Youth Empowerment Radio

Next Gen Convos
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

This podcast was created by young people as a project of Youth MOVE Colorado, a youth-led organization. This is meant to serve as a fun, educational, and community-building resource for youth with lived experience. We will be having organic conversations about everything from making friends to advocating for change, and interviewing other changemakers along the way!

  1. 3d ago

    Season 3, YAW Special - Youth Awareness Week: Day 2 -Leadership, Advocacy, and Getting Started with Norah Armstrong & Lydia Lee

    Youth Awareness Week: Leadership, Advocacy, and Getting Started with Nora Armstrong & Lydia Lee Youth MOVE Vista associate Tomas Alazar records a conversation for Youth Awareness Week’s Leadership and Advocacy Day with CU political science students Nora Armstrong and Lydia Lee about advocacy, leadership, and how youth can get involved. Norah describes work with the National Foundation for Women Legislators and Phil Weiser’s Colorado governor campaign, and discusses leadership through elections, voting, and policy; she cites the 2022 Roe v. Wade overturning as a turning point and emphasizes that politics affects daily life and that youth should educate themselves, engage locally, and learn to disagree better. Lydia discusses activism related to immigration enforcement, starting a CU political education and action club, and work to get a graduated income tax measure on the ballot to fund public schools; she frames leadership as learning from others, notes politics can feel inaccessible and overwhelming, and encourages small steps, community conversations, and finding supportive networks. Both express hope about growing people power and community-centered change. 00:00 Welcome and Context 00:54 Meet Nora and Lydia 02:10 Defining Leadership Styles 04:45 What Sparked Advocacy 07:41 Why Youth Disengage 12:39 Pitch to Get Involved 16:53 Small Steps to Start 22:55 Looking Ahead and Hope 26:57 Final Thoughts and Wrap Up

  2. 5d ago

    Season 3, YAW Special - Jesse Sena on the Origins and Vision of Colorado Youth Awareness Week

    Jesse Sena on the Origins and Vision of Colorado Youth Awareness Week Tomas of Youth Empowerment Radio interviews Jesse Sena—CEO, licensed counselor, writer, CSU Pueblo psychology professor, and founder of Youth Awareness Week—about his background and the creation of Youth Awareness Week. Sena shares being a first-generation college student who struggled academically, became a single parent while earning a psychology degree, and later completed a master’s in marriage, family, and child therapy with doctoral studies in marriage and family psychology. He explains his philosophy of giving youth a “taste of success” through exposure to opportunities like college visits and mentoring, and describes Pueblo’s poverty, generational challenges, and the importance of collaborative community networks. Youth Awareness Week was designed to highlight youth voice and connect families to local resources through events and open houses. Sena discusses expanding from Pueblo to Colorado, tailoring the week to each community, challenges like personal agendas, and plans to pursue National Youth Awareness Week, while emphasizing passion, empathy, and responsibility in human service work. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:59 Jesse’s Journey to Psychology 05:42 A Taste of Success Philosophy 07:36 Why Pueblo Needed Awareness 10:12 How Youth Awareness Week Began 14:19 Mentoring High Risk Youth 18:13 Collaboration Makes It Work 21:13 Taking It Statewide 23:26 Protecting the Core Mission 24:39 Challenges and Critics 27:24 Vision for National Expansion 30:27 Passion Driven Service Mindset 34:30 Favorite Moments and Community Joy 36:00 Event Timing and Closing Thanks 37:58 Final Message Celebrate the Work

  3. Jul 29

    Episode 14 - (Part 2) Cybersecurity, Agency & Online Consent

    What Happens When You Delete Something Online? Secure Messaging, Data Breaches & Password Safety | Youth Empowerment Radio Host Carmen continues her conversation with cybersecurity expert MJ on Youth Empowerment Radio, covering what really happens when you delete content online, differences between non-secure communication (SMS/HTTP), encrypted-in-transit tools (HTTPS/email), and end-to-end encrypted “lockbox” platforms like Signal, Telegram, and Proton. They discuss consent and data practices in systems of care (foster care, juvenile justice, public benefits), highlighting frameworks like Responsible Data and consensual tech, and questions young people can ask providers about necessity, retention, and deletion of sensitive information. MJ explains why email is risky for sensitive documents, suggests safer sharing methods and limiting unnecessary personal data, and walks through data breaches using haveibeenpwned.com. He emphasizes unique passwords, password managers, multi-factor authentication, credit monitoring, and replacing compromised cards, then closes with reflections on the internet’s potential, mesh networks, and Pride Month book recommendations. 00:00 Welcome Back Intro 01:01 Encryption Explained 04:09 Consent In Care Systems 08:20 Questions To Ask Providers 10:11 Avoid Email For Sensitive Data 14:26 Data Breach Alerts 15:17 Have I Been Pwned Demo 17:21 Checking Breach Results 18:24 What Breaches Reveal 19:52 Why Stolen Data Matters 22:45 Password Managers Explained 23:29 Two Factor Authentication 25:02 What To Do After Breach 26:23 Top Three Online Tips 28:16 Mesh Networks Autonomy 29:43 How To Stay In Touch 30:10 Three Pride Reads 32:24 Final Thanks And Wrap

  4. Jul 22

    Episode 13 - (Part 1) Cybersecurity, Agency & Online Consent

    Cybersecurity, Agency & Online Consent (Part 1) | Youth Empowerment Radio S3E13 Host Carmen welcomes MJ, a cybersecurity expert and owner of Tiny Gigantic, to Youth Empowerment Radio (Season 3, Episode 13, Part 1) for a conversation about digital security, agency, and consent online. MJ shares their background—Korean adoptee, queer, early tech interests, photojournalism, and community organizing—and explains how their work supports activists by helping them communicate with appropriate privacy and confidentiality. They describe cybersecurity as an ongoing behavior and process centered on aligning tools with movement values, protecting relationships with differing risk levels, ensuring reliability and incident response, and building user agency around who we communicate with and what data trails exist. They discuss how “free” platforms monetize users via targeted advertising and profiling, how engagement-driven algorithms can amplify polarization and radicalization pathways, and raise concerns about AI tools retaining prompts even after users delete conversations, while noting Proton’s Lumo as a privacy-forward alternative. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:07 Why Cybersecurity Matters 02:05 MJ Background and Tiny Gigantic 04:32 From Photojournalism to Security 06:55 Defining Cybersecurity for Movements 12:58 Agency and Online Consent 14:55 Terms of Service and Being the Product 17:48 How Targeted Ads Really Work 22:23 Algorithms Rage and Polarization 29:01 AI Privacy and Deleting Data 33:24 AI Risks and Closing Thoughts

  5. Jul 8

    Season 3, Episode 12 - (Part 2) Marijuana, Anxiety, and How to Talk to Youth About Addiction (with Amber Hollingsworth)

    Marijuana, Anxiety, and How to Talk to Youth About Addiction (with Amber Hollingsworth) Host Carmen continues her conversation with addictions counselor Amber Hollingsworth on Youth Empowerment Radio, focusing on teen marijuana use and practical ways to support young people. Amber explains that marijuana can be physically and psychologically addictive and is hard to identify because its negative impacts develop slowly, often increasing anxiety and depression while users believe it helps. She argues vaping may worsen use behavior by removing barriers and enabling frequent, hidden consumption. On support, Amber advises avoiding direct confrontation that triggers defensiveness and power struggles; instead, “pull information out” by asking questions, helping youth define their own “lines in the sand,” and connecting choices to their values. She recommends teaching early symptoms of addiction rather than scare tactics, urges adults to build credibility by acknowledging perceived benefits, and shares books she likes: 10X Is Easier Than 2X, Scaling/Scaling Up, and 10X. Amber directs listeners to her YouTube channel, Put the Shovel Down. 00:00 Welcome Back 00:45 Marijuana Normalization 02:48 Slow Burn Effects 03:38 Ocean Current Analogy 05:48 Physical Dependence Signs 06:14 Vapes Versus Joints 08:15 Supporting Youth Recovery 10:16 Pull Truth Out 12:32 Let Them Define Lines 16:19 Early Addiction Symptoms 18:04 Build Trust Credit 20:57 Book Recommendations 23:29 Where To Find Amber 24:06 Final Thanks

  6. Jun 25

    Season 3, Episode 11 - (Part 1) Addiction, Put The Shovel Down with Amber Hollingsworth

    Youth Empowerment Radio | Season 3 • Episode 11 (Part 1) Do you really have to hit rock bottom before things can change? In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, host Carmen sits down with addiction counselor and Put the Shovel Down creator Amber Hollingsworth to challenge some of the biggest myths surrounding addiction—especially among youth and young adults. Amber brings over 20 years of experience working with individuals and families affected by addiction. Together, they explore what addiction actually looks like before it becomes obvious, why "waiting for rock bottom" can do more harm than good, and how families can become part of the solution instead of feeling powerless. The discussion is grounded in real-world experience and offers practical insight for parents, caregivers, educators, professionals, and young people alike. In this episode: • Why you don't have to hit rock bottom to begin recovery • The difference between experimentation, substance use, dependency, and addiction • Early warning signs families often miss • Why addiction is often about coping—not just substances • The developmental impact addiction can have on youth • Common misconceptions parents have about alcohol and marijuana • Why Amber believes the "addictive personality" can actually become a superpower when directed in healthy ways If this conversation helps you, please consider: 👍 Like the video 💬 Share your thoughts in the comments 📲 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations amplifying youth voices and mental health. Suggested Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 01:08 – Meet Amber Hollingsworth 03:30 – Why families shouldn't wait for "rock bottom" 06:00 – What "Put the Shovel Down" really means 08:20 – Amber's unexpected journey into addiction counseling 15:10 – Growing up around addiction without recognizing it 19:40 – What actually defines addiction? 24:10 – Experimentation vs. addiction 29:00 – When substances become a coping mechanism 34:20 – Youth addiction vs. adult addiction 39:15 – Emotional development and addiction 44:20 – Does income or social status matter? 48:30 – "Don't ask why the addiction—ask why the pain?" 55:40 – Is the addictive brain broken? 59:20 – Turning addiction into a superpower 1:05:40 – Common myths parents believe 1:13:00 – Should parents let teens drink at home? 1:20:00 – The most common substances affecting today's youth 🎙 Youth Empowerment Radio amplifies the voices of youth, professionals, advocates, and leaders working to improve the lives of young people through honest conversations about mental health, resilience, recovery, leadership, and lived experience. #YouthEmpowermentRadio #MentalHealth #YouthMentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #Recovery #FamilySupport #SubstanceUse #YouthVoice #Hope #Prevention #Podcast #Spotify #YouTubePodcast #BehavioralHealth #RecoveryJourney

  7. Jun 16

    Season 3, Episode 10 - (Part 2) Adaptive Outdoor Recreation & Accessibility in Practice

    Nature, Community & Accessibility in Adaptive Outdoor Recreation | Youth Empowerment Radio S3E10 (Part 2) Host Carmen continues her conversation with Katie Ostadewick of Colorado Discover Ability about how outdoor recreation supports mental, physical, and social wellbeing, including work with local VA recreational therapy and veterans. Katie describes participants arriving discouraged by weather or doubt and leaving with smiles, new friendships, and meaningful conversations outside clinical settings, emphasizing sun exposure and nature as a “happy place.” She shares the impact of returning people to activities they love, including an avid mountain biker who became a wheelchair user, and explains CDA’s focus on independence—measured less by numbers served than by renewed confidence, family involvement, and participants pursuing equipment, grants, and recreation on their own. They discuss designing accessibility from the start (ramps, door width/placement, restrooms), transportation barriers, clear signage informed by lived experience, and breaking stigma, illustrated by an adaptive golfer outperforming others. Katie recommends The Hard Parts by Oksana Masters and Spoke by Spoke by Spoke by Dr. Terry Chase. 00:00 Welcome Back Intro 00:49 Nature As Healing 03:57 Community Through Outdoors 04:41 Mountain Biker Comeback 08:23 Measuring Real Impact 13:02 Outdoor Culture Of Help 14:22 Designing Accessible Spaces 19:00 Breaking Disability Bias 21:53 Book Picks And Wrap Up

  8. Jun 9

    Season 3, Episode 9 - (Part 1) Adaptive Outdoor Recreation & Accessibility in Practice

    Host Carmen welcomes Kady Ostowick, executive director of Colorado Discover Ability (CDA) in Grand Junction, Colorado, a nonprofit providing adaptive outdoor recreation for people with disabilities. Katie shares how she pivoted from a for-profit tech career to leading CDA, and outlines CDA’s programs including winter skiing and snowboarding, a large Special Olympics skiing/snowboarding team, seasonal cycling on local paved trails, and summer adventures like paddleboarding, kayaking, horseback riding, and rafting partnerships. She explains adaptive equipment across sports, from sit skis, mono skis, and outriggers to recumbent and tandem trikes and supportive rafting seating, noting high costs and frequent need for creative solutions. The conversation also covers practical outdoor accessibility—signage, bathrooms, transportation, and equipment access—and emphasizes designing solutions with people who have lived experience, reinforcing that disability does not mean inability. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:59 Katie’s Career Pivot 03:43 What CDA Does 07:11 Special Olympics Ski Team 09:21 Adaptive Ski Gear 14:46 Adaptive Cycling Basics 18:47 Cost and Logistics 19:35 Adaptive Rafting Safety 24:08 Outdoor Accessibility Beyond Ramps 30:30 Disability Is Not Inability 33:42 Access and Maintenance Wrap Up

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About

This podcast was created by young people as a project of Youth MOVE Colorado, a youth-led organization. This is meant to serve as a fun, educational, and community-building resource for youth with lived experience. We will be having organic conversations about everything from making friends to advocating for change, and interviewing other changemakers along the way!

Information

  • Creator
    Next Gen Convos
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Youth Empowerment Radio
  • Show Website
    Youth Empowerment Radio