Formative, from New York Edge, is the podcast where the leaders of today are interviewed by the leaders of tomorrow! Our intrepid co-hosts, all between the ages of eleven and fourteen, conduct long-form interviews with successful adults from the worlds of business, science, the arts, and beyond.

Winner, Best in Show, 2024 Davey Awards 
Winner, Gold Medal, 2024 Anthem Awards "Best Podcast: Education, Art, and Culture"

Lester and Ariana: We’re Prepared for Opportunities
FormativeMay 19, 2026x
3
18:0941.56 MB

Lester and Ariana: We’re Prepared for Opportunities

Lester Marks, VP of Strategy and Impact at the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, joins middle schooler Ariana to share how his career took unexpected turns, from a love of spo...

Brian and Olivia: We’re Listening More
FormativeMay 12, 2026x
2
13:3531.08 MB

Brian and Olivia: We’re Listening More

Brian Boutte, Director of Government Relations at Chick-fil-A, joins middle schooler Olivia to talk about the power of relationships, the importance of staying connected to fa...

Steve and Matthias: We’re Never Quitting
FormativeMay 05, 2026x
1
13:4431.42 MB

Steve and Matthias: We’re Never Quitting

Steve Stoute joins middle schooler Matthias to share how he got his start in the music industry, from working at the lowest level behind the scenes to managing major artists l...

Mary and Ashley: We’re Going For It All
FormativeJanuary 27, 2026x
10
14:4333.7 MB

Mary and Ashley: We’re Going For It All

For our last episode of this season, Mary Choy, board-certified pharmacist and author, joins middle schooler Ashley to talk about the lessons she’s learned along her career jo...

Dan and Angelica: We’re Turning Feedback Into Growth
FormativeJanuary 20, 2026x
9
12:3328.71 MB

Dan and Angelica: We’re Turning Feedback Into Growth

Dan DiClerico, Home Improvement & Outdoor Director at Good Housekeeping, joins middle schooler Angelica to talk about writing, leadership, and the power of learning how to...

Sahara and Noah: Embracing Our Lessons Learned
FormativeJanuary 13, 2026x
8
12:5329.51 MB

Sahara and Noah: Embracing Our Lessons Learned

Sahara Jones, Vice President of Affordable Compliance and Management at the Albanese Organization, joins middle schooler Noah to talk about the tough decisions she’s had to ma...

Blair and Kaitlyn: We’re Serious About Believing in Ourselves
FormativeJanuary 06, 2026x
7
11:0525.36 MB

Blair and Kaitlyn: We’re Serious About Believing in Ourselves

Blair Carl Smith, Senior Director of the Center for Financial Markets at the Milken Institute, joins middle schooler Kaitlyn to talk about career challenges, accomplishments, ...

David and Nicholas: Making the Choice and Jumping In
FormativeDecember 30, 2025x
6
11:4126.75 MB

David and Nicholas: Making the Choice and Jumping In

David Fugate, entrepreneur and CEO of Akamai Construction in Hawaii and X-Golf in New York City, joins middle schooler Nicholas to talk about leadership, teamwork, and taking ...

Eliot and Dayvion: Creating to Connect
FormativeDecember 23, 2025x
5
14:1632.67 MB

Eliot and Dayvion: Creating to Connect

Eliot Salome Diaz, graffiti and mural artist, joins middle schooler Dayvion to talk about life as a creative. Eliot shares how he navigates his interests in both art and busin...

Linda and Torlisa: We’re Still Learning and Teaching
FormativeDecember 16, 2025x
4
13:5531.85 MB

Linda and Torlisa: We’re Still Learning and Teaching

Linda Anstendig, former English professor at Pace University, joins middle schooler Torlisa to talk about the joys of learning and teaching. Torlisa comes into the conversatio...

New York Edge is providing this podcast as a public service, but it is not a statement of company policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by New York Edge. A guest’s appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. The views expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of New York Edge or its officials.

New York Edge's production partner for this series is CitizenRacecar.