Episodes - Newbies

Meet the Newbies

Episode 1

Kyra Balch, Alyssandra Becker, and Dayon McKnight • November 20, 2025

Meet the Newbies! In this episode, the newbies take on podcasting for the first time! The team made up of three high school students Kyra, Aly, and Dayon ask each other questions about themselves to introduce themselves to the podcasting world and explain how this podcast is going to be about trying new things and new experiences.

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About the Contributors

Kyra Balch, Editor in Chief/Podcast Staff

Kyra Balch, senior, is in her second year of publications as Co-Editor-In-Chief of The Blaze yearbook and is a new staff member of Hawk Talk Podcast Network. Balch has had a passion for media since middle school and continues to pursue this as a leader in both publications. In college, she hopes to study journalism and advertising. Yearbook is her top priority, however, she also has a part-time job. She works at Pleasant Prairie RecPlex in guest services as a receptionist at the ice arena. Outside of school and work, you can find Balch at a Brewers game or running around town with her friends. “Yearbook is my favorite place to be,” Balch said. “These people are like family to me.”

Alyssandra Becker, Editor in Chief/Podcast Staff

Alyssandra Becker, senior, is in her second year on the yearbook staff, working as co-editor in chief. In yearbook, she spends time organizing and helping the new staff adjust to the workspace. This is also her first year in podcasting. Becker developed an interest in photography as a child, inspired by Spider-Man’s photography skills. She started in the digital graphics path at Indian Trail, learning and building her design skills. She switched her pathway to journalism in her senior year to help grow her journalism skills. Although she does not plan to continue in journalism, she is grateful for the experience she has gained. Becker is an active member of several extracurricular activities at her school, including Women’s Rights and Empowerment, National Honor Society and Senior Class Council. She is in her third year working at the Recplex in the Guest Member Services department. Becker’s sophomore year digital graphics art project was shown in the 2023 KUSD Student Art Exhibition at the Kenosha Public Art Museum. In her free time, she likes to hang out with friends and family, read, watch movies and baseball (Go Braves!) with her family, and chase after her bearded dragon, Queso, her chocolate labradoodle, Oakley, and her cat, Pete. “I’m really excited to see the new ideas that the new staff will come up with,” Becker said. “Also, to see how much they will grow and become like a family.”

Dayon McKnight, Yearbook/Podcast Staff

Dayon McKnight, a junior, is in his second year of publication on The Blaze yearbook, and his first year in the Hawk Talk Podcast Network. McKnight first got his start in journalism during his freshman year in an Introduction to Broadcasting class. McKnight’s passion for journalism first began after the 2016 election, after a historic election cycle. McKnight wants to use his passion for good. In his free time, he likes to work at his local part-time job and travel. He hopes to attend college with a double major in Political Science and Journalism. “It’s always better to advocate for what you believe in, than not to advocate for anything at all,” McKnight said.