Illinois Soul, part of Illinois Public Media, Launches Dialogue: Next Gen, a New Video Podcast Made by Teens, for Teens

Bridget Lewis
 
Eight local high school students co-host and help produce series on the issues shaping their lives

Eight local high school students co-host and help produce series on the issues shaping their lives Ryan Aquino/Illinois Public Media

URBANA, Ill. (Oct. 31, 2026) - Illinois Soul, part of Illinois Public Media (IPM) today announced Dialogue: Next Gen, a new video podcast led by teenagers from schools in central Illinois. The magazine-style show gives young people a platform to talk openly about the topics that matter most to them, in their own words.

During the upcoming season, conversations range from doomscrolling and ‘brain rot’ to parent-teen relationship dynamics, and what it takes to pursue music on a national level. The teens chose the topics and worked alongside Emmy Award-winning producers to record and shape the episodes.

“What's clear to me is that with all the social media and material in the world, teens do not feel like their perspectives are being heard,” said IPM Director of News and Public Affairs Reginald Hardwick. “The key to this program was listening to them and letting them set the agenda. I think people are going to be impressed by our team's curiosity and commentary."

The podcast is an extension of the popular Illinois Soul news talk program, Dialogue, which features in-depth interviews and stories on education, health, politics, arts, and current issues in the Black community. A generous gift from University of Illinois Distinguished School of Music Alumna Sheila Johnson made Dialogue: Next Gen and its new podcast studio possible.

The idea for the program emerged during a spring 2024 visit to IPM, when Johnson, the CEO of Salamander Collection, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), and creator of the network’s era-defining 1990s talk show, Teen Summit, met with Hardwick and Illinois Soul Co-Founder and Station Manager Jill Clements. The result: an extension of Illinois Soul’s news and public affairs program, Dialogue, called Dialogue: Next Gen. BET’s now-concluded show, Teen Summit, featured weekly interviews with newsmakers such as then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, and discussions on topics like teen pregnancy and HIV. Dialogue: Next Gen intends to expose current teens to issues and people shaping their world today.

“At Illinois Soul, we believe today’s teens deserve a microphone, a platform, and the opportunity to shape the conversations that impact their future,” said Clements. “We’re proud to align with Sheila Johnson’s vision of creating opportunities for the next generation. We call it ‘Sheila-vision’ - seeing the possibilities in young people and helping them turn their voices into impact. Through this pilot podcast series, we hope teens recognize that their stories matter, and their perspectives have power.”

The cast includes eight students, grades 10 to 12, with interests in areas like law and social justice to entrepreneurism and fashion. Producers partnered with the Champaign County Community Coalition in conjunction with Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation, and the Content Creation Lab at the University of Illinois College of Media during student recruitment and outreach. A College of Media senior helps guide the discussions in the pilot episodes. Nathan Gonzalez formerly worked in IPM’s Student Newsroom, completed internships at news networks in New York and on Capitol Hill, and recently earned the 2026 Board of Governors’ Scholarship from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Chicago/Midwest Chapter).

“We built relationships with university and high school leaders who early on demonstrated a commitment to excellence in journalism and an authentic desire to give teenagers a sense of agency,” said Bridget Sims Lewis, supervising producer of Dialogue: Next Gen. “We want DNG to ignite new passions and bring positive change in the lives of teens in central Illinois and across the globe. We also encourage educators to use the program as a resource for their 21st century classroom.”

Dialogue and projects like Dialogue: Next Gen happen because of Johnson, community partners, and the University of Illinois Foundation. Dialogue: Next Gen will air:

· WILL-TV on Thursdays, December 10, 17, and 24 at 7 p.m.

· Illinois Soul FM 101.1 on Saturdays, December 12, 19, and 26 at 11 a.m. and Tuesdays, December 15, 22, and 29 at 6 p.m.

· WILL-AM 580 on Saturdays, December 12, 19, and 26 at 9 p.m. and Wednesdays, December 16, 23, and 30 at 8 p.m.

Dialogue: Next Gen will stream on the Illinois Public Media YouTube channel, IllinoisSoul.org, and Illinois Soul’s Facebook and Instagram pages.