The Round Table: A YVote Podcast

YVote

The Round Table provides a platform for conversation and engagement of civically-minded young people from different parts of the country. We strive to model civil dialogue across various divides--socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, political, and regional. We aim to challenge norms and represent all kinds of diversity--especially of perspective and ideas--enabling listeners to “hear” our thinking. The Round Table is 100% created and edited by young people committed to building a more just and joyous world.

  1. SEP 9

    Voting Is Like Drinking Water: What Are We Missing?

    Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Kassandra and Preena are joined by Shennell McCloud, a visionary leader redefining civic engagement. Together, they dive into a conversation that bridges two worlds we rarely talk about together: wellness and infrastructure and how their intersection is essential to building lasting justice. Too often, civic leadership is measured by rallies, votes, and policy wins. But what about the systems that support the people doing the work? What if true, sustainable change means protecting not just rights, but rest? Not just momentum, but mental health? In this episode, we explore why burnout and overwork are not sustainable models for engagement and how movements can thrive when wellness is treated as a core part of organizing. We also examine how neglecting mental health and community care weakens civic infrastructure. From physical spaces to digital platforms like The Sanctuary, we spotlight ways to intentionally build systems of care that fuel resilience and action. Shennell’s work offers powerful insight into what it means to build structures that support both freedom and function, especially in communities that have been over extracted and under-resourced for generations. Together, this conversation reminds us that justice work isn’t just about fighting back, it's also about building up, and that starts with caring for ourselves and each other. Thanks For Listening!

    41 min
  2. MAY 20

    The First Time You Step Into It Won’t Be the Last

    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.

    28 min
  3. MAY 13

    How to Think, Not What to Think

    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. Thanks for listening!

    29 min
  4. APR 2

    A Vote That Could Change Everything

    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. Thanks for listening!

    28 min

Trailers

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The Round Table provides a platform for conversation and engagement of civically-minded young people from different parts of the country. We strive to model civil dialogue across various divides--socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, political, and regional. We aim to challenge norms and represent all kinds of diversity--especially of perspective and ideas--enabling listeners to “hear” our thinking. The Round Table is 100% created and edited by young people committed to building a more just and joyous world.