Little Kids, Big Hearts

Welcome friends! We’re so glad you’re joining us for another Kidventure on the Little Kids, Big Hearts Podcast.
Today, Todd is joined by three thoughtful kids, Credence (6), Zuri (7), and Gabe (8), for a warm and curious conversation about community and the many ways kids are already part of communities. Together, they explore what community means, from families and schools to neighborhoods, teams, and places of worship. They discuss how neighbors welcome one another, how teachers and grown-ups help when things feel hard, and how volunteering and helping others can make a difference.
Then, the kids close their eyes and travel on a butterfly bus to the Land of Qook-a-lackas, where they meet Quandy, a Qook-a-lacka whose community is facing a BIG problem. A whirlwind has scattered supplies all over the Land just before the big bright block party, leaving Quandy feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to bring everyone together With creativity, teamwork, and big-hearted ideas, the kids help transform piles of random objects into games, decorations, music, and art. Together, they discover that community isn’t about perfection; it's about sharing ideas, helping one another, and building something meaningful together.
Perfect for kids aged 2–11, and for listening together as a family.
IN THIS EPISODE, KIDS WILL:
Explore what community means in age-appropriate ways
Learn how helping others strengthens connection and belonging
Discover that everyone can contribute to their community
Use imagination to turn challenges into opportunities
GROWN-UPS, YOU CAN EXTEND THE CONVERSATION BY ASKING:
What communities are you a part of?
Who helps you when things feel hard?
How can we help others in our community, even in small ways?
🎭 Special Guest Qook-a-lacka: Mandy Gonzalez plays the role of Quandy. Mandy is an award-winning Broadway actress, singer, songwriter, and author. Mandy starred in Hamilton as Angelica Schuyler, originated Nina Rosario in In the Heights, starred as Elphaba in Wicked, performed at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, and is the author of the Fearless book series.
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 here for this heart-filled episode of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast.
This week, Todd is joined by returning kid guest Carmine and special guest Jessica Love, the award-winning author and illustrator of Julián Is a Mermaid and A Bed of Stars. Together, they explore creativity, imagination, and the many ways family members show love and support for each other.
Jessica shares the inspiration behind Julián Is a Mermaid, including how pictures can tell powerful stories with very few words and why Julián’s relationship with his abuela (his grandma) is at the heart of the book. Carmine asks thoughtful questions about being an author, storytelling, and pretending, leading to joyful conversations about mermaids, kitty cats, and chicken nuggets.
The conversation then turns to A Bed of Stars, a story about a child and parent camping together in the desert and wondering about the vast universe. Jessica talks about creating the book while pregnant with her son and discusses how stories can help kids feel less small in a big world.
This episode celebrates self-expression, imagination, and the many ways families help children feel safe, loved, and understood. Perfect for kids ages 2–11 and for listening together as a family.
In This Episode, Kids Will:
Learn how stories and pictures work together to share big ideas
Explore what family love and support can look like
Practice curiosity by asking thoughtful questions
Feel encouraged to draw, imagine, and create their own stories
Grown-Ups, You Can Extend the Conversation By Asking:
What stories or pictures make you feel safe and understood?
Who helps you feel loved when you want to be yourself?
What do you like to imagine when you’re falling asleep?
About Our Guest:
Jessica Love is an author, illustrator, and theater artist best known for Julián Is a Mermaid, which received the Stonewall Book Award and international acclaim. She is also the author of Julián at the Wedding and A Bed of Stars. A feature-length animated adaptation of Julián Is a Mermaid is currently in development with Cartoon Saloon. 
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.
Produced by Julia Levy at Sparkler Learning, with support from Meaghan Penrod.
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 for episode resources:
https://playsparkler.org/podcast

Welcome friends! This month on the Little Kids, Big Hearts 💕  podcast, we’ve been exploring the theme of family and all the ways families help us feel safe, loved, and strong.
In this special song and conversation episode, Todd is joined by longtime collaborator, educator, and composer Benjamin Weiner. Together, they revisit what kids shared in our family Kidventure episode — "Who's in My Family?" — about who is in their family, what they do together, and what they learn from their family.
Benjamin reflects on listening closely to kids’ words and transforming their ideas, rhythms, and feelings into music. He shares how children’s language naturally lends itself to songwriting and how family memories and storytelling shaped his own creative path.
The episode culminates in the debut of I’ve Got My Family, an original song inspired directly by the voices of kids on the podcast. The song celebrates families of all shapes and sizes and reminds listeners that love, care, and connection are what truly make a family.
This episode supports social and emotional learning by affirming belonging, inclusion, and safety, while encouraging kids to reflect on the people who make up their own families. Perfect for kids ages 2–11 and for listening together as a family.
In This Episode, Kids Will:
Hear their words transformed into music
Learn that families can look many different ways
Reflect on traditions, routines, and shared moments
Feel affirmed that their family is “just right”
Grown-Ups, You Can Extend the Conversation By Asking:
Who are the people that make up our family?
What are some things we love doing together?
What helps our family feel safe and connected?
About Our Guest:
Benjamin Weiner is a composer, educator, and longtime collaborator on Little Kids, Big Hearts. A former New York City school teacher, Benjamin creates music inspired directly by children’s voices, ideas, and lived experiences, transforming everyday moments into songs that support connection and emotional growth.
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 and produced by Julia Levy at Sparkler Learning, with support from Meaghan Penrod, also at Sparkler.
Sound design and mixing by Ryan Marth, with original 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

Welcome friends! We’re so glad you’re joining us for another Season 5 episode of the Little Kids, Big Hearts Podcast.
In this Mission episode, Todd is joined by our friend Georgia, 5, to continue exploring this month’s theme: FAMILIES!
Inspired by our Kidventure to the Land of Qook-a-lakas, kid listeners are invited to go on a special mission: Creating their own family quilt square. Together, Todd and Georgia talk about the people, traditions, foods, adventures, and creative moments that make families unique.
Georgia shares her own quilt square, featuring adventures and crafting, and explains how art, imagination, and time together help her family feel connected. We also hear from Carmine, who shares how music, friends, and pizza represent his family. 
This episode encourages kids to reflect on love, belonging, and everyday routines — and consider creating their own family quilt squares — to grow the Little Kids, Big Hearts family quilt. Every family looks different and in every family love matters!
The podcast is perfect for kids aged 2–11, and designed to be enjoyed together with a grown-up.
THIS WEEK’S MISSION:
Kids are invited to create their own family quilt square by drawing a square and adding about three things that make their family special. These can include people, pets, foods, games, traditions, or anything that shows love and care.
Once you've created your family's quilt square, grown-ups can send a picture to us at [email protected] (or on social media). We love seeing your creativity and growing our Little Kids, Big Hearts Family Quilt.
IN THIS EPISODE, KIDS WILL:
Reflect on what makes their family special
Practice expressing feelings through art and storytelling
Celebrate different family structures and traditions
Build empathy by seeing how other families share love
Take part in a creative, real-world mission
GROWN-UPS, YOU CAN EXTEND THE CONVERSATION BY ASKING:
What are three things that make our family special to you?
What activities help you feel most connected to our family?
How do different families show love in different ways?
ABOUT LITTLE KIDS, BIG HEARTS:
Little Kids, Big Hearts is a social and emotional learning podcast where kids lead the conversation. Through imaginative Kidventures, missions, stories, and songs, children explore feelings, relationships, kindness, and caring for others.
SUBSCRIBE, RATE, AND SHARE:
If this episode resonated with your family, please subscribe, rate, and share! It helps other families discover Little Kids, Big Hearts.
🎧 Find us on YouTube:
 https://youtube.com/@littlekidsbighearts
🎵 Follow us on TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@littlekidsbighearts
📸 Follow us on Instagram:
 https://www.instagram.com/little_kids_big_hearts_podcast
📘 Find us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LittleKidsBigHeartsPodcast 
CREDITS:
Little Kids, Big Hearts is hosted by Todd Loyd. Georgia, 5, co-hosted today's epsiode! It's produced by Julia Levy at Sparkler Learning, with support from Meaghan Penrod, also at Sparkler. Sound design and mixing by Ryan Marth, with original music by Bill English. Special thanks to Noggin for their support and the use of the song “Like Nobody Else” from Big Heart Beats.
Learn more about the podcast at:
 https://www.playsparkler.org/podcast

Welcome friends! We’re so glad you’re joining us for the Season 5 premiere of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast!
In this special Kidventure episode, Todd is joined by three thoughtful kids, Georgia, Jaden, and Carmine, for a warm, meaningful conversation about families and what makes them special.
Together, they talk about family traditions, bedtime routines, games, meals, and the everyday moments that build love and belonging.
Then, the kids close their eyes and travel as tiny imaginary particles to the Land of Qook-a-lakas, where they meet Quilliam, a Qook-a-laka who worries that their family is “just too teeny-weeny” to make a Dream Fest quilt square. With creativity, empathy, and big hearts, the kids help Quilliam discover that families of every size create meaningful memories and that love is what matters most.
This Kidventure episode of Little Kids, Big Hearts supports social and emotional learning by encouraging empathy, perspective-taking, emotional expression, and inclusion, while celebrating the idea that families come in all shapes and sizes. Perfect for kids ages 3–11 and for listening together as a family.
About Our Guest Star:
The role of Quilliam in this episode is played by Ryann Redmond, an actress and singer. Ryann originated Bridget in Bring It On: The Musical, appeared in the original cast of If/Then, performed in Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville, and made history as the first female Olaf in Frozen on Broadway.
In This Episode, Kids Will:
Explore different family structures in an inclusive, age-appropriate way
Practice empathy through conversation and imagination
Learn that love, care, and connection define “family”
Use creative storytelling to solve a problem in the Land of Qook-a-lakas
Reflect on routines and traditions that build belonging
Grown-Ups, Extend the Conversation By Asking:
Who is part of our family? 
What are some special things we like to do together as a family? Do we have any traditions? 
How are our family routines similar or different from our friends' routines? 
What helps you feel safe, loved, and included at home?
What would YOU include on your quilt square? 
Find educator resources to keep the learning going at:
https://playsparkler.org/familyepisode/
About Little Kids, Big Hearts:
Little Kids, Big Hearts is a social and emotional learning podcast where kids lead the discussion through Kidventures, stories, songs, missions, and conversations!
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:
Hosted by Todd Loyd. Produced by Julia Levy at Sparkler Learning, with support from Meaghan Penrod. Sound design and mixing by Ryan Marth, with original music by Bill English.
Special thanks to Noggin for their support and use of “Like Nobody Else” from the Big Heart Beats album.
Learn more and find episode resources at:
https://playsparkler.org/podcast