A podcast with an unexpected punch
MONTEREY >> Two high school sophomores from Monterey have started a podcast discussing politics and current events. But this isn’t your ordinary teenage podcast.
Jake Peterson (15) and Lorenzo Ruiz (16) have landed some political heavyweights with guests such as former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and former presidential candidates Tom Steyer and Lawrence Lessing. Their show, called Picket Podcast, gets about a hundred downloads a week.
“Our goal is to cultivate a space for careful and inclusive dialogue, one that allows for agreement and understanding,” Ruiz said. “In the end, we’re just trying to do our part to make our country and world a little less divided and a little more united in our efforts to tackle the biggest barriers
to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all.”
Picket features discussions with a variety of politicians and professors. In addition to Panetta and Steyer, guests have included former governor of Puerto
Rico Luis Fortuño and former presidential candidate Howie Hawkins.
When asked how they snag their high profile guests, Ruiz explained, “A lot of cold calls, a lot of emails. For any given episode,
we’ll send out between 10 to 30 emails, and usually get just one response.”
The method may seem simple, but it is effective.
“We mostly get our top picks,” said Peterson.
A bright future
“I’m not sure if these guys are even old enough to vote,” said Alan Schroeder, professor emeritus at Northeastern University’s School of Journalism and a recent guest on Picket Podcast, “but we really need young folks in this country to take ownership of the society they will inherit, so it’s great to see this kind of involvement and dedication.
“I think listeners can get a fresh and interesting take from the podcast because Jake and Lorenzo are approaching their topics as interested citizens, which means they take a different approach than the political journalists do.”
Ruiz currently lives in San Antonio, Texas, but he and Peterson met at a private elementary school in Carmel, nearly seven years ago, and bonded through their shared value of communication. Peterson is a Monterey resident.
“We always found ourselves attempting to impart some sort of message or facilitate some sort of dialogue to and with our peers,” Peterson said. “Whether through comedy, book reports, or impromptu stand-up specials on the schoolyard, we enjoyed being able to speak and have a discussion with the folks around us. Those core values of conversation have, in many ways, translated to our proudest endeavor, Picket.”
Lessig, a professor of law at Harvard, told the teenagers during an episode of the podcast, “What you guys are doing, this, is I think ultimately the savior for democracy.”
A loud howdy to start
Although Ruiz and Peterson typically begin episodes with a loud “Howdy!” and some charming banter, it’s their preparation and curiosity that steal the show.
“They clearly had done their homework and asked ver y good questions,” Schroeder said of his appearance.
Listeners can tune in to hear them chat with Secretary Panetta about how the U.S. “clearly came to the brink of war with Iran,” or to their episode with Steyer, in which they discuss the logistics of reopening California after lockdown. Steyer chairs a task force focused on the state’s economic recovery from the pandemic. According to Peterson, Picket’s electoral college episode, featuring Lessig, has been their most popular.
The two teenagers usually interview guests over a video chat application from their home offices.
“Lorenzo, he’s kind of the editing and social media whiz,” explained Peterson, who manages writing and outreach. Ruiz adds that Picket is “this ultimate expression for all of these different skills that we’ve kind of gathered over the years.”
Podcast was no surprise
“It’s no surprise at all to me that these two have manifested Picket and that they interview truly remarkable people — they are still people — and Jake and Lorenzo are mostly just interested in the human story,” said Molly Bozzo, principal of the Stevenson Lower/Middle School, which both Ruiz and Peterson attended.
Picket Podcast is accessible via the Apple and Google podcast platforms and ( picketpodcast.com). Additionally, people may follow Picket on Instagram and Twitter at @picketpodcast to see what the duo is up to.
Although Ruiz and Peterson are not yet of voting age, they encourage other young activists to get involved in the social and political sphere.
“Just because you are not of voting age, that does not mean you should just keep quiet and stop questioning our political scene,” said Peterson. “If these issues aren’t fixed in our current political system and country as a whole, they will be our problem soon, so let’s just get the job done.”