Kidlit Happy Hour

Highlights from this episode with Frankie Quiñones include: Deriving inspiration from witnessing others people’s art and vulnerability How laughter leads to the emotional center Developing confidence to share painful traumas on stage and bring the audience along with him Process of developing hilarious, detailed and heartfelt characters inspired by his family Two overshares that span opposite end...

Highlights from this episode with Yuyi Morales include: The impact of environment on storytelling Reframing what it means to write and work Toggling between anguish and joy in the writing process Community as a necessary guide to story How the rampant dehumanization during a certain presidential candidacy impacted her decision to write her own immigration story... and invite others to tell their o...

Highlights from this episode with Christina Soontornvat include: Crying on planes and the power of music to unlock stories Giving ideas the time and space to gestate (like babies!) Feeling a way through story with intuition The tension between confidence, pressure, and a constant pull to make other people happy Christina Soontornvat is the beloved author of over a dozen books for children of all a...

Highlights from this episode with award-winning actress Karla Souza, who you may recognize from her starring roles in hit shows How to Get Away with Murder, Home Economics, or film La Caida (Dive) include: Feeling visceral alarm bells of truth in the body Coping with the backlash of truth-telling; her #metoo realities Finding courage to continue telling the truth in the face of asymmetrical power...

Highlights from this episode with award-winning poet, speaker, actor, and equity and inclusion strategist, Carlos Andrés Gómez include: Being briefly broken and breaking through creative walls Uncovering truth through writing Wrestling constantly with self-deception and truth Learning to get vulnerable Carlos Andrés Gómez is a Colombian American poet, speaker, actor, and equity and inclusion strat...

Highlights from this episode with acclaimed educator, consultant, author, and antibias antiracist facilitator Liz Kleinrock include: Distinguishing truth and fact, holding multiple truths, intersectionality, and nuance Representation is the low-hanging fruit; moving toward affirmation The consequences of speaking truth and holding on to our North Stars Liz Kleinrock is an author, educator, consult...

Highlights from this episode with acclaimed author Maggie Tokuda-Hall include: Writing protagonists that are not role models The magic of the 25k word count and refusing to string along dead writing and trashing drafts Her thoughts on determining what are *her* stories to tell Why telling truth to kids matters and untangling what "age appropriate" means Mermaids, serial killers, and another perspe...

It’s just the two us of us on today’s new episode!!! We are reflecting on the question that guided the first three interviews of the season: What is Story? Here are some highlights:   🎙️A few beloved, and perhaps distinguishing, qualities of kidlit creators 🎙️Wondering as a precursor to liberation 🎙️Showing (vs. telling) a story’s relevance 🎙️The beauty and challenges of podcasting so far 🎙️More o...

Highlights from this episode with award-winning news anchor and founder of The Very Asian Foundation include: Going viral for being "very Asian" Relevance making a story AND stories making things relevant Navigating the tension of truth-telling in the news Michelle is a news anchor and reporter at KSDK, the NBC affiliate. Michelle’s reporting has been honored with a national Peabody Award, four na...

A few (of the many!) highlights from this episode with New York Times bestselling, Newbery Medal and Pura Belpré Award-winner Donna Barba Higuera include: 🎙️ The value of wondering, and whether being a "wonderer" is inherent or learned 🎙️ Writing for ourselves and other members of the “nerd herd” (not critics) 🎙️ Integrating emotional facets of oral storytelling into the written form   Donna Barba...

Highlights from this episode with Caldecott medalist, Dan Santat include: Name dropping gone wrong Creating emotional resonance  The reality behind shiny medals Dan Santat has published some of the most celebrated and influential and bestselling children's books including DRAWN TOGETHER, AFTER THE FALL, THE AQUANAUTS, and FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING, and Caldecott medal winner, THE ADVENTURES OF BEE...

Welcome to the very first episode of Kidlit Happy Hour. HUZZAH!!! In this episode, you'll learn more about our big, juicy vision for this podcast. Some highlights include…  How we became friends (Hint: donuts and sprinklers) Our path to podcasting and where we hope it leads The first overshares of the season (no happy hour is complete without one!) We are so thrilled you are here and hope you will...