PBS “Civics Made Easy” Casting Nationwide Participants for Civic Discussion

PBS series Civics Made Easy is currently seeking people from across the United States to participate in an upcoming roundtable discussion focused on two civic-policy questions.

The project is looking for real people with a range of backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints rather than political experts. Selected participants will join host Ben Sheehan and a small group for a conversation about education decision-making and possible age or term limits for federal officials and judges. The official casting application says there are no predetermined “right or wrong” answers and that producers are interested in hearing participants’ perspectives.

About “Civics Made Easy”

Civics Made Easy is a PBS news and public-affairs series hosted by Ben Sheehan. The program explores American government and civic participation, explaining topics such as elections, voting rights, political parties, government institutions, and other civic issues.

For this upcoming project, the roundtable will focus on one of two questions:

🏫 Education: Who should have the greatest say in determining what children learn in school?

🏛️ Federal Officials & Judges: Should there be age limits or term limits for federal officials and judges?

Participants do not need professional or academic expertise in either subject. The casting team is seeking people willing to discuss their own opinions and experiences.

Talent Application

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Casting Details

🎬 Project: Civics Made Easy
📺 Platform: PBS
🌎 Casting: Nationwide
👥 Participants: People with a variety of backgrounds and viewpoints
💰 Compensation: Unpaid / volunteer participation
⏱️ Estimated Participation: Approximately one hour

The official application explains that participation is unpaid because PBS editorial-independence guidelines do not allow payment in exchange for having a participant’s opinions included in the programming.

Possible Participation Dates

Applicants should indicate availability for at least one of the following dates:

📅 Tuesday, September 29, 2026
📅 Wednesday, September 30, 2026
📅 Thursday, October 1, 2026
📅 Friday, October 2, 2026

Those selected will only be needed on one of the listed dates.

What the Application Includes

Applicants are asked to provide basic contact information along with current photos and information about their everyday life, occupation, interests, and general perspective.

The application also asks candidates to discuss their views on the two featured civic questions. These responses are intended to help casting assemble participants representing different experiences and perspectives.

The project is produced by Second Peninsula, and the casting form identifies Ben Sheehan as the host for Civics Made Easy Season 2.

How to Apply

Those interested can complete the official online application through Vital Casting:

Apply for PBS “Civics Made Easy”

The casting team notes that the application should be completed in one sitting and recommends using a computer rather than a phone.