Vanessa Kroll Bennett is a national bestselling author, podcaster and speaker who helps adults raise tweens + teens with joy. She is the author of the forthcoming book TEENHOOD: Confessions & Lessons for the Trickiest Phase of Parenting. She is co-author of the bestselling bookThis Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained, co-host of the This Is So Awkward podcast, and Co-founder of Less Awkward, a company dedicated to making growing up more comfortable. Vanessa was the founder of Dynamo Girl, a company focused on building kids’ self-esteem through sports and puberty education. 

As co-founder of Less Awkward, Vanessa works with parents, educators, and young people to make the tween and teen years less dreaded and more joyful. She and Dr. Cara Natterson created That Health Class, an innovative and joyful K-12 health + sex education curriculum used in schools across the country. They also built the Less Awkward Hub, an extensive resource for parents that includes a health + sex ed course for adults.  

Vanessa speaks regularly to audiences, using science and humor to encourage open (albeit awkward) conversations – a relatable, reliable approach to help keep kids safe and healthy. Vanessa is a graduate of Wellesley College and holds a Masters in Jewish History, but perhaps her most important schooling comes from raising her own four children, ages 15 to 23.