Junior Creators Club
Junior Creators Club
Evolving Entrepreneurs Youth Cohort
SOS Podcast Production Program
Junior Creators Club is a hands on creative entrepreneurship program for middle and high school students ready to explore media, storytelling, and ownership through real world experience.
Participants work together to produce a season of the SOS Podcast: Students on Students, a youth led podcast that captures the voices, ideas, and perspectives of their generation.
This is not a simulation. Students operate inside an active media studio, learn directly from working professionals, and publish content through the Midwest Leak Network.
Through podcast production, students develop technical skills, confidence, leadership, and an understanding of how creators build sustainable futures through economic independence and community legacy.
What Students Do
Students participate in weekly studio sessions where they:
• Record and host podcast episodes
• Interview students and learn from guest speakers and community leaders
• Learn audio, video, and studio production
• Develop storytelling and communication skills
• Explore creative careers and entrepreneurship
• Build their personal creative portfolio
Each student becomes part of the Midwest Leak cultural archive, documenting their voice and ideas in real time.
Program Schedule
Wednesdays
4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Spring 2026 Cohort:
March 11 through June 4, 2026
Sessions take place at Midwest Leak Studio in Indianapolis
Final Outcome
By the end of the program, students will have:
• Produced and published SOS Podcast episodes
• Professional headshots
• Real world media production experience
• Portfolio content for future opportunities
• Confidence using their voice and creative skills
Students also participate in a public showcase where their work is presented to the community.
Who This Is For
Junior Creators Club is designed for students who are interested in:
• Podcasting
• Media and storytelling
• Content creation
• Creative careers
• Entrepreneurship
• Leadership
No prior experience is required.
Why This Program Matters
Creative industries are one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy. According to the National Endowment for the Arts, arts and cultural production contributed over $1 trillion to the U.S. economy and supports millions of jobs.
Source: National Endowment for the Arts, Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account
Junior Creators Club introduces students to these opportunities early and gives them direct experience participating in the creative economy.
About SOS Podcast
SOS Podcast stands for Students on Students.
It is a youth led podcast created to explore topics that matter to young people and document their generation through honest conversation.
The podcast is produced and published by Midwest Leak.
About Midwest Leak
Midwest Leak is a cultural documentation platform and media network based in Indianapolis, dedicated to telling the stories of creators, leaders, and communities shaping culture in real time.
Junior Creators Club is part of Midwest Leak’s creative workforce pipeline, preparing the next generation of storytellers and entrepreneurs.
Students come together from schools across the city to create and publish real podcast episodes inside a professional media studio while learning directly from working creators and professionals who are active in the creative economy today. Through this experience, they build an early network of peers and mentors connected by shared creative interests and real world collaboration.
There is no tuition cost for students.
Midwest Leak sponsors the cost of facilitating Junior Creators Club as part of its commitment to youth creative development.
We welcome sponsors for the SOS Podcast to help support production expenses and expand opportunities for participating students.
Yes. Refreshments are provided during each session.
Parents are welcome and encouraged to sign up to provide snacks throughout the program if they would like to contribute. A snack sign up schedule will be shared with enrolled families.
Parents or guardians drop off students before the session begins and pick them up promptly at the end of the program.
Detailed instructions will be provided after enrollment.
Students may continue participating if they miss a session. Consistent attendance is encouraged because podcast production is collaborative and the knowledge from the workshops builds upon each session.
Parents are invited to attend the final showcase and may be invited to observe select sessions when appropriate.
Yes. Junior Creators Club is part of Midwest Leak’s youth pipeline. Students may be invited to participate in future programs, internships, and creative projects.
Yes. Businesses and organizations can sponsor SOS Podcast and Junior Creators Club to support youth participation and production costs.
Contact us to learn more.
editor@midwestleak.com
317-672-0772