The Power of Young People

Hosted by nylc

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Episodes

148

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

This show is perfect for youth who want to change the world and for adults who want to foster youth innovation and imagination through real-world education. Youth listeners gain a connection to other young people who are passionate about making the world a better place by addressing issues like climate change, education equity, poverty, mental health, and more. Adult listeners are inspired by stories of youth as change agents and gain practical advice on how to partner with youth and how to incorporate service-learning into their classrooms, afterschool programs or homes.

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60 recent

November 4, 202631 min

From Streetlights to City Hall: How Angel is Making Space for Youth in Local Government

What happens when young people realize they have a seat at the table in local government? For Angel Song, a young civic leader from Los Angeles, it started with something as simple as fixing a streetlight. In this episode of The Power of Young People , Angel shares her journey into civic engagement and how young people can make a meaningful impact in their communities through local government. She discusses her work with Civicate Youth , the opportunities available for young people to participate in civic spaces, and the barriers that often keep them from getting involved. Young people have more opportunities to shape their communities than they may realize. It's time to make sure they know it. Learn more about nylc at ⁠⁠⁠⁠nylc.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ !

October 21, 202617 min

Start With the Problem: How Pradyu Turned a Family Experience Into Innovation

What happens when a young person sees a problem in their community and decides to do something about it? In this episode of The Power of Young People , high school senior Pradyu shares the story behind ElderEase , an AI-powered app designed to help older adults navigate technology more safely and confidently. Inspired by his own grandparents’ experiences with technology, Pradyu turned a personal observation into an opportunity to bridge the digital divide and bring generations together. He discusses how patience, listening, and curiosity have shaped his approach to leadership, why responsible AI education matters, and how young people can make a difference without having all the answers. He also shares advice for aspiring young innovators: start with the problem you want to solve, take initiative, and don’t underestimate what you can accomplish. Tune in to discover how one young leader is making technology more accessible and why the next big idea might start with you. Learn more about nylc at ⁠⁠⁠nylc.org⁠⁠⁠ ! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠ !

October 7, 202634 min

Closing the Gap: How Siri and Saanvi Built CureCo

In this episode of The Power of Young People , host Amy Meuers sits down with Saanvi and Siri, co-founders of CureCo , a youth-led nonprofit working to expand access to essential medical supplies in underserved communities. Inspired by healthcare disparities they witnessed in India, Saanvi and Siri turned their concern into a mission-driven organization. They share what it takes to build a nonprofit, the role of community partnerships in creating lasting impact, and why even basic medical supplies can make a meaningful difference. Tune in for a conversation about turning ideas into action, building community-driven solutions, and recognizing the power of young people to lead. Learn more about nylc at ⁠⁠nylc.org⁠⁠ ! Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠ !

September 23, 202634 min

From Personal Experience to Global Impact: Charithra's Fight Against TB

How can one young person turn a personal experience into a global movement? In this week's episode, we meet Charithra, a high school student, global health advocate, and founder of TB Kids Central . Inspired by her own experience with tuberculosis, Charithra has worked to make health education more accessible to children while building partnerships and mobilizing young people to address global health challenges. Charithra shares the story behind TB Kids Central, the challenges of leading a youth-founded nonprofit, and the importance of creating solutions that account for systemic inequality. She also reflects on how chess has shaped her approach to problem-solving and leadership, and offers advice for young people who want to turn their ideas into meaningful action. Learn more about nylc at ⁠⁠nylc.org⁠⁠ ! Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠ !

September 9, 202620 min

Hope Heals: How Watsonville Students Are Finding Community in Grief

When Valeria, Joahaan, and Crystal of Watsonville High School noticed classmates struggling with grief and disconnection, they didn't wait for adults to fix it. They built Hope Club, a student-led space centered on remembrance, mental wellness, and community. In this episode, the students share how a peace pole project and cultural memorials became catalysts for school-wide change, what hope means to them personally, and why young people are uniquely positioned to lead on mental health. Their story is a reminder that youth aren't just the leaders of tomorrow; they're already leading today. Learn more about nylc at ⁠nylc.org⁠ ! Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ , ⁠Facebook⁠ , ⁠LinkedIn⁠ , and ⁠Threads⁠ !

August 26, 202633 min

Seeds of Reading: How Sonia is Growing a Global Movement

Literacy is not a privilege—it’s a right, and 16-year-old founder Sonia Daptardar is proving young people can lead the fight for it now. From a childhood trip to India that changed her perspective to a globally reaching youth-led literacy movement, Sonia shares how she turned a moment of injustice into Seeds of Reading . If you care about youth leadership, education equity, student activism, or the future of literacy, this episode is a powerful reminder that young people aren’t waiting for permission to create change, they’re already doing it. Learn more about nylc at nylc.org ! Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , LinkedIn , and Threads !

June 10, 202618 min

Art as a Path to Healing: Amber on Creativity and Care

Join us on this week's episode of The Power of Young People, as we sit down with Amber Wang, founder of Arts for All . Discover how Amber's passion for art and compassion led her to transform hospital experiences, helping patients cope with stress and emotional challenges through creative expression. From her early volunteering days to leading a community-driven initiative, Amber shares insights on the healing power of art, the importance of empathy in leadership, and how young people can make a meaningful difference in mental health and holistic care. Tune in to learn how creativity and compassion are shaping the future of community care, and find out how you can get involved in re-imagining healing through art. Learn more about NYLC at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nylc.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ !

June 3, 202653 min

From Big Sister to Changemaker: Building The Spectrum of Support

In this episode, youth leader Nidhi Veerendra shares how her younger brother’s experiences navigating behavioral challenges inspired her passion for advocacy, youth leadership, and creating more inclusive communities through The Spectrum of Support . Through a conversation rooted in empathy and action, Nidhi reflects on the importance of elevating youth voices in decision-making and building stronger partnerships between young people and adults. She discusses how lived experience can fuel meaningful social change and why young people deserve to be seen not just as future leaders, but as leaders making an impact right now. From resilience and community support to civic engagement and systems change, this episode is a powerful reminder that creating a more compassionate and equitable world starts by listening to and empowering young people. Learn more about NYLC at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nylc.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ !

May 13, 202637 min

Curls, Confidence, and Changing the Toy Aisle: How Zoe is Redefining Representation

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Zoe Oli, a trailblazing young entrepreneur and CEO of Beautiful Curly Me . From a six-year-old girl inspired to create representation in toys, Zoe has grown into a leader impacting thousands of girls' confidence and identity. In this episode, she shares her incredible journey, the importance of representation in media and toys, and her vision for empowering youth to make a difference in their communities. Discover how Zoe overcame challenges as a young entrepreneur, the power of building confidence, and how support systems can elevate young leaders. Whether you're an aspiring teen entrepreneur or a supporter of youth empowerment, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiring stories to ignite your own journey. Listen now and learn how young people are shaping the future—because confidence and representation should be accessible to all! Learn more about NYLC at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nylc.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ !

April 29, 202641 min

Rising After the Storm: Youth, Resilience, and Recovery

Join us as we explore resilience, youth leadership, and peer support in the aftermath of disasters. In this episode, Hurricane Ian survivors and young leaders from Kids4Kids Relief share their personal experiences navigating emotional challenges, restoring normalcy, and leading community recovery efforts. We discuss the vital role of trusting young voices during crises, the importance of peer support for mental health, and how youth-led initiatives foster resilience, empathy, and hope in the face of climate change and adversity. Tune in to learn how young people are shaping emotional recovery and building stronger, more resilient communities. Learn more about NYLC at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nylc.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ !