Welcome back to The Round Table! In this week’s all host episode, Kassandra, Daniella, Preena and Viola dive into the current state of U.S. democracy, how it’s shifted over time, the changing roles and behaviors of public officials, and the corruption that threatens to shake the system at its core.

From the NYC mayoral race to Trump’s digital fundraising tactics to ICE detention practices, the hosts break down the latest headlines. They explore the growing public disillusionment with government, education, and immigration and the apathy that seems to be everywhere. Drawing a powerful comparison to the musical Cabaret, they ask: how do we get people to care? How do we hold leaders accountable? And what unique role do young people play in all of this?

The conversation also looks at digital political activism, the importance of real, human connection in movements, the danger of performative politics, and whether rebuilding trust in government is even possible. Rebuilding trust won’t be easy; it'll take transparency, accountability, and real systemic change. But it’s possible. And more than that, it’s necessary. Now is the time to speak up, take action, and push for a democracy that actually reflects and respects the people it serves.

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Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Kassandra, Preena, and Sauda sit down with Dr. Paul Zeitz a physician, public health expert, and democracy advocate whose work spans from global health to civic transformation. With decades of experience leading responses to the HIV/AIDS crisis and now focusing on constitutional renewal and citizen empowerment, Dr. Zeitz brings a unique blend of medical insight, political strategy, and community action to the table.
In this episode, we dive deep into what it means to radically rethink democracy in the 21st century. Dr. Zeitz talks about his mission to help everyday people reclaim power, build inclusive systems, and take bold action to heal what's broken in our society. From citizens' assemblies to new approaches to constitutional reform, he offers not only critique, but clear strategies for reimagining civic life and amplifying youth voices.
We also explore how young people can be powerful agents of change despite the challenges of polarization, disengagement, and injustice. This conversation is about possibility, action, and the future we can build together.
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Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Daniella, Kassandra, and Preena sat down with two time Emmy Award winning filmmaker Kayona Ebony Brown, whose work bridges art and activism. Known for her powerful storytelling in both sports and female centered narratives, Kayona shares how her creative journey from radio DJ to filmmaker has been fueled by resilience, purpose, and a deep belief in the power of storytelling.

In this episode, Kayona opens up about the setbacks that shaped her career and how failure can be a tool for growth, leadership, and social impact. She reflects on her work on high profile projects like Before Jackie, a Super Bowl feature starring Viola Davis, and her current fictional sports series Coach Quinn, which challenges gender norms in the NFL.

If you’ve ever wondered how creators balance big dreams with real world discipline, this one’s for you. Kayona shares the daily routines that keep her grounded, including meditation and gratitude practices, and how emotional discipline helps her thrive in a fast paced industry. With big plans to fund her first feature film and expand her company, Siingle, Kayona continues to use her platform to inspire, empower, and spark civic engagement.

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Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Daniella and Sauda speak with Corinne Lerma, a Youth250 Bureau member. She is one of 100 young adult fellows who not only advise, but also collaborate with nonprofit organizations. But, Corinne’s commitment to helping young learners doesn’t just stop there. In addition to this, she is also a preschool educator, a Cincinnati Museum Center instructor, an artist, and a writer. Together, Corinne and the hosts dive into her passions, her journey, and how she manages to balance so many roles at once.

Starting with the roots of Corinne’s interests in history, the arts, civic engagement, and education, the hosts explore how her rural upbringing shaped her perspective, her thoughts on the future of art, and her personal creative process. Corinne shares how she realized college wasn’t the right path for her, how working with 4-5 year olds helped her define her core values, and why civic education at an early age matters. She also reflects on the challenges she’s faced and the achievements she’s proud of despite them.

The conversation wraps up with a look at Corinne’s role in the Youth250 Bureau and how that opportunity came to be, before she turns the tables and asks the hosts to share their own favorite ways to stay civically engaged.

Tune in to hear what Corinne and the hosts strive to make time for and why it’s essential to nurturing civic minded communities.

Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Kassandra, Daniel, and Zarina sit down with Alice Sheehan, CFO of AllSides Technologies. Alice is passionate about promoting media literacy and works closely with teachers and students across all 50 states to encourage understanding of opposing viewpoints on important civic issues. She believes strongly in teaching young people “how to think,” not “what to think.”

During the episode, Alice shares her journey into civic engagement and explains how her early involvement in local issues shaped her passion today. She talks about the value of focusing efforts where they can have the biggest impact, starting within one’s own community. Alice also reflects on the challenges young people face when trying to prioritize so many civic and political issues at once.

The conversation highlights growing concerns around civil discourse and the decline of respectful dialogue between opposing sides. Alice discusses the role of social media in deepening political divides, pointing out how platforms are often separated into “liberal” and “conservative” spaces. This separation, she explains, makes it harder for individuals to truly understand different perspectives.

Throughout the episode, Alice offers thoughtful insights on media literacy, political discourse, and active civic engagement. Her experiences show why developing critical thinking skills and engaging thoughtfully with others is more important than ever.

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Welcome back to The Round Table!

This week, our hosts Kassandra, Sauda, and Viola sit down with Christopher Albert De La Roa, Web Producer and Content Manager at DoSomething.org. Christopher shares his personal background in art and activism as an independent broadcaster, media and content producer, storyteller, and self proclaimed “student of the absurd.”

Reflecting on his upbringing, witnessing injustice and facing family struggles Christopher discusses how he found both escape and empowerment through art. He shares his take on the evolving role of social media as a “double-edged sword,” offering thoughtful advice on how to navigate content creation and consumption. He also highlights the artists who have broken through societal barriers to bring forward stories that reflect the experiences of often overlooked communities.

Together, the group dives into media films, books, and more that portray marginalized groups with care, as well as those that miss the mark. Christopher emphasizes the importance not just of which stories get told, but who gets to tell them, and how that shapes the broader cultural narrative. The conversation rounds out with a powerful discussion on the role of humor in healing, the impact of activism on education and careers, and the need to move beyond fear, seek support, and speak your truth.

Listen in to find out why that matters and how to begin.

Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Daniel, Inyoo, Kassandra and Sauda sat down with Emma Post and Max Szuchman, seniors at Mamaroneck High School in Southern Westchester and passionate advocates for youth voter engagement. As part of a four year civic engagement program at their school, they have dedicated the past two years to increasing voter turnout among both young people and Hispanic communities.

Emma and Max have witnessed firsthand a troubling trend: many of their peers are disengaged from the political process, with eligible students choosing not to vote in the 2024 election, often believing their vote wouldn’t make a difference. Concerned by this widespread apathy, they took action, launching initiatives to register and pre-register high school seniors while raising awareness about the power of voting.

In this conversation, they shared their experiences running a voter registration drive that successfully registered over 300 students. They also highlighted the impact of every vote, pointing to swing states like Michigan, where election outcomes were determined by just a few thousand ballots. Their efforts extend beyond their school, as they work with Assembly Member Nily Rozic to advocate for a bill allowing 17 year olds to vote in primary elections if they turn 18 by the general election.

Emma and Max’s work is a powerful reminder that young people have the ability to shape the future of voter engagement. By starting early, they are proving that every vote and every effort to increase participation matters.

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Welcome to another episode at The Round Table. This week, our hosts, Inyoo, Sauda, and Viola sat down with Devyn Inez Fusaro, the Digital & Communications Manager at New York Renews, a powerful coalition fighting for climate justice across New York.

Devyn’s journey with NY Renews began in 2019 creating impactful videos that helped shape the movement's messaging. By 2022, she officially joined the team as a coalition organizing fellow for the Climate, Jobs & Justice campaign, later leading the coalition's Video Working Group in 2023 and 2024. Now as a full-time staff member, she plays a key role in shaping NY Renews' digital strategy and outreach.

In this conversation, Devyn breaks down what NY Renews is currently organizing for, from advancing the rollout of the Cap-and-Invest program to securing funding for critical climate programs through the Fund Climate Campaign. She also highlights the coalition’s priorities around Indigenous solidarity and explains how climate justice is deeply connected to social and economic equity. But this episode isn’t just about policy it’s also about storytelling and activism. Devyn shares her personal journey, from her background as a narrative and documentary storyteller with experience producing for HBO and BRIC TV to the books and resources that have shaped her approach to advocacy.

For students and young changemakers, Devyn offers insights on getting involved in climate advocacy, sharing practical advice on how to effectively push for climate policies and make real impact.

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Welcome to another episode ofThe Round Table! This week, Daniella, Preena, Kassandra, Inyoo and Sauda discussed the power of story-telling, intersectional identities, the role of youth in bringing about societal change, and so much more. They spoke with Dr. Rob Carpenter, a UCLA Professor and author, who has worked in the White House, Hollywood, tech and transportation, and who is a self-described “firm believer in the power of creativity and storytelling.”

The hosts learned how Dr. Rob’s intersectional identity -- as a part Black, White, and Native man who grew up in a fully White household, in a predominantly Latinx neighborhood, with Jewish and Asian best-friends -- shapes his writing and allows him to empathize with many diverse groups of people. They question whether today’s world lives up to Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream, share hope for the future through collective youth organizing, and even ponder how idealism grapples with reality in the possibility of creating a utopian world. 

Passionate for the virtue of stories over statistics in all levels of education, Dr. Rob shares how often, as early as 2nd Grade, students are “educated out of their creativity” -- teachers forced to teach to the test are unable to incorporate stories or the arts, contributing to the attendance crises across many schools. Yet the system is possible to reform if politicians are made to understand it needs changing, and on a smaller level, Dr.Rob describes how he, utilizing his curriculum freedom as a College Professor, makes sure every lesson includes reflection questions giving students the opportunity to relate their personal experiences to class-content.

Asked about his suggestions to fix the educational system, Dr. Rob mentions increasing inter-subject integration, role-playing in the classroom, and teaching “from the outside in.” The conversation wraps up with hosts sharing their “why” for participating in these late-night conversations and staying involved overall, and giving their advice for the generation coming up behind them. 

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Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Daniella, Preena, and Zarina are joined by Andrew Einhorn, the CEO and co-founder of LevelFields, an AI-powered app designed to simplify investment research for users. Andrew takes us on a fascinating journey through his career from studying psychology and cultural anthropology to leading groundbreaking public health initiatives, advising startups, and ultimately co-founding a company that merges AI and finance.

In this episode, we dive into the challenges of building financial trust in an era of misinformation, the transformative role of AI in finance, and how LevelFields is leveling the playing field for investors. Andrew shares how AI is revolutionizing the industry by analyzing massive data sets at lightning speed, predicting trends, and making complex investment strategies accessible to everyone. But with innovation comes complexity. 

Andrew offers a thoughtful perspective on the intersection of political and market instability, the ethics of AI, and the influence of big tech on government. He explores the delicate balance between fostering innovation and implementing effective regulation, shedding light on both the opportunities and challenges in this rapidly evolving landscape.  

Andrew’s insights leave us inspired by the potential of AI to empower individuals while reminding us of the importance of responsible innovation. As we navigate the intersection of technology, finance, and ethics, it’s clear that the decisions we make today will shape the future of these industries. This episode challenges us to think critically about the role of AI in our lives and how we can use it to drive positive change.

Thank you for listening!