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Meet the fall 2022 RadioActive youth podcast producers

caption: Top row from left: Hayden Andersen, Kea Lani Diamond and Indigo Mays. Bottom row: Carter Ortiz, McKenna Kilayko and Dash Pinck.
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Top row from left: Hayden Andersen, Kea Lani Diamond and Indigo Mays. Bottom row: Carter Ortiz, McKenna Kilayko and Dash Pinck.

KUOW's RadioActive Youth Media is proud to offer an advanced podcasting workshop to six graduates of our Introduction to Radio Journalism Workshop.

These teens have spent the fall at KUOW gaining advanced communications, audio production and journalism skills, all while producing two podcast episodes.

Subscribe to the RadioActive podcast to hear what they create.


caption: The fall 2022 advanced podcast production crew. From left: Indigo Mays, McKenna Kilayko, Hayden Andersen, Dash Pinck, Carter Ortiz and Kea Lani Diamond.
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The fall 2022 advanced podcast production crew. From left: Indigo Mays, McKenna Kilayko, Hayden Andersen, Dash Pinck, Carter Ortiz and Kea Lani Diamond.
KUOW Photo/Kelsey Kupferer

Carter Ortiz (Junior, Meadowdale High School, Edmonds)

Carter Ortiz is a young storyteller in the making, as well as a massive lover of movies, comics, video games and music. He loves making stories that make people laugh while also making inspiring stories about important and sometimes serious topics.

Dashiell Pinck (Junior, Interlake High School, Northeast Bellevue)

A passionate storyteller, Dash Pinck hopes to create media that examines identity, questions the status quo, and inspires joy. From audio editing and design to directing, acting, and writing, she has accrued a wide variety of experience in creative expression. Having grown up immersed in the arts, Dash developed an ingrained love of film, theater, and music. Above all else, she is excited to share her unique perspective on the world through collaboration with her fellow artists.

caption: Kea Lani Diamond and Hayden Andersen record sound during an audio scavenger hunt at KUOW on October 8, 2022.
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1 of 2 Kea Lani Diamond and Hayden Andersen record sound during an audio scavenger hunt at KUOW on October 8, 2022.
KUOW Photo/Kelsey Kupferer

Hayden Andersen (Senior, Chief Sealth High School, West Seattle)

Hayden Andersen is an avid enjoyer of music and art. He plays alto saxophone in both concert and marching band, and tenor saxophone in jazz band. He is currently playing in the All-City Marching Band program. Outside of school, Hayden is a member of Boy Scouts troop 284, where he is striving for the rank of Eagle Scout.

Indigo Mays (Junior, Holy Names Academy, Othello)

Indigo Mays has loved to read since she was a kid. She loves books from most genres, but especially Black literature. Indigo values the power of storytelling in all mediums and lifeforms and hopes to contribute to the magic of it. Indigo believes that journalism is essential to a more inclusive world, and is grateful to be a part of RadioActive.

caption: Indigo Mays records McKenna Kilayko during an interviewing practice session at KUOW on October 22, 2022.
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1 of 2 Indigo Mays records McKenna Kilayko during an interviewing practice session at KUOW on October 22, 2022.
KUOW Photo/Kelsey Kupferer

Kea Lani Diamond (Senior, Thomas Jefferson High School and Puget Sound Skills Center, Kent)

Kea Lani Diamond is a young mixed Filipino-Irish American who’s had an interest in radio journalism and marine biology for as long as she can remember. Her mom says she’s her “NPR baby,” since she’s been listening since before she was born. She enjoys storytelling, performance, and exploring new places with her loved ones. She’s also an avid swimmer and snowboarder. She’s excited to learn more about radio journalism through this program.

McKenna Kilayko (Senior, Franklin High School, Mount Baker)

McKenna Kilayko is someone who yearns to learn more, whether that be through first-hand experiences or the internet. She is curious about the history, art, and music of the world, which is why she aspires to travel more in the future. McKenna also enjoys listening and playing music, constantly inspired through her headphones or when she's learning a new piece on the violin. She is intrigued at the idea of a career in journalism and is excited by the anticipation of what's to come through creation in the RadioActive space.

caption: Kea Lani Diamond, Hayden Andersen and McKenna Kilayko record a podcast in the RadioActive studio on November 29, 2022.
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1 of 2 Kea Lani Diamond, Hayden Andersen and McKenna Kilayko record a podcast in the RadioActive studio on November 29, 2022.
KUOW Photo/Kelsey Kupferer

RadioActive Youth Media is KUOW's radio journalism and audio storytelling program for young people.

Support for KUOW's RadioActive comes from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center and BECU.

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