Beth’s Podium Journey

Feeling sad posting this last blog from our wonderful features editor Beth Young

Beth has moved back to Australia
Beth has moved back to Australia after writing the features brief as an associate editor at Podium

Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a journalist.
But I wasn’t so interested in the news, I was more into talking to real people and discovering what made them tick.
That’s why I was so excited to come across Podium last year.
I’d been in London for a year, working at a bar to earn the cash I needed to travel Europe.
I’d moved from a little town in Australia where I’d worked as a reporter for a local paper.
The break was much needed, but I was starting to feel that itch to tell stories once more.
But to be completely honest, I’d lost a little confidence about my ability to be a journalist.
Print journalism had always been my passion, but I absolutely loved listening to podcasts.
So I went online and searched for work experience and volunteer opportunities.
Rocking up at the Pod that first day, I was so surprised to find that Camilla ran the entire operation out of her home!
I was thrilled when she asked if I’d like to be Podium’s news/feature editor.
It’s been such an honour writing the brief each week since then.
I’ve enjoyed getting to know our amazing team of talented journos. You’ll all go far! I’ve no doubt about that.
I’ll still be a part of the Podium team, but I won’t be writing the brief anymore.
I’ve moved back to Australia and I’ve got a job fas a features writer for a national weekly magazine called That’s Life.
We tell real-life stories about Australian people. Exactly what I love doing!
It’s the Aussie equivalent of Take a Break in the UK.
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Camilla for bringing me on board.
You really helped to restore my confidence as a journalist.

The podcast I’m most proud of: https://soundcloud.com/podiumme/im-a-stripper-and-i-have-rights

Thank you Beth! A true example of a long-standing and very loyal journalist.  She will go far, lucky Australia

Ask The Right Questions

Do you ever stop and think about the people around you when you hop on the tube in the morning. If you are like me, you judge an outfit or weird accent, and go ahead with your day. In the month I have been working for Podium.me I have gained a new perspective. Every single person has a story, but being in London has opened my eyes to the massive amounts of young people that have such amazing stories, that they are willing to share.

We have done interviews with Kitty, the 19 year old stripper, Jack the young Conservative, and Molly a young girl I interviewed who has dedicated her life to God. Every individual is the same age, every story is completely different.

Kitty, and Molly have incredibly different perspectives. Both of these girls are extraordinary in their own ways. When I first read the title for Kitty’s podcast “I’m A Stripper, and I’ve Got Rights“, I’m not going to lie, I immediately judged her without even hearing what she had to say. After listening to the podcast, I had completely changed my perspective on her. The strength it takes for somebody that young to share their story, and not be afraid to face the judgement and stigma that might come with it is incredible.

On the other side of the spectrum, we have Molly a young Christian American that moved to England to spread her faith, and help the less fortunate. She moved across seas, to preach the word of God, a huge step, and a huge risk. Now I’m not a religious person, even though I spent 12 years at a Catholic school, I could never understand how people could have so much faith… After talking to her for about 45 minutes, I wasn’t converted but I was enlightened, it’s so different hearing the perspective of somebody who is the same age as me talk about the reasons why they do what they do. We are so used to hearing older people lecture us on what is right, and why we should do something a certain way, but hearing it from somebody who is in the same boat as you can truly have an impact. Molly is an incredible girl, who is passionate about her faith, and just wants to be heard.

Jack, who is interviewed about his Conservative outlook would never be someone that I would chat with on the street, I am not a political person, but the fact that he is so passionate about what he does, and wants to make a difference in society at such a young age, inspires not only me , but maybe other young people listening.

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They all answered the simple question that we all fail to ask, why?  The two girls are polar opposites, with such different stories, but both so incredibly inspiring. That’s what is amazing about Podium.me, I find myself phoning my friends, and family back home and telling them about the people I have met, and begging them to listen to the podcasts.

My journey at Podium.me has just begun, and I am learning so much about myself, and the people that surround me. This isn’t just a platform for young people to get their voices heard, it’s a place for them to be confident in who they are, and the listener gets a new insight that they may not have expected.

Emilee Senchyna

Check out the podcasts here: I’m a stripper and I’ve got rights, Praying for cash, Backing the blues