Medicinal Media

Medicinal Media was honored and inspired to meet and hear from some of the finest people working on issues of #youth #mentalhealth today at #CSSummit25, including but not limited to: consummate host and relentless advocate Jim Steyer; legendary Geoffrey Canada of Harlem Children's Zone; john deasy of the Bezos Family Foundation (who delighted us by chuckling approvingly at the sound of our name); Kristen Soltis Anderson of Echelon Insights; Celinda Lake of Lake Research Partners; Nick Kristof of The New York Times; Andrew Lieu of the National League of Cities; Emily Osorio of Aspen College; Emmie Wolf-Dubin of Kidizenship; Merve Lapus who provided us with such an insightful interview; Chancellor John King of The State University of New York; the unstoppable Margaret Spellings of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Governor Deval L Patrick; Bruce Reed; Sal Khan; Robert Reich; Jennifer Siebel Newsom; Larissa May of #HalfTheStory#HalfTheStory; Dr. Nadine Burke Harris (who we recently interviewed for an upcoming article); Neal Mohan of YouTube, Kevin Roose (one of our favorite reporters and podcast hosts); Anne-Marie Slaughter of New America; Margrethe Vestager of the European Commission; San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉, Jill Murphy (who generously provided another great interview and parental strategizing session), Hilary McDaniel of Child Development Pathway and her incredible Palo Alto High School students, who shared their many insights with us so generously; Perri Chinalai, who clearly cares so deeply for the kids she serves, and tireless child advocate Secretary Hillary Clinton of the Clinton Foundation. All hands on deck for our kids! ?????? www.commonsense.org/summit

??? Scent is more than a sense—it’s a science, a memory, and a mood all in one. In our latest feature on Scents, writer Sonya Matejko explores the powerful role smell plays in our lives—helping reduce stress, improve focus, and boost emotional well-being. Illustrated by Hello Vonnie and featuring insight from scent innovator and Yoursy cofounder Jon Atilgan, this piece dives deep into the future of olfactory wellness. From AI-powered personalization to immersive scent-driven travel experiences, this is a must-read for anyone curious about the intersection of neuroscience, mood, and scent. ?? Read more: https://lnkd.in/etDYF65x ??We’re also loving the trailblazers (and rebels) of the scent world— Tech-forward pioneers: Pura | MAISON 21G Science + nature blends: The Nue Co. | Givaudan - House of Naturals | Plant Therapy | Offbeat & Wonderful: Heretic Parfum | Species by the Thousands #MentalHealth #WellnessTech #ScentsAndSenses #OlfactoryScience #CustomScents #MedicinalMedia #Neuroscience #Aromatherapy

Thrilled to kick off day 2 at the Common Sense Summit on Kids and Families with some highlights from day 1! We saw hundreds of attendees gathering as advocates, researchers, youth leaders, policymakers, and other experts, all with a shared energy and commitment to championing and improving the lives of kids and families. Follow the #CSMSummit25 hashtag for even more updates and highlights into the rest of the Summit!

Join Medicinal Media at the Common Sense Media Summit on Kids and Families in San Francisco, March 24-25! So much esteemed talent in one place, working with such devotion and creativity to support, celebrate, and learn from young people on issues surrounding our #media and #mentalhealth. ??www.commonsense.org/summit #CSSummit25

?? Making New Friends, Virtually ???? Making friends as an adult—or at any stage of life—can be tough. Busy schedules and fewer social opportunities make it harder to form deep connections, yet #friendship is essential for #youthmentalhealth, happiness, and even longevity. Research from Dan Buettner’s "Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones" highlights that strong #socialconnections lead to longer, healthier lives. But where do you start? #Digitalconnection is making it easier. Platforms like Bumble Inc. and their platforms Bumble BFF and Geneva are helping people find their community and build lasting bonds. Experts like Anna Goldfarb and Kat Vellos (she/her) emphasize that while online friendships are great, in-person connections are key to deepening relationships. ?? Read "Making New Friends, Virtually" by Mhaya Polacco, illustrated by Carlos Arrojo, to explore how technology is reshaping #makingfriends. ?? https://lnkd.in/esjd2Wwh ?? Looking for #youthmentalhealth resources? Common Sense Media and Child Mind Institute offer great guides for kids and teens. #medicinalmedia #friendshipmatters #findyourpeople #digitalconnection #makingfriends ?? Tagging: Maya Cueva The University of Kansas Be More with Less The Kids Mental Health Foundation ????

?? A Simple Handwriting Epiphany Turned into Musical Magic ?? Meet Julian, a young artist whose creativity knows no bounds. In second grade, while tracing words in his handwriting book, his brain just turned a phrase into music. That moment sparked his first-ever "serious original" song. ??? Now in third grade, watch as Julian performs?"Waves and Rivers" —a beautifully vivid song born from a happy accident. ?? What’s the most unexpected place you’ve found creative inspiration? Share in the comments! ? Stay tuned for Julian’s next song, "Yard Duty Blues" —where he tackles the injustices of elementary school life! At just nine years old, Julian embodies the kind of creativity that organizations like Playing For Change Foundation, Kid Pan Alley, and Harmony Project work to foster in young artists every day. If you love seeing kids explore their creative potential, check them out! #YoungArtists #Creativity #MusicInspiration #OriginalMusic #guitar ?? ?? Produced by Rob VanAlkemade

?? A Mindfulness Moment Inspired by Butterflies ?? Life moves fast, but mindfulness helps us slow down. Inspired by the gentle movements of a butterfly, seven-year-old Zoey from France guides us through this soothing somatic practice—an invitation to pause, breathe, and reconnect with yourself. Try this simple practice: ?? Find a quiet space. ?? Take a deep breath in. Imagine the scent of wildflowers in the air. ?? Exhale slowly and soften your shoulders. ? On your next inhale, lift your chest slightly. Feel yourself getting lighter. ?? Exhale and let go. Imagine floating effortlessly, just like a butterfly in the breeze. ??? Watch the full video here: ?? https://lnkd.in/e8qSytdU At Medicinal Media, we believe mindfulness is a powerful tool for supporting children's emotional regulation and digital well-being. Research continues to show that even small, mindful moments can have lasting benefits for mental health. We’re excited to continue these conversations at this year’s Common Sense Media Summit, where we’ll gather with leaders in child education, digital health, and well-being—including Sal Khan, Founder & CEO of Khan Academy, whose work is transforming access to education. Together, we’ll explore how mindfulness can support young minds in an increasingly connected world. Organizations like Common Sense Media, Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions, Calm, Headspace, and Jigsaw - The National Centre for Youth Mental Health are leading the way in supporting mental well-being for young minds. Let’s continue the conversation and work together to bring mindfulness into more classrooms, homes, and communities. ?? Join the movement: ?? Tag an educator, therapist, or parent who would benefit from this practice. ? Follow Medicinal Media for more mindfulness and somatic exercises. ?? Learn more at www.medicinalmedia.com #Mindfulness #EmotionalWellness #SomaticHealing #Meditation #Resilience #ButterflyEffect #WellBeing #ChildMentalHealth #DigitalWellness #MindfulnessForKids #Parenting #CSSummit25

Kevin Kaarl courageously shared with the Hi, How Are You Foundation and Medicinal Media when we partnered backstage at the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL). The Hi, How Are You Project is an Austin, TX-based hashtag #nonprofitorganization that aims to remove the hashtag #stigma around hashtag #mentalhealth support, one conversation at a time. Kevin Kaarl is a beloved Mexican singer-songwriter who advocates for mental health awareness and is finding new fans worldwide with his album: Paris Texas. “It’s a cliché, but the truth is that when you express yourself through art, it will always, always make you feel better,” he told Medicinal Media. “And I feel like it’s good therapy, so to speak.” - Angie Orellana Hernandez, Los Angeles Times The Be Kind People Project Youth in Arts https://lnkd.in/gMjFvfG5

Medicinal Media selects: Project Healthy Minds ??

"When a favorite #record store closed, I realized how much #vinyl connects us — to music, memories, and each other." Read more in this story written by Ben Kuchera, illustrated by Sophie Parsons. https://lnkd.in/gVybnAyt