worst parts of being a sibling.


Hosted by: Aleeza Kazmi and Fonzo Lacayo

Storytellers: Saad Najam and Meredith Morrison


Follow Grown on TikTok or Instagram @GrownPod


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Previous Episode

Season 2 Trailer

We’re so excited for Grown Season 2! The first episode will launch on Wednesday, October 25th, and if you haven’t yet, you can binge the first season of Grown wherever you get your podcasts!


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Grown is a podcast about
The in-between: the nebulous, the liminal, the just plain weird time between those awkward teenage years and full-on adulthood.

Listen, subscribe, and let’s figure it out together.

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Grown Credits

Senior Producer: Marc Sollinger | Senior Editor: Sarah Jane Johnson | The Moth’s Executive Producer: Sarah Austin Jenness | Education Team: Melissa Brown, Ana Stern, and Devin Elise Wilson | Mixing: Davy Sumner | Original Music and Sound Design: Davy Sumner and Luke Williams | Marketing Team: Brandon Grant, Estee Daveed, Isaiah McNair-Wilson, and Salma Ali

Special Thanks to: Julia Purcell, KA Carter, our teen focus group, and everyone who sent in audio for our montages | The Moth’s Leadership Team: Sarah Haberman, Catherine Burns, Sarah Austin Jenness, Jenifer Hixson, Meg Bowles, Kate Tellers, Jennifer Birmingham, Marina Klutse, Suzanne Rust, Brandon Grant, Lee Ann Gullie and Aldi Kaza | Support is provided by Spring Point Partners. | Podcast artwork by Sarah DiMichele. | Photo credit Annie Millman

ABOUT THE MOTH'S EDUCATION PROGRAM
The Moth's Education Program works with young people and educators to build community through storytelling workshops, performances and innovative resources. To learn more and apply for an upcoming student or teacher workshop click here.