Seniors Sehinne Yohannes and Gabriela (Gaby) Carillo picked up a boom mic and started talking into it during some extra time during Dr. Lopez’s English class. Then they had a vision of a podcast series that they would bring to life.

While excitement about a new school year makes its way into San Leandro High, so does creativity.  “Weird and Well-Read” is an upcoming podcast being led by Carrillo and Yohannes.  The two plan on using the platform to touch on important and sensitive topics, while adding their own fun.

“I think there was like a moment of realization there,” said Carillo. “Where it was like, you know what…these conversations deserve to be heard in the space, like outside — even if it’s not by many more people…they’re important to have.”

Carillo and Yohannes said they also want to use this platform as a space to share young voices from inside their community.

“It’s not really often that people get to hear the voices of actual teenagers in high school,” said Yohannes.

The two also shared some important messages that they want to send out through their podcast. 

“We have the capability to talk about these things, especially as young women of color…I spent a lot of my life thinking, oh, I can’t do this, I can’t do that,” said Carillo, “ But, like, screw that…We can do this, we can have these conversations, and it doesn’t always have to be so heavy.”  

Their messages go beyond having tough conversations, though.  The two said they also want to tackle self acceptance along with embracing and owning who they are. 

“Weird and Well-Read” is a podcast made by the people, for the people, they said.

“We do it for our people, …the people who look like us and represent us, but we do think that everyone should be able to hear it and everyone should actually take consideration in our words,” said Carillo.

They said the podcast will range in serious topics such as anxiety, mental health, racism, political climate, to lighter topics such as growing up and being looked at as weird.  

New episodes will be released every Friday under the channel “Weird and Well-Read” on Youtube.

“I feel like with young girls of color, it’s very often that we feel like we have to play into the stereotypes of our communities and that we’re only allowed to be quote unquote weird when no one’s looking,” said Yohannes, “But that’s not… true, and I feel like me and Gaby are like perfect examples of that.”