Pep Talk Hotline

A special art project called “Peptoc Hotline” shares pre-recorded life advice, uplifting messages, and words of encouragement from students aged 5-12.

Jessica Martin and Asherah Weiss, teachers at West Side Elementary school in Healdsburg, California, came up with the idea for the project. Inspired by their students’ positive attitudes and resiliency, they felt that we could all benefit from a pep talk given by the students. The teachers asked the children what would they say to someone to help them feel better, then recorded each one as they used their own thoughts and words to lift peoples’ spirits.

What happens when you dial (707) 873-7862? The reward is immediate. Who knew that words of encouragement from a child could have such an emotional impact?

The hotline offers several options: “If you are feeling mad, frustrated or nervous, press 1. If you need words of encouragement or life advice, press 2. If you need a pep talk from kindergartners, press 3. If you need to hear kids laughing with delight, press 4. For encouragement in Spanish, press 5.”

If you press 2, for nearly a minute, children from kindergarten to sixth grade offer profound and whimsical advice ranging from things like keep your head up to take a turn on the trampoline. Be grateful for yourself. The world is a better place with you in it. Choose weird. Try it again. Bro, you are looking great.

Launched in February, the hotline now gets about 9,000 calls per hour. Both staff and patients from Johns Hopkins medical center have been regular callers, and the school has heard from callers from around the country.

The next time you need few words of encouragement or advice on how to deal with a jumble of emotions, try calling 707-8PEPTOC (707-873-7862). If you want to help support the project, please visit www.westsideusd.org. You may also contribute at www.gofundme.com/f/peptoc-hotline.