A Safe Space to Pause, Reflect and Grow
How a Podcast Helps Kevin Navigate the Pressures of University Life
At 21, Kevin is navigating a demanding chapter of his life. Originally from Formosa, a province in northern Argentina, he now lives in Buenos Aires where he studies architecture, one of the country’s most intensive university courses. Between long nights of coursework and living far away from home, Kevin often finds himself searching for balance in his daily routine.
“Sometimes I don’t sleep at night because of homework,” Kevin shares. “It’s a very strict course, and the stress can really get to you.”
But somewhere in the blur of deadlines and city life, Kevin found an unexpected tool that helped him breathe a little easier—literally. That tool was the On My Mind podcast, a series created by UNICEF in partnership with Spotify to provide tools for young people to support their mental health. Kevin discovered it through an invitation to its launch event at his university, a moment that turned curiosity into connection.
“When I saw that this was a podcast about mental health, it immediately caught my eye,” he recalls. “I was so intrigued. I thought, I really need to listen to this.”
For Kevin, mental health hasn’t always been something easy to talk about, especially at home. “In my family, it’s still stigmatized,” he says. “We don’t really ask each other, ‘How are you feeling?’ which is such a basic question. But it just doesn’t happen.”
That’s where On My Mind stepped in, not just as a podcast, but as a space to pause, reflect, and grow. “It helped me balance stress,” Kevin says. “It gave me permission to say, ‘You know what? That’s enough for today. I can finish this tomorrow.’”
The podcast offers practical tools like breathing exercises, something Kevin now considers a cornerstone of his self-care. “Sometimes we don’t realise how important breathing is. The way we breathe can create mental stability when we’re in a crisis. That was both interesting and important for me to learn.”
Two episodes in particular struck a chord with him. “Episode three is about nurturing healthy relationships, and that really resonated with me. I’m constantly working with other people, and it helped me understand how to set boundaries. And episode five about talking to loved ones? That one hit home. It’s about intergenerational difficulties and how hard it can be to talk to our parents or loved ones without guilt. That really stayed with me.”
Kevin’s passion for helping others didn’t start with the podcast, but it’s been amplified by it. He’s an activist involved in several youth organizations focused on education and mental health. “I believe education is the key tool anyone can have,” he says. “And mental health is part of that."
Self-care is not selfish. It’s something that everyone needs and it’s actually brave to take steps towards taking care of yourself.
He now shares the podcast with his friends, often during chats about what to listen to while doing homework. “At first, I thought you needed a paid Spotify subscription to listen,” he admits with a laugh. “But it’s actually free to listen to, and I shared it with my classmates over WhatsApp. They really liked it.”
Kevin sees a shift happening among young people when it comes to mental health. “A few years ago, I would’ve felt embarrassed recommending a mental health podcast. But now, more and more of us are aware of how important it is. We’re talking about it. The pandemic especially made us realize how important it is.”
Still, Kevin knows there’s work to do, especially in reaching young people in rural areas who may lack internet access or exposure to mental health resources. “During the pandemic it became clear that there is a technological gap in Argentina. I come from a province where not everyone has an internet connection. A lot of people ended up missing a lot of school because of remote learning. It’s actually still an issue, so in more remote provinces, radio might be a better way to reach them,” he suggests. “Not everyone has internet or a computer.”
Despite the challenges, Kevin remains hopeful and determined. “On My Mind is not just a podcast. It’s a safe space. It helps people understand they’re not alone in what they’re feeling. It’s clear, accessible and it gives you tools you can use anytime. These are tools that I know I will keep using in my life. If it helped me, I know it can help others too.”
