WYSO Youth Radio

In 2014, WYSO launched Youth Radio to give high school students the opportunity to speak for themselves. Each year, teens collaborate with the Eichelberger Center for Community Voices to write, produce, and air their own stories on WYSO. These young creators bring fresh energy, new perspectives, and powerful storytelling to the airwaves—and their voices are helping shape the future of our region.We’ve proudly worked with students from schools including David H. Ponitz Career Technology Center, Dayton Early College Academy (DECA), Dayton STEM Academy, The Miami Valley School, Tecumseh High School, Yellow Springs High School, Centerville High School, Stivers School of the Arts, Springfield STEM Academy, Springfield High School, Springfield School of Innovation, and Thurgood Marshall Career Academy.

Episodes

Ohio teen's PSA: Swap screen time for exercise to boost mental health

August 14, 2025 • 5 mins

Springfield, Ohio, High School sophomore Emerson Babian created a PSA urging teens to trade social media time for daily movement to improve sleep, mood, and brain power.

Mark as Played

Student talks navigating AMC with his mentor, Ohio disability advocate

August 7, 2025 • 10 mins

In this WYSO Youth Radio episode, high schooler Tobias Ashlock interviews his mentor Tracey Schalk about navigating life with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC).

Mark as Played

NPR experts share tips for student podcasters on WYSO Youth Radio

July 31, 2025 • 3 mins

NPR's education desk experts, Steve Drummond and Janet Lee, offer advice on teaching students audio storytelling skills, including tips on equipment, editing, and more.

Mark as Played

Ohio high schooler interviews 'The Giver' author Lois Lowry

July 24, 2025 • 4 mins

Landon Keaton from Ponitz Career Tech interviews beloved author Lois Lowry about her Newbery Award-winning novel "The Giver" and the power of reading.

Mark as Played

Theater diversity: Hispanic student in Ohio shares her stage journey

July 17, 2025 • 4 mins

Dayton High Schooler Haylie Chavez discusses being often the only Hispanic performer in southwest Ohio theater productions and the importance of representation on stage.

Mark as Played

Ohio high schooler on living with aphantasia, inability to visualize

July 12, 2025 • 4 mins

A Dayton, Ohio, teen discusses how aphantasia affects her daily life, from storytelling to learning, and how she's pursuing her passion for writing despite the condition.

Mark as Played

Teen sisters create PSA supporting Haitian neighbors in Springfield

July 5, 2025 • 4 mins

Sisters Olympia and Penelope Derr created PSAs about supporting their Haitian neighbors in Springfield, OH. The PSAs encourage people to be inclusive and compassionate.

Mark as Played

Invisible disability: Ohio teen and mom share chronic illness journey

June 26, 2025 • 4 mins

A high school graduate and his mother open up about living with rare headache disorder SUNCT and Chiari Malformation, revealing how invisible disabilities impact families

Mark as Played

Springfield, Ohio, students explore emotions through original poetry

June 26, 2025 • 4 mins

High school poets from Springfield School of Innovation share original works exploring deep emotions like happiness after tragedy and managing anger on WYSO Youth Radio.

Mark as Played

Student poets explore nature, love, and mental health through verse

June 16, 2025 • 4 mins

Springfield, Ohio, student poets share powerful verses on nature, love, and mental health in this moving WYSO Youth Radio episode from the School of Innovation.

Mark as Played

Ohio student poet confronts racism and injustice in powerful verse

June 5, 2025 • 4 mins

Springfield, Ohio School of Innovation student Omaria Ali uses poetry to confront racism, injustice, and inequality in this powerful WYSO Youth Radio story. Listen here.

Mark as Played

Teen reflects on foster care, gratitude, and the power of a good home

May 29, 2025 • 4 mins

Clark County, Ohio, teenager Sydni Howard shares how the foster care system shaped her family and why finding a loving, stable home can improve a child's life.

Mark as Played

Ohio teens say sleep loss is hurting their mood, grades, and dreams

May 23, 2025 • 3 mins

Teens in Clark County, Ohio, speak out on how phone use and lack of sleep affect their mood, dreams, and school performance in this heartfelt WYSO Youth Radio PSA.

Mark as Played

'We're perfect the way we are,' students talk social media, self-image

May 15, 2025 • 4 mins

Anaiah Westmoreland and Armonee Montgomery are students in Ohio. They both say they have struggled with self-confidence due to what they see on social media platforms.

Mark as Played

Student talks living with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC)

May 11, 2025 • 4 mins

Ponitz grad Tobias Ashlock has a condition called Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, or AMC, which causes stiff joints and limited movement in several parts of his body.

Mark as Played

How Lebron James changed the life of a young videographer from Ohio

May 2, 2025 • 4 mins

David Jordan is a graduate of the Media Arts pathway at Ponitz CTC in Dayton, Ohio. He now works as a Youth Sports Content Creator for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.

Mark as Played

Three teenage African immigrants talk about growing up in Dayton, Ohio

April 25, 2025 • 4 mins

WYSO Youth Radio works with middle and high school students across Ohio to share their stories through sound, straight from their lives to your ears.

Mark as Played

Tippecanoe students interview Dayton Literary Peace Prize-winning author

September 23, 2024 • 5 mins

Brad Kessler’s winning novel “North” follows the lives of a Vermont monk, a Somali refugee, and an Afghan war veteran.

Mark as Played

'You could change somebody's life,' teens take on public health issues

September 23, 2024 • 4 mins

Teenagers want their voices to be heard, especially about the problems they see in their lives. In Springfield, a teen-led group called BATS, or Bringing Awareness to Students, partnered with WYSO to make PSAs about public health issues in their community.

Mark as Played

'Use your voice,' Clark County teens take on local public health issues

September 23, 2024 • 4 mins

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2

Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal

Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

The Breakfast Club

The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us

WYSO Youth Radio

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Ohio teen's PSA: Swap screen time for exercise to boost mental health

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Student talks navigating AMC with his mentor, Ohio disability advocate

NPR experts share tips for student podcasters on WYSO Youth Radio

Ohio high schooler interviews 'The Giver' author Lois Lowry

Theater diversity: Hispanic student in Ohio shares her stage journey

Ohio high schooler on living with aphantasia, inability to visualize

Teen sisters create PSA supporting Haitian neighbors in Springfield

Invisible disability: Ohio teen and mom share chronic illness journey

Springfield, Ohio, students explore emotions through original poetry

Student poets explore nature, love, and mental health through verse

Ohio student poet confronts racism and injustice in powerful verse

Teen reflects on foster care, gratitude, and the power of a good home

Ohio teens say sleep loss is hurting their mood, grades, and dreams

'We're perfect the way we are,' students talk social media, self-image

Student talks living with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC)

How Lebron James changed the life of a young videographer from Ohio

Three teenage African immigrants talk about growing up in Dayton, Ohio

Tippecanoe students interview Dayton Literary Peace Prize-winning author

'You could change somebody's life,' teens take on public health issues

'Use your voice,' Clark County teens take on local public health issues

Popular Podcasts

Ohio teen's PSA: Swap screen time for exercise to boost mental health

Student talks navigating AMC with his mentor, Ohio disability advocate