Little Kids, Big Hearts

Welcome friends! We're so glad you're joining us for something a little different on Little Kids, Big Hearts.

Today, Todd is taking us on a musical adventure through past seasons of original songs, every one of them inspired by the real conversations, feelings, and ideas that kids brought to this show. There is a song about family in all its forms. A song about making room at the table for everyone. A siblings song that started with...

Welcome friends! We're so glad you're joining us for another special mashup episode of Little Kids, Big Hearts.

More than five years ago, the very first episode of this podcast was called What's in Your Heart? It was all about feelings, and one of the kids on that episode said something that has stayed with Todd ever since: "My heart feels all the feelings right now." Over the years, that idea has come up again and again, in Kidvent...

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 h...

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 abou...

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 qu...

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 becaus...

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...

Welcome friends! In this special bonus Interview episode, Todd sits down with his friend, four-time Tony Award nominee and celebrated Broadway and television star Raúl Esparza.

Together they dig into what it really means to follow a passion you cannot quite explain, even when it scares you. Raul talks about growing up in Miami in a Cuban family, singing old Cuban songs for his grandmother, and how his curiosity was the thing that sh...

Welcome friends! In this Interview episode, Todd is joined by singer-songwriter Christopher Burkholder and returning guest Jack, age six, who you may remember from our episode about military families.

Together they catch up on Jack's summer (swimming lessons and summer camp!) before Christopher shares the brand new original song he wrote called "See You Then," inspired by the words of three brave kids, including Jack, who opened up ...

Welcome friends! We're so glad you're joining us for a brand new Storytime episode of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast.

In this episode, Todd and special guest Leo, Todd's former student, bring an original story to life set in the Land of Qook-a-lackas.

The story follows Quinjamin, a young Qook-a-leekie who loves mornings best: extra fluffy pancakes with quiddleberry drizzle, walks through the meadow, and time with their beloved g...

Welcome friends! We're so glad you're joining us for a brand new Mission episode of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast.

In this episode, Todd is joined by co-host Georgia, calling in from Fort Lauderdale where she is spending some of the summer with her grandparents. Together they dig into something a lot of kids know about: The way missing someone can feel the biggest right at bedtime, when everything gets quiet and your brain sta...

Welcome friends! We're so glad you're joining us for a brand new Kidventure episode of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast.

In this episode, Todd travels to the Land of Qook-a-lackas by moonlight with Jack, Harper, and Nile, three kids who each have a parent serving in the military. There they meet Quodger, a Qook-a-lacka whose grown-up is far away helping care for the moon mirrors past the misty mountains. A big cloud storm has int...

Welcome friends! In this Interview episode, Todd is joined by writer, songwriter, and co-creator of Lulu is a Rhinoceros, Allison Flom, and seven-year-old kid interviewer Briar, who came prepared with thoughtful questions that kept everyone on their toes.

Together, they dig into what it really means to be yourself, even when others do not understand. Allison shares how she and her father co-created Lulu, a bulldog who knows she is a...

Welcome friends! We're so glad you're joining us for a brand new Storytime episode of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast.

In this episode, Todd, Vivien, and Kit bring an original story to life, set in the Land of Qook-a-lackas, where the hills roll like soft green blankets and the streams hum sleepy songs.

The story follows Quivian, a young Qook-a-leekie who loves nothing more than climbing to a hilltop called Twinkle Top every even...

Welcome friends! We're so glad you're joining us for a brand new Mission episode of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast.

In this episode, Todd is joined by co-host Georgia for a warm and curious conversation about identity, the things that make each of us uniquely ourselves. Georgia's class has been studying identity through self-portraits and the origins of their names. She comes in full of ideas, including her talent for giving co...

Welcome friends! We're so glad you're joining us for a brand new Kidventure episode of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast.

In this episode, Todd travels to the Land of Qook-a-lackas with Charles, age nine, Vivien, age seven and a half, and Summer, age five, where they meet Quivvy, a Qook-a-leekie who loves performing more than anything in the world. Quivvy sings, dances, turns every game into a show, and fills a journal with ideas ...

Welcome friends! In this Interview episode, Todd chats with legendary author and illustrator Rosemary Wells, creator of the beloved Max & Ruby series — and two very special kid interviewers, Ripley, age eight, and Journey, age eleven — who you may remember from season one.

Together, they dig into what it means to write stories that make readers see themselves — and explore how the characters Max and Ruby were i...

Welcome friends! In this special bonus Interview episode, Todd is joined by New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Stutzman and returning guest Bea, age 8, who you may remember from our Friendship Kidventure episode.

Together they dig into what it really means to build stories around friendship, from the origins of Tiny T-Rex and his best friend Pointy, to why honest storytelling connects with readers of all ages. Jonathan talks...

Welcome friends! In this song 🎶 episode, Todd is joined by singer-songwriter Christopher Burkholder and returning guest Carmine, age seven, who you may remember from our episode about family.

Together, they dig into what life as a musician really looks like, from writing hundreds of songs before releasing one, to learning harmonica on the side, to growing up as the second oldest of six kids in a homeschooled family outside Philade...