A song written by Susan Ruel about the 9/11 attacks on New York City

Twisted Christmas

Ground Zero Blues

Frustrated. Angry. Disappointed. Such are the feelings of young people in the face of climate change. Four students from News Decoder partner schools -- Paulo Araujo and Panashe Noel Jonga of the African Leadership Academy, Raivo Kleijsen of the European School of Brussels II and Lucy Maitland-Lewis of The Thacher School -- speak about their feelings as world leaders meet at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.

Youth speak out about climate change

Some consider them a nuisance, but bees are critically important to humankind. In this podcast, "Plan Bee," two students at the European School Brussels II explain how climate change and humans are endangering bees.

There's no Plan B if our friends the bees perish

We are all flooded with misinformation. But what can we do about it?

We turned to Henry Brechter, managing editor of the U.S. media company AllSides, to explore whether misinformation can be effectively curbed through government regulation, or whether such efforts would do irreparable damage to free speech. AllSides uses media bias ratings to provide balanced news across the U.S. political spectrum.

In our podcast, "Let's Talk About It," we explore the complex and oftentimes fraught relationship between the principle of free speech and the need to protect the public against misinformation that can foster political polarization.

We young people need to learn to navigate the media landscape and teach ourselves how to identify bias in the news. Our generation should aim to be as educated as possible so we can assess the accuracy of information and not rely on government regulation.

Here is our contribution to the campaign for media literacy.

Let's Talk About It

A poem written and recited by Jaeda Liddell

The clouds

Student author Luna Lee discusses writing for News Decoder, her experience volunteering in China and what it is like to travel between cultures.

An interview with Luna Lee about "The Forgotten Schools"

Student author Clover Choi discusses writing and publishing for News Decoder and her experience studying abroad in France this year.

Decoder Podcast: Clover Choi

Managing Director Maria Krasinski gives us a glimpse into News Decoder's future as we celebrate our eighth birthday.

This episode of the Decoder Podcast was recorded as part of our June 2023 Giving Campaign. To support global connectedness and media literacy skill-building across the world, please visit: https://news-decoder.com/stories-without-borders/ 

Your support enables us to continue doing work that builds bridges — thank you!

Decoder Podcast: A conversation with our Managing Director

According to a study published in The Lancet, 84% of youth globally say they are at least moderately worried about climate change. 59% are very or extremely worried. The good news though is that having sufficient knowledge about climate change has shown to not only alleviate concern about climate change but also to drive young people’s willingness to act. 

So what are we waiting for? 

Only 53% of the world’s national education curricula make any reference to climate change, and 60% of teachers have said they don’t feel confident teaching about the severity of climate change, according to the UN. We’re here to change that. 

EYES on Climate is a podcast on how educators can and should teach climate change. We talk with experts in education, climate, and journalism, about how we can empower youth to activate their knowledge and create change through storytelling. 

This podcast is co-produced by News Decoder, The Climate Academy and youth-focused organisation Superfluous. We are working together to develop an accessible, engaging, and thorough climate journalism curriculum for secondary schools all around the world. Our project, Empowering Youth through Environmental Storytelling, or EYES, is co-funded by the European Union. 

If you have ideas or thoughts for Eyes on Climate reach out to us at amina.mccauley@news-decoder.com

Hosted and produced by Amina McCauley, News Decoder

Welcome to the EYES On Climate podcast

We open the series by talking with the experts closest to us – The Climate Academy’s founder Matthew Pye and News Decoder’s Educational News Director Marcy Burstiner. 

In a conversation on why we need to include systems understanding in school climate curricula and in the media coverage of the crisis, we touch on the myth of objectivity, why activating students’ knowledge through the tools of journalism is so powerful, and even the Civil Rights Movement. 

EYES On Climate Ep. 1: How to Teach About the Climate Crisis and the Media's Power and Problem

Tasmania, Australia’s island state, is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to its hydroelectric industry. Yet, tensions run deep between its proud green legacy—the birthplace of the world’s first Green political party—and ongoing political challenges as debates over conservation and development persist.

In this episode, we explore how Tasmania is leading the way in climate education through Curious Climate Schools, an initiative that puts young people’s voices at its centre. Founder Chloe Lucas reveals a troubling insight: many young people feel uncomfortable discussing climate change with adults, as they feel they're not being listened to. Curious Climate Schools bridges this gap by validating their worries, answering their pressing questions on climate action, and empowering them with knowledge.

From connecting students with climate experts to an immersive classroom game called The Heat is On, we delve into how this program is equipping the next generation to face a changing world. 

Tune in to discover the power of listening to young voices and fostering action-based climate education.

EYES on Climate is a podcast on how educators can and should teach climate change. We talk with experts in education, climate, and journalism, about how we can empower youth to activate their knowledge and create change through storytelling. 

This podcast is co-produced by News Decoder, The Climate Academy and Superfluous. We are working together to develop an accessible, engaging, and thorough climate journalism curriculum for secondary schools all around the world. Our project, Empowering Youth through Environmental Storytelling, or EYES, is co-funded by the European Union. 

If you have ideas or thoughts for EYES on Climate reach out to us at amina.mccauley@news-decoder.com and sign up to our newsletter here: https://tinyurl.com/bdhwhdwz

Hosted and produced by Amina McCauley, News Decoder

EYES on Climate Ep. 2: Students Ask, Experts Answer: Climate Education in Tasmania

If you’re feeling anxious about climate change, you’re not alone. According to a study published in The Lancet, 84% of youth globally say they are at least moderately worried about climate change. 59% are very or extremely worried. 

Whether you’re a teacher who wants to help your students deal with the anxiety that might come with learning about climate change, or an individual struggling yourself, this episode is for you. 

Laura Robinson, Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist, specialises in climate distress. We sat down with her to talk about how we can learn to calm ourselves in the face of this pressing, global issue. You can find Laura’s website at humanityandplanet.com

EYES on Climate is a podcast on how educators can and should teach climate change. We talk with experts in education, climate, and journalism, about how we can empower youth to activate their knowledge and create change through storytelling. 

This podcast is co-produced by News Decoder and The Climate Academy. We are working together to develop an accessible, engaging, and thorough climate journalism curriculum for secondary schools all around the world. Our project, Empowering Youth through Environmental Storytelling, or EYES, is co-funded by the European Union. 

If you have ideas or thoughts for EYES on Climate reach out to us at amina.mccauley@news-decoder.com and sign up to our newsletter here: https://tinyurl.com/bdhwhdwz 

Hosted and produced by Amina McCauley, News Decoder

EYES on Climate Ep. 3: Dealing With Climate Anxiety

We went to the London Podcast Show 2024 and spoke to podcast industry professionals to get their Top Tips for young people and budding journalists getting into podcasting.

Episode 7: Be Yourself - Tips from the London Podcast Show | WePod Guide to Audio Storytelling

Telling stories is about connecting with people — and to connect you need to tell human stories. In this episode we breakdown how to tell a local or global story and with impact.

Episode 2: Who's the Story About? | WePod Guide to Audio Storytelling

Never recorded before? You might be asking yourself: What type of microphones should I use? What programs? And what are the main tools I need to use when editing? 
Here's an overview.

Episode 5: Technical Tips for Recording | WePod Guide to Audio Storytelling

Who you speak to shapes the language you use and the story you choose to tell. In this episode we look at some of the decisions you need to think about. We speak to Europod's Futura d'Aprile about the decisions she made throughout the WePod project.

Episode 6: Audience | WePod Guide to Audio Storytelling

What makes a good story? What makes something worth listening to? What are the big things that you should be thinking about?

Episode 1: Finding a Story | WePod Guide to Audio Storytelling

Who should you interview and where can you find those people? In this episode we dive into how to find people to interview and give top tips on how how to approach your interviews.

Episode 3: Interviewing | WePod Guide to Audio Storytelling

In this episode we introduce the WePod European Podcast project and partners and find out what the project is all about.

Introduction to the WePod Project and Partners | WePod Guide to Audio Storytelling

When you tell an audio story, your audience is blind. You'll need to plan for that. This episode goes back to basics on the things you need to think about before recording.

Episode 4: Approaching Recording | WePod Guide to Audio Storytelling)

The power of storytelling in education is perhaps underappreciated. For this episode of EYES on Climate, we sat down with Emily Walker from EarthDay.org, and chatted about the mindset of the education system and where climate change should fit into the curriculum. 

EYES on Climate is a podcast on how educators can and should teach climate change. We talk with experts in education, climate, and journalism, about how we can empower youth to activate their knowledge and create change through storytelling. 

This podcast is co-produced by News Decoder and The Climate Academy. We are working together to develop an accessible, engaging, and thorough climate journalism curriculum for secondary schools all around the world. Our project, Empowering Youth through Environmental Storytelling, or EYES, is co-funded by the European Union. 

If you have ideas or thoughts for EYES on Climate reach out to us at amina.mccauley@news-decoder.com and sign up to our newsletter here: https://tinyurl.com/bdhwhdwz 

Hosted and produced by Amina McCauley, News Decoder


EYES on Climate Ep. 4: Why Climate Education Needs Storytime

Anyone can produce and publish a podcast, but how? In this episode of EYES on Climate, we dive into how to produce climate stories for the ears. 

We focus on the idea and storytelling side of climate podcasting. For a complete guide on how to make a podcast, listen to News Decoder’s WePod Guide to Audio Storytelling: https://news-decoder.com/wepod/

We spoke with Josie Colter, founder and  director of Studio Goldstar, a podcast studio producing climate stories with a mission to make the climate conversation something everyone wants to be a part of. Josie told us where to find ideas, how best to tell a story about the climate, and why it’s possible for you to do this at home. The climate podcasts she produces include TedX London’s Climate Curious and HERO’s Climate Humans. 

EYES on Climate is a podcast on how educators can and should teach climate change. We talk with experts in education, climate, and journalism, about how we can empower youth to activate their knowledge and create change through storytelling. 

This podcast is co-produced by News Decoder and The Climate Academy. We are working together to develop an accessible, engaging, and thorough climate journalism curriculum for secondary schools all around the world. Our project, Empowering Youth through Environmental Storytelling, or EYES, is co-funded by the European Union. 

If you have ideas or thoughts for EYES on Climate reach out to us at amina.mccauley@news-decoder.com and sign up to our newsletter here: https://tinyurl.com/bdhwhdwz 

Hosted and produced by Amina McCauley, News Decoder


EYES on Climate Ep. 5: How You Can Make a Climate Podcast

How To Make A Podcast

Dani Castonzo speaks with  Simisola Jolaoso and Dr. Travis Brown to learn more about some of the challenges facing young entrepreneurs.

A freelance journalist interested in innovative business operations, Castonzo explains why she chose to report for this episode: “There is no need for young people starting their careers to follow a traditional job path or fit themselves into a career or box that doesn’t feel like themselves. There are so many opportunities to be different.”

Simisola, known as Simi, works full-time as a TV journalist for the BBC. And it’s only in her spare time that she works as the Founder and CEO of the Heavenly Company, which produces all-natural hair care products for black hair.  It started with a simple hair balm that Simi made for herself using natural ingredients. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from friends and family pushed her to launch a full line of natural products.

 “Entrepreneurs are passionate people with big ideas,” says Castonzo. And she would know from experience. While a college student, she launched a lifestyle app for women, along with a friend. “I designed the app and spent a lot of time working with local businesses to try to get them involved.”

Castonzo’s app and business proposal were for a class taught by Assistant Dean of Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship at  Indiana University Bloomington, Dr. Travis Brown. For insight, Dani turned to this professor, who works to develop young entrepreneurs.

Want To Be An Entrepreneur? Here’s The Scoop

Saga Leslie and Skye Neulight are vegetarians but are interested in learning more about the meat industry in the United States. They visited a local farm to speak to cattle rancher Wes Myers to understand how cattle are raised.  Carolita Landers, a graduate of animal science from Colorado State University, explains the different steps and processes required to bring beef from the farm to the table.

Saga and Leslie chat with their peer Fiona McLoughlin, a recent high school graduate from The Thacher School, about factory farming in the United States to contrast industrial and local farming. 

After learning about the sustainability of meat consumption, they called Tom Burke, Chairman of think-tank E3G, for a global perspective on food security and sustainable animal agriculture.

Is the meat industry sustainable?

16 year-old Giavanna Bravo isn't shy about asking tough questions. Nearly a decade of economic crisis and several years of political and social unrest, has forced many Venezuelans to decide whether or not to stay in a country with no clear future. 

Bravo speaks with aid relief worker Gabriela Corredor, Financial Times correspondent Gideon Long, student activist Elena Giralt, and Carlos Anez, who's step-father is currently being detained in a Venezuelan prison. 

In this episode you'll learn more about the reality of live in Venezuela in a time of immense insecurity and uncertainty and discover how a national economic crisis has lead to the world's largest refugee crisis.

Why Venezuela is now a global crisis

Listen to snippets of students at the Algalita International Youth Summit where young people from nine different countries gathered to share and discuss ways to end plastic pollution.

Ryan Rothman is a student at the Chadwick School in California and reported on youth action on plastic pollution for News-Decoder in a multi-media story: https://news-decoder.com/2020/03/24/plastic-pollution-youth/

Voices: 'Plastic warriors' creatively tackle plastic pollution

Hanna Rahman and Sadie Dyson of the Hewitt School in New York City interview Sabina Wills, a 17-year old Colombian national, to learn more about immigration into the United States.

Immigration in America: A look into the Lives of Young Immigrants

How can grassroot movements become global coalitions?
How young women in the United States are mobilizing to protect our environment.

Episode 1: How can young people join the movement to combat climate change?

Africa is often misrepresented in the media as a poverty-stricken safari-land. Who benefits from such stereotypes? How can we reshape the image?

Episode 2: How to reshape stereotypes of Africa in the media?

News Decoder is an educational non-profit that works with young people across the world, building media literacy and critical thinking skills especially around journalism, news consumption and creation.
We host a range of student and staff-made podcasts on our podcast channel.

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