Ok yes we all agree, we need to improve our education system, but how do we actually approach institutions with clear, achievable plans for change? Well, thank goodness Paul Moch Islas is here with some fresh ideas for a better future. In our interview we discuss Camino21, an organization Paul co-founded based in Mexico. Camino 21 works to equip students in higher education with the skills necessary to thrive in the 21st century, especially in our Covid-infiltrated world, by addressing how teachers teach. As his work extends beyond Mexico, he hopes to change the way the over one million university faculty members working across Latin America approach education. We chat about how being flexible, learning how to adapt and pivot, is essential not only for institutions, but also for individuals. It’s a challenge, but if we take it one step at a time, we can walk this camino together. From Singing in the Rain to Slumdog Millionaire, we cover all the bases in this discussion. Check it out!

What does "Stay at Home" mean if you don’t have a home? Being homeless is hard enough, but add a global pandemic and the emergency couldn’t be more dire. Thank goodness Eliane Lakam is on the task. Listen in to our conversation with Eliane all about her work to combat homelessness in the United States, and the surprisingly simple ways we can all get involved. When a problem seems insurmountable, sometimes you just need to take it one step at a time.

Dear 2021... if you continue to be anything like your first few days, it’s going to be an interesting year! Hear Abbie and Tim look back on our past year of interviewing young speakers doing world-changing work and then discuss how we can all best move forward from here.  How do you progress when the answers aren't clear and inspiration isn't flowing? Today we explore our struggle of embracing the very point of our podcast - process - and how you can be involved in shaping our project. Also, tune in to hear Abbie's ongoing existential crisis and Tim leaving us with an... interesting(?) parting gift!

Yes, goals are important, but how can we shift our focus to embracing process? Maybe some people (*ahem* Abbie)  find this more difficult than others. Listen to our conversation with Joey Phoenix (they/them) as they describe how they support their community using writing, digital outreach, and even faerie troupes. We delve into questions of identity, hope, and productivity. Plus, Abbie digresses into a tangent about cuneiform and Tim admits neither of us have any friends.

There's an election coming up. You might of heard of it? We’ve all been getting a lot of political news recently, but who are the individuals behind the stories? What is their process, why are they engaged in this work, and what do they worry about? Listen to Story Hinckley discuss her experience as a political reporter for the Christian Science Monitor, covering stories on the ground across the country. We talk about how a journalist strives for impartiality, how to handle what can seem like multiple truths, and the fundamental importance of politics.

As our world continues to get more uncertain, people like Carolina Lozada give us the steady hope we need. She works in Microfinance, a banking field that provides loans to low-income families and individuals. On this week's episode, Carolina discusses how Microfinance works and why it's essential in jumpstarting local economies. We talk about what it means to be a young person with fresh ideas in an established field like finance. Spoiler alert: young people have a lot to offer. Plus, hear all about how badly Abbie wants a dog and Tim wants a leather couch. 

Meet Mariam, an Iraqi student who at nineteen has already studied around the world and breaks barriers each place she goes. Hear how she finds hope wherever she is, whether it’s through organizing a local Women’s Day march in Bosnia, applying to schools despite discouragement, and confronting damaging stereotypes in witty ways. 

What if you want to pursue theater and politics at the same time? What do we do with the myriad of narratives that shape a fractured America? In this conversation, Jordan recounts how he has dealt with stories from across the US, whether in handling mail sent to President Obama and performing his own work based on interviews with every-day Americans. Jordan offers a take of what it means to follow the meandering road of an artistic career, and the rewards it can bring for bridging communities and cultures with empathy.

It's easy to say "Anyone can be an artist!" But what does it really mean to think creatively in a practical sense? 

Listen to Miranda Aisling delve into her story of opening up a community arts organization, her vision for enabling a more creative world, and how to impact communities using the arts beyond traditional systems.

Meet Tilly Krishna, a high school senior with a passion for bringing her community together to support essential causes. You know. Just your average world-saving hobby. Tilly advocates for students’ mental health and rallies friends to stand for Black Lives. In this episode, we discuss how Tilly has organized her advocacy from creating an Anti-Racist calendar to writing speeches, and what it means to move forward despite setbacks. Thanks for inspiring us, Tilly!!