The Four-O-Eight

We are very proud of this episode. Our team worked really hard and we arrived at two stories. One is Andy Valencia’s story, a story of courage and determination. The second story is of our very own Juan Melendez (our Chemistry teacher). His story is one that inspires and teaches the value of holding on to our identity even as we are uprooted from our countries of origin. We also enjoy the company of Andy Valencia and Syra Galan who are our guest cohosts for this episode. We know you will enjoy it! -The Four-O-Eight Team Wan to hear our beautiful voices? Of course you do! Here are the first 50 seconds of our most recent episode on immigration! :) To hear the rest go to: thefouroeight.org or find us on the podcast app. ?? Working on our new episode about Immigration. Syra and Andy will cohost!! Stay tuned! #immigration @lahsarts @lahsa.leadership #ProducerPower #rfkbobcats Use your iPhone’s podcast app to find us or visit thefouroeight.org.

Episode 23: Life After High School Part II

Episode 22: Life After High School Part I

Episode 21: Advice for Freshmen

Episode 20: Family

Episode 19: Queer

Episode 18: Friendship Breakups

Episode 17: This is Us

Episode 16: The World that Shapes Us

Episode 15: Hope

Episode 14: While the X-mas Lights Glow...

Episode 13: New Beginnings

Dear Listener:Today, June 9, 2017, is the end of the 2016-2017 school year. In a couple of hours the space in front of The Cocoanut Grove will be full of excited families carrying balloons, flowers, cameras and, sometimes, celebratory signs that they plan to display during the ceremony. They’ll of course be disappointed because they can’t carry the balloons or signs into the theater. The students, those wearing their cap and gowns will all be assembled inside the dance room. That’s where they line up, that’s where they say their first goodbyes. That’s where some of the first tears erupt, sometimes that’s even where old broken relationships get mended. After that they’ll march into The Cocoanut Grove theater where friends and families await them with smiles and tears and flowers. It’s all over so quickly, too.This episode of the Four-O-Eight marks the end as well. It marks the end of season 2. Clap a little for us. It’s a big deal. We have a couple of serious followers, students who stop me on a regular basis to ask when the new episode will air. It’s exciting when that happens. I hope this last episode stays in your consciousness for a long time, just like the graduating class of 2017 will stay in mine.In today’s episode you will hear six stories. Each one is individually produced, recorded, and edited by the individual telling the story. This episode was not a group project.The first story you will hear comes from Anabell Cho, in it she explores the power of social media and the impact it’s had on her life.Our next story comes from Annicka Tiu. Annicka explores what it means to be family, what it means to be affectionate and what it means to understand.As our seniors graduate and some find themselves moving to other states to continue their education they find themselves saying goodbye to old friends and to boyfriends and girlfriends. In our third story, Franky Morales explores what his move to Oregon will mean for his relationship with his girlfriend.I’ve heard people say that High School isn’t high school if there’s no drama. When some adults say this we say it laughing because in retrospect the drama that happens in high school looks very small from a distance. Some of us have forgotten the trauma of those dramas. Keiry Molina is no alien to drama and in our fourth story she explores the damage it caused and the lessons she learned.Our fifth story comes from Elizabeth Rosa and, in it, she talks about her relationship with her brother and the way in which he indirectly carved a path she would be asked to follow, a path she didn’t necessarily see as hers.Our final story comes from Jason Sims. In it, he discusses what it’s like to have a dream be deferred by a physical injury.That’s it for us this season. We’ll be taking a break until September when the new staff of The Four-O-Eight begins their school year. Thank you for staying with us, for listening, for giving us your attention and your patience. We would be purposeless without you.My name is Andres Reconco and I am the executive producer of The Four O Eight. Until next time.Check out our promotional video:

Dear Listener,I think it’s pretty common knowledge that some of the most important lessons we learn are lessons that difficult experiences teach us. Some of those experiences could be avoided, I guess, if we listened to our parents or to our friends or to the experiences of strangers. Others, however, just can’t be avoided and we’re forced into that turbulence and we either emerge from it wiser and stronger or we get stuck inside that chaos. That’s what today’s episode is about. Today we look back at that turbulence and we explore how some people got out and what they learned and how they’ve grown.In our first story, producer Lupe Espinoza talks to Joey, a senior at our school, about the death of his uncle and about the power of music.Our second story comes from producer Elizabeth Rosa. She interviews Angelica and together they explore what it takes to find courage and conviction.Our third story is about Yami, a senior at our school, and about the lessons she learned after her first encounter with death.Our final story by our producer Tabina Mahtab is one of redemption, it’s about finding a new purpose, a new role in life after being in the grips of gang life.Thanks for listening. Our program today was produced by Lupe Espinoza, Elizabeth Rosa, Franky Morales, and Tabina Mahtab. Our creative directors for this episode are Anabell Cho, Ha Bin Lee, Karla Baires, and Brec Hipolito. Our production managers and marketing directors are Luz Cruz, Jonathan Sims, Jason Sims, and Se Mi Han. I’m executive producer, Andres Reconco. Please follow us on Twitter and Instagram @The Four–O-Eight and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. Thank you for listening. Tune in next month for our final episode of this 2nd season of “The Four-O-Eight”.Thanks also to incompetech.com for allowing us access to their sound files.

Dearest Listener,At The Los Angeles High School of the Arts we try our best to guide our students through a journey of self discovery. We ask them to reflect on who they are, what they like, what they hate, what they need to improve on. They’re good at it too. Our tenth graders, for example, write poetry that is very personal, full of personal insight, full of some very beautiful and purposeful vivid imagery. Some are even willing to share the poems in front of class. They’re brave like that.This episode is an extension of that. We’ve titled it: “Things I wish I could say…freely”.You’ll hear a story about a student who feels isolated because of her sexual orientation. You’ll also hear a story about an educator who grapples with finding the appropriate way of engaging her students in discussions about government in a way that is fair towards the government and fair towards the people this government represents. Finally, you’ll hear a story about a young man’s trauma, stemming from an unhealthy relationship with his father.Our program this month was produced by Franky Morales, Tabina Mahtab and Lupe Espinoza. Our creative directors for this episode are Anabell Cho, Karla Baires and Brec Hipolito. Our production managers and marketing directors for this episode were Luz Cruz, Jason Sims, and Se Mi Han. I’m executive producer, Andres Reconco. Please follow us on Twitter and Instagram @The Four–O-Eight and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.We'd like to thank Kevin McLeod from incompetech.com for the amazing music.-The Four-O-Eight

  Dearest Listener,I know you know this because it’s obvious everywhere you go but it’s the holiday season! It’s Christmas time, Hannuka time, Kwanzaa time and you can even push the holidays into January and celebrate el dia de los tres reyes magos! I’m excited. I love the holidays. The food, the company, the vacation. All the colors everywhere, all the lights. I even like the crowds at the mall. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like this season.With that said though, there are people for whom this season is not fun, not pleasant…for whatever reason.This month’s episode focuses on the holiday season and on the different ways in which people experience these days. You’ll hear a story about one of our producer’s frustrations with not being able to celebrate Christmas with her family. You’ll also hear one of our teachers discuss what it’s like to be Jewish during a season which is heavily influenced by Christmas. Then you’ll hear a story about how one young woman still holds on to the idea of Santa Claus and the reasons why she does this will make you smile but will also put a litte bit of sorrow in your heart. Our final story will about a young woman for whom the holiday season is not as joyful as if could be and it’s all because of her parents.Thanks for listening! Our program today was produced by Lupe Espinoza, Keiry Molina, Elizabeth Rosa, and Franky Morales. Our creative directors for this episode are Anabell Cho, Karla Baires, Ha Bin Lee, and Annicka Tiu. Our production managers and marketing directors are Yerim Hwang, Jonathan Sims, Deysi Atenco, Jason Sims and Luz Cruz. I’m executive producer, Andres Reconco. Please follow us on Twitter and Instagram @The Four–O-Eight and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. We’d like to thank Kevin McLeod from incompetech.com for allowing us to use the song “Carpe Diem” and “There is Romance” for this episode. Tune in next month for another episode of “The Four-O-Eight”.

Hola, dear listeners,This is the first episode of season 2 of The Four-O-Eight! How crazy is that?! We're very excited about this!Since we’re so close to Halloween we decided that it would be fitting to look at situations that have the potential to be terrifying to us and how we go about dealing with said situations. You will hear an interview with the newest members of our LAHSA family, Mr. Matthew Muranaga, in which he discusses his love and appreciation for horror stories. Our second story is about what it's like to be an undocumented student right before high school graduation. Our third story is about a young woman who has had a close relationship with this supernatural world that most of us fear so greatly. In our final story we hear about a woman who could have been the victim of a demonic possession.Our program today was produced by Tabina Mahtab, Keiry Molina, Elizabeth Rosa, and Franky Morales. Our creative directors for this episode are Karla Baires, Ha Bin Lee, Annicka Tiu and Brec Hipolito. Our production managers and marketing directors are Yerim Hwang, Jonathan Sims, Deysi Atenco, Sarah Bong and Se Mi Han. I’m executive producer, Andres Reconco. Please follow us on Twitter and Instagram @The Four–O-Eight and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. Thank you for listening. Tune in next month for another episode of “The Four-O-Eight”.-The Four-O-Eight Staff

This months' episode is a bit different. Here at The Four-O-Eight we've told the stories of our classmates, our teachers, our parents and our community. In every one of those episodes we've narrated bits about ourselves as well, bits that are woven into the fabric of the segment. This month, however, the focus is solely on us, on our spirits, on our stories, on what makes us the human beings we've become. It's our turn to look inward, to face our demons, to face our angels.The iTunes Podcast contains 9 of the 19 stories told by us.You can listen to it here: Below you will find ALL the stories. They are honest, true and required courage and rigor to put together.This is who we are in our rawest forms.Enjoy.  Franky Morales Franky and his father have, to put it mildly, a troublesome relationship, one full of resentment and anger. In this segment, Franky confronts his father and explores the reasons for the chasm that has grown between them. Brec Hipolito In the year 2012 Brec made his journey from The Philippines to The United States. This is the story of that journey and of the difficulty of that transition. Elizabeth Rosa Elizabeth's mother had to make a choice. That choice would cause waves throughout Elizabeth's family. This is the story of that choice and how it impacted and continues to impact Elizabeth's life. Alex Fuentes Alex is a talented student and a talented member of The Four-O-Eight. But, last year, Alex learned a lesson about team work, about stress and cooperation. This is the story of that lesson. Marianna Morales Marianna and her brother Juan suffered under the hands of their father. He was physically and mentally abusive. This is Marianna's story and of how she has tried to make sense of it all. Jenny Hyung Jenny has always had questions about why she and her brother weren't close when they were growing up. In this segment Jenny talks with her brother and they try to hash out the reasons for their apparent disconnect. Christopher Castro Chris Castro was a trouble maker when he was in middle school. He never thought his actions would put him in danger of being labeled a "criminal". In this segment, Chris and his mother explore the event that pushed Chris away from "childishness" and into the more serious world of criminal behavior. Consuelo Hernandez Two years ago, Consuelo knew she was destined to marry the guy she was dating. She knew their wedding was going to be big and she knew they would live happily ever after. What she didn't know was that she was stuck in a relationship that was unhealthy. In this segment, Consuelo looks back at her time in this relationship and, with the help of her mother, tries to figure out what happened. Guadalupe Espinoza Guadalupe is a shy person. She's quiet and introspective. In this story she reflects on how her shyness has been an obstacle for her and how one decision she made helped her overcome this very difficult challenge. Annicka Tiu Annicka lives surrounded by choices that carry with them some very serious repercussions. In this segment she explores how so many of the choices that exist in front of her seem to carry serious consequences and what this constant stress has done to her psyche and her spirit. David Calvo David Calvo has a little sister, someone who looks up to him and admires his skills and his passion. David understands the power of this responsibility but also the challenges that come with it. In this segment he explores what it means to be an older sibling and how some of his choices have created unnecessary stress for his little sister. Keiry Molina In this segment Keiry Molina discusses how one teacher taught her much more than academics and how these lessons have shaped the young person she is today. Anabell Cho Anabell feels disconnected from her mother, a situation that has left her wondering where in her family she can find support and comprehension. In this segment, Anabell talks to her sister about what they can be for each other in the absence of a guiding parent. Esther Yang Music has the power to shape our perceptions of the world and of ourselves. In this segment, Esther examines how music has shaped her perception of love, peace and politics. Kimberly Romero Drugs have the potential to destroy lives. Kimberly understands this really well. In this segment she shares the story of how drugs changed her family's life. Jackie Flores Everyone enjoys traveling. It's fun and you get to learn about other cultures and other people's way of life. But, it's different when you have to move to another country to live there, to continue your life there. In this segment, Jackie and her two younger sisters share their experience of what it was like to move to Mexico and try to make a life there. Jocelyn Martinez Eating disorders are not uncommon. Advertisements and movies tell us how we're supposed to look, tell us what is considered beautiful. Jocelyn Martinez examines her own journey through living with an eating disorder. Tabina Mahtab We carry our bodies with us everywhere we go. We learn to love and hate those pieces of us that we feel don't meet our expectations of what is normal or beautiful. Tabina talks about a part of her she sees as flawed and what it has taken for her to finally be comfortable with every piece of her. Yorgelys Flores Yorgy is a dancer. Everyone at our school knows it. She's talented and passionate. In this segment, she explores how dancing has become a powerful force in her life and why it's shaped her to be the person she is today. Music for all episodes comes from: http://www.bensound.com

Dear Listener,This month's episode is about the forces that shape our perceptions of everything around us and, often, our perceptions of ourselves. You’ll hear from a professional actor who discusses the role Hollywood has on shaping our perception of talent. You’ll also hear a story about a young man whose been influenced by his appreciation for Kanye West’s talent and a story about how a young woman’s search for love taught her the extent to which our perceptions of ourselves shape the way we interact with people.PrologueIs it strange to run into teachers outside of school? The answers are surprising.Story 1Diversity in the film industry is important. We watch a lot of television, a lot of movies, and the power of this medium to shape the way we see ourselves and the world around us is palpable. Team Mosaic explores the power of the film industry and what we can do to help improve its diversity.Story 2The 24 hour news cycle is saturated by celebrity news. Sometimes we know information about a particular celebrity not because we go out in search for the information but because at some point in our daily browsing of the internet some bit of celebrity information will just appear randomly. Team Raconteur explores the impact the lives of celebrities have on our own lives.Story 3Dating is intimidating. Part of the difficulty might be that sometimes the whole act of dating calls for a shift in behavior, a shift in persona. Team Legacy explores the consequences of wanting someone to like us for who we are while actively choosing what we reveal about ourselves and what we don’t.CreditsOur program today was produced by Tabina Mahtab, Keiry Molina and Anabell Cho. Our creative directors for this episode are David Calvo, Annicka Tiu, Guadalupe Espinoza and Whitney Gonzalez. Our production managers and marketing directors are Franky Morales, Brec Hipolito, Jaqueline Flores, Kimberly Romero, Harry Ahn and Yorgy Flores. All the research was carefully put together by Kiyomi Magee, Esther Yang, Alex Fuentes and Christopher Castro. I’m executive producer, Andres Reconco. Please follow us on Twitter and Instagram @The Four–O-Eight. Please remember to visit the iTunes store to rate our podcast and to leave us a comment.Visit this link to subscribe: http://apple.co/1KVHcfM

Dear Listener,In this episode we focus on the things we don't like to talk about, issues we often find taboo or embarrassing or even dangerous. You'll hear a student talk about an extremely difficult decision, one that has changed her life forever. Then, you'll hear a story of a 10th grader who exposes the heartache her relationship with her father has caused her. After that you'll hear about a junior and her mother and how they have overcome the awkwardness of the sex talk. Finally, you'll listen to the story of a sophomore who shares her struggle with depression. You're in for a ride. PrologueAndrés Reconco, our executive producer, speaks about the life that sometimes gets in the way of young people's ability to learn in school. His insight is important to anyone who wishes to get involved in the academic life of teenagers.Story 1Abortion is a controversial topic. There are strong feelings for and against it. This makes it a difficult topic to discuss. Team Mosaic has the story of a student who, when faced with an unwanted pregnancy, had to make this difficult choice.Story 2Haley is a 10th grader. In class she’s quiet, soft spoken, creative with her writing, deep with her poetry. She smiles a lot, laughs and plays around with her friends. Overall she’s a happy young woman. There is one topic, however, that puts a cloud over her head. The topic is her father.Story 3For many parents, talking about sex with their sons or daughters can be awkward and maybe even embarrassing. It shouldn't be. Team Phoenix has the story of Jimena and her mom and how they approached this sometimes tricky subject.Story 4Our final story is about the powerful force of depression. Team Racounteur tells the story of Sally and her struggle to find help. Please remember to visit the iTunes store to rate our podcast and to leave us a comment.Visit this link to subscribe: http://apple.co/1KVHcfM