In this episode, Jacy, Ella, and Rena were inspired by preparing for a future episode of YouthSoup centering a racial justice fellowship - and by the wisdom of trees. They discussed what we can learn about mutual aid, non-extractive exchange, and collective liberation from our more-than-human relatives. Stay tuned for an unbelievably exciting future episode with COFED Just Leader Fellows to hear a more in-depth conversation! The book Rena is obsessed with throughout this episode is The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak.

During the Fourth episode of Youth Soup Season 2, Sebastian interviews his friend about working at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Shakopee MN. The conditions of working the night shift are the main focus of their conversation. Within that context they discuss their opinions on managerial dynamics in the workplace, workplace moral; and overall safety concerns on the floor.

In this episode, Kiin invites Jacy, a fellow ListenUp producer, to discuss their experiences as college students and navigating adulthood in the current era. Jacy, a 20-year-old, is a second-year college student while Kiin, a 19-year-old, is attending college as a first-year student. They share their struggles as first-generation college students in America and express concerns about their parents' well-being and the future.

Rena (he/they) a youth soup producer, and his super-duper cool friend Miles (he/him, a film maker and musician from Texas, dive into their trans experiences and identities, our hopes for trans futures, and the infamous she/they -lesbian-to-trans-masc-pipeline. The music featured in this episode is Miless song Tried My Best. You can listen more of his incredible music at M Ren on all platforms, and to see the best Instagram collages youve ever seen, check out @bigfishmiles. Please consider donating to our ongoing fundraiser at https://givebutter.com/listenup and help youth get the tools they need to become super awesome media leaders!

Familial relationships are an integral part of being human. The ideas, beliefs, traditions, and experiences that form who we are first stem from those we grew up with, which tends to be family. But how are family relationships formed when separated and hundreds of miles apart? How are mothers and children who are split apart able to form that mother-child bond? Is it possible to form a deep and intimate relationship? Meet the Murillo family who are split between the U.S. and Ecuador, and discover what it means and looks like to be family for them.

In the final episode of Youth Soup season 1, Clara, Sebastian, Jacy, Kiin, Rena, and new member Ella share what brings us joy, especially in the middle of Minnesota winters. We hope you enjoy Episode. 6," Everything Soup", a chaotic jumble of road condition rants and community support.

In the fifth episode of Youth Soup Season 1, the soup crew discussed the intersections of race and class in our personal lives, historical financial discrimination, and the current housing crisis in the Twin Cities.

For a very special 4th episode, Listen Up collaborated with Rosemount BSU with the help of BSU president and Listen Up member, Meti Negwo. Kiin, Meti, Clara, and Aliya discussed their experiences as African people in the U.S, anti-Blackness within African communities, and their hopes for the future.

In episode three we sat down to share foods that are meaningful to us with each other. We brought some of our favorite snacks to share, tried something new, and discussed why these snacks are important to us. We discovered how a lot of us connect to our culture through the food we eat and shared stories of connection to our food and our cultures.

Gloria, Jacy, and Rena discuss how their identities have changed over time, specifically during the pandemic. They reflect on how the environment you're in, the people you're surrounded with, and the media you consume all influence your understanding of self. We hope listeners take away an understanding that growth is NOT linear! It gets more complex, interesting, and beautiful over time, just like a big pot of gumbo :)