Tea, Toast, and Truth

The climate crisis impacts us all. But for teenagers, the ones who are going to have to live with the consequences, facing the future can feel daunting. From overwhelm to grief, fear to anger, bewilderment to hope, a group of Ashland High School students from Truth to Power club sought to capture teenagers' responses to climate change in an effort to make all the young people out in the world experiencing similar emotions feel a little less alone.

Interviewees: Te Maia Wiki, Sylvie Turner, Rachel Davis, Owen Grammley, Tate Oliva, Anna Gutrich, and Mirandah Davis Powell. Produced by Anya Moore, Mira Saturen, Kena Robertshaw, Amelia Wilkinson, and Ella Gibbs Faculty advisor: Shane Abrams Music by Tate Oliva

In order to better understand where the anxiety that teens experience comes from and how it has changed, we interviewed a variety of high school students and adults in our community. This was our first submission to the 2020 NPR Student Podcast Challenge.

Produced by Isadora Millay, Mirandah Davis Powell, Luke Seeley, Anya Moore, and Tate Oliva.

Dear 2022: Your Time is Up wrestles with the question: why aren’t there more women in leadership? Historically, leadership has been male-dominated. However, with the state of our current world, it is evident now more than ever that the leadership status quo needs to change–women must be empowered to break glass ceilings and help our world regain stability. But, it’s not that easy. Women face discrimination, bias, and our own internalized misogyny–it is the box we have been born in. The box feeds competition between women, which hinders their ability to become leaders and make the change our world needs. Women should be allies, not competitors, and we must break the box to empower ourselves.

Dear 2022: Your Time is Up was produced by Mira Saturen, Isadora Millay, Mirandah Davis-Powell, Te Maia Wiki, and Simone Starbird.

Interviewees include Charlotte Angermeier, Leila Bunker, Mira Saturen, Isadora Millay, Mirandah Davis-Powell, Te Maia Wiki, and Simone Starbird

Music by Charlotte Angermeier and Annie Siegel

Special thanks to Shane Abrams!

* The situation in Ukraine evolves quickly, so be mindful of newly revealed information and changing narratives

* The ideas expressed in the episode don’t constitute official values or policies of ASD or TTP

“Good Ashland Kids” continues the conversation between Mr. Bolling and Mr. Huard from part 2, and focuses on the importance of learning, caring, and being aware of the world. The two delve into the modern culture teens live in today, and how it affects youth involvement in current events–mainly, the war in Ukraine. Mr. Huard and Mr. Bolling also discuss the direct impacts the war in Ukraine has on the U.S. and ourselves, along with the potential for a draft.

Make sure to listen to part 1 “The Ageing Autocrat and Europe’s Shield” and part 2 “Pounded Flat” if you haven’t already.

Donate to Mr. Huard's gofundme to help Ukrainian refugees at this link!: https://gofund.me/11de65b5

Produced by Isadora Millay

* The situation in Ukraine evolves quickly, so be mindful of newly revealed information and changing narratives

* The ideas expressed in the episode don’t constitute official values or policies of ASD or TTP

Pounded Flat continues the conversation between Mr. Bolling and Mr. Huard from part 1: The Ageing Autocrat and Europe's Shield, as they dive deeper into what the U.S. has done to help Ukraine so far, what further potential involvement might look like, the relationship between Vladimir Putin and Russian people, and what the next stages of the war are looking to be as the threat of nuclear warfare reigns ever closer.

Stay tuned for part 3: Good Ashland Kids and make sure to listen to part 1: The Ageing Autocrat and Europe’s Shield if you haven’t already.

Produced by Isadora Millay

*The situation in Ukraine evolves quickly, so be mindful of newly revealed information and changing narratives

* The ideas expressed in the episode don’t constitute official values or policies of Ashland School District or Truth to Power

“The ageing autocrat and Europe’s Shield”  is part 1 of Truth to Power’s Ukraine and Russia podcast series. Stay tuned for part two: “Pounded Flat” and part 3 “Good Ashland Kids.” 

In this three part series Peter Bolling and Paul Huard, both beloved and distinguished teachers at Ashland High School delve into the centuries of build up to this moment, what the different courses of actions and outcomes may be, the importance of the relationships between Vladimir Putin, the Russian Oligarchy, and Russian people, the potential this war holds for starting world war 3, and why it is so important to be educated and care.

Produced, written, and edited by Isadora Millay. Narration by Te Maia Wiki.

These days, looking at the news brings headlines about the newest natural disasters, the most recent acts of violence, or the current political strife. While all of these deserve our attention, it is crucial to not only dwell on the negatives. This podcast was created with the intent to emphasize the blissfulness of love. Even more sublime than love itself, is the intoxicating moments of your first. In this episode, we attempt to unravel the complexities of love through a collection of stories from our community.

Truth to Power releases AN UNNATURAL DISASTER, in remembrance and reflection of the Almeda fire and its fallout. This podcast focuses on 4 community member’s stories as they experienced unprecedented tragedy. A special emphasis features reflections about the experiences of our Latinx community. AN UNNATURAL DISASTER is part 1 of the Almeda Fire series. Stay tuned for part 2, a teen-telling of evacuation, in the coming weeks! And at the end of the month, part 3 of the Almeda Fire series--THE OVERWHELM--will continue the story told in AN UNNATURAL DISASTER. 

**This podcast contains wildfire trauma, and profanity**

Produced by Isadora Millay

Citations mentioned in the podcast: 

The Washington Post "12 hours inside Oregon's Almeda Fire", https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/10/20/oregon-almeda-fire/

National Geographic "The science connecting wildfires to climate change", https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/climate-change-increases-risk-fires-western-us

A focus on, and a analysis of zoom school by looking at the lasting impacts that distance learning will have on students.

The symbiotic relationship between Ashland, Oregon, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival has historically fed the towns economy, and evolved communal efforts to diversify and create a safe, inclusitory space. This mutuality between entities entered unprecedented times when the pandemic emerged and fires abounded. This is the story of how the town of Ashland and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival continued to grow in their symbiosis and survive through the adversities of 2020 to burgeon into 2021.

Produced by Isadora Millay and Anya Moore

Ashland High School club, Truth to Power, presents Tea, Toast and Truth: A COVID Thanksgiving. Completely created and produced by teens, this podcast represents Ashland residents' reflections on gratitude.