In this inspiring episode of Out of Office, Kartik Sathappan and Jack Dwyer sit down with Alex Mathew, a high school student at the experimental Alpha School and the teenage founder of Berry, an AI-powered stuffed animal that teens can talk to for mental health support.Alex shares how his own struggles with therapy and school stress led him to build Berry, why he believes AI will replace traditional therapy, and how a cuddly plushie could help millions of young people reflect and build self-awareness. We dive into the science behind “transitional objects,” what’s wrong with online therapy, and why he’s designing Berry to push back instead of just validate.We also explore Alpha School’s radical education model: three hours of AI-powered academics, no teachers, and afternoons spent launching real-world ventures. Alex explains how he balances building a startup with being a student and how Alpha helps teens find their passion and develop it to Olympic-level standards.🐻 Learn more about Berry: https://berryplush.com/🏫 Learn more about Alpha School: https://alpha.school𝕏 Follow Alex: https://x.com/alxmthew🎧 Subscribe and listen to new episodes of Out of Office:X - https://x.com/outofofficepodxSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2oDg9z0aCNyS6L0YVbEIMDApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/out-of-office/id1789052920𝕏 Follow Kartik: https://x.com/sathaxe𝕏 Follow Jack: https://x.com/jackndwyerSponsored by Families Fund:The first VC fund backing founders rebuilding education and health for American families.https://www.families.fundChapters: 00:00 Meet Alex Mathew: Teen Founder of Berry and Student at Alpha 01:13 Why He Built an AI Plushie for Teen Mental Health 04:17 Gaps in Therapy and the Problem with ChatGPT as Support 07:33 How Berry Works: Reflection, Voice, and Personalization 11:28 Why a Plushie? Science, Nostalgia, and Virality 18:42 Go-To-Market Strategy: Teens, Parents, Schools, and TikTok 22:45 Data Privacy, Memory, and Ethical AI in Mental Health 25:17 Building a Startup Inside High School 27:41 Inside Alpha School: AI Learning, No Teachers, Big Projects 39:04 Rethinking Focus, ADHD, and the Future of Learning 48:31 Life at Alpha vs Traditional School 51:39 Should You Still Go to College After Alpha? 59:48 Real Role of Guides and How They Motivate Students 01:01:11 Screens, SEL, and Defeating Brainrot 01:06:50 What's Next for Berry and How to Get Involved