Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski

Speaking & trainings

Conversations that meet young people with dignity.

For nearly five decades, Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski has brought experience to keynotes, workshops, and trainings that help communities build healthier, more connected futures.

Invite Dr. Mary Jo to speak
Common Ground Teen Center Teen Executive Board in 2023

Practical, compassionate education for the people who matter most.

Dr. Mary Jo founded Teen Outreach in 1988 and created the Common Ground Teen Center in 2008, where teens are hired as staff and serve as board members. Teen-driven and teen-monitored, the Center reflects her commitment to creating welcoming spaces for honest conversations. Her presentations offer actionable tools, evidence-informed perspective, and a deeply human approach to adolescent health and sexuality education.

Learn more about Teen Outreach

What to expect

Programs shaped for your audience

Keynotes

Encouraging, memorable talks that help audiences see young people—and one another—as people of worth.

Workshops

Interactive learning experiences designed to open dialogue, strengthen understanding, and build practical confidence.

Professional trainings

Thoughtful sessions for educators, health professionals, caregivers, and community leaders who support young people every day.

Learning in action

A closer look at the conversations, connections, and communities behind Dr. Mary Jo’s programs.

Young people connecting at a Lock-in event
Lock-in event
Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski presenting at Lamaze
Presenting at Lamaze
Young people at the teen center
Teen center
Health education exhibit with Rich
Exhibiting with Rich
Young people participating in peer education training
Peer education training
Young parents and children participating in a teen parenting program
Pregnant and parenting teen program

Featured presentations

See Dr. Mary Jo in action.

Watch presentations featuring Dr. Mary Jo’s warm, practical approach to education and connection.

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Speaking topics

Programs for the conversations that matter.

Choose from these established presentations, or work with Dr. Mary Jo to shape a program around your community’s needs.

  • First Do No Harm: Presenting Abstinence without Judgment
  • Inside Out: A Body-Positive Approach to Child Abuse Prevention Education
  • Intimacy, Sexuality and Aging
  • Reaching for Adulthood – Making Sense of Sex
  • Real Talk about Sexuality across the Life Span
  • Real Talk for Real Teens™
  • Sexuality Education
  • Reality Based Education: Adolescent Sexuality
  • Sexuality in the Media
  • STIs – Real Talk about “Sexy” Infections
  • Texting, Sexting and Social Networking
  • What’s Up as You Grow Up? – Teaching Parent/Youth Early Sexuality Programs

Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski presenting and connecting with audiences
For nearly five decades, Dr. Mary Jo has brought practical, compassionate education to audiences across the United States and around the world.

Experience in action

A career built on connection.

2,000+

workshops, keynotes, and trainings

330,000+

young people reached through sexuality education

42

books authored

13

countries outside the USA where she has taught

46

states across the USA where she has taught

Plan a program

Let’s create a presentation your community will carry forward.

Every audience has its own questions, experiences, and goals. Dr. Mary Jo works with organizations to shape a meaningful program for the people in the room.

Start a conversation