‘Youth Down South’ podcast aims to make an impact for youth leaders

By: Brad Rowland

Monday, Feb. 7 marks the debut of The Salvation Army's "Youth Down South" Podcast. The podcast is produced specifically with young adults in mind and will have an initial "run" of twelve episodes. Each episode will focus on the Christian tenets of evangelism, discipleship, and/or leadership development.

"The goal of the podcast is to provide young adults and youth leaders with resources that they will need at their corps and in the field," said Jessica Fagerstrom, young adult mission specialist and special events coordinator for The Salvation Army in the Southeast.

Episodes will be hosted by Fagerstrom and Caleb Louden, territorial youth character building and camp program director. The podcast is a joint venture of the Territorial Youth Department and Soundcast, with editing by Chris Hofer, territorial music education production specialist, and production by Chris Benjamin, director of production and operations for Soundcast.

In addition, each episode will feature a guest appearance, with acclaimed recording artist Lecrae joining the first show. The conversation addresses not only Lecrae's influential and powerful music, but also his parenting style, his Christian walk, and other topics offering a glimpse into who he is as a person and his family life.

While the podcast aims to be entertaining, its overarching goal is to inform and empower Salvation Army youth leaders and young adults in ministry.

"We want people to know this is a resource," Fagerstrom said. "It's something that is free and at your fingertips. It should also be an enjoyable listen. It's consumable and practical, with some humor and some knowledge baked in, and we're really trying to make it user-friendly."

Additional information on the podcast can be found on the show's official website. The podcast can also be consumed via various podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

"We want this podcast to make an impact – to give young adults and youth leaders relevant content that makes a difference for them in their daily lives," said Louden. "There is no shortage of podcasts out there. What makes this podcast different is that it is made for young adults and youth leaders across the Southern Territory."