What actually helps a teenager open up, build trust, and start finding their own way?

In this episode of Name What Works, Ashley talks with Kahlo, a 17-year-old rising senior, hockey player, photographer, and future sports journalism student.

Kahlo shares what life looks like for him right now: hockey, friends, the gym, SAT pressure, college plans, and figuring out who he wants to become. He opens up about how photography became more than a hobby after he started showing up to games with a camera and creating

his own opportunities.

Ashley and Kahlo also talk about the parent-teen relationship from a teen’s point of view. Kahlo explains that teens need guidance, but they also need space to figure things out. He shares why trust has to be mutual, why parents being too controlling can push teens away, and why

freedom comes from earning trust back after it has been broken.

The conversation also explores risk-taking, peer pressure, identity, sports culture, burnout, SAT stress, and the pressure teens feel when they are trying to plan their future while still wanting to enjoy their life.

In this episode:

● Why teens may pull away during the summer

● How Kahlo created opportunities through sports photography

● Why teens still need adults for advice

● What helps a teen feel safe going to their parents

● Why trust is a two-way street

● How teens can earn freedom by rebuilding trust

● Why risk-taking is part of growing up

● How sports can shape identity and pressure

● What SAT stress feels like from a teen’s perspective

● Why parents need to know when to lead, coach, guide, and back off

If you are raising a teenager, this episode is a reminder that connection does not come from control. It comes from trust, curiosity, guidance, and knowing when to step back.