The Austria Podcast Project was a youth-led initiative to create and record the first podcast by and for Special Olympics Austria athletes, aiming to make information more accessible to people with intellectual disabilities. The project focused on using audio storytelling to raise awareness and build a deeper understanding of the movement across the country.
Youth Leaders Mikhail “Mischa” Pisanko and Florian “Flo” Laschober noticed that many athletes struggled to access written information and wanted to find a more inclusive way to share updates and celebrate achievements. They were inspired by past international events and motivated to bring new energy to their local program.
The leaders recorded podcast interviews with key figures in Special Olympics Austria, investing in microphones, tripods, and a camera to ensure high-quality production. Though publication is still pending due to technical delays, the podcast process itself empowered the leaders and athletes to explore new forms of storytelling.
The project directly engaged 3 youth (2 with and 1 without ID), 5 Special Olympics athletes, and 7 additional community members, while equipping two new youth leaders with media and interviewing skills. The team built a strong foundation for ongoing podcast production, despite not yet reaching a broad audience online.
Mischa and Flo were proud to have completed Austria’s first podcast for and by athletes and are committed to continuing the series after resolving publishing challenges. They say the experience helped them grow more confident, curious, and collaborative in how they share stories and raise awareness.