I'm 14, and I'm Worried About A Trump Reign: Episode 66

Through honest dialogue and authentic emotion, 14-year-old Bobo gives voice to a generation grappling with political uncertainty while offering powerful insights about youth empowerment, civic engagement, and bridging generational divides.

This timely episode explores:

• Why young people fear the implications of political changes on their fundamental rights
• How dismissing youth voices creates deeper divides between generations
• The importance of informed civic engagement starting in middle and high school
• Why social media and classroom discussions are vital platforms for youth advocacy
• The danger of partisan extremism and the need for respectful dialogue
• How teens can channel anxiety about the future into positive action
• Why adults must listen to and uplift young voices rather than silence them

Perfect for: Teens feeling anxious about political changes, parents trying to support worried children, educators working to engage students in civic discourse, and adults seeking to better understand youth perspectives on current events. Plus: Critical insights about creating constructive dialogue across generational and political divides.

Transcript

00:08.36
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
And welcome everyone. Today we have with us, we're going to call her Bobo. She's 14 years old and we're not here to hear about your opinion or mine. We're actually here to listen to hers. She represents a huge sentiment across the country from young women right now. I am actually doing this episode because it was brought to me. Um,

00:37.29
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Just like when I had a young man on a few weeks ago telling us why he was voting for Trump, it wasn't a reflection of my opinion. It was a reflection of listening to our youth. And like that episode, this is also a reflection of listening to another segment of our population. We need to listen to them instead of us just always talking at them. I always say that and I'm representing that, demonstrating that here today.

01:03.43
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
um And her generation, it's important that we listen to them because they will have to experience the repercussion of this next administration heavier than us adults because they're growing and developing through it. And then they'll have to deal with the after effects as they go into adulthood. So how are you doing today, Bobo?

01:31.08
Lola Ogunjana
I'm feeling pretty good. I'm excited to be here.

01:33.47
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
good. i'm I'm glad that you're here. And as usual, I like to dive right in. So why don't you tell the audience how you were feeling when you found out that Trump actually won?

01:46.94
Lola Ogunjana
ah So you see, the funny thing is when I found out it was the morning after the election day, um so Wednesday, it's like five something in the morning, and the first thing I do when I get up is search on my phone who won election 2024. And I found out it was Donald Trump. Now, the election result wasn't the most shocking part. um You know, I had kind of foreseen this, it was kind of expected for me. But there's always that sliver of hope that, you know, our country's better than this. There's no way that we could vote for, you know, a liar, a cheat, a felon, frankly. And, um you know, it was disappointing. However, it was more of the implications of the election that ah bothered me. You know, there are more people willing to try to take away my rights than uplift me and support me.

02:42.11
Lola Ogunjana
So.

02:43.49
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
So can you be more specific about what you are? Would you consider the term being afraid as accurate?

02:53.33
Lola Ogunjana
Yes, I'm afraid for the future.

02:54.42
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Okay. So can you be specific about what is it that you are afraid of?

03:00.90
Lola Ogunjana
I'm afraid of losing my rights, both as a female, my black female specifically,

03:07.25
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Mm hmm.

03:07.78
Lola Ogunjana
Um, you know, he's already taken, uh, you know, stances against abortion that I don't agree with, uh, made statements about just about every racial, you know, minority, uh, that obviously I don't agree with as a black person myself.

03:21.53
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Mm hmm.

03:27.56
Lola Ogunjana
And you know, that's both of those things are a part of my identity. And I feel like that's being threatened.

03:34.03
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Okay. And that's understandable. How now you're 14 right now. So in four years, you'll be 18. How do you see the next four years?

03:47.90
Lola Ogunjana
um Honestly, his if his last time was any indication, it's going to be rough. I see problems. I see, you know, I see chaos.

04:01.96
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
And what do you think can be done by your generation right now?

04:06.89
Lola Ogunjana
Things like this, you know, putting ourselves out there, making sure our voices are heard, you know, they are important. We might not be able to vote yet, but I mean, we are the next generation of voters. And so making sure that we are informed as well as being able to inform others. I think that's really important.

04:25.09
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
What are some more specific things um that your generation can do on that And like, what are some details of what they can do right now?

04:35.62
Lola Ogunjana
you know, speaking out, uh, just having dialogue I think is so important, making sure our voices are heard, talking to your parents even, you know, doing, getting together at schools and local institutions to, you know, really put ourselves out there and make it known how we feel.

04:54.45
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
What if you're told to shut up?

04:58.06
Lola Ogunjana
Keep going. Just keep on pushing.

05:01.76
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Yes, and what are some of the ways in which you can speak out?

05:06.63
Lola Ogunjana
Again, dialogue, things like this. I mean, I'm on a podcast right now. um I've never done anything like this before, but it's a very interesting experience and I think it's very important that things like this continue to be done.

05:18.79
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
And social media?

05:20.88
Lola Ogunjana
Of course, it's, you know, huge platforms out here and when using them for good, I think great things can happen.

05:28.13
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Yes, what about in the classroom?

05:31.51
Lola Ogunjana
in the classroom. um you know We haven't done much. however My school did have a mock election, um things like this, making sure that you know we understand how government works, because I think that's also ah large part of the issue, an uninformed voter base is very dangerous.

05:50.52
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Yes.

05:51.70
Lola Ogunjana
It's a killer.

05:52.01
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Can you repeat that, please?

05:53.24
Lola Ogunjana
An uninformed voter base is a killer of democracy. So, you know, starting off young in high schools, middle schools, even just in children that you have the right to vote, your ancestors fought for the right to vote, use it, use your voice and make things happen.

06:00.89
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Mm-hmm.

06:10.34
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Do you think that ah government type clubs in high schools need to ramp up their energy? I'm not sure how else to word that, but get more people involved.

06:23.94
Lola Ogunjana
I think that is very important, especially in times like these, you know, really just helping people to understand.

06:31.28
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
I totally understand where you're coming from where ignorance is how we end up with foolish leaders. And ignorance is how we end up making ah bad choices.

06:42.01
Lola Ogunjana
It is.

06:41.84
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
whether And that's true whether you're talking about politics or otherwise. but i'm But I think a good majority of our nation, and not just people your age, is completely clueless as to how the government actually works.

06:56.12
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
And that is a problem, a huge problem.

07:00.35
Lola Ogunjana
Yes, I do agree.

07:02.02
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
What do you think is one of the worst things that we adults right now, knowing that again, you were speaking for yourself, but I also know that you representing a good portion of your generation right now, just because of what's been brought to me. the I've had people tell me they're literally crying about, about Trump winning and they're more scared than you, um, about what's coming. And it's not, again, you represent a lot, you don't represent everyone obviously, but you do represent a large portion of the mood in this country right now for adults who are listening right now, what is the worst thing we can do?

07:43.32
Lola Ogunjana
The worst thing that I think the adults can do is A, lose hope. You know, you have to, we all have to stand strong and we have to stand together.

07:49.21
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Hmm.

07:53.17
Lola Ogunjana
It is in these hard times that we have to come together as communities, as a country really, to push forward. And the other thing is to, you know, shut us down.

08:02.43
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Hmm.

08:04.29
Lola Ogunjana
Us young people, but what I mean, uh, tell us that our opinions don't matter. And I think that they do matter. They do matter.

08:13.08
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
I absolutely agree with you. Can you give us some very specific examples of what an adult shutting you down looks like?

08:21.84
Lola Ogunjana
specifically you don't know what you're talking about, you're not old enough to know, you know, you don't understand what's going on. And I think that that's actually counterintuitive because we were born into this.

08:32.51
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
yeah

08:34.35
Lola Ogunjana
And I think that helps us to understand it even better than some older people.

08:40.20
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
I'm going to reword that adults listening. One of the dumbest things you can do is to shut down your teenager and tell them they don't know nothing and tell them to shut up. You may not use the word shut up. You just be dismissive. I want to reiterate what Bobo had just said. They are going to have to live and grow. They're developing humans right now and they're going to develop in chaos more than we ever did.

09:07.05
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
and they have to try to become an adult in the aftermath of chaos.

09:15.91
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
That is not a small thing. We need to listen to how they feel and what they have to say because there's no way we can come up with solutions for them from inside our heads. We have to listen to them first.

09:28.87
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
I just wanted to reiterate that because I agree with you a thousand percent. It's one of the reasons I'm doing this podcast. We need to hear what you guys have to say, even if we don't agree and I don't agree with everybody, but I think it's important that we hear your voice because you you're the next generation. You're going to be taking care of us when we own can't work. So we need John to be all right. You know what I mean? Um, what can adults, what are some good things that adults can do to be helpful for you guys?

09:58.35
Lola Ogunjana
Well, the opposite of what they shouldn't do. Um, you know, uplift us, listen to us, take it suggestions from us. Uh, because we are, like you said, the next generation. And so, you know, we have to build the current world into a way that will sustain our futures.

10:17.91
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
What are some of the ways we can lift you up specifically?

10:21.65
Lola Ogunjana
you know, listening, ah not shutting us down, very important, you know, having opinions from different people from all walks of life is how we build a better society.

10:33.63
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Yes, and I wanna reiterate to the adults listening, um just because you're listening doesn't mean you're gonna agree with with your child or a teenager, doesn't mean they're right. But if you at least take a moment to listen and consider what they have to say, it may actually change how you how you do things. And it's extremely important. Let me ask you this, Lola, as a 14... Edit. Let me ask you this, Bobo, as a 14-year-old,

11:01.30
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
If I'm an adult and I'm dismissing everything you say, are you going to listen to anything I have to say?

11:06.19
Lola Ogunjana
likely not.

11:07.21
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Exactly. So it is important we, and and because many adults listening, we have important things to say. They're absolutely true and we're absolutely right. But why would you listen to somebody who's shutting you down and treating you like you're dumb?

11:21.12
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
You may not use those words, but that's what you're doing. So why would I listen to you? You know, and we have to keep that in mind. Listen to them. And they're more likely, it doesn't mean a guarantee because they're still teenagers, but but on they're more likely to take what you have to say seriously because you took them seriously. you know Again, I'm talking to the adults here. um

11:44.70
Lola Ogunjana
Right.

11:47.36
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Speak to your peers right now. What do you have to say to your your peers, people your age across this country right now?

11:56.64
Lola Ogunjana
Stay strong. ah Keep doing what you're doing. Keep speaking out. You know, keep advocating for yourselves. I think that giving up is one of the worst things that we can do, especially now.

12:09.23
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Yeah.

12:10.07
Lola Ogunjana
We need to stand together and we need to stand strong so that we can move forward.

12:16.48
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
How can how can you guys advocate for yourself? What is the other ways you can advocate for yourself?

12:21.86
Lola Ogunjana
like you brought up, social media, ah supporting each other, you know, that's important.

12:23.83
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Mm hmm.

12:29.98
Lola Ogunjana
Speaking out, again, dialogue with the adults, don't be afraid to stand by your opinions, formulate opinions, um and you know, I think that's all very important stuff.

12:45.11
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
I think standing up um no matter what topic you're talking about is ah very important. You can't just lay down and let things happen. um And I think we're entering an era where that's going to be more true than ever.

12:59.50
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
um

13:01.94
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Honestly, I think we're going to start to have an appreciation for what our ancestors went through in the civil rights era, because I think we're headed back there.

13:10.97
Lola Ogunjana
Mm-hmm. Hmm.

13:13.51
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
In many ways, not in every single way, but in many ways. And I get the sentiment that you guys are feeling and there is hope, but only if we don't give up. And I want to point something else out. One of the other worst things that we can do as adults or teens is all the stupid fighting.

13:42.10
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
And I'm calling it stupid because most of it is. I don't mean conversations where you disagree. That's not stupid. But fighting it and just cursing people out on social media instead of like trying to actually understand somebody different than yourself, that is kind of dumb. That's really dumb.

14:03.20
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
i will honestly I will also add to that for the adults listening. I have seen more mature conversations coming out of high school students than some of you adults. I have watched high school students who strongly disagree on things have conversations, even if they're intense, but they still actually try to listen to each other.

14:23.22
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Where we have the adults are like, Oh, you support Trump? Well, then you, you're just a weak little sheeple. Oh, you support, uh, the left will, you're just, you know, an airhead, whatever words you want to give it. And people take things to the extreme because they're mentally imbalanced. And would you agree with that assessment? Uh, Bobo, am I wrong?

14:46.51
Lola Ogunjana
I do, honestly. um And that's another fear is, you know, all these violence, these tensions are going to come to a head. And, you know, we don't want another insurrection, another non peaceful transfer of power.

15:01.00
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Right.

15:02.61
Lola Ogunjana
And, you know, I don't want that to become the norm, because it's not normal.

15:06.27
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Right. It's not. And I really feel for your generation that you were having to grow up with the pile of crap that us adults have left you. I'm gonna be real honest. um You guys didn't ask for this world to be the way it is. You were born into it, as you said earlier.

15:24.14
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Um, there's many reasons it's not one person or one thing or one side's fault. That's never true, but we did create the world that you're in. And, um, you know, I think we should as adults probably examine what went wrong so that you guys don't repeat it.

15:43.73
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
We can't go back and change the past. It is what it is. But, um, I think it's important that again, we really listen to what you guys have to say and

15:51.30
Lola Ogunjana
Hmm. Hmm.

15:52.68
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
No, and I want you all out there who are teased to know there are some of us adults who actually do want to hear what you have to say. We want to listen and we want better for you. um I think you just have to find us and make sure you connect with us because we are stronger together.

16:13.35
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
All of us, we are stronger together. Um, and the worst thing we can do is the fighting. You know, you, you're going to have disagreements. That's normal human. That's normal being human, but to, we don't have to let it turn into an explosion. You know, just because you spark a fire doesn't mean it needs to burn down the whole forest. And I think we sometimes become so self centered because that's what's that root of it that we do, you know?

16:43.50
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
And um I want to encourage all of you youth out there to make it a point to be better than my generation. Be better than the adults you see acting like freaking kids.

16:57.55
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
and i'm Am I lying? I mean, be better, be better than us.

17:05.17
Lola Ogunjana
Mm hmm.

17:04.91
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Be more mature than us. Show us what maturity looks like. Don't be like the ones who are fighting like children in the schoolyard and we're supposed to be grownups. Be better than us. And ah Bobo, do you have anything else to say?

17:21.26
Lola Ogunjana
I fully agree with the sentiment. Um, you know, it's important that we don't let these sort of, you know, trivial party affiliation things come between us.

17:30.26
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Mm-hmm.

17:32.71
Lola Ogunjana
We are all Americans. We all are trying to live our best lives and leave a better future. And I think that all of this, you know, partisanship and separation is what's really, it's what's really hurting us right now.

17:48.27
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
It is, and it's intentionally built in. That's really another conversation, but we are out of balance as a nation and we're too far on the left or too far on the right. And the truth is there is good and bad in both parties. There are nut jobs in both parties. Nut jobs leading both parties, honestly. um We got to get past the labels and start looking at content. If we do, we see things differently.

18:14.40
Lola Ogunjana
Absolutely.

18:16.26
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Well, Bobo, thank you so much for coming on um and letting us know how you feel. And I hope that there are some of your peers who actually listen to this and realize that they are not alone, but also that there there's hope.

18:33.63
Lola Ogunjana
Yes, and thank you so much for having me. This was, you know, very important. I feel like this is very important, and hopefully this will get to reach a lot of people.

18:43.22
Fatima Bey The MindShifter
Yes. Thank you. Thanks again.