The Round Table: A YVote Podcast
by YVote
The Round Table provides a platform for conversation and engagement of civically-minded young people from different parts of the country. We strive to model civil dialogue across various divides--socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, political, and regional. We aim to challenge norms and represent all kinds of diversity--especially of perspective and ideas--enabling listeners to “hear” our thinking. The Round Table is 100% created and edited by young people committed to building a more just and joyous world.
Episodes
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What Happens When Leadership Changes and What Youth Should Watch For
As Zohran Mamdani steps into office as Mayor of New York City, YVote youth unpack what actually changes when leadership shifts. This episode explores what happens immediately, what takes time, and how transitions of power impact schools, housing, policing, immigration, and youth programs, with a...
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Safety or Threat: Untangling Youth Perceptions of Police
In this episode, YVote youth unpack what safety really means in the presence of police and why Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s role in Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s incoming administration has become a point of controversy. Through personal reflections, data from the Innocence Project, and an honest...
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Voting Is Like Drinking Water: What Are We Missing?
Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Kassandra and Preena are joined by Shennell McCloud, a visionary leader redefining civic engagement. Together, they dive into a conversation that bridges two worlds we rarely talk about together: wellness and infrastructure and how their...
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The Public News We Never Notice
Welcome back to The Round Table! In this week’s all host episode, Kassandra, Daniella, Preena and Viola dive into the current state of U.S. democracy, how it’s shifted over time, the changing roles and behaviors of public officials, and the corruption that threatens to shake the system at its…
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How Do We Build the Democracy We Deserve?
Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Kassandra, Preena, and Sauda sit down with Dr. Paul Zeitz a physician, public health expert, and democracy advocate whose work spans from global health to civic transformation. With decades of experience leading responses to the HIV/AIDS…
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Failure Is Fine but Come Home
Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Daniella, Kassandra, and Preena sat down with two time Emmy Award winning filmmaker Kayona Ebony Brown, whose work bridges art and activism. Known for her powerful storytelling in both sports and female centered narratives, Kayona shares how…
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The First Time You Step Into It Won’t Be the Last
Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Daniella and Sauda speak with Corinne Lerma, a Youth250 Bureau member. She is one of 100 young adult fellows who not only advise, but also collaborate with nonprofit organizations. But, Corinne’s commitment to helping young learners doesn’t…
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How to Think, Not What to Think
Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Kassandra, Daniel, and Zarina sit down with Alice Sheehan, CFO of AllSides Technologies. Alice is passionate about promoting media literacy and works closely with teachers and students across all 50 states to encourage understanding of…
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The Double Edged Sword of Storytelling
Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Kassandra, Sauda, and Viola sit down with Christopher Albert De La Roa, Web Producer and Content Manager at DoSomething.org. Christopher shares his personal background in art and activism as an independent broadcaster, media and content...
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A Vote That Could Change Everything
Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Daniel, Inyoo, Kassandra and Sauda sat down with Emma Post and Max Szuchman, seniors at Mamaroneck High School in Southern Westchester and passionate advocates for youth voter engagement. As part of a four year civic engagement program at…
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Chipping Away at the Precipice
Welcome to another episode at The Round Table. This week, our hosts, Inyoo, Sauda, and Viola sat down with Devyn Inez Fusaro, the Digital & Communications Manager at New York Renews, a powerful coalition fighting for climate justice across New York. Devyn’s journey with NY Renews began in 2019...
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The Why vs. The How — Which Shapes Us?
Welcome to another episode ofThe Round Table! This week, Daniella, Preena, Kassandra, Inyoo and Sauda discussed the power of story-telling, intersectional identities, the role of youth in bringing about societal change, and so much more. They spoke with Dr. Rob Carpenter, a UCLA Professor and...
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AI in Play Changing the Way We Invest
Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Daniella, Preena, and Zarina are joined by Andrew Einhorn, the CEO and co-founder of LevelFields, an AI-powered app designed to simplify investment research for users. Andrew takes us on a fascinating journey through his career from…
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When History Stumbles, Justice Rumbles: Lessons from the Law
Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Daniel, Preena, and Viola sit down with C. Evan Stewart, author of The Worst Supreme Court Decisions Ever! and a professor at Cornell University. Stewart delves into America’s legal history, examining cases like Dred Scott v. Sanford and…
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Dreams in Motion Rewriting Mental Health Notion
Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Daniella, Kassandra and Kassandra sit down with Kelly Davis, the Vice President of Peer and Youth Advocacy at Mental Health America. In her role, Kelly focuses on expanding peer support mental health programs and championing policies…
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America’s Hero Complex Fact or Fiction?
At this week’s Round Table, Inyoo and Kassandra engage in a captivating conversation with Dr. William T. Armaline, a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at San José State University. Dr. Armaline is the founder of the Human Rights Minor at SJSU, a...
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Media Smart and Ballot Ready, Informed and Always Ready
At this week’s Round Table, Heba, Inyoo, Kassandra, and Preena unpack the results of the 2024 elections. They analyze the surprising performance of Donald Trump and the strong showing of down-ballot Republicans, exploring the factors that contributed to these outcomes. The hosts also dissect the...
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Justice or Jeopardy? A Deep Dive into Bail Reform
At this week’s Round Table, Inyoo, Kassandra, and Preena were joined by Ken W. Good, a legal expert and member of the Board of Directors for the Professional Bondsmen of Texas, to explore the complex and often contentious world of bail reform. With a law degree from Texas Tech and years of...
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Beyond the Headlines: Media’s Impact on the 2024 Election
Welcome back to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Daniella, Hannah, Heba, Inyoo and Preena come together for an all-host discussion on the role of the media in political campaigning. With the 2024 Presidential Election fast approaching and weighing heavily on everyone’s minds,...
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Amplifying Civic Voices at the Intersection of Culture and Advocacy
Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, our hosts Heba, Kassandra, and Daniella welcome Taina B. Wagnac, Senior Manager of State and Local Policy at the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC). Taina shares her inspiring journey from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to becoming a powerful...
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Transformative in All Ways Unleashing Your Inner Play
Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, our hosts Daniel, Daniella, Kassandra and Preena engage in a thoughtful conversation with Shadae McDaniel, Senior Vice President of the Program of Strategic Initiatives at the All Stars Project, a nonprofit organization focused on…
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Passionate Voices in Imperfect Moments Make a Difference
Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Heba, Inyoo, and Kassandra engage in a compelling conversation with Johanna Garcia, Chief of Staff to State Senator Robert Jackson. Johanna's journey into public service began with her unwavering commitment to justice and equality in her...
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Women Leading in Tech and Policy: Breaking Barriers
Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Daniel, Hannah, and Kassandra welcomed Lindsey Grossman, a distinguished expert in technology and public policy with a remarkable career spanning nearly two decades. Lindsey has left an indelible mark across the globe through her…
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Unity’s Key, But Celebrate Our Unique Identity
Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Emmanuel, Hannah, Daniel, and Inyoo converse with Matt Krayton, the visionary Founder of Publitics, to delve into the dynamic intersection of politics, strategy, and branding. Matt brings a wealth of experience to our discussion, having...
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The Sky is the Limit
Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Hannah, Kassandra, and Emily were thrilled to welcome two exceptional guests whose dedication to social justice and civic engagement is truly inspiring. Naya Houchen, the Call For Kindness Program Coordinator at Riley's Way Foundation, and...
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Voting Down, Voices Up: Empowering Participation
Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Emmanuel, Hannah, and Heba were excited to speak with Christine Woods, Co-Director of the Declaration for American Democracy. Christine brings a wealth of experience in issue-based advocacy and electoral campaigns, and we’re thrilled to…
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There's No Such Thing as Irreversible Harm
Welcome to this week’s episode of The Round Table! In this episode, Emily, Inyoo, Preena, and Heba were thrilled to be joined by Amanda Geduld, an insightful journalist from The 74 Media, a leading news organization dedicated to covering education. In this engaging conversation, Amanda takes us...
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Reviving the Excitement: Making Voting & Elections Fun Again!
At this week’s Round Table, Emily and Emmanuel spoke with special guest, Ruby Belle Booth, Election Coordinator for CIRCLE and a passionate advocate for youth civic engagement. Ruby’s dedication to amplifying young voices and fostering democratic participation is both inspiring and crucial in...
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We Are at the Beginning of a Renaissance of New Art Forms
At this week’s Round Table, Hannah, Inyoo, and Preena spoke with Professor Robert Ghrist, the Andrea Mitchell PIK Professor of Mathematics and Electrical & Systems Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. With an impressive background and a wealth of knowledge in Applied Algebraic Topology,...
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How Can We Help Students Get into the Driver's Seat and Be the Drivers for Change?
At this week’s Round Table, Hannah, Heba, and Preena were thrilled to host Phillip Gordon, the dynamic Deputy Director of Social Capital, Inc. (SCI). Phillip, who joined SCI in 2019 and has since become a pivotal force in the organization, brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning,...
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AI is not Going to Replace Journalists
At this week’s Round Table, Emmanuel and Inyoo spoke with Russell Chun, an esteemed Associate Professor of Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations, recognized for his expertise in multimedia storytelling, design, and data journalism. For the first episode of our Civic Tech Series which…
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Write The Narrative With Us Rather Than For Us
At this week’s Round Table, Emily, Emmanuel, Hannah, and Preena speak with Terry Parris Jr., the Public Square Editor for Headway at The New York Times as well as a passionate advocate for community-centered storytelling and civic engagement. Terry brings a wealth of experience to our discussion,...
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Stories Are The Best Way to Break Through Stigmas
At this week’s Round Table. Emmanuel, Hannah, and Preena speak with Dr. Seema Yasmin, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, Pulitzer Prize finalist, and acclaimed author known for her advocacy in media literacy and reproductive rights. Dr. Yasmin’s latest work, "Unbecoming," dives into a near-future...
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80% of a Speech is the Delivery
At this week’s Round Table, Emmanuel, Inyoo, and Hannah spoke with Terry Edmonds, a trailblazer in the realm of communications and speechwriting. Terry holds the distinction of being the first African American Chief Speechwriter for President Bill Clinton, a role he fulfilled during the final…
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Surviving But Maybe Not Thriving
At this week’s Round Table, Emily, Emmanuel, Erina, Hannah, Heba, Inyoo, Preena, and Sanda (aka almost the whole crew!) met IN PERSON at the P & T Knitwear Studio (OK, Inyoo Zoomed in) to reflect together on the past year, coinciding with the last week of school. Each of our hosts shared their...
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The Stolen Labor That Built our School
At this week’s Round Table, Emmanuel, Hannah, and Heba spoke with Edward L. Donnellan, Jr., a passionate high school social studies teacher, and three of his remarkable students, Justin Wallace, Lincoln Fischer, and Lonnie McCallister. Together, they’ve undertaken a compelling exploration titled...
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No one is dealing with root issues..so prison becomes a revolving door
At this week's Round Table, Emily, Emmanuel, and Inyoo spoke with the remarkable Dr. Clover Perez, Founder & Executive Director of A Beautiful HEART Ministries. In this captivating episode, Dr. Perez shares her extraordinary story of redemption and her tireless efforts to reform the criminal...
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Don't Let Anyone Take Your Narrative and Twist It
At this week’s Round Table, Emmanuel, Hannah, and Heba spoke with multifaceted writer, community organizer, and labor advocate Raeghn Draper of The Futures Institute. Hailing from the vibrant city of Chicago, Reagan's journey is a testament to the power of narrative, both written and lived, in...
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Community does not mean agreement, community means understanding
At this week’s Round Table, Emmanuel and Hannah spoke about the dynamic world of civic engagement and education with esteemed guests June Klees and the vibrant members of Bay State Civic Corps: Chloe Pokovich and Samantha Combs. Dr. June Klees, a beacon of academic excellence and community...
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Media Literacy in a Maelstrom
We've got a special BONUS episode this week. Christine, Eloise, Jiwan, Theo, and Zarina--amazing Next Gen Civic Fellows who are conducting a Civic Action Project (CAP) on media literacy in collaboration with Ahmed Baba of Rantt Media--are doing a takeover. Listen in as they discuss the…
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If I Was A Young Person Now, I'm Not Sure If I Would Believe In Democracy
At this week’s Round Table, Emily and Emmanuel spoke with visionary leader and change-maker Debilyn Molineaux, founder of AmericanFuture.us. American Tales isn't just a project; it's a beacon of hope in a world often overshadowed by pessimism. Debilyn's mission is clear: to ignite our collective...
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How Do You Do It All--Or Not
At this week’s Round Table, Emmanuel, Hannah, and Heba conversed with a remarkable young leader, Chelsea Osei. Chelsea, a Ghanaian American high school senior based in Illinois and a member of Citizen University's Youth Collaboratory brings with her a wealth of experiences and insights that…
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What can we do to make our community better RIGHT NOW?
At this week's Round Table, Emmanuel and Hannah spoke with Isabel Luciano and Serena Prince, whose dedication to empowering communities and advocating for inclusive decision-making processes is truly inspiring. Isabel Luciano, Director of Training and Curriculum Design, brings a wealth of...
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Systems Of Inequality Are Still Alive
At this week’s Round Table, Hannah, Heba, and Inyoo spoke with Hajar Yazdiha, a sociologist and author of The Struggle for the People’s King. Our conversation with Hajar explores the ways right-wing movements manipulate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights figures. Drawing…
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A Voice for the Voiceless
At this week’s Round Table, Emily, Emmanuel, Hannah, and Heba spoke with the esteemed Erika Howard, Director of Impact Strategy and External Relations for FRONTLINE. Through her pivotal role at FRONTLINE, Erika leads the charge in using documentary filmmaking as a catalyst for societal change and...
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Having A Touch Of Humanity Can Get You A Long Way
At this week's Round Table, Emily, Emmanuel, and Hannah spoke with KJ Mauwong and Sean Schrader, Podcast Fellows of the Democracy Group.. Through their distinct paths and shared commitment to service, they embody the essence of leadership, empathy, and the power of collective action. As the...
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How we pursue the common good together
At this week's Round Table, Hannah and Heba spoke with Caleb Christen of the InterMovement Impact Project, a dedicated advocate for democracy and civic health. Hailing from the heartland of Wisconsin, Caleb's journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to service and systems change.…
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Am I Being A Golden Rule Voter?
At this week’s Round Table, Amelia, Emily, Hannah, and Heba engaged in a profound conversation with distinguished guest Emma Addams, Co-Executive Director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG). Emma provides invaluable insights into the mission and principles of the organization, which is...
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We're Exposed To Different Slices Of Information Each Day
At this week’s Round Table, Emily, Emmanuel, and Hannah spoke with distinguished Professor Tania Israel of the University of California, Santa Barbara. Professor Israel is not only a beacon of knowledge but a transformative figure in the field. Holding a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, a Masters…
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Having the right mindset is the biggest thing
At this week’s Round Table, Emmanuel and Emily spoke with Casey Vincelette, Program Administrator in the New York State Commission on National and Community Service and veteran Americorps member, who shared powerful insights and experiences about her life and personal growth through service. The...
About this show
The Round Table provides a platform for conversation and engagement of civically-minded young people from different parts of the country. We strive to model civil dialogue across various divides--socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, political, and regional. We aim to challenge norms and represent all kinds of diversity--especially of perspective and ideas--enabling listeners to “hear” our thinking. The Round Table is 100% created and edited by young people committed to building a more just and joyous world.
Hosted by
YVote
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