Episode Summary
In this episode of The BAGO Mic, students talk about dealing with stress. They describe what stress feels like in their body and mind, what triggers it, and what they notice about themselves when stress starts building.
Students share a variety of stressors, from not getting enough sleep or not eating to everyday situations that feel overwhelming. They explain how different things help them calm down, including playing games, watching shows, drawing, reading, getting outside, and spending time alone when they need space.
The conversation includes honest moments about emotions—feeling mad, sad, or drained—and how stress can affect the way they talk to others. They also discuss ways they cope when they feel stuck, like spacing out, drinking something, eating snacks, or doing something creative.
The episode closes with students naming trusted adults they can talk to when they’re stressed and sharing that everyone handles stress differently. Their voices show that stress is real, but so are the strategies that help.
Takeaways
• Stress can show up in your body, your mind, and your emotions.
• Sleep, food, and downtime can make a big difference.
• Games, TV, drawing, reading, and being outside can help relieve stress.
• Some people need space; others want friends nearby.
• Noticing stress early helps you respond in a healthier way.
• Trusted adults can help when stress feels too heavy to hold alone.
Hainipi (hi-Ne Pee)… that means hi, hey, or hello in a friendly way.
Hi everyone! Welcome to The BAGO Mic, powered by student voice—where students lead the way.
We are students from Winnebago Public Schools, broadcasting from the Winnebago Native American Reservation in Winnebago, Nebraska. This podcast is created by us… for the world.
Let’s start by introducing ourselves.
My name is Lorraine.
My name is Katsumi.
My name is Sean.
Today’s episode is about: Dealing with stress.
Before we begin, we want to share something we’re thankful for:
I’m thankful for my mom and my dad.
I’m thankful for electricity.
I’m thankful for tacos.
Now let’s get into it!
Once again, the topic we are talking about is dealing with stress.
What does stress feel like to you—your body or your mind?
Water stresses me out.
Why does water stress you out?
Because it makes my mouth better.
Okay. What about you? What stresses you out?
Usually not getting sleep.
What stresses me out is not eating.
What stresses me out is this: like, let’s say you’re cooking. Say you’re baking cookies and cooking pasta, and you don’t know who’s coming over. You make too much because you think more people are coming, but you don’t know who’s coming over and who’s not. That stresses me out because I don’t know who’s coming and who’s not.
What do you do when you stress out?
I play games.
What type of game?
Fortnite. Fortnite.
I love Fortnite.
Wait—what? Wait—what?
Your skin.
What do you like to do on Fortnite? Do you play obstacles or do you shoot people?
I play—still, like, Brainrot.
For me, what relieves my stress is watching Stranger Things. My favorite person is Dustin. Dustin is my favorite.
Okay, Dustin is pretty cool.
What releases your stress?
Eating. And also sleeping. And also drawing. And also—watching TV. Never mind.
What calms me down when I’m stressed is watching TV. But sometimes, if it’s not too cold outside, I will play outside.
You go play outside? What do you do outside?
I build snowmen. And I throw snow. I throw snow at my sister’s sweater, because when my sister’s sitting in a corner and not paying attention, I grab a snowball and just throw it at them.
Sean, is there anything else you do when you’re stressed to relieve it?
I play outside with my friends.
What type of games do you play outside? Do you play tag? Hide and seek? Other games?
Any game.
We play football.
Football. That’s a good one.
I like to watch people play football because it’s amazing. When I see my brothers, I used to play football with them. That’s how I got rough with football, and sometimes I attack them a little too hard.
When you’re stressed, what do you feel?
I feel mad, sad, and I feel all those emotions—except happy. Like, I feel like my body is filled with all the emotions but happy.
What about you, Sean? What does it feel like?
I feel happy.
After you’re stressed, before you’re stressed, or during?
Before.
What do you feel like when you’re stressed?
I feel sleepy.
You feel sleepy?
Yeah.
Yeah, because when you’re stressed you might really want to take a nap.
What relieves my stress is sometimes eating.
Eating, sometimes.
Sometimes I like to read books.
You like to read books? What type of books?
My favorite book is Twilight.
The Twilight?
And my favorite book is Elvis Presley. It’s like a documentary inside a book. I read it all the time. Sometimes I read it, and sometimes I just don’t feel like reading it.
Those books sound interesting even though I’ve never read one like that before.
My second favorite book is Guts by Raina Telgemeier.
Raina Telgemeier.
I don’t know how to say her name, but it’s a really good book. And my second favorite book is Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Sean, how do you notice that you’re getting stressed out? What do you notice before you start stressing out?
I just blow out my eye when I will go.
So that’s how you stress—your eyes blow out?
It feels like your eyes are about to pop out?
When you’re stressed, what’s your favorite thing to do?
My favorite thing to do when I’m stressed might be drinking something.
Like water?
Apple juice. Water and apple juice. Or tea. Very sweet tea.
Oh yeah, I like sweet tea.
Extra sweet is mine.
Sean, what do you like to do when you stress out?
Playing outside with sticks.
Sticks? Outside? Like a fort?
Sometimes when I’m outside and I’m stressed, I like to pretend I’m camping. I grab a bunch of random sticks and pretend I’m making a fire. That would be fun.
What do you do with the sticks, Sean?
I just make them long.
Katsumi, what do you do when you’re stressed and you feel like you can’t do anything?
Space out.
That’s a good one.
I always space out when I’m stressed, or when I feel something.
Can others help you?
Not really. When I’m stressed and others try to help, it calms it down, but not fully all the way. So… yeah. Barely.
Do you hope someone can help you sometimes?
I don’t know, because I usually can do it on my own.
Sean, when you’re stressed and you can’t do anything, what would you do?
Maybe just eat snacks.
Maybe just eat snacks. That’s a good one.
What type of snacks?
Takis. Takis are really good.
Blue Takis. The blue ones.
Oh, cheese.
Cheese.
Takis are basically like Takis, but with the cheese seasoning—just cheese.
When you’re stressed out, how do you act toward others? How do you talk toward others?
Sometimes when I’m stressed, I don’t want anyone bothering me. I’ll be like, “Can you go away?” And all that. When my mom’s stressed, she’s by herself. She tries to leave. Sometimes she just wants to be by herself.
What about you, Sean? How do you treat others when you’re stressed?
I make them to be my friends.
So you can talk with them and stuff?
Yes.
Do you have a question for one of us?
No.
Hold up.
What do you do when you’re stressed?
Katsumi, what do you do when you’re stressed?
Eat. I also like to go shopping.
When I’m stressed, when me and my mom are in the city, we go to the mall and get snacks. We pay for it, we leave sometimes, or we stay in the store and eat our snacks.
Katsumi, what do you do when you’re stressed?
Sorry, I’m spacing out a lot. I usually doodle. I like to draw things—like flowers or eyes, or just anything I think would match. Just stuff I like.
What’s your favorite food when you’re stressed? Like what do you eat?
Mac and cheese. I love mac and cheese.
Sean, what do you like to eat when you’re stressed?
Tacos.
Tacos? What type of tacos?
Soft shells. And cheese with taco sauce.
Hard shells or soft shells?
Soft shells.
I love how it’s soft. You can bite into it without hurting your teeth.
Are you okay?
Yeah, I’m just a little sick. My sister has that nasty little bug.
What are some teachers or adults you feel like you can talk to when you’re stressed?
Mr. Kleve, Mrs. Dougherty, my therapist, and Ms. Robin. Ms. Robin’s a good one.
Yeah, Ms. Robin. Those are good because they’re trusted adults.
Sean, who can you talk to when you’re stressed?
Mr. Kleve and Mrs. Dougherty.
Do you guys have any questions?
What do you guys do when you’re stressed? Do you eat, sleep, or be by yourself?
I like to be by myself most of the time. Otherwise, if other people are around me, I’ll just… I don’t know… blurt stuff out.
Sean, what do you do when you’re stressed?
I play games by myself at home. Fortnite, Roblox, Marvel Rivals.
That’s a good one. What else do you do when you’re stressed?
I honestly don’t know. I think that’s all.
Sean, anything else you do when you’re stressed?
I just play games with my friends.
Thanks for listening to The BAGO Mic. We hope our voices made you think, feel, or smile today.
Remember: your voice matters, our story matters, and YOU matter.
Thank you. See you all again!
Wa’įniginąpšąną (Wa eenee gee nump shana) — thank you all
Žige hanicakjawi (Je ge honey chuck Ja wee) — see you all again in a warm way