Actor-turned-mental health advocate Alyson Stoner spoke to Saint Louis University students about navigating identity and technology in a hyperconnected world on Nov. 6 at the Busch Student Center.
The event, titled “An Evening with Alyson Stoner,” was hosted by the Rainbow Alliance and Great Issues Committee. Alyson Stoner rose to fame as a child actor and dancer, appearing in major family films like “Cheaper by the Dozen” and the “Step Up” franchise.
The night aimed to spark dialogue on prioritizing mental health and practicing resilience in a society where college students spend an increasing amount of time online. Stoner said both mental health and resilience are critical for young adults maturing in an online world.
“Phones have become adult pacifiers,” Stoner said. “The pathway to well-being is reclaiming your agency.”
The atmosphere of the room was casual and reflective. Stoner took time to think deeply about each question and gave several lengthy answers. Stoner began by reframing their identity beyond the entertainment industry.
“I’m a mental health practitioner … I work at the intersection of tech, media and well-being,” they said.
Stoner is the founder and CEO of Movement Genius, a digital wellness platform that offers video courses designed to enhance one’s well-being. Stoner said their transition from acting to wellness work was driven by a desire to address the pressures of constant visibility, something they see mirrored in today’s college students navigating social media.
Stoner urged students to reclaim agency in their digital lives by creating intentional breaks from technology. They encouraged attendees to explore identity outside the curated lens of social media. They also gave warnings about social media’s addictive nature.
“Who am I when no one’s watching?” they asked. “Devices aren’t neutral; they’re designed to keep us hooked.”
The conversation also touched on social and systemic pressures created by pop culture. Stoner reflected on their own journey of questioning “hustle culture and perfectionism,” and said that students should examine the origins of their values.
“I wish I would have sooner started asking myself, ‘Where did these thoughts and attitudes and beliefs actually come from?’” they said.
Ultimately, Stoner said they hoped the evening would give students practical tools to balance their future aspirations with their overall well-being.
“I hope [students] leave with some techniques and maybe a little bit of hope for navigating what’s ahead,” they said.
Members from both organizations led a moderated interview, followed by open questioning from the audience. The organizers described the partnership between the organizations as both strategic and enjoyable. The co-president for GIC, Brynn Drake, said that she appreciated any opportunity to collaborate with the Rainbow Alliance.
“We got to collaborate with Rainbow [Alliance], so that was just an extra piece of fun,” Drake said. “We combined our questions and went back and forth about what we wanted this talk to really focus on.”
Drake said that the committee carefully selects speakers who align with their mission and values.
“We all get to write questions for the moderated portion,” Drake said. “By [writing questions], we are deciding the experiences and values we want the artist to express on stage and any expertise they might impart onto our audience.”
Drake said that GIC has hosted a wide range of speakers, aiming to foster dialogue on issues often overlooked on campus. She said the most rewarding part of events like this is seeing community form in the room.
“Being able to see queer students show up and be proud and be joyful, it’s very meaningful,” Drake said.
Vivian Moses, a freshman nursing major, is a long-time fan of Stoner and said that the event went further than reminiscing about Stoner’s acting.
“I loved all the metaphors they were using,” Moses said, recalling Stoner’s imagery during the Q&A. “They have such a beautiful way of talking.”
Holly Niewoehner, also a freshman nursing major, said she was able to relate to some of the struggles discussed over the course of the evening.
“There was a lot I felt I could learn from and use in my life,” said Niewoehner.
