On Our Minds with Noah and Zion

Bonus Episode: Guided meditation with Tara Brach

In a special bonus episode of "On Our Minds," hosts Noah and Zion talk to psychologist, author and well-known meditation teacher Tara Brach. Brach also leads them and listeners through a guided meditation to help recognize, center and acknowledge emotions. This episode was produced by Student Reporting Labs Youth Media Producer Briget Ganske. Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StudentReportingLabs/ [https://www.facebook.com/StudentReportingLabs/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/reportinglabs\ [https://twitter.com/reportinglabs%5C] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studentreportinglabs/ [https://www.instagram.com/studentreportinglabs/]

The ups and downs of social media

In this season's final full episode of "On Our Minds," Noah and Zion talk about the positives and negatives of social media, and share stories from teens grappling with the effects of information overload on their mental health. Special guest Jeffrey Donald, who coordinates mindfulness practices for Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, explains the benefits of activities such as yoga and meditation to find balance in our hyperconnected worlds. Stories in this episode were produced by Caroline from McCallum High School in Austin, Texas, with help from Connect Educator David Winters; Isabel from Independence High School in Charlotte, North Carolina with help from Connected Educator Marie Worsley-Matthews; Steven from Pflugerville High School in Pflugerville, Texas with help from Connected Educator David Robb. This episode was produced by Student Reporting Labs Youth Media Producer Briget Ganske with assistance from Mercedes Ezeji and editing by Victor Fernandez. Terry’s interview was produced by Grace Vitaglione, a Student Reporting Labs intern; John Barnes and Curtis Roach's interviews were produced by SRL Digital Producer Rawan Elbaba and Associate Youth Media Producer Becky Wandel. Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StudentReportingLabs/ [https://www.facebook.com/StudentReportingLabs/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/reportinglabs [https://twitter.com/reportinglabs] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studentreportinglabs/ [https://www.instagram.com/studentreportinglabs/]

"Depression can be a scary word"

Depression can be connected to many situations including chronic physical conditions, seasonal change, and the mental health of those around us. In this episode, Noah and Zion share stories from young people dealing with chronic conditions such as POTS and depression, and give tips on how to combat feelings of isolation. Throughout the episode, Noah talks with clinical therapist Cheryl Aguliar about ways to address depression and get help. We talk about suicide in this episode. If you or anyone you know is in distress, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Stories in this episode were produced by Sonal Prakash from Dominion High School in Sterling, Virginia with help from Connected Educator Mitch Schwartz; Danielle Traylor from Brentwood High School in Brentwood, New York with the help from Connected Educator Sequoyah Wharton; Annette from Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City, Utah with help from Connected Educator Chris Sloan. This episode was produced by Student Reporting Labs Youth media producers Briget Ganske and Eli Kintisch with assistance from Mercedes Ezeji. Shelby’s interview was produced by Grace Vitaglione, a Student Reporting Labs intern. Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StudentReportingLabs/ [https://www.facebook.com/StudentReportingLabs/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/reportinglabs [https://twitter.com/reportinglabs] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studentreportinglabs/ [https://www.instagram.com/studentreportinglabs/]

COVID-19: Are we really ALL in this together?

The phrase "we are all in this together," was used at the beginning of the pandemic to help unite people. In this episode, Noah and Zion share personal stories from young people who explore whether that phrase feels true or not, and discuss how they have been impacted by social and racial inequities. Later in the episode, Zion talks with clinical psychologist Dr. Ryan DeLapp about the connection between inequality and mental health. Stories in this episode were produced by Onivid from Youth Beat in Oakland, California with helped from Connected Educators Sagresse Graham and Jake Schoenker; Shanae and Morgan at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan with help from Connected Educator Anita Crouch. This episode was produced by Student Reporting Labs Youth media producer Marie Cusick and Bridget Ganske with assistance from Mercedes Ezeji. Daijah’s interview was produced by Grace Vitaglione, Student Reporting Labs intern. Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StudentReportingLabs/ [https://www.facebook.com/StudentReportingLabs/%C2%A0] Twitter: https://twitter.com/reportinglabs [https://twitter.com/reportinglabs%C2%A0] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studentreportinglabs/ [https://www.instagram.com/studentreportinglabs/%C2%A0] Subscribe to our podcast, 'On Our Minds:' https://studentreportinglabs.org/on-our-minds/ [https://studentreportinglabs.org/on-our-minds/]

"Grades aren't everything"

School was a source of anxiety for many students during the pandemic. Noah and Zion discuss the highs and lows of virtual learning and share a wide range of stories from students across the country about how changes in learning impacted their mental health. This episode includes a conversation with mental health counselor Edith Porter about the youth mental health crisis and tips on how to cope with stress inside and outside of school. Stories were produced by Asare from Gwinnett County Public Schools in Duluth, Georgia with help from connected educator Sheri Long; Kennedi from Frederick Douglass High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland with help from connected educator Patrice Lawrence; Jackson and Emily from the FV Pankow Center in Clinton Township Michigan with support from connected educator Michael Kaufman; Amina from Early College and Career Center in Elizabethtown, Kentucky with help from connected educator Mary Dunn; Kaitlyn and Jake from Loudon Valley High School in Purcellville, Virginia with help from connected educator Shari Adwers; and Cora and Abigail from Black River Falls High School in Black River Falls, Wisconsin with help from Connected Educator Julie Tiedens. This episode was produced and edited by Student Reporting Labs Associate Youth Media Producer Becky Wandel and Youth Media Producer Briget Ganske with production assistance from Mercedes Ezeji. Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StudentReportingLabs/ [https://www.facebook.com/StudentReportingLabs/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/reportinglabs [https://twitter.com/reportinglabs] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studentreportinglabs/ [https://www.instagram.com/studentreportinglabs/] Subscribe to our podcast, 'On Our Minds:' https://studentreportinglabs.org/on-our-mind [https://studentreportinglabs.org/on-our-minds/]s/