A Summer Road Trip Podcast Mixtape: Find your new favorite kids podcast!
Summer road trips have changed a bit in the last few decades. Sadly, they have still not been replaced with supersonic train rides or, my personal preference, teleportation. But what is going on inside the car has changed over time. It used to be that adults turned on radio they enjoyed and children sat in the backseat, b̶l̶i̶s̶s̶f̶u̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶s̶t̶a̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶p̶a̶s̶s̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶s̶c̶e̶n̶e̶r̶y̶ fighting with each other. But these days there are things like bluetooth, tablets, and movies. Oh, and there are also podcasts!
Let Kids Listen, a grassroots organization that advocates for high-quality audio content for kids, help you find your new favorite podcast with our road trip mixtape episode! On this special episode, you will hear samples from the following Kids Listen member shows:
This beautifully produced storytelling podcast for kids ages 4 to 10 tells carefully-selected folktales from around the world. Circle Round’s mixtape sample features a taste of an Ethiopian story called the Lion’s Whisker, which touches on sibling relationships and learning to get along with others. It stars Miles Brown and Marsai Martin (both from ABC’s “Black-ish”) and Ofeibea Quist-Arcton (NPR).
From host Rebecca Sheir: After a special “Summer Pop-Up” interim season, Circle Round launches its second season in September, with folktales starring Emmy Award winner Ed Asner, Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis and HGTV’s John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino. The next edition of Circle Round Live is October 13th at the Boston Book Festival.
Little Stories for Tiny People
This storytelling podcast for young children features original stories with a cast of characters that will delight the whole family. In the special mixtape episode, host Rhea Pechter (oh wait, that’s me) brings you a story about a spider’s relationship to his web. Season 5 of Little Stories for Tiny People will begin in September. You can send in your own sound effects for the show by recording a voice memo and sending them to rhea@littlestoriestinypeople.com. My first picture book, based on a story from the podcast, will be available later this fall.
This delightfully interactive podcast created by music educator Dan Saks is sneakily educational. A perfect road trip podcast, Noodle Loaf will have the entire car engaged in ridiculousness. In the mixtape episode, join Dan and his super cute kids as you sing along to a very silly echo song and play name-that-sound. Season two will start September 6th.
This imaginative storytelling podcast is filled with original songs and playful sound effects. Story Spectacular’s mixtape sample features a story about a rubber duck.
From host Angela Ferrari: Rubber ducky is a bath toy and usually lives indoors. But today the little ducky will go on a backyard adventure with the other pool toys! The rubber duck isn’t sure if he wants to jump into the water. Will the ducky “chicken out” or make a big splash? To hear even more silly stories and to join in on all the summer fun by entering the Story Spectacular coloring contest, go to: http://www.storyspectacular.com/
This award-winning podcast for middle schoolers features real kids discussing books. In the special mixtape episode, host Kitty Felde leads students in discussing the winner of the 2015 Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award Honor, The Crossover by Kwame Alexander. The children even sing a song they created, inspired by the book.
From host Kitty Felde: Book club for Kids learned it will receive the California Library Association’s technology professional award. The organization says “Kitty demonstrates the power that technology has to augment traditional library services.” Felde will also be presenting at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) this coming fall.
This wacky and hilarious podcast features stories improvised from listener questions. In the mixtape episode, host Mr. Eric hits the road with all your favorite What If World characters to tell you how he makes the show. In fact, he’ll even show you by answering a “What if question,” just as soon as everyone in the car quiets down.
From host Eric O’Keefe: Live What If Workshop (for kids 7–12)! We’ll be at Children’s Bookworld on August 11th teaching an Intro to Improv from 2:30 to 3:30. Mr. Eric will give kids tips and activities for live performance, working together, and inventing original stories. Finally, performers will tell a theatrical story along with Mr. Eric. If you live near Santa Monica, CA, come check it out!”
Find this special Kids Listen road trip mixtape compilation in the feeds of all the included kids podcasts in the month of August. You can also find all of the shows listed at www.kidslisten.org and the Kids Listen iOs app.
