This year, Fun Fact of the Day founders JT Stone ‘20 and Dyshawn Lawton ‘20 founded a radio show, “Youth Voices,” as a segment on WRFI’s Youth Radio Project (88.1FM in Ithaca, 91.9FM in Watkins Glen from 4-5 pm on Wednesdays). The show features students with opposing viewpoints engaging in civil debate about important and controversial issues. After I appeared on the pilot episode, I talked with Stone and Lawton about the show.
Chloe Moore ‘20: Can you give readers an overview of the show?
JT Stone ‘20: The show has three essential goals: to serve as an outlet for students, whose ideas are often overlooked by society; to give listeners a well rounded view of every topic discussed by bringing two opposing sides together in order for people to make their own judgements on where they fall on the issue; and to make people realize that we have more in common with someone on the other side of a polarizing issue than we think we do. The philosophy of the show, especially in today’s polarizing political climate, is that by having these healthy discussions we can learn to understand each other again, so that we, as a society, get to a point where we can focus on progress and love, not division and hate.
“Youth Voices” is also unique because it is not solely a political podcast. Each episode will feature two local students debating any relevant topic they wish, from national controversies such as abortion and gun laws to international affairs and local issues. But truthfully, we welcome any discussion ideas that students are passionate about and that can be debated. While all the students who have been featured on the show thus far go to IHS, it is open to all students from middle school to college in Tompkins County. Along with being broadcast on the air, the audio for each episode will also be published online on WRFI.org and in The Ithaca Voice.
CM: What inspired you to create the show?
JS: Although I created the show, it was inspired by Dyshawn Lawton’s ‘20 dream. We’ve been best friends since 6th grade and have always enjoyed discussing world issues we care about. One day, Dyshawn told me about his dream of changing the world to be more caring and united, which is what truly inspired me to create “Youth Voices.” The show is my way of helping my best friend’s dream become a reality. Since the show has launched, Dyshawn has served as my main consultant, as we discuss every issue and question discussed on the show along with ways of improving the show moving forward.
Dyshawn Lawton ‘20: What inspired me was seeing people’s potential to come to common ground on hot button issues so that people can realize that we all want the same thing: to be happy and safe with the people we care about. Also, so that people can put away their biased opinions about other people.
CM: Why is it important to focus on youth voices?
JS: It is important that we focus on youth voices in particular because no matter what your political views are, I think we can all agree that student voices have usually been overlooked or stigmatized in society, especially when it comes to political matters. I am proud to provide students with a platform where they are free to have the same in-depth discussions adult leaders do. It also serves as a great opportunity for students to get experience debating and forming their own arguments on issues they care about. And as the next generation of leaders, we also believe that if students start having these important discussions it will make us all more enlightened and prepared to shape the future we wish to live in.
CM: Why is civil debate so important, and how does the show help foster that?
JS: I believe civil debate is essential to a functioning and democratic society by allowing people to express their opinions through bipartisan discussions. We live in a time now where people are attacked for saying they are a Democrat or a Republican, or simply for feeling a certain way about a specific issue, because people have been led to form preconceived judgements about others and their character based on solely their political beliefs. In order to foster a fair debate, we make sure to research the topic and find the key points on the opposing sides beforehand in order to brainstorm questions that tackle the key disagreements. Additionally, in order for people to take a step back and see one another on a more personal level, I make sure to ask the questions, “Tell me a bit about yourself,” and, “Have you ever felt attacked for feeling this way about an issue,” so listeners feel more connected to every student that comes on the show, rather than simply seeing them as representing their “side.”
DL: Civil debate is important because without it we wouldn’t be able to advance and grow as a society, and the show helps foster that by making it public and by giving people sides to relate to.
CM: Do you think debaters’ minds will be changed after being on the show?
JS: Whether or not the debaters’ minds will change afterwards depends on the topic and the students discussing it, but if having the discussion changed their impression of an opposing side or gave them more insight on a topic than before, then the show did its job.
DL: Yes, I believe debaters’ minds will change after their experience on the show, because every opposing side has pros and cons to it. So, even if they don’t radically change their views, they will take away a thing or two that will allow them to look at the other sides in a different light.
CM: Where do you see the show going in the future?
JS: I see the show becoming a source of civil and insightful discussions on both political and non-political issues for the people of Ithaca and Tompkins County. Future topics will include healthcare policies, gun laws, school theater/sport stigmas, and democracy vs. monarchy. We are also planning on having panel discussions with two or more people on either side of a particularly broad topic.
DL: I hope that the show will be recognized statewide, and that it will change the way people think about other people and their beliefs… [and will] make people realize that we’re not so different after all, and that we individually have the power to change things and make a difference in the world by sharing a common goal.