ABOVE: From left: Fairmont Elementary School social worker, Amy Becker, Martin County West student, Lila Dorschner, Fairmont High School student, Michelle Esquivel and Drug Court Coordinator, Tracy Henning, record a podcast in Gemini Studios in Fairmont on Thursday.

FAIRMONT– In an effort to share its message with more people, Martin County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (MCASAP)’s youth group, EMPOWER, has partnered with Gemini Studios in Fairmont to put out a monthly podcast.

EMPOWER has a presence in five local school districts: Fairmont High School, Truman, Granada-Huntley-East Chain, Martin County West and Martin Luther High School.

MCSAP’s project coordinator, Shelly Larsen, said that a student in EMPOWER, formerly YOCO, had approached her back in the fall of 2022 with the idea of doing something like a podcast in order to reach more people.

“I said, ‘I think that’s a great idea.’ We talked through it and the student thought it would help establish the voice as the EMPOWER group and really expand the community around the MCSAP organization and spread our prevention message,” Larsen said.

Desta Misegades, MCSAP’s other project coordinator, said they started having meetings with the students about it in July 2023.

Two EMPOWER students from MLHS, Natalie Taylor and Emma Sailor, are in a media class taught by Gemini owners Shelly and Bruce Abitz. Misegades said that that the two offered to edit the podcast and the Abitz’ agreed to allow use of their equipment for it. Thus the partnership was born.

Misegades said that the first episode was done at Fairmont High School but they have since found that recording and editing at Gemini Studios has been much easier all around.

“When Shelly (Abitz) is done filming she puts it into the computer and the transfer time is much faster,” said Taylor.

The podcast is called Coffee and Clarity: Preventing Substance Misuse.

“The students wanted something cozy and conversational and educational,” Larsen said.

She explained that it’s a platform for students and adults to hear from working professionals in the many areas of substance misuse prevention.

So far seven episodes are out, ranging from 20 to 40 minuets and each has a different focus area. September was mental health and suicide awareness and featured Dr. Ramie Vetter from Eunioa and Michelle Thompson, a school social worker. In October, it was overall health and opioid information and featured Dr. Tim Slama.

“It’s growing and expanding and we’re learning as we go,” said Larsen. “In February we

had Pat McKone from the American Lung Association and the theme was “smoke signals– unmasking deceptive marketing aimed at Minnesota’s youth.”

Typically when recording there are two student hosts and two guests.

“The students are the ones who introduce the guests and ask questions. It’s pretty conversational. It’s not just a strict list of questions– they usually branch off,” Misegades said.

All students within EMPOWER, spread across the five school districts, are welcome to join the podcast committee.

“I like editing it,” Taylor said. “It’s more faster now than when we started. When we started, it took about five hours and now we’re getting them done within two to three hours.”

Taylor is an 11th grader and is planning to go into media arts with the hope of filming short films.

She said she has take several of the media classes taught by Shelly and Bruce Abitz.

Speaking as to why they wanted to help with the podcast, Shelly said Gemini usually donates its time to help a different organization every year and this year it is EMPOWER. She also noted that they teach every Tuesday and Thursday at MLHS.

“I think it’s really informational just for myself,” Shelly said of filming the podcasts.” Some of the guests are so knowledgable and it’s really inspiring. Of course afterwards I get to work with my media students and get it put together and on the web.”

Misegades said that MCSAP has also gained a lot of information and relationships from interviewing guests.

“The really awesome thing about the relationships the kids have developed is that they’re on the local level with professionals but also on a regional and national level with professionals,” said Larsen.

The plan is to continue to record podcasts on a monthly basis. They can be found on Spotify, Amazon, YouTube and Audible.