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On Our Minds is an Edward R. Murrow award-winning, student-led and student-produced podcast about the biggest mental health challenges young people face. In each episode, two teen reporters guide you through stories by high schoolers from PBS News Student Reporting Labs about the teenage experience that connects, educates and inspires listeners of all ages. Season 5 is an 8-episode podcast season exploring the theme “who inspires you?” Episodes feature student journalists from across the country in conversation with individuals they look up to.
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How can you figure how what kind of person you want to be? Through books, says YA writer Nic Stone and viral-librarian Mychal Threets. Nic and Mychal share their wisdom about finding yourself and finding joy through reading. Click here for this episode's transcript.Segments were produced by Beatrix and Katherine from Austin, Texas. Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske produced this episode with editing and mixing by Wyatt Mayes and Genesis Magpayo. Ryan Janes is the camera and audio operator.
What makes school fun? An inspiring teacher! Stories of gratitude for the people who devote their lives to helping students learn and grow: classroom teachers, librarians, and principals. Click here for this episode's transcript.Segments were produced by Jay from Southlake, Texas; Marium and Aruja from El Paso, Texas; and Connor and Jay from Clinton Township, Michigan. Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske produced this episode with editing and mixing by Wyatt Mayes, with help from Genesis Magpayo. Ryan Janes is the camera and audio operator.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen joins student reporter Khadeejah Khan for a thoughtful discussion on identity, memory, activism, and the role of art in "abolishing the conditions of voicelessness." In addition, Annalise shares a conversation with her father about growing up Chinese in Ecuador and how he embraces his multiple cultures. Click here for this episode's transcript.Segments were produced by Annalise from Danville, CA and Khadeejah from Santa Clara, CA. Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske produced this episode with editing and mixing by Genesis Magpayo, and help from Wyatt Mayes. Ryan Janes is the camera and audio operator.
Family bonds shape who we become and what dreams we have for our lives. Teens open up to their parents and siblings about what matters most: their passions, identity, and culture. Click here for this episode's transcript.Segments were produced by Ava from Black River Falls, WI; Priscilla from Danville, CA; and Denver from Orlando, FL; and Dylan from Boston, MA.Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske produced this episode with editing and mixing by Wyatt Mayes, with help from Genesis Magpayo. Ryan Janes is our camera and audio operator.
It’s a special episode! Hear 1A host, Jenn White, interview On Our Minds students, Ava (from WI), Jay (from TX), and Michelle (from VA) about who inspires them. 1A is produced by WAMU and distributed by NPR.
Therapist Dr. Joy Harden Bradford discusses her book Sisterhood Heals: The Transformative Power of Healing in Community. Dr. Joy (host of the podcast, Therapy for Black Girls) talks with Bree Campbell (On Our Minds, Season 4 co-host) about sisterhoods, how to create a friend circle, and why boys and young men need supportive friend groups as well. Click here for this episode's transcript.This interview was produced by Bree Campbell, and this episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske with help from Associate Producer Wyatt Mayes. SRL intern Genesis Magpayo edited and mixed this episode.
How do your friends influence and inspire you? Our friends change us, for better or for worse. The best friendships inspire us to become better versions of ourselves. Staying in touch is key, which is why pen pals and phone calls are important. Click here for this episode's transcript.Segments were produced by Sakeenah and Tanya from Aurora, Illinois, and Michelle from McLean, Virginia. This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske with help from Associate Producer Wyatt Mayes. SRL intern Genesis Magpayo edited and mixed this episode.
Listen to the official trailer for the fifth season of On Our Minds from PBS News Student Reporting Labs. This season will feature teenagers in conversation with people they admire and look up to — in their families, local communities, and the literary world.
Students explore the benefits of study abroad and the importance of paying attention to international news, like what's going on in the Middle East. Plus, Bree and James announce a special season of On Our Minds coming this fall! Click here for this episode's transcript.Segments were produced by Alexia Nastasia and Miriam Reichenberg. This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske with help from Jaylah Moore Ross. Research and fact-checking by Simran Gupta. Alayna Ly from KUOW's RadioActive edited and mixed this episode.
Diego Perez, better known as Yung Pueblo, is a number one New York Times best-selling writer, widely known for his poems on Instagram. He recently spoke with students at SXSW EDU about his writing and the healing power of mediation. Click here for this episode's transcript.The conversation with Diego Perez ("Yung Pueblo") was produced by Amelie Perez, Chloe Lewcock, Pierce Martin, and Autumn Rodgers at SXSW EDU with support from teachers David Winter at McCallum High School and Trina Moore at Rouse High School. This episode was produced, edited, and mixed by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske.
Since 2020, guns have been the number one cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. According to Dr. Robin Gurwith (expert on the impact of trauma and disaster on children), hearing stories about how teens have been affected by lockdowns and gun violence can help us honor victims and lead to action steps. Click here for this episode's transcript.Segments were produced by Lydia Tong, Nora, Brian, and Jaylin. This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske with research and fact-checking by Simran Gupta. Frankie St. Pierre Nelson from KUOW's RadioActive edited and mixed this episode.
Sophia Kianni was the youngest member of the United Nations’s first Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. She talks with Bree and James about why she started an organization dedicated to translating climate information and resources and getting involved with Born This Way Foundation, which helps support youth mental health. Click here for this episode's transcript.This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske. Frankie St. Pierre Nelson from KUOW's RadioActive edited and mixed this episode.
Over the last three years or so, states have proposed more legislation that would restrict or change the way teachers talk about race, American history, gender, and sexuality. In this episode, students discuss critical race theory, anti-LGBTQ bills, and also legislation helping students' mental health. Click here for this episode's transcript.Segments were produced by Leeya Chaudhuri from Raleigh, North Carolina, and Noah Konevitch from Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske produced this episode with help from Associate Producer Jaylah Moore-Ross. Alayna Ly from KUOW's RadioActive edited and mixed this episode.
In the second part of Bree and James's conversation with the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy advises on how to create tech-free zones to limit time on social media. James also asks a few fun questions about Elmo and chocolate chip pancakes. Click here for this episode’s transcript.Have a question or message for On Our Minds? Fill out this form.This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske with help from Associate Producer Jaylah Moore-Ross. Frankie St. Pierre Nelson from KUOW's RadioActive edited and mixed this episode.
The U.S. Surgeon General's advice to his teenage self (Part 1) Teen mental health is one of the U.S. Surgeon General's top priorities. In part one of two, Bree and James talk with the Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, about his mental health as a teenager and tips for combating loneliness and isolation. Click here for this episode’s transcript. Have a question or message for On Our Minds? Fill out this form. This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske with help from Associate Producer Jaylah Moore-Ross. Frankie St. Pierre Nelson from KUOW's RadioActive edited and mixed this episode.
On Our Minds' first podcast swap! We hope you enjoy this special episode from KUOW’s RadioActive.From video games and D&D to fandoms and cosplay, RadioActive shares the stories of people who create and consume media. This episode was produced by RadioActive's Indigo Mays, Dash Pinck, and Carter Ortiz. Production assistance by Antonio Nevarez. Transcript and KUOW website here.
American men are stuck in what's being called a "friendship recession." In this episode, students explore what's going on with young men and their mental health and how redefining masculinity could help. Click here for this episode's transcript.Have a question or message for On Our Minds? Fill out this form.Segments were produced by Nico from Santa Clara, California, and Riona from Clarksburg, Maryland. Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske produced this episode with help from Associate Producer Jaylah Moore-Ross. Antonio Nevarez from KUOW's RadioActive edited and mixed this episode.
Clyde and Gracie Lawrence (the brother-sister duo of the Lawrence the Band) talk with James and Bree about their family and how making music is therapeutic. Click here for this episode's transcript.Have a question or message for On Our Minds? Fill out this form.This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske and Associate Producer Jaylah Moore-Ross. Alayna Ly from KUOW's RadioActive edited and mixed this episode. This episode was made in collaboration with the podcast This Teenage Life.
You asked, we delivered--an episode all about music! Students share what songs they love right now, and how music makes them feel and connects them to their culture. Plus James gives an impromptu musical performance. Click here for this episode's transcript.Have a question or message for On Our Minds? Fill out this form.Segments were produced by SRL Digital Producer Rawan Elbaba and our winter academy fellows, plus Samantha from Stuyvesant High School in New York. Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske produced this episode with help from Associate Producer Jaylah Moore-Ross. Antonio Nevarez from KUOW's RadioActive edited and mixed this episode.
What does it mean to succeed at something? What even is "success"? Teens discuss what success means to them, how their definitions differ from their parents, and how the term (while subjective) matters. Click here for this episode's transcript.Have a question or message for On Our Minds? Fill out this form.Segments were produced by Kansas City students (with the support of the Kauffman Foundation and Youth Media Producer, Chris Schwalm) and Keerthi from San Ramon, California. This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske with help from Associate Producer Jaylah Moore-Ross. Frankie St. Pierre Nelson from KUOW's RadioActive edited and mixed this episode.
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