What started as a creative group project became a hands‑on lesson in teamwork and collaboration for 15 youth in CNIB’s Come to Work program who worked together to create a podcast from the ground up.
“The idea behind the podcast project was to give our participants the opportunity to create something tangible, from start to finish, while building transferable skills in a group setting,” said Bryanna Regimbald, Program Lead for Come to Work.
Participants were divided into three teams, each responsible for producing two episodes on workplace-related topics identified by the Come to Work team. From developing episode ideas and themes to recording and editing each episode, the teams led every step of production. They also named the podcast, created the opening theme song, and designed the logo.
“Sometimes, if you provide too much structure, you can stifle growth,” said Jennifer MacNeil, Manager of Talent Pool Cultivation for Come to Work. “By giving youth room to experiment and lead, the project was more than a podcast.”
From the Come to Work project came The Unseen Perspectives Podcast, a six-episode limited series exploring topics like universal design, internships for youth, assistive tech, and more.
Sajandeep Johal joined the project hoping to mentor others and share what he’d learned as the creator of his own podcast, Eye Bites. In the end, he found the experience just as rewarding, helping him to further develop his editing, time management, and teamwork skills.
“If there was an issue with production or someone not meeting a deadline, we’d all come together as a group to help problem solve,” said Sajandeep.
That collaborative environment was intentional, as the Come to Work team structured the project to resemble a real workplace, where participants had to navigate deadlines, creative differences, and conflict as a team, developing skills that extended far beyond the technical side of podcast production.
“They (participants) built tangible skills in things like project coordination, team building, communication, problem-solving, public speaking, and being solutions-focused,” said Jennifer, giving them experience they can put on their resume and say, “These are all the skills I developed by participating in this project.”
Participant Cheyenne Field, she enjoyed being part of the project and appreciated its emphasis on collaboration.
“I learned that priority matching isn't always considered when you are a part of a team,” said Cheyenne. “This project may be at the top of your priorities, but it might also be someone else's lowest priority. I also learned that going with the flow makes things less stressful, especially for someone who tends to be hyper-independent.”
Cheyenne hopes the podcast ignites more conversations about accessibility in the workplace. It also pushed her to think bigger about what’s possible.
“I dream of pursuing something similar on a broader scale, interviewing people whose stories rarely ever get told,” she said.
The Unseen Perspectives Podcast is available on the CNIB Podcast Network. Listen to the limited series on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms, including SoundCloud.