Youth podcast with relaxed vibes and a positive outlook

Meet Jungeltelegraf1 – a podcast for young people who dare to speak out when others remain silent, steadily gaining new listeners under the motto “relaxed vibes and a positive outlook”.

How do you choose what’s right for you? What’s smart to do during secondary school? How do you make new friends and keep the old ones? What happens if you end up being questioned by the police? And can humour really save you from anything?

Questions like these – and many more – are explored on Jungeltelegraf1. This Norwegian podcast for and by young people is now midway through its second season.

Listen to Jungeltelegraf1 on Spotify and other podcast platforms!

Since August last year, they have defied the pandemic, producing content that is both witty and informative, featuring guests ranging from well-known personalities like Leo Ajkic, Sigrid Bonde Tusvik, and Yousef Hadaoui, to professionals including lawyers, psychologists, and directors from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI).

Drugs and relativity theory

– We talk about what interests us as young people, in our own way. We choose the topics and the guests ourselves, says Nora Geiran Dingstad, one of the podcast’s two regular hosts.

The themes are wide-ranging, from graffiti, drugs, and avoiding prison, to relativity theory, feminism, and pandemic fatigue.

– Much of what is out there for young people is created by adults and often takes a top-down approach, begins Mattias Örn Alman-Kaas, who together with Monika Forvik are the adult initiators of the podcast. Both have extensive experience working with young people.

– We believe that letting young people set the agenda is essential. It is absolutely crucial that the young hosts lead the episodes and the project as a whole, simply because young people are best placed to create content for their peers, says Alman-Kaas.

Kavli Trust has been the main sponsor of Jungeltelegraf1 throughout season 2 and supported seven episodes last autumn.

– Young people listen to other young people. They know what matters to their peers and how to communicate to reach them. We think they succeed in creating engaging conversations with guests that are interesting, entertaining, and enjoyable, says Hanne Eide Andersen, Head of Communications at Kavli Trust.

16-year-olds behind the microphone

After one and a half seasons and nearly thirty episodes, the 16-year-old hosts Nora Geiran Dingstad and Ari Bajgora are now confident and skilled in their roles. This has not gone unnoticed by the communications team at Kavli Trust.

– Nora and Ari are doing a fantastic job both as hosts and in the editorial development of the podcast. It’s wonderful to see how they have grown in their roles since the beginning. They are curious and open, while also clear about what they consider important to discuss in the podcast, says Andersen.

For adults too? – Absolutely!

But is Jungeltelegraf1 only for young people, or is there something for their parents’ generation as well?

– Absolutely! It’s also important for adults to understand what is happening among young people, how we experience life, and what we care about, emphasises Nora Geiran Dingstad.

So far, listener statistics show that 62% of listeners are under 23 years old. 21% are aged 24–40, and 16% are over 40.

– It’s not surprising that they also have a significant adult audience. Parents of teenagers, or others interested in youth issues, can gain valuable insight from listening to Jungeltelegraf1, says Andersen.

Participation in practice

Jungeltelegraf1 has already become an important podcast, says host Ari Bajgora.

– It provides listeners with new perspectives, encourages reflection, and addresses human topics that not everyone dares to discuss, he says.

Episodes range from around forty minutes to over an hour, and the four young people behind the podcast are already looking forward to starting season three over the summer.

Ideally without too much Covid-19 disruption, last-minute cancellations, quarantine restrictions, or studio recordings behind plexiglass screens with guests joining via video call.

– We look forward to every episode. It’s incredibly fun to work on this. Being our own bosses, developing the project from scratch, and creating something we genuinely believe is beneficial for young people is invaluable. It’s participation in practice, explains Monika Forvik.

– This is a heart-felt project where we can help ensure that young voices are heard and that young people themselves can positively influence their own lives and the lives of others.

Contributing to insight and openness

– We aim to involve young people in more roles, both in marketing and production, over time, says Forvik.

The idea behind Jungeltelegraf1 has been to create a safe digital space for conversation. This is also a major reason why Kavli Trust supports the podcast.

– Kavli Trust wants to help make the online world a safer place for children and young people. We want the opportunities of digital development to be used in ways that benefit society. Jungeltelegraf1 fosters insight, knowledge, and openness about important issues for young people, says Hanne Eide Andersen.

From humour with Jonis Josef to young people fleeing war

Do the hosts have favourite episodes they recommend to new listeners?

– For me, it’s either the episode on humour with Jonis Josef or the one with young people who have fled war, says Ari Bajgora.

– I really like many of our episodes, but the one we recorded with public health nurse Hanne Kolden on motivation is very good – and I know that many young people have appreciated hearing it, adds Nora Geiran Dingstad.

Nothing is impossible

For the team behind Jungeltelegraf1, it is important to invite listeners into the conversations around the studio table. They receive a lot of feedback and requests to address different issues.

Often, listeners say things like “I’ve never heard anyone talk about this before.”

– By listening to others’ thoughts, opinions, stories, and experiences, we believe young people can learn more about themselves, others, and society. Our main goal is to encourage reflection so that they can navigate their lives and make good choices, says Monika Forvik.

She is supported by her podcast colleague Mattias Örn Alman-Kaas, who concludes:

– This is a project where nothing is completely impossible. I think that’s really cool.

Facts about Jungeltelegraf1

• Jungeltelegraf1 is available on Spotify and other podcast platforms.
• Hosts: Nora Geiran Dingstad and Ari Bajgora.
• Initiators: Mattias Örn Alman-Kaas and Monika Forvik.
• Season 1 launched August 2020.
• Season 2 launched January 2021.
• Season 3 will launch in August.
• Kavli Trust is a proud sponsor of Jungeltelegraf1.f1.