NYC teens and audio pros team up for immersive podcast academy

Students in the 2022 Summer Youth Podcast Academy pose for a photo after meeting with producers from The Daily at The New York Times.

NEW YORK, NY — For the fourth consecutive summer, a dozen NYC public high school students are participating in a three-week podcast academy with talented industry professionals as guest instructors and editors.

Kicking off today, The Bell’s Summer Youth Podcast Academy offers local teens hands-on training in all stages of podcast making, including sound recording, script writing and audio mixing. By the end of the three weeks, each student will make and narrate their own episode. This year’s theme is “unraveling family mysteries.”

“Even as an audio storytelling professional, the students, and the quality of their stories, surprise me time and time again, no matter how much I adjust my expectations,” said Peter Leonard, engineer and sound designer for The Journal podcast. “Watching students doggedly ask ‘but how?’ and ‘but why?’ is a consistent reminder that their perspectives and ideas are essential to making our city and its five boroughs better for everyone. This year, I’m looking forward to having my expectations blown away yet again.”

Leonard helped recruit many of this year’s volunteer instructors, including audio professionals from National Public Radio, Pushkin Industries, Spotify, Freakonomics Radio, Good Studio, Fortune Media and others. In all, 19 volunteers will support the students in learning the ropes of the medium and producing their stories.

Many SYPA alumni have gone on to pursue additional journalism and media opportunities in college and beyond. Two students from the 2022 SYPA cohort, David Cruz and Jayden Williams, were recently awarded honorable mentions in the highly competitive, nationwide NPR Student Podcast Challenge. David’s story, "Reaching Out to an Outreach,” documented his mother’s role as a city outreach worker tasked with recruiting homeless individuals to shelters. Jayden’s story, “A Journeyman’s Journey,” tracked his father’s long and winding career as an electrician, including how he helped unionize his workplace.

“I’m so excited to work with this next cohort,” said Sabrina DuQuesnay, The Bell’s student programs manager. “They’re all amazingly talented. I look forward to the great stories they’re going to tell, the fun we’re going to have and the memories we’re going to make.”

The Bell’s mission is to provide NYC students the tools to tell important stories today and the skills to thrive in the media careers of tomorrow. SYPA is supported in part by Spotify and the Solon E. Summerfield Foundation, with in kind support from Hindenburg Systems.

For anyone interested in contributing to or sponsoring future programs, please contact Taylor McGraw at taylor@bellvoices.org.

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Chosen from a competitive pool of applicants citywide, meet this year’s student participants:

Ava Stryker-Robbins is a rising senior at the Beacon School in New York City. She served as the head of design at her school’s literary magazine and is an active participant in her school’s debate club. She works as a reporter for the West Side Rag where she writes a weekly food column in addition to covering other local stories. Ava is a member of Manhattan Community Board 7, participates in the New York Civil Liberties Union’s Teen Activist Project, and served as an intern for the City Limits Accountability Reporting Initiative for Youth (CLARIFY). In her free time, Ava plays classical guitar and loves to knit.

Christian Rojas Linares is a senior at the University Neighborhood High School (UNHS) in Manhattan. He is an active member of the UNHS community by supporting and partaking in school events. When Christian isn't focused on academics, he enjoys going to the gym as well as learning about what it takes to become an entrepreneur because he aspires to become one in the near future.

Egypt Terry is a junior at The Urban Assembly for Media Studies. She actively participated in various clubs including their school's first Black Student Union, curated her school's first Podcast Club among mural and guitar club. Personally, Egypt takes part in binging cringey teen shows and going down the rabbit hole of controversial politics.

Fanta Kaba is a junior at Beacon High School in Manhattan. She is passionate about advocacy and creating safe spaces for marginalized communities. She is also the president of Women's of Color Club, Live Poet Society, and the Captain of the girl's varsity basketball team. When she is not busy reading or playing basketball, she loves to hang out with friends and try new foods.

Fatou Diallo is a rising junior at Uncommon Collegiate. Fatou spends her free time at her robotics club where she’s constantly working to build and program a robot with her teammates. Fatou is a hard working student who prioritizes her grades and is constantly looking to build her resume and experiences. When Fatou isn't keeping herself busy she uses her leisure time to explore New York, its parks, its museums, everything!

Kenneth Stewart is a recent high school graduate from John V. Lindsay Wildcat Academy. He is co-owner of a Twitter page called “TheOnikaMagazine” and is a member of “Fruit of the Spirit” dance ministry at Highland Church. When Kenneth isn’t busy working or dedicating his time at church, he loves to go out with friends or just enjoying his personal time at home listening to music or delving into current news within pop culture.

Mahdia Tully Carr is a junior at Repertory Company High School. She loves to read, write, sing, and perform--especially in her school's musical productions. In the future, she hopes to perform on bigger stages, and in her downtime, she writes songs and draws.

Marcellino Melika is a sophomore at Francis Lewis High School in Queens. He is a part of his school's string orchestra, science research program, and numerous clubs. In his free time, he enjoys trying new things.

Nora Dergam is a rising senior at the Institute for Collaborative Education in Manhattan. She is constantly engaged in sports, music, writing, and weightlifting. She is also an active member in Model UN, performs at venues as a drummer with her band at school, and writes horror stories in her free time. She loves going on thrilling adventures whether it's hiking at night or even going to abandoned places!

Santana Roach is a rising senior at the Frederick Douglass Academy II in Harlem. He tends to enjoy his school year filled with conversation and connection as well as being intellectually challenged. Funny and also relatable, as a NYC high school student Santana deals with occasional procrastination and seemingly gets his assignments completed and turned in on time. When he doesn't feel flooded with work, he enjoys his downtime watching cartoons and talking with his friends.

Tanvir Kaur is a New York resident commuting through crowded subways. Although she doesn't love the overpopulation of New York, she appreciates the cultural diversity. She believes rich cultures grow richer knowledge. Tanvir is an aspiring photographer, who hopes to capture everyday mundane moments.

William Ramos is a junior at Bronx Leadership Academy 2 at the Mott Haven campus. He helps tutor students in after school on Geometry, Algebra 2, and chemistry, and is an active member of art club and video game club to help younger students to socialize and help them be in a community they feel safe and comfortable in. When William isn’t at school studying or sleeping till 12pm, he helps to take care of and maintain his little brother and goes to the gym with friends.