The Genius Generation
By Molly Jackel,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Inspiring interviews with young inventors, entrepreneurs.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this podcast.
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What’s It About?
Each week on THE GENIUS GENERATION, host Danni Washington, an entrepreneur herself, interviews one young person who's accomplished something impressive before they turned 18. Guests include inventors, entrepreneurs, and coders who've seen a problem in the world and found a way to solve it. One 16-year-old guest got his idea for a cheaper, more effective way to detect forest fires while on a wildfire-ravaged hike in California. Another is a beach lover who developed a robot to find micro plastics in the ocean. The host prompts her guests to detail their inspiration, how they built their invention or business, and the struggles they faced along the way.
Is It Any Good?
Impressive stories of accomplishment abound in this series, as well as good representation from various countries and ethnicities. The Genius Generation is sure to inspire tweens and teens as they listen to stories of innovation and success straight from the kids who lived the experience. The guests' level of enthusiasm and natural storytelling ability dictates how compelling each show will be; though the host is always super engaged and a great active listener.
Although the host probes the guests well, the short episodes don't allow for exploring the ins and outs of starting a business or building a machine. However, the short duration of the show does help to maintain interest. The audio quality of the guests is not great because interviews sound like they're done online, rather than in studio, likely for pandemic purposes. But the music and effects sound professional and enhance the storytelling. Podcast summaries are helpful in choosing where to start listening.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Genius Generation inspired them. What is an issue in the world that's important to you? If you could create a solution or something that could help, what would it be?
Being an inventor or entrepreneur sounds exciting, but it requires hard work, problem solving, and determination. What have you succeeded at despite obstacles and hardships?
After listening to the podcast, what are you most interested in learning about starting your own business or creating your own product? What's the first step you can take today toward your goals?
Podcast Details
- Release date: March 18, 2021
- Genre: Entertainment
- Average Run Time: 12 minutes
- Website: https://www.trax.fm/the-genius-generation
- Host: Danni Washington
- Publisher: TRAX from PRX
- Pricing structure: Free
- Topics: STEM, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models, Science and Nature
- Last updated: May 13, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
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