The 2026 Student Podcast Challenge Honorable Mentions

You can listen to our middle school and high school finalists here. asserted

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A Step Ahead Students: Alfred Cash Anderson, Amber Jan, Anna de Koning, Daphne Dalton, Fuller Phillipy, Harmony Guzman, Jax Freitag, Kalia Nabours, Kirra Drude, Lottie Wickham, Oliver Tait, Ryan Wilson, Lucy Luria, Wyatt Thompson, Olivia Chilingirian, Noah Cowell and Trey Adamson Teacher/Sponsor: Andrew Luria, Thrive School in Encinitas, Calif. AI vs. Polar Bears Students: Oscar Zheng and Karter Wu Teacher/Sponsor: James De Lange, Mesa Robles Middle School in Hacienda Heights, Calif. Ants, Ants, and More Ants Students: Nicole Piasecki, Sloane Rogers and Meghan Wang Teacher/Sponsor: Kristie Guevremont, The Foote School in New Haven, Conn. Autism Explained Student: Luke DQ Teacher/Sponsor: Kristie Guevremont, The Foote School in New Haven, Conn. Childrens' Online Lives Students: Amelia R Ramcharan and Sharini Somalinga Teacher/Sponsor: Elizabeth Kennedy, Riverwatch Middle School in Suwanee, Ga. City Hope San Francisco Student: Samuel Schwartz Teacher/Sponsor: Sarah Costello, San Francisco Day School in San Francisco, Calif. First Time's the Charm: Teacher's Confessions Student: Jeanne Kim Teacher/Sponsor: Melissa Henry, Dallas International School in Dallas, Texas From Dorm Room to Dream: VC Explained Student: Nina Mattamana Teacher/Sponsor: Anastasia Sullo, Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, Conn. Grow: Johnson County Student: Adelaide Kurth Teacher/Sponsor: Morgan Jeffery, Excelsior Middle School in Marion, Iowa Homework Stress Students: Sylpa Jan Kafle, Emmerson Quinn and Dara Widzowski Teacher/Sponsor: Jaime Harrington, Hewlett Elementary School in Hewlett, N.Y. How Is My Life Like In US Student: Yicheng Sun Teacher/Sponsor: Andrew Barker, Rectory School in Pomfret, Conn. Is It Worth the Hype? asserted

Students: Jocelyn Luea and Evie Wolf Teacher/Sponsor: Karen Bonness, Highlands Elementary School in Mission, Ka. Judge Ellie Student: Ellie Exner Teacher/Sponsor: Catherine Rinko-Gay, Barrington Elementary School in Columbus, Ohio Just Why? - Homework Student: Derin Dogru Teacher/Sponsor: Megan Tillotson, Thayer J. Hill Middle School in Naperville, Ill. Life of a Soldier Students: Della Axelband, Peyton Johnson, Lily Epstein and Lilly Murillo Teacher/Sponsor: Sireesha Rutter, Jupiter Middle School in Jupiter, Fla. Malala Youzafei: The Impact of Her Life Upon her Loved Ones, and How Her Shooting Changed EVERYTHING Student: Tunjeena Khan Teacher/Sponsor: Jenna Conner-Harris, Lake Ridge Middle School in Woodbridge, Va. Mary's Dictionary Students: Elliott Mannis-Young, Caitlyn Prather, Ben Loo and Kanalu Asam Teacher/Sponsor: Vanessa Manuel-Mazzullo, Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii Maxwell's History of Video Games Student: Maxwell Gibbs Teacher/Sponsor: Jaime Harrington, Hewlett Elementary School in Hewlett, N.Y. Middle Child Mayhem Students: Harry Sheridan and Scarlett LaFemina Teacher/Sponsor: Amy Smith-Faczan, Victor Intermediate School in Victor, N.Y. Modern Dental Advertising: Unethical Dentistry Didn't Die With Painless Parker Student: Athena Rader Teacher/Sponsor: Morgan Jeffery, Excelsior Middle School in Marion, Iowa More Than A Photograph Student: Josie Sloan-Westmoreland Teacher/Sponsor: David Bird, The Learning Community School in Swannanoa, N.C. Moving From Country to Country Students: Ida Buerckert, Daniella Cubas, Ayano Enishi and Anastaiia Koshyk Teacher/Sponsor: Alysson Olsen, Irving A. Robbins Middle School in Farmington, Conn. My Wrestling World Student: Emma Enquist Teacher/Sponsor: Gina Luber, Rocky Heights Middle School in Lone Tree, Colo. Peas on Earth Students: Ninette Khanna, Sophia Lacagnato, Julianna Marshall and Madison Marsillio Teacher/Sponsor: Lisa Scalici, Marlboro Middle School in Marlboro, N.J. Perfectly Placed Student: Kate Vogel Teacher/Sponsor: Laura Frisbie, Minnetonka Middle School West in Excelsior, Minn. Roots to Routes Student: Aphrodite Flevaris Teacher/Sponsor: Jennifer Kahlenberg, Sunset Ridge School in Northfield, Ill. Screen Zombies Students: Fletcher Sams, Brody Lahr and Charles Johnson Teacher/Sponsor: Morgan Jeffery, Excelsior Middle School in Marion, Iowa Sheridan Scares Students: Olivia Robinson and Wells Monash Teacher/Sponsor: Kelsey Gamza, Sheridan School in Washington, D.C. Soccer Starters Students: Francesca DiGeronimo, Sophia Orozco and Bianca Sobolewski Teacher/Sponsor: Tara Meara, Marlboro Middle School in Marlboro, N.J. Spooky Scary Stories Students: Maura Treuhaft, Sofia Jaramillo and Anaika John Teacher/Sponsor: Jennifer Hall, Keystone School in San Antonio, Texas Teddy Roosevelt and His Pets Students: Abbott Mearns and Keaton Rainwater Teacher/Sponsor: Colindra Connolly at College Place Middle School in Lynnwood, Wash. The Battle of Monmouth: A Twist on History Student: Leonardo Zinna Kaiden Teacher/Sponsor: Tara Meara, Marlboro Middle School in Marlboro, N.J. The Cost of a Click Students: Mallorie Branch, Lily Hall, Olivia Powell and Ella Yancey Teacher/Sponsor: Tonie Weddle, Mount Washington Middle School in Mount Washington, Ky. asserted

Teacher/Sponsor: James De Lange, Mesa Robles Middle School in Hacienda Heights, Calif. Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow Student: Valentina Lopez-Cuculich Teacher/Sponsor: Catherine Rinko-Gay, Barrington Elementary School in Upper Arlington, Ohio High School Honorable Mentions A Hunt for Importance Student: Wyatt Duke Teacher/Sponsor: Stephanie Brush, Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas A Taste of His World Student: Dounia Peters-Abbadi Teacher/Sponsor :Jennifer Billings, Marblehead High School in Marblehead, Mass. Before You Drop a Track Student: Lukas Boulom Teacher/Sponsor: Su Hudson, Public Academy for Performing Arts in Albuquerque, N.M. Big Brother is Always Watching: Exploring the Influence of the Internet on Politics Student: Ayushi Wadhwa Teacher/Sponsor: Allison Stitham, Kent Place School in Summit, N.J. Blackpillmaxxing asserted

Dear Mother Student: Roxanne DeGrie Teacher/Sponsor: Paula Wolak, Renaissance High School in Franklin, Tenn. "Deferred Acceptance": An Algorithm You Won't Defer Student: Eric Shao Teacher/Sponsor: Lauren Schechter, Mercer Island High School in Mercer Island, Wash. Dollar Disparities: Is "Adequate" School Funding Good Enough? Students: Christopher Lin and Zadie Kruglov Teacher/Sponsor: Molly Earle, Edgemont Jr./Sr. High School in Scarsdale, N.Y. Everything Given Forward Student: Lara Leon Teacher/Sponsor: Tom Chang, Mountain View High School in Mountain View, Calif. Fanfiction in the classroom Students: Sana Reynolds, Jenna Westaby and Ash Spiegel Teacher/Sponsor: Katie Meyers, Kirkwood High School in Kirkwood, Mo. Focusing through Music: How Music Expands Our Ability to Concentrate Student: Reid Heavner Teacher/Sponsor: Hollis Fennen, Santa Rosa High School in Santa Rosa, Calif. Foes to Friends: asserted

How One Fight Made Us Rethink Male Friendship asserted

- Episode 1: Tag, You're It Student: Angela Querubin Teacher/Sponsor: Jonathon Medeiros, Kaua'i High School in Lihue, Hawaii Hope in Motion Student: Najia Kohzad Teacher/Sponsor: Laszlo Bardos, Emma Willard School in Troy, N.Y. Improving the Accessibility and Affordability of Pursuing Higher Education Students: Abby Reid, Aryanna Balancier, Malonia Jackson and Denese Chisholm Teacher/Sponsor: Phillip Day, East Hartford High School in East Hartford, Conn. Legacies Student: Isabella Cisneros Teacher/Sponsor: Su Hudson, Public Academy for Performing Arts in Albuquerque, N.M. Lost in Transit, Found in Stories Students: Jacob Vadakkan, Joya Ishak, Nina Cantos, Ellice Lim and Bianca Tarazhi Teacher/Sponsor: Molly Earle, Edgemont Jr./Sr. High School in Scarsdale, N.Y. Mastering Time Management Student: Connor Riley Teacher/Sponsor: Debra Klevens, Clayton High School in Clayton, Mo. Misuse of Slang among Teenagers Students: Jane Kasselman and Leslie Zheng Teacher/Sponsor: Laura Stewart, The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus, Miss. Owning Backyard Chickens–What Are the Benefits? asserted

Students: Samantha Diamond and Carson Williams Teacher/Sponsor: Laura Stewart, The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus, Miss. Pave the Parklet? asserted

The Debate Over Public Space in Newton Centre Students: Emily Zhu and Mia Silberstein Teacher/Sponsor: Jamie Rinaldi, Newton South High School in Newton, Mass. Picketts Charge Student: Zoe Snyder Teacher/Sponsor: Terrance Shepler, Susquenita High School in Duncannon, Pa. Pretending to Party: Acting Out to Fit In Students: Naomi Allison and Liam Kranenburg Teacher/Sponsor: Jamie Rinaldi, Newton South High School in Newton, Mass. Recidivism Student: Shay Poindexter Teacher/Sponsor: Kara Wicks, Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas Setting The Record Straight Students: Ray Bonney, Ike Nachman and Em Scheckner Teacher/Sponsor: Kyle Wannen, Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Md. Shades of Green Student: Drew Garfinkel Teacher/Sponsor: Debra Klevens, Clayton High School in Clayton, Mo. Something to Hold Onto Student: Amrita Kumar Teacher/Sponsor: Kymberly Acuña, Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, N.J. SUPER BIG SISTER Student: Arianna Corona Teacher/Sponsor: Rachel Reyes, West Hempstead Secondary School in West Hempstead, N.Y. The Art of Wingmaning: The Dating Shift Students: Noelle Elizabeth Howell, Ornelle Nguedjieu and Payton Ariella Newsome Teacher/Sponsor: Kyle Wannen, Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Md. The Dinosaurs Will Disappear asserted

Student: Lola Melian Lafinur Teacher/Sponsor: Lauren Schechter, Mercer Island High School in Mercer Island, Wash. The Flutter of Forbidden Pages Student: Cristel Cabral Teacher/Sponsor: Joel Ruvalcaba, J. Sterling Morton High School East in Cicero, Ill. The Harm to Communities from Aggressive Immigration Enforcement Student: Irene Doyle Teacher/Sponsor: Laura Stewart, The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus, Miss. The Sound of Both: Finding Identity in Ethiopian Jazz Student: Gabe Norton Teacher/Sponsor: Jamie Rinaldi, Newton South High School in Newton, Mass. The Things We Forget Student: Ariah Orsi Teacher/Sponsor: Alicia Borcich Abuliak, Fort Bragg High School in Fort Bragg, Calif. To My Mother, After Alcohol Student: Allison Wang Teacher/Sponsor: Arielle Chang, Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine, Calif. Unwrapped Student: Avinash Prasad Teacher/Sponsor: Megan McCann, El Segundo High School in El Segundo, Calif. What We Win When We Lose Students: Nate Sanwald, Ryan Sanwald and Jackson Rohrer Teacher/Sponsor: Devon Treharne, Shelter Island High School in Shelter Island, N.Y. Where Have the Fireflies Gone? asserted