It’s been more than 20 years since the U.S. invaded Iraq. For Darren Fisher, it’s been more than 20 years since he said, "No" to that invasion.

RadioActive’s Olivia Asmann has the story of one young Marine’s objection to fighting in the so-called war on terror.

This story discusses the realities of the military and war.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/why-one-young-marine-refused-to-fight-in-iraq

[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.]

RadioActive’s Vivi Cardenas-Habell says the Seattle Fandango Project played a key role in her upbringing. But she didn’t fully appreciate it until Covid took it away.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/building-community-is-an-act-of-social-justice-at-the-seattle-fandango-project

[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.]

In the summer of 1972, the year before Roe v. Wade made abortion legal nationwide, Elaine Fichter was 16 years old and eight weeks pregnant.

Fichter lived in Washington state where abortion was already legal, and she made the choice to terminate her pregnancy.

Fifty years later, Fichter’s grandchild, RadioActive’s Natalie Lahr, explores how her grandmother’s decision impacted both of their futures.

Content note: This story discusses the process of getting an abortion in some detail. It also references parental abuse. Please take care when listening.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/at-16-my-grandma-had-an-abortion-at-18-i-m-telling-her-story

[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.]

Aaron Ton's grandparents and their children lived comfortably in southern Vietnam. But everything changed on April 30, 1975.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/my-grandfather-s-little-story-a-journey-through-war-and-prison-in-vietnam

[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.]

Seattle is home to 10% of the Eritrean population in the United States.

Many Eritrean immigrants found political asylum in the U.S. in the 1980s and 90s due to the Eritrean War of Independence.

For some young first-generation Eritrean Americans like RadioActive's Alex Mengisteab, this history feels both close and slightly out of reach. So to better understand it, Alex talked to his family friend Habtom Hagos about his experiences growing up as a child during the war.

This story discusses the realities of war and thoughts of suicide.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/separated-from-his-family-in-eritrea-at-7-this-seattle-man-mentors-east-african-kids

[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.]

A cancer diagnosis "sucks." And the hospital stays that follow don't make it any easier.

17-year-old Harry McGovern wanted to make a difference for other teenage cancer patients like him. So he started The First Night Project.

RadioActive’s Sidh Shroff has this story about his friend.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-first-night-project-makes-cancer-ward-stays-a-little-easier-for-teens

[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.]

For some students coming from under-resourced high schools, going to college seems like a beacon of light that will solve all their problems.

Students are told that at college they'll gain access to things they didn't have in high school — health care, stable housing, regular meals, a gym, tutoring, extra-curricular activities, and more.

But when Khanh Doan got into their dream university, they quickly realized going to college wouldn't end their struggle with depression.

RadioActive’s Jana Le has this story about her friend.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/first-generation-low-income-student-mental-health-in-college

[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.]

When RadioActive's Rediet Giday was three months old, her family moved to the United States — without her.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/joy-and-happiness-was-left-behind-the-price-my-family-paid-for-the-american-dream

[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.]

A daughter reflects on the emotional and challenging journey her father, an Ethiopian refugee, made in order to save his life and pursue his dreams.

RadioActive’s Eliham Mohammed has this story about her dad.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/walking-the-nile-in-his-shoes

[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.]

BONUS EPISODE: "On Our Minds with Bree & James” is a podcast about mental health — produced by and for teens — from our friends at PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs. 

RadioActive has been collaborating with Student Reporting Labs to produce "On Our Minds" this year, and we’re excited to share this special bonus episode with you. RadioActive's Frankie St. Pierre Nelson edited and mixed this episode.

•••

On this episode of "On Our Minds," teens discuss success. What does it mean to succeed at something? What even is "success"? How do your definitions of success differ from your parents'?

Segments were produced by Kansas City students (with the support of the Kauffman Foundation and Youth Media Producer, Chris Schwalm) and Keerthi from San Ramon, California. This episode was produced by Lead Podcast Producer Briget Ganske with help from Associate Producer Jaylah Moore-Ross.

Click here for this episode's transcript.

If you like this episode and want more, you can find “On Our Minds” wherever you get your podcasts. 

George “Hot Dog” Moxley. A nickname born in the Jim Crow South and given to a boy who defied the unspoken laws of the time.

RadioActive’s Nyla Moxley talked with her grandfather about the summer in Kentucky when he got the nickname.

This story discusses racist violence.

Episode webpage: https://www.kuow.org/stories/buying-hot-dogs-was-an-act-of-resilience-for-my-grandfather-in-the-jim-crow-south

[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.]