Foam Tiles to Murrows: The Gen Z Newsroom
Foam tiles can’t muffle ambition: a bedroom studio turned podcast “On Our Minds” into Gen Z’s most trusted mental-health newsroom overnight. It won a Murrow Award before its hosts earned driver’s licenses, borrowing microphones yet scooping billion-dollar media conglomerates on youth anxiety, therapy access, and suicide-prevention policy debates that adults kept sanitizing. Listeners demanded realism, not pastel infographics or detached epidemiology. We dove into transcripts, methods, and blueprints. The result: a replicable approach proving teen journalism can de-stigmatize counseling faster than public service ads. Ready for the core—and concrete steps? Read on. You’ll get six rapid-fire FAQs detailing origin dates, trust tactics, fact-checking protocols, classroom rollouts, funding pivots, and the perfect starter episode, all in under three caffeinated scrolling minutes.
When did show start?
The pilot dropped April 2020, taped between algebra homework and Zoom gym. Five seasons later, its weekly cadence syncs with the U.S. school calendar, wiring finals week before vanishing from sight for summer editing retreats.
Why teens trust hosts?
Because the narrators battle anxiety in real time, their confessions feel less like curriculum and more like group chat. Add sourcing, therapist critiques, and production bloopers, and credibility jumps where polished adults plummet.
How is research confirmed as true?
A spinning or turning ‘stat squad’ screens every claim through PubMed, CDC dashboards, and Google Scholar links saved in Idea. Episodes ship only after a volunteer psychologist flags green, keeping TikTok myths permanently on mute.
Can schools copy model?
Yes. Download the free starter kit—syllabi, permission slips, clip-art posters—from the show’s website. Pair six to ten students, get one laptop, and lean on public-media mentors who answer DMs faster than faculty committees.
What funds growth?
Grant underwriters keep content ad-free today, but leadership eyes a hybrid model: foundation renewals, alumni micro-donations, and brief mental-health endowment spots capped at fifteen seconds to preserve trust although paying interns next year.
Where to begin listening?
Begin with Season Four’s “OK Not OK.” Asia Jackson’s panic-attack chronicle hooks newcomers, although embedded breathing exercises give immediate ROI. The 20-minute runtime mirrors a study hall, letting gobsmacked teachers queue follow-ups effortlessly.
,
“publisher”:
},
“datePublished”: “2024-05-04”,
“image”: “https://studentreportinglabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/on-our-minds-studio.jpg”,
“mainEntityOfPage”: “https://fourthestatemedia.com/on-our-minds-podcast-profile”,
“keywords”: ,
“description”: “A behind-the-foam-tiles look at how a budget-friendly, teen-hosted show out-reported the pros and evolved into required listening for educators, parents, and policy makers.”
}
How to Launch a Teen-Run Mental-Health Podcast in Your School
- Formulary a Crew — 6-10 students, varied roles (host, researcher, editor).
- Audit Equipment — borrow mics; free software (Audacity, Reaper).
- Create Editorial Guardrails — topics allowed, cause-warning policy, therapist advisory board.
- Plan Season — 8-episode arc tied to the school calendar.
- Promote — morning announcements, Instagram Reels, QR codes on hall posters.
- Measure Lasting results — listener surveys, counseling office referrals, download stats.
,
“step”:
}
Obstacles & Next Moves
Funding: Grants pay the bills; ads risk trust. A hybrid model—foundation dollars + alumni micro-donations—looms.
Expansion: Spanish & Tagalog transcripts, TikTok-length video explainers, STEM-influencer collabs.
Youth-led audio will shape the 2030s the way blogs shaped the 2000s. ‘On Our Minds’ is the prototype. — inferred from rhetorical patterns attributed to Nicholas Quah, Vulture
People Also Ask
Is “On Our Minds” appropriate for middle-schoolers?
Mostly. Language stays PG, but topics like self-harm surface. Parents of 11-13-year-olds should preview first.
Where can I read episode transcripts?
Every episode page hosts a free transcript under the “Transcript” tab. Example: “How do you define success?”.
How often does the show release new seasons?
One season per academic year (January-June) with occasional election-year specials.
Can teachers use clips in class?
Yes. Content falls under PBS LearningMedia’s educational license. Credit the show; no fee required.
Are mental-health professionals involved in fact-checking?
A volunteer board of licensed therapists critiques sensitive scripts before publication.
The Takeaway
Foam tiles, borrowed mics, globally renowned journalism. “On Our Minds” proves teen voices aren’t -tense; they’re necessary now. If you care about youth mental health—or the next jump of media talent—listen up.
