-Editorial
Central Union High School officially launched Voices del Valle, a student-led podcast series produced in collaboration with KPBS, during a special listening party on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. The podcast, created by students in the school’s SpartanSound Productions program, is part of the KPBS Explore Project and aims to amplify teen voices throughout the Imperial Valley.
The series features eleven episodes, each between 20 and 30 minutes, highlighting coming-of-age stories and perspectives from Central Union High School students. Episodes include multiple segments, a featured song by a SpartanSound student, and discussions on a range of topics such as growing up in the Imperial Valley, teen pregnancy, Hispanic culture, conversations with local celebrities, and experiences with homelessness.
A trailer for Voices del Valle will debut on August 11, 2025, with the full series scheduled to air at the beginning of the new school year. The podcast will be available on KPBS and major streaming platforms.
“This is a great opportunity for our students to explore their creativity while developing essential skills in storytelling and audio production,” said Dr. Thomas Tacke, music teacher at Central Union High School. “We are excited to partner with KPBS and look forward to the amazing opportunities this collaboration will bring.”
The project began with two immersive learning experiences. On December 11, 2024, KPBS staff visited Central Union High School to lead workshops and interactive sessions on podcasting. Later, students traveled to the KPBS studios in San Diego, where they toured the facilities and recorded content.
The idea for Voices del Valle was selected through the KPBS Explore Program, which invited community submissions for new audio and video projects celebrating local arts and culture. Central Union High School was the only high school selected since the program’s inception in 2012.
“What makes this podcast different is that it’s student-led and student-produced—we don’t have anything like that at KPBS,” said Julio Ortiz, Producer and Editor for KPBS’s Port of Entry podcast. “These students are blazing the trail for future generations.”
Students involved in the project say the experience was both meaningful and transformative.
“Every kid in the Valley has a story. Every kid in the Valley is different,” said Grace Navarro, a senior at Central Union High School.
“Being part of this project was really eye-opening,” added fellow senior Angela Sanchez. “I was able to exercise my communication skills and become more comfortable having conversations.”
For recent graduate Domenick Ramos Felix, the podcast was a welcome outlet during a pivotal year. “I really enjoyed working on this project during my senior year with two of my best friends—it kept us busy from worrying about the plans for our future.”
The podcast series is expected to reach audiences across the region and beyond, offering an authentic glimpse into the lives of Imperial Valley youth.
