Meet our spring 2024 podcast fellows

Join us in extending the warmest welcome to the newest cohort of fellows from The Democracy Group Podcast Fellowship! With a shared passion for storytelling and civic engagement, meet the newest Gen Z leaders who are going to start a podcast and build an audience to make our democracy stronger.

Simran Gupta is a high school junior from Georgia. She is passionate about government, politics as well as the education of youth and is excited to explore these interests through The Democracy Group Podcast Fellowship! She believes that life is all about learning new things, but interpreting information in a way that’s meaningful is difficult, especially in this day and age where news is readily available and shared whether it’s accurate or not.

Maggie LeBeau is a senior at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, Illinois. Because this is her first podcasting experience, she is excited to learn from professionals and her peers about audio storytelling and exploring youth political engagement. Maggie has been involved in journalism since her freshman year as a writer for her school's newspaper, the Echo, and has served as editor-in-chief for three years.

Aprile Kim is a third-year student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor pursuing a double major in political science and philosophy and a double minor in Japanese and international studies, with a thematic focus on international security, norms, and cooperation. The Democracy Group's ability to give voices to marginalized communities drew her to the fellowship where she intends to exemplify the shortcomings of democracy in U.S. territories as her home island of Guam breaches the fundamental concept of the democratic system under the guise of colonialism.

Saanvi Kapu is a junior at Athens High School in Troy, Michigan. She is a first-generation Indian-American and has always had a passion for serving her community. Through podcasting, she hopes to learn more about developing her voice, connecting with like-minded peers, and conversing with professionals in the field. In her spare time, she enjoys watching movies, listening to music, and volunteering.

Kayla Anderson is a third-year political science major on the pre-law track at Ohio State University. She currently serves as the vice president of the Undergraduate Black Law Student Association, treasurer of the Minority Collegiate Outreach and Support Team, and DEI committee co-chair for her Law and Society Scholars Program. Outside of school, she often volunteers with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus which provides free legal services for low-income Columbus residents. She began exploring podcasts during COVID-19 and quickly grew to enjoy this new medium. She looks forward to participating in this fellowship as it will allow her to navigate an unfamiliar platform and use it to discuss topics that she is very passionate about.

Virginia Jones is a student at the University of South Carolina majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Political Science. A few years ago, she discovered her interest in politics, particularly in political media, and decided to incorporate this passion into her education. She is excited about the potential of podcasting to facilitate meaningful discussions, bridge divides, and foster positive change in our democracy.

We look forward to the transformative impact this fellowship will have on fostering dialogue, promoting civil discourse, and strengthening democratic principles, especially with such an active, engaged, and passionate cohort. Welcome!

Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other: Jahnavi Rao and Nivea Krishnan of New Voters are ”empowering the youth, shaping the future”

In the spirit of welcoming new Gen Z leaders to our podcast network, I have to bring you an episode on a youth organization we featured before and how their work continues to strengthen our democracy every day — New Voters. New Voters' journey from a Pennsylvania high school club to, currently, a 501(c)3 nonprofit shows youth dedication and the power of civic engagement every step of the way.

This is Jessie Nguyen, The Democracy Group's Community Manager. Here are some of my favorite podcasts this week, check them out!

The Great Battlefield: Leveraging influencers to protect democracy with Sam Drzymala of progressive victory

If you're anything like me and grew up thinking platforms like Twitch and YouTube Streaming are exclusive for the gaming community, this episode will surprise you. Though popularized by gamers who stream themselves playing Fortnite or Call of Duty, the two live-streaming services now have a different purpose — to win elections. Listen to see how an online community of content creators is using the power of the internet to get their audience politically engaged!

How Do We Fix It?: Ukraine: Why The War With Russia Has Changed The World: Marci Shore

One of the notable moments from President Biden's State of the Union address is his seemingly unwavering support for Ukraine, in my opinion, which reminded me of this episode. Not only is the Russo-Ukrainian war causing extreme civilian harm and leaving millions without access to food, water, and other essential supplies, but it's also shaping global history. This episode shows you how the war is still an ongoing conflict for global citizens.

FEATURED EXPERTS

The Bully Pulpit: Christopher Cadelago on Primary Colors

Christopher Cadelago the California bureau chief at POLITICO. He serves as the lead politics reporter and helps guide coverage across the Golden State. Cadelago served as a White House correspondent covering Joe Biden and Donald Trump and was a lead reporter for the presidential campaigns of Biden and Kamala Harris. Before joining POLITICO in 2018, Cadelago worked at The Sacramento Bee in the Capitol bureau, anchored investigations at The San Diego Union-Tribune in Sacramento, and wrote about politics for newspapers in San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Let's Find Common Ground: Daryl Davis on Racism Renounced: A Black man talks with white supremacists

Daryl Davis is an acclaimed musician, recording artist, and author of Klan-Destine Relationships, the first book about the KKK written by a black man. A pianist-turned-activist, Davis interviewed hundreds of KKK members and other white supremacists and influenced many of them to renounce their racist ideology. As a race reconciliator and lecturer, Davis has received numerous awards and is often sought by CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and other media outlets as a consultant on race relations and white supremacy.