Radio Uprising

After what seemed for some like an interminable wait, we reach the topic, as requested, of Cringe on this weeks radio podcast. Our youth producers talk about what cringe means to them and what makes them cringe. From Schadenfreude to videos of us as kids that our parents insist on publishing online, we tow the line between cringe and embarrassment and the youth radio producers weigh in on if there is really is a difference between the two.

Featuring Viv-and-let-Viv, Jada, YungFxy, and Gypsy, this episode is all about the games people play. Mary Ellen gets the youth producers views and opinions on everything from Monopoly to Love Triangles. Tune in to find out who the most competitive youth producers are when it comes to board games and what kind of games social media is being used to play.

The show features the opinions and views of Gypsy, Matt, and Viv-and-Let-Viv and a familiar friend debuting his chosen DJ Name: (DJ) YungFxy, spelling TBD, as they talk with Mary Ellen about the concept of celebrity. The show kicks off with a discussion of the highest tier of celebrities and names thrown into the ring included Beyonce, Nicholas Cage, and Morrissey... The question "What makes a celebrity?" takes the conversation to who parents and grandparents think are celebrities vs. today's celebrities that the youth recognize (or don't). With so much to say, we didn't even make it to a break this week. Check out this episode to find out who the youth producers think should be celebrities, and what if they were going to be famous they would want to be famous for!

In anticipation of the upcoming 5th Annual Reel Expressions International Teen Film Festival on Friday, our Youth Producers talk about their experiences going to the movies. They tackle why it seems like people are going to movie theaters less often these days and whether the rating system works. Things get heated when it comes to what the code of conduct is for moviegoing. We all can agree that you need to silence your cell phones, but is texting unacceptable? What do you do when someone near you is interrupting your moviegoing experience?

Featuring Mary Ellen, DJ Viv-and-let-Viv, DJ Sahomegirl, DJ Sassy Cassy, and newcomers Nathalia and Nazir.

In a world full of trolls, echo chambers, and angry comments sections, what does it mean to "protest" something? Youth DJs Vivianna and Matthew take a long, hard look at protests in their personal lives as well as in American history and contemporary politics. Learn all about what happens when Pokemon players rally together to make certain cards worthless, how to start and circulate a petition in your school so your principal really hears you, and how the Boston Tea Party would go down if it happened in Trump's America. Plus youth produced musical pieces and a podcast from our friends at YouthRadio.org! 

On this episode of Radio Uprising, the Youth Producers talk about the nature of lies and liars. What does it mean to lie? Have you ever lied? Are there every any circumstances in which it is ok to lie? Should we always be held accountable? Bringing it to the bigger picture, they also discuss the controversial nature of lies in the news media as well as public office. 

The youth producers talk about all different kinds of help in this week's episode! First they ask each other, "what is help?" and wonder about who really needs to be helped in the first place. They discuss the difference between long-term help and short-term help, and even help that might seem like hurt at first! For example, even though having to do homework may seem like a short term hurt, it helps you learn and grow in the long run. The conversation moves on to being able to accept help from others--having the courage to know you are in trouble--and the negative consequences of refusing to be helped when you really need it. The team talks about their own experiences helping siblings, classmates, parents, and teachers, and then takes a short break to listen to a youth-produced podcast about consent. After the break, everyone takes a moment to appreciate how much Spark Media Project has helped them, and to talk about how excited they are for the upcoming film festival!!!

In this super fun episode, the youth media producers talk about what they did over the summer! Their answers range from visiting a chocolate factory, to canoeing, being a science camp counselor, to catching Pokemon! They tried new things (like Sauerbraten), did some of their old favorite things (writing music), and all in all had a fun, summery time! The second half of the show starts with a conversation about Harry Potter, and then moves on to the 2016 election. The Radio Uprising team talks about Hilary Clinton--whether or not they trust her, whether or not they'd vote for her, and what it would be like to have a woman president. There is some disagreement and lively, civil debate! In the end, they're all still friends and can't wait to get back on air next week!

After a short chat about--of all things--time travel, the youth producers launch into a lively discussion about the controversial 2016 Rio Olympics! The conversation starts with a few questions: what purpose do the olympics serve? What motivates the athletes? Nationalism? Glory? Vanity? Then the Radio Uprising team listens to a podcast about all the health, construction, and safety concerns this year's games have endured. They discuss the different roles mainstream vs. social media play in covering these challenges, and wonder whether the national spotlight will help Rio resolve some of these issues. Finally, the youth producers switch gears and talk about some of the blatantly sexist/racist comments that members of the media have made during the games. The Uprising panel is outraged--and resolve to help change these kinds of outdated attitudes!

Inspired by a sexist comment about teen girls and shopping, the youth producers try to deconstruct what we mean when we talk about...THE MALL! Everyone shares their first reaction to the phrase itself, and then digs deeper, examining the idea that women are mall-obsessed. The team--all of whom are female and decidedly mall-indifferent--debunk that stereotype pretty quickly, and move on to the topic of consumerism. They discuss the social rules and statuses associated with shopping at the mall and being able to buy expensive, "fashionable" clothing. Where do the "cool kids" shop? Is the mall still a "cool" place to hang out? The serious discussion is punctuated with Pokemon jokes, callers from Buffalo, and more!