Leaders Igniting Transformation: Youth Podcast
At Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT), four young leaders - D’Adria Veal, Jackson Thao, Perry Perkins and Amber West - proposed something simple but powerful: a podcast led by youth, for youth, where Milwaukee’s young people can speak openly about mental health, civic engagement and the realities they face every day. That idea was selected as one of five winning projects in our Youth-Led Grantmaking Project. Now, the team is using their $4,000 grant to bring their podcast to the life.
What is your project?
LIT’s Youth Podcast is a youth-designed, youth-led media platform where Milwaukee young people ages 14-18 host and produce podcast episodes on issues that matter to them, including mental health, civic engagement, local resources and current events. The goal is to create a space where youth voices are centered and taken seriously - not spoken about, but speaking for themselves. Episodes will be created by a small team of youth hosts, supported by LIT staff, and shared on platforms like Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.
The podcast will be recorded at the LIT Lounge and will launch in June, running through August. Youth will meet early in the process for training and planning, then release about three episodes per month, aiming for six total over the summer.
This project also creates paid opportunities for youth to build real skills in media production, research and storytelling while sharing conversations that reflect their lived experiences.
How does this project benefit the community?
This podcast fills a gap in media that actually reflects youth perspectives in Milwaukee. Many existing narratives about young people are adult-driven, and this project shifts that dynamic by giving youth ownership over the conversation.
Each episode will highlight topics like mental health, civic engagement and community resources, helping other young people feel more informed, connected and supported. The podcast also includes guest voices from the community and spotlights local resources that youth can access.
Beyond content, the project builds leadership, communication and research skills while also reinforcing that youth voice has value and deserves to be compensated.
What are your goals?
This project supports all four Milwaukee Succeeds priority areas:
Youth Leadership
Youth lead every part of the process - choosing topics, writing scripts, hosting episodes, inviting guests and promoting content. This is real leadership, not just participation.
Mental Health
Episodes will normalize conversations around mental health, reduce stigma and share resources. The structure of a paid, supportive creative space also helps build confidence and connection.
Data & Research
Youth will learn how to find credible sources and turn complex information into content that other young people can understand and use.
Systems Change
By creating a youth-controlled media platform, this project shifts who gets to tell stories about young people in Milwaukee. Youth move from being the subject of conversations to leading them.
What does success look like?
Success includes producing at least six episodes over the summer and publishing about three per month. We hope to reach at least 50 listeners in the first month, with steady monthly growth.
Other indicators of success include:
At least five community guest contributors
Increased LIT engagement from schools not currently represented
Growth in social media engagement and audience interaction
Youth reporting increased confidence in public speaking, research and media skills
How are young people involved?
Youth are at the center of every part of this project. They lead topic selection, research, scripting, hosting, guest outreach, scheduling, recording, editing support and promotion.
LIT staff provide training, technical support, marketing guidance and operational oversight, including stipend distribution and equipment management. Adults may appear as guests, but they do not drive content decisions.
How will the funding be used?
The $4,000 grant will support youth stipends for the podcast hosts, ensuring young people are compensated for their time and leadership. It will also fund the development of youth-designed merch and a logo to help build the podcast’s identity. Additional support will cover transportation needs, equipment such as microphones and production tools, and small incentives for guest speakers who join the conversations. A portion of the funding will also go toward training and facilitation from media professionals to help strengthen youth skills in podcast production, storytelling and media development.
What challenges do you expect?
Building an audience will take time, so we plan to launch with familiar voices and topics youth already care about, using LIT’s existing networks for promotion. To keep engagement strong, episodes will stay short, relevant and responsive to listener feedback, with interactive social media content between releases.
The team is also investing in training around research skills to help youth translate complex information into accessible content. To keep content engaging, the format will be tested and adjusted early based on feedback, allowing hosts creative freedom in how they present each episode.
Finally, if interest exceeds available stipends, the team may expand participation through a rotating model so more youth can be involved over time.