Little Kids, Big Hearts

This month, Little Kids, Big Hearts has focused on the power of music ... and we're excited to wrap up the month with a special interview with the person BEHIND the music on our podcast: Our audio engineer and sound designer, Ryan Marth. Host Todd Loyd joins Ryan and one of his kids (Clover, 8) for an interview about the power of music and sound design to help people understand how someone is feeling, even without words. You'll discover... 

Welcome to Storytime!In this original story by the team at Little Kids, Big Hearts, we learn the origin of the Qook-a-lacka song healer, Quasnick, who we first met in our episode "Moving Time" when Quasnick helped kids create a song to help a Qook-a-lacka family cope with their big feelings around moving. In this story, Quasnick has practiced and practiced for the Great Qooka Sing, but loses the all-important songbook the day of the performance! Quasnick is poised to apologize and call it a night, but a young friend gives an important reminder: "You don't need the sheet music. I've heard you hum by the shoreline and in the store. I've seen you tap your feet in time with the sounds of the forest. Your songs are part of YOU!"Quasnick gets up on stage and creates an original song inspired by the words and feelings of the Qook-a-lackas in the crowd. The song becomes "Power of a Song," which we released earlier this week on our podcast ... AND the moment transformed Quasnick into the Song Healer of the Land of Qook-a-lackas. The Song Healer doesn't “fix” feelings but rather makes space for them, so all Qook-a-lackas and little Qook-a-leekies know that their hearts have a voice.The story is voiced by host Todd Loyd, Creative Producer Christy Pusz Decatur, and the original Song Healer, Benjamin Weiner!Thanks for joining us for Storytime!Visit us online (https://playsparkler.org/power-of-music/) or on our Youtube channel to learn more (https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts). 

This month, Little Kids, Big Hearts is focused on the power of music, and today we are thrilled to release an original song by the amazing educator/composer Benjamin Weiner called POWER OF A SONG. What does music mean to you? How does music make YOU feel? Here are the lyrics! Sing along with us!POWER OF A SONGWhen you're filled up with a feelinglike happy angry, or sad,you might feel some music coming too. And before too long, your feeling is a song, a song that belongs to you.And you can sing loud,And you can sing quiet,And you might feel better, So why don't you try it, causeYou've got a song in your heart,(I bet you can feel it,)You've got a song in your heart,(And no one can steal it)When you sing it you can feel,Happy safe and strong,That's the power of a song.When you've got a story,About a king or a magic spell,You might feel a tune start to appear, (la la la…)And before too long, Your story is a song,And people gather round ‘cuz they want to hear…And you can sing fast fast fast fastAnd you can sing slowwww,And people might sing along,And your song will grow… 'cause you've got a song in your heart,(I bet you can feel it,)You've got a song in your heart,(no one can steal it)When you sing it you can feel,Happy, safe, and strong,That's the power of a song.A song can move your hands! (Everybody, move your hands!)A song can tap your feet! (Everybody, tap your feet)Oh song can make you dance (Come on: everybody dance) While you're walking down the street 'cause You've got a song in your heart,(I bet you can feel it,)You've got a song in your heart,(And no one can steal it)When you sing it you can feel,Happy, safe, and strong,That's the power of a song.Oh! The power of a song!Oh! The power of a song!Sing it with me now!Oh! The power of a song!One more time now!Oh! The power of a song!

This month, the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast is focused on the power of music! We shared some of our favorite songs from the LKBH podcast, and today, we're excited to share a brand new challenge for our listeners and their families: The Song of YOU Mission! Todd and Christy challenge our listeners to make up their own song  that tells the story of their feelings, their experiences, their hopes and dreams ...We'd love to hear your song: Share it with us at podcast@playsparkler.org. Learn more about the podcast on our website: playsparkler.orgOr you can listen to episodes on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts

We're SO excited to share some of our favorite songs from the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast on this special episode about the power of music to help people express our feelings and become braver, kinder, and stronger!

Ali Stroker is a trailblazing actor and advocate who joined the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast as a guest Qook-a-lacka on our episode focused on inclusion. Today, Ali is back — out of character, as her amazing self — to talk with LKBH Host Todd Loyd about her own experiences with disability and inclusion. ❤️ She reflects on what Scarlett and Zach said on the episode: "When I hear Scarlett talking about horseback riding: It felt like she was explaining something that was so normal. And that, to me, is progress."❤️ She shares her own personal motto — Turning Limitations into Opportunities: "It can apply to somebody with a disability or not because as human beings, we have limitations. It's part of existing in the world."  ❤️ She talks about being a mom with a disability — and how being a mom in a wheelchair affects her parenting and her son's independence. ❤️ She talks about the power of "inclusive playgrounds." "I never had one inclusive playground growing up, and to this day, I still go to the playground and I have this like funny feeling in my stomach because it was a place of confusion and shame and frustration for me as a child ... Every kid deserves that freedom and that ability to play in an outdoor space with their friends."❤️ She talks about a moment when she was in 1st grade and her PE teachers included her in a lesson on "how to skip," which changed her life. "Thirty-one years later, I still remember it because it felt like I was included and someone had taken a little bit of time to get creative and make me feel like I was learning a new school too, and that I could be a part of the group in moving...And that meant everything to me, everything!" ❤️ She talked about her children's book "Ali and the Sea Stars," which was based on her own experience as a six year old being introduced to musical theater by her neighbor on the Jersey Shore. "It basically set my entire life journey of  becoming a musical theater and actress and everything that I do now." ❤️ She shares advice for kids with disabilities who want to try something new that hasn't been done before. Ali Stroker is a Tony Award winner for her role as ‘Ado Annie' in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! She made history as the first actor in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway in Deaf West's acclaimed revival of Spring Awakening and the first actor in a wheelchair to win a Tony. She was a series regular on the Netflix series, Echoes, and starred in the Lifetime holiday film, Christmas Ever After. Ali recurred in the final season of Netflix's Ozark and in Hulu's Only Murders in the Building. She co-wrote the novel, The Chance to Fly and its sequel, Cut Loose!; and she wrote the children's book, Ali and the Sea Stars. She was recently seen opposite Matthew Broderick in Babbitt at Shakespeare Theatre Company in DC and played 'Lady Anne' in the Shakespeare in the Park production of Richard III. She's performed her one woman show all over the country. Her mission to improve the lives of others through the arts is captured in her motto: “Turning Your Limitations Into Your Opportunities.”Learn more on our episode webpage: https://playsparkler.org/inclusion/Watch on our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts

Welcome to storytime! This new fictional story, set in the Land of Qook-a-lackas, is about making sure that everyone has the opportunity to play. The main character is Quiggle, a little Qook-a-leekie who travels around the Land of Qook-a-lackas in chair with rainbow, sparkling wheels. When it's time for the annual tradition of climbing the Twisty Tree as a class, all the Qook-a-leekies have to come together to figure out a way to include ALL their classmates, including Quiggle!"Quiggle's Wheels" is read by our host, Todd Loyd, who is a teacher in New York City who LOVES a good storytime, along with Christy Pusz Decatur, the LKBH creative producer. Find resources on inclusion — the focus this month — from LKBH online at: https://playsparkler.org/inclusion/VISIT and subscribe to our YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts#story #storytime #inclusion #disability #similarities #workingtogether #playingtogether #parenting

On this special episode, Little Kids, Big Hearts host Todd Loyd chats with award-winning composer, lyricist & performer Lance Horne

During the most recent "KidVenture" of Little Kids, Big Hearts, "Inclusion Matters with Ali Stroker," two kids — Zach and Scarlett — help to devise a brand new sport in the Land of Qook-a-lackas that EVERYONE can play TOGETHER called Quibble Launch.Today, we're back with to challenge our listeners to participate in the You, Me, We Mission — which is all about figuring out new ways to play together!

On this kidventure episode, two kids — Scarlett and Zach — talk about their disabilities and share their experiences with inclusion (on inclusive playgrounds and in other contexts). As Scarlett explains, inclusion "means that everybody can play, no matter your disability or how you walk or how you roll or anything like that."After a chat on Earth, the kids and Todd travel on the colors of the rainbow to the Land of Qook-a-lackas, where they meet a Qook-a-lacka friend, Quinnly, who is trying to figure out how the Qook-a-lackas and their new neighbors, the Link-a-doos, can play TOGETHER. The Qook-a-lacka's favorite sport, Quibble, is played on the ground with a big ball — while the Link-a-doos' favorite sport, Loop-a-launch, is played in the sky with a little bouncy ball. The kids and Todd help Quinnly to brainstorm a whole new game (Quibble Launch!), which has special rules and a two tier playing field that is perfect for the new neighbors to play together!Little Kids, Big Hearts was THRILLED to be joined on this episode by guest star Ali Stroker, who plays the role of Quinnly. Ali Stroker is a Tony Award winner for her role as ‘Ado Annie' in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! She made history as the first actor in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway in Deaf West's acclaimed revival of Spring Awakening and the first actor in a wheelchair to win a Tony. She was a series regular on the Netflix series, Echoes, and starred in the Lifetime holiday film, Christmas Ever After. Ali recurred in the final season of Netflix's Ozark and in Hulu's Only Murders in the Building. She co-wrote the novel, The Chance to Fly and its sequel, Cut Loose!; and she wrote the children's book, Ali and the Sea Stars. She was recently seen opposite Matthew Broderick in Babbitt at Shakespeare Theatre Company in DC and played 'Lady Anne' in the Shakespeare in the Park production of Richard III. She's performed her one woman show all over the country. Her mission to improve the lives of others through the arts is captured in her motto: “Turning Your Limitations Into Your Opportunities.”Sound design and mixing is by Ryan Marth, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English.The Little Kids, Big Hearts team wants to say a big, public "THANK YOU" to Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspiration, the amazing organization that helped us find the brilliant, insightful kids who appear on this episode, Scarlett and Zach. Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspiration is an international non-profit organization that creates play, dignity and social equity for children with disabilities through inclusive playgrounds and education programs that unite children of all abilities. Scarlett and Zach played — and met "buddies" — on inclusive playgrounds created by this organization, which has built these sensory- and literacy-rich playgrounds in the US, as well as Mexico, Israel, Canada, Ecuador, Russia, Argentina, South Africa, Armenia, the Dominican Republic, and beyond. THANK YOU!!! Learn more about Inclusion Matters on its website: https://inclusionmatters.org/Please learn more about the episode online at https://playsparkler.org/inclusion/Also...Little Kids, Big Hearts now has a YouTube channel. Please join our growing community on YouTube! Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts

Everyone — even the "queen of children's music" — makes mistakes on occasion!We are thrilled to share an interview with Laurie Berkner, the bestselling, award-winning children's recording artist, about making music and making mistakes. Laurie's albums have been bestsellers on a chart typically dominated by movie soundtracks and major label compilations. With more than 1 billion total streams, an average of more than 22 million monthly streams, more than 535 million YouTube channel views, and millions of CDs and DVDs sold, Laurie's songs have become beloved classics for children worldwide. Her debut DVD, which went quadruple platinum, was the first-ever indie children's music DVD to enter Billboard's Top Music Video chart at #1. Laurie's 16th album, A Laurie Berkner Halloween, was released in September 2024, and a Laurie Berkner Greatest Hits album will be out in May 2025.A longtime fixture on TV's Noggin and Universal Kids (formerly Sprout) channels, Laurie was the first recording artist to ever appear in a music video interstitial on Noggin and was featured in nearly all the episodes of the channel's Jack's Big Music Show. Laurie can also be heard in two seasons of the ten-chapter Audible Original series she created, Laurie Berkner's Song & Story Kitchen. Laurie has written the music and lyrics for three children's musicals and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers has published a series of three picture books with Laurie, each based on one of her songs: We Are the Dinosaurs, Pillowland, and Monster Boogie.In this interview on the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast, Laurie chats with LKBH host Todd Loyd about making mistakes: The theme of the month!

In this original fictional story set in the Land of Qook-a-lackas, we learn the origin story of the qook-a-melos, one of the most popular treats in the Land. It turns out that the qook-a-melo tree stemmed from a MISTAKE...and that mistakes can actually help us to create great things! As Professor Quomelo — the accidental inventor — says, "Trust in yourself, trust in the process, and have the courage to make mistakes!" What great things will YOU dream up if YOU make more mistakes? "A Mistake Takes Root" is read by our host, Todd Loyd, who is a teacher in New York City who LOVES a good storytime, along with Christy Pusz Decatur, the LKBH creative producer. This original story by the team at Little Kids, Big Hearts shares important lessons about the importance of making mistakes. Find resources on mistakes — the focus this month — from LKBH online at: https://playsparkler.org/mistakes/VISIT and subscribe to our YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts#story #storytime #mistakes #parenting

During the most recent "kidventure" of Little Kids, Big Hearts, "The Magic of Mistakes with Terence Archie," three kids — Layla, Liam, and Ariel — talk about the mistakes they've made and visit the Land of Qook-a-lackas to visit with a friend there, Quippin, who needs help preparing for the Perfectly Imperfect Expo. The whole point: Celebrating mistakes!Today, we're back with to challenge our listeners to participate in the Mighty Mistakes Mission!

On this episode, three kids — Layla (11), Liam (11), and Ariel (10)— talk about mistakes and learn that mistakes aren't just problems to fix; they're moments that can actually help us learn and create!The three guest kids talk about mistakes they've made and then travel with LKBH host Todd Loyd to the Land of Qook-a-lackas on magical air skates to help a Qook-a-lacka friend, Quippin, prepare for the Perfectly Imperfect Expo. The Perfectly Imperfect Expo is a big event here in the Land of Qook-a-lackas — all about trying new things, even when they feel tricky. It's a place where everyone walks, flies, or scoots around our big Qooka-Expo Center near the Qook-a-lacka Seaport to see the newest innovations in mistake-making. And at every single booth, attendees get a chance to make mistakes and discover something wonderful in the process. Quippin's friends are stranded on their way home from a Quibble Match, so the kids and Todd pitch in to help Quippin record the proposal for the selection committee. 

In our recent episode "Big Hearts in Tough Times: LA Kids Discuss the Fires," we talked with four LA kids about their experiences and feelings during the fires in Los Angeles. Today, we're back with a special interview with a real-life firefighter, John Louthan. John is a fireman for FDNY Engine Company 5 in New York City. He's been fighting fires for about two decades. He started his career as an emergency medical technician and then became a paramedic before becoming a firefighter. Learn from John what it's like to fight fires: Is it really what we read in our favorite  children's books about fighting fires? Also learn about John's experiences and feelings, and get tips to help your family plan for and keep safe during fires. Find episode resources on our website: https://playsparkler.org/hardtimes

In this original fictional story set in the Land of Qook-a-lackas, we learn the "history" of the Great Link-a-doo Flood, through the lens of Lyra — a little Link-a-deedle. In the story, Lyra and all the students at the Treetop School survive the Great Link-a-doo Flood and then escape with their parents to the Land of Qook-a-lackas where they are welcomed by the Qook-a-lackas. Lyra learns to cope — and move forward — with help from friends, neighbors, songs, and traditions. "New Skies for Lyra" is read by our amazing host, Todd Loyd, who is a teacher in New York City who LOVES a good storytime, along with Christy Pusz Decatur, the LKBH creative director, and Rose, alumna of the podcast.This original story by the team at Little Kids, Big Hearts shares important lessons about hope and resilience. We are excited to share this original fictional story with you! Find fairness resources from LKBH online at: https://playsparkler.org/hardtimes/VISIT and subscribe to our YouTube challel here: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts#story #storytime #resilience

During the most recent "kidventure" of Little Kids, Big Hearts, "Big Hearts in Tough Times: LA Kids Discuss the Fires," four LA Kids — Amicko, Kiaan, Kaveer, and Cleo — share their experiences and feelings related to the wildfires. They talk about the family, friends, and community helpers who have helped them to get through this tough time.Today, we're back to challenge our listeners to participate in Operation Help Out. What are ways WE can each get out there and help — in big ways or small — and make the world a better place? Please share your family's mission with a few words or a picture! You can share on instagram (@little_kids_big_hearts_podcast), facebook (@LittleKidsBigHeartsPodcast), or just email us: podcast@playsparkler.org. We'd love to share your mission on our next LKBH mission episode. Following the MISSION, turn up the volume and sing/dance along to a brand-new Little Kids, Big Hearts original song: Good Morning Song! It's inspired by the good morning song that Linkala talked about in our "Big Hearts in Tough Times" episode. The song is written and performed by amazing educator/composer Benjamin Weiner.Learn more online at: playsparkler.org/hardtimes

Starting the second week of January 2025, Los Angeles, CA has been grappling with unprecedented wildfires, which roared through the city, powered by strong winds and dry conditions. Hundreds of thousands of people had to evacuate their homes as firefighters battled the wildfires.In this special episode of Little Kids, Big Hearts, four LA Kids — Amicko, Kiaan, Kaveer, and Cleo — share their experiences and feelings related to the wildfires. They travel with Little Kids, Big Hearts host Todd Loyd to the Land-of-Qook-a-lackas where they visit with a Link-a-doo friend, Linkala, who fled the Isle of Link-a-doo in the  Great Link-a-Doo Flood. Linkala shares memories and feelings — as well as some useful ways to cope with disasters and get through hard times — and answers the kids' questions about surviving similar disasters.  Linkala is played by Dr. Cara Spitalewitz, a clinical psychologist who works with children and adolescents in New York City. Cara previously was a supervising psychologist at Bellevue Hospital Center and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine. She holds a B.A. from Columbia University, an Ed.M. in Human Development & Psychology from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University-Brooklyn. She completed an APA-accredited Clinical Internship at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine and her postdoctoral training at Bellevue Hospital Center. Sound design and mixing is by Ryan Marth, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English.Please learn more about the episode online at playsparkler.org/hardtimes.Do you know of a little kid, with a big heart who would be interested in being a guest on our podcast? Please learn more here: https://playsparkler.org/participate-on-our-podcast/

On our episode about fairness — "Fairness with Vella Lovell and Meredith Holzman" — three kids (Bodhi, Aubrey, and Will) helped two arguing Qook-a-lackas through a process of “qook-a-lation.” They listened to both sides of the argument, asked some questions, and then shared some ideas to help the Qook-a-lackas find a fair solution.Today, Little Kids, Big Hearts is thrilled to share an interview diving into fairness with someone who knows A LOT about qook-a-lation: Judge Gabriel P. Sanchez, who has served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit since 2022.Our host, Todd Loyd chats with Judge Sanchez about what fairness is and moments in his life when he's learned about fairness. He shares tips for little kids with big hearts who want to follow in his footsteps and become real-life judges — and also tips on how we can bring more fairness to our classrooms and playgrounds today. Judge Sanchez was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2022 — an exciting first for our podcast! He's based in San Francisco, but hears cases across California, Arizona, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Judge Sanchez has had a remarkable career advocating for criminal justice reform, public safety, and civil rights, while also serving as a pro bono supporter of farm workers' rights. 

During the most recent adventure of Little Kids, Big Hearts, "Fairness with Vella Lovell and Meredith Holzman," three kids — Bodhi, Aubrey, and Will — travel with LKBH host Todd Loyd to the Land of Qook-a-lackas to help two Qook-a-lacka friends "qook-a-late" to retsore fairness to the Land.Today, we're back with an original story about fairness — "The Qook-a-lackas' Absolutely Exactly Everything Equal Day" — told by our amazing host, Todd Loyd, who is a teacher in New York City who LOVES a good storytime.  In the story, Kix and Kelenor (twin Qook-a-lackas) think everything is unfair. When their parent, Quamira, offers them an Absolutely Exactly Everything Equal Day, they think they're getting what they want...but are they really!? This original story by the team at Little Kids, Big Hearts has an important lesson about what fairness is...and what it is not.  We are excited to share this original fictional story with you! Find fairness resources from LKBH online at: https://playsparkler.org/fairness/

During the most recent adventure of Little Kids, Big Hearts, "Fairness with Vella Lovell and Meredith Holzman," three kids — Bodhi, Aubrey, and Will — travel with LKBH host Todd Loyd to the Land of Qook-a-lackas to help two Qook-a-lacka friends "qook-a-late" to retsore fairness to the Land. Today, we're back to challenge our listeners to go on their own FAIRNESS QUEST, inspired by the episode and the words/actions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — whose legacy of justice, equality, and human rights we celebrated this week. Todd and LKBH Producer Christy Pusz Decatur issue our first-ever challenge our listeners to (1) notice something that seems unfair, (2) think about ways to help, and then (3) take action to help someone else feel included, valued, or supported. This is our first-ever challenge episode, and we'd be overjoyed if our listeners could take a moment to share how their families interpreted the fairness quest with a few words or a picture! You can share on instagram (@little_kids_big_hearts_podcast), facebook (@LittleKidsBigHeartsPodcast), or just email us: podcast@playsparkler.org.  Following the MISSION, turn up the volume and sing/dance along to a brand-new Little Kids, Big Hearts original song: When Something's Unfair. It's written by amazing educator/composer Benjamin Weiner and performed with Benjamin PLUS Vella Lovell, who played Principal Quella in our fairness episode. Vella currently appears on the Fox comedy Animal Control alongside Joel McHale as “Emily.” Other credits include Mr. Mayor, Crazy Ex Girlfriend, Accused, A Clüsterfünke Christmas, She Ra And the Princesses of Power, Kiff, The Big Sick, Dollface, Girls, Younger, Grace and Frankie, As We See It, Your Place or Mine. On the stage, Vella has appeared in plays at The Geffen Playhouse, Yale Rep, The Public Theater and Williamstown Theatre Festival. She graduated from @nyutisch and @juilliardschool.Learn more online at: https://playsparkler.org/fairness/

Fairness has played a pivotal role throughout history, with the pursuit of equality and justice helping to shape the world that we live in today. Fairness also plays out in our everyday lives and in the lives of children as they grapple with real-life moments that feel “unfair.” "Fairness" in the context of social and emotional development refers to a child's growing ability to treat others equitably and considering the needs and perspectives of others. The idea of “fairness” pops up in things like taking turns, sharing, and making decisions.In this episode, three 6-8 year old children, Bodhi, Aubrey, and Will, visit with LKBH host Todd Loyd to talk about fairness. They then travel to the Land of Qook-a-lackas to help two Qook-a-lacka friends — Principal Quella and Korrik, the President of the Qook-a-berry Preservation Society — to restore fairness to the Land through a process of “qook-a-lation.” The kids listen to both sides of a conflict, ask questions, and then suggest fair solutions. Our guest stars on this episode are Vella Lovell, who plays the role of Principal Quella and Meredith Holzman, who plays the role of the President of the Qook-a-berry Preservation Society, Korrik. Sound design and mixing is by Ryan Marth, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English.Please learn more about the episode online at playsparkler.org.

Last week, we joined with three kids — Roxy, Everly, and Charlie — who helped us explore the big idea of gratitude. Now, in this special new episode, our friend Benjamin Weiner, an educator and musician, shares the brand new song he created based on the words about gratitude that the children shared in "Gratitude PowerUp." Host Todd Loyd chats with Benjamin about his process and inspiration ... and then we hear the new song, "I'm Grateful." Benjamin taught young children in Brooklyn for a decade before becoming a full time writer and composer. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Benjamin is currently writing for Rosie's Rules on PBS and Vida the Vet on Netflix. He's written dozens of TV and podcast episodes for Nickelodeon, including the premiere of the new Dora series on Paramount+. His work has been featured by Tribeca Film Festival, the Today Show, and his kids music as “Princess Backpack and Benjamin” has been heard on kids radio stations worldwide. Learn more: www.BenjaminWeiner.com and www.PrincessBackpack.com.Learn more and see the music video at at playsparkler.org/podcast.

Gratitude can be a big, abstract idea for most young children — but it is important! Feeling grateful can help to foster emotional wellbeing and resilience; it can reduce stress and anxiety, improve relationships, and promote a sense of belonging.Welcome to Season 4 of Little Kids, Big Hearts! We are SO excited to spend more time with you exploring important themes related to children's social and emotional development. In this new episode of Little Kids, Big Hearts, three children (Charlie, Roxy, and Everly) discuss gratitude and what gratitude feels like. They then journey to the Land of Qook-a-lackas aboard magical hoverboards and help a Qook-a-lacka friend, Kwi-loh (played by Lauren Blumenfeld), power up the Gratitude Power Plant in the Land of Qook-a-lackas.Our guest star is Lauren Blumenfeld, an actor, writer, and filmmaker, who has a long list of credits on stage and in movies and TV. Lauren's favorite theatre credits include POTUS (The Geffen Playhouse), The Assembled Parties (Broadway), We Are Proud To Present...(Soho Rep), Sailor Man (NYC Fringe Award) and numerous productions at Ars Nova. Lauren has performed abroad at The Old Vic (London) and regionally at The Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Old Globe (San Diego), The Pittsburgh Public, and The Virginia Stage Company. She was a series regular on the satirical comedy Nightcap and has played recurring roles on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Kevin (Probably) Saves the World, Limitless, Unforgettable, Doubt, Deadbeat, and Archibald's Next Big Thing (Netflix). Lauren's shorts have played in festivals worldwide, including SXSW and SIFF. Learn more online.Sound design and mixing is by Ryan Marth, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English.Please learn more about the episode online at playsparkler.org/gratitude-powerup-with-lauren-blumenfeld/

In this special bonus episode, host Todd Loyd interviews another Todd — the legendary author/illustrator of more than 50 children's books TODD PARR. Todd Parr is a three-time New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of more than 50 books for children, including The Thankful Book, The Earth Book and The I LOVE YOU Book, as well as The Kindness Book and the recently released The Spring Book and The Activity Book, all from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. He has inspired and empowered children around the world with simple, hopeful and powerful messages such as “be kind,” “love yourself,” and “be who you are,” all set with vibrant images utilizing eye-catching primary colors. His books have received numerous awards and are available in nearly 20 languages. He also is the co-creator of the popular three-time Daytime Emmy©-nominated animated TV series, ToddWorld with Gerry Renert of SupperTime Entertainment. Several shortfilms for Sesame Street have been based on Todd's work.A flight attendant before becoming a full-time author/illustrator, Todd's first book, The Okay Book, was published in 1999. Todd devotes time to numerous philanthropic causes supporting pet adoption, children's hunger, health, and literacy. He is a frequent reader and fund-raiser for The Ronald McDonald House, and he also currently serves on the board of directors for the Virginia Children's Book Festival.This interview — which follows the "Magic of Stories" episode of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast — helps parents/caregivers learn from one of the most influential author/illustrators of children's books of our time. They discuss what inspires his books — as well as how his books make an impact on young children around the world.Learn more at playpsarkler.org/podcast#interview #bonus

Stories are magical! They are gateways to new people, places, and ideas ... and they help children to build empathy and understanding — allowing them to see the world from different perspectives. As kids step into the roles of different characters, they gain insights into emotions, relationships, and the diverse experiences that make up our shared world. This helps them grow into compassionate and thoughtful individuals! Stories also have MANY other amazing powers — like helping children build language and literacy skills and helping to grow the bond between parents and children.In this episode of Little Kids, Big Hearts — The Magic of Stories — three children (Olivia, Anusha, and Moses) explore the power of stories. They discuss some of their favorite stories and characters and then they travel to the Land of Qook-a-lackas to help a Qook-a-lacka friend, Quimmel, write a story that they title "The Cat Gets Wet" to meet an upcoming deadline for the Qook-a-lacka Summer Story Festival! The guest star in this episode is Nick Blaemire, a writer, actor, and director based in Brooklyn, NY. Fun fact: at 23, Nick became the youngest person to ever have written a Broadway musical (Glory Days) while also performing in another Broadway musical (Cry-Baby). He has since written six more original musicals, and he has a long list of acting credits on Broadway, Off Broadway, and nationally, as well as roles on TV and film. He has also released three EPs of original songs.The original song in the episode, "Cat Gets Wet," was written by educator/composer Benjamin Weiner — based on the story that Olivia, Anusha, and Moses told during the episode — and performed by our multitalented podcast host, Todd Loyd. Sound design and mixing is by Ahmed Ashour, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English.

In this episode three children, Donovan, Layla, and Ruby, explore the idea of resilience — being able to move through the hard things we face and bounce back or recover afterward. They share times they have had to practice resilience, and then they help a Link-a-deedle friend, LaLeek, who lives in the Land of Qook-a-lackas, learn about resilience. The guest star in this episode is Marc Grapey, an actor, director, writer and producer, with credits on stage, as well as in movies and TV. Marc has been a fixture of the Chicago Theatre community for the last 25 years, often appearing at Victory Gardens, The Goodman, Steppenwolf, and Writer's Theatre. He made his Broadway debut in 2005 opposite Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick in the hit revival of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple. His numerous films include SuperBad, Adventureland, The Day Trippers, While You Were Sleeping, At Any Price, Keeping up with the Joneses, and the upcoming Steven Spielberg produced Captive State. He has made over 60 guest appearances on television. The original song in the episode, "On With The Show," was written and performed by educator/composer Benjamin Weiner. Sound design and mixing is by Ahmed Ashour, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English.Find more resources and activities to keep the learning going online at https://playsparkler.org/little-kids-big-hearts-resilience/.

During the most recent episode of Little Kids, Big Hearts, "Celebrating Learning Differences with Q. Smith," one of our kid guests, Oliver, mentioned how meaningful it was to him to see How to Dance in Ohio on Broadway. How to Dance in Ohio is a new musical based on a true story about Dr. Emilio Amigo helping a group of autistic high school students prepare for a formal end-of-year dance.In this special bonus interview, Oliver joins Little Kids, Big Hearts host Todd Loyd to interview Caesar Samayoa, who played the role of Dr. Amigo in the Broadway production. Cesar talks about the history-making show — in which autistic actors played the roles of the autistic characters — and shares inspiration and insight that we hope will help our audience dive in deeper to some of the issues we discussed in our learning differences episode. Caesar Samayoa has been seen on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theaters, as well as on TV. In addition to How to Dance in Ohio, Caesar's Broadway credits include: Come From Away, Sister Act, The Pee Wee Herman Show. Select off-Broadway includes Love's Labour's Lost (Delacorte Theater) and Shakespeare's R&J, Bernstein's Mass (Carnegie Hall).Learn more online at: https://playsparkler.org/little-kids-big-hearts-learning-differences/

In the United States, about 15% of students receive special education or related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Learning differences aren't all alike, but they can all affect how people process, store, and retrieve information — and they can have an impact on many parts of life, from learning to memory to how people express themselves and how people develop relationships with one another.In this episode, Todd talks with four children — Reese, Willa-Kate, Oliver, and Alessio — all of whom have diagnosed learning differences. They share their experiences and feelings related to their learning differences and go on a journey to the Land of Qook-a-lackas to help a Qook-a-lacka friend, Professor Kimpton, reconsider how to support a Qook-a-leekie student. This episode is for ALL children and families. It can help them to understand — and rethink — their own differences and their friends' and classmates' differences. It can also help children and families think of strategies they can use to persevere through challenges. The guest star in this episode is Q. Smith, a Broadway actor and a passionate educator.  Q. created the role of Hannah and others in the Tony Award winning musical Come From Away. She is also in the film version on AppleTV+. Q. has toured with the North American Broadway show A Night With Janis Joplin, playing the roles of Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone. Before Come From Away, Q. closed the Broadway production of Mary Poppins. She was the first African American to have a leading role in the history of Mary Poppins. (Read Q.'s full bio on our website.)The original song in the episode, "Super Superpower," was written by educator/composer Benjamin Weiner and performed by Q. Smith. Sound design and mixing is by Ahmed Ashour, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English.Find more resources and activities to keep the learning going online at https://playsparkler.org/little-kids-big-hearts-learning-differences/.

Taking responsibility is an important part of social and emotional learning. When children take responsibility for their words and actions, acknowledge their mistakes, and help others in their community, they are building empathy, independence, and other important skills. In this episode, three children (Leo, Edie, and Aiden) talk about responsibility and then help Quazzilyn (a Qook-a-lacka friend) to rally the Qook-a-lackas to take responsibility and save their gummy bear crops!The guest star in this episode is Natalie Gold, an actress who has appeared in film, television, and stage productions. She's currently playing Rachael in APPROPRIATE on Broadway. The original song in the episode, "Put Up My Hand," was written and performed by educator/composer Benjamin Weiner. Sound design and mixing is by Ahmed Ashour, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English.Find more resources and activities to keep the learning going online at https://playsparkler.org/responsibility.

What do you do when you're feeling angry or sad, or when you're facing something new and scary? In this special episode — which is reimagined and reworked from a Season 1 episode of Little Kids, Big Hearts — Todd and his puppet friend Rainbow join four kids (Anaya, Eleanor, Raffaele, and Wilder) to explore big feelings, where they come from, and what to do with them. At the end of the episode, dance along to "Dance Your Feelings," an original song written and performed by educator/composer/performer extraordinaire Benjamin Weiner. The new sound design and mixing is by Ahmed Ashour. Thank you also to Ryan Allais for his original sound design of the episode in Season 1! The ukulele music you hear in the background is by Royer Bockus. Wow! It's been a LONG time! Find more resources and activities to keep the learning going online at https://playsparkler.org/what-can-you-do-with-big-feelings.

Grandparents, or older friends and family members, can play pivotal roles in children's lives, acting as caregivers, mentors, and friends. Whether grandparents live in a child's neighborhood or far away, the love and emotional support they provide can significantly contribute to the healthy social and emotional growth of their grandchildren.In this episode, Todd interviews his own 96-year-old grandmother, as well as his sister and niece about their family memories and relationships. He then chats with two other grandparent-grandkid duos: Brenda and her granddaughter Kailah, followed by Marvin and his granddaughter Melanie. Sound design and mixing is by Ahmed Ashour, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English.Find more resources and activities to keep the learning going online at https://playsparkler.org/grandparentrelationships.

Last week, we released an episode about BOUNDARIES — the limits and rules we set for ourselves within relationships. Today, we're excited to release a bonus interview with the guest stars of the episode, Ana Cruz Kayne and Michael Cruz Kayne. Ana and Michael are siblings in real life ... so they know A LOT about the topic of boundaries. Ana is an actress and writer, known for her performances in Barbie (2023), Little Women (2019), Jerry & Marge Go Large (2022), Painkiller (TV 2023), and Another Earth (2011). Michael is a Peabody and WGA Award winner, and a four-time Emmy nominee. He is currently a writer for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. As a stand-up and actor, he has been seen on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Severance, High Maintenance, and more.  His one-man show, Sorry For Your Loss, was recorded by Audible and named among the Best of Audible 2023. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and kids. This season, in addition to our regular episodes with and for kids, we are including bonus interviews with luminaries like Michael and Ana to dive into the social and emotional topics we explore on the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast. We hope parents and caregivers love ❤️ these conversations as much as we do. Find more resources and activities to keep the learning going online at playsparkler.org/podcast.

Helping children establish boundaries is important for developing friendships and maintaining positive social interactions. Boundaries help people set limits for themselves and honor limits set by others.In "Boundaries," three eight- and nine-year-old kids (Olivia, Izzy, and Wynter) define and discuss boundaries and help Qook-a-leekie and Link-a-deedle friends learn the importance of boundaries. They discover that understanding someone else's boundaries requires empathy, the ability to recognize others' feelings...and that takes practice. The role of  Qwee-vee the Qook-a-leekie is played by Ana Cruz Kayne and the role of Lexton the Link-a-deedle is played by Michael Cruz Kayne. Ana and Michael are siblings in real life, so they know a thing or two about boundaries.  Ana is an actress and writer, known for her performances in Barbie (2023), Little Women (2019), Jerry & Marge Go Large (2022), Painkiller (TV 2023), and Another Earth (2011). Michael is a Peabody and WGA Award winner, and a four-time Emmy nominee. He is currently a writer for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. As a stand-up and actor, he has been seen on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Severance, High Maintenance, and more.  His one-man show, Sorry For Your Loss, was recorded by Audible and named among the Best of Audible 2023. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and kids. Read more about Ana and Michael on our website.The original song, "I've Got Boundaries" is written by educator/composer Benjamin Weiner and performed by Michael Cruz Kayne.Sound design and mixing is by Ahmed Ashour, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English.Find more resources and activities to keep the learning going online at https://playsparkler.org/boundaries.

In "Hopes & Dreams," three kids (Levi, Christine, and Ariel) reflect on the new things we have learned, the friendships we have formed, and the challenges we have faced in the past year — and what we are excited to learn and do in the year ahead. The children also discuss the concept of "letting go" of the feelings and experiences that we don't wish to carry with us into the new year.The kids and host Todd Loyd travel on giant snowflakes to the Land of Qook-a-lackas where they meet Todd's Qook-a-lacka friend Qweston, played by Jolly Abraham, and participate in the Qook-a-lacka tradition of Moon Day, where they help to "send off" the old moon and "welcome" the new moon.The original song, "Under the New Moon" that Qweston sings in the Land is written by educator/composer Benjamin Weiner (based on the children's words during the episode) and performed by Jolly Abraham.Sound design and mixing is by Ahmed Ashour, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English.Find more resources and activities to keep the learning going online at https://playsparkler.org/hopesdreams

On last week's episode, we explored "Belonging" — being who you are and being accepted and embraced for who you are.In this special bonus interview, we continue to explore this idea. Little Kids, Big Hearts host Todd Loyd interviews hip-hop pioneer Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, an American rapper and founding member of Run DMC. In addition to winning many awards and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2009), Darryl recently wrote a children's book, "Darryl's Dream" (2022) about his experience as a third grader, embracing his creativity and confidence and finding his voice. It's all about the topic of belonging!This season, in addition to our regular episodes with and for kids, we are including bonus interviews with luminaries like Darryl to dive into the social and emotional topics we explore on the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast. We hope parents and caregivers love ❤️ these conversations as much as we do. Find more resources and activities to keep the learning going online at playsparkler.org/podcast.

Belonging — being who you are and being accepted and embraced for who you are — is important for children and for all people.In this episode four kids (Providence, River, Valencia, and Yonatan) discuss what it means to belong — and how to grow feelings of belonging. The kids and Todd then go on an imaginary journey to the Land of Qook-a-lackas, where they meet with a Qook-a-lacka named Quinnie, who needs help figuring out how to help the Link-a-doos, who are coming to the Land as refugees after a superstorm hit their Island. On this episode, the role of Quinnie the Qook-a-lacka is played by Alexis Michelle. Alexis Michelle is a performer from New York City, most recently seen on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 8 (Paramount), finishing in the top 4! The original song in the episode, "Just as You Are!" is written and performed by composer and educator Benjamin Weiner. Sound design and mixing is by Ahmed Ashour, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English. Find more resources and activities to keep the learning going online at playsparkler.org/podcast.

On last week's episode, "Imagination Time!," we flexed our imagination muscles with three kids — Shaelan, Sameia and Hunter. After recording, our host — Todd Loyd — was lucky to explore the power of imagination with Antoinette Portis, the award winning author/illustrator of "Not a Box" and many other modern classics in children's picture books. This conversation with Antoinette will help parents and caregivers learn more about where imagination and inspiration come from. It will help them think about how to learn FROM kids about using their imaginations to change the world. This season, in addition to our regular episodes with and for kids, we are including bonus interviews with luminaries like Antoinette to dive into the social and emotional topics we explore on Little Kids, Big Hearts. We hope parents and caregivers love ❤️ these conversations as much as we do.  Antoinette made her picture-book debut with the New York Times best-selling "Not A Box," an American Library Association Seuss Geisel Honor book, and one of the New York Times Ten Best Illustrated Books of the Year. She was a recipient of the 2010 Sendak Fellowship. Antoinette got a BFA at the UCLA School of Fine Arts and then spent years in the world of design and advertising. She was a creative director, then a VP, at Disney before she took a flying leap to pursue her sixth-grade dream of writing and illustrating picture books.Find more resources and activities to keep the learning going online at playsparkler.org/podcast.

Using our imaginations might seem like a basic part of childhood, but imagination plays an important role in childhood and in life: it builds creativity and independence, social and problem-solving skills, teamwork and empathy. In this episode — the first in Season 3! — three kids (Shaelan, Sameia and Hunter) discuss the power of imagination with host Todd Loyd. Then they journey together to the Land of Qook-a-lackas at the invitation of the Qook-a-lacka Mayor, who needs help imagining a new playground for the Qook-a-leekies. On this episode, the role of the Mayor is played by Nadiyah Dorsey. a veteran of stage and screen. The original song, "You Can Use Your Imagination!" is written and mixed by composer and educator Benjamin Weiner. Sound design and mixing is by Ahmed Ashour, and the ukulele music you hear is by actor and composer Bill English. Find more resources and activities to keep the learning going online at playsparkler.org/podcast.

In honor of World Mental Health Day, we wanted to share the visualization and song that Quinlan shared in the Land of Qook-a-lackas during our August episode, "The Key to Calming Down." Research shows that techniques like what we practiced in the Land help to promote mental health, and we wanted to share this special visualization so that your family can use it to feel calm, safe, and peaceful. The role of Quinlan is played by Rebecca Naomi Jones, an American actress and singer best known for her performances in the Broadway rock musicals Passing Strange, American Idiot, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. She was also the first woman of color to play Laurey in Oklahoma! on Broadway and starred in As You Like It in NYC's Shakespeare in the Park.The original song, "I Have the Key," which Quinlan shares with the children at the end of the visualization, was composed by Benjamin Weiner, a NYC-based writer, composer, and educator. Thank you to Dr. Cara Spitalewitz who advised us on the mediation that Quinlan leads. Cara is a clinical psychologist who works with children and an assistant clinical professor at Columbia University Medical Center. Find extras and educator resources at playsparkler.org/podcast.

Little Kids, Big Hearts just became a finalist in the Signal Awards! Before Oct. 5, you — OUR LISTENERS — can do us a BIG (and big hearted ❤️) favor by voting for us in the Signal Listener's Choice Awards. It's easy: Just click here and vote for Little Kids, Big Hearts. We're honored to be picked from 1000s of podcasts to be a finalist — and to be in such amazing company!The episode that was selected by the Signal jury as a finalist was our episode about trying new things. Have a listen...and then — if you love it as much as we do — please consider voting for us ASAP! Thank you!***In this episode of Little Kids, Big Hearts, Todd talks with River, Taylor, and Leo about trying new things. They go on an imaginary journey to the Land of Qook-a-Lackas where they meet Crayton the Dragon, who's learning how to fly! Please find more info and educational extension activities online at playsparkler.org/podcast. These extension activities will help you to support children (Pre-K to Grade 3) as they share their feelings about what it is like when they try new things and build persistence and resilience. Two special guests join us in this episode, and we are so grateful to them:Christine Pedi plays the role of Crayton the Dragon. She is a television and theater comedic actress, Drama Desk nominee for FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, Sirius XM radio personality "Lady of a Thousand Voices" and Award-Winning Cabaret Performer. On Broadway, she appeared in CHICAGO as Mama Morton, LITTLE ME with Martin Short and Faith Prince, directed by Rob Marshall, and in Eric Bogosian's TALK RADIO with Liev Schreiber, directed by Robert Falls.The ukulele music and the original song "Try" are written and performed by Bill English. Bill is an actor, musician, and voiceover artist based in NYC who has appeared on Broadway in Twentieth Century starring Alec Baldwin and Anne Heche and Anything Goes with Sutton Foster and Joel Grey.  TV credits include The Good Wife, Madam Secretary, Elementary, Cavemen, Family Guy, and more.  Find extras and educator resources at playsparkler.org/podcast. 

In "The Key to Calming Down," three kids (Charlie, Katrina, and Sienna) join Todd to share tips and tricks they use to calm down — which come in handy when they're experiencing big feelings. The kids and Todd then take a journey to the Land of Qook-a-lakcas to visit Todd's friend Quinlan who invited the group to become the first humans ever to attend Camp Quinder-Calm!The role of Quinlan is played by Rebecca Naomi Jones, an American actress and singer best known for her performances in the Broadway rock musicals Passing Strange, American Idiot, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. She was also the first woman of color to play Laurey in Oklahoma! on Broadway and starred in As You Like It in NYC's Shakespeare in the Park. The original song, "I Have the Key," which Quinlan shares with the children in the Land of Qook-a-lackas, was composed by Benjamin Weiner, a NYC-based writer, composer, and educator. The ukulele music in the episode is written and performed by Bill English. Bill is an actor, musician, and voiceover artist based in NYC.Thank you to Dr. Cara Spitalewitz who advised us on the mediation that Quinlan leads in the episode. Cara is a clinical psychologist who works with children and an assistant clinical professor at Columbia University Medical Center. Thank you to Ahmed Ashour, who made this episode and all the episodes of Season 2 of our podcast sound amazing — and to the rest of the team who put this episode and the season together. Find extras and educator resources at playsparkler.org/podcast.

In "Moving Time," three kids with significant experience moving from country to country and home to home — Aurelia, Cris, and Henry — join host Todd Loyd to discuss their moves and to share some of the feelings they had before, during, and after moving. The kids and Todd then go on a journey to the Land of Qook-a-lackas to help a Qook-a-lacka friend, Kahmar, who's worried about how their Qook-a-leekies will cope with a big upcoming move. The role of Kahmar is played by Amir Arison, an American actor, director, and producer, best known for his work as FBI tech expert Aram Mojtabai on NBC's The Blacklist for ten seasons. Last year, Amir starred in The Kite Runner on Broadway. The role of the Qook-a-lacka Song Healer, Quasnick, is played by Benjamin Weiner, a composer and educator. The original song in the episode, "A Little Bit Better," was created (live!) by Benjamin with help from the three kid guests (Aurelia, Cris, and Henry), plus Amir. The ukulele music in the episode is written and performed by Bill English. Bill is an actor, musician, and voiceover artist based in NYC.Find extras and educator resources at playsparkler.org/podcast.

In "Winning & Losing," three kids who know a lot about winning and losing — Aiden (a chess player), Eliza (a soccer player), and Willa (a gymnast) — join host Todd Loyd to discuss winning and losing and to go on a journey to the Land of Qook-a-lackas to help a qook-a-leekie, Quinby, rethink a recent run of quibble losses. The role of Quinby is played by Bridget Regan, an actor and producer.  Her film credits include John Wick with Keanu Reeves, Devil's Gate opposite Milo Ventimiglia, HBO's The Leisure Class, The Best and the Brightest alongside Neal Patrick Harris, Sex and the City, Weak, The Babysitters and Blinders and the upcoming Canvas opposite Joanne Kelly and the queer rom-com Things Like This. In television, she presently appears on The Company You Keep, The Winchesters and The Rookie. She has MANY other TV credits. Originally from Carlsbad, California, Regan relocated to New York City to pursue her acting career. She originated the role of Cecile Leroux in the Broadway comedy Is He Dead opposite Norbert Leo Butz written by Mark Twain, adapted by David Ives and directed by Michael Blakemore. Regan has produced multiple productions Off Broadway and at the iconic LaMaMa Theater of the electro pop queer musical Camp Wanatachi written by Natalie Weiss and Bekah Brunstetter. She now has a feature film of of Camp Wantatachi in development with Zadan Meron Productions.The original song “Do Your Best” and ukulele music in the episode is written and performed by Bill English. Bill is an actor, musician, and voiceover artist based in NYC.Find extras and educator resources at playsparkler.org/podcast.

In this episode, four seven- and eight-year-old kids ( Evelyn, Ella, Chelsea, and Eliot) join Todd to discuss their best fur-riends: their pets! How do we care for our pets? How do pets make us feel? What do we learn from our pets? They then go on a journey to the Land of Qook-a-lackas, where they help a Qook-a-leekie, Quillion, who has lost their pet Quigley. The role of Quillion is played by Ashlie Atkinson, an American actress who works in movies, television, and theater.  She has a LONG list of credits including Peaches in the Netflix film Juanita, Rochelle Applebaum in the Martin Scorsese film The Wolf of Wall Street, Connie in the Spike Lee film BlacKkKlansman, and Janice in USA Network's Mr. Robot, and Mamie Fish in HBO's The Gilded Age. Ashlie is also the proud cat parent of two fur-babies, Mookie and Pearl. Four in five of U.S. families with school-age children are estimated to have a pet — and pets can play a big role in children's development, helping them to learn responsible behavior, respect for living things, and the ability to provide comfort, love, and loyalty. The ukulele music and original song, My Furry Friend, in this episode is written and performed by Bill English. Bill is an actor, musician, and voiceover artist based in NYC. Find extras and educator resources at playsparkler.org/podcast. 

In our episode "Celebrating Our Differences," Todd joined with Makeda Mays Green to chat about identity, belonging, and race with four big-hearted kids.  After the episode recording, Makeda and her colleague Dr. Colleen Russo Johnson stuck around to talk about their research and the resulting guide for families that inspired the episode. In this bonus episode interview, Makeda (SVP, Digital and Cultural Insights at Nickelodeon) and Colleen (VP, Digital and Cultural Consumer Insights at Nickelodeon) talk about what they learned when they surveyed more than 15,000 families and conducted detailed parent-child interviews with more than 50 families. They also share the guide that resulted, "Discussing Race With Young Children: A Step-by-Step Activity Guide." And they reflect on what the kids share in the episode. Parents, listen to this interview first before sharing with your little ones!Learn more about the research and the guide online at www.BigHeartWorld.org/DiscussingRace. Learn more about our podcast at www.PlaySparkler.org/podcast

In this episode, six- and seven-year-old kids of different races/ethnicities (Elliott, Finley, Landon, and Sky) join Todd and a special friend, Makeda Mays Green, to discuss identity, belonging, race, and racism. They share their observations and experiences — and then go on a journey to the Land of Qook-a-lackas, where they advise a Qook-a-leekie, Qwee-co, whose friends have been excluded from a Moon Day party because of their queckles.The role of Qwee-co is played by Krys Marshall, an actress who is currently playing the role of Danielle Poole, a NASA engineer and the agency's first African-American astronaut, on the Apple TV+ series "For All Mankind." Krys can also be seen on the CW's "Supergirl," CBS's "Bull," Showtime's "Shameless," "Criminal Minds," "NCIS," and "How I Met Your Mother," and NBC's Emmy-winning series "This Is Us." The ukulele music in the episode is written and performed by Bill English. Bill is an actor, musician, and voiceover artist based in NYC.  The original song in the episode, "Puzzle Pieces," is by Brooklyn, NY-based musician and longtime educator Benjamin Weiner. Find extras and educator resources at playsparkler.org/podcast. 

In this episode, three kids (Lauren, Esther, and Sam) join Todd to explore the feeling of anger — what it is, how it makes us feel, and what we can do about it! They share their experiences with anger and go on a journey to the Land of Qook-a-lackas where they advise a Qook-a-leekie, Kainaz, who is feeling very ... ANGRY.The roles of Kainaz is played by Marjan Neshat, an Iranian-born, American actress, who's well known for her roles on stage, and in film & TV. (Please also listen to our special bonus interview with Marjan about how she's transforming her own anger about what's happening in her home country of Iran into advocacy.) The ukulele music and the original song "Feelings are OK" are written and performed by Bill English. Bill is an actor, musician, and voiceover artist based in NYC.  Find extras and educator resources at playsparkler.org/podcast. 

There's a good chance that a sibling relationship will last longer than most other relationships in life. Many times, siblings can help children to define what they value and look for in other relationships. Siblings can also help each other to develop self-regulation and emotional understanding as they grow up together. All relationships will have some conflict, and this can promote growth ... but it can be tough, especially when you live together, or even share a bunk bed!In this episode, Todd talks with two groups of siblings (Eloise, Oliver, and Theo & Kettner and Reece) about what it's like to be siblings. Then they pile into a flying station wagon to visit the Land of Qook-a-Lackas, where they help a pair of Qook-a-leekie siblings, Kaiway and Kannon, sort through their conflict!The roles of Kaiway and Kannon are played by Jenn Lyon and Henry Vick. Jenn is an actress/writer/producer who lives in Brooklyn and is currently shooting a new show for HBO in Vancouver called “Dead Boy Detectives” and most recently starred on “Claws” on TNT. Henry is an entertainer, writer and performer living and working in NYC.The ukulele music and the original song "I'm Such a Lucky One" are written and performed by Bill English. Bill is an actor, musician, and voiceover artist based in NYC.  Find extras and educator resources at playsparkler.org/podcast. 

This weekend, Little Kids, Big Hearts recorded a new episode about one feeling that ALL of us have — anger! The guest Qook-a-leekie in our episode was played by a friend, Marjan Neshat, an amazing actress who has recently been channeling her own anger by amplifying the voices of people in her home country of  Iran. After recording the episode, Marjan stayed on for a one-on-one conversation about her recent experiences and advocacy related to what's happening in Iran. We wanted to release it today because it's about current events and seemed like a perfect discussion to share on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We believe deeply in having difficult conversations and not shying away from topics that may not be comfortable for everyone to discuss.  Parents don't always have a choice about what kinds of conversations they have with their children. Children see, hear, and read everything around them,  and they have questions. Parents, you might want to listen alone first before sharing this with your children. We hope that you have a meaningful Martin Luther King Jr.  Day and we are excited to share the full episode with you soon!

In this special fictional episode we learn how one small act of kindness can spread through a whole community. The story is the origin story of gummy bears in the Land of Qook-a-Lackas. But it is also about community and inclusiveness! Every single person in a community plays an important role and has the power to help others.In this episode, LKBH Host, Todd Loyd, reads the parts of Kenley (a parent Qook-a-Lacka) and Qwintin (a neighbor Qook-a-Lacka). We were excited to be joined by real-life friends, who bring this special fictional episode to life. You'll hear the voices of some friends who are currently part of ABC's Alaska Daily — Meredith Holzman, Matt Malloy, and Pablo Castelblanco — as well as the voice of Nadiyah Dorsey, a veteran of stage and screen, and the voice of Christy Pusz-Decatur, long-time Broadway actress and the creative producer of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast. Also enjoy the original song, "Spread the Love" by Bill English.Listen to the episode and keep the learning going with our free, fun education resources, available online at playsparkler.org/podcast!