On this week’s Roggin Report, Fred Roggin opened the show with a familiar but uncomfortable question: when did you get “the talk” from your parents?
For most people, the birds-and-bees conversation happened around ages 10 or 11. But today, new studies show that 17% of kids between ages 7 and 9 are already showing signs of puberty — yet most haven’t had any conversation with their parents about it.
Even more concerning, many parents feel unprepared. Only 31% of parents say they felt they received a good version of the talk from their own parents and feel confident passing that information on to their kids.
Fred was joined by contributors Doug and Jamie Baker, who shared their own experiences — or lack thereof. Fred revealed he never got the talk, only receiving a book from his mother. Jamie, who grew up in Seoul, Korea, explained that cultural sayings often replaced formal discussions, and Doug admitted he figured everything out on his own, leading to awkwardness in relationships growing up.
Doug also shared a shocking misconception he encountered during his time volunteering at the Anaheim Free Clinic — young women believing they could become pregnant from sitting on a dirty toilet seat, misinformation passed down from their parents.
While laughter followed the more absurd myths, Fred pointed out the serious takeaway: talking to kids early, honestly, and clearly about their bodies and relationships is more critical than ever, especially as puberty trends earlier.
And as for the debate about dirty toilets? That’s a topic for another night.
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By: Fred Roggin
April 25, 2025
