How Student Podcasting Shapes Civic Storytelling | TDG Fellowship

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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