The Teens Talk Podcast: Recent Episodes
Youth Celebrate Diversity
The Teens Talk Podcast is a project from the Student Virtual Board of Youth Celebrate Diversity, elevating youth voice on the critical issues facing youth today. To learn more, donate, or to get involved, visit https://ycdiversity.org.
What does it take to be an activist? How do you know if you've made a real difference? In this season finale, we're diving into the world of student activism. Join us for an inspiring conversation with a college student who found his voice and made it heard, even in the face of opposition. Then, get ready for Leila's season 3 farewell as she reflects on the season's journey and shares exclusive behind-the-scenes moments.
First-generation or second-generation, are our stories truly that different? Is there a lot of common ground between immigrants and the children of immigrants? This episode explores these questions in a conversation about identity and belonging. Three students join Leila to unpack the complexities of their immigrant backgrounds. They delve into shared cultural experiences, the challenges of navigating multiple identities, and the profound ways in which the immigrant experience has shaped them.
What's the story behind the largest yet often most misunderstood segment of the LGBTQ+ community? How do we break down the barriers around attraction to multiple genders? The bisexual and pansexual community represents a significant portion of the LGBTQ+ spectrum, yet their experiences are too often silenced. Break the silence with us as we welcome Nicole Kristal, founder of the Still Bi campaign, now a leading non-profit promoting visibility and community for this segment of the LGBTQ+ community. Join us to discover the unique challenges faced by this community and the crucial role allyship plays in fostering understanding and acceptance for all LGBTQ+ identities.
What does it take to have a fulfilling career in the arts when you come from an underrepresented background? Find out in this special episode, where we delve into the stories of these four creatives who have made their mark as actors, comedians, journalists, writers, and directors. From navigating systemic barriers to embracing their unique perspectives, these trailblazers share their inspiring journeys and reveal the secrets to thriving in an industry where representation matters.
Imagine a classroom where differences are celebrated, not just tolerated. Can we create a school where every student, regardless of ability, learns and thrives together? Is our education system truly inclusive? Join us for a groundbreaking conversation with Erin Studer, executive director of the CHIME Institute's programs, which champion a revolutionary model of inclusive education. In this episode, we'll critically examine the meaning of inclusion, confront uncomfortable truths, and envision a future where disability advocacy reshapes education and redefines what's possible for all learners.
What really unites the AAPI community in the US? Is it shared culture, experiences, or something else entirely? In this episode, we challenge the AAPI label by diving deep into four diverse perspectives, including our host's. Spanning from New Jersey to Hawaii, with roots in various countries of origin, their experiences couldn't be more different. But will we uncover common threads that weave them together? Join us as we delve into the AAPI community's most pressing concerns, unraveling stereotypes, embracing the richness of our differences, and discovering similarities to celebrate.
How can people of faith from different backgrounds join forces to create meaningful change? In this episode of the Teens Talk Podcast, we look into the principles of collaboration and explore how faith communities can unite to address urgent issues like climate change. Host Leila speaks with Reverend Carol Devine, an ordained pastor in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), who has extensive experience in multifaith and environmental initiatives, including Blessed Tomorrow and One Home One Future. Discover how religious leaders can bridge differences, find common ground, and work together to build a better future for all.
Ever wondered what goes through students' minds as they navigate the complex college application process and make their final decision? How do youth from different backgrounds weigh the different factors in making a decision? In this episode, host Leila speaks with a diverse group of high school seniors, fresh off their college commitment day, to share their unique journeys. From celebrating acceptances to grappling with doubts and fears, this episode explores the emotional rollercoaster of the college application process and offers a glimpse into the exciting future that awaits them.
The Teens Talk Podcast returns for season 3, taking a whole new approach to its format and conversations. Host Leila is bringing together a diverse group of experts to learn more about creating a safe space for dialogue on important and sensitive topics, especially related to inclusion and justice.
Featured guests include Dr. Rana Razzaque, Director of Opportunity, Access, and Inclusion at Englewood Schools in Colorado; Margo Guernsey, a Boston-based documentary filmmaker with experience as a union organizer, non-profit development director, and Spanish/English translator; and Mason Estes, a keynote speaker for leadership and diversity conferences and a mentor for youth activists.
In this episode, Teens Talk podcast host Lameese Makkawi is joined by Ellie Younger, a recent college graduate, where they discuss justice for disabled people. Many disabled people have built a community to protect each other from able-bodied people’s inability to make space for them. You will learn just how uneducated the collective is on what it takes to fight for disability justice. After breaking down just how many barriers are hidden in plain sight, you will understand the gravity of the situation.
In this episode, Teens Talk podcast host Lameese Makkawi is joined by Katie Randall, the Chief Development and Communications Officer at the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless, to discuss what it’s like to be unhoused. They touch on the community efforts being taken to assist those most vulnerable. Dr. Randall paints a picture of the reality of being unhoused, as well as tangible ways to help the unhoused community. It takes more than the occasional donation, yet requires less when you work as a community.
In this episode, Teens Talk podcast host Lameese Makkawi is joined by Wafa Saeed, where they discuss what a diaspora is and how it operates. Their conversation touches on the complex differences when trying to build community on an international level compared to a local level. They cover many strategies used as a community when fighting for your rights. You will learn just how well you can utilize technology to make an impact.
In this episode, host Lameese Makkawi is joined by college student Rediet Moges to discuss how to recognize opposition in the people meant to serve you. It’s great to be passionate about wanting to create change; however, it’s wise you learn about all the different roadblocks you will most likely face during the process. Many of these roadblocks are from people in power. You will learn just how much your voice matters when settling disputes with opposition.
In this episode, host Lameese Makkawi is joined by college student Rohan Guddanti to discuss what actually goes into running and maintaining a community space. You will learn tips and skills used to maintain a safe space while still creating change. You will also leave remembering people are too nuanced to put in a box when building a group.
In this second episode of the Teens Talk Podcast, host Lameese speaks with college student Jimena Christerna about addressing mental health in the community. Mental health is too often stigmatized in communities working for social change. This episode is for those interested in understanding and exploring how trauma is passed down through generations, and why addressing mental health is necessary to build a strong, healthy community.#teenstalk, #ycd, #ycdiversity, #youthcelebratediversity, #diversity, #community, #communitybuilding
Have you ever had an interest in leading and building a community? Whether it's working locally as a student activist, or internationally advocating for a diaspora. These are the aspects we’ll be exploring in season 2 of the teens talk podcast. In this episode, Teens Talk podcast host Lameese Makkawi is joined by Zaira Rodriguez, a student at the Washington University in St. Louis, where they will discuss what community actually is and looks like. They share stories to recognize the struggles and benefits of having community and why it’s important to continue to build it. You will learn that the community doesn’t always look like what you think it does.
In this episode of the podcast Teens Talk, Board member Rhea talks with her classmate and activist Mariangela Acosta about her experience as a Deaf student in the education system, and how we can all do better to be inclusive of Deaf and disabled students.
The Teens Talk Podcast is a project from the Student Virtual Board of Youth Celebrate Diversity, elevating youth voice on the critical issues facing youth today. To learn more, donate, or to get involved, visit https://ycdiversity.org.
In this third episode of the podcast Teens Talk, the conversation continues between Board members Rediet and Etsub on the Black Lives Matter movement and how it affects teens today. The conversation is split between two episodes; this is part two of their conversation.
Nikki Archuleta (she/her) is an activist, humanitarian, educator scholar, poet, podcaster, community organizer and revolutionary! She is a firm believer in fighting to obliterate oppression across the board and fighting for the equality and equity of the historically disenfranchised. As a woman of African, Mexican, and Indigenous decent she has fallen in love with her people and though their stories are the most tragic it’s the beauty and resilience of those who came before her that have guided her footsteps towards liberation. She has worked with countless organizations such as Black Lives Matter, the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP), The Red Nation, Power through Peace as well as creating The Albuquerque Arts Collective to create a platform for local artists to share their craft all while raising money for important causes.
Dr. Apryl Alexander (she/her) is an Associate Professor at the University of Denver. She primarily teaches in the Master's of Forensic Psychology program in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology and supervises students at the Denver Forensic Institute for Research, Service and Training (Denver FIRST). She serves as Director of Denver FIRST's Outpatient Competency Restoration Program (OCRP), which provides outpatient competency education and restoration for low-risk, court-ordered adult defendants and juveniles. In 2020, she was awarded a 3-year grant from the DOJ’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to develop a gender-sensitive, culturally competent, and evidence-based trauma treatment program for juvenile justice-involved girls (the Denver FIRST Juvenile Justice Project) in the Denver metro area. Dr. Alexander serves on the board of the Colorado Juvenile Defender Center (CJDC) and the Colorado Criminal Defense Institute (CCDI). In 2020, Dr. Alexander was unanimously appointed to the Denver Citizen Oversight Board (COB) by the Denver City Council.
The Teens Talk Podcast is a project from the Student Virtual Board of Youth Celebrate Diversity, elevating youth voice on the critical issues facing youth today. To learn more, donate, or to get involved, visit https://ycdiversity.org.
In this second episode of the podcast Teens Talk, Board members Rediet and Etsub interview two leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement, one in Denver and the other in Albuquerque, about their work for racial justice. The conversation is split between two episodes; this is part one of their conversation.
Nikki Archuleta (she/her) is an activist, humanitarian, educator scholar, poet, podcaster, community organizer and revolutionary! She is a firm believer in fighting to obliterate oppression across the board and fighting for the equality and equity of the historically disenfranchised. As a woman of African, Mexican, and Indigenous decent she has fallen in love with her people and though their stories are the most tragic it’s the beauty and resilience of those who came before her that have guided her footsteps towards liberation. She has worked with countless organizations such as Black Lives Matter, the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP), The Red Nation, Power through Peace as well as creating The Albuquerque Arts Collective to create a platform for local artists to share their craft all while raising money for important causes.
Dr. Apryl Alexander (she/her) is an Associate Professor at the University of Denver. She primarily teaches in the Master's of Forensic Psychology program in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology and supervises students at the Denver Forensic Institute for Research, Service and Training (Denver FIRST). She serves as Director of Denver FIRST's Outpatient Competency Restoration Program (OCRP), which provides outpatient competency education and restoration for low-risk, court-ordered adult defendants and juveniles. In 2020, she was awarded a 3-year grant from the DOJ’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to develop a gender-sensitive, culturally competent, and evidence-based trauma treatment program for juvenile justice-involved girls (the Denver FIRST Juvenile Justice Project) in the Denver metro area. Dr. Alexander serves on the board of the Colorado Juvenile Defender Center (CJDC) and the Colorado Criminal Defense Institute (CCDI). In 2020, Dr. Alexander was unanimously appointed to the Denver Citizen Oversight Board (COB) by the Denver City Council.
The Teens Talk Podcast is a project from the Student Virtual Board of Youth Celebrate Diversity, elevating youth voice on the critical issues facing youth today. To learn more, donate, or to get involved, visit https://ycdiversity.org.
In this first episode of the new podcast Teens Talk, Board member Elizabeth M. interviews activist Marissa Molina about immigration reform and DACA.
A native of Mexico, Marissa grew up in the Western Slope of Colorado in Glenwood Springs. She attended Fort Lewis College, where she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Political Science and Economics. As a 2014 Teach for America Corps Member, Marissa taught Spanish for Native Speakers at DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School. In July 2015, Marissa was one of nine educators with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status to be honored by the White House as a Champion of Change. She now works as the Colorado State Director for FWD.us on immigration reform.
The Teens Talk Podcast is a project from the Student Virtual Board of Youth Celebrate Diversity, elevating youth voice on the critical issues facing youth today. To learn more, donate, or to get involved, visit https://ycdiversity.org.