Facilitator Kristin Vermilya encourages Avontae Alton to relax and have fun before they begin recording a Tiger Talks episode about Senioritis.

Photograph by Martha Rial

 
 

Tiger Talks, a student-centered podcast of the McKeesport Area School District housed in the high school, recently launched their second season. It began in the 2024-2025 school year as a special project entirely created by students of the Red and Blue Student Newspaper to expand the reach of their audience.

Students engage in the podcast process from beginning to end, which includes choosing and researching topics, writing scripts, and preparing and conducting interviews.  Students edit the podcast using Adobe Audition. 

There are currently two seasons available on Spotify and other
major podcast platforms. This year the students explored a variety of topics including Women in Sports, AI in the Classroom, Senioritis, ROTC and Enlistment, Student Voting, Cooking as a Life Skill, and an interview with McKeesport's newly appointed mayor Tom Maglicco.

– Kerri Bryer, McKeesport Area High School English teacher and Faculty Advisor for the Red & Blue student newspaper

 

Junior McKenzie Chance and Senior Phoenix Funk speak with Assistant Principal Mrs. Haney on how AI is impacting everyday learning.

 
 
 

Taylor Lewis listens to MAHS girls basketball coach Anna Leonard talk about her experience as a female athlete.

Photograph by Kristin Vermilya

Sophomore Taylor Lewis interviews McKeesport Tigers' girls' basketball coach Anna Leonard about being a female coach in the male-dominated sports arena.

Photograph by Martha Rial

Senior Avontae Alton and Senior Michael Kuzel discuss the toll the last lap of high school can take on students' mental health.

 
 
 

Brady Helfrich captures ambient sound of students preparing a cake during Mr. Pambacas’ cooking class.

Photograph by Martha Rial

 
 

Sophomore Brady Helfrich sits down with Family and Consumer Science teacher Mr. Pambacas to learn about how his popular cooking class prepares students for life after high school.

 
 
 

Senior Nie’Zhay Jefferson asks McKeesport mayor Tom Maglicco about his plans to support young people in McKeesport.

Photograph by Martha Rial

 
 
 

The Tiger Talks podcast welcomed McKeesport's newly appointed mayor, Tom Maglicco to their new studio at McKeesport Area High School. Senior Nie'Zhay Jefferson questioned Mayor Maglicco about his plans to support the city's youth and to attract more young people to McKeesport.

 
 
 

Junior Mckenzie Chance interviews social studies teacher John Debes for an episode educating young voters.

Photograph by Martha Rial

 

Junior McKenzie Chance interviews fellow students and social studies teacher Mr. Debes during 6th period lunch to get their views on the importance of voting.

 
 
 
 

Jonovan Melendez and fellow senior cadet Ariana Garcia following a recording session about her plans to enlist in the U.S. Navy this summer.

Photograph by Martha Rial

 

ROTC Senior Jonovan Melendez speaks with fellow senior cadets Ariana Garcia and about their experiences with ROTC enlistment process.

 
 
 

Want to hear more?

Check out Season One of the Tiger Talks podcast.

Go to season One