In this special interview 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 short
films 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 "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!

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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 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/.

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!

When was the last time you tried something new? Was it hard? Was it scary? Was it fun? Trying new things can take us outside of our comfort zones and into places of uncertainty, which can be a bit scary ... for kids AND grown-ups. Trying new things requires a certain level of confidence that most people are not born with — we have to work at it! 

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. 

We all have dreams and nightmares, but they remain mysterious to most of us: Where do they come from? Why do we have them? How do they make us feel? How do we cope with the bad ones? In this episode, three of our friends — Isla, James, and Riya — share their dreams and nightmares, and then we meet up to go on an adventure to the Land of Qook-a-Lackas to visit DreamFest (a special Qook-a-Lacka dream ritual) to learn more about dreams.

Two special guests join us in this episode, and we are so grateful to them:

The ukulele music and the original song "Dreamland" 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.  He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and proud member of Sag/Aftra.

Christy Pusz Decatur is a storyteller and former actress, who is also Creative Producer of Little Kids, Big Hearts. In this episode, she is the voice of a Qook-a-Leekie named Quamie. Some of Christy's Broadway credits include The Odd Couple, Talk Radio and Baz Luhrman's La Boheme. Some TV credits include: Law and Order SVU + CI, Smash, and Ugly Betty. She is a proud mother of two big hearted little kids and lives in Denver, Colorado. 

WELCOME to Season 2 of the Little Kids, Big Hearts Podcast! We've been dreaming of this episode for a long time, and it's finally here! We can't wait to share all of this new season with you!

Find extras and educator resources at playsparkler.org/podcast. 

As we put together season two of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast, we're looking for kids who have big questions and big ideas about the topics we KNOW are on little kids’ minds. If you have a child — aged 4 to 10 — who has a lot to say about trying new things, sibling relationships, family traditions, or experiencing loss, we’d LOVE to connect! Please email us: podcast@playsparkler.org to get the ball rolling! 

And if your family loves the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast, please subscribe so that you get the new episodes of season 2 this coming fall as soon as they're available. 

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 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/

The team at Little Kids, Big Hearts wrote this special fictional story, The Dragon Among Us, for our friends at Stories Podcast. They initially published it on their podcast feed, and we're sharing it here on our feed with their permission. 

In The Dragon Among Us, we visit the Land of Qook-a-Lackas and meet some of the magical creatures who live there. We'll follow along as Crayton (a dragon) and Kaze (a Qook-a-Leekie) learn important lessons about being kind to friends and family and sticking up for others in need. 

Draw a picture of what you think any of the characters in this story look like, and then tag us and Stories Podcast on instagram (@little_kids_big_hearts_podcast and @storiespodcast)! We'd love to see your artwork and share it on our feed!

We'll be back with Season 2 of Little Kids, Big Hearts soon. Please subscribe so you won't miss a minute of our exciting new season and hear from real-life little kids with big hearts about feelings, friendship, dreams, nightmares, and much more! And please visit our friends at Stories Podcast to hear more imaginative stories for children and families. 

Each neighborhood, family, and child is unique, but there is so much that we share — and so much that kids across the world can do together to connect across oceans and borders! In Part II of our global citizenship episode, Marcus from Japan, Gaurav from India, Ella from Australia, Nils Jr. from Norway/USA, Eva from Venezuela, Sophia from England, and Lucy and Emaline from Scotland take an imaginary adventure to the Land of Qook-a-Lackas, where they continue sharing their own experiences and perspectives and exploring the big idea of "global citizenship" and what it means to share one, big world together. 

Some kids eat quesadillas for breakfast, some eat iddli, and some eat cereal — but there is SO MUCH that kids around the globe share in common! Meet Marcus from Japan, Gaurav from India, Ella from Australia, Nils Jr. from Norway/USA, Eva from Venezuela, Sophia from England, and Lucy and Emaline from Scotland to explore the idea of "global citizenship" and what it means to share one, big world. This is Part I of the Little Kids, Big Hearts episode about global citizenship. 

What would YOU do if someone was picking on a friend?  Join Todd, Cora, Riya, and Simon to explore what you can do to become an upstander in your school and community.  We all have the power to use our voices for good and to stand up for ourselves and others! 

"How to Help" highlights Orion, Zohaib, and Katelynn — three kids who are dong BIG things to help in their communities. Everyone, even little kids, can make a big difference. Listen to get inspired: Imagine ways YOU can be a helper in your family, school, and community. 

Kids around the world had a BIG transition back to school this year, filled with big feelings! The last school year was challenging and disrupted due to COVID-19. As we dive into a new school year, Todd chats with four big hearted kids from past episodes — before and after the first day — to discuss the return to school for the 2021-22 school year.

“Let’s Work it Out” is about interpersonal problems — and how to solve them together! Todd and three kids (all big siblings with lots of problem-solving know-how) draw on their experience and problem-solving skills to help Mango and the Qook-a-Lackas to resolve interpersonal conflicts. 

Have you ever looked for clues to find out how someone else is feeling? Todd, Roxy, and three empathetic children discuss how they notice and share others' feelings and how they show that they care.  

Have you ever made a new friend on Zoom or tried to stay connected to a friend who moved far away? In this episode, Todd, Ringo, and four insightful children discuss the magic of friendship. They explore how to make new friends and maintain friendships — plus how to be a good friend to others. 

What do you do when you're feeling angry or sad, or when you're facing something new and scary like COVID-19? In this episode, Todd, Rainbow, and four kids discuss big feelings, where they come from, and what to do with with them.

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/.

Little Kids, Big Hearts is a social and emotional learning podcast that helps parents, caregivers, and educators explore "heart skills" with their children. In this episode, our host, Todd, and his four- and five-year-old guests discuss the qualities and skills that make them special and uniquely themselves!

Little Kids, Big Hearts is a social and emotional learning podcast that helps parents, caregivers and educators explore "heart skills" with their children. In the first episode, Todd and four kids discuss what it means to have a "big heart" and what it feels like to be brave, sad, angry, happy, and silly. 

Welcome to Little Kids, Big Hearts, a new podcast that helps kids and their grown-ups explore what it means to have a BIG HEART with a little help from the show's host, Todd Loyd, a longtime early childhood educator. It’s a space where kids LEAD the discussion. If you like using your imagination, hanging out with puppets, and eating gummy bears then you’ve found the right place! Recommended for big-hearted kids ages 3-8 (and their grown-ups). 

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.

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/

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.

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.

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/

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/

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. 

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/