Real Talk with Real Youth

About Real Talk with Real Youth

YAHA Yaps is a youth-led podcast that explores health, well-being, and community as seen through the eyes of Alaskan youth.

Publisher

Real Talk with Real Youth

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 Jun 2022

Latest episode

10 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

8 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Apr 2026

   YAHA Yaps | Episode 3 | Youth Alliance for a Healthier Alaska

   Thanks for tuning in! In this episode, YAHA member Star continues her conversation with Amanda Metivier, Executive Director of the non-profit Facing Foster Care In Alaska. After growing up in the foster care system, Amanda has become a champion for change. Star and Amanda discuss how youth can advocate for themselves in and out of the foster care system, how the community can help, and what gives Amanda hope about foster youth in Alaska. This podcast was made possible with funding from the Alaska Department of Health, and the Division of Behavioral Health. And this Arts, Health, and Well-Being in Alaska project is supported, in part, by a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts with funding from Rasmuson Foundation. The views expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of our sponsors. If you’re interested in YAHA and want to learn more about the work we do or get involved, you can follow us on Instagram at AK_Youth_Voice. This project is a partnership between Youth Alliance for a Healthier Alaska and Alaska Teen Media Institute.

2. 

   19 Feb 2026

   YAHA Yaps | Episode 2

   Thanks for tuning in!  In this episode, YAHA member Star interviews Amanda Metivier, Executive Director of the non-profit Facing Foster Care In Alaska. After growing up in the foster care system, Amanda has become a champion for change. Star and Amanda sat down to discuss Amanda’s personal experience growing up in foster care, and the work she and other advocates are doing to better the child protection system. This podcast was made possible with funding from the Alaska Department of Health, and the Division of Behavioral Health. And this Arts, Health, and Well-Being in Alaska project is supported, in part, by a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts with funding from Rasmuson Foundation. The views expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of our sponsors. If you’re interested in YAHA and want to learn more about the work we do or get involved, you can follow us on Instagram at AK_Youth_Voice. This project is a partnership between Youth Alliance for a Healthier Alaska and Alaska Teen Media Institute.

3. 

   19 Sept 2025

   YAHA Yaps | Episode 1

   Welcome to YAHA Yaps, a youth-led podcast that explores health, well-being, and community as seen through the eyes of Alaska youth. YAHA stands for Youth Alliance for a Healthier Alaska. We’re a public health group from different parts of Alaska, working to bring awareness toward big issues in our state, such as youth mental health, houselessness, reproductive and sexual health, relationship and health education, nutrition and wellness amongst Alaskans, and other health related topics. Our first episode is an introduction to YAHA, who we are, what we do, and all the amazing things we work on. It features YAHA members Kayla, Yedidia, and Ari in conversation. Hosted by Yedidia. Music by Ahman Greer. Production support from Logan Ehrhart, Nathan Pobieglo, and Wren Crockett. This podcast was made possible with funding from the Alaska Department of Health, and the Division of Behavioral Health. This Arts, Health, and Well-Being in Alaska project is supported, in part, by a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts with funding from Rasmuson Foundation. The views expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of our sponsors. If you’re interested in YAHA and want to learn more about the work we do or get involved, you can follow us on Instagram at @AK_Youth_Voice.

4. 

   14 Nov 2022

   Political Perspective

   In this episode, we look at Covid-19 from the perspective of two political figures in Alaska: Mike Dunleavy, Governor of Alaska, and Edna DeVries, mayor of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. We sat down and interviewed Governor Dunleavy and Mayor DeVries in separate conversations, but both were in-depth discussions about how COVID-19 has both directly and indirectly affected Alaska's population as well as political and legislative systems. The interview with Governor Dunleavy was conducted on May 10, 2022. The interview with Mayor DeVries was conducted on August 26, 2022.

5. 

   3 Aug 2022

   Education Perspective

   In this episode, we look at Covid from the perspective of two Matanuska-Susitna School District officials: Dr. Randy Trainy, who is the Superintendent of the Mat-Su school district, and Dr. Justin Ainsworth, who is one of the school districts’ Associate Superintendents. In this joint interview, Dr. Trainy and Dr. Ainsworth discuss Covid-19 mitigation in Mat-Su schools, the mental health impacts of the pandemic, Covid testing and vaccinations among students, and how Covid has affected work with unions. This interview was recorded on Thursday, May 26.

6. 

   5 Jul 2022

   Youth Perspective

   In this episode, we look at Covid from the perspective of Youth in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. In the first conversation, we hear from a group of four upperclassmen; in the second conversation, we'll hear from a group of three underclassmen. We recorded these roundtable discussions during Spring Break and, while most teenagers were hanging out with friends, these youth took time out of their well-earned break to sit down and talk with us! These interviews were recorded on Tuesday, March 1.

7. 

   22 Jun 2022

   Health Perspective

   In this episode, hosts Ben Kolendo and Avery Palenske have two conversations, one with Elizabeth Ripley and another with Dr. Anne Zink. Ripley sits on the Board of Directors of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center and discusses COVID mitigation in Mat-Su schools, the mental health impacts of the pandemic, and how the cancellation of the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey impacted our ability to review how COVID has affected the youth in Alaska. Dr. Zink is Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer and also works as an ER doctor. She discusses her work, confidence in the various COVID vaccines, and current major health issues among Alaskan Youth. The interview with Elizabeth Ripley was recorded on Wednesday, January 19. The interview with Dr. Zink was recorded on Tuesday, February 1.

8. 

   22 Jun 2022

   Introducing Real Talk with Real Youth!

   Real Talk with Real Youth is hosted by Ben Kolendo and Avery Palenske. Follow along as they facilitate youth-mediated conversations on different sides of the COVID-19 debate to help the audience form their own opinions.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.