The Story Seeds Podcast

Hello Story Seeds Podcast listeners. It’s been a while! We are excited to share this special episode - a collaboration we have done with Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups about Feelings. This episode features our story “The World’s Biggest Detective” by author Chris Grabenstein and creative rockstar, Jasper. Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups is a 7-part audio adventure where creators from the Kids Listen community come together to explore feelings in all their shapes and sizes. Each episode pairs two related emotions with original clips and reflections to help kids (and grownups!) understand, name, and navigate their feelings. This episode's theme is a deep dive into the emotions of embarrassment and pride. You'll listen to stories that showcase moments that make us squirm, moments that make us shine, and how each can teach us something about who we are and who we want to be. Embarrassment and pride might seem like opposites, but they’re really two sides of the same coin. Both are “self-conscious” emotions that help us reflect on how we show up in the world.   Educators & Caregivers: Download this free PDF Activity Sheet created by Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, a children’s psychologist and podcaster. You can also check out Literary Safari’s brand new picture book for children ages 3-8 Life is a Dance: Enjoy It which also explores the themes of embarrassment and pride. About Kids Listen Kids Listen is a volunteer-run non-profit organization dedicated to championing high-quality audio for children and families. The organization fosters collaboration among producers, provides resources for educators and librarians, and helps families discover excellent screen-free content. Through community-building, advocacy, and research, Kids Listen sets best practices for the development, production, and promotion of children’s podcasts. The full list of themes that Big Emotions Kids Listen Mashup podcast series explores are: Fear & Bravery  | Jealousy & Openness | Anger & Forgiveness | Belonging & Independence | Embarrassment & Pride | Love & Sadness | Endings & Beginnings. Listen here For more information go to: https://kidslisten.org/

Since 1996, The Webby Awards have honored the best of the Internet, so it is kind of a big deal that our small and independently produced podcast is nominated for one this year!  The episode we are nominated for is Episode 11: "A Nose that Knows" which brought together nine-year old leukemia survivor Jocelyn and Katherine Applegate, the Newbery Award-winning author of The One and Only Ivan, to grow  a real-life inspired story about a super dog named Sally who helps a girl with cancer feel better. This episode is not only about the power of imagination, but also about resilience and friendship! We're thrilled it's been recognized by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. We know full well that our podcast would be nada, zilch, nothing, zero, rien, kuchh nahin, la shayy,  méiyǒu ... without you—our incredible listeners. So, if you like what we have created here at Story Seeds, please make your voice heard!  Help us join the Webby Winners Circle by voting for us in the "Best Individual Episode - Family and Kids" category in the Webbys People's Voice Awards through April 21, 2022. Just click here to cast your ballot! You can also find the link to vote at our Twitter, Instagram, or website. (Kids: Ask a grownup to help you create an account to vote. We promise it only takes a few seconds.) Thank you! Gracias! Merci! Dhanyawad! Shukran!  Xièxiè! Story Seeds is a Literary Safari production. Our host is Betsy Bird. Our theme song is by Andrew VanWyngarden. Sound design is by Ania Grzesik of Ultraviolet Audio. Our producers are Sandhya Nankani, Anjali Sakhrani, and Kayla Fedeson.

Listen along as host Betsy Bird and Newbery Award-winning Katherine Applegate have a fun and heartwarming conversation about what it was like working with 9 year old Jocelyn in a special presentation of The Story Seeds Podcast which raises awareness of childhood cancer.  In the interview, Betsy and Katherine: Talk about what it was like working with Jocelyn and learning about her cancer journey  [04:19] Discuss how Jane Goodall and Greta Thunberg inspired Katherine’s new eco-fable Willodeen   [12:37] Get witty and silly in a fun rapid fire q&a! [17:01] This episode is also available on YouTube. Subscribe here.  Additional Information Books mentioned in this episode: the Animorphs series by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant. Willodeen, the Endling series, and The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. Calls to Action Visit www.storyseedspodcast.com to download a companion printable activity kit for this episode. You can also order a copy of our NYTimes Wirecutter-approved Imagination Lab activity book! Follow us on Instagram @storyseedspod, on Twitter @litsafarimedia, and on Facebook @literarysafari.  Show credits The Story Seeds Podcast is Literary Safari production, created and executive produced by Sandhya Nankani. This episode was produced by her and Anjali Sakhrani. Scoring, mixing, and sound design by Ultraviolet Audio. Hosted by Betsy Bird. Music by Andrew VanWyngarden, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/musician and co-founder of MGMT. This episode is sponsored by Macmillan Children's Publishing.  Special thanks to Joseph Tisdall for post-production support.

This special Story Seeds collaboration brings together nine-year old Jocelyn and Newbery Award-winning Katherine Applegate, author of The One and Only Ivan and Willodeen. Katherine helps Jocelyn grow this story idea: My story seed is about a super service dog (based off of my own dog Sally) who helps kids with cancer feel better.  Join our host Betsy Bird as she guides you through this collaboration full of hope and resilience. Featured segments include: Katherine and Jocelyn's meeting over video chat where they get to know each other, meet each other's dogs, and brainstorm how to grow Jocelyn's story idea (6:44) Real-time voice memo recordings where Katherine chronicles her writing process  for Jocelyn (19:50) An immersive storytime where Katherine narrates the full-fledged tale — "Two Brave Girls, One with Four Paws"—she grew from Jocelyn's story seed (23:56) This episode is also available on YouTube. Subscribe here.  Additional Information Books mentioned in this episode: The Odyssey, The Mahabarata, Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DeCamillo, the Dogman series by Dave Pilkey, and  The Only and Only Ivan and Willodeen by Katherine Applegate. Media and Games mentioned in the episode: How to Train Your Dragon, Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N’ Roses, Animal Upon Animal, and Don't Stop Believing by Journey Calls to Action Bonus Episode: Check back next Thursday to hear Betsy's bonus interview with Katherine. It’s a fun one and also includes a rapid-fire Q&A with the Newbery Award-winning author herself. Visit www.storyseedspodcast.com to download a companion printable activity kit for this episode. You can also order a copy of our NYTimes Wirecutter-approved Imagination Lab activity book! Follow us on Instagram @storyseedspod, on Twitter @litsafarimedia, and on Facebook @literarysafari.  Show credits The Story Seeds Podcast is Literary Safari production, created and executive produced by Sandhya Nankani. This episode was produced and written by her and Anjali Sakhrani. Scoring, mixing, and sound design by Ania Grzesik of Ultraviolet Audio. Hosted by Betsy Bird. Music by Andrew VanWyngarden, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/musician and co-founder of MGMT.  This episode is sponsored by Macmillan Children's Publishing.  Special thanks to Joseph Tisdall for post-production support.