Little Kids, Big Hearts

Welcome friends! We're so glad you're joining us for something a little different on Little Kids, Big Hearts.
As we bridge into a new season, Todd is pulling back the curtain on one of the most magical parts of every Kidventure and Storytime episode: the moment kids describe what the Qook-a-lackas and Qook-a-leekies looked like to them.
In the Land of Qook-a-lackas, the creatures there look different to every child who visits. Some have fur and spikes. Some have scales. Some change color depending on how they are feeling. And what each kid sees is shaped entirely by their own imagination. Over the past five seasons of the show, Todd has asked kids this question again and again, and the answers have been endlessly surprising. A panda. A hedgehog. A ginormous unicorn. A lavender dragon. A tiny purple troll from the movie Trolls. The bird on the Fruit Loops box. A creature with tie-dye fur, spikes, and an English flag printed on it.
This episode strings many of these moments together, with Todd reflecting on what it means that no two kids ever see quite the same thing: Because the way we view the world shapes what we see everywhere, not just in the land of Qook-a-lackas.
Perfect for kids ages 3-11 and for listening together as a family.
In This Episode, Listeners Will:
Hear kids describe the Qook-a-lackas in their own words
Discover just how wildly different two kids can imagine the same creature
Be reminded that imagination is personal, specific, and worth paying attention to
Catch up on some of their favorite moments from past episodes
Be inspired to draw their own version of a Qook-a-lacka or Qook-a-leekie
Grown-Ups, You Can Extend the Listening By:
Asking your child: "If you visited the Land of Qook-a-lackas, what do you think a Qook-a-lacka would look like to you?"
Listening to a kidventure episode together, drawing the featured Qook-a-lacka, and comparing your versions
Talking about how two people can experience the same thing differently and both be right
Going back to listen to a full Kidventure or Storytime episode together and open up your imaginations!
About Little Kids, Big Hearts:
Little Kids, Big Hearts is a social and emotional learning podcast where kids lead the conversation. Through real discussions, imaginative stories, songs, and Kidventures, children explore feelings, relationships, kindness, and what it means to care for others.
Subscribe, Rate, and Share:
If this episode resonated with your family, please subscribe, rate, and share the show. It helps other families discover Little Kids, Big Hearts.
🎧 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@littlekidsbighearts
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@littlekidsbighearts
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/little_kids_big_hearts_podcast
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleKidsBigHeartsPodcast
Credits:
Little Kids, Big Hearts is hosted by Todd Loyd. It's produced by Julia Levy at Sparkler Learning, with support from Meaghan Penrod and Adrianna Arocho. Sound design and mixing by Ryan Marth. Special thanks to Noggin for their support and the song “Like Nobody Else” from the Big Heart Beats album.
🌈 Visit The Little Kids, Big Hearts Podcast website:
 https://playsparkler.org/podcast

Welcome friends! In this Interview episode, Todd is joined by pediatrician Dr. Zach Kircher and returning guest Carson, age seven, for a conversation all about what it's really like to go to the doctor.
Carson comes prepared with some great questions for Dr. Zach, including what a pediatrician does, why he wanted to become a doctor, how many years it takes to become one, and what he loves most about his job. Together, they talk about what happens during a regular checkup, why doctors want kids to ask questions, and how getting to know your doctor can help you feel more comfortable.
Dr. Zach also shares some helpful strategies for kids who feel nervous about going to the doctor, especially when it comes to shots and vaccines. From bringing a favorite stuffed animal or fidget toy to using distractions, asking questions, and making choices about where and when a shot happens, kids learn that they can have a voice in their own doctor's visits.
Perfect for kids ages 3 to 11 and for listening together as a family.
In This Episode, Kids Will:
Learn what a pediatrician does and how they care for kids
Discover what happens during a regular doctor's checkup
Learn why it's important to ask questions about your body and health
Discover ways to feel more comfortable when visiting the doctor
Learn strategies for handling nerves around shots and vaccines
Be reminded that it's okay to tell a doctor when you're feeling scared or worried
Hear why being brave can mean asking questions and taking things one step at a time
Grown-Ups, You Can Extend the Listening By:
Asking your child: "What is something you would want to know before going to the doctor?"
Talking about what usually happens during your child's checkups so they know what to expect
Asking your child what they would like to bring with them to help them feel comfortable
Practicing telling a doctor or nurse, "I'm feeling nervous," or "Can you tell me what you're going to do?"
Reminding your child that asking questions is always okay when they don't understand something about their health
Dr. Zach Kircher is a pediatrician who works in Hartford, Connecticut. He knew he wanted to become a "baby doctor" when he was just four years old, inspired in part by his mother, a preschool teacher, and by his own relationship with his pediatrician. He loves getting to know his patients and families, watching kids grow up, and helping children feel better when they're sick.
About Little Kids, Big Hearts:
Little Kids, Big Hearts is a social and emotional learning podcast where kids lead the conversation. Through real discussions, imaginative stories, songs, and Kidventures, children explore feelings, relationships, kindness, and what it means to care for others.
Subscribe, Rate, and Share:
 If this episode resonated with your family, please subscribe, rate, and share the show. It helps other families discover Little Kids, Big Hearts.
🎧 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@littlekidsbighearts
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@littlekidsbighearts
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/little_kids_big_hearts_podcast
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleKidsBigHeartsPodcast
Credits:
Little Kids, Big Hearts is hosted by Todd Loyd. Its produced by Julia Levy at Sparkler Learning, with support from Meaghan Penrod and Adrianna Arocho. Sound design and mixing by Ryan Marth. Special thanks to Noggin for their support and the song “Like Nobody Else” from The Big Heart Beats album.
🌈 Visit The Little Kids, Big Hearts Podcast website:
 https://playsparkler.org/podcast

Welcome friends! We're so glad you're joining us for a brand new Storytime episode of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast, continuing this month's theme all about doctors.
In this episode, Todd, Vivien, and Orli bring an original story to life set in the Land of Qook-a-lackas.
The story follows Quarin, a young Qook-a-leekie who loves collecting interesting things: pebbles that look like smiling quiddleberries, feathers shaped like question marks, heart-shaped leaves. One afternoon while exploring a quiet new part of the land, Quarin steps on something near a patch of glowing moss. One quick poke, nothing visible, so Quarin shrugs and carries on. But the foot keeps hurting, and the next morning it is time to visit the Land's Healer.
Quarin's imagination gets immediately and dramatically busy. Giant tweezers. A super villain cape. A very bad time.
What actually happens is something different. The Land's Healer asks questions, listens carefully, uses a magnifying leaf and a listening shell, and treats the whole thing like a mystery to solve. By the end, Quarin has a new word for what healers do: they are detectives.
Featuring returning kid guest Vivien who is 7 years old and plays Quarin, and Orli, an educator who is Todd’s teaching partner in New York City playing the roles of Quorley and the Land’s Healer.
Perfect for kids ages 3-11, especially any kid with a checkup or appointment coming up soon.
In This Episode, Kids Will:
Travel to the Land of Qook-a-lackas for an original story about visiting the healer
Meet Quarin, whose imagination turns tiny tweezers into a giant super villain
Discover that healers ask questions and gather clues, just like detectives
Learn that sometimes our worries grow much bigger than the thing we are actually worried about
Hear a story that makes doctor visits feel a little more familiar and a lot less scary
Grown-Ups, You Can Extend the Storytime By:
Asking your child: "What do you think doctors are trying to figure out when they ask you questions?"
Talking through what tools a doctor might use before an upcoming visit
Acknowledging that it is completely normal for imaginations to make things scarier than they are
Reminding your child that it is always okay to ask questions and to hold someone's hand
About Little Kids, Big Hearts:
Little Kids, Big Hearts is a social and emotional learning podcast where kids lead the conversation. Through real discussions, imaginative stories, songs, and Kidventures, children explore feelings, relationships, kindness, and what it means to care for others.
Subscribe, Rate, and Share:
 If this episode resonated with your family, please subscribe, rate, and share the show. It helps other families discover Little Kids, Big Hearts.
🎧 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@littlekidsbighearts
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@littlekidsbighearts
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/little_kids_big_hearts_podcast
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleKidsBigHeartsPodcast
Credits:
Little Kids, Big Hearts is hosted by Todd Loyd. It's produced by Julia Levy at Sparkler Learning, with support from Meaghan Penrod and Adrianna Arocho. Sound design and mixing by Ryan Marth. Special thanks to Noggin for their support and the song “Like Nobody Else” from the Big Heart Beats album.
🌈 Visit The Little Kids, Big Hearts Podcast website:
 https://playsparkler.org/podcast

Welcome friends! We're so glad you're joining us for a brand new Mission episode of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast, continuing this month's theme all about going to the doctor.
In this episode, Todd is joined by co-host Georgia, fresh from a visit to Florida and about to head to Portugal, for a warm and honest conversation about going to the doctor. Georgia talks about getting her blood drawn and watching the whole thing because she was too curious not to, about shots and how the memory can feel worse than the actual thing, and about the time she went down the biggest water slide at a water park even though she was scared, because being brave does not mean you are never scared.
They also check in on some ideas from Carson in the Kidventure episode, share their own strategies for taking the worry off, and Georgia adds a second mission of her own.
This month kids get two missions: create your Doctor Superpower Plan with three or four things that help you feel brave and calm at the doctor's office, and then Georgia's mission: find a kid who has a big appointment coming up and help them feel less nervous.
Perfect for kids ages 3-11 and for listening together as a family.
In This Episode, Kids Will:
Hear Georgia talk honestly about getting blood drawn, shots, and feeling nervous before appointments
Learn that the memory of something scary can feel bigger than the thing itself
Discover that bravery means doing something even when you feel scared, not waiting until you feel ready
Collect ideas for their own Doctor Superpower Plan including stuffies, fidget spinners, deep breaths, and holding a hand
Get two missions: one for themselves and one to help someone else
Grown-Ups, You Can Extend the Mission By:
Asking your child: "What would go in your Doctor Superpower Plan?"
Talking about an upcoming appointment before you go in honest, age-appropriate language
Asking your child if there is a friend they could help feel brave 
Sharing a time you felt scared but did something anyway, just like Georgia on the water slide
Reminding your child that questions are always okay to ask at the doctor's office
About Little Kids, Big Hearts:
Little Kids, Big Hearts is a social and emotional learning podcast where kids lead the conversation. Through real discussions, imaginative stories, songs, and Kidventures, children explore feelings, relationships, kindness, and what it means to care for others.
Subscribe, Rate, and Share:
If this episode resonated with your family, please subscribe, rate, and share the show. It helps other families discover Little Kids, Big Hearts.
🎧 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@littlekidsbighearts
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@littlekidsbighearts
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/little_kids_big_hearts_podcast
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleKidsBigHeartsPodcast
Credits:
Little Kids, Big Hearts is hosted by Todd Loyd. It's produced by Julia Levy at Sparkler Learning, with support from Meaghan Penrod and Adrianna Arocho. Sound design and mixing by Ryan Marth. Special thanks to Noggin for their support and the song “Like Nobody Else” from the Big Heart Beats Album.
🌈 Visit The Little Kids, Big Hearts Podcast website:
 https://playsparkler.org/podcast

Welcome friends! We're so glad you're joining us for a brand new Kidventure episode of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast, and a brand new theme for the month: Doctors!
In this episode, Todd travels to the Land of Qook-a-lackas on floating leaves with Carson, age 7, Zayn, age 8, and Lynn, age 6, where they land in the Glow Health Meadow and reunite with a Qook-a-lacka named Quabe.
Today is Quabe's very first glow health checkup as a newly grown-up Qook-a-lacka, and their imagination has been running wild filling in all the blanks. Together, the kids help Quabe build a Doctor Adventure Map: a step-by-step guide through what to expect, from checking in at the front desk and waiting with a fidget spinner or a favorite toy, to the blood pressure cuff, the tongue depressor, and yes, the Qooka Booster. When the shot question comes up, the kids answer with honesty, humor, and a timely reminder that it only hurts a little bit and it is actually a superpower for your body.
Featuring the voice of Quabe, played by Tony Award-winning actor Gabriel Ebert.
Perfect for kids ages 3-11 and for listening together as a family.
In This Episode, Kids Will:
Float to the Glow Health Meadow on glowing leaves and help a nervous Quabe prepare
Build a Doctor Adventure Map step by step through a real checkup
Learn what actually happens at a doctor's visit in honest, kid-friendly language
Discover that deep breaths, a favorite toy, or a great playlist can make waiting easier
Get a mission to create their own Doctor Superpower Plan before their next visit
Grown-Ups, You Can Extend the Kidventure By:
Asking your child: "What three things would go in your Doctor Superpower Plan?"
Talking through what will happen at an upcoming appointment before you go
Letting your child bring one comfort item of their choice to the visit
Acknowledging that shots are quick and it is okay to feel nervous about them
Celebrating bravery after the appointment with a small treat or sticker
About Gabriel Ebert: Gabriel Ebert is an American stage actor and singer who won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for originating the role of Mr. Wormwood in Matilda the Musical. He also was nominated for the Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his work in John Proctor is the Villain in 2025. In movies, he's appeared in in Ricki and the Flash (2015) alongside Meryl Streep and News of the World (2020) with Tom Hanks. On TV, he's had a recurring role in season three of Mr. Mercedes and made appearances in The Mandalorian, Dickinson, and Elsbeth. Ebert is also a singer with a new folk album, Bucking Horse, which is being released this month.
About Little Kids, Big Hearts: Little Kids, Big Hearts is a social and emotional learning podcast where kids lead the conversation. Through real discussions, imaginative stories, songs, and Kidventures, children explore feelings, relationships, kindness, and what it means to care for others.
Subscribe, Rate, and Share: If this episode resonated with your family, please subscribe, rate, and share the show. It helps other families discover Little Kids, Big Hearts.
🎧 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@littlekidsbighearts
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@littlekidsbighearts
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/little_kids_big_hearts_podcast
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleKidsBigHeartsPodcast
Credits: Little Kids, Big Hearts is hosted by Todd Loyd. It's produced by Julia Levy at Sparkler Learning, with support from Meaghan Penrod and Adrianna Arocho. Sound design and mixing by Ryan Marth with ukulele music by Bill English. Special thanks to Noggin for their support and the song “Like Nobody Else” from The Big Heart Beats album.
🌈 Visit The Little Kids, Big Hearts Podcast website:
 https://playsparkler.org/podcast