Youth Empowerment Radio

Marijuana, Anxiety, and How to Talk to Youth About Addiction (with Amber Hollingsworth) Host Carmen continues her conversation with addictions counselor Amber Hollingsworth on Youth Empowerment Radio, focusing on teen marijuana use and practical ways to support young people. Amber explains that marijuana can be physically and psychologically addictive and is hard to identify because its negative i...

Youth Empowerment Radio | Season 3 • Episode 11 (Part 1) Do you really have to hit rock bottom before things can change? In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, host Carmen sits down with addiction counselor and Put the Shovel Down creator Amber Hollingsworth to challenge some of the biggest myths surrounding addiction—especially among youth and young adults. Amber brings over 20 years of experie...

Nature, Community & Accessibility in Adaptive Outdoor Recreation | Youth Empowerment Radio S3E10 (Part 2) Host Carmen continues her conversation with Katie Ostadewick of Colorado Discover Ability about how outdoor recreation supports mental, physical, and social wellbeing, including work with local VA recreational therapy and veterans. Katie describes participants arriving discouraged by weath...

Host Carmen welcomes Kady Ostowick , executive director of Colorado Discover Ability (CDA) in Grand Junction, Colorado, a nonprofit providing adaptive outdoor recreation for people with disabilities. Katie shares how she pivoted from a for-profit tech career to leading CDA, and outlines CDA’s programs including winter skiing and snowboarding, a large Special Olympics skiing/snowboarding team, seas...

Youth Empowerment Radio S3E8 (Part 2): Luke Mickelson on Child Bedlessness & Taking Tiny Moments to Action Host Carmen continues her conversation with Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, about child bedlessness, its ripple effects on health and life outcomes, and why the issue is often invisible. Luke explains how local SHP chapters operate like a franchise model: sponsors dona...

From a Farm Kid to 400,000 Beds: Luke Mickelson’s Sleep in Heavenly Peace Origin Story | Youth Empowerment Radio S3E7 (Part 1) Host Carmen interviews Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that builds and delivers beds to children. Luke shares his background growing up in a small Idaho town, lessons about community service, and a personal period of doubt that shifted his v...

Youth Leadership in Action: Building Connection and Systems Change with Youth MOVE Nevada Host Carmen continues her conversation with Brenna, youth leader of Youth MOVE Nevada, focusing on Nevada’s rural isolation, lack of community connection, and the importance of social connection for health and healing. Brenna describes chapter challenges such as reaching rural youth and increasing awareness t...

Youth Move Nevada’s Brenna on Youth Advocacy, Mental Health Challenges, and System-Level Youth Voice Host Carmen interviews Brenna, team facilitator and youth leader with Youth Move Nevada, about her path from working at Nevada PEP to youth advocacy, including how learning about disabilities led her to seek an ADHD evaluation and feel empowered by diagnosis and self-advocacy. Brenna explains Youth...

Youth Empowerment Radio S3E4: Real Talk Mental Health Support Group at Oaktree Youth Resources In Season 3, Episode 4 of Youth Empowerment Radio, interns Brooke and Berkeley from Oaktree Youth Resources describe Real Talk, a weekly mental health support group held every Tuesday from 4–5 PM. They explain that the group aims to provide a safe, supportive, consistent space where youth can share succe...

Youth Empowerment Radio S3E3: Olivia of Youth MOVE Pinellas on Youth-Led Mental Health Advocacy In episode three of season three of Youth Empowerment Radio, host Carmen speaks with Olivia, president of Youth MOVE Pinellas in Pinellas County, Florida, a youth-led chapter under Youth MOVE National supported by NAMI. Olivia shares how she joined in September 2024, why youth advocacy around mental hea...

Youth Empowerment Radio S3E2: Making Data Accessible with Colorado Equity Compass In Season 3, Episode 2 of Youth Empowerment Radio, host Carmen Sosso and co-host Claud Figaro talk with Alina and Lauren from Colorado Equity Compass about using data to support equity and social justice in Colorado. They introduce the Colorado Equity Compass as a free, public resource that combines accessible data t...

Youth Empowerment Radio host Carmen opens season three with Shaka Mitchell, executive director of the Come Together Music Project, a nonprofit using music to deepen connection and bridge political, socioeconomic, and generational divides. Shaka shares how COVID-era isolation and rising polarization inspired “Song Swap,” a monthly gathering where participants share songs by category and the persona...

Understanding Power Dynamics: Interview with Dr. Amanda Aguilera | Youth Empowerment Radio Join Audrey on the Youth Empowerment Radio podcast as she interviews Dr. Amanda Aguilera, the Executive Director of the Right Use of Power Institute. In this insightful episode, Dr. Aguilera dives deep into the nuances of power dynamics, the importance of being 'power conscious,' and the significan...

Empowering Youth Voices: Advocacy in Foster Care and Juvenile Justice Systems This is part 1 in a 2-part series. In this episode of the Youth Empowerment Radio podcast by Youth Move Colorado, host Carmen kicks off a series on youth voice and advocacy. They are joined by Braden Babcock, Shelby Costello, and Dominique, three youth advocates with lived experiences in the juvenile justice and foster c...

In Episode 18 of Youth Empowerment Radio, Part Two of the special series on youth voice and advocacy, host Carmen speaks with Tori and Jordan about the importance of inspiring, amplifying, and utilizing youth voices to create meaningful change. The discussion highlights the issues of trauma and re-traumatization, the need for genuine listening, and the challenges youth face in advocacy spaces. The...

Empowering Youth Voices: Advocacy and Change in Colorado - Part 1 | Youth Empowerment Radio Ep. 17 Join us for Episode 17 of Youth Empowerment Radio, the first part of a special series on the power of youth voice and advocacy. Host Carmen sits down with advocates Tori Schuler and Jordan to explore how to inspire and amplify youth voices to drive meaningful changes in laws and policies. They share...

Understanding Mile High Behavioral Healthcare: Programs, Services, and Community Impact In this episode, Audree steps in for Savannah to interview Bob Dorshimer, CEO of Mile High Behavioral Healthcare. Bob provides an in-depth overview of the organization's history, its specialized programs for various vulnerable groups, including gender-specific services, LGBTQ+ initiatives, and youth suppor...

Elevating Connections: Supporting Siblings and Youth in Foster Care Through the Arts In this episode, Savanaha interviews Stacey Sanders, the founder and executive director of Elevating Connections, an organization dedicated to reuniting siblings separated by the foster care system and empowering foster youth through artistic expression. Stacey discusses the organization's mission, its progra...

Youth Empowerment and Recovery: An Interview with Brendan, YPR Durango Chapter Lead In episode 14 of Youth Empowerment Radio, host Audrey interviews Brendan, the lead of the Young People in Recovery (YPR) Durango chapter and program coordinator at Oak Tree Youth Resources. Brendan discusses the key takeaways for homeless youth seeking sobriety, the success stories from recovery groups, understandi...

Empowering Rural Workforce: Insights from Colorado Department of Labor and Employment In this podcast episode, key representatives from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) discuss their roles and responsibilities in workforce development, particularly focused on rural communities. Susie Miller, Wendy Corley, and Steve Wright share their career journeys and emphasize the departme...

Exploring Colorado's Rich Civil Rights History with Terri Gentry In this episode, Terri Gentry, the Engagement Manager for Black Communities at History Colorado, shares insights into her family’s remarkable contribution to civil rights history and the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. She discusses her family’s involvement in civil rights activism, including her uncle George, the first Black...

Supporting Foster Youth: Insights from Boulder County Chafee Program In this episode, Savannah interviews Nicole, her supervisor at Boulder County Housing and Human Services. Nicole discusses her role in supervising caseworkers who help 16 to 26-year-olds with housing resources, advocacy, and mentorship for independent living. She explains the federally funded Chafee program, its purpose, and how...

Innovative Support and Transition Programs for Youth in Colorado's Foster Care System In this insightful episode, Derek Blake and Trevor Williams discuss their roles within Colorado's foster care system. Derek, the Transition Services Administrator, oversees multiple programs for youth transitioning out of foster care, such as the Chafee program, education, and training vouchers, and the...

Empowering Youth: Stories of Survival and Support In Episode 9 of Youth Empowerment Radio, recorded at a recent summit, we hear compelling stories from Lake County Wraparound. This episode shines a light on the struggles of youth fleeing dangerous situations, living without parental support, and navigating homelessness. It emphasizes the importance of supporting and expanding programs to help vuln...

Addressing Youth Homelessness: Insights from Senior Research Associate Lenae Davis In this episode, Lenae Davis, a Senior Research Associate at the Center for Policy Research, discusses her extensive career focused on research and evaluation. She explains her role in various projects addressing youth homelessness and economic instability, particularly emphasizing the Pathways to Success initiative...