A new organization for important issues comes to campus

This semester, two students have decided to create a new space for students to open up about issues they care about. Jamylah Jackson, a senior interdisciplinary studies major from Birmingham, Alabama, and Tyshaun Caldwell, a sophomore social work major from Pell City, Alabama, are the pioneering minds behind Real Talk, a new student organization. 

Real Talk is a student-led organization and the extension of Jackson and Caldwell’s podcast, “Uncensored: Beyond the Classroom.”  

“We’re here to create a safe space where college students can be heard, connect and have real conversations that matter,” Jackson said. 

The idea for Real Talk came from starting “Uncensored: Beyond the Classroom,” the pair’s podcast that discusses deeper topics such as mental health, entrepreneurship, immigration and other challenges for students.  

“It’s about connecting, growing, and supporting each other beyond just the classroom experience,” Caldwell said.“It’s raw, unfiltered and designed to inspire conversations that matter. 

“Uncensored: Beyond the Classroom” is also open for guests. That way, the platform becomes available for other students who are looking to make their voices heard about important issues.” 

Jackson said the group is meant to feel welcoming and relatable.  

“We love bringing in guests from the community to chop it up with us and share their perspectives on the topics that matter,” Jackson said. “We keep it respectful, but we don’t sugarcoat. It’s all about making sure students feel heard.” 

The two met through student involvement on campus.  

“We instantly connected over our shared passion for leadership and making a difference,” Caldwell said.  

From there, the two realized they both had a vision to make something worthwhile that was open to all the students of Troy.  Jackson and Caldwell came up with the idea after realizing there was no platform on campus for students’ voices to be heard.  

“It started with noticing that students don’t often have a safe space to talk about the struggles they face outside of academics,” Caldwell said. “We wanted to bridge that gap, creating a platform for students to be heard and seen.  

“From there, the idea grew into both a podcast and an organization.” 

Jackson said the idea for the podcast came from a class.  

“We talked about how the Troy 1101 class didn’t teach us everything we needed to know about Troy, and that’s where the idea began,” Jackson said. “From there, we decided that strictly class talk would be boring, so we decided to dive into the things not talked about in class that deserve attention.” 

The two decided on a podcast as a medium because they felt it was best way to get their voices, as well as other students’ voices, out there. After hearing about the Idea Bank’s podcast vault, it seemed like the best way to make their voices heard.  

“A podcast allows us to reach more people, bring in guests and have deeper conversations that aren’t limited to a one-time meeting,” Caldwell said. 

Getting involved with Real Talk and “Uncensored: Beyond the Classroom” extends past just being a podcast guest. Students can also attend events and meetings for Real Talk. The organization also has leadership positions available, if students are looking to contribute more to Real Talk. 

“I’m looking forward to watching the organization grow and seeing students step into leadership roles,” Caldwell said. “I’m also excited about the podcast reaching people not just on campus, but potentially across different communities. 

“Real Talk is more than just an organization or a podcast.  

“It’s a movement. We’re building a legacy here at Troy, and we want as many students as possible to be a part of it.” 

Follow @realtalkwithjandt on Instagram for updates about events and meetings. The account is open for DMs with any inquiries.