By Katelyn Melville

Alfonso Emilio Sanchez is the owner of Artesana Home, a furniture store in Park Slope. Emilio embraces his Mexican roots while passionately exploring Indian culture and sharing how he honors foreign traditions with respect. As the global conversation on cultural appropriation vs. appreciation intensifies, Emilio offers a an insightful perspective.

Katelyn Melville is a senior at the Brooklyn Institute for Liberal Arts in Flatbush. As an explorer and avid seeker of knowledge, you can usually find her wandering through the city or knee-deep in an internet rabbit-hole. Since childhood, she has loved writing and when she's not searching the web endlessly, you'll find her eyes glued to old reruns of Brooklyn-99, writing a poem, or even running a Dungeons & Dragons campaign!

The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.