The Lil' Leaders Podcast: Conversations with Kids

In this special episode, 6th grade students from Pueblo Middle School share honest conversations about the real-life challenges and experiences kids face during the middle school years. From handling stress and pressure to building confidence, communication skills, community, and responsible decision-making, students explore important life skills that can help kids navigate this stage of life with...

Meet Laila, a 4th grader from Texas and the 2025 Junior Preteen State Title Holder with International United Miss — but her biggest title might just be "The Bright Light in the Room." After experiencing what it feels like when kids don't accept differences, Laila made a powerful choice. Instead of shrinking back, she let that experience become her superpower. She's now on a mission to help kids re...

What happens when a teacher, a love of reading, and a rescue puppy come together? This week on the Lil' Leaders Podcast, we're thrilled to feature a special Big Leader episode with teacher, author, and rescue advocate Elizabeth Retter, who shares how rescuing Easton as a puppy from Pennsylvania and bringing him home to Canada changed her life in the most unexpected ways. After one unforgettable mo...

IIn this Big Leader episode, we welcome back author and special educator, Celia Botto about her upcoming picture book, The Ostrich Needs a Lift . Meet an ostrich who doesn't quite fit the mold and is trying to find his way back—only to discover that finding the right ride isn't easy. The ostrich is well aware of any accommodations he may need to get home safely. In fact, despite the setbacks he fa...

In our first 2026 episode, Mason shares how his love for acting, football, and basketball keeps him energized and motivated every day. He opens up about why treating others the way you want to be treated is the foundation of real leadership, and how staying active helps him stay confident. When life feels busy or overwhelming, Mason turns to deep breaths and drawing to calm his mind before jumping...

Meet Allie, a third grader whose love for dance, modeling, and the arts shines as bright as her smile! Whether she's learning new dance moves with friends or helping others master theirs, Allie's enthusiasm and kindness make her a true Lil' Leader. She embraces every challenge in her dance classes and believes in following big dreams—like one day becoming a doctor. Tune in to hear how Allie's crea...

In this inspiring follow-up episode, Myra returns to the Lil' Leaders Podcast to share her powerful essay on failure in honor of National Failure Day . You might remember Myra from her first visit, when she told us how she created her nonprofit, Sparklez.org , to help raise money for a girls' school in India and reminded us that we're never too young to make a difference. This time, Myra opens up...

In this heartwarming episode, meet Kelcie —a young leader who brings creativity, kindness, and action together in amazing ways. Kelcie has written children's books inspired by her own life, even illustrating one using the digital art program Procreate . Her passion for helping others led her to fundraise for koalas after the devastating fires in Australia, and her role model is none other than Dr....

The new school year is exciting—but it also brings big changes, new routines, and sometimes worries for kids (and parents!). In this episode, Michelle Blais from @misschellemindset joins Tina to chat about how to help kids settle into their "new normal." From checking in often and practicing calming techniques like hot chocolate and candle breathing, to celebrating mistakes as part of learning, th...

Welcome to Season 3's first episode! Meet Cai, a boy with a big heart and an even bigger dream—a dog of his very own! Join us as he shares the magical day he visited his local shelter with his mom and met Waylon, the pup who stole his heart. Cai talks about how he knew Waylon was "the one," the fun of playing and training together, and why he chose to celebrate Waylon's Gotcha Day in style with a...

Meet Myra, a fifth-grade entrepreneur who proves you're never too young to make a difference. After watching videos from her mom's trip to India helping a school for visually impaired girls, Myra felt inspired to take action. She founded her own nonprofit— Sparklez.org —to provide eyewear and vision care for girls in need. But she didn't stop there! Myra rallied other young entrepreneurs and organ...

In this special episode, 6th graders at Pueblo Middle School team up to share the power habits they've been practicing to become confident, successful students and strong role models. From being proactive and solving problems to finding their voice and taking care of themselves, each group dives into one habit and explains how it helps them handle everyday challenges. This episode is designed to i...

Veera is back! Our first returning guest shares how her school year is wrapping up and what she's learned along the way. She talks about her role in the Envoy Program, where just two students per class help new kids feel welcome. From tips on making friends to handling hard days, Veera shows us how leadership starts with kindness and a listening ear.   Picture Book Recommendations:   a. The Girl w...

Meet this week's lil' leader, Durvin! At just 15 years old, he is already a seasoned editor and the founder of Kidlio Magazine , a creative project he started at age 10 to share his love of graphic design and storytelling. In this inspiring conversation, Dhurvin shares how his passion turned into a thriving magazine during the pandemic, how he balances school and publishing with the help of his mo...

What if every time your child said "I can't," they followed it with "...yet"? This week on Lil' Leaders , we're shining the spotlight on Michele Blais—our Big Leader Feature! Michele is not only an inspiring educator, but a powerful advocate for helping kids grow through what they go through. With her deep belief in the power of a growth mindset , Michele has made it her mission to teach kids (and...

Ashley, a high school junior, was excited to get her first cell phone, but she soon discovered that life online isn't always as great as it seems. Social media opened her eyes to both its benefits and the harsh reality of cyberbullying. Determined to make a difference, she wrote Sasha Goes to Cyberspace , a children's book on digital kindness, and founded Click With Kindness . Tune in as Ashley sh...

Let's welcome Dhanvi today, a creative and compassionate 4th grader. She shines as a role model in her school and community. Whether she's playing soccer, painting, singing, or helping others, she puts her heart into everything she does. Inspired by her love for helping people, she dreams of becoming a doctor one day. In this episode, Dhanvi shares a powerful lesson from art class—teaching is most...

Today, we're introducing something exciting— Rella B Books!   It all started with a mom's love for her daughter and a dream to create fun, educational content that makes learning feel like an adventure. What began as a way to share stories at home has grown into something even bigger—a visual storytime on YouTube and an audio storytime podcast where authors bring their stories to life! At Rella B...

This inspiring episode consisted of 2 continents: the United States and Australia, and 2 groups: the authors and readers!  We sit down with authors Sharmilla and Sharminey of Books for Growing Minds (@bfgminds) to talk about their empowering book, Fantastically Me . The story follows a talented main character and a group of friends competing in a talent show—only to start doubting themselves. But...

Meet today's lil' leader, Enza, a thoughtful and respectful classmate who inspires others by leading with kindness. In this episode, Enza shares a powerful story about standing up for a friend who made an honest mistake and how she wished she had spoken up even sooner. She reflects on the importance of supporting others and embracing courage. Enza also opens up about her admiration for her cousin,...

This week, we're sitting down with the incredibly dedicated Shelby, the creator of Little Justice Leaders, to talk about how they're creating the next generation of changemakers!  From schools to living rooms, Shelby and her team are making social justice education accessible and engaging for kids and adults alike. Whether it's helping parents tackle tough topics or giving teachers the tools to fo...

Welcome Olivia Genesis to today's episode! She's a Lil' Leader who's always on the move—kicking it in karate, shining as a model, singing her heart out, writing a book for kids, and helping others with kindness. But Olivia's true superpower? Knowing when to say, "This isn't the right fit," so she can keep discovering what she loves most. With so much on her plate, Olivia strives to master the art...

In today's episode, we meet a talented and inspiring young guest named Vindhy! She loves Bollywood dancing, gymnastics, and singing. With a big dream of becoming a singer someday, she shares how being recognized as Student of the Month taught her the value of listening and learning from others. She also loves reading and believes being true to yourself means knowing how to say no to things that do...

Have you ever tried something new and realized it wasn't for you?  Today's guest, Paige, has been exploring her passions since she was just 3 years old! Whether it's dancing, acting, or modeling, Paige keeps trying new things—even when they don't always work out—because each step brings her closer to what she truly loves. Each step also gives to the confidence to try the next interest. We can't wa...

Today, we're so excited to welcome Andi Smiley to our Big Leader Feature! Andi is the creator of the  Family Podcast Guide , a wonderful resource that helps parents find fun, educational podcasts for the whole family. She's here to share how her guide makes screen-free fun easier and helps families laugh, learn, and connect. Andi's work doesn't stop there—she's also building a supportive podcastin...