On Our Minds

Hosts Matt and Faiza hear from Alice of Austin, Texas who shares her story of eating disorder recovery and talks to British social media influencer Ro Mitchell about sharing her recovery journey online. Matt and Faiza also talk to psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour on how eating and food can affect the well being of teens.

The story in this episode is from Alice in Austin, Texas.

This episode was produced by Student Reporting Labs Digital Producer Rawan Elbaba with help from Briget Ganske.

In this episode, Matt and Faiza discuss pressure and competition. You'll hear stories and conversations from students about their experiences with pressure, competition, and failure -- including a conversation with the 2021 National Spelling Bee winner, Zaila Avant-garde. Plus, you'll get tips and advice on combating these issues.

Student voices include Jeremiah from Rouse High School in Leander, Texas, Deesha from Etowah High School in Woodstock, Georgia, and Lauren from Sickles High School in Tampa, Florida. This episode was produced by SRL production assistant Jaylah Moore-Ross with help from Briget Ganske.

Hosts Matt and Faiza speak with documentary filmmaker Ken Burns about his PBS film “Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness.” Ken Burns also opens up about his own life, losing his mother to cancer, and how filmmaking and storytelling has the power to keep the past alive.

This episode was produced by Student Reporting Labs Youth Media Producer Briget Ganske with help from Jaylah Moore-Ross.

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Subscribe to our podcast, 'On Our Minds:' https://studentreportinglabs.org/on-our-minds/

In this episode, Matt and Faiza explore how to process the death of a friend or family member, that it's OK to be sad, and that art and storytelling can help us grieve and remember those who are gone.

Student producers include Tyler from Dominion High School in Sterling, Virginia, and Sierra and Shyla from Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering in Beaverton, Oregon.

This episode was produced by SRL Youth Media Producer Briget Ganske, edited by Chris Schwalm, and production assistance from Jaylah Moore-Ross.

Note: This episode was produced before the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Our hearts and prayers go out to the community and our whole country.

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Student reporter Jacob Tacdol speaks with Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels from Run-DMC, the popular hip-hop group from the 80s and 90s. McDaniels shares his own story of depression and suicidal thoughts, learning about his adoption, and then finding "the most powerful thing" -- therapy.

This episode was produced by Student Reporting Labs Youth Media Producers Mohammad Pasha and Briget Ganske.

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Subscribe to our podcast, 'On Our Minds:' https://studentreportinglabs.org/on-our-minds/

In this episode, Matt and Faiza talk about the realities and struggles of middle school, with voices from current middle school students. You'll also hear from celebrities on what middle school was like for them, what they would tell their younger selves about what they wish they would have known, and advice to students today.

Student voices include Tre'Sean, Navaeh, Candace, Kabya, Vikiyah, Daryus, Chris’Ciara from I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, and Meera from UCLA. Other voices include actor Rudy Pankow from Outer Banks and musician Darryl McDaniels from RUN-DMC. This episode was produced by SRL production assistant Jaylah Moore-Ross with help from Briget Ganske.

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Special Mental Health Correspondent Deesha Panchal interviews Dr. Hina Talib, a board-certified pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist, writer, and teen media creative based in New York City. Dr. Talib gives young people advice on having a healthier relationship with news media consumption. She also advises that while media can "make us feel anxious," it can also teach us new things, so finding balance is critical for young people.

This episode was produced by Student Reporting Labs Youth Media Producers Mohammad Pasha and Briget Ganske.

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Matt and Faiza explore stories of teen social life, from the dangers of comparing yourself to others, to what it's like seeing your generation depicted on TV shows like Euphoria.

Student voices include Temperance and Ethan from Caesar Rodney High School in Camden, Delaware, Zion from the F.V. Pankow Center in Clinton Township, Michigan, Tatiana from John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, Maryland and her friends Arieli and Dream. This episode was produced by SRL Associate Youth Media Producer Becky Wandel with help from Briget Ganske and production assistance from Mercedes Ezeji.

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Special Mental Health Correspondent Deesha Panchal interviews Dr. Daniel Siegel, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Siegel explains that teens are not "raging" with hormones, as many people think. Instead, what's really going on? The teenage brain is being remodeled.

This episode was produced by Student Reporting Labs Youth Media Producer Briget Ganske, with help from production assistant, Jaylah Moore Ross.

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Subscribe to our podcast, 'On Our Minds:' https://studentreportinglabs.org/on-our-minds/

Speaking up can be hard. Matt and Faiza talk to guests about what mental health is and how to open up about our emotions and experiences. Check out Well Being's Mental Health Language Guide for more resources.

Student voices include Vincent from Holbrook Middle-High School in Holbrook, MA; Damya from Lincoln Charter High School, in Lincolnton, NC; Ashley from Haldane High School in Cold Spring, NY; Neena from Dominion High School in Sterling, VA; and Deesha from Etowah High School in Woodstock, GA.

This episode was produced by Student Reporting Labs Youth Media Producer Briget Ganske, with help from production assistant, Jaylah Moore Ross.

Follow us:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StudentReportingLabs/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/reportinglabs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studentreportinglabs/

Subscribe to our podcast, 'On Our Minds:' https://studentreportinglabs.org/on-our-minds/