Listen to the official trailer for the fifth season of On Our Minds from PBS News Student Reporting Labs. 

This season will feature teenagers in conversation with people they admire and look up to — in their families, local communities, and the literary world.

The 2024 election brought about sweeping changes. Donald Trump's victory gave Republicans a majority in the U.S. Senate and maintained their control of the U.S. House of Representatives. How are young people feeling, and what might these results mean? Click here for this episode's transcript.

This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske, with help from Associate Producer Wyatt Mayes. Youth perspectives were collected by Yasmeen Sakr, Grace Go, Bree Campbell, Josephine Murphy, and Poojasai Kona. Segments were produced by Olivia Brandeis, Keely Crawford, Miranda Jatib, Adelaida Siaca Ortiz, and Nico Fischer. Research and fact-checking by Reesa Venterea, Yasmine Sakr, and Becky Wandel. Wyatt Mayes edited and mixed this episode.

With the increasing capabilities of AI, it can be extremely hard to tell what information is real or not these days. In this episode, students get insights and tips from experts and teen fact-checkers about how misinformation affects this election. Check out Samuel Larreal's Teen Vogue article here and click here for this episode's transcript.

This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske, with help from Associate Producer Wyatt Mayes. Segments in this episode were produced by Simran Gupta from Georgia and Sophia Ortiz from Texas. Special guest Samuel Larreal from Teen Vogue and the Allbritton Journalism Institute. Research and fact-checking by Reesa Venterea and Becky Wandel. Frankie St Pierre Nelson edited and mixed this episode.

It's a special episode! Hear 1A host, Jenn White, interview On Our Minds students Grace Go (from WA) and Reesa Venterea (from MN) about what issues matter most to them as first-time voters, and their thoughts on misinformation. 

1A is produced by WAMU and distributed by NPR.

Young people speak up about issues they care about…but are their voices heard? Students report on how the Israel-Hamas conflict is affecting young voters and activists, the story of Georgia students trying to voice opposition to a state education bill, and how schools often teach about political parties in a polarizing way. Click here for the episode's transcript. 

This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske, with help from Associate Producer Wyatt Mayes. Segments in this episode were produced by Khadeejah Kahn from California, Harrison Tran from Georgia, and Imania Mohamed from NJ. Research and fact-checking by Yasmine Sakr and Becky Wandel. Antonio Nevarez edited and mixed this episode.

The Electoral College determines the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. But why does the U.S. have this system? What's the history? Why is it so hard to change the Electoral College? And what could possibly improve it? This explainer episode gives you everything you need to know. Click here for this episode's transcript.

This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske, with help from Associate Producer Wyatt Mayes. Segments in this episode were produced by Rebecca Kunze from California, Allison Pope from Idaho, and Carlos Guo from California. Research and fact-checking by Reesa Venterea and Becky Wandel. Wyatt Mayes edited and mixed this episode.

Members of Gen Z are running for office this November! Student reporters interview Averie Bishop (D-TX) and Wyatt Gable (R-NC) both running for a seat in their state legislature. Also hear from one of the country's youngest mayors, Jaylen Smith from Arkansas, about the impact he's had in his small town. Click here for this episode's transcript.

This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske, with help from Associate Producer Wyatt Mayes. Segments in this episode were produced by students Poojasai Kona from Texas, Olivia Brandeis from California, and Aidan Booker from Ohio. Research and fact-checking by Yasmine Sakr and Becky Wandel. Wyatt Mayes edited and mixed this episode.

How much power does your vote have? What if you're a conservative and live in a blue state? Or a liberal and live in a red state? Or what if you're from a U.S. territory, like Puerto Rico, and don't have full voting rights? Students explore these questions and why, no matter what, you should still vote. Click here for this episode's transcript.

This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske, with help from Associate Producer Wyatt Mayes. Segments in this episode were produced by Maggie Lebeau from Illinois; Orion Boone from Florida; and Miranda Jatib and Adelaida Siaca-Ortiz from San Juan, Puerto Rico (first Puerto Rican participation in On Our Minds), with mentoring from Pilar Álamo and Sixto Ortiz at sjspr.radio. Research and fact-checking by Reesa Venterea and Becky Wandel. Antonio Nevarez edited and mixed this episode.

In the first episode of this special season, students explore: What does America mean? Is the American Dream achievable? How have teens' thoughts and feelings about the country changed since they were in elementary school? Hosts also interview PBS News Capitol Hill Correspondent Lisa Desjardins about her early involvement in politics. Click here for this episode's transcript.

This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske, with help from Associate Producer Wyatt Mayes. Segments in this episode were produced by students Grace Go from Washington and Natalie Erzal from Texas. Research and fact-checking by Yasmine Sakr. Frankie Saint Pierre Nelson edited and mixed this episode.

A special seven-episode season of On Our Minds, a teen life podcast from PBS News Student Reporting Labs focuses on the issues and impacts of the 2024 election for young people.