Six KMIH 88.9 The Bridge Broadcast Students Earn New York Times National Podcast Competition Recognition

(Left to right) Jayne Tintle, Sam Paddor, Samantha Back, and Audrey Tintle in front of the KMIH studios at MIHS on July 7, 2025.

Mercer Island, WA, July 7, 2025 — KMIH 88.9 The Bridge, Mercer Island High School’s award-winning student-run radio station, is proud to announce that six of its student podcasters have received top honors in the 8th Annual New York Times Student Podcast Contest, a prestigious international competition that drew more than 1,600 submissions from around the world.

Two students from KMIH earned First Place recognition. 

Rising sophomore Samantha Back won for her podcast “From Seoul To Swap Meets” which told a moving story about her immigrant grandparents and the generational legacy they’ve passed on.

Rising sophomore Eric Shao also received First Place for his podcast “Keeping Timeless Tales Timeless and Intact” which explored the revival of old books and the timeless value of physical literature.

Three other students were named Runners-Up.

Rising juniors Audrey and Jayne Tintle, twin sisters, shared the incredible story of their mother—who was born a quintuplet—and the family’s extraordinary history in their podcast “The 50^th Anniversary of the Cincinnati Quintuplets”.

Class of 2025 graduate Sam Paddor created a deeply reflective piece titled “Build, Bend, Break: An Instrument’s Life Cycle” about the journey and lifespan of musical instruments, from creation to reinvention.

Additionally, rising junior Megan Opati received an Honorable Mention for her powerful story "The 1.4%" about being part of the 1.4% of African American students at MIHS and what that means for identity, belonging, and voice.

“This is an incredible achievement and a reflection of the creativity, courage, and storytelling talent of our students,” said Natalie Woods, Broadcast Media teacher at MIHS. “We’re honored to have our students recognized on a national stage, and even more proud of the meaningful stories they chose to tell.”

The New York Times Podcast Contest challenges teens to craft an original five-minute podcast  about almost anything. This year’s winners were selected for their creativity, journalistic integrity, and ability to spark curiosity or emotion—proof that our Mercer Island High School students have powerful stories to share when given the mic.

To listen to the winning entries and learn more visit: New York Times Podcast Contest Winners

About KMIH 88.9 The Bridge
KMIH is Mercer Island High School’s student-run FM radio station, broadcasting to the greater Seattle area and streaming online at 889thebridge.org. Known for its dynamic music programming, student journalism, live sports coverage, and award-winning audio storytelling, KMIH continues to be a national leader in high school broadcasting and media education.