Be the change. Podcast
A weekly podcast featuring young activists, advocates, and change makers who are making a difference around the world
On June 1, 2020, I finished up my workday at Congressman Joe Neguse’s (CO-02) office in Washington, DC and took off running down Independence Avenue. Finally reaching Lafayette Square Park, I pulled out my phone and began to record the Black Lives Matter protest unfolding before me. I spent the next seven hours at the protest, at one point being tear-gassed and fired on by police with rubber bullets. After I got back to my apartment at 1am, I decided to record my experience on my phone as an audio note. The next day, I published that note as the first episode (linked below) in what has since turned into a weekly podcast called “Be the change.”.
While I used this first episode of my podcast to recount my experience and educate my friends and family about what was happening at the protests they’d seen on the news, the podcast quickly evolved to feature the stories of young activists, change makers, and advocates around the country who are leading movements toward change. Since I had never conducted an interview, used audio editing software, or created graphic design content before, I leaned heavily on Google how-tos and Amazon reviews. Nonetheless, within the first few weeks of June, I had ordered recording equipment, designed an Instagram page, and used Audacity to publish four 20-minute episodes.
Now, more than two and a half years later, I’ve published over 140 episodes, featuring over 140 guests from 18 countries. My listenership has grown at the same time, with more than 18,500 downloads from people in 61 countries, including every continent except Antarctica. Guests on the podcast have discussed a range of issues from local political controversies to international crises like climate change and mental health awareness.
I also launched an online Geneva community for listeners and guests of the podcast to connect and collaborate with one another.
Featured Episodes
Change comes when you create for yourself. Anushka Joshi is the founder and CEO of Gen-Zine which is a global, grassroots community for young voices rewriting the future. For more information about Gen-Zine, visit: https://www.gen-zine.com.
Change comes when you remember that to whom much is given, much is expected. On this special 100th episode of "Be the change.", I take a walk down memory lane to highlight some of my favorite quotes, moments, and guests over the past two years of recording the podcast.
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All Episodes
Be the change. - Three Years of "Be the change."
Change comes over time. The first episode of “Be the change.” podcast was released on June 2, 2020, and this episode marks three years since that first episode. This episode features some of the most memorable guests from the last three years including: Sophie BerenKahlil GreeneFrancesca ReicherterPaxton SmithDineo Mya SerameIsaias Hernan ...
Be the change. - Samuel Rubin
Change comes when you realize that not everyone can do everything. Samuel Rubin is a co-founder of YEA! Impact which is working to produce high-level events, campaigns, and content rooted in the power of grassroots community organizing. For more information about YEA! Impact, visit: https://www.yeaimpact.com.
Be the change. - Maria Tracy
Change comes when you stick with it. Maria Tracy created an app called Tell Their Stories with the purpose of raising awareness about the issue of period poverty around the world. For more information about Tell Their Stories, visit: https://youtu.be/mSnQECt1J8o
Be the change. - Ritika Saraswat
Change comes when you figure out what you can do better than anyone else. Ritika Saraswat is the founder of Re-Defined which is an organization focused on fostering inclusivity and recognizing diversity. To learn more about Re-Defined, visit: https://redefinednpo.wixsite.com/re-define. For more information or to apply to Re-Defined's Soci ...
Be the change. - Anushka Joshi
Change comes when you create for yourself. Anushka Joshi is the founder and CEO of Gen-Zine which is a global, grassroots community for young voices rewriting the future. For more information about Gen-Zine, visit: https://www.gen-zine.com
Be the change. - Isabella Hanson
Change comes when you seek out opportunities. Isabella Hanson is the founder of "I Matter" which is an international poetry and art contest. For more information about the "I Matter" contest, visit: http://www.nationalyouthfoundation.org/i-matter/
Be the change. - Lily Painter
Change comes when you realize that advocacy looks different for different people. Lily Painter is an indigenous advocate and organizer, and one of the issues she addresses is missing and murdered indigenous women. To get connected with Lily, find her on Instagram at @herculilz.
Be the change. - Saba Mehrzad
Change comes when you make connections. Saba Mehrzad is the founder of iFeminist which is a digital platform focused on highlighting unknown and underrepresented women in history through research projects developed by young contributors. For more information about iFeminist, visit: https://ifeminist.org/index.html
Be the change. - Davida Padi
Change comes when you focus on filling the gaps. Davida Padi is the founder of Eve's Corner and Zachary's Corner. Davida developed Eve's Corner as a digital platform for Black girls to access scholarship opportunities, mental health services, and other resources. For more information about Eve's Corner, visit: https://eves-corner.org
Be the change. - Kevin Patel
Change comes when we amplify unheard voices. Kevin Patel is the founder of OneUpAction which is an intersectional organization providing resources to youth advocates around the world who are tackling the climate crisis. For more information about OneUpAction, visit: https://oneupaction.org. To get connected with Kevin, visit: https://www. ...
Be the change. - Alexandra Hamilton
Change comes when you go out and do it. Alexandra Hamilton is the founder of Youth in Politics which is a youth-led, student-run organization that is focused on amplifying student voices in politics. To learn more about Youth in Politics and to check out the organization's content, visit: https://youth-in-politics.weebly.com.
Be the change. - Kellyanna Brooking
Change comes when you never change your authenticity for approval. Kellyanna Brooking is the youngest ambassador for Turning Point USA, a political strategist, a youth campaign advisor, and the host of her own show. To get connected with Kellyanna, visit: https://kellyannabrooking.com.
Be the change. - Swetha Tandri
Change comes when you don’t force it. Swetha Tandri is the founder of Melodies for Math which is an organization focused on making math more relatable and engaging through music. For more information about Melodies for Math, visit: https://www.melodiesformath.org.
Be the change. - Gianella Bejar
Change comes when it is sustainable. Gianella Bejar is founder of EVE (Educate, Voice, Empower) which is an organization working to teach young people the power of presence and perspective, to create advocates for social equality, and to empower people of all genders. For more information about EVE, visit: https://eveadvocate.org/index.ht ...
Be the change. - Olivia Seltzer
Change comes when we focus on moderation. Olivia Seltzer is the founder and sole writer of The Cramm which is a daily newsletter tailored to Gen Z readers to give them the scoop on current events. For more information about The Cramm, visit: https://www.thecramm.com.
Be the change. - David Onilude
Change comes when you find your structure. David Onilude is the founder of a nonprofit called Tech Now Global which is dedicated to eradicating digital illiteracy in underserved communities. To get connected with David, find him on Instagram at @david_onilude.
Be the change. - Megan Chen
Change comes when you make it manageable. Megan Chen is an environmental activist and the founder of The Urban Garden Initiative (TUGI) which is a nonprofit working to inspire and empower youth to achieve urban sustainability through a gardening-based educational program. For more information about TUGI, visit: https://www.theurbangardeni ...
Be the change. - Geertika Jeyaganesha
Change comes when you put in the effort. Geertika Jeyaganesha is a co-founder of Nurtured Youth Community which is an organization working to bridge the gap between minors in unsupportive households and helpful resources. For more information about Nurtured Youth Community, visit: https://www.nurturedyouthcommunity.com.
Be the change. - Audrey Pe
Change comes when we focus on collaboration and not competition. Audrey Pe is the founder of WiTech (Women in Technology), which began in Audrey's home country of the Philippines, with the mission of achieving gender equality in the tech industry. For more information about WiTech, visit: https://wi-tech.org.
Be the change. - Vaishnavi Jaiswal
Change starts at home. Vaishnavi Jaiswal is the founder of a nonprofit called Salubrious, as well as a social entrepreneur, an innovator, and a gender equity activist. To get connected with Vaishnavi, find her on Instagram at @vaishnavijaiswalll.
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