An all-new limited podcast series from Kids Listen combines voices from 40+ beloved shows to turn complex feelings into meaningful listening experiences for conversation at home and in the classroom.
Kids Listen, the non-profit organization dedicated to high-quality children’s audio, is proud to announce the launch of Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups About Feelings, a limited podcast series premiering September 16, 2025.
Created in collaboration with more than 40 members of the Kids Listen community, including multiple award-winning podcasts, this groundbreaking series offers families and educators a rich resource for exploring feelings and building social-emotional skills through storytelling and sound.
Seven Emotional Themes, Fourteen Episodes
The series is structured around seven emotional themes, with each theme explored through two episodes, released weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting September 16th through October 30th
- Fear & Bravery
- Jealousy & Openness
- Anger & Forgiveness
- Belonging & Independence
- Embarrassment & Pride
- Love & Sadness
- Beginnings & Endings
Each episode combines immersive stories, carefully crafted music, guided reflection questions, and hands-on activities. Together, they offer families and educators practical tools to better understand emotions, foster empathy, and strengthen the five core SEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
Pull Quotes
“What do an unusual horse from The Past and the Curious, a Greek myth from Unspookable, and Tumble’s dive into koala poop have in common? They all make us feel. That’s what this series is all about. It shows kids, and the adults listening with them, that emotions aren’t right or wrong, but something to learn and grow from.”
— Tal Kelly, Series Producer, Kids Listen Board Member
“Helping children learn to understand, cope with, and communicate about emotions in themselves and others is essential for developing strong and caring relationships. This series features feelings-laden clips from over 40 different kid podcasts, to make learning about emotions engaging, meaningful, and actionable.”
— Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, Clinical Psychologist based in Princeton, NJ, Creator of the Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic podcast.
“We all know how important it is to give kids time away from screens and the chance to use their imaginations – and podcasts are perfect for that. What’s amazing is how they can also help kids understand their emotions. Through storytelling, this series invites children to imagine, reflect, and connect with their feelings. It’s been such a joy to help write, and to see so many incredible kids’ shows come together.”
— Jenna Clarke, Executive Writer for Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups and Content Director at Sleepiest & Koala Kids
Release Schedule
Big Emotions Mashups About Feelings is a limited series designed as a stand-alone resource for families, teachers, and caregivers, featuring a rich spectrum of creative voices who support children’s emotional growth.
Episodes will be available starting September 16, 2025, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are found. The series will also be featured on the Yoto App on October 1, 2025.
Fear & Bravery (Sept 16, 18) – Host: Eric O’Keefe (What If World) Smash Boom Best! | Koala Moon | What’s Poppin Penny | Forever Ago | April Eight | Afternoons with Mimi
Jealousy & Openness (Sept 23, 25) – Host: Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore (Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic) Girl Tales | Sleep Tight Stories | ChopChop | Tales From the Cloud Sea | Peace Out | Koala Tots
Anger & Forgiveness (Sept 30,Oct 2) – Host: Melissa Victor (Stoopkid Stories) Time Storm | Little Kids, Big Hearts | KidLit Radio | Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic | The Ten News | Lingokids
Belonging & Independence (Oct 7, 9) – Hosts: Abbe Opher & Kelly MacBride (Koala Kids) Noodle Loaf | Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic | Power Dog Adventures | Culture Kids | Stoopkid Stories | Dorktales Storytime
Embarrassment & Pride (Oct 14, 16) – Host: Molly Bloom (Smash Boom Best & Brains On!) At Your Level | Koala Shine | Unspookable | The Good Words Podcast | The Story Seeds Podcast | Like You: Mindfulness for Kids
Love & Sadness (Oct 21, 23) – Host: Jerry Kolber (Who Smarted?) But Why | Newsy Pooloozy | The Past and The Curious | AI for Kids | Reading with Rella B | Tumble
Endings & Beginnings (Oct 28,30) – Host: Tal Kelly (Series Producer) Six Minutes | Storypillar | Mary Farfisa’s | Kitten & Clucky | The Show About Science | What If World
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. Find more at https://kidslisten.org/
Kids Listen, Inc. is a California nonprofit company.
