Youth Empowerment Radio

Next Gen Convos

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. 16h ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. May 20

    Season 3, Episode 8 - (Part 2): Luke Mickelson on Child Bedlessness & Taking Tiny Moments to Action

    Youth Empowerment Radio S3E8 (Part 2): Luke Mickelson on Child Bedlessness & Taking Tiny Moments to Action Host Carmen continues her conversation with Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, about child bedlessness, its ripple effects on health and life outcomes, and why the issue is often invisible. Luke explains how local SHP chapters operate like a franchise model: sponsors donate about $300 per bed (including mattress, bedding, and delivery), volunteers build beds in an assembly-line process, and teams deliver and assemble beds in homes for children ages 3–17 who don’t already have a bed. They discuss demand outpacing supply, common circumstances behind requests (house fires, foster care, single parents, and grandparents taking in grandchildren), and Luke’s “Tiny Moments” framework—see it, feel it, act on it, repeat it, share it—to build a stronger desire to act and create community change. 00:00 Welcome Back and Setup 00:56 Why Beds Matter for Kids 01:17 Juvenile Detention Wake Up Call 02:44 Ripple Effects of Poor Sleep 03:25 How a Chapter Works 04:12 Sponsors and Build Days 05:54 Volunteer Experience Gold Nuggets 07:42 Applying and Prioritizing Need 09:33 Delivering Beds and Reactions 11:45 Ownership and Community Love 12:37 Small Moments Create Change 13:14 Why Bedlessness Is Invisible 15:04 How Big Is Bedlessness 16:19 Why No Bed Charities 17:49 Hardship Has No Labels 19:09 Top Reasons Families Apply 20:19 Grandparents Step In 22:31 Tiny Moments To Action 25:07 Practice Serving Daily 27:07 Get Involved And Connect 29:21 Closing Thanks And Impact

  7. May 7

    Season 3, Episode 7 - (Part 1) From a Farm Kid to 400,000 Beds: Luke Mickelson’s Sleep in Heavenly Peace Origin Story

    From a Farm Kid to 400,000 Beds: Luke Mickelson’s Sleep in Heavenly Peace Origin Story | Youth Empowerment Radio S3E7 (Part 1) Host Carmen interviews Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that builds and delivers beds to children. Luke shares his background growing up in a small Idaho town, lessons about community service, and a personal period of doubt that shifted his view of success. As a church youth leader in 2012, he learned of children in his town sleeping on the floor, built a bunk bed with local boys, and later built another with his own kids, discovering widespread need through a Facebook post. Delivering a bed to six-year-old Haley—who had been sleeping on a pile of clothes—became a turning point, inspiring a commitment to end child bedlessness locally and beyond. He explains SHP’s chapter model, volunteer-driven growth, and expansion to 470+ chapters in four countries with over 400,000 beds built. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:32 Luke’s Humble Roots 02:39 Small Town Community Values 03:51 Service Mindset and Life Lessons 06:09 Midlife Questions and Funk 08:02 Hearing About Kids Without Beds 09:37 Building the First Bunk Bed 11:11 Delivery Day and Community Impact 13:08 A Couch Moment Sparks More 14:41 Building Beds With His Kids 15:36 Now What to Do With It 15:59 Post Goes Viral 16:51 Haley’s Story 17:42 Inside an Empty Home 19:11 A Bed Changes Everything 20:35 Why Beds Mean Safety 24:21 From One Bed to Nonprofit 26:00 Mike Rowe Spotlight 27:09 How Chapters Scale Impact 29:14 Anyone Can Start One

  8. Apr 23

    Season 3, Episode 6 - Part 2 Youth Leadership in Action: Building Connection and Systems Change with Youth MOVE Nevada

    Youth Leadership in Action: Building Connection and Systems Change with Youth MOVE Nevada Host Carmen continues her conversation with Brenna, youth leader of Youth MOVE Nevada, focusing on Nevada’s rural isolation, lack of community connection, and the importance of social connection for health and healing. Brenna describes chapter challenges such as reaching rural youth and increasing awareness that youth voices are welcome, and explains how virtual meetings support statewide inclusion. She outlines multiple engagement pathways for youth—decision-making in meetings, polls and chat participation, podcast and social media contributions, toolkits, contests, and youth panels—within a peer-led model that builds leadership. Brenna shares experiences bringing youth voice into systems-level meetings, noting receptivity but sometimes limited dialogue, and highlights the Youth Voice at Agency Level assessment/training, work with UNR on system-of-care data collection and youth focus groups, and her role with a Nevada Medicaid behavioral health transformation workgroup shaping care coordination improvements. She is excited about continued chapter growth and directs listeners to YouthMoveNV and YouthMoveNV@nevadapep.org. 00:00 Welcome Back Part Two 00:34 Nevada Rural Isolation 01:22 Why Connection Matters 04:51 Reaching Rural Youth 06:46 Everyday Youth Engagement 12:05 Youth Led Meetings 13:27 Youth Voice In Systems 16:22 YVAL And UNR Partnership 21:26 Medicaid Summit Impact 26:08 Future Growth And Contact 28:13 Final Thanks And Wrap

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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
    67
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Youth Empowerment Radio
  • Show Website
    Youth Empowerment Radio