PBS podcast shines a light on Gen Z's biggest issues

For the latest in our series on organizations that inspire us to take action to build a stronger democracy, Democracy Group community manager Jessie Nguyen caught up with On Our Minds podcast hosts James Kim and Bree Campbell. On Our Minds, a part of the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs, is a student-led and student-produced podcast about the teenage experience that connects, educates and inspires listeners of all ages.‍

‍Q: What goal or objective are you working toward at the Student Reporting Labs and as hosts of On Our Minds?‍

‍James: On Our Minds is a teen mental health podcast but it expands so much more than that, it’s about the teenager experience. Some topics that we are discussing this season (Season 4) range from gun violence to masculinity. There’s such a broad array of topics that we talk about and these narratives are essentially crafted by students across the country.

Our overarching goal is to spread mental health awareness and awareness on a number of topics that are stigmatized today in the U.S. and the world.

‍Q: Why is now an important time to tackle these issues? Why not sooner or later?

‍‍Bree: I firmly believe that there is no better time than the present, if not now then when. There’s a big amount of truth to people's power, and that’s what inspired me to apply to On Our Minds in the first place. Before the training and before being accepted to On Our Minds, I was truly aware of the impact people have when it came to vocalizing certain issues. I believe that On Our Minds is such a great platform to talk about it now when you live in such a pressing, disconnected time — there are so many polarizing topics nowadays so I feel like this podcast is a great way to connect everyone where we really emphasize the sense of connectedness and everyone having a safe space.

‍Q: What skills has the Student Reporting Labs equipped you with that are transferable outside of school?‍

‍James: Something that I learned is how to assert my own voice in a certain way. Your best voice is your voice. That’s where you see the most emotions and depth in someone’s character. I think it’s one of the takeaways I learned from co-hosting On Our Minds.

Another thing is tackling sensitive issues while creating engaging content. I think it’s important to have both but to realize that these narratives of students from across the country aren’t just for entertainment but they’re a means of advocacy as well. So balancing those two is a really big thing that I learned on On Our Minds.

‍Bree: I completely agree. We learn how to become active listeners which is so important, especially in the means of proper meaningful conversations and discourse because we can’t really have efficient and proper discourse if you’re not listening to whoever you’re conversing with. So I think it’s important to have those listening skills.

The Great Battlefield: Advancing the Mental Health of the Nation with Ben Miller of Well Being Trust

Mental health is a big theme in On Our Minds and it takes center stage in this episode of The Great Battlefield. Psychologist Ben Miller proposes taking control of system-level issues to ultimately address and tackle mental health problems within your community.

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

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Let's Find Common Ground: Broken Media? Restoring Trust in News Coverage

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