The Bright-Eyed

Today's episode features Sejal Bilwar, a high school junior from the Bay Area. She was inspired to create her organization, lukupp, after seeing the gap between high school students and CS/engineering opportunities. We discuss how her small idea became an organization, the importance of supporting students interested in STEM fields, and the impact of empowering our youth in fields like computer science and engineering . Take a listen!lukupp: https://www.lukupp.com/  GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Website: https://thebrighteyedpod.carrd.co/ Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriber LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed 

Today's episode features Grace White, a senior in high school that enjoys reading, writing, and doing art. Grace has been adopted from China since March 2005 and has a huge passion to help others in any way she can. She is also the founder of Mental Health Matters, the Adoption Hub and Global Adoptees. We discuss the importance of community as well as how to combat inaccurate perceptions and stigmas surrounding mental health and adoption. . Take a listen!GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Website: https://thebrighteyedpod.carrd.co/ Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriber LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed 

Tune into this month's minisode all about taking breaks! You'll learn why it's difficult to take breaks, the importance of taking breaks, ways to tell you need one, and practical advice for how you can do that in multiple scenarios. Take a listen!

Today's episode features Zandy Wong, a second year undergraduate student at Johns Hopkins University, scientist, disability advocate, and a researcher in the science of hearing loss. Zandy is also the founder of the NextGen Accessibility Initiative where she helps Gen Z educational organizations run by Gen Z fix digital accessibility gaps in their content. Her work through the NextGen Accessibility Initiative has helped over 61,000 students across 119 countries have access to accessible digital content. We discuss how Zandy's experience as someone with hearing loss fuels her advocacy, the importance of policy in achieving greater accessibility for the disabled community, and how initiatives/nonprofits can take steps to become more accessible. Take a listen!NextGen Accessibility: https://www.instagram.com/nextgenaccessibility/ GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Website: https://thebrighteyedpod.carrd.co/ Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriber LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed 

Today's episode features  Samantha Parr, the founder and executive director of Dancer for Dancer. Having been a classical ballet dancer for 15 years, she was inspired by firsthand experience with the challenges of being a dancer and a desire to create a community for others like her. We discuss Samantha's own experiences as a dancer, how she's created an international dance community through Dancer for Dancer, and the importance of diving into the things you are passionate about. Take a listen!Dancer for Dancer: https://www.dancerfordancer.com/ GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Website: https://thebrighteyedpod.carrd.co/ Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriber LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed 

Today's episode features  dedicated crafter, small business owner, and  social activist Jade Bahng. With a passion for jewelry making  and a strong desire to make a difference, she created The Daily Daisy Project selling beaded jewelry with all the proceeds donated to various humanitarian organizations. We discuss Jade's personal connection to crafting, her journey creating The Daily Daisy Project, being proactive as an activist, and the importance of making a change . Take a listen!The Daily Daisy Project: https://www.dailydaisyproject.com/ GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Website: https://thebrighteyedpod.carrd.co/Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriber LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed 

Today's episode features two entrepreneurs from Revoteen Aditya Jain and Manav Bokinala. Revoteen is an entirely student-run start-up business that seeks to connect students to opportunities to join organizations, volunteer, and so much more.  We discuss their journey creating a startup, what makes youth startups unique, and their personal advice on creating one. Take a listen!Revoteen: http://www.revoteen.com GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Website: https://thebrighteyedpod.carrd.co/ Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriber LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed 

This minisode is all about strengths. I dive into why it's important to know what your strengths are and ways you can identify what they are. We often focus on our weaknesses, but reflecting on our superpowers can provide such excellent insight on who we are and give us the confidence to pursue what we are passionate about. So let's find out what your superpowers are! There are probably a lot more than you think.

Today's episode features friends and co-founders Adin Choung and Katelyn Jo. Together, with the help of the Dragon Kim Foundation Fellowship program, they started a project called Intertwined, a community service program dedicated to improving social engagements between low-income senior citizens after the pandemic in efforts to improve their mental and physical health. We discuss their personal motivation for wanting to work with seniors, the importance of valuing the stories of seniors, and how being believed in made all the difference for them. Take a listen!Intertwined Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theintertwinedproject/ GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed

Today's episode features Tanvi Jeph: a 13-year-old writer and a poet based in India who combats stereotypes with the power of words. Her work has been published on a national and international level and she is here to talk about her poems and how you can have a voice through writing, too.  We discuss Tanvi's deep connection with writing, how poetry can change perspective, and overcoming rejection and criticism. Take a listen!Tanvi's Poems:  linktr.ee/tanvijeph    GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed

Today's episode features Hela Khalil: a senior in high school who has explored her passions for politics and change-making through her podcast, Five-Minute Feature. Five-Minute Feature is a platform through which she discusses political and social news in five minutes to keep youth engaged and inspire political activism. Aside from her podcast, Hela participates in several programs such as Mock Trial, Junior States of America, and an internship to further explore her interests. We discuss what inspired her to start her podcast, the importance of objectivity in politics, polarization, and how to get involved in political activism. Take a listen!Five-Minute Feature Podcast:  https://linktr.ee/fiveminutefeaturepodcast     GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed

Welcome to the September minisode! This month's mini-episode, is all about motivation and how to keep going when you start losing sight. A common challenge I have personally dealt with and have discussed while interviewing inspiring teens is trying to keep going when you are just starting out, during slow growth periods, or when you start losing motivation to work on your passion projects and initiatives. Tune in to hear my own experience with losing motivation, some tips for how to keep going when things get tough, and encouragement for anyone who is starting to lose sight of what they want to achieve. 

Today's episode features Sophia Greene: a seventeen year old who has found her passion in helping other kids living with chronic illnesses or who are affected by prolonged hospitalizations. She is the founder of the Hearts for Healing Project, a community service organization that shares this mission. Hearts for Healing also serves as a platform that actively raises awareness about ableism and provides the media representation disabled and chronically ill individuals didn't receive before. We discuss the amazing work Hearts for Healing has been doing, the importance of providing a platform for disabled and chronically ill individuals to share their story, and the impact of ableism on young people. Take a listen!Hearts for Healing Project:  https://heartsforhealing2021.wixsite.com/heartsforhealing GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed

Today's episode features Tej Shah: a rising junior based in Chicago. He strongly believes in the power of presence, using his work to help build communities that empower each other.  As the co-founder and leader of his organization called Words for Essential Workers, Tej works to spread kindness and offer support to frontline workers during the pandemic through the personal act of letter-writing. Words for Essential Workers has been able to send almost 4000 letters to 20 essential businesses and medical facilities, and this number keeps on growing.  We discuss the experience of essential workers during the pandemic, the power of presence in making an impact, and why writing a letter can make such a  big difference. Take a listen!Words for Essential Workers:  http://www.words4essentialworkers.org/  GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed

Today's episode features Riya Cyriac: the Executive Director of The Young Writers Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, servicing, and inspiring young writers. She is also a singer, Bharthanatyam dancer, model UNer, and, of course, a writer with work published in a variety of magazines. She will be attending the University of Texas at Austin as a business and Plan II honors major, and hopes to pursue a career in law and business. We discuss how being a reader and writer has impacted her perspective, the power of writing as a platform for others, and her journey starting and running TYWI. Take a listen!The Young Writers Initiative:  https://www.tywi.org/links.html GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed

Today's episode features Zeynep Cildir: a 3rd-year Biomedical Sciences student who is passionate about helping immigrant families transition into their new lifestyle as well as an advocate for education & sciences. In addition to being the founder & president of Refugee Support Association (RSA) and the co-founder & co-executive director of Passionate Minds (PM), she also loves teaching and helping students transition into university through mentoring them. We discuss the experience of refugees in Ottawa, how Zeynep's immigration story inspired her nonprofit work, and how she is making educational materials more accessible for high school students. Take a listen!Refugee Support Association: @uottawa_rsa on InstagramPassionate Minds:  http://passionate-minds.com/?ltclid= GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed

Today's episode features Stacy Zhang: the founder of Justice For Society Magazine and @foradvocacy on Instagram. She is a sixteen year old activist from the Greater Toronto Area. She currently attends Unionville High School for its intensive arts program for piano and intends on pursuing business and law in the future. Stacy is passionate for expression through creative arts: from music, fashion, to makeup! In her free time, she can be found leading their organization, Justice For Society, or working on their activism project @ForAdvocacy on Instagram. We discuss the harms of performative activism, the role of intersectionality in allyship, and their experience running their magazine and activist platform. Take a listen!Justice for Society Mag:  https://justiceforsociety.carrd.co/For Advocacy:  @foradvocacyGET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed

Today's episode features Vhon Michael:  student leader, writer, climate and equality activist, and grassroots organizer. Vhon started his environmental activism in 2015 after his National Science Quest journey and contemplating on what happened during the 2013 super-typhoon haiyan disaster that devastated his island. He currently organizes with Zero Hour and serves as the Director for Zero Hour Asia and founded Zero Hour Philippines. We discuss how climate change has personally affected him, why youth activism is important, and the effects of discrimination and racism in activism. Take a listen!Zero Hour:  http://thisiszerohour.org/GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed

Today's episode features Bianca Jortner and Savanna Jiang: the co-founders of the nonprofit organization Youth Promise.  Bianca is a rising senior based in Connecticut and Savanna is a rising junior based in New York. After seeing the disparity gap in access to education, they were both inspired to start Youth Promise and provide educational opportunities for inner-city youth, youth from low-income households, and more. We discuss their organization, the importance of educational equity, and how they've been both impacted by the work they do. Take a listen!Youth Promise:  https://www.youthpromise.org/ GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed TEEN CHANGE MAKER CON:Register: www.eventbrite.com/e/teen-change-maker-conference-tickets-149607352619Instagram: @teenchangemakerconMore Info: teenchangemakercon.weebly.com

Today's episode features Olivia Zhang: the founder of the nonprofit organization Cancer Kids First.  Olivia is a 16 year old sophomore who is passionate about helping others. As the CEO and founder of Cancer Kids First, Olivia oversees 17K+ volunteers and 60 chapters across the world. Cancer Kids First, or CKF, works towards providing kids with cancer with a chance at a normal childhood and aims to normalize the hospital environment through events, fundraisers, care packages, and more. We discuss Olivia's personal connection with cancer, how the pandemic has affected cancer patients, and how Olivia manages such a large organization. Take a listen!Cancer Kids First:  https://www.cancerkidsfirst.org/ GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed TEEN CHANGE MAKER CON:Register: www.eventbrite.com/e/teen-change-maker-conference-tickets-149607352619Instagram: @teenchangemakerconMore Info: teenchangemakercon.weebly.com

Today's episode features Claire Skowron, the founder of and online platform called Adoptees of China,  an online network for Chinese adoptees to see their stories represented and share their experiences with others.  Her organization was created after she realized how little her story represented online. After starting it, she met so many other adoptees who also agreed that this was one of the first times they've seen their stories represented in media, and it truly motivated her to keep growing. We discuss her inspiration for starting Adoptees of China, why representation for adoptees is important, and the power of giving people a voice.Adoptees of China:  https://www.adopteesofchina.com/ GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed TEEN CHANGE MAKER CON:Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teen-change-maker-conference-tickets-149607352619Instagram: @teenchangemakerconMore Info: https://teenchangemakercon.weebly.com/

Welcome to the July minisode! This minisode is all about team leadership and how you can effectively lead a team. After interviewing founders of things like nonprofits and blogs, it seems like a common challenge people run into is team leadership. So I took some time to reflect on things I've learned as the leader of a nonprofit, gather advice from past episodes, and do some research on how to effectively lead a team. Take a listen!GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed TEEN CHANGE MAKER CON:Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teen-change-maker-conference-tickets-149607352619Instagram: @teenchangemakerconMore Info: https://teenchangemakercon.weebly.com/

Today's episode features Haiqa Faheem: a junior and founder of Houston Helping Hands. Houston Helping Hands is a nonprofit organization that works to provide students with volunteer opportunities throughout the Houston area while shedding light on local organizations in need of assistance and aiding underprivileged Houstonian communities. We discuss the importance of volunteering, how volunteering impacts volunteers, and Haiqa's incredible organization.Houston Helping Hands:  https://www.instagram.com/houstonhelpinghands/ GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyed TEEN CHANGE MAKER CON:Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teen-change-maker-conference-tickets-149607352619Instagram: @teenchangemakerconMore Info: https://teenchangemakercon.weebly.com/

Today's episode features Shiva Chopra, an LGBTQ+/women's rights activist and founder of The Metamorphosis Magazine.  Shiva Chopra loves meeting new people and helping them express their voices through writing and raising awareness on social media. We discuss the experience of LGBTQ+ youth in India, how education systems can better support LGBTQ+ youth, the value of diverse perspective, and how to turn passion into activism.The Metamorphosis Mag:  http://themetamorphosismagazine.com/GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: @thebrighteyedpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyedTEEN CHANGE MAKER CON:Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teen-change-maker-conference-tickets-149607352619Instagram: @teenchangemakerconMore Info: https://teenchangemakercon.weebly.com/

Welcome to Season 3 of The Bright-Eyed! Today's episode features Stephanie Hu, the Executive Director of Dear Asian Youth and CUSD Against Racism.  Her identity as a Chinese American has pushed her to passionately uplift marginalized voices into intersectional activism. We discuss the importance of intersectional activism, representation, the challenges of running a large-scale organization, and how to fight for greater equality and inclusion within your school.Dear Asian Youth: https://dearasianyouth.wixsite.com/websiteCUSD Against Racism: https://www.cusdagainstracism.org/GET CONNECTED W/ THE BRIGHT-EYED:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrighteyedpod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCctFEZ2wEjVd_N2l5WPCpLg?view_as=subscriberLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebrighteyedTEEN CHANGE MAKER CON:Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teen-change-maker-conference-tickets-149607352619 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenchangemakercon/ More Info: https://tcmcon.carrd.co/

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I got to interview Chloe Mshana: a mental health advocate and the creator of Mentality Masterpiece on Instagram. Chloe creates self-love reminders to share on her Instagram page, @mentalitymasterpiece, which has over 4,000 followers. As a teenager, Chloe knows that social media could often be toxic and hopes to change this. Tune in to hear about how to take better care of your mental health, the intersectionality of mental health, and Chloe's journey inn creating Mentality Masterpiece.For brightness in your feed and gentle mental health reminders, follow @mentalitymasterpiece on Instagram!

In today's episode, I interviewed educational equity advocate, grassroots organizer, and violinist Alanna Li. She is the founder of the nonprofit Lifting Lives, has mobilized thousands of activists, has managed projects allocating tens of thousands of dollars to a variety of great causes. In addition to Lifting Lives, Alanna contributed to the Jon Ossoff for Senate campaign, is a student ambassador to her city's human rights council, and toured in both Europe and North America for violin to use her art to spread awareness on poverty. We discuss Alanna's personal connection with activism and equity, how legislation can impact educational equity, and all the amazing work she has been doing through Lifting Lives. Check it out!To get involved with Lifting Lives, visit their website liftinglivesnonprofit.org to apply to be an officer or to start a Lifting Lives chapter at their school. You can also donate and contribute to some really amazing causes on their website as well!

Welcome to the April minisode! Since we have a lot of new listeners, I thought I'd share the story of this podcast and answer some Q&A questions to help you get to know me a little better. I also talk about some podcasting tips, so if you are interested in starting a podcast, I hope this helps you! Take a listen!

In this episode, I got to interview Nur Güzeldere, a photographer, filmmaker, and founder of 9-Magazine. 9 Magazine is a free, bilingual, online magazine for young artists to find a platform to share their opinions and artworks with an audience of over 160 countries and 22k+ visitors. We talk about Nur's experience as a photographer, the amazing work 9-magazine is doing, and the importance of teen voices. Take a listen!9-Magazine is always looking for new visitors and new artists to join them! Check it out at www.9-magazine.com and follow their Instagram at @9magazine_.

Today's episode features author and speaker George Couros who provides some insight on innovation and leadership. As a worldwide leader in the area of innovation, he is the author of the book, The Innovator's Mindset; Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity and his latest book, Innovate Inside the Box. In this episode, we talk about how to develop an innovative mindset, how young people can make an impact, what makes a good leader, and so much more. Take a listen!Tune in to George's podcast and his YouTube channel at youtube.com/georgecourosIM!

In this March minisode, I provide some tips on how to be productive and how to combat toxic productivity. If any of you are the type of people who like to keep busy or are looking for ways to be more productive, this episode is for you! While bring productive is great, it's important to take care of yourself as well. Remember: productivity is not a lifestyle!I am excited to bring another minisode next month, so stay tuned!

Today's podcast episode features teen poet and writer Sara Guo. She wrote a book in light of the rise of anti-Asian sentiment as a result of the pandemic called "One Point In Time: To All East Asian Youth". It features a compilation of free-verse poems depicting the shared experiences of East Asian youth growing up in a Westernized country. In this episode, Sara shares her what inspires her writing, the self-publishing process, and how to combat the increasing xenophobia against East Asians. Check it out!Purchase your own copy of Sara's fantastic book on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.ca/One-Point-Time-Asian-youth/dp/B08NV5PVX3

In today's episode, I interviewed teen mental health advocate Elif Kaya.  Based in Istanbul, Turkey, Elif founded the One Smile Effect, an international mental health org that focuses on awareness, wellness, and education who has reached over 2,300 teens from 58 countries. Tune in to hear Elif's story, how the pandemic has affected teen mental health, how we should dismantle stigma, and ways we can be together while being physically distant. Take a listen!One Smile Effect, is helping thousands of teens struggling with mental health during this pandemic by providing resources, raising awareness, and organizing projects. Check out their website at www.onesmileffect.com or follow them on Instagram @onesmileeffect. 

Today's episode features teen small business owner Emma Han. As both an artist and someone passionate about business, Emma started an Etsy store selling adorable, waterproof, vinyl stickers. Tune in to hear her story and insight on how to start a small business. Take a listen!Purchase your own beautiful stickers from Emma's Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/withlovemma! And follow her on Instaagram/TikTok @withlovemma_ for more amazing content!

This week's episode features teen entrepreneurs Arnuv Tandon and Karan Dalal. After meeting in robotics club and connecting over a passion for ideation, Arnuv and Karan founded a company called PetCode, an all-in-one pet management system. Tune in to hear how they got started, their insight on starting a company, the challenges young entrepreneurs face, and how they overcame them. So if you are an aspiring entrepreneur or interested in what it takes to run a business, especially as a teen, take a listen!If you are a pet owner or are considering being one, PetCode offers owners an all-in-one pet management system that allows you to manage all aspects: safety, health, and emotional wellbeing. Head over to the website at www.petcodeusa.com to get started in just minutes!

In Part 2 of this weeks episode, I got to interview storyteller Vickie Curtis who has dedicated her work toward telling untold stories. We talk about one of her notable projects was the Sundance/Netflix documentary "The Social Dilemma" including some behind the scenes and why the message of the documentary is so important today. Tune into this episode learn more about social media, how it is affecting us and society, and how we can make a change.Watch "The Social Dilemma" on Netflix now, and get updates on Vickie's latest project, Comparsa: https://www.papermoth.media/comparsa

In Part 1 of this weeks episode, I got to interview storyteller Vickie Curtis who has dedicated her work toward telling untold stories. We talk about one of her notable projects was the Sundance/Netflix documentary "The Social Dilemma" including some behind the scenes and why the message of the documentary is so important today. Tune into this episode learn more about the importance of storytelling, the process of making a documentary, and some behind the scenes of "The Social Dilemma".Watch "The Social Dilemma" on Netflix now, and get updates on Vickie's latest project, Comparsa: https://www.papermoth.media/comparsa

In this episode, I got to talk to the founder of the nonprofit organization Simply Neuroscience: Chinmayi Balusu. She is inspired by a love of neuroscience and a desire to make resources accessible for people to engage and learn about neuroscience. We dive into the importance of an international perspective when it comes to science, why representation matters, how neuroscience can be found in our everyday lives, and how Chinmayi haas been making an impact through her organization, Simply Neuroscience. Take a listen!Check out Simply Neuroscience's resources, events, and more at http://www.simplyneuroscience.org and their Instagram @simplyneuroscience!

Today's guest is a teen author named Risha Chaurasia who has written and published two novels at the age of 13. This is the perfect episode for aspiring, young writers! Tune in to hear all about Risha's books, writing tips, the difficulties of being a young author, and teen representation in literature. Take a listen!Get a copy of Risha's latest book, Truce! It a story about friendship and self discovery that follows 5 unique protagonists and their journey to adulthood. Here is the link to purchase it: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B08TLZBTYC/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_mhtcGbWY63F94

Today's interview is with teen entrepreneur, Calix Huang, who created a new productivity tool Hours based on the hours technique. With a background in coding, Calix is using what he has learned to create projects that impact others. This is a great episode for aspiring teen entrepreneurs that is filled with insights and advice. We dive into what gave Calix the drive to turn ideas into a reality, how to overcome failure, the process of creating Hours, and how it has impacted him. Take a listen!Start a study session of your own with a friend for free with Hours at http://hours.zone! 

The first minisode of The Bright-Eyed podcast is here! I break down 5 things that stop us from starting what we want to start. It's heartbreaking to see people who are passionate about starting something, but are stopped by barriers like a lack of time, insecurity, or a fear of failure. I hope that this episode helps you guys overcome whatever is stopping you from doing what you really want to do and believe in.Stay tuned for more minisodes like this every month! Email me at thebrighteyedpod@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram @thebrighteyedpod to let me know what topics you want me to cover!

Today's episode features Eres Croker, the teen founder of The Five Star Journal, an online publication for interviews with Gen Z females and lifestyle content. We dive into:what inspired Eres to start The Five Star Journalhow writing has given Eres a voice and means to make a differencebattling insecurity and the fear of failurefinding strength in overcoming mental health barriershow to create opportunities for yourselfTo read The Five Star Journal and apply to be apart of the team, check out http://www.thefivestarjournal.com or follow them on Instagram @thefivestarjournal!

Welcome to the first episode of Season 2! This episode features Stephanie Wang, a high school junior who, inspired by the spread of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, wrote and published an introductory epidemiology textbook called "Epidemiology Unmasked". Tune in to hear about the publishing process, how to stop the spread of misinformation, and the power of education."Epidemiology Unmasked" is available for purchase on Lulu, Amazon, Ebook, Google Play, and Fort Bend Libraries, so be sure to check it out! Here is the link for more information: http://bit.ly/epidemiology_unmasked.

Thank you all for a fantastic first season of The Bright-Eyed!

Today's episode features teen activist Selin Özünaldım. She has been recognized by UN Women as the youngest representative of their Global Gender Equality Movement, founded Girl Up Istanbul, become a HeForShe Advocate,  and is a Girl Rising Task Force Member. As an activist dedicated toward helping push for gender equality, she inspired girls around the world to take a stand. Tune in to hear her story, the importance of youth activism in the fight for equality, and her latest project: her design for sustainable sweater. You'll definitely feel inspired!Check out Selin's amazing sustainable sweater design and purchase one of your own at https://slushjobs.com/en/product/on-yedi/. Cute & environmentally friendly!

In today's episode, I got to talk with Vaishnavi Bhojane and Priyam Kusundal, founders of Simply GenZ based in Bhiwandi, India. They've started a blog that seeks to inspire teens to make a difference by writing about important issues around the world. Tune in as we discuss the power of GenZ, South Asian representation, and the importance of new perspectives.Check out Simply GenZ and all their amazing articles at https://www.simplygenz.com/. And be sure to follow their Instagram at @simplygenz.

Today's episode features Cmagic5, emerging teen artist/singer/songwriter from Toronto, Canada. As a self-managing singer, she has performed live and released numerous singles including her latest one, LEGO. We discuss how music has impacted her life, the importance of self empowerment, and what it means to be a self-managed artist. Take a listen!Check out Cmagic5's latest single LEGO on Spotify or YouTube. And Be sure to follow her on Instagram (@Cmagic5) as well as Tik Tok (@Cmagic5music). Get ready for some dancing!

Today's episode features the executive director of Tech Girls United Megan Jacob. Tech Girls United has been dedicated to empowering girls to pursue their interests in technology and has held events that have reached almost 100 participants from 15 countries and 13 states. Tune in to hear about her story, why representation in STEM is important, and the amazing work that Tech Girls United has done so far (and is planning in the future).Interested in tech? Tech Girls United holds some really cool events for girls to explore and learn about different areas of tech. Check out their Linktree: https://linktr.ee/techgirlsunited/!

Today's episode features experienced screenwriter Tim Meltreger. Tim has written and produced for notable shows such as USA Network's Psych and Swedish Dicks. Tune in to hear about his story from journalist to screenwriter, what it is like to be in the writer's room of a TV show, and his insights & advice for aspiring writers. Take a listen!

In today's episode, I interviewed teen founder and editor in chief of She Persists blog, Gaby Mikhail. She Persists is an online blog and digital magazine dedicated to sharing a teen perspective on gender/sexuality. Gaby also executively produced two all female/femme films in partnership with the Dragon Kim Foundation as part of a project to give a voice to young female film makers. Tune in as we dive into the importance of a teen perspective on gender and sexuality, how the film industry can better support women and POC, as well as the power of telling your story. Take a listen!Be sure to check out all the amazing articles and art on She Persist at http://www.shepersists.net! And submit any writing, art, or film you'd like to share by learning more about the featured submissions aspect of the She Persists website.

Today's episode features teen entrepreneurs and good friends Chloe Chia and Lauren Yu. Together, they created their own startup called Munch where they have grown to 400+ users and 20+ restaurants as of 11/1/20. If you are interested in entrepreneurship, this is the perfect episode for you. We dive into what it is like being a young entrepreneur, the importance of making connections, advice on how to create a start up, and how to deal with failure. Check it out!Sign up for Munch and get great savings on delicious food texted to your right on your phone at http://www.eatwithmunch.com/links! It just takes 5 seconds to get started.