PODCAST · kids
RadioActive
by KUOW News and Information
Stories produced by students participating in our youth media program. Learn more about the intensive, fun and free introductory radio journalism workshops we offer throughout the year.
Episodes
-
'We built this together.' The 20-year legacy of KUOW's RadioActive
In May 2024, KUOW announced the station was ending RadioActive Youth Media, its long-running youth journalism 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...
-
An hour of 'choose your own adventure' radio by Seattle teens
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...
-
RadioActive showcase: Nine stories by Seattle-area teens
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:...
-
Why one young Marine refused to fight in Iraq
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…
more -
Building community is 'an act of social justice’ at the Seattle Fandango Project
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...
-
At 16, my grandma had an abortion. At 18, I’m telling her story
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...
-
My grandfather’s 'Little Story': A journey through war and prison in Vietnam
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...
-
Separated from his family in Eritrea at 7, this Seattle man now mentors East African kids
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…
more -
The First Night Project makes cancer ward stays a little easier for teens
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...
-
'Joy and happiness was left behind': the true cost of the American Dream
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...
-
Walking the Nile in his shoes
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...
-
Bonus: On Our Minds with Bree & James
BONUS EPISODE: "On Our Minds with Bree & James” is a podcast about mental health — produced by and for teens — from our friends at PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs. RadioActive has been collaborating with Student Reporting Labs to produce "On Our Minds" this year, and we’re excited to share…
more -
Buying hot dogs was an act of resilience for my grandfather in the Jim Crow South
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:...
-
What's it like being a hijab-wearing model?
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...
-
'I wonder if people think you took that baby.' Navigating Seattle as a biracial family
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:...
-
My history teacher's unusual personal history
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.…
more -
How to navigate the public school system as a hijabi
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, A, about how they both found power and freedom in wearing their...
-
It’s okay to be afraid, the spotlight hurts my eyes too
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...
-
'Pay attention, listen and learn:' A 15-year-old gets advice from two of her role models
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:...
-
I was a 'library kid.' But my old school is among many in WA that no longer have librarians
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.
-
When faced with a tough choice, my immigrant dad's love kept our family together
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:...
-
My mother's courageous and isolating experience of immigration
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:...
-
Fiction: 'The Human Show' (2033)
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…
more -
A walk down Jackson Street: Exploring Seattle's jazz legacy
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...
-
Seattle Unplugged: What exactly is 'Seattle culture?'
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....
-
Pretty privilege: A conversation about colorism, femininity and what it means to be beautiful
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...
-
Three East African teens reflect on language and identity
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…
more -
How tweens are navigating social media's beauty standards
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:...
-
How the Lambert House found a new life online during the pandemic
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...
-
‘Being a citizen means you are free’: One immigrant’s journey toward American citizenship
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:...
-
Changes are coming to Seattle Public Schools' sex education courses
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.…
more -
Y-WE is a youth space for joy, support and combatting injustice
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…
more -
‘Weirdos who play music together’: The importance of ‘third places’ during the pandemic
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...
-
They once faced housing insecurity themselves. Now they help other Seattleites find stability
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:...
-
Public transit is now free for youth. But what happens when you turn 19?
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…
more -
The best of both cultures: How one teen embraces his Senegalese-American identity
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...
-
How one kumu keeps her hula lineage
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:...
-
The legacy of the Odessa Brown Clinic
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....
-
Deaf creatives put a springtime spin on Seattle theater
A festival featuring six plays written, produced, and performed by Deaf creatives is back. Deaf Spotlight, a Seattle arts non-profit, hosted its third Short Play Festival in March. It was in-person this year, after moving online due to the pandemic. RadioActive’s Dash Pinck takes us there.…
more -
Seattle leader ignites change by sharing caste identity
In February, the city council voted to make Seattle the first city in the country to ban discrimination based on a person’s caste. The vote was a watershed for those who say that caste discrimination exists even in the United States. And for one supporter of the measure, it was a chance to open…
more -
‘Transmitting weirdness into the airwaves.’ An experimental RadioActive showcase
RadioActive is transmitting some weirdness into the airwaves. What happens when RadioActive youth producers can make *anything* they want? Some weird and wonderful radio magic, that’s what. Listen to an hour of our creative, experimental, and just-plain-weird audio stories on this RadioActive...
-
Our housemate is an Afghan refugee who fled the Taliban
In August 2021, the United States’ longest standing war came to an end as the military withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban fundamentalist group returned to power. Thousands of Afghan people became refugees and came to the U.S. One of those people is Abdul Nasir. RadioActive’s Micah Riggio...
-
'Not just mayhem and gore': How one Seattle filmmaker found their place in horror
RadioActive's Ada Walther loves horror films. Ada sat down with local filmmaker Abie Ekenezar to talk about the genre. They talked about how Abie got into making horror films, and what they see as the future of horror, sci-fi, and speculative fiction. Episode webpage:...
-
6,000 miles and a chance: My mom's pursuit of a better life
The decision to leave home is never an easy one. Immigrating 6,000 miles for a chance at a better life is a significant risk. RadioActive’s Idrissa Gaye tells the story of how his mom, May Gueye, said goodbye to friends, family and a stable job in Senegal to pursue higher education in the United...
-
One teen reflects on his experience at a residential treatment center
In the luxe hills of Calabasas, California, near the homes of Hollywood stars, there are two treatment centers for teens who are struggling with mental health and addiction. RadioActive’s Caden LaMar talked to Kai, an alumni of a one of these residential treatment centers, about his experience...
-
Making the theater experience more inclusive and accessible
We all deserve a space where we can be unapologetically ourselves. Sylvie Crowe, a director, costume designer, and actor at Bellevue Youth Theater, is part of a new generation of creatives who are fighting to create that space for disabled and LGBTQ+ people. RadioActive's Dashiell Pinck talked…
more -
'I wanted to make them prettier': one artist's yarn lends color to south King County
In a world of concrete and chain link that's overwhelmingly gray, the urge to beautify our communities isn't an uncommon one. But it takes a special kind of person to take the leap of actually doing something about it. RadioActive's Gideon Hall spoke to Christy Caravaglio, who, for the last four...
-
Respect, empathy and nonviolent communication: A look into Montessori teaching
Elly McCarthy is a teacher at Pacific Crest School, a Montessori school in Ballard. RadioActive’s McKenna Kilayko talked with Elly about practicing empathy-based communication and interaction in the classroom. Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/respect-empathy-montessori-teaching...
-
'It was like a typhoon striking.' How Hong Kong's attitude towards protests has changed
In 2019, the streets of Hong Kong were filled with tear gas and umbrellas. But how did they get to that point, and what’s happening now? RadioActive’s Lucas Deng wanted to learn more about how protests have changed in Hong Kong over time. So he spoke with a family friend, Mr. Woo, who has lived…
more -
'Music is medicine': How my dad’s relationship with music evolved with him
Music has always been important to Sam Jansons. When he was 16, he heard the drums in the Led Zeppelin song "Kashmir" and decided he wanted to play. Since then, he’s expanded to playing guitar, writing songs, and even messing around with his daughter's piano a bit. RadioActive’s Josie Jansons has...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does RadioActive have?
RadioActive currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is RadioActive about?
Stories produced by students participating in our youth media program. Learn more about the intensive, fun and free introductory radio journalism workshops we offer throughout the year.
How often does RadioActive release new episodes?
RadioActive has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to RadioActive?
You can listen to RadioActive on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts RadioActive?
RadioActive is created and hosted by KUOW News and Information.
URL copied to clipboard!