Youth For Youth: Recent Episodes
The Walrus Lab
Want to get to know the youth leaders of today? Youth For Youth is a six-part series that’s sharing stories and perspectives on some of the biggest issues facing young people today. This podcast explores big topics like mental health, climate change, the impacts of social media, and how to deal with cancel culture as a teenager. Six different teenage hosts take a deep dive into issues facing their generation. This podcast is presented by The Walrus Lab with support from The Rossy Foundation.
If the pandemic highlighted anything, it was how much we need artists in our lives. As we were all stuck at home, films, books, and music became our sources of entertainment. How can a robust infrastructure be developed in the arts to withstand any future obstacle like the pandemic? Our host Ziga Poromon speaks with arts educator, poet, and community leader Randell Adjei about the ways young people can find conviction and space in a field that has not been the same since its disruption.
The climate crisis is one of the biggest issues impacting youth globally. Today, we look at youth leadership in STEM and the possible solutions to combating the climate crisis. The spotlight tends to be focused on the harm and corruption, but this discussion alternately explores the possibilities of harm reduction. Our host Sophie Heringa speaks to Alisha Arora, who is in the process of pioneering an A.I. program that detects suicidal ideation on social media with M.I.T. Arora shares the story of the events that led her to such an idea.
Social media influencing has become a saturated, all-encompassing world. Where is the future of social media marketing headed? Will this become industry standard? Our host Ian Monchesky speaks to Umair Tazeem of Embold—a Canadian company that specializes in connecting brands to smaller, micro-influencers. Tazeem delves deep into the future of the field, which could see companies value engagement over follower counts.
Can something you said as a teenager come back to haunt you in adulthood? That's the reality for today's youth who are sometimes "cancelled" for posts they made in their teens. Youth host Thivya Jeyapalan explores her Teen Walrus article, “Cancel Culture and the Pressures of Being a Teen Online” and speaks to expert Dr. Meredith Clark, an associate professor at Northeastern University who studies the intersectionality of race, media, and power.
This week we explore the variables that negatively affect mental health for LGBTQ+ youth today and the dizzying disruption the pandemic has had on schooling. Host Fey Trolitsch speaks to Fae Johnstone of Wisdom2Action about the multitude of factors that impact mental health—particularly in regard to more vulnerable and marginalized communities. Also, a word from Trudeau Gulati, author of the Teen Walrus digital series article, “How the Pandemic Messed Up My Education.”
We're touching on the future of politics in Canada, and how that might change as more people rally around the idea of lowering the federal voting age from eighteen to sixteen. Youth host Aymaan Abid speaks about her Teen Walrus article, “Why the Voting Age Needs to be Lowered to Sixteen.” She spoke with Dr. Amita Kuttner, astrophysicist and the interim leader of the Green Party of Canada, about the ongoing efforts and support to lower the federal voting age from eighteen to sixteen.
Get a preview of the Youth For Youth. It's a six-part series where youth share their stories and perspectives on some of the biggest issues facing young people today. Starting in late October 2022, tune in to hear from six different teenage hosts as they touch on issues like mental health, climate change, and more. This podcast is presented by The Walrus Lab with support from The Rossy Foundation.