Let's have a talk.

The Talk. Birds and the bees. Middle school health class. Do these phrases bring back cringy conversations or awkward memories? If so, you’re not alone—many of us can relate.

As parents, it’s normal to feel uncertain or even uncomfortable when it’s time to talk to children about sexual health and relationships. Some might choose to avoid the conversation altogether, hoping the health teacher and school curriculum will fill the gaps.

But middle school health classes can only go so far. Kids often have personal questions they’re too shy to ask in school or hesitant to bring up at home because these topics can feel so sensitive. Without the right support, these gaps can lead to confusion or challenges down the road.

This is where Teen Health Research and their innovative and easy-to-use platform, Let’s Talk, come in. With a modern, approachable solution, they’re redefining how families tackle these important discussions, minus the cringe and awkwardness.

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Teen Health Research and Let’s Talk

Teen Health Research is a women-owned startup based upon research from North Carolina State University (NCSU). The organization aims to modernize sex education by providing interactive and inclusive guides, developed for parents and children to use together.

The startup’s flagship application, Let’s Talk, is designed to facilitate open and confident conversations between parents and children about sexual health and relationships. Specifically tailored for children aged 10-13, the app makes these discussions more approachable, helping parents and kids navigate these topics with clarity and comfort.

“The inspiration for Let's Talk came several years ago when my niece was 10. My sister was looking for resources on how to talk with her about puberty and sexuality,” said Laura Widman, Founder and CEO of Teen Health Research.

Widman, a licensed clinical psychologist and a Professor of Psychology at NCSU, ultimately discovered an unmet need in the market.

“I recommended podcasts and books, but none of them were interactive and could help start the conversation in the way I'd like. That was a big part of the inspiration behind creating an app that would be for parents and kids,” continued Widman.

Drawing from academic expertise and working alongside a cohort of specialists and advisors, Widman and the Teen Health Research team developed Let’s Talk. The app provides step-by-step guides, interactive communication challenges, and age-appropriate content to help families talk openly about more culturally sensitive topics such as puberty, relationships, and sexuality.

Since its inception in 2021, Teen Health Research has received significant support, securing grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Health (NIH), One North Carolina Small Business Program, and NSCU’s Daugherty Endowment Fund.

Ultimately, Teen Health Research and the user-friendly Let’s Talk platform are helping to foster a new era of open and healthy communication. Together, they make it easier for families to tackle important topics with confidence and understanding.

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Let’s Talk and Lithios Collaboration

Teen Health Research collaborated with Lithios to bring the interactive Let’s Talk platform to life. The goal was to create a multi-user experience platform so that parents and children could engage with the same subject matter but in different capacities tailored to their roles.

Lithios played an essential part in designing and developing key features of the platform. For example, the app includes built-in communication challenges to encourage meaningful conversations between family members and a journal feature, where children can jot down thoughts or questions for their parents. These innovative tools empower families to break down barriers and engage in open dialogue both within the app and in real life.

The app also incorporates a seamless login system that allows parents and children to complete tasks and checkpoints independently. Through the partnership with Lithios, Let’s Talk evolved from research-driven concepts into an engaging and user-friendly platform.

“As a small startup, we don't yet have our own in-house engineer. We never could have brought our app ideas to life without Lithios,” said Widman.

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Testing and Optimization

With Lithios’ support in app development and funding from various grants, Teen Health Research achieved significant milestones in the creation of Let’s Talk. They’ve already completed the first half of the app’s content and have tested it with 35 families. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the app’s value and offering useful insights to enhance the user experience.

“Families liked the quality of the content and the format of learning through an interactive platform that took some of the "cringe" out of these sensitive topics,” said

Widman. “They also suggested important ways we can improve the customization and flow of the app, which we'll work on next.”

Building on this feedback, Widman and her team are now focused on completing the app’s remaining content in preparation for a wider launch. Their efforts include refining designs, enhancing audio elements based on user input, and continuing to work with Lithios to optimize key features.

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The Future of Family Communication

Teen Health Research continues to break barriers in family communication through research-backed content and innovative technology. Looking ahead, the startup plans to introduce more advanced features, including AI communication coaching for parents. This tool will further help families navigate challenging conversations with confidence and empathy.

The journey to revolutionize how families approach conversations about sexual health and relationships is just beginning. As the Teen Health Research team continues to develop and scale Let’s Talk, they are paving the way for families everywhere to engage in open, meaningful, and transformative dialogue.

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