Summer Youth Podcast Academy

The Bell
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Personal Journals

The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is an immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students, hosted by The Bell. The stories published here were reported, written, recorded, and mixed by our students in just three weeks.

  1. Oct 8

    Chatting at City League Coffee

    What does success mean, and what does it take to achieve it? Dane Demchak, a father, husband and owner of City League Coffee Roasters, reflects on how he built his business, from roasting coffee in his garage to opening a storefront in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Over time, his coffee shop has become a beloved third space for the local community. In this episode, Demchak shares his perspective on what it means to be successful in a competitive industry. Brayden Tom is a freshman at Vanderbilt University. He’s dedicated to exploring how different fields connect with each other and loves to improve his skill set. He has worked at the zoo, voiced his school’s daily announcements and presented his independent projects at Google. When he’s not exploring new industries, he’s in the kitchen learning to make better coffee. The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.

    Chatting at City League Coffee

  2. Oct 7

    Savoring the Flavor at Sabor Guayaco

    Randy Macias rises at 2:30 a.m. to go to work at his mother’s 24-hour Ecuadorian food truck, Sabor Guayaco, in Elmhurst, Queens. For the past five years, he’s supported his family’s business through thick and thin, honing his passion for cooking along the way. Now an aspiring chef at the Institute of Culinary Education, he’s looking forward to pursuing his dream of opening two restaurants and, most importantly, making his mother proud. Alyssa Cheong is a senior at John Adams High School. She's a founding member of the Restorative Community and Justice Club at her school. She helps out with school events, whether during or after school. During her free time, she likes to draw, hang out with her friends or little sister, and cook. One of her favorite shows is “South Park,” which she often watches to relax after a long day.  The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.

  3. Oct 6

    Changing Perceptions at JVF Pantry

    Jahvel Fraser, chef and owner of Queens-based catering business JVF Pantry, knew that cooking was his calling after preparing his first meal at just eight years old: a classic New Orleans jambalaya. After culinary school, he went on to work at Michelin-starred restaurants and cook in kitchens for James Beard Award-winning chefs, before founding JVF Pantry in 2018. Along the way, he had to overcome a multitude of obstacles, including prejudice from coworkers, impostor syndrome, and the challenge of scaling his operation when business rebounded after the COVID-19 pandemic. Jahvel’s story in the food industry is one about using success and hardship alike to propel himself forward. Jaila Eames is a junior who goes to Vertex Partnership Academies in the Bronx. She loves to draw, write, create stories, listen to music, play video games (“Ace Attorney” being her favorite) and play guitar in her spare time. When she’s in school, she tries to be hardworking and respectful. The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.

    Changing Perceptions at JVF Pantry

  4. Oct 5

    Live at LaRina

    With all the incredible food New York City has to offer, how do you make a name for yourself as a chef and restaurant owner? Since moving from Italy to New York City in 2012, chef Silvia Barban has distinguished herself as an ambassador of Italian cuisine, serving fresh pastas at three popular restaurants in Brooklyn: LaRina Pastificio & Vino, Briscola Trattoria and Tortelli. She’s even competed on cooking competition TV shows "Top Chef" and "Bobby’s Triple Threat." In this episode, she shares secrets to success in the food industry and how she draws inspiration from her grandmother, who taught her how to cook. Shai Parchi is a senior at LaGuardia High School. He is a member of his school’s technical theatre program and varsity soccer team. When he isn’t playing sports or doing schoolwork, he hangs out with friends, travels and spends time with his brothers. The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.

    Live at LaRina

  5. Oct 2

    Djon Djon and the Easter Dinner that Changed Everything

    In each of chef Wesly Jean Simon’s dishes is a promise he made to his mother when he was a teenager in Haiti. Before allowing him to move to the United States, she required that he learn how to cook. And what did he make to prove himself? An entire Easter dinner. Today, Simon is the proud owner of Djon Djon in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, where he mixes local Brooklyn energy with traditional Haitian flavors. Nadiyah Washington is a senior at Brooklyn Prospect High School. She is an active member of her school's newspaper team, girls' basketball management, climate environmental club and book club. When Nadiyah isn't busy doomscrolling or doing homework, she loves to eat Chipotle, go to the gym or rewatch Gilmore Girls. The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.

    Djon Djon and the Easter Dinner that Changed Everything

  6. Oct 1

    Sipping at Daily Provisions

    Ordering a coffee is the kind of mundane activity that doesn’t typically leave much of an impression. At cafe chain Daily Provisions in downtown Manhattan, barista Iphigene "Iphy" Murphy strives to overturn these expectations and positively impact each of her customers. Whether she’s concocting an off-menu hot chocolate for one of her regulars or putting extra effort into a latte for someone having a bad day, Iphy knows that the secret to a good beverage isn’t the drink itself, but the community it helps foster. Ishna Ahmed is a junior at Richard R. Green High School of Teaching in the Financial District. Ishna keeps herself busy as an organizer for the NYCLU TAP program, a part-time tutor for elementary and middle school students, and a part of her school’s teaching internship program for its 10th-grade. Outside of work, Ishna spends her time baking sweets with her mom, binge-watching sitcoms or scouring for her next read at Barnes & Noble. The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.

  7. Sep 30

    Changing Hearts at Drive Change

    After becoming involved with the criminal justice system as a youth, Fred Sarabia found work as a dishwasher. He fell in love with the kitchen and discovered Drive Change, a nonprofit organization that provides hospitality training, professional development and mentorship to court-involved New Yorkers. Working his way up to a culinary assistant, Fred shares the lessons he's learned along the way and his goal of working in a Michelin star restaurant. Khamani Mitchell is a junior at the Brooklyn Institute of Liberal Arts (BILA). He's a member of his school's news publication The BILA Wave. He is also an active member of the Youth Journalism Coalition (YJC). The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.

    Changing Hearts at Drive Change

  8. Sep 29

    Serving Slices and Stories at Sacco Pizza

    Located in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen, Sacco Pizza has been a fixture in the neighborhood since the 1960s. Boasting classic New York slices and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, this family-owned pizzeria is a favorite of locals and tourists alike. In this episode, Pete Cerasuolo shares how he grew up in the business until eventually taking the reins from his father and uncle. Through various ups and downs, he continues to carry on the restaurant’s legacy of good pizza and good community. Lucia Fajardo is a junior at Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan. She is an active member of her school's newspaper, orchestra, yearbook, and honor society. When Lucia isn't procrastinating or binge-watching TV shows, she loves to read, travel, watch Broadway shows and try new food spots around New York City. The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.

    Serving Slices and Stories at Sacco Pizza
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Ratings & Reviews

5
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7 Ratings

About

The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is an immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students, hosted by The Bell. The stories published here were reported, written, recorded, and mixed by our students in just three weeks.

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