This summer, Little Kids, Big Hearts is teaming up with Camp Sparkler, and we'd love for all of our listeners to join us for 8 FREE & FUN weeks of virtual summer camp. LKBH Host Todd Loyd is the head counselor at Camp Sparkler this year and each week, we'll be exploring big feelings, creativity, and a whole lot more! You can listen to the podcast, watch on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts), and you can play along with play and learning activities in the Sparkler mobile app!

This week — week 1 — we're focused on BELONGING, who we are and how we fit together. ❤️🌟

In our Little Kids, Big Hearts episode called "We Belong," four amazing kids — Providence, River, Yonatan, and Valencia — discussed what it means to belong. Todd and the kids then journey to the Land of Qook-a-lackas, where they meet a Qook-a-lacka named Quinnie (played by Alexis Michelle), who needs help figuring out how to help the Link-a-doos, who are coming to the Land as refugees after a big storm destroyed their island.

Sound design and mixing is by Ryan Marth, and the original song "Growin' Up This Summer" that you hear in the episode is by Benjamin Weiner.

Listen to the original episode and find episode resources online at https://playsparkler.org/little-kids-big-hearts-we-belong-with-alexis-michelle/.

Find out more about Camp Sparkler and play along at https://playsparkler.org/campsparkler2025/

Once, in the Land of Qook-a-lackas, where the sky shimmers lavender in the mornings and the grass hums softly under your feet, there stood a tree that… didn’t do anything. It didn’t blossom in spring. It didn’t drop colorful leaves in the fall. It didn’t blossom or grow fruits like the other trees — no Quinklepuffs, no Quiddleberries!

Welcome to the newest original story from the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast.

This month, we're focused on the natural world and how it makes us feel.

And this story is all about a very special tree. Was it quiet ... or was it just waiting to share its true self with people who were patient?? Listen along to find out.

At the end of the episode, listen up for a new song by our friend Benjamin Weiner inspired by the power of nature to help us learn and grow! The song is called GROWIN' UP THIS SUMMER! And in addition to listening on the podcast feed, you can watch a music video of it on our YouTube channel! So visit and sing/dance along.

Thanks for joining us for Storytime!

Visit us online (https://playsparkler.org/lovingnature/) or on our Youtube channel to learn more (https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts).

This month, Little Kids, Big Hearts is focused on the natural world — and how it makes us feel!

And this month's "mission" is The Nature 🔍🌻 Detective Mission.

Todd and Christy challenge listeners to learn about something new about the nature that surrounds you. See if you can find out the name of a tree or flower near where you live...or discover something else you'd never noticed about the natural world! The more we notice, the more connected we feel — to nature, to others, and to ourselves.

Parents/caregivers: Share the results of your kids' Nature Detective Missions with us! You can email it to us at support@playsparkler.org or share it on social media.

Have fun out there, Nature Detectives!

🍀🐛🪲🕸🌵🌳🌴🌿🌱🍄🐚🌷🌸🌻

On this episode, three kids — Charlie from Brooklyn, Knox from Denver, and Sienna from Houston — join LKBH host Todd Loyd to discuss the great outdoors — and how nature makes them feel.

The kids and Todd then hike up an enormous imaginary mountain to travel to the Land of Qook-a-lackas … arriving JUST at the right moment to help a Qook-a-lacka friend, Qwiffin (played by the amazing Maulik Pancholy), grow a "memory garden."

What is a memory garden?!

Qwiffin explains: "Well, it's a garden, but instead of being made out of dirt and seeds and the power of photosynthesis, it grows in a different way: It grows from our memories of being outdoors in nature."

The kids and Todd help Qwiffin brainstorm amazing memories of nature in all four seasons: ❄️, 🌸,🌻,🍁!

Together, with the power of their memories, they help the garden glow and grow!

💚💚💚

Maulik Pancholy plays the role of Qwiffin. Maulik Pancholy is an award-winning actor, author, and activist. His career has spanned hit television shows, animated series, the Broadway stage, and films. He recently completed filming on the Jesse Eisenberg-directed feature film No One Cares (with Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti), the indie feature Nuked (with Anna Camp and Justin Bartha), and the indie feature ReEntry (with Emily Deschanel and Noma Dumenzwini).

He famously played Alec Baldwin’s intrepid assistant Jonathan on the Emmy®, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning NBC comedy 30 Rock; Sanjay on the Showtime hit series Weeds; and Neal on the NBC comedy Whitney. His numerous recurring and guest starring roles include Only Murders in the Building, Leverage: Redemption, The Good Fight, Dynasty, Star Trek: Discovery, Elementary, Friends from College, The Good Wife, Web Therapy, The Comeback, The Sopranos, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. For his work on television, he has been nominated for and won the Screen Actors Guild Award on multiple occasions. Pancholy has entertained both children and adults as the voice of Baljeet on the Emmy® award-winning Disney animated series Phineas & Ferb, and as the title voice of Sanjay on Nickelodeon’s Sanjay & Craig. He is the voice of Ranjeet on Disney Junior’s Mira, Royal Detective and can be heard on the Netflix series Q-Force and the upcoming Netflix series Ghee Happy. He has appeared in blockbuster films such as 27 Dresses and Hitch, and his many theater credits include starring on Broadway opposite Matthew Broderick and Martin Short in Terrence McNally’s It’s Only A Play, playing opposite Ed Harris in David Rabe’s Good For Otto, starring in the Tony-nominated Broadway production of Bess Wohl’s Grand Horizons, and starring in J.C. Lee’s To My Girls at 2nd Stage Theater.

His debut novel, The Best at It, won a 2020 Stonewall Honor in Children’s and Young Adult Literature, and his sophomore novel, Nikhil Out Loud, won a 2023 Lambda Literary Award and was named a Kirkus Best Book of 2022. He is a cofounder of the anti-bullying nonprofit ActToChange.org.

💚💚💚

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 https://playsparkler.org/podcast

Also...Little Kids, Big Hearts now has a YouTube channel. Please join our growing community on YouTube! Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts

On this special episode of the Little Kids, Big hearts podcast, LKBH host Todd Loyd has a conversation with the actor and legend Judge Reinhold.

Judge appeared on our podcast at the start of the month — exploring feelings of nervousness and practicing some ways to cope with four big-hearted kids.

Now he's back to share his OWN experiences and strategies.

It turns out that even having decades of experience as a famous actor doesn't make you immune from feeling anxious, and Judge says that's actually a good thing.

He explains:

"If you're not nervous, then you're not going to do a good job. And that's how you break down that nervousness and turn it into fuel. It's a good thing. It's going to drive you. Adrenaline can get away from you but it can also make you so sharp and make you better than you. That's that special thing that will make you better than you thought you were, that adrenaline. You have to make it your friend."

Learn more about the episode: https://playsparkler.org/feeling-nervous/

Or find more resources on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts

Everyone feels nervous sometimes — whether you're a Grammy-winning performer or a kid who hasn't started Kindergarten yet!

This month, Little Kids, Big Hearts is focused on feeling nervous — what it is to feel nervous and some strategies to cope with the feeling!

Today, we're thrilled to release an original Little Kids, Big Hearts song by the amazing educator/composer Benjamin Weiner called NERVOUS. It's inspired by the words that our amazing kid guests shared on our episode "Wobbly to Wow With Judge Reinhold" and by Doechii's powerful song "Anxiety."

NERVOUS by Benjamin Weiner

I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do.

I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do.

I take a deep breath, and shake my hands out, too.

I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do.

My palms are sweaty getting ready for a dance show.

My heart starts beating when I'm meeting someone I don't know.

Going to a new place.

You can see the feeling on my face.

I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do.

I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do.

I take a deep breath, and shake my hands out, too.

I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do.

When my tummy's feeling funny and my hands shake,

My voice is breaking when I think I'm making a mistake.

I know my family can calm me down.

And it's better just to say it out loud.

I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do.

I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do.

I take a deep breath, and shake my hands out, too.

I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do.

So, take a deep breath [breath],

Shake your hands out: shake, shake, shake, shake.

And take a deep breath [breath],

And shake your hands out: shake, shake, and sing

I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do.

I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do.

I take a deep breath, and shake my hands out, too.

I'm feeling nervous, but I know what to do.

Hmm...

Learn more and listen along with us!

Welcome to Storytime!

In this original story by the team at Little Kids, Big Hearts, we join Quessa, Kalini, and Karva, and their class of Qook-a-leekies on their first overnight field trip. It can be scary to be away from home ... and as the qook-a-leekies practice climbing and cope with a big storm, nervous energy grows and grows.

How will Quessa the Qook-a-leekie cope with all the big nervous feelings?

The story is voiced by host Todd Loyd and Creative Producer Christy Pusz Decatur.

Thanks for joining us for Storytime!

Visit us online (https://playsparkler.org/feeling-nervous/) or on our Youtube channel to learn more (https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts).

This month, the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast is focused on nervousness. The kids chatted about what makes them nervous and practiced some strategies to help them cope with nervousness, including a game called What If? ... But Then.

In this month's "Mission," Todd and Christy challenge our listeners to play a version of the What If? ... But Then game at home:

1. Think of something that makes you nervous

2. Draw a picture of your "But Then" — a positive resolution that turns the nerves to bravery!

They also share a song from the the LAST mission by a 5-year-old listener inspired to share HER special song: "Hello, hello, hello WORLD!" You're going to love it!

Please share your "BUT THEN" inspirations! You can share by emailing us at podcast@playsparkler.org.

Learn more about the podcast on our website: playsparkler.org

Or you can listen to episodes on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleKidsBigHearts