How can podcasting strengthen democracy?
In this collaborative panel from The Democracy Group and PBS Student Reporting Labs, student podcasters and journalists discuss civic storytelling, democratic discourse, youth media, and why podcasting creates a powerful space for nuanced political conversation.
Hear from student creators producing podcasts about democracy, political identity, art, community, Puerto Rican activism, youth journalism, and the everyday ways democracy shows up in our lives.
The panel explores how podcasting lowers barriers to civic engagement, amplifies overlooked voices, and helps young people develop the confidence and skills to participate in public life.
Check out the student podcasts:
Student episodes from The Democracy Group will publish from May 18th-27th on our network feed.
Current and past seasons of On Our Minds.
Topics Covered
00:24 – Welcome & introduction to the Democracy Group / PBS Student Reporting Labs collaboration
01:29 – The Democracy Group Podcast Fellowship: mentoring student civic storytellers
02:46 – Meet the student fellows and their podcast projects:
Valerie — democracy’s origins and political history
Savannah — democracy, art, and theater
Dawn — politics, social interactions, and political identity
05:18 – PBS Student Reporting Labs’ On Our Minds podcast and youth-produced community storytelling
06:45 – Student reporting projects on:
Community art spaces in Indiana
Public sculpture and identity in New Jersey
Puerto Rico, neighborhood change, and displacement
09:32 – Why podcasting matters for democratic discourse today
10:19 – The unique power of audio storytelling and listening beyond appearances
11:37 – How journalism projects changed students’ relationships with their communities
14:29 – Youth voices missing from mainstream storytelling
15:32 – Telling overlooked stories through podcasting
16:25 – Puerto Rico, gentrification, activism, and reporting stories from the inside
17:56 – Lessons learned from interviewing, audio storytelling, and creative journalism
19:20 – Democracy, art, rhetoric, and misinformation
20:07 – Theater as civic engagement and democratic participation
22:02 – Why people disengage from democracy — and how podcasting lowers the barrier to entry
24:38 – Puerto Rico, political identity, generational change, and democratic participation
27:24 – Why youth voices deserve deliberate space in civic media
28:43 – The stories student creators still want to tell
Audience Q&A
30:14 – How to engage young people who aren't already interested in politics or democracy
31:27 – Creating environments where youth feel heard, safe, and welcome to speak
33:54 – How to inspire college students to engage with politics and civic issues
34:47 – Making political topics more relatable, digestible, and human
36:27 – Advice for students interested in podcasting and civic storytelling
37:22 – What surprised student creators during the production process
37:47 – Interviewing lessons: letting conversations evolve naturally
38:55 – Learning that people want to be listened to
39:56 – Measuring podcast success beyond analytics and downloads
41:08 – How producing podcasts changes the way students think about media
42:14 – Educational impact, career development, and long-term success in youth podcasting
43:42 – Why creating platforms for youth voices matters
45:36 – Podcasting as portfolio-building, networking, and personal development
46:36 – Closing reflections and where to find student episodes
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