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RadioActive Youth Media is where young people discover public radio journalism and gain access to the skills, community and institutional resources that spur their growth as media makers. Through their stories, listeners of all ages gain a deeper understanding of young people whose voices are rarely heard by the greater public.

Latest Episodes

Hear stories created by RadioActive youth producers about the people and issues that matter to young people in the Northwest. Subscribe to get our latest audio pieces delivered directly to you.

  • caption: Heena Vahora smiles in front of a mural in White Center, Washington.

    Food for thought: Embracing culture in the kitchen

    RadioActive's Adar Abdi and her friend Heena Vahora love food — cooking it, eating it and talking about it. They're also both first-generation Americans, who say they know the feeling of being the odd one out. In this conversation, the two discuss culture, diversity, family and the beauty of food — all while cooking together.

  • caption: The author, Rhea Beecher, at a recent pride parade.

    Essay: I didn’t have to choose between religion and becoming who I really am. I chose both

    In this personal essay, RadioActive's Rhea Beecher reflects on identity, family, religion, coming out, and embracing your true self. Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/i-didn-t-have-to-choose-between-religion-and-becoming-who-i-really-am-i-chose-both RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people. This story was entirely youth-produced, from the writing to the audio editing. Find new episodes of the RadioActive podcast right here every Thursday for the rest of 2022.
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Workshops

RadioActive is proud to offer award-winning youth journalism and radio storytelling workshops throughout the year. Our approach is to provide interactive, collaborative workshops where participants learn the technical, social and emotional skills needed to amplify the stories that matter to them.

Our philosophy is that youth voices are powerful and not heard often enough.

Participants learn about journalism, audio recording, audio editing, interviewing, script writing and speaking on the air. They work with professional journalists at KUOW. They gain confidence and leadership skills in a supportive environment while collaborating with other participants to make radio stories and episodes for the RadioActive podcast on topics they choose. There is no experience necessary, and participants are paid for successfully completing the program.

Through our community workshops, RadioActive serves nearly 600 young people a year at more that 25 schools and community organizations. In these short-term programs, youth discover public radio journalism, learn basic radio storytelling skills, and share their voice.

We prioritize working with communities without ready access to media platforms and/or who are underserved by high-quality arts programs.

  • caption: RadioActive youth and mentors pose for a group photo on Zoom at the end of a successful "Pitch Day" on July 15, 2021.

    Summer 2022 Intro to Radio Journalism Workshop

    In this hands-on one-week summer workshop, teens learn radio journalism and storytelling skills, build confidence, and work with others while creating a radio story about one person in their home or community.

    This is a PAID opportunity open to teens ages 15-18 in the greater Seattle area.

    Applications for summer 2022 are now closed.

    Learn More
  • caption: SoundBites: Audio Storytelling Activities for teens

    SoundBites: Self-Guided Audio Storytelling Activities

    We're excited to share 12 bite-sized audio storytelling activities for teens and pre-teens. These self-directed activities take about 30 minutes to complete, and can be done in any order either alone or with a partner.

    Learn More

Meet the Current Youth Producers

KUOW's RadioActive Youth Media is proud to offer the Intro to Radio Journalism Workshop each summer, and the Advanced Producers Workshop each spring. In both workshops, youth get learn about radio journalism and audio storytelling, and make audio stories that are published on the RadioActive podcast and 94.9 FM.


Meet the Producers