Kids Media Club Podcast

This episode brings Andy, Jo, and Emily back together after a busy fortnight that saw the Kids Media Club divide and conquer — Emily and Andy heading to KidScreen in San Diego while Jo hosted the Kids and Teens Summit at MIP London. Here's what they came away with. The hierarchy is gone — and that's now official. Both events reflected something the podcast has been saying for a while: TV no longer...

Episode Summary: In this bonus episode, Andy Williams and Emily Horgan join Eric Calderon of Surviving Animation for a candid debrief straight from the Kids Screen conference floor in San Diego. With a smaller-than-usual attendance, a shifting industry landscape, and more than a few big questions hanging in the air, the three take stock of what Kids Screen looks like now — and what it might need t...

In this special live episode, recorded at KidsScreen in San Diego, Andy and Emily take to the stage to moderate a deep-dive panel on one of the most talked-about new preschool IPs in the market right now: BeddyByes. Born out of the very relatable chaos of lockdown-era bedtimes, BeddyByes is a new show from Jam Media designed to help young children wind down — and it's been built with real intentio...

This week the Kids Media Club team is back for another Host’s hangout - Andy returns from a ski holiday (not in a cast, luckily) — and he's joined by co-hosts Jo and Emily for a wide-ranging house chat covering some of the biggest stories shaping kids media right now. YouTube's Quietly Enormous TV Play The conversation kicks off with something that still surprises people even when they hear the nu...

This week the Kids Media Club welcomes Sarah DeWitt, SVP and GM of PBS Kids, for a conversation that covers a lot of ground — and covers it brilliantly. For international listeners, Sarah begins by unpacking how PBS actually works: a network of 330 member stations across the US, locally run but nationally coordinated, funded through a mix of voluntary public donations, corporate underwriting (with...

Aardman Animations, renowned for its innovative and beloved characters such as Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, is undergoing a significant transformation in its approach to audience engagement as articulated by Emma Hardie, the executive commercial and brand director. The discussion pivots around the studio's strategic shift from a broadcast-first paradigm to a fan-centric model that prior...

Episode Overview In this episode of the Kids Media Club Podcast, hosts Jo, Andy, and Emily reunited in person at London's OTT Question Time event. Between sessions, they carved out twenty minutes to share their insights from the conference, diving deep into Emily's Vertical Video panel and previewing Jo's upcoming Data and Strategy discussion. Key Insights Vertical Video: More Than Just Micro Dram...

Jo is away so Andy gets Emily perspective on Netflix's latest earnings report. In a recent strategic shift, Netflix are moving away from the subscriber count obsession and focusing on ‘engagement'. It's an interesting pivot, especially as the streaming giant grapples with the reality that their core markets are pretty well tapped out. The big question now is how to keep demonstrating growth when y...

The landscape of children's entertainment is shifting—fast. In this eye-opening conversation, multi-award-winning creative executive Jesse Cleverly shares why now might be the perfect time to work in media, despite all the doom and gloom. The Perfect Storm (In a Good Way) Jesse drops a perspective bomb early in the conversation: while traditional media is facing seismic changes, he genuinely belie...

In this episode we discuss the evolving regulatorary landscape around kids content on YouTube and social media. The wild west era of children's content on YouTube appears to be coming to an end. As countries worldwide move toward stricter social media regulations—France announcing September 2026 enforcement, Virginia implementing new protections—YouTube's AI-powered content moderation is creating...

In this special New Year episode of the Kids Club Podcast, we reflect on our favourite Podcast conversations of 2025 and share eight moments that stood out for us from the year. We revisit conversations with industry professionals who share honest insights on being transparent and staying scrappy in tough times. Featured Topics: Building resilience as a content creator in 2026 The importance of se...

The team dives into Netflix's Christmas movie dominance, shares heartwarming holiday TV traditions from around the world (including Ireland's legendary Late Late Toy Show), and makes bold predictions for 2026's animation landscape. Spoiler: sequels reign supreme, and Australia's social media ban for kids could reshape the creator economy. Episode Breakdown 🎅  Netflix's Christmas Movie Empire...

The Kids Media Club crew tackles the biggest media story in years: Netflix's acquisition of Warner Brothers. Andy and Jo dive deep into what this seismic deal means for streaming, cinema, theme parks, and most importantly—the future of kids' content production. From Harry Potter to DC Comics, and from theatrical releases to original programming, they unpack the winners, losers, and uncertain futur...

Episode Summary:  Andy, Jo, and Emily are joined by marketeer and 'recovering French man' Louis Grenier to give an outside perspective on kids media. Louis delivers his inimitable no-holds-barred take on the industry—expect sweary spikiness and truth bombs about what's really going on in children's content. Key Discussion Points: Ethical marketing practices in children's content How media con...

Author Louie Stowell (Loki series) joins the Kids Media Club to make the case for more chaos in children's books. Why do young readers crave mischief? How do illustrated books hook reluctant readers? And what's killing kids' love of reading—spoiler: it's not TikTok. Key Takeaways: Mischievous characters create powerful entry points for emerging readers Illustrations aren't just for "struggling" re...

In this special listener's digest episode, we examine the challenges and opportunities of creating children's content on YouTube. We listen back to three creators who shared their experiences navigating COPPA regulations, monetization struggles, and strategies for building sustainable businesses in the current digital landscape. Key Guests Melly Buse  - Boutique content producer discussing CO...

The Big Shift: Nickelodeon is launching new shows on YouTube FIRST before linear or streaming Kid Cowboy marks their flagship YouTube-first series This represents a 5-year evolution, not a sudden pivot Why It Works: Leadership buy-in from the top (Brian Robbins understands digital platforms intimately) Tight integration between creative teams and data analytics Platform-specific content strategy r...

In this episode of the Kids Media Club podcast, hosts Andy, Jo, and Emily discuss the current challenges in the kids' media industry, including layoffs and the importance of networking. They highlight Emily Brundige's success as a creator and the significance of in-person experiences. The conversation shifts to the rise of stage productions and the dynamics of fandom, particularly focusing on K-Po...

In this week’s Kids Media club podcast, it the hosts are playing tag: Emily is away this week, but Jo is back from giving a talk at the Vimeo Creativity conference in New York. Andy and Jo discuss the Vimeo conference and the way video platforms are evolving. On the one hand we have platforms like YouTube and TikTok which offer massive reach, albeit subject to the vagaries of the algorithm, and on...

In this episode of the Kids Media Club, we are back from Cannes and have some thoughts! Jo is on a work trip, but for the rest of us, we are back in the office and ready to share our impressions of MIPCOM and MIPJunior and just what it means for the industry. We chew the fat on the current state of programming strategy in streaming services, highlight the contrast between the algorithmically led p...

In this episode of Kids Media Club podcast hosted at Mipjunior in Cannes, we were delighted to be joined by the very special guest Frank Falcone, founder of Guru Studios. On the 25th anniversary of his studio, Frank reflects on the changes the animation industry has gone through in that time. We discuss the challenges of A.I., adapting to the fragmented landscape and new audiences expectations, an...

On this week’s show, we are delighted to be joined by David Michel of French television producer and CEO of Cottonwood Media. We discuss the craft of creating dramas for tweens, teens, and millennials. We look at the impact that big budget Netflix shows like Wednesday, Heartstopper, and even Stranger Things have had on the industry and whether kids producers have the resources to compete for that...

In this week’s Kids Media Club Podcast, we are joined by the creator Cory Williams who talks to us about creating a digital first children’s franchise - Silly Crocodile. He talks about how the character was inspired by toy play with his daughter, shares his challenges with the YouTube algorithm, issues around AI and piracy, and his reasons for turning down a $5million offer. This is a must listen...

In this week's episode of the podcast, we chat to analyst Ian Whittaker and ask him the question - 'Is YouTube TV?' This question prompts a deep dive into channel fragmentation, advertising revenue, the creator economy, and the centrality of Kids content within the current battle between legacy media and social media. It's a fun, no hold bars, discussion, so grab a tea and sit back and enjoy. Oh a...

In this episode, we dive deep into  Roblox as a game-changing platform for brand engagement and immersive content creation . Our guest,  Nate Spell , CEO of  Barrier4 , reveals how his team evolved from producing trailers to building interactive experiences for top brands like  Netflix  and  Nickelodeon —all within the Roblox ecosystem. We explore how brands are movin...