The Round Table: A YVote Podcast

As Zohran Mamdani steps into office as Mayor of New York City, YVote youth unpack what actually changes when leadership shifts. This episode explores what happens immediately, what takes time, and how transitions of power impact schools, housing, policing, immigration, and youth programs, with a focus on how young people can stay engaged beyond election day.

In this episode, YVote youth unpack what safety really means in the presence of police and why Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s role in Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s incoming administration has become a point of controversy. Through personal reflections, data from the Innocence Project, and an honest conversation about policing, surveillance, and youth vulnerability, they explore how power shows up in...

Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Kassandra and Preena are joined by Shennell McCloud, a visionary leader redefining civic engagement. Together, they dive into a conversation that bridges two worlds we rarely talk about together: wellness and infrastructure and how their intersection is essential to building lasting justice. Too often, civic leadership is measured by rallies, v...

Welcome back to The Round Table! In this week’s all host episode, Kassandra, Daniella, Preena and Viola dive into the current state of U.S. democracy, how it’s shifted over time, the changing roles and behaviors of public officials, and the corruption that threatens to shake the system at its core. From the NYC mayoral race to Trump’s digital fundraising tactics to ICE detention practices, the hos...

Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Kassandra, Preena, and Sauda sit down with Dr. Paul Zeitz a physician, public health expert, and democracy advocate whose work spans from global health to civic transformation. With decades of experience leading responses to the HIV/AIDS crisis and now focusing on constitutional renewal and citizen empowerment, Dr. Zeitz brings a unique blend o...

Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Daniella, Kassandra, and Preena sat down with two time Emmy Award winning filmmaker Kayona Ebony Brown, whose work bridges art and activism. Known for her powerful storytelling in both sports and female centered narratives, Kayona shares how her creative journey from radio DJ to filmmaker has been fueled by resilience, purpose, and a deep belie...

Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Daniella and Sauda speak with Corinne Lerma, a Youth250 Bureau member. She is one of 100 young adult fellows who not only advise, but also collaborate with nonprofit organizations. But, Corinne’s commitment to helping young learners doesn’t just stop there. In addition to this, she is also a preschool educator, a Cincinnati Museum Center instru...

Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Kassandra, Daniel, and Zarina sit down with Alice Sheehan, CFO of AllSides Technologies. Alice is passionate about promoting media literacy and works closely with teachers and students across all 50 states to encourage understanding of opposing viewpoints on important civic issues. She believes strongly in teaching young people “how to think,”...

Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Kassandra, Sauda, and Viola sit down with Christopher Albert De La Roa, Web Producer and Content Manager at DoSomething.org. Christopher shares his personal background in art and activism as an independent broadcaster, media and content producer, storyteller, and self proclaimed “student of the absurd.” Reflecting on his upbringing, witnessing...

Welcome to another episode at The Round Table. This week, our hosts, Inyoo, Sauda, and Viola sat down with Devyn Inez Fusaro, the Digital & Communications Manager at New York Renews, a powerful coalition fighting for climate justice across New York. Devyn’s journey with NY Renews began in 2019 creating impactful videos that helped shape the movement's messaging. By 2022, she officially joined...

Welcome back to The Round Table! This week, our hosts Daniel, Inyoo, Kassandra and Sauda sat down with Emma Post and Max Szuchman, seniors at Mamaroneck High School in Southern Westchester and passionate advocates for youth voter engagement. As part of a four year civic engagement program at their school, they have dedicated the past two years to increasing voter turnout among both young people an...

Welcome to another episode of The Round Table ! This week, Daniella, Preena, Kassandra, Inyoo and Sauda discussed the power of story-telling, intersectional identities, the role of youth in bringing about societal change, and so much more. They spoke with Dr. Rob Carpenter, a UCLA Professor and author, who has worked in the White House, Hollywood, tech and transportation, and who is a self-describ...

Welcome to another episode of The Round Table ! This week, Daniella, Preena, and Zarina are joined by Andrew Einhorn, the CEO and co-founder of LevelFields, an AI-powered app designed to simplify investment research for users. Andrew takes us on a fascinating journey through his career from studying psychology and cultural anthropology to leading groundbreaking public health initiatives, advising...

Welcome to another episode of The Round Table ! This week, Daniel, Preena, and Viola sit down with C. Evan Stewart, author of The Worst Supreme Court Decisions Ever! and a professor at Cornell University. Stewart delves into America’s legal history, examining cases like Dred Scott v. Sanford and the importance of addressing the uncomfortable truths of the legal system. Stewart discusses the role o...

Welcome to another episode of The Round Table ! This week, Daniella, Kassandra and Kassandra sit down with Kelly Davis, the Vice President of Peer and Youth Advocacy at Mental Health America. In her role, Kelly focuses on expanding peer support mental health programs and championing policies driven by lived experiences. In our conversation, Kelly sheds light on how peer support functions and empha...

At this week’s Round Table, Inyoo and Kassandra engage in a captivating conversation with Dr. William T. Armaline, a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at San José State University. Dr. Armaline is the founder of the Human Rights Minor at SJSU, a dedicated educator, and the author of several influential works on human rights and politics. Drawing from hi...

At this week’s Round Table, Heba, Inyoo, Kassandra, and Preena unpack the results of the 2024 elections. They analyze the surprising performance of Donald Trump and the strong showing of down-ballot Republicans, exploring the factors that contributed to these outcomes. The hosts also dissect the strategies employed by various campaigns, with a particular focus on where Kamala Harris may have falle...

At this week’s Round Table, Inyoo, Kassandra, and Preena were joined by Ken W. Good, a legal expert and member of the Board of Directors for the Professional Bondsmen of Texas, to explore the complex and often contentious world of bail reform. With a law degree from Texas Tech and years of experience arguing cases before the Supreme Court of Texas and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ken brings a wealth...

Welcome back to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Daniella, Hannah, Heba, Inyoo and Preena come together for an all-host discussion on the role of the media in political campaigning. With the 2024 Presidential Election fast approaching and weighing heavily on everyone’s minds, understanding how media shapes voting behavior, staying informed, and remaining civically engaged has never b...

Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, our hosts Heba, Kassandra, and Daniella welcome Taina B. Wagnac, Senior Manager of State and Local Policy at the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC). Taina shares her inspiring journey from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to becoming a powerful advocate for immigrant rights in New York State. With her extensive experience in legislative strategy a...

Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, our hosts Daniel, Daniella, Kassandra and Preena engage in a thoughtful conversation with Shadae McDaniel, Senior Vice President of the Program of Strategic Initiatives at the All Stars Project, a nonprofit organization focused on empowering youth through the arts. Shadae shares how her experiences growing up—whether in dance classes or inf...

Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Heba, Inyoo, and Kassandra engage in a compelling conversation with Johanna Garcia, Chief of Staff to State Senator Robert Jackson. Johanna's journey into public service began with her unwavering commitment to justice and equality in her community. With a strong foundation in grassroots organizing, she was inspired to step into the politica...

Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Daniel, Hannah, and Kassandra welcomed Lindsey Grossman, a distinguished expert in technology and public policy with a remarkable career spanning nearly two decades. Lindsey has left an indelible mark across the globe through her leadership roles at major companies including Intuit, Stripe, Netflix, Wise, and Block. Her career has been driv...

Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Emmanuel, Hannah, Daniel, and Inyoo converse with Matt Krayton, the visionary Founder of Publitics, to delve into the dynamic intersection of politics, strategy, and branding. Matt brings a wealth of experience to our discussion, having played a pivotal role in shaping political communications at multiple levels. His recent notable contribu...

Welcome to another episode of The Round Table! This week, Hannah, Kassandra, and Emily were thrilled to welcome two exceptional guests whose dedication to social justice and civic engagement is truly inspiring. Naya Houchen, the Call For Kindness Program Coordinator at Riley's Way Foundation, and Ranen, a current C4K Fellow and the co-founder of OutVote, join us to discuss their impactful work...