The Youth Vote: Recent Episodes
Isaac Mitchell
Today's episode is our full-length conversation with Dr. LaGarrett King, who was featured in our Education in America series. Dr. King has studied the way Black history is taught in U.S. schools, and he's developed a framework schools can utilize to provide a more accurate and complete story of America's history.
Dr. Jon Grinspan is the curator of political history at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. We talked about youth political engagement throughout history. What issues did young people a hundred years ago care about? Why did young voters used to be more active than they are today? Listen to find out.
Listen to our latest announcement to learn what to expect from The Youth Vote moving forward.
Today's show is about the people who make education happen: teachers. We talk about the traits that make the best teachers, and what teachers are going through in the age of COVID. Through all the challenges, what makes teachers stay in the field?
Today's Guests:
Dr. Jeff Spanke, Education Professor, Ball State University
Sarah Bredar, public school teacher in Arizona
Featured Guests From Previous Episodes:
Joel King, Director of Teaching and Learning, Great Oaks Career Campuses
Brittany Garcia-Espinoza; 3rd Grade Teacher; Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools
Dr. Theodoros Zervas, Professor of Education, North Park University
Dr. Jean Ruffin; Professor of Leadership, Research and School Improvement; University of West Georgia
Dr. Bradley Poos, Associate Director, Institute for Urban Education, University of Missouri Kansas City
On today's episode, we explore some of the options students have after high school. Authority figures tell us we need to have a college degree if we want to succeed in life, but that's not the path for everyone, and that's okay. We're talking about technical schools and the military.
Today's Guests:
Joel King, Director of Teaching and Learning, Great Oaks Career Campuses
Joan Sweeny, Army Veteran and Program Assistant at Cuyahoga Community College
Today, we discuss how school curriculum could improve in America. We deconstruct the ways our history books emphasize whiteness, and talk about some of the more accurate and equitable narratives our classrooms should implement. In the second half of the show, we discuss what a more complete sex education would consist of. Finally, we take a look into an LGBTQ-inclusive classroom, and learn the ways all classrooms could be more welcoming and affirming.
Today's guests:
Vance Blackfox, Director of Public Relations, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
Dr. LaGarrett King; Professor of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum; University of Missouri
Brittany McBride, Associate Director of Sexuality Education, Advocates for Youth
Ace Schwarz, middle school science teacher and creator of Teaching Outside The Binary
In episode 2 of our Education in America series, we explore the ways school districts are funded. Schools with a majority white students receive $23 billion more per year than schools with a majority students of color. We explore the systemic causes behind this, and examine how funding impacts students in the classroom. We also talk ways that the school funding system could be overhauled.
We're launching our new Education in America series with a history lesson. Spoiler alert: America's schools are riddled with a history of violence, racism and abuse. We're talking about school segregation, the struggle for integration and the Native American boarding school era. We'll explore the ways the past is still with us.
Claudia Gomez is a college student in Georgia. She shares why she decided to vote for the fist time in 2020. She talks with host Isaac Goff-Mitchell about what it was like experiencing the shift from red to blue in the November and January elections in the state.
Raaheela Ahmed was the first guest ever to speak on The Youth Vote. Almost a year later, we're checking in to see how her work shifted throughout 2020. She talks about some of the hard decisions she's facing as a school board member in Maryland's District 5. She also talks about ways students across the country can get involved in the Campus Vote Project.
On today's episode, we get to know Larissa Peixoto and Gareth Davies, hosts of the podcast Brazil Nuts. Learn about the ways U.S. politics impact the world, and how Brazilian and American politics compare.
Betsy Fogle of Springfield, Missouri, narrowly won her November State House race; beating her incumbent opponent by just 76 votes. We talked with her about her intentions to progress the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act and how her background in public health will inform her role as a legislator.
Alaina Swope recently ran a progressive campaign in the conservative 97th House District of Ohio. Today's episode features discussion on her campaign's strategies, some of the issues she supports, and ways she thinks the Democratic Party of Ohio can improve moving forward.
Last month, James Coleman won his race for South San Francisco's City Council, making him the youngest ever elected member, and the first openly LGBTQ+ as well as the first openly Socialist Democrat. Councilmember Coleman's priorities include addressing climate change, expanding affordable housing and demilitarizing the South San Francisco Police Department and diverting a portion of department funds to other public initiatives like universal pre-K.
Host Isaac Goff-Mitchell sits down with David Larocque, host of the Sirens Of Progress podcast to discuss The Supreme Court. The two point out the hypocrisy surrounding the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, the impact the Trump administration had on the Court, and the future of the progressive movement.
At 14 years old, Haven Coleman is the youngest guest The Youth Vote has had. She's been a climate activist since she was 10 years old. Whether shaking things up at local town hall meetings, organizing with Al Gore and young activists from around the world, or striking every Friday from school, Haven is determined to use her voice to shape the future of climate policy.
Christina Haswood is the candidate running unopposed for Kansas' House of Representatives, District 10. At 26, she'll be the youngest sitting member of the state legislature, and the third-ever Native American legislator. With a background in public health, she plans to work to expand Medicaid in her state. She also talks about the importance of Native representation in politics.
Fatima works for the Kansas City, MO City Council as the Projects and Initiatives Coordinator. We learned the importance of non-elected administrators, and the role they play in ensuring the smooth delivery and execution of various policies. We also discussed the difference in working at the local level vs. the federal level of politics.
In the fifth and final episode of our Voting in America series, we introduce you to a user-friendly online initiative that can help you devise a safe and effective voting plan. We wanted to end our series on a lighter note, because while it seems our democracy is in a state of crisis, we don't want you to feel hopeless.
Thus far, we've aired three shows focusing on just how messed up the U.S. voting system is, but that is not the entire story. In the fourth episode of our Voting in America series, we're highlighting some of the community organizers and activists who are finding solutions. They've been on the ground registering voters and educating folks on the democratic process. We shine a light on two groups who are working to expand voter access specifically within Indigenous and Latinx communities.
On today's episode, we address the elephant in the room: why some people choose not to vote. We examine the problems with the "vote or don't complain" mentality, and learn how a few community organizers work to energize voters through public outreach and education. We also discuss some of the unique ways college students are disenfranchised.
The second episode in our Voting in America series explores the contemporary ways Americans are disenfranchised, and the connections between voter suppression and the criminal justice system. We spoke with scholars and community organizers about the racist and classist links to voter suppression tactics, and the work of dismantling them.
We're kicking off our Voting In America series with a history lesson. We discuss the way presidential elections work, and how the electoral college has historic roots in white supremacy. White men have had the right to vote since the writing of the Constitution, but everyone else has had to fight for it. Listen to learn the ways our past is shaping the present.
Tyler Travers talks about how he and his boss, Missouri State Representative Greg Razer, are preparing for their transition into the Missouri State Senate. He explained what a victory looks like for a democrat in a conservative trifecta state. Follow him @TylerTraversMO on Twitter.
Discussion with Maine State Representative Ryan Fecteau. Follow him on Twitter @RyanFecteau.
Discussion with Ohio campaign consultant Philipp Corfman. Donate to Joanie Sweeny at https://joanieforohio.com/
For two weeks, we will shine a spotlight on the Black Lives Matter movement, as experienced by young activists. This week, we explore perspectives of activists from around the country.
For two weeks, we will shine a spotlight on the Black Lives Matter movement, as experienced by young activists. This week, we explore protests and grassroots organizing in the Indiana cities of Muncie and Indianapolis.
Discussion with Everton Blair, a 28 year old member of the Gwinnett County Board of Education.
Discussion with Anton Krieger, a 20 year old former candidate for city council in North Royalton, Ohio.
Discussion with State Senator Will Haskell, a 24 year old State Senator from Connecticut.
Discussion with Raaheela Ahmed, a 26 year old member of the Prince George's County Board of Education.
Podcast about young people who have chosen to engage in the political system as candidates, activists, and otherwise remarkable people.