On Our Minds

On Our Minds — a podcast made by teens, for teens, all about teens — and mental health is back for another season! Season 2 is hosted by high school students Matt Suescun and Faiza Ashar, and features personal stories from students all around the country and conversations with experts and influencers about mental health issues like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, grief, identity and more.

Schools featured:

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Season one hosts Noah and Zion recap presenting at SXSW EDU in Austin, Texas and then welcome Matt and Faiza, hosts for season two. Season two of On Our Minds drops in May 2022 — stay tuned!

This episode was produced by Zion Williams and Noah Konevitch and edited by Student Reporting Labs Youth Media producer Briget Ganske with production assistance from Jaylah Moore-Ross.

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

In a special bonus episode of "On Our Minds," hosts Noah and Zion talk to psychologist, author and well-known meditation teacher Tara Brach. Brach also leads them and listeners through a guided meditation to help recognize, center and acknowledge emotions.

This episode was produced by Student Reporting Labs Youth Media Producer Briget Ganske.
 
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In this season's final full episode of "On Our Minds," Noah and Zion talk about the positives and negatives of social media, and share stories from teens grappling with the effects of information overload on their mental health. Special guest Jeffrey Donald, who coordinates mindfulness practices for Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, explains the benefits of activities such as yoga and meditation to find balance in our hyperconnected worlds. 

Stories in this episode were produced by Caroline from McCallum High School in Austin, Texas, with help from Connect Educator David Winters; Isabel from Independence High School in Charlotte, North Carolina with help from Connected Educator Marie Worsley-Matthews; Steven from Pflugerville High School in Pflugerville, Texas with help from Connected Educator David Robb. 

This episode was produced by Student Reporting Labs Youth Media Producer Briget Ganske with assistance from Mercedes Ezeji and editing by Victor Fernandez. Terry’s interview was produced by Grace Vitaglione, a Student Reporting Labs intern; John Barnes and Curtis Roach's interviews were produced by SRL Digital Producer Rawan Elbaba and Associate Youth Media Producer Becky Wandel.

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Depression can be connected to many situations including chronic physical conditions, seasonal change, and the mental health of those around us. In this episode, Noah and Zion share stories from young people dealing with chronic conditions such as POTS and depression, and give tips on how to combat feelings of isolation. Throughout the episode, Noah talks with clinical therapist Cheryl Aguliar about ways to address depression and get help.

We talk about suicide in this episode. If you or anyone you know is in distress, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

Stories in this episode were produced by Sonal Prakash from Dominion High School in Sterling, Virginia with help from Connected Educator Mitch Schwartz; Danielle Traylor from Brentwood High School in Brentwood, New York with the help from Connected Educator Sequoyah Wharton; Annette from Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City, Utah with help from Connected Educator Chris Sloan.

This episode was produced by Student Reporting Labs Youth media producers Briget Ganske and Eli Kintisch with assistance from Mercedes Ezeji. Shelby’s interview was produced by Grace Vitaglione, a Student Reporting Labs intern.

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The phrase "we are all in this together," was used at the beginning of the pandemic to help unite people. In this episode, Noah and Zion share personal stories from young people who explore whether that phrase feels true or not, and discuss how they have been impacted by social and racial inequities. Later in the episode, Zion talks with clinical psychologist Dr. Ryan DeLapp about the connection between inequality and mental health.

Stories in this episode were produced by Onivid from Youth Beat in Oakland, California with helped from Connected Educators Sagresse Graham and Jake Schoenker; Shanae and Morgan at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan with help from Connected Educator Anita Crouch. This episode was produced by Student Reporting Labs Youth media producer Marie Cusick and Bridget Ganske with assistance from Mercedes Ezeji. Daijah’s interview was produced by Grace Vitaglione, Student Reporting Labs intern. 

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

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

School was a source of anxiety for many students during the pandemic. Noah and Zion discuss the highs and lows of virtual learning and share a wide range of stories from students across the country about how changes in learning impacted their mental health. This episode includes a conversation with mental health counselor Edith Porter about the youth mental health crisis and tips on how to cope with stress inside and outside of school.

Stories were produced by Asare from Gwinnett County Public Schools in Duluth, Georgia with help from connected educator Sheri Long; Kennedi from Frederick Douglass High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland with help from connected educator Patrice Lawrence; Jackson and Emily from the FV Pankow Center in Clinton Township Michigan with support from connected educator Michael Kaufman; Amina from Early College and Career Center in Elizabethtown, Kentucky with help from connected educator Mary Dunn; Kaitlyn and Jake from Loudon Valley High School in Purcellville, Virginia with help from connected educator Shari Adwers; and Cora and Abigail from Black River Falls High School in Black River Falls, Wisconsin with help from Connected Educator Julie Tiedens.
 
 This episode was produced and edited by Student Reporting Labs Associate Youth Media Producer Becky Wandel and Youth Media Producer Briget Ganske with production assistance from Mercedes Ezeji.
 
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 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StudentReportingLabs/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/reportinglabs

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

On Our Minds hosts Noah and Zion explore the stigma around mental health and share personal stories about social anxiety and combating panic attacks from teens in Michigan and Texas. This episode includes actress Asia Jackson describing how she copes with anxiety and depression and features tips from adolescent health physician Dr. Hina Talib on how to stay proactive when it comes to your mental health.

Stories in this episode were produced by Nicholas from F.V. Pankow Center in Clinton Township, Michigan, with support from Connected Educator Michael Kaufman; Ariana from McCallum High School in Austin, Texas, with support from Connected Educator David Winters; Trevor from Omaha North High Magnet School in Nebraska, with support from Natalie Runyon; Matt from Abington High School in Massachusetts, with support from Patricia Pflaumer; Lis from Haldane High School in New York, with support from Connected Educator Jackie McGrath; Brandon from Canyon High School in California, with support from Connected Educator Ryanne Meschkat; Brytni from Caesar Rodney in Delaware, with support from Connected Educator Elise Knable; Maddy from an interview with Sonal Prakash from Dominion High School, with support from Connected Educator Mitch Schwartz; and Jaylah Moore-Ross, Student Reporting Labs production assistant.
 
 This episode was produced and edited by Student Reporting Labs Youth Media producer Briget Ganske with production assistance from Mercedes Ezeji.
 
 Follow us on social media:
 
 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/

On Our Minds — a podcast made by teens, for teens, all about teens — and mental health. Hosted by high school students Noah Konevitch and Zion Williams, On Our Minds features personal stories from students all around the country and conversations with experts about mental health issues like anxiety, depression, isolation and more.