Watch: 'Awkward Conversations' Podcast, Season 5

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, in partnership with the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, will release Season 5 of the video podcast Awkward Conversations on September 24, 2025.

The unscripted Season 5 of Awkward Conversations is once again hosted by Jodie Sweetin (Full House, Fuller House) and will feature twenty-one weekly video podcasts on the Elks Drug Awareness Prevention YouTube channel through March 26, 2026.

Each week Jodie is joined by Amy McCarthy, Director of Clinical Social Work, Adolescent Substance Use and Addiction Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. Together they will speak with celebrity parents such as Dr. Mayim Bialik and Alec Mapa, as well as role models like Spencer Paysinger (former NFL linebacker and producer All-American). They will also sit down with experts including Dr. Christopher Willard (author of Raising Resilience and Growing Up Mindful) and Dr. Nora Volkow (Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse).  Their discussions delve into complex issues and provide thoughtful answers to the questions parents care about most. Check out the trailer below!

Take a peek at the topics of upcoming episodes of "Awkward Conversations," Season 5 by accessing the DEA news release. And are you looking for more? Make sure to catch up on Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, and Season 4.

Coming this season are short, animated explainer videos for kids ages 6–9, each paired with a Parent Guide, which offer prompts and takeaways to help families continue the conversation. These new resources make Awkward Conversations accessible for every age group and expand its role as a family prevention tool.

Episode 1

In this episode of "Awkward Conversations," hosts Jodie Sweetin and Amy McCarthy team up with Dr. Michael Rich, “the Mediatrician,” and Kevin Collins from the Drug Enforcement Administration to unpack the realities of raising kids in today’s digital world. From the hidden risks of online drug sales to the secret language of emojis, they reveal what parents need to know—and how to turn fear into curiosity, monitoring into mentorship, and tough topics into open conversations. Packed with practical tools and resources, this episode gives parents the confidence to guide their children safely and thoughtfully through a screen-saturated world.