On Our Minds is an Edward R. Murrow award-winning podcast about teen life, produced by teens for teens in collaboration with PBS News Student Reporting Labs. Season 6 is an audio road trip exploring what’s unique about teen life in every corner of the country through hyperlocal stories about cities, towns, and neighborhoods.
Latest episodes
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8 min
What makes a place feel like home?
In the final episode of this season, student producer Joslyn shares her journey of moving from place to place and always finding herself drawn back to Las Vegas.From snowy Michigan…
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13 min
What a VW Bus Can Teach You About Life
Recorded as a special collaboration between Teacher Reporting Labs and On Our Minds, this episode brings educators and student hosts together for an unexpected conversation sparked…
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13 min
Why getting around without a car in California can be surprisingly nice
In suburban California, getting around often means getting in a car. But for Keerthi in San Ramon and Padma in Fremont, walking, running, and riding the bus opened up a different v…
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7 min
How food brings cultures together in El Paso
What does it mean to live in a city where cultures, languages, and traditions meet every day?In this episode of On Our Minds, we travel to El Paso, Texas, where student journalists…
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9 min
How one San Juan street reflects Puerto Rico’s culture, community and change
This On Our Minds episode heads to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where hosts Zack and Helena reflect on belonging, culture and the small details that make a place feel like home. The epis…
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8 min
Teenage beekeeper in New York buzzes about native species
This week on the On Our Minds Roadtrip, hosts Zack and Helena take us to the city that never sleeps. Jess, the president of her university’s beekeeping club, walks us through what…
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12 min
Finding warmth in the wicked cold Massachusetts weather
Take a road trip to Massachusetts with hosts Zack and Helena in this episode of On Our Minds.It can be cold and confusing, but also surprisingly warm and welcoming.Shane from Attle…
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13 min
The power of public art and Dunkin Donuts in New Jersey
Take a road trip to New Jersey in this episode of On Our Minds. Hosts Zack and Helena discuss what in their surroundings sparks curiosity. Student producer, Abigail Kim in Leonia,…
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8 min
How a small art shop built a community in the Midwest
Take a road trip to Richmond, Indiana, in this episode of On Our Minds. Hosts Zack and Helena explore what “community” really means—from hometown sports teams and small-town festiv…
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8 min
How drag queens are creating safe spaces in Missouri
This episode of On Our Minds Road Trip takes us to Columbia, Missouri, where drag performers are building community, creating joy, and challenging stereotypes.Student producer Magg…
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8 min
Inside Minneapolis’ giant pencil festival
Why does Minneapolis celebrate a giant pencil every year? In this episode of On Our Minds: Road Trip, hosts Zack and Helena head to the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” to explore one of the…
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8 min
Driving through Colorado changed how I see my childhood
On Our Minds is produced by teens with PBS News Student Reporting Labs. For our sixth season, hosts Zack from Southern California and Helena from North Carolina head out on a road…
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39 sec
On Our Minds: Road Trip Official Trailer
On Our Minds is a teen life podcast from PBS News Student Reporting Labs, produced by teens, for teens. Hosted by Zack from Southern California and Helena from North Carolina, this…
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18 min
How to overcome imposter syndrome and find a sense of belonging
Have you ever felt doubt and insecurity about your abilities or accomplishments? It's a normal feeling but it can be hard! Who can help? A mentor in your community who believes in…
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16 min
Author Bryan Stevenson on grace, grit, and growing up
You are more than your grades, your struggles, or your past, says Bryan Stevenson (author of Just Mercy and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative). Stevenson shares his journey d…
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18 min
Finding yourself through books with Nic Stone and Mychal Threets
How can you figure how what kind of person you want to be? Through books, says YA writer Nic Stone and viral-librarian Mychal Threets. Nic and Mychal share their wisdom about findi…
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19 min
How these teachers use humor and stories to connect with their students
What makes school fun? An inspiring teacher! Stories of gratitude for the people who devote their lives to helping students learn and grow: classroom teachers, librarians, and prin…
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9 min
Teacher Appreciation: More Than A Week
To wrap up Teacher Appreciation Week, we present this special BONUS episode where we flipped the mic and gave space to educators who reflected on the small moments that make it all…
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19 min
Voices across cultures: Viet Thanh Nguyen and the teen search for belonging
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen joins student reporter Khadeejah Khan for a thoughtful discussion on identity, memory, activism, and the role of art in "abolishing…
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16 min
Why family matters in shaping teens’ passions and identity
Family bonds shape who we become and what dreams we have for our lives. Teens open up to their parents and siblings about what matters most: their passions, identity, and culture.…