About this podcast
The Hot Spot is the KAWC Student Newsroom's bi-weekly look at news and issues impacting young people in the Yuma community. The project builds on the success of a grant funded partnership between KAWC and the AWC Communications Department that began in 2024 with the creation of The Intern Show, archived below. The project includes current student journalists, past students, working as mentors, professional journalists from the KAWC news team and journalism professors from Arizona Western College.
Episodes
- Nerd Alert! · 18 minOn this episode of The Hot Spot, KAWC student reporters explore nerd culture in Yuma, the communities built around shared interests and the real-life inspiration people find in…
- Neurodivergence Unmasked · 15 minThe KAWC Student Newsroom explores what it means to be neurodivergent, and the ways neurodivergent folks navigate their experiences.
- So... Why Yuma? · 10 min · Episode 15Students from across the country and world share their experience on living in Yuma versus other places. Why Yuma?
- The vibe is off · 9 min · Episode 14This week, we dive into how 2026 has felt strange to some people. Speaking to local community members, we’re seeing if this vague feeling is shared. Is the vibe... off?
- Local music scene creates art and cultivates community · 12 min · Episode 13This week, we hear from artists and promoters within Yuma's music scene who share the impact of local music.
- Black History Month and building community · 12 min · Episode 12For Black History Month, the KAWC Student Newsroom spoke with members of the Black community in Yuma. They share its turbulent past and the welcoming present.
- Love: the good, the bad, and the anti · 7 min · Episode 11In honor of Valentine's Day, the Student Newsroom explores love in Yuma: the good, the bad, the ugly, and the anti.
- Gen Z on using their phones · 16 min · Episode 9This week, We spoke to young people about their phone use, and they said it’s easy for them to put their phones down and that they don’t worry about being judged.
- Yuma hosts No Kings protest · 30 min · Episode 8The KAWC Student Newsroom and student hosts of Siendo Primero, Saghey Barcenas and Evelyn Garcia, were assigned to cover the No Kings protest in Yuma n October.
- Arizona Western College hosts town hall with legislators · 18 min · Episode 7On the day for the special election, Arizona Western College’s president Dr. Daniel Corr hosted a town hall with Yuma county’s elected officials from district 23 and district…
- Summer internship reflections · 17 min · Episode 6This week, as the KAWC’s Student Newsroom summer Training wraps up, we reflected on our students journey in the program.
- Miss Ocean to Ocean Teen on mental health and an inside look at a local egg producer · 9 min · Episode 5This week, we talked to Miss Ocean to Ocean Teen to learn how pageantry improved her mental health, and we also spoke with a local egg producer about how she's navigated…
- Water Safety and a Doctor’s Journey to Calling Yuma Home · 11 min · Episode 4This week, we talk about water safety in pools and how Yuma turned out to be more than just a training stop for one doctor.
- Campus activity and pet safety over the summer · 9 min · Episode 31The student newsroom spoke with AWC’s maintenance director about what goes on over the summer on the main campus in Yuma. And, The HSOY offers tips for keeping pets safe in the…
- Student immigration concerns & Yuma County's first female Eagle Scout · 10 min · Episode 30This week, the student newsroom spoke with Yuma County’s first female eagle scout. And, we dive into student concerns about immigration.
- Deja Foxx & the U.S. Army's 250th birthday · 10 min · Episode 29This is our first episode of KAWC's The Hot Spot! This week, we heard from Deja Foxx about her experience campaigning as a Gen-Z in Arizona Congressional District 7 primary…
- Yuma graduates & the Student Newsroom's first year · 15 min · Episode 29In this special episode of the Intern Show, we spoke with graduates about their next steps. And, the Student Newsroom reflects on our first year serving the community.
- Student Parents and The Child Development Center · 12 min · Episode 20In this special episode of the Intern Show, we celebrate Mother’s Day by hearing from a student mom and learning about the child development center at Arizona Western College.
- Student immigration concerns & life beyond Earth · 12 min · Episode 28In this episode of the Intern Show, the Student Newsroom explores life beyond Earth. And, we dive into student concerns about immigration.
