Rebel Girls

Award-winning, self-taught DJ Jay Shalé shares her journey from learning music as a kid in Germany to creating the energy for massive sports crowds in the US in this conversation with Junior Reporter Kalani Jules.

Maya Angelou was a poet who used her words to inspire hope and courage. But before that, she was a young girl who dreamed of being a streetcar conductor.

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This story was produced by Katie Sprenger with sound design and mixing by Mumble Media. It was written by Ashli St. Armant. Fact-checking by Joe Rhatigan. Narration by Ashli St. Armant. Our executive producer was Katie Sprenger. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi. Thank you to the whole Rebel Girls team who make this podcast possible. Stay rebel!

Hey Rebels! Get ready for your new weekly obsession, where sports, fashion, and pop culture meet the group chat. Find out what sea creature Naomi Osaka is cosplaying, who’s the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympic’s history, and this year’s youngest Olympian is how old?? All that and more, on our new Weekly Sports Show!

Olympic freestyle skier Mathilde Gremaud shares how she learns big tricks, handles pressure, and focuses on what she can control. She talks mindset, competition, and the lessons skiing has taught her on and off the snow.

Katherine Johnson was a mathematician whose calculations helped send astronauts to the moon. Despite facing racism and sexism, she broke barriers at NASA and proved that with determination, you can reach for the stars.

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This episode was narrated by Nicole Pringle. It was written and produced by Danielle Roth, and edited by Haley Dapkus. Direction by Ashton Carter. Sound design and mixing by Carter Wogahn. Fact checking by Sam Gebauer. Our production coordinator was Natalie Hara. Haley Dapkus was our senior producer. Our executive producers were Anjelika Temple and Jes Wolfe.
Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi.
A special thanks to the whole Rebel Girls team, who make this podcast possible! Until next time, stay rebel!

World’s No. 1 pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters shares how trusting her own game helped her rise to the top. She talks mindset, training, and what it means to be a Rebel Girl—on the court and beyond.

Get to know Laurene Powell-Jobs who read the story of Tereza Lee. Laurene Powell Jobs is founder and president of Emerson Collective. Emerson’s mission centers on advancing immigration policies, preserving the environment, re-envisioning the future of high school, and ending gun violence in Chicago.

[this episode originally aired in 2020.]

Often described as the “original DREAMer,” Tereza Lee is an activist and musician who bravely stepped out of the shadows to share her story as a young undocumented immigrant in the United States. Although the U.S. Congress has yet to pass the DREAM Act, which would offer protections for undocumented youth, Tereza’s decision to tell the world her story helped build a national movement for undocumented youth—and launched Tereza into a life of activism that continues to this day.

About the Narrator

Laurene Powell Jobs is founder and president of Emerson Collective. Emerson’s mission centers on advancing immigration policies, preserving the environment, re-envisioning the future of high school, and ending gun violence in Chicago. Powell Jobs serves as board chair of The XQ Institute and College Track, a college completion program she founded in 1997 to combat the alarming achievement gap among students of color.

Credits

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls and Boom Integrated, a division of John Marshall Media. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. Our Executive Producers are Jes Wolfe and Katie Sprenger. This season was produced by John Marshall Cheary, Sarah Storm, and Robin Lai. Corinne Peterson is our Production Manager. This episode was written by Alexis Stratton and edited by Maithy Vu. Proofread by Ariana Rosas. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi who has also sound designed this episode. Mattia Marcelli was the sound mixer.

[This episode previously aired in 2020.]

Meet Erica Tandoh, aka DJ Switch Ghana: a creative force from Ghana, West Africa, who uses music to express herself and speak up for what she believes in.

Discover how she learned to DJ in just five days (!!!), the sweet story behind her stage name, and what it felt like to play for a packed stadium full of kids and families. She also talks about the DJ Switch Foundation and why helping others keeps her hopeful—even when life gets tough.

You can also learn more about her story in our book 100 Inspiring Young Changemakers.

Photo Credit: Hugo Grey Photography

We sat down with pro race car driver Tatiana Calderón to talk speed, discipline, and speaking up when something doesn’t work.

Tatiana is the first and only woman to compete in modern Formula 2, and she shares how being “different” helped her think outside the box—and push for changes that make racing more accessible for women and girls.

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