A month ago, VOX ATL released its collaboration with WABE, a pilot of a new podcast titled “Chat, Can You Hear Us?”
“Chat, Can You Hear Us?” is a podcast produced by teens that asks adults whether they understand what it’s actually like “Growing up in the 404.” In this pilot, the producers, writers, hosts, and guests tackled the topic of increasingly restrictive curfews and chaperone policies that make hanging out after school in third spaces embarrassing, restrictive, and, in some cases, impossible.
The collaboration began last spring break, when VOX ATL students were invited to tour WABE’s facilities. What started as a tour turned into something much bigger: four teens — Amani Jackson, Reagan Hudson, Isaiah Jahi, and Mikayla Johnson — took on executive producer roles, developing both the script and show design for what would become the pilot episode.
The episode digs into a question Atlanta teens know all too well: where exactly are teens supposed to go?
Atlantic Station enforces a 3 p.m. weekend curfew for anyone under 18 without adult supervision. Lenox Mall has maintained similar policies since 2021, as has Six Flags. These restrictions largely emerged in 2022 following incidents of violence at public venues, but as the podcast explores, the response has meant treating all teens like potential problems.
“My favorite part of the WABE experience was getting to have this new experience that was way out of my comfort zone,” said Amishi Jain. Also adding that “As a co-host, it was my first time being in front of the cameras, and I found that as the hours passed, I became more comfortable and confident.”
Hosts Amani Jackson, 18, and Amishi Jain, 17, bring energy and authenticity to conversations that adults often have about teens rather than with them. Through interviews with fellow teens and person-on-the-street conversations, they reveal what it actually feels like to be asked to leave public spaces or told you can’t enter without a parent. Guests, including Kyla DeCambre, Aaron Johnson, Amora Graydon, and Jaden Holtz, didn’t hold back, questioning whether curfews actually address safety concerns or simply push young people out of sight.
“As a writer, it was very rewarding to hear my writing flow naturally by the hosts,” says Lucia Rodriguez, adding, “I enjoyed seeing all the different aspects that make up a video podcast.”
Writers Mikayla Johnson, Joanna Rhee, Lucia Rodriguez, Tamia Mackey, Yahsia Jabari, and Haile Irving crafted the narrative framework, while directors Isaiah Jahi, Eliza Germany, and Jianna Anderson
shaped how the story unfolded. Behind the scenes, a full technical crew brought it all together: Maddox Williams and Demarius Alston handled post-production, including Williams’ own beats for transitions. Sal Davis operated the teleprompter, Justin Chen served as camera operator, and Caden Harris worked as audio engineer.
The podcast included teen perspectives but also backed them up with research. The episode cites findings from Iowa State associate professor Ben Shirtcliff, whose research emphasizes that “the ability of youth to freely enjoy public spaces, and to develop a sense of belonging and attachment to these environments, is critical for their physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development.”
With the success of this pilot, VOX ATL plans to produce more episodes of “Chat, Can You Hear Us?” throughout this year, so stay tuned for more unfiltered teen perspectives on what it really means to grow up in Atlanta.
