The Passionate Youth Worker

June 17, 2024 Season 5 Episode 2 Over the past four years, The Passionate Youth Worker podcast has been listened to in 106 different countries. Each of our 107 guests shared their unique stories with humility and grace. In this final episode, we reflect back on what their stories taught us about what it means to be a youth worker. And how their passion for serving our young people motivates and in...

June 3, 2024 Season 5 Episode 1 Khomas region, Namibia: Tuli Kamati has learned to transform challenges into triumphs. She generously shares all of her life lessons to benefit others. And she leads with both a strong heart and a determined mind to bring about social justice for herself and others. Tuli is a passionate advocate for reproductive rights and healthcare equity for women and girls.  Acc...

May 20, 2024 Season 4 Episode 27 Nairobi, Kenya: Cyprine Omollo has a story of overcoming obstacles, persevering, and finding a path to help others through the struggle. She is warm and straightforward in sharing her experiences and the lessons learned. And you’ll surely find inspiration in her resilience. She does not give up and will remind you to keep going too.  Accessibility Options: Watch th...

May 6, 2024 Season 4 Episode 26 Minnesota, United States: Hope Flanagan (Seneca) is Noodinesiikwe (Little Wind Woman) from the turtle clan. She comes from the people of Tonawanda, Seneca Reservation. Her interconnectedness with nature informs her work with young people. She brings a deep respect and authentic style of storytelling as a means of gifting knowledge and wisdom to help others. Her gift...

April 22, 2024 Season 4 Episode 25 Minnesota, United States: Ashley Daniels had a very difficult childhood, growing up with an alcoholic parent, dealing with countless challenges of her undiagnosed autistic ADHD, followed by a number of mental illnesses. That resulted in her being bullied and abused, unable to understand what made her so different. But, since learning about her diagnoses, she has...

April 8, 2024, Year Season 4 Episode 24 Normandy, France: Michael Dawson chose to leave a lucrative career in sales to pour himself into paying forward the gift of support he had received from caring adults at a time of turmoil in his life. Now an author, podcast host, and creator of youth work training resources, he knows he wouldn’t be who he is today without the experiences of his past. And he...

March 25, 2024 Season 4 Episode 23 Idaho, United States: Cailee Fitzgerald grew up in an unstable environment. Her parents abused drugs, engaged in illegal activities, and spent time in prison. She was determined not to follow in their footsteps. She persevered against unbelievable odds. Cailee credits a high school basketball coach who cared about her and could see her potential. That was all the...

March 11, 2024 Season 4 Episode 22 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: Rumbidzai Chitsa grew up in a ghetto in Zimbabwe. But the possibilities she saw for herself opened up through the experience of an uncle who had become a doctor. She started on the same path, studying science. But, following her heart, she chose a different path. She now gives back to help others growing up in similar circumstances to pursue b...

February 26, 2024 Season 4 Episode 21 Minnesota, United States: Katie Shatusky’s life was deeply impacted when her beloved grandfather died by suicide in 2010. She has struggled with mental health challenges, discovered her corporate work life was not fulfilling in a meaningful way, and transformed the tragedy of her grandfather’s death to turn her pain into purpose. She launched a nonprofit calle...

February 12, 2024 Season 4 Episode 20 Minnesota, United States: Rosalind Loggin has endured more trials and tribulations in her life than many people could bear. But she finds a way to triumph over them. Her faith is her foundation and she feels called through her troubles to serve even the most challenging young people. She’s real, she’s determined, and she’s just what they need to turn their own...

January 29, 2024 Season 4 Episode 19 Portland, Jamaica: Todd Haslam’s young life started out well. His father was his hero who loved and cared for him. But when his father suddenly left, everything was upended. His life became very rough. But he sees it all as a blessing. He had people around him who helped him stay grounded and become well-rounded. Both the good and the bad brought him to see his...

January 16, 2024 Season 4 Episode 18 New Mexico, United States: Helen Cheromiah was raised by a teenaged mom, grew up in poverty, and struggled to find her people and her right path. Still, she knows every experience went into making her the person she is today. And that person is someone who is guiding and positively impacting the lives of young people who need the same kind of help she needed as...

January 2, 2024 Season 4 Episode 17 Maryland, United States: Benedetto Zanca developed a selfless nature, coming through a difficult childhood. Anything he may have lacked didn’t really set him back. Instead, he focused on being of service, guided by his strong faith and the values his mom instilled in him. He’s making a meaningful impact for youth workers and young people. His joy comes from seei...

December 18, 2023 Season 4 Episode 16 England, United Kingdom: Charlotte Gordon had a rough childhood due to difficulties of undiagnosed ADHD. But rather than simply living with the many challenges, she chose to leverage those challenges into strengths. That shift led her to craft an uncommon vibrancy in her approach to youth work. She shares her hard-earned wisdom with such humility, you will be...

December 4, 2023 Season 4 Episode 15 Mombasa, Kenya: Esha Mohammed Abdallah struggled with self-doubts and very low self-esteem as a young person. But the constant support of her mother helped her find ways to outgrow her limitations. Now she uses those stories of both pain and possibility to help other young women build their own self-confidence. She champions youth voice in Kenya and is a steadf...

November 20, 2023 Season 4 Episode 14 Minnesota, United States: Yaya Cochran is the living definition of being a servant youth worker. Her selfless nature and servant heart compel her to create a world where children are able to show up as their most authentic selves. She does that with such passion, commitment, and truly remarkable altruism. Her story offers a rare opportunity to consider your ow...

November 6, 2023 Season 4 Episode 13 Pennsylvania, United States: Michelle Kissinger has literally made her life a work of art. She explores her primal wound of being abandoned as a child and her search to find healing and growth from that trauma. Her story is an ode to self-awareness, being inquisitive, and her durability. She invites us “to bring the arts more deeply into our model of care for y...

October 23, 2023 Season 4 Episode 12 California, United States: Alyssa Clark grew up a shy child and often felt alone even in her big family. She felt safest staying out of the limelight, staying quiet. But even at a young age, she recognized that as a kind of fear. Through connections with caring adults, she learned to push through her fear. And she turned her own life experience into a mission o...

October 9, 2023 Season 4 Episode 11 California, United States: Josh Wagner had an unimaginably hard start in childhood. His parents were consumed by addiction, he was separated from his brother at the age of three, and was out on his own by age eight. In and out of trouble until a foster mom changed his life. His story is a powerful example of how your past does not define you. He says being a soc...

October 5, 2023 Season 4 Episode 10 Minnesota, United States: Allie Birdseye-Hannula has the heart of a teacher and a curious nature that helps her keep learning and growing. Self-awareness and practical self-reflection are strengths she relies on to improve her youth work skills. Through trial and error, she developed communication tools to engage more effectively with youth who are demonstrating...

September 25, 2023 Season 4 Episode 9 Minnesota, United States: Princess Awa-Ada Kisob seems like a natural born leader and she always knew she wanted to be a youth worker. She started her own nonprofit as a young teen to support immigrant and refugee youth. Princess follows her mother’s lead as a fighter, an advocate, and a generous spirt. She leads quietly, being present, centering and creating...

September 11, 2023 Season 4 Episode 8 Florida, United States: Dr. Paul “Paulie” Gavoni is a behavior scientist, educator, author, and speaker. He shares how his lived experience opened up the path for how he could help others. His insights about human behavior and the need to become a keen observer of your own behavior and how it impacts young people will give you plenty of food for thought. Visit...

Kingston, Jamaica: Odane Brooks is a leading voice in Jamaica and the Caribbean on issues of public policy and youth leadership. His story is told through the lens of his leadership experience, sharing practical wisdom and inspiration for all youth workers. And his thoughts about the importance of inclusion and empowerment for young people will surely resonate with you. Accessibility Options: Watc...

August 14, 2023 Season 4 Episode 6 Lilongwe, Malawi: Sylvester Chabuka grew up in Malawi, the poorest country in the world. He, like many children in Malawi, suffered the effects of extreme poverty and malnutrition. But his grandmother instilled in him an unshakeable belief that there was no challenge he could not solve. Now he is solving the problem of malnutrition for children throughout his cou...

July 31, 2023 Season 4 Episode 5 Minnesota, United States: Ryan Berg found his way to youth work through his career in theater. Drawn to the impact of storytelling and impactful engagement with community, he took a job as a mentor for LGBTQI youth and found his fit. He shares his story with insight and self-awareness that humbly illuminates what all youth workers know about trust. And sprinkles in...