‘Youth in the Loop’ podcast seeks to inspire Modesto’s teens
A youth-led podcast highlights local changemakers and shines the spotlight on the interests of Modesto’s next generation.
Rudra Patel, host of “Youth in the Loop,” which airs on 95.5 FM KCBP, is a junior at Modesto High School. Since August, he’s interviewed community leaders including the Modesto police chief and the Modesto City Schools superintendent.
“I’ve yet to get rejected by anybody so far, but depending on the response, I will say, ‘Yeah, that sounds great, let me send you a document of guiding questions that we can use for our podcast, and we can set up a date,’” Patel said.
The half-hour episodes air Wednesdays at 95.5 FM at 6 p.m. The podcast is produced by the Peace/Life Center.
James Costello, who runs KCBP, said the podcast is a good way to get youth involved at the station. “He’s very talented, very aware. He comes up with really good questions,” Costello said of Patel.
On Saturday, March 14, Patel’s eyes were fixed on his guest in the office-turned-recording studio at the back of Church of the Brethren in Modesto. His guest that afternoon was Gillian Wegener, a poet and chair of the Stanislaus County Commission for Women.
Costello manned the audio equipment, running a sound check and reminding Wegener that if she misspoke, she could pause, start over and he would edit the audio before its release.
Patel’s questions were prepared in advance, but he left the conversation open to change depending on where it led.
The interview was natural and focused. Patel’s questions wee geared toward his young audience. He asked Wegener about her time teaching creative writing to incarcerated youth at a juvenile detention center.
“Their writing was raw and emotional and beautiful, and again it’s an outlet,” Wegener said. “I mean, these girls have come from rough situations, and having that outlet for expression is a step toward healing.”
They talked about her 22 years as a junior high school English teacher in Oakdale, her love of writing poems about birds and what inspired her as a child.
After they discussed her work with the Commission for Women, Patel asked Wegener what she thought about youth getting involved in advocating for issues they are passionate about.
“We need the youth voice in the world,” Wegener said. “Because we can talk all we want to, but it’s when we all join together, and when the youth especially have something to say, that things get really powerful and get heard.”
He asked about opportunities for youth to get involved in the Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center, an initiative Wegener started as Modesto’s poet laureate.
Patel chooses his guests through the lens of what young listeners can take away from the interview and focuses on how his guests’ lives intersect with issues young people care about.
“My hope is that we have an abundance of youth come and listen to it and feel a call to action or feel inspired,” Patel said.
Patel asked open-ended questions, allowing Wegener the breadth to expand on her experiences.
The podcast is an expansion of Patel’s interest in journalism. He’s a member of the Modesto High journalism club and writes for the school’s Panther Press.
Costello is looking to add more programs to the radio station to expand its audience.
The next day, Patel had another interview lined up with congressional candidate Michael Masuda.
“I always end my podcast with one simple question to my guests, and it is, ‘If you have one piece of advice to give to the youth population of Modesto or the entire world, what would it be?’”
To hear guests’ answers, you’ll have to tune in. The podcasts are archived at tinyurl.com/youthintheloop.
