The Voices of Young People Podcast
Springtide Research Institute
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Produced by Springtide Research Institute, the Voices of Young People Podcast listens directly to young people as they respond to our research and talk about the issues impacting their lives.
Available episodes
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Oldest first
Aug 3, 2022
A Mental Health & Gen Z Conversation with Adiam, 25 & Daniel, 24
Hear Adiam, 25, in DC talk with Daniel, 24, in NV about their perceptions and experiences surrounding Gen Z and mental health. Season 7 coincides with our Springtide Series on Mental Health and features 16 young people discussing where they get messages about mental health, the people they turn to for support, how a sense of purpose plays a role in their overall mental wellbeing, and more.
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Jul 27, 2022
A Mental Health & Gen Z Conversation with Julianna, 14 & Talia, 16
Hear Julianna, 14, in MN talk with Talia, 16, in CA about their perceptions and experiences surrounding Gen Z and mental health. Season 7 coincides with our Springtide Series on Mental Health and features 16 young people discussing where they get messages about mental health, the people they turn to for support, how a sense of purpose plays a role in their overall mental wellbeing, and more.
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Jul 20, 2022
A Mental Health & Gen Z Conversation with Chris, 20 & Zineb, 24
Hear Chris, 20, in GA talk with Zineb, 24, in OH about their perceptions and experiences surrounding Gen Z and mental health. Season 7 coincides with our Springtide Series on Mental Health and features 16 young people discussing where they get messages about mental health, the people they turn to for support, how a sense of purpose plays a role in their overall mental wellbeing, and more.
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Jul 13, 2022
A Mental Health & Gen Z Conversation with Camila, 18 & Ellington, 15
Hear Camila, 18, in LA talk with Ellington, 15, in NY about their perceptions and experiences surrounding Gen Z and mental health. Season 7 coincides with our Springtide Series on Mental Health and features 16 young people discussing where they get messages about mental health, the people they turn to for support, how a sense of purpose plays a role in their overall mental wellbeing, and more.
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Jul 6, 2022
A Mental Health & Gen Z Conversation with Ivan, 21 & Sam, 19
Hear Ivan, 21, in NY talk with Sam, 19, in OR about their perceptions and experiences surrounding Gen Z and mental health. Season 7 coincides with our Springtide Series on Mental Health and features 16 young people discussing where they get messages about mental health, the people they turn to for support, how a sense of purpose plays a role in their overall mental wellbeing, and more.
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Jun 29, 2022
A Mental Health & Gen Z Conversation with Camden, 19 & Kaiya, 19
Hear Camden, 19, in PA talk with Kaiya, 19, in NY about their perceptions and experiences surrounding Gen Z and mental health. Season 7 coincides with our Springtide Series on Mental Health and features 16 young people discussing where they get messages about mental health, the people they turn to for support, how a sense of purpose plays a role in their overall mental wellbeing, and more.
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Jun 22, 2022
A Mental Health & Gen Z Conversation with Grace, 16 & Mercer, 17
Hear Grace, 16, in MA talk with Mercer, 17, in NC about their perceptions and experiences surrounding Gen Z and mental health. Season 7 coincides with our Springtide Series on Mental Health and features 16 young people discussing where they get messages about mental health, the people they turn to for support, how a sense of purpose plays a role in their overall mental wellbeing, and more.
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Jun 15, 2022
A Mental Health & Gen Z Conversation with George, 23 & Joe, 21
Hear George, 23, in FL talk with Joe, 21, in CA about their perceptions and experiences surrounding Gen Z and mental health. Season 7 coincides with our Springtide Series on Mental Health and features 16 young people discussing where they get messages about mental health, the people they turn to for support, how a sense of purpose plays a role in their overall mental wellbeing, and more. Be sure to catch all eight conversations wherever you like to get your podcasts.
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Mar 24, 2022
Destina, Age 25
Destina is a first-generation Chicana and a first-year PhD student. She talks about how the Catholic Church’s violence against indigenous people, among other things, has made her question the religion she was raised in. Her close personal relationship with La Virgen -- who Destina understands as pre-Hispanic -- is the reason why Destina says she has not completely disaffiliated from the Church.
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Mar 16, 2022
Brian, Age 22
Brian, a Peruvian graduate student, reflects on the role his family and their migration to the U.S. has played in his faith life. Brian shares that practices like prayer and weekly Mass not only deepen his personal faith, but also help him feel close to his family while he is away at school.
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Mar 9, 2022
Gaby, Age 24
Gaby identifies as Catholic and Latina. She grew up going to Spanish-language Masses with her mom, even though they did not always feel welcome by the church community. Now, Gaby is a first-gen PhD student who continues to find meaning and value in going to Mass with her friends.
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Mar 2, 2022
Blanca, Age 20
Rather than identifying as Catholic like the rest of her family, Blanca describes herself as spiritual. While she sometimes feels guilty that she does not share her family’s religious beliefs, Blanca discusses how her new spirituality has greatly improved her mental health.
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Feb 23, 2022
Ryan, Age 22
Ryan is a Mexican-American theater maker and producer living in New York City. Though he once felt called to join the priesthood, Ryan is no longer active in the Catholic Church. However, Ryan continues to feel connected to his heritage, community, and faith through his devotion to La Virgen de Guadalupe.
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Dec 29, 2021
Josué, Age 25
Josué, a Chicanx media curator in Los Angeles, practices the Bahá’í faith and seeks to have love be the anchor in what connects them to Dao (the way) as well as the familial and community relationships that have shaped them and their sense of spirituality. To feel rooted, they look to nature, movement, art, meditation, and connection with others.
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Dec 22, 2021
Elyse, Age 15
Elyse, a high school sophomore in Massachusetts, is a Catholic young person who emphasizes the importance of making space for questions as well as doubt within the realm of religion. Her spiritual practices include participating in school masses that are student-run, spending time with her family, and being alone to write or meditate.
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Dec 15, 2021
Christian, Age 22
Christian, a senior at La Salle University, grew up in a Puerto Rican-Italian Catholic family but says he presently focuses on not seeing religion as “one-sided.” He utilizes daily meditation, solitude, conversations on faith, and literature with social justice themes to feel in touch with God, nature, and humanity.
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Dec 8, 2021
Zaina, Age 16
Zaina, a high school junior in Massachusetts, shares how her exposure to Islam informs the way she pursues her own sense of spirituality while also borrowing practices she finds meaningful from multiple religions. To feel rooted, she spends time in nature and utilizes meditation, crystals, and wholistic healing.
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Dec 1, 2021
Amethyst, Age 24
Amethyst, a professional dancer in Chicago, shares how they’re seeking to connect histories and spiritual practices from the identities they hold as an African American, Indigenous, and Queer person alongside elements they find meaningful within Christianity. They describe God as a feeling of safety, look to nature to feel rooted, and utilize dance and beatboxing as forms of prayer.
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Nov 24, 2021
Abby, Age 24
Abby, a youth minister in Michigan, shares how her faith journey has been shaped by practicing gratitude, connecting with people from a range of different beliefs and backgrounds, and taking time to understand the meaning behind the sacraments and structure of the Catholic Church. To center herself, Abby finds comfort in being near a body of water and carving out a prayer corner as a sacred space in her home.
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Nov 17, 2021
Daniel, Age 22
Daniel, a college senior and a football quarterback at Duke University, describes how Judaism has provided him with a deep sense of community throughout all different stages of his life. Participating in weekly Shabbat dinners on his campus offers a weekly rhythm where he can take a break to breathe, reflect, and connect with other Jewish students and faith leaders. He also describes how being in conversation with friends and teammates from other faith traditions allows him to ask questions about his own faith practices.
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Nov 10, 2021
Lily, Age 15
Lily, a sophomore in high school, compares her faith journey to her life as a ballet dancer, describing both as constants which offer her a source of comfort as well as happiness. A practicing Catholic, Lily also points to reading scripture, being in nature, spending time with her family, connecting with other Asian American teenagers in an advocacy group, and meditating as practices that ground her and give her outlets to express her faith.
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Nov 3, 2021
Saad, Age 26
Saad, a pre-med student in Chicago, shares how asking hard questions and traversing obstacles throughout his adolescence have deepened both his understanding and practice of Islam. He describes his daily prayer life where he can “talk to God as a friend” as well as acts of charity as essential sacred practices to feel connected to his local and global Muslim faith community.
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Oct 27, 2021
Lucy, Age 21
Lucy, a college student at Villanova University, shares how she weaves an appreciation for tradition with a need for exploration in how she defines and approaches her spiritual life. Participating in small faith communities, playing music in various religious and non-religious spaces, and connecting with the natural world are practices she finds integral for nurturing her inner and outer life.
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Oct 20, 2021
Navigating Uncertainty
Springtide Executive Director Dr. Josh Packard talks with Marte Aboagye, producer of The Voices of Young People Podcast, about key themes and takeaways from Season 5, exploring how the 10 guests' stories correspond with our latest report: The State of Religion & Young People 2021: Navigating Uncertainty.
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Jul 1, 2021
Avthar: Finding Balance as a Technology Entrepreneur
25-year-old Avthar describes the tech industry as a place of fulfillment for engaging problem-solving and being of service to others. He highlights the ways his current boss has built a positive work environment for offering constructive feedback and points to other trusted adults who have invested in his personal growth throughout his youth and young adulthood.
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Jun 24, 2021
Cristina: Becoming a Healthcare Interpreter
Combining a degree in Spanish and a passion for healthcare, 23-year-old Cristina offers a compelling look at her decision to pursue a career as a healthcare interpreter. She describes the importance of finding balance between work and life: making time to enjoy outside interests and friendships and connecting with a mentor who's working to build online community spaces with fellow Latinas.
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Jun 17, 2021
Jesse: Restorative Justice & Studying Education
While student-teaching during his final semester of college, Jesse shares how mentors are helping him cultivate both personal and professional growth, noting how even small, intentional gestures from them have impacted his life. He discusses practical ways he hopes to support his own students as an educator, including bringing principles of restorative justice into the classroom.
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Jun 10, 2021
Mat: A Creative Pursuing Musical Theater & Dance
A lover of the arts, Mat is in his final semester of college and considering between career paths in music production, musical theater, or dance. He reflects on the challenges of entering the performing arts professionally during a global pandemic and offers perspective on the lessons he’s gleaned from mentors at work and school.
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Jun 3, 2021
Tatum: Disability Justice with an Aspiring Pastor
In her final college semester, and while preparing for graduate school at a seminary, Tatum shares her hopes of becoming a Methodist pastor, largely driven by her passion to root her work in disability justice. As a functionally blind person advocating for overall accessibility and awareness, Tatum draws helpful parallels between “spoon theory” and work-life balance.
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May 27, 2021
Lucy: Hoping to Become a Child Psychologist
14-year-old Lucy already has her hopes set on studying developmental psychology, specifically focused on child and adolescent development. She shares how her own mental health journey has led her to want to pursue work where she can offer children and youth the kinds of critical resources she's benefited from. In addition to her career ambitions, Lucy points to other sources of meaning in her personal life, including theater and Colombian dance.
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May 20, 2021
Abdalla: A Passion for Biomedical Engineering
23-year-old Abdalla shares his passion for engineering, the ways he hopes to see workplaces continue to grow in their inclusion efforts and strategies, and how his Muslim faith offers opportunities for meaning, mentorship, and growth.
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May 13, 2021
Abby: Considering Political Science/Law
High school senior Abby shares her hopes about what sort of work environment she might eventually engage in and reflects on the trusted adults who are helping her navigate her current commitments as well her next steps in terms of post-secondary education options.
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May 6, 2021
Work / Life: Helping Gen Z Flourish & Find Balance
Springtide Executive Director Dr. Josh Packard talks with Marte Aboagye, producer of The Voices of Young People Podcast about key themes and takeaways from Season 4 as it relates to our brand new report, Work / Life: Helping Gen Z Flourish & Find Balance.
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Apr 29, 2021
Preview of Season 4: Work / Life
Hear a preview of what’s to come in Season 4 of The Voices of Young People Podcast as all 8 guests answer the question, “What does work-life balance look like to you?” This season coincides with our latest report, Work / Life: Helping Gen Z Flourish & Find Balance (available at springtideresearch.org).
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Jan 21, 2021
Thérèse, Age 15
Thérèse speaks to her experience as a Roman Catholic and the ways she seeks to practice her faith individually and communally. She credits trusted adults, like youth leaders and her confirmation sponsor, for really being there for her and offering the space to process ideas as well as questions.
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Nov 26, 2020
Hameeda, Age 23
Hameeda shares why her current spiritual view has "God on hold for now," but why she nonetheless still holds some values and practices from her Muslim upbringing. She describes how her father encouraged her questions and curiosities around religion, and the ways—even after he's passed away—he continues to be a model of holding nonjudgmental space for others' spiritual journeys.
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Nov 19, 2020
Austin, Age 16
Austin describes how being a Reform Jew provides him with a meaningful faith tradition to both learn from and find connection, why he meditates or does yoga before his baseball games, and how his rabbi encourages not only his religious pursuits—but also offers him great advice for all aspects of life.
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Nov 12, 2020
Matthew, Age 24
Matthew, a seminary student pursuing ordination within the Unitarian Universalist Church, offers his definition of the Divine, various spiritual practices he seeks to cultivate, and why he looks up to other faith leaders who demonstrate care and great listening.
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Nov 5, 2020
Mackenna, Age 19
Mackenna shares how her identity as a Christian shapes the ways she seeks to build and engage community, how music is a place where she finds spiritual connection, and the way she sees love for all people modeled by her dad, a pastor.
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Oct 29, 2020
Chaltu, Age 17
Chaltu describes the ways she practices and honors her faith as a Muslim woman, how the guiding principles of Islam give meaning to her life, and why the young people in her community see their sheikh as a trusted mentor.
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Oct 22, 2020
Kellen, Age 19
Kellen offers personal examples of why he identifies as an atheist, the moral teachings he is committed to upholding and embodying, and how trusted adults in his life have demonstrated respect, love, and acceptance.
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Oct 15, 2020
Jazmin, Age 25
Jazmin shares why she identifies as spiritually fluid, what sort of practices she finds grounding—including meditation and intergenerational storytelling—and the type of faith community she hopes to engage in the future.
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Oct 8, 2020
Karandeep, Age 19
Karandeep describes why his Sikh faith is so foundational to his worldview and how, as a college student and an active member of his faith community, he aims to practice his religion in everyday moments.
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Oct 1, 2020
Kaiya, Age 19
Kaiya offers a glimpse into some of the questions she's holding as a college student deconstructing ideas from her upbringing in the LDS Church, and how she still finds meaning in seeking to connect to something bigger than herself.
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Sep 24, 2020
Elijah May, Age 17
Elijah May shares why acceptance and inclusion are driving characteristics of her Christian faith and how she incorporates prayer into her daily rhythms as a high school student.
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Sep 24, 2020
The State of Religion & Young People 2020
Springtide Executive Director Dr. Josh Packard and Community Engagement Specialist Marte Aboagye discuss what makes season 3 so special: hearing 10 young people across age, race, affiliation, and gender, describe their spiritual perspectives and practices in their own words.
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Sep 3, 2020
Meaningful with Jacee
Jacee shares how pursuing a meaningful career was formed by leaders and organizations who modeled this value for her.
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Aug 27, 2020
Accountable with Bill
Bill sees accountability as a necessary component in his work life and a crucial value in his extracurricular interests as a student.
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Aug 20, 2020
Relational with Alaya
Alaya shares how being relational is a defining value in her work, spiritual, and social life.
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Aug 13, 2020
Welcoming with Blake
Blake offers personal examples about the places he has experienced welcoming as a driving value and why he is committed to building this kind of environment for others.
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Aug 6, 2020
Impactful with Aili
Aili points to impactful as a motivating factor for the career path she's pursuing, and discusses how this value has shaped her involvement in social justice causes in high school and college.
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Jul 30, 2020
Inclusive with Abdimalik
Abdimalik talks about how being inclusive is a way to measure and determine whether to align with certain organizations, offering examples of fostering inclusivity for different identities and communities.
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Jul 23, 2020
Authentic with Liam
Liam shares where and who he experiences authenticity with—and why he sees this value as a priority in his career hopes.
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Jul 16, 2020
Growthful with Suhur
Suhur shares why being growthful is a defining value for her academic goals, ambitions, and religious life.
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Jun 1, 2020
Desiring Deep Conversation
Emilie is back and illuminates why having a lot of friends online doesn't produce the depth that young people need.
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May 27, 2020
Be Intentional
Jackson shows us how showing up with the intention of meeting young people where they are makes all the difference.
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May 18, 2020
Listen First
Jana uses some personal examples to help us understand how trusted adults are important in very different ways than friends.
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May 11, 2020
Inclusion Matters
Emilie helps us to understand why inclusion matters, and why it's important for institutions to practice humility.
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May 4, 2020
The Power of Listening
Christian explains how simply listening is a powerful form of connection.
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Apr 28, 2020
Meaningful Relationships Matter
Jana explains why deep, meaningful relationships are important…and missing from her life.
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Apr 8, 2020
Exploring Isolation & Reconnection
In episode one, we hear from 15-year-old Cyrus B. as they respond to our research from Belonging: Reconnecting America's Loneliest Generation. Cyrus shares some of the ways they've experienced isolation, how they're seeking to reconnect socially, and the ways that trusted adults show up for them.
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