People who are conventionally attractive are often treated differently — treated better — than people who aren't. That's "pretty privilege."

And when pretty privilege is based on Eurocentric beauty standards, it can further marginalize people of color, people with large bodies, queer people and disabled people.

In this episode of the RadioActive podcast, Nyla Moxley, Jana Le and Taniya Guster discuss pretty privilege, how it affects them and how it relates to colorism and femininity.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/pretty-privilege-a-conversation-about-colorism-and-femininity

[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Language is the foundation of life. All of our actions, perspectives, and cultures stem from how we communicate with others. Our communities are tied to their methods of communication. But what happens when we lose our ability to speak?

In this episode of the RadioActive podcast, Maymuna Yusuf, Red Debebe and Eliham Mohammed reflect on the trials and tribulations of staying connected to their native languages.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/multilingualism-or-assimilation-three-east-african-teens-reflect-on-language-and-identity

[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Tweens growing up with social media deal with rapidly changing beauty standards and social pressures. 

In this episode of the RadioActive podcast, Jehan Hashi, Josue Villalobos and Vivi Cardenas-Habell look into how tweens navigate this digital space, and why it matters. 

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/how-tweens-are-navigating-social-media-s-beauty-standards

[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This podcast episode was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

The Lambert House in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood is a place where LGBTQ youth can find community, belonging, and support. It's been around for more than thirty years, but it shut down at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

During that time, it found a new life online, and was able to reach more youth than ever before. RadioActive's Ada Walther takes us into the Lambert House and introduces us to someone who found a home there.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/how-the-lambert-house-found-a-new-life-online-during-the-pandemic

[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

The process of becoming a U.S. citizen is often a long and complicated one. RadioActive’s Eva Solorio talked with a family member about his journey to becoming an American citizen after immigrating from Mexico at eight years old.

Episode webpage:

https://www.kuow.org/stories/being-a-citizen-means-you-are-free-one-immigrant-s-journey-toward-american-citizenship

RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.

High school students in Seattle Public Schools are taught sex education once, in ninth grade health class.

RadioActive's Lily Turner recently graduated from Nathan Hale High School, where she saw the lack of sex ed throughout high school cause confusion and misinformation among her classmates.

But all this is about to change.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/changes-are-coming-to-seattle-public-schools-sex-ed-courses

[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]

Young Women Empowered, also known as Y-WE, is a youth development organization that’s been around for about 10 years. Their mission is to cultivate the power of diverse young people to be leaders and changemakers.

RadioActive’s Sadeen Al Ziyad looked into how Y-WE uplifts youth, especially youth of color, through programs that offer skill-building, joy, and a sense of belonging.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/cultivating-joy-and-support-y-we-provides-spaces-for-combatting-injustice

RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.

It can be easy to slip into a cycle of going to work or school, and then coming home, day in and day out. You might feel the need for another place to go, to get away from that routine.

But during the pandemic lockdown, there were suddenly a lot fewer of these "third places."

RadioActive’s Gideon Hall looked at one of his ‘third places’ – a Seattle music organization – and how they’re coming back from being online.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-importance-of-third-places-for-teens

RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.

At least 53,000 people experienced homelessness in King County last year. And that number is on the rise. 

RadioActive’s Hayden Yu Andersen talked with two people who are dedicated to addressing King County's homelessness crisis.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/how-two-people-are-addressing-seattle-s-homelessness-crisis

[RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing.]