Mic Check for the Future: KC’s Tamara Barnes Talks Life, Lessons & Leadership with JegnaTalk Interns
- Mar 15
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 17
By Levi Lee
Inside the creative hub of the Jegna Klub, something powerful happens when microphones turn on and young voices lead the conversation. Kansas City native and F.L. Schlagle High School alumna Tamara Barnes stepped into the studio not just as a guest—but as a coach, storyteller, and living example of resilience.
Her visit to Jegna Klub Headquarters for a youth-led interview on JegnaTalk: For Youth By Youth was more than a podcast appearance. It became a moment of inspiration that will soon reach audiences worldwide through JEGNAFEST Worldwide Radio and streaming on the Jegna Klub TV Network.
And fittingly, the conversation began exactly how the mission of Jegna Klub intends: with youth in control of the narrative.
A Platform Where Youth Lead the Conversation
Founded by educator and community advocate Moses Wyatt Jr., the Jegna Klub creates real-world learning experiences where young people develop skills in media, leadership, and career readiness through internships and multimedia production. Jegna Klub focuses on giving students real-world experience in broadcasting, storytelling, and digital media while connecting them with community leaders and role models.
Through programs like the Connecting The Dottes Multimedia Internship and its youth-run media platform JegnaTalk: For Youth By Youth, students learn to interview guests, produce broadcasts, and build confidence in front of cameras and microphones. That confidence was on full display when interns Payton, Delano, and Jamaurie welcomed Barnes into the studio.
From Nervous Energy to Authentic Conversation
Lead host Payton came prepared. As an honors student himself, he was especially intrigued by Barnes’ academic journey. “I was excited because she was an academic machine and I’m in honors,” Payton said before the interview. What unfolded was exactly the kind of learning experience Jegna Klub hopes to create—an authentic conversation rather than a scripted interview. “Her responses and learning about her life,” Payton reflected afterward, “that was my favorite part.”
Even when small on-air hiccups happened, the interns handled them like professionals. “During it was great—we messed up but we fixed it,” Payton laughed. “After it was good and we had a good laugh about what happened during the interview.” For Payton, the biggest lesson was simple but powerful, “To make it a conversation, not just asking questions.”
A Guest Who Loves Being Among the Youth
For Tamara Barnes, the experience was just as meaningful. Before stepping into the studio, she already felt energized by the opportunity. “I was excited,” Barnes shared. “I love being amongst the youth.” That excitement carried into the interview as she spoke openly about her journey, her experiences growing up in Kansas City, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
During the conversation, the interns asked questions that challenged her to reflect on everything from her background to unexpected topics—like a surprise music question that caught her off guard. “Nothing really surprised me,” Barnes said afterward, “although the song question threw me off.” But what stood out most wasn’t the questions—it was the atmosphere. “Being invited was the first and favorite part of coming to Jegna Klub.”
By the end of the experience, she summarized the day in just a few words that perfectly captured the program’s mission, “Empowering our youth. Because it is truly beautiful what Jegna Klub is doing with and for our youth.”
Youth Discovering Their Voice
For the interns, the interview was more than a media exercise—it was a moment of growth. Co-host Delano stepped into the conversation with confidence. “I was feeling good and ready to ask questions,” he said. The interview reinforced a lesson that many young people need to hear early in life. “You can become anything you want” said Delano.
Meanwhile, fellow co-host Jamaurie appreciated discovering new sides of the guest. “I felt good. The guest said she played sports,” he shared. His biggest takeaway from the experience? “Having quick memory and not messing up words.” Small lessons in broadcasting today become bigger skills for leadership tomorrow.
Support From Coaches and Community
Behind the scenes, coaches and mentors also witnessed the growth happening in real time. Coach Keyz, who has worked with Barnes previously, came into the interview optimistic. “I was looking forward to learning more about her background,” he said. By the end, he walked away impressed. “I was surprised by a lot of her accolades.”
One of the stories that stuck with him was a childhood memory Barnes shared. “Learning about the guest past making mud pies,” he said with a smile. Even small details help paint a bigger picture of perseverance and personal growth. Ultimately, Kimbrough felt the interview accomplished exactly what it was meant to do. “It was successful as the interview was great from a viewer’s point of view.”
A Small Building With Big Impact
For visiting families and supporters, the physical space of the studio left an impression as well. Barnes son, Sultan Muhammad, admitted he initially thought the students might feel nervous about being on camera. Instead, he watched confidence grow. “I felt good knowing that nobody was scared.” Looking around the headquarters, he summed up the environment in a way that perfectly describes the spirit of the space, “It’s a small building but with a lot of stuff.” In reality, that “stuff” represents opportunity—cameras, microphones, editing stations, and mentorship that help young people build real-world skills.
From Kansas City to the World
What began as a conversation inside a Kansas City studio will soon reach audiences around the globe. A spotlight of the interview with Tamara Barnes will air on JEGNAFEST Worldwide Radio—broadcast across more than 150 stations globally—and the full interview will stream on the Jegna Klub TV Network, bringing youth-produced storytelling to viewers on platforms like Roku, Apple, Amazon, and Google TV.
But beyond the broadcast numbers, the true impact happens long before the episode reaches listeners. It happens when a young interviewer realizes they can command a conversation. When a guest sees the next generation stepping into leadership. When a community space becomes a launching pad for voices that might otherwise go unheard. At Jegna Klub, that’s exactly the point. As Barnes said it best, “Empowering our youth.” And on this afternoon inside the Jegna Klub studio, that empowerment wasn’t just a message.
Airing on JEGNAFEST Worldwide Radio on 103.7 DaBeat Saturday (3/21/26) 12:00 pm CST & Wednesday (3/25/26) 6:00 pm CST (Click Link Here scroll down to player and press play) and Re-Airing on The Ryan Show FM Thursday (3/26/26) 10:00 pm CST (Click Link Here scroll down to logo and click)
Catch the Full Interview
Don’t miss the full interview streaming on Jegna Klub TV Network (available on Roku, Amazon, Apple, and Android) on Friday (3/27/26) 6:00 pm CST
Jegna Klub TV Network, Download it now!
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories at Jegna World Blog and follow Jegna Klub on social media for updates.
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