Why are Theme Songs so Important, Particularly for Kids Podcasts?
7 Kids & Family podcasts with theme songs that invite you into their immersive, imaginative storytelling.
The popcorn’s been popped and everyone is nestled in to their favorite spot to watch an animated film for family night. The music begins — it’s so vibrant and exciting — and even before one character comes into view and utters a single word, you are already drawn in and ready to be immersed in the story.
We know how important music is for films and television made for kids, but what about podcasts? For podcasts rooted in storytelling, having original music or a theme song is an essential part of a great listening experience.
A well-crafted podcast theme song:
· Sets the overall feeling and mood of the show
· Transports listeners into the show’s universe
· Helps to connect you emotionally to the story and/or show’s mission
· Lifts your spirits and leaves you with a positive lasting impression
Here are some kids and family podcasts whose theme songs top the charts:
Adventures of Power Dog in Dogland
The Adventures of Power Dog in Dogland is a fantasy-action-adventure story podcast for kids and their families about sweet dogs on a planet called Dogland. Each episode is written by a mother and kid team who ask each other “How would dogs solve these problems?” They turn the typical hero’s journey on its ear to explore ideas about community, building self-esteem, managing big feelings, and accepting nothing less than true belonging.
This podcast has two theme songs:
Power Dog’s Theme
This is the main bop and once you hear it, your imaginations are going to skyrocket out of this world and into a galaxy far, far away.
Credits: Music by Jason Roark, Lyrics by Jason, Phoebe Owens and Hank Crozier with help from the Power Circle Writing Doulas
Performed by: Jason Roark and Jen Bernard
Power Dog! He Won’t Give Up by Granny and Gramps
It’s D for Dogland! Shake, wiggle, wriggle, dance or move in whatever way suits you to this custom-made, old-time, bluegrass fiddle and banjo song.
Credits: Music by Phoebe Owens and Hank Crozier
Performed by Jean Murphy and Scott Marckx (AKA Granny and Gramps)
Banjo Outro by Jean Murphy
Mastered by Jason Roark
Armchair Adventures
Armchair Adventures is a podcast produced by Made By Mortals, a company in the UK that creates theatrical experiences in collaboration with artists, health and social care organizations and a mix of community participants. They were working with their over 65 group on making original musical theatre shows for kids when the pandemic hit, so they pivoted to podcasting. That’s how “Armchair Adventures” was born.
The podcast is an interactive experience for young imaginations where Connie and her gang of explorers take kids to magical places to meet extraordinary people — It’s jam-packed with stories, songs and move-along-with-us fun.
Armchair Adventures Theme Song
Their theme song reflects what makes the podcast so special. It’s an invitation to sing out, clap along, and dance around to the beat. You can hear instruments from other parts of the world — a marimba and glockenspiel — to bring in a sense of adventure. It’s super catchy and easy for kids to remember, with empowering lyrics that include “you can go anywhere you like” and “your imagination flies.”
Credits: AJS Music
Dorktales Storytime
Be the hero of your own story! That’s at the heart of Dorktales Storytime, an imaginative podcast for kids and their geeky grownups. Enter their Once Upon a Time world where Jonathan and Mr. Reginald T. Hedgehog take you on a journey of curiosity and acceptance — through fractured fairy tales with social emotional themes, inspiring histories of hidden heroes, and anything-is-possible lore stories
Once Upon a Time — Dorktales Theme Song
Getting lost in a good story — that’s what the theme song is all about! The lyrics reflect Dorktales’ universe filled with quirky characters in a magical literary land where anything is possible. They fortify the pod’s mission of acceptance where everyone is encouraged to let their geek flags fly. Once Upon a Time is a celebration of the connection that the podcast team has with their community, paying tribute to moments of growth and empowerment.
Discover more backstory about the Dorktales theme song in an article by the song’s creator.
Credits: Written and Produced by Molly Murphy
Vocals by Molly Murphy, Monique Hafen Adams, Kristin Schmitz
Musicians: Andrew Sheron and Phil Harris
Recorded and mixed by Andrew Sheron at Conveyor NYC
Mastered by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studios
Girl Tales
Damsels in distress? Princesses in need of protection? You won’t find any of those stories as part of Girl Tales reimagined fairy tales. The girls in their stories take control of their own destinies and turn favorite fairy tales, fables and myths into exciting new adventures with a feminist twist.
Bein’ a Princess — Girl Tales Theme Song
Originally created for the Girl Tales’ story, The Princess Musicians of Maple Street, the creative team liked it so much they decided to make it their theme song. “We’re a feminist kids’ podcast,” says Rebecca Cunningham, “and this song is about what it means to be a princess — it ‘ain’t about the dresses’ and ‘it’s bigger than a crown.’ The song also tells us that there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be a princess or embracing your femininity if that’s what you’re into. What really matters, though, is being a good person — being kind, honest and respecting others.”
Listen to a preview of the Girl Tales Theme Song. Members and supporters of Girl Tales Patreon have full access to their Bein’ a Princess theme song.
Credits: Lyrics by Amy Gijsbers van Wijk
Music and vocals by Eli Denby Wood
Page Flippers Take on the World
The Magic School Bus meets Reading Rainbow! Page Flippers Take on the World is a podcast where kids save the day by exploring their interests, discovering new books and talking to real-life experts. It’s hosted by two Brooklyn Public Library children’s librarians who want to encourage a love of reading, increase kids’ confidence and introduce young listeners to the world of work — with lots of songs and funny jokes.
Page Flippers Theme Song
I can do so many things. I read about the things I dream…I’m a Page Flipper, I can do anything! Virginia Marshall from the Brooklyn library explains what their theme song represents: “We wanted our theme song to be jazzy and fun, something that kids and their grownups would both enjoy. We used voices from some of our kids to emphasize that we center kids’ perspectives and voices in our show. The lyrics are all about empowerment, which is another mission of the podcast! We encourage children to identify their strengths and accomplishments in order to boost their confidence, and to learn and grow. We also want them to know that what interests them now as kids is valuable and important, and could become a lifelong passion.”
Credits: Music composed by Ty Frison
Melody and lyrics by Sheneatha Frison
Stoopkid Stories
Follow seven young, Black characters as they face a new adventure in every episode and overcome different obstacles dealing with their friends, families, school and community. Every story has a lesson that will spark conversations in households, classrooms, and playgrounds all over the world.
Stoopkid Stories Theme Song
Melissa Victor is the creator and host of Stoopkid Stories and she had this to say about the show’s theme song: “I was always a fan of theme songs on cartoons and sitcoms growing up in the 90s-00s. Because my show is heavily influenced by that, I thought it would be cool to write a theme song in that style. Hey Arnold, All That, Fresh Prince of Belair and Zoom were some of my favorite tv theme songs. The Stoopkid Stories song to me is a hype invitation to kids to come and join me on the stoop to have fun together and enjoy a story that reflects their daily lives.”
The theme song plays at the beginning of this episode:
Credits: Lyrics by Melissa Victor
Music by Dmitry and Kostya Smykov
What If World
What if a tiny dragon lived in my closet? What if there were a never-ending bowl of ice cream? What if cats ruled the world? This is the wildly popular storytelling podcast inspired by kids’ imaginatively curious questions. Pirates, fairies, wizards, robots and even more offbeat characters join Mr. Eric, the show’s host, as he weaves his fantastically wacky tales to inspire kids to keep laughing and learning!
What If World Theme Song
The heart of the show is “what if” questions submitted by listeners and the theme song illustrates this perfectly. Through the quirky tune and lyrics, some of the typical questions kids ask are put front-and-center.
Credits: Written and performed by Craig Martinson
So, for your next family night,
…set out the snacks, get cozy and snuggle up, and settle in for a captivating screen-free experience as these podcast shows–and theme songs–set you off on your next immersive storytelling journey!
