RadioActive

Nine stories of teenagers navigating high-stakes decisions and forks in the road. Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/choose-your-own-adventure-radio-nine-stories-by-seattle-teens[RadioActive Youth Media was KUOW's journalism and audio storytelling program for teenagers. It ran from 2013-2024.]

In this hour of youth radio, hosts Gavin Muhlfelder and Phillip Zhou present nine RadioActive Youth Media stories produced in 2023. They also talk with some of the youth producers about the time they spent at KUOW, what they learned, and what their stories mean to them now.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/an-hour-of-stories-from-radioactive-summer-2023

Late last month, KUOW announced the station was ending its RadioActive Youth Media program. For 20 years, RadioActive brought listeners the stories and perspectives of young people in the Pacific Northwest. Soundside producer Noel Gasca reflects on what the program has meant to the over 6,000 youth who participated - and what will be lost.

Late last month, KUOW announced the station was ending its RadioActive Youth Media program. For 20 years, RadioActive brought listeners the stories and perspectives of young people in the Pacific Northwest. Soundside producer Noel Gasca reflects on what the program has meant to the over 6,000 youth who participated - and what will be lost.

Soundside revisits a story produced by RadioActive alum Avery Styer back in 2016. Eight years ago, Avery took us to a space in Capitol Hill that had a special spot in their life - Lambert House, a community center for LGBTQ+ youth. Since that original story, Avery has aged out of the youth programs Lambert House currently offers, but that doesn't mean they've moved on.

It's been more than 20 years since the U.S. invaded Iraq. For Darren Fisher, it's been more than 20 years since he said, "No" to that invasion. RadioActive's Olivia Asmann has the story of one young Marine's objection to fighting in the so-called war on terror.This story discusses the realities of the military and war.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/why-one-young-marine-refused-to-fight-in-iraq[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

RadioActive's Vivi Cardenas-Habell says the Seattle Fandango Project played a key role in her upbringing. But she didn't fully appreciate it until Covid took it away.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/building-community-is-an-act-of-social-justice-at-the-seattle-fandango-project[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

In the summer of 1972, the year before Roe v. Wade made abortion legal nationwide, Elaine Fichter was 16 years old and eight weeks pregnant. Fichter lived in Washington state where abortion was already legal, and she made the choice to terminate her pregnancy.Fifty years later, Fichter's grandchild, RadioActive's Natalie Lahr, explores how her grandmother's decision impacted both of their futures.Content note: This story discusses the process of getting an abortion in some detail. It also references parental abuse. Please take care when listening.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/at-16-my-grandma-had-an-abortion-at-18-i-m-telling-her-story[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Aaron Ton's grandparents and their children lived comfortably in southern Vietnam. But everything changed on April 30, 1975.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/my-grandfather-s-little-story-a-journey-through-war-and-prison-in-vietnam[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Seattle is home to 10% of the Eritrean population in the United States.Many Eritrean immigrants found political asylum in the U.S. in the 1980s and 90s due to the Eritrean War of Independence.For some young first-generation Eritrean Americans like RadioActive's Alex Mengisteab, this history feels both close and slightly out of reach. So to better understand it, Alex talked to his family friend Habtom Hagos about his experiences growing up as a child during the war.This story discusses the realities of war and thoughts of suicide.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/separated-from-his-family-in-eritrea-at-7-this-seattle-man-mentors-east-african-kids[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

A cancer diagnosis "sucks." And the hospital stays that follow don't make it any easier. 17-year-old Harry McGovern wanted to make a difference for other teenage cancer patients like him. So he started The First Night Project.RadioActive's Sidh Shroff has this story about his friend. Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-first-night-project-makes-cancer-ward-stays-a-little-easier-for-teens[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

For some students coming from under-resourced high schools, going to college seems like a beacon of light that will solve all their problems. Students are told that at college they'll gain access to things they didn't have in high school — health care, stable housing, regular meals, a gym, tutoring, extra-curricular activities, and more. But when Khanh Doan got into their dream university, they quickly realized going to college wouldn't end their struggle with depression. RadioActive's Jana Le has this story about her friend.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/first-generation-low-income-student-mental-health-in-college[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

When RadioActive's Rediet Giday was three months old, her family moved to the United States — without her.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/joy-and-happiness-was-left-behind-the-price-my-family-paid-for-the-american-dream[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

A daughter reflects on the emotional and challenging journey her father, an Ethiopian refugee, made in order to save his life and pursue his dreams.RadioActive's Eliham Mohammed has this story about her dad.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/walking-the-nile-in-his-shoes[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

BONUS EPISODE: "On Our Minds with Bree & James” is a podcast about mental health — produced by and for teens — from our friends at PBS News Hour Student Reporting Labs. RadioActive has been collaborating with Student Reporting Labs to produce "On Our Minds" this year, and we're excited to share this special bonus episode with you. RadioActive's Frankie St. Pierre Nelson edited and mixed this episode.If you like this episode and want more, you can find “On Our Minds” wherever you get your podcasts. What does it mean to succeed at something? What even is "success"? On this episode of "On Our Minds," 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.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.

George “Hot Dog” Moxley. A nickname born in the Jim Crow South and given to a boy who defied the unspoken laws of the time.RadioActive's Nyla Moxley talked with her grandfather about the summer in Kentucky when he got the nickname.This story discusses racist violence.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/buying-hot-dogs-was-an-act-of-resilience-for-my-grandfather-in-the-jim-crow-south[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Fatuma Yusuf faces and embraces the challenges of being a woman who wears the hijab in the modeling industry. Her sister, RadioActive's Maymuna Yusuf, has her story.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/what-s-it-like-being-a-hijab-wearing-model[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

A lot of young people grow up thinking deeply about their racial identities.But what if your family's identity is mixed? It can be complicated.RadioActive's Gavin Muhlfelder tells his family's story.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/black-white-seattleite-my-family-s-experience-being-mixed-race-in-seattle[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Stephanie Hogan was born in America and raised Jewish. But after living abroad and watching senseless violent events unfold, she began to question and change her identity and beliefs.Now 'Ms. Hogan' teaches history at Mount Rainier High School, where she met RadioActive's Daniel Colindres. Daniel talked with Ms. Hogan about her lifelong process of self-discovery.Please note this story briefly references state-sanctioned violence against specific groups of people.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/my-history-teacher-s-unusual-personal-history[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Not everyone has the same relationship with their hijab. Some people feel confident wearing the hijab at a young age, and others are still on that journey.For this personal essay, RadioActive's Jehan Hashi talked to her best friend, Ameera Ahmed, about how they both found power and freedom in wearing their hijabs.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/how-to-navigate-the-public-school-system-as-a-hijabi[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Do you know what glossophobia is? You might have it. It's the fear of public speaking. RadioActive's Josue Villalobos talks to his sisters about their shared anxieties, and how they overcome them.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/it-s-okay-to-be-afraid-of-public-speaking[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Seven years ago, Aaliyah and Najmah Messiah entered into Taniya Guster's life. They started as housemates, but they quickly became like family. RadioActive's Taniya Guster has this conversation with two of the most important women in her life.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/pay-attention-listen-and-learn-a-15-year-old-gets-advice-from-two-of-her-role-models[[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

For over a quarter of a century, Laura Moffitt dedicated her career to the elementary school library in the rural Washington town of Concrete. A lot of that time was spent trying to save it. And now, the library is no longer staffed.

As a kid, RadioActive's Phillip Zhou didn't know much about his dad's immigration story — they never really talked about it. But that all changed recently when Phillip learned about a big choice his dad made for their family. Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/my-Chinese-immigrant-dad-s-love-kept-our-family-together[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Many parents make sacrifices for their children. For immigrants, that may mean moving to the United States to fulfill the 'American dream.' But for one mom, that dream didn't come true. RadioActive's Redeat Debebe has this story about her family.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/my-mothers-courageous-and-isolating-experience-of-immigration[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Welcome to "The Human Show," the first-ever live radio program written by Artificial Intelligence. Don't resist progress! Before it's too late...This is a fictional, satirical episode of the "RadioActive" podcast. This episode was written and produced by Olivia Asmann, Aaron Ton and Natalie Lahr.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/fiction-the-human-show-2033[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Join Daniel Colindres-Flores, Rediet Giday and Sidh Shroff as they walk down Jackson Street and explore its rich cultural history. Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/a-walk-down-jackson-street-seattle-s-jazz-legacy[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Trees? Water? Coffee? Tech?In this episode of the RadioActive podcast, Phillip Zhou, Gavin Muhlfelder and Alex Mengisteab go from neighborhood to neighborhood gathering stories about everything that makes the Emerald City unique.Content note: This story briefly mentions drug addiction.[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

People who are conventionally attractive are often treated differently — treated better — than people who aren't. That's "pretty privilege."And when pretty privilege is based on Eurocentric beauty standards, it can further marginalize people of color, people with large bodies, queer people and disabled people.In this episode of the RadioActive podcast, Nyla Moxley, Jana Le and Taniya Guster discuss pretty privilege, how it affects them and how it relates to colorism and femininity.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/pretty-privilege-a-conversation-about-colorism-and-femininity[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Language is the foundation of life. All of our actions, perspectives, and cultures stem from how we communicate with others. Our communities are tied to their methods of communication. But what happens when we lose our ability to speak?In this episode of the RadioActive podcast, Maymuna Yusuf, Red Debebe and Eliham Mohammed reflect on the trials and tribulations of staying connected to their native languages.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/multilingualism-or-assimilation-three-east-african-teens-reflect-on-language-and-identity[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Tweens growing up with social media deal with rapidly changing beauty standards and social pressures. In this episode of the RadioActive podcast, Jehan Hashi, Josue Villalobos and Vivi Cardenas-Habell look into how tweens navigate this digital space, and why it matters. Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/how-tweens-are-navigating-social-media-s-beauty-standards[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This podcast episode was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Last year, a pillar of Seattle's Mexican-American artist community passed away.Francisca Garcia was well known for making the annual Día de los Muertos ofrenda at El Centro de La Raza in Beacon Hill, as well as curating ofrendas for other events, like Folklife, and the opening of the Sea Mar Museum of Chicano Chicana Latino Latina Culture. She also spent eight years as manager of the Rainier Arts Center.RadioActive Youth Media's Josefina Gonzalez, a young artist herself, talked to Soundside about what's been lost and how to move forward.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/francisca-garcia-thank-you-for-inspiring-us-to-be-artists[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

The Lambert House in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood is a place where LGBTQ youth can find community, belonging, and support. It's been around for more than thirty years, but it shut down at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.During that time, it found a new life online, and was able to reach more youth than ever before. RadioActive's Ada Walther takes us into the Lambert House and introduces us to someone who found a home there.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/how-the-lambert-house-found-a-new-life-online-during-the-pandemic[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

The process of becoming a U.S. citizen is often a long and complicated one. RadioActive's Eva Solorio talked with a family member about his journey to becoming an American citizen after immigrating from Mexico at eight years old.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/being-a-citizen-means-you-are-free-one-immigrant-s-journey-toward-american-citizenshipRadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.

High school students in Seattle Public Schools are taught sex education once, in ninth grade health class.RadioActive's Lily Turner recently graduated from Nathan Hale High School, where she saw the lack of sex ed throughout high school cause confusion and misinformation among her classmates.But all this is about to change.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/changes-are-coming-to-seattle-public-schools-sex-ed-courses[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Young Women Empowered, also known as Y-WE, is a youth development organization that's been around for about 10 years. Their mission is to cultivate the power of diverse young people to be leaders and changemakers.RadioActive's Sadeen Al Ziyad looked into how Y-WE uplifts youth, especially youth of color, through programs that offer skill-building, joy, and a sense of belonging.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/cultivating-joy-and-support-y-we-provides-spaces-for-combatting-injusticeRadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.

It can be easy to slip into a cycle of going to work or school, and then coming home, day in and day out. You might feel the need for another place to go, to get away from that routine.But during the pandemic lockdown, there were suddenly a lot fewer of these "third places."RadioActive's Gideon Hall looked at one of his ‘third places' – a Seattle music organization – and how they're coming back from being online.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-importance-of-third-places-for-teensRadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.

At least 53,000 people experienced homelessness in King County last year. And that number is on the rise. RadioActive's Hayden Yu Andersen talked with two people who are dedicated to addressing King County's homelessness crisis.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/how-two-people-are-addressing-seattle-s-homelessness-crisis[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Last fall, King County Metro and many other Washington transit agencies made fares free for youth 18 and under. Fabian Hernandez-Angel is one of these youths who uses this program to get to and from school. But, he's going to be turning 19 soon, meaning he'll no longer be eligible for the program. RadioActive's Colin Yuen has more.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/public-transit-is-now-free-for-youth-but-what-happens-when-you-turn-19[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

For many first-generation Americans, it can be hard to balance multiple cultures. Amadou Gaye was the first member of his Senegalese family to be born in the United States. Growing up, his mom stressed the importance of prioritizing his education while maintaining a connection to his Senegalese heritage. RadioActive's Idrissa Gaye has this story about what he learned from his older brother.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/one-teen-embraces-his-senegalese-american-identity[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

When you think of hula, you might picture dances you've seen in Disney movies, or on a summer trip to Hawaiʻi. But that's just scratching the surface of what hula is. There's so much more. And RadioActive Youth Media's Terina Papatu is here to show you.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-story-of-one-kumu-keeping-her-hula-lineage[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Growing up, RadioActive's Indigo Mays loved going to the doctor's office. She went to the Odessa Brown Children's Clinic in the Central District. But that location has been closed for more than a year. Now, Mays explores the history, recent controversy, and legacy of the Odessa Brown Clinic.Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-legacy-of-the-odessa-brown-clinic[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]