Hi readers! I hope August is treating you well. It’s a transition time for a lot of us who work in schools. I’m fully started in my new job, teaching high school full time for the first time in over a decade.
It’s often exhausting, but I am absolutely LOVING it. I’ll be writing more about that soon, but today I wanted to shine a light on one of most useful and creative sites on the Internet, Amaze.org.
Big love,
Christopher
Amaze.org Is Doing Amazing Things
For nearly 10 years, Amaze has produced fun, animated videos to provide young people the information they actually want to know about puberty, sex, their bodies, and healthy relationships. Amaze has produced more than 300 videos across the globe, with nearly 2,000 global adaptations in 70+ languages and dialects.
I was inspired to post about them today because they are hosting a fantastic free online conference in September, and it seemed like a good time to highlight some of the great work they are doing.
SexEdCon2026: Decoding The Manosphere
This virtual event for educators, youth-serving adults, parents, healthcare professionals, and advocates is part of the ongoing “Combatting the Manosphere” series. The videos and corresponding collateral material are produced by AMAZE in collaboration with the LinkUp Lab, a project of Equimundo and Futures Without Violence.
The conference will be highlighting these resources:
Boys & Dating: A Guide for Mentors, Parents, Educators, and Coaches
LooksMaxxing Guide for Mentors, Parents, Educators, and Coaches
Deepfakes (AI Nudes) Guide for Mentors, Parents, Educators, and Coaches
Gaming Guide for Mentors, Parents, Educators, and Coaches
What Amaze Offers
Amaze leverages the expertise of master sexuality educators, the creativity of animation professionals, the input of young people, and the power of the internet to provide adolescents around the globe with medically accurate, age-appropriate, affirming, and honest sex education they can access directly online—regardless of where they live or what school they attend. It also offers an array of high-quality resources for parents and educators. Take a look…
For young people
Sex education videos that are engaging, educational, age-appropriate, and often humorous.
For parents and guardians:
Amaze strives to assist adults—parents, guardians, educators and health care providers around the globe—to communicate effectively and honestly about sex and sexuality with the children and adolescents in their lives.
For educators and healthcare providers:
Toolkits, lesson plans, promotional materials and other resources to help refer students and young patients to AMAZE as an available, free and fun resource to learn about sex and sexuality.
My Own Amaze Connection
In the summer of 2023, Futures Without Violence invited me to talk to a group of teenagers. These young people were part of a leadership program focused on healthy relationships, which started with a week-long training institute. The teens met with adults who shared wisdom about relationships and sexuality as they prepared to initiate their own projects. I was one of the week’s first presenters, and I decided to go big with my message.
I told these teens they should all become sex ed experts. Here’s why.
Those teens made the most of the information they learned that week, and ended up creating a whole website and campaign dedicated to ending “Teen Economic Abuse.” It’s great - you should check it out.
Later, those same teens have partnered with Amaze.org to make animated videos obout ending teen economic abuse.
Here’s the focus of the first video:
Are wondering if you should give your partner money?
Does your partner pressure you to spend money in ways you don’t want?
Discover the hidden signs of teen economic abuse and learn how to protect yourself and your friends! Take control of your financial future.
Here’s the focus of the second video:
Are you wondering if you should compromise on your dreams because they can cause tension between you and your partner?
Does your partner pressure you to make decisions that don’t align with your passion?
Discover the power of managing conflict in relationships and learn how to communicate what you truly want!
A Favorite Throwback
P.S. Fun fact - I’ve been a superfan of Amaze for a long time! Back in 2019 they invited me to takeover their social media for a day, and they made a cartoon version of me. Here’s what I look like AMAZE-ified!
Recent Teen Health Today Highlights
Let’s Rethink What Success in Sex Education Means
Young people want to know more than how to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Schools should help.
A lot of people are worried about adolescent boys right now. Here are some of my best suggestions about how to better connect with them.
How Did Cigarettes Come Back Like This?
Why are so many people lighting up now? PLUS: The parent of a school shooter faces sentencing, ADHD linked to social media use in boys, and thoughts on Jimothy.
What Teens Say About Phones In Schools
How much should students’ ideas influence the discussion?
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Thanks, Christopher, for spotlighting this important webinar on the manosphere, a central topic at Stop Sexual Assault in Schools.