High School PRograms
NOTE: Due to COVID-19, I am offering two types of remote programs on mental health, stress reduction and natural highs. These could be on the platform of your choice.
OPTION 1:
An interview style presentation where a local student leader or staff member interviews me with directed questions about natural highs and healthy coping during this unique time. This gives me an opportunity to still present material, but in a more conversational way than just speaking into a camera. This is ideal for larger groups.
OPTION 2:
Discussion session with a smaller group about stress and healthy coping. In this session, I will present some material, but also ask questions to the group and provide guided feedback.
How to Get High Naturally
KEYNOTE
Life Is Disappointing and Other Inspiring Thoughts
KEYNOTE
Workshops
Multi-Day Workshops
Public Speaking/ Stand-up Comedy Workshop
Media Campaign
Weed is Not Salad
How to Get High Naturally
Target Event
Assemblies,
Conferences
Ideal Audience Size
100 – 5,000
depending on the venue
Duration
70 minutes
(if possible)
This powerful and entertaining presentation focuses on natural highs, emotional resilience and mental health. It has been described as the perfect combination of stand-up comedy, interactive demonstrations and inspirational stories. Matt empowers students to be leaders in their lives and make changes in their environment. During the program, he also shares his own story of student prevention leadership, as the founder of a nationally recognized student group at Bucknell University.
Outcome
- Understand some basic science behind natural highs, such as running, laughing and helping others.
- Be able to identify their own natural highs and the value of using them to cope with stress.
- Understand the importance of having friends who are alcohol, tobacco and drug free.
- Be able to discuss the effects of vaping, binge drinking and marijuana use on the developing brain.
- Have fun and associate having fun with prevention in high school.
Life Is Disappointing
and Other Inspiring Thoughts
Target Event
All School Assemblies, Conferences
Ideal Audience Size
100 – 5,000
Duration
45+ minutes
This dynamic presentation combines Matt’s signature style of mixing stand-up comedy, audience interaction and psychological research on building resilience in teens. The program includes a discussion on stress management (e.g. meditation, reframing emotional pain) and seeking out an empathetic support network. In addition, if focuses on inspirational stories of people who have faced disappointment and found inspiration through the pain.
Outcome
- Learn about positive social support, healthy forms of self-expression and creative ways to express emotions. Here are the three points: 1.The Most Beautiful Waves Come From the Biggest Storms, 2. Sit With Emotions, 3. Change Your School
- Be able to understand the benefit of struggling in life.
- Be able to utilize 2-3 healthy coping mechanisms in daily life to reduce stress and increase productivity.
- Have fun and leave feel more empowered to overcome barriers in their life.
KEYNOTE: “How to Get High Naturally”
Target Event
Assemblies,
Conferences
Ideal Audience Size
100 – 5,000
depending on the venue
Duration
70 minutes
(if possible)
This powerful and entertaining presentation focuses on natural highs, emotional resilience and mental health. It has been described as the perfect combination of stand-up comedy, interactive demonstrations and inspirational stories. Matt empowers students to be leaders in their lives and make changes in their environment. During the program, he also shares his own story of student prevention leadership, as the founder of a nationally recognized student group at Bucknell University.
Outcomes
- Understand some basic science behind natural highs, such as running, laughing and helping others.
- Be able to identify their own natural highs and the value of using them to cope with stress.
- Understand the importance of having friends who are alcohol, tobacco and drug free.
- Be able to discuss the effects of vaping, binge drinking and marijuana use on the developing brain.
- Have fun and associate having fun with prevention in high school.
Keynote: “ Life Is Disappointing and Other Inspiring Thoughts”
Target Event
All School Assemblies, Conferences
Ideal Audience Size
100 – 5,000
Duration
45+ minutes
This dynamic presentation combines Matt’s signature style of mixing stand-up comedy, audience interaction and psychological research on building resilience in teens. The program includes a discussion on stress management (e.g. meditation, reframing emotional pain) and seeking out an empathetic support network. In addition, if focuses on inspirational stories of people who have faced disappointment and found inspiration through the pain.
Workshops
Target Event
Student Leaders, Prevention Groups
Ideal Audience Size
50 or less
Duration
60-90 minutes
“The Brain, Behavior and Vaping”
The 2018 Monitoring the Future Survey found that vaping use (nicotine and THC) increased more in one year for high school students than any other drug they had ever measured since their survey began in the 1970s. Students deserve to receive quality information from reliable sources about vaping and have a discussion on its impact. This workshop aims to present the up-to-date information on vaping, especially the powerful data on nicotine addiction, while have a discussion about how to find healthier way to cope with stress.
“The Brain, Behavior and Alcohol”
The drug of choice for young people remains alcohol – nearly quarter of 12th graders reported binge drinking in the past month (Monitoring the Future Survey, 2012). However, neuroscientists are just beginning to learn about the life-long changes caused by adolescent binge drinking. The adolescent brain is uniquely vulnerable to risk-taking and addiction, both potential outcomes of frequent binge drinking. This workshop is an interactive discussion of the effects of alcohol use on the developing brain and behavior. Dr. Bellace uses humor and a non-judgmental approach to convey neuroscience research that supports choosing healthy natural highs over chemical highs like alcohol.
“The Brain, Behavior and Weed”
Some people believe that weed is “like salad.” This funny, but sadly inaccurate statement is consistent with the data showing a decrease in the number of young people who disapprove of regular marijuana use (Monitoring the Future Survey, 2012). The relaxation of state marijuana laws, smoking of the drug as “medicine” and spread of misinformation through pop culture creates an illusion that pot is safe for the adolescent brain. This workshop is an interactive discussion of the effects of marijuana use on the developing brain and behavior. Dr. Bellace uses humor and a non-judgmental approach to convey neuroscience research that supports choosing healthy natural highs over chemical highs like marijuana.
“Youth Advocacy Workshop”
Teens are capable of more than we give them credit for. However, young people vary wildly in terms of their ability to speak publicly, thanks partly to all the screen time reducing to face-to-face interaction. This workshop examines the basics of youth advocacy (e.g. public speaking skills, using emotion to convey messages, working as a team) and empowers students to make change in their community. The workshop also focuses on Dr. Bellace’s youth advocacy efforts as a college student in creating a nationally recognized substance abuse prevention group on campus.
Multi-Day Workshops
Target Event
Health, Science
or other Classes
Ideal Audience Size
30 or less
Duration
60 minutes
Session 1: “Brain, Behavior and Addiction”
The drug of choice for young people remains alcohol – nearly a quarter of 12th graders reported binge drinking in the past month (Monitoring the Future Survey, 2012). However, neuroscientists are just beginning to learn about the life-long changes caused by adolescent binge drinking. Some people believe that pot is “like salad.” This funny, but sadly inaccurate statement is consistent with the data showing a decrease in the number of young people who disapprove of regular pot use (Monitoring the Future Survey, 2012). The relaxation of state marijuana laws, smoking of the drug as “medicine” and spread of misinformation through pop culture creates an illusion that pot is safe for the adolescent brain. This workshop is an interactive discussion of the effects of alcohol and marijuana use on the developing brain and behavior. Dr. Bellace uses humor and a non-judgmental approach to convey neuroscience research that supports choosing healthy natural highs over chemical highs like marijuana.
Session 2: “Your Better High Story”
For too long, the emphasis in prevention is on the negatives of the drug user and the drug use. This workshop shifts the focus to natural highs and how to integrate them into everyday life. Healthy natural highs are all around us and this workshop encourages students to identify their favorite natural highs and the emotions they elicit. In addition, students get to share their favorite natural high story with the group. In this program, Dr. Bellace uses the “teachable moment” style of presenting to interject information and humor.
Stand-up Comedy Night
Ideal Audience: Students, Parents and Teachers
Ideal Audience Size: 30 or more
Duration: 90 minutes
This event is a great way to take Matt’s natural high message to the next level. The stand-up comedy show is perfect for high school-aged students and their parents. This show brings the laughs without relying on material that promotes substance abuse. The show lasts up to 90 minutes and includes Matt and two other comedians from New York City. Past shows have included comedians such as Joe Matarese from The Late Show with David Letterman and Comedy Central Presents, Ted Alexandro from The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan O’Brian and Jimmy Kimmel Live and a nationally known improv comedy troupe called The Indicators.
Public Speaking/Stand-up Comedy Workshop
Ideal Audience: Students and Staff
Ideal Audience Size: 30 or more
Duration: 90 minutes
This event is a great way to take Matt’s natural high message to the next level. The stand-up comedy show is perfect for high school-aged students and their parents. This show brings the laughs without relying on material that promotes substance abuse. The show lasts up to 90 minutes and includes Matt and two other comedians from New York City. Past shows have included comedians such as Joe Matarese from The Late Show with David Letterman and Comedy Central Presents, Ted Alexandro from The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan O’Brian and Jimmy Kimmel Live and a nationally known improv comedy troupe called The Indicators.
Media Campaign:
Weed Is Not Salad
Ideal Audience: Students, Parents and Teachers
This event is a great way to take Matt’s natural high message to the next level. The stand-up comedy show is perfect for high school-aged students and their parents. This show brings the laughs without relying on material that promotes substance abuse. The show lasts up to 90 minutes and includes Matt and two other comedians from New York City. Past shows have included comedians such as Joe Matarese from The Late Show with David Letterman and Comedy Central Presents, Ted Alexandro from The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan O’Brian and Jimmy Kimmel Live and a nationally known improv comedy troupe called The Indicators.