Who I am
Hi, my name is Ryan Lo. Thanks for visiting ‘A Change is a Chance.’ I started this podcast in December 2019, as a 6th grader, because I wanted to educate listeners of all ages, especially young listeners, on some of the most pressing issues of our time.
While I first focused on environmental issues on ‘A Change is a Chance,’ I eventually saw the need to tackle social justice issues too. Through the interviews, I realized that everything is intertwined, and that those who are most marginalized and discriminated against, also are those who are most impacted by environmental problems and the scarcity of resources.
It is my mission to seek the truths behind the systemic problems causing the gaps between the haves and have nots, bring to the forefront grassroots efforts and solutions we must rally around, expose the propaganda and misinformation that has held back progress towards a more just and equal world, and inspire other youth to take action, one episode at a time.
It has been an honor to speak with numerous distinguished scholars, authors, officials and activists since 2019. From exposing the greed of the oil industry, to why voter suppression has denied people of color their Constitutional rights, to understanding the criticality of representation and voice, to connecting the dots between race, class, gender and environmental injustices, this journey to learn the truth has helped me find my own personal mission in life – to do everything in my power to make knowledge, innovations, resources and solutions accessible to the most disenfranchised global citizens.
‘A Change is a Chance’ started out as a podcast hosted by an 11 year old boy with a high pitched voice, but it has given me the privilege to connect with other young activists, and the opportunity to speak to, and educate kids around the world. I am honored to have received the “Stay Stoked Award” from Algalita and be named a “Global Youth Leader” by PlasticTides for helping find solutions to global warming and plastic pollution. In many ways, this podcast is my life story. Through the episodes, you will see what my vision is, what I have learned, mistakes that made me stronger along the way, and who I want to become.
Education
Ryan Lo is currently a 10th grader at the Head-Royce School in Oakland, California. He recently completed the Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains Pre-College Summer Program and the Harvard C-Change Youth Summit to help fuel his passion for Climate Advocacy. Ryan has also taken courses on sustainability, bioethics and public policy at the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University.
