Power Your Story

What if you could create a whole new world from your imagination... and invite your friends? You can! Molly Southgate, writer, actor, LARPer, podcaster, tells us how in this conversation recorded at the end of 2019 pre-pandemic. We even have a 2022 update from Molly! Check out Molly's podcast Read Between the Lines . Follow on IG @readbetweenthelinespodcast and @whatsmollymakin. What worlds would...

What's it like to run your own comic book store? Are comics growing or dying in popularity? How can you get into comic books as a new hobby? Justus, Rashaad and Aliyah bring you the answers from James Nurss, owner of First Aid Comics in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. Originally recorded in 2019... this is a great reminder to visit and support your local independent comic book stores! Check...

A few thoughts about how hobbies can save you from burnout. Plus Aliyah's favorite hobby! Season 7 theme is "Hobbies & Life Hacks." *** http://www. PowerYourStoryPodcast.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/poweryourstorypodcast Instagram: @PowerYourStoryPodcast YouTube: After School Matters - Power Your Story Podcast *** Power Your Story is produced by students in the Podcast Tech & Production p...

How do you know which dream to follow in your life? How do you start a business? And how do you make a vegan cookie actually taste good? All this and more from our 2019 conversation with Jimmy Prude, founder of Jimmy's Vegan Cookies. For season 6 of Power Your Story, our theme is "My Favorite Things." *** http://www. PowerYourStoryPodcast.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/poweryourstorypodcast...

Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't. But it feels good when someone notices what you're creating. Hear this story about what happened when we applied to the Google Podcasts Creator Program with PRX. We applied in 2019 and this update is provided by our program director and mentor, Ms. Andrea Klunder. For season 6 of Power Your Story, our theme is "My Favorite Things." *** http://www. PowerYo...

It's the sports episode you've been waiting for! DeShawn Fontleroy, RBT, is a USA Track and Field Coach, USAW Sports Performance Coach, and founder of ProForce Athletics. He specializes in problems of training–including the role of strength training, sprinting, and jumping ability in the athlete's physical preparation. His podcast is The Science of Sports Mastery. We talk about careers in sports m...

How do you get started on the path of being a professional artist and musician? What do you do if your work isn't as good as you want it to be? What does it take to be successful? Sandra Antongiorgi is a Chicago-based artist with two creative passions as both a visual artist and a vocalist and musician. She talks with us about how pursuing her passions saved her throughout hard times as a child an...

How do you perceive people with disabilities? How does your disability impact your life? How do you deal with the stress of every day living? In 2019, we created this story for the NPR Student Podcast Challenge. We didn't win, but we think it's pretty awesome anyway! This episode features stories from Brandon, Keyanna, Joel, Carlos, Elvis, and D'Vonte. We also hear the voices of Al, Mekhi, Justus,...

Ian Chadwick joined us online all the way from California, where he works as a ranger in Joshua Tree National Park. Before that Ian lived in Chicago and worked as nature educator in different places. He shares his own story of why he grew to love nature, why he thinks it's important to connect with it even if you live in the city, and why we should protect our natural environment. He recommends Ev...

We talked with Sarah Buino, licensed clinical social worker and founder of Head/Heart Therapy in Chicago, about addiction, and our experiences with stress, anxiety, OCD, and bottled up emotions. Sarah shared tips about using the things you love to do to help when you have these kinds of experiences -- like listening to music, singing, playing video games, going outside, and moving your body. We al...

This story is about Junae Bennett from Black Girl Gamers and how she experiences playing video games from the time she was a little kid to now as an EA sports journalist. Check out Junae's website and if you're thinking of a career in gaming, you can buy her ebook How to Become a Successful Video Games Journalist. This interview was recorded in 2019 when Overwatch and Apex Legends were popular. Sh...

Senior Producer Aliyah shares some highlights of the Power Your Story podcast program as well as favorite guests, tips for discovering podcasts to listen to, and what we've learned about being flexible and prepared as producers. On season 5 of Power Your Story, we are talking all about making podcasts. This episode covers interviewing, listening, and storytelling skills. *** http://www. PowerYourS...

Mark, Elvis, and Carlos interviewed Amy Tardif, Regional Manager at the StoryCorps StoryBooth in the Chicago Cultural Center. The mission of StoryCorps is to preserve and share humanity's stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world. This basically means that when we listen to people tell stories about their lives, we can understand where they...

Keyanna, Christobel, and Zamire interviewed Chicago based storyteller and the host of Am I Man Enough? podcast, Ada Cheng. Before the COVID pandemic, we were so lucky to have Ada in the house for our interview and a workshop where she helped us learn how to tell stories from our personal lives. One thing we learned is what to do if you lack the courage to do something and need to find the determin...

Monica Rivera is an inspiring podcaster based in New York who produces a show called You Wanna Do What?! On season 5 of Power Your Story, we are talking all about making podcasts. In this episode, Brandon, Justus and Joel talk with Monica about what it's like to independently produce an interview-based podcast. She shares some of her favorite stories, her process, and best advice for new podcaster...

Have you ever lost your cell phone, had to have surgery, or wanted to learn how to play a new game? On season 5 of Power Your Story, we are talking all about making podcasts. In this episode, Joel, Brandon, and Carlos share personal stories from their own lives. This is an example of one type of podcast you can make - "personal narrative." *** http://www. PowerYourStoryPodcast.com Facebook: http:/...

On season 5 of Power Your Story, we are talking all about making podcasts. In this episode, we'll walk you through the steps we follow to produce our show. We mention that we use a podcast hosting service called Libsyn. If you decide to create your own show, and host with Libsyn, you can get your first month free with the promo code: envy. Also if you DO have your own podcast, share it with us! Se...

Jayinex is Chicago's creative hub for artists, entrepreneurs, and community. CEO and graffiti artist Corey Jenkins met up with our producers at homiey. (homiey's founder Mariah was featured on a previous PYS episode.) Corey talks with Quintin and Emon about art, education, imagination and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Learn more about Jayinex including Black Lives Matter murals and projects: https...

What's it really like to grow up and live in Chicago? Our producers weigh in on what we love most about the city, what we wish was different, and some personal stories about every day life. This episode was recorded outside in the garden of our school. *** http://www. PowerYourStoryPodcast.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/poweryourstorypodcast Instagram: @PowerYourStoryPodcast YouTube: After...

There are certain subjects and questions you just can't talk about with your parents or even a teacher. That's where a school mentor comes in. Our school is fortunate enough to have a lot of resources for students, like Mr. Pierce, who can help us out of these awkward situations. *** http://www. PowerYourStoryPodcast.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/poweryourstorypodcast Instagram: @PowerYour...

Sometimes life gets stressful. We heard about the idea of taking a sensory walk to help de-stress your day. So we decided to try it for ourselves. Basically, you walk around a specific place and notice anything you can see, hear, smell, feel or taste as you go. Senior producers Al and Aliyah ask our other student producers to share their observations on the block around our school. We recommend tr...

Juan and Emon interviewed small business owner Mariah Cobb from homiey, a community co-working, art and event space in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. Homiey has expanded to a second location in Noble Square, Chicago and a location in Oakland, CA. They have made a lot of adjustments due to the current health concerns and are now offering private spaces by reservation. Check out homiey's...

Al, Mark and Joel met up with Chicago hip-hop artist Ridgio and his buddy Tyler aka PD$ to talk about producing music, performing, growing up in Chicago and why it's important to have a positive message. We recorded this interview at homiey co-working in Chicago. Check out Ridgio at http://ridgio.com . His new album Twenty V Winters just dropped on Apple Music, Spotify, and Soundcloud. Follow Ridg...

Mandy and Maritza interview Ruthie Gold from the Garfield Park Conservatory during our field trip. Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest indoor/outdoor gardens in the United States. It's free to visit and it's a great place to go an relax, bring your family, or take a school field trip. Learn more and plan your visit: https://garfieldconservatory.org/ http://www. PowerYourStoryPodcast.c...

What do you think of when you think of visiting Chicago? Or if you live here, where do you take guests when they come in from out of town? Aliyah shares her top 5 places to check out in our opener for Season 4: Exploring Chicago. http://www. PowerYourStoryPodcast.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/poweryourstorypodcast Instagram: @PowerYourStoryPodcast YouTube: After School Matters - Power Your...