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Ear Snacks Podcast for Kids

Ear Snacks Podcast for Kids

100 episodes — Page 1 of 2

S5 Ep 16Lights! (Explaining Hanukkah & How Candles Work)

Light the lights! Andrew & Polly ask their friends about sources of illumination, human-made and natural. Lori Hoch Stiefel from PJ Library shares her Hanukkah story and we begin to wonder...why do candlelight and winter celebrations go hand-in-hand? Ear Snacks is a free podcast centered around children’s voices & ideas. Please support us by subscribing, leaving a 5-star review, and sharing with your friends! And if you can follow us on Instagram, that helps too! Thanks to Arlo, Molly, Poppy, Opal, Sam, and Thiri (and their parents) for sharing what they know about lights and how their families use lights to celebrate. To find out more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org - and thanks for listening!

Dec 11, 202520 min

S5 Ep 16The Neuroscience of Bad Guys & Superheroes!

Andrew & Polly's Bad Guy game continues! When they can't figure out WHY they are having fun scaring fish and serving them their least favorite foods, they call up a "Bad Doctor" to find out! Dr. Emiliana R. Simon-Thomas from UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center tells us about what brains have to do with Bad Guys & Superheroes. We're looking for more friends to share what they know! To find out more or be on the show, visit earsnacks.org - and thanks for listening!

Nov 12, 202519 min

S5 Ep 15Playing Bad Guys!

What's a "bad guy?" Is it fun to pretend to be one? (When is it not fun?) Andrew & Polly model conflict in play, learn how to talk like a villain from voice actor Morla Gorrondona, and ask kids what they know about "bad guys!" To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org - and thanks for listening!

Nov 4, 202516 min

S5 Ep 14Disguises! (Halloween!)

What's a disguises? (How is it different from a costume?) Andrew & Polly solve a mystery for forlorn giraffes Kevin & Lousie, learn how to disguise their voices with voice actor Greg Chun, and explore the link between evolution and animal disguises (crypsis & camouflage) with CalAcademy's Rebecca Johnson! And as always, we ask our friends what they know about...DISGUISES! To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org - thanks for listening!

Oct 8, 202531 min

S5 Ep 14What's a Muppet? (Happy Birthday, Jim Henson!)

We got a whole lot of chickens. Andrew & Polly celebrate the birthday of one of their heroes by asking their friends one of life's eternal questions: what's a muppet? To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org - and thanks for listening!

Sep 24, 20255 min

S5 Ep 13Pirates! (Talk Like a Pirate Day!)

Ahoy, matey! How cold are yer timbers? Andrew & Polly ask some friends about the steps to talking like a pirate, sprinkled in with some historical pirate factoids and Andrew's dad shares buccaneer tales from Post Office Bay in the Galapagos Islands. To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org - and thanks for listening!

Sep 18, 202519 min

S5 Ep 12Treats!

What's the best treat of all-time? From the food science of sugar rushes to the bellies of hungry musicians, Andrew & Polly ask their friends what makes a good treat. Sensory scientist Dr. Sara Yang explains how people evolved to think about food, why we like what we like, and how we make our decisions. Then Koo Koo's Brian and Neil expound on the virtues of sheet cake, old-fashioned donuts and ice cold lemonade. Thanks to our friends Elias, Bodin, Madelyn and Monk for sharing what they know about treats! To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org - and thanks for listening!

Aug 27, 202527 min

S5 Ep 11Keys!

What do la clave, the difference between public and private, and two giraffes have in common? In this sneaky episode of Ear Snacks, Andrew & Polly learn about the rhythms of Cuban music with Martina Castro (producer of The Vivo Songbook), and then explore the ideas behind artist Paul Ramirez Jonas' project Key to the City (involving 24,000 keys!) Oh - and Kevin & Louise try to crack Andrew & Polly's gate code to leave them some peppermint. To learn more about Ear Snacks or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org - thanks for listening!

Aug 20, 202521 min

S5 Ep 9Cartoons!

Meep meep! What's a cartoon? New Yorker cartoonist Tom Toro (Home Free, Back to School Backpack) talks cartoons of all shapes and sizes on this episode of Ear Snacks! Andrew & Polly avoid anvils, consider political cartoons, think about how it feels to STOP watching your favorite stories, and sing a brand new song by Eilis Cahill. Thanks for listening! A big thank you to Leo, Solomon, Hannah, Seamus, Leon, Waylan and Izzy — and their parents — for sharing what they know about cartoons. To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org

Aug 6, 202521 min

S5 Ep 8Soap & Thought Bubbles!

Is your family feeling as mid-summer-y as ours? On this 'Bubbles!' episode of Ear Snacks, e've got some amazing crafting & imagination activities for lazy days and long rides alike! First, Claudia Zanes shares her love of (and the science behind) soap-making. Gather some materials to try the basics at home, and learn more about her handmade soaps and incredible family folk music! Then we invent some imagination games with Mags DeRoma and Christine Peck (who cannot see your thoughts inside your head), authors of Too Many Bubbles: A Story About Mindfulness. To learn more about Ear snacks or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org -- and thanks for listening!

Jul 23, 202518 min

S5 Ep 7Bells & Blindness!

Ding dong! Andrew & Polly wax poetic about bells and blindness with Country of the Blind author Andrew Leland and visit an enormous percussion warehouse with LAPR’s Abby Savell. Happy Disability Pride Month! Andrew & Polly are proud members of RAMPD, Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities. July is a great month to open conversations with people of all ages about different types of minds and bodies and think about how we build our world. Thanks to our friends Fortney, Kora, Nora, Hazel, Berlin, and Max (and their parents!) for sharing what they know about bells. To find out more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org – and thanks for listening!

Jul 16, 202528 min

S5 Ep 6Happy Birthday, Ear Snacks!

Many happy returns! How should we celebrate Ear Snacks’ 10th birthday? Should we make an Ear Snacks: Songs from the Podcast Vol. 2?!? Today we’re sharing some of the original songs we’ve written for these episodes since Ear Snacks: Songs from the Podcast Vol. 1 came out in 2016, and we thought it’s kind of a magical time capsule of these episodes inspired by the ideas of children. From the absurd to the heartfelt and back again, we hope these songs take your minds and memories on a joyous journey throughout your summer! To see us live at Wolftrap Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods on July 11th or future Andrew & Polly shows, visit andrewandpolly.com We’re making new episodes and writing new songs all summer and into the fall! To learn more or to be on the show for Season 5, visit earsnacks.org – and thanks for listening!

Jul 9, 202523 min

S5 Ep 5Fruit!

Happy Birthday, Ear Snacks! 10 years ago this July, we started this bonkers idea. Our music had started reaching kids all over the world , but with our growing family, we didn't get to sing with them very often...but what if we could make a show *with* them? This is that show. So today on Ear Snacks, we want to share our very first episode "Fruit!" - it's still one of the grapes ! Whether you've been listening from the beginning or are hearing this for the very first time, we hope you find it delicious.

Jul 2, 202518 min

S5 Ep 4Aquairums!

Whale hello there! What's your favorite quarium? Andrew & Polly are getting ready for a big July -- the 10th year of Ear Snacks! Wolftrap on July 11th! -- but we can't leave June without celebrating Aquarium Appreciation Month! Nate from The Show About Science talks about Luna the Otter at the Shed Aquarium in Chicago, Rebecca Johnson from the California Academy of Science talks about nudibranch camouflage (crypsis!) and evolution, and our friend Jenn talks about her love of seahorses! (We also share the aquatic anthem we wrote with Mista Cookie Jar, AQUARIUM!) Want to find out more or Be On The Show?

Jun 25, 202521 min

S5 Ep 3Juneteenth!

Today on Ear Snacks we're celebrating Juneteenth (Freedom Day! Jubilee Day! Emancipation Day!) with songs from the GRAMMY-nominated family music album "All One Tribe" - we hope your family will find, support, and share their work! On this episode you'll hear: For All by The Wise Channel Family Reunion by Fyütch feat. Divinity Roxx What Do You Believe? by Shine and the Moonbeams Clap Your Hands by The Magic Jones Shine (The Melanin Remix) by Alphabet Rockers Nothing Wrong With the Black Crayon by DJ Willy Wow We All Live (in the Same House) by Melanie DeMore Mtoto Mzuri by Jabali Afrika feat. Ahadi Beautiful Brown Babies by Kymberly Stewart Have a beautiful day! XO, Andrew & Polly

Jun 18, 202533 min

S5 Ep 2Fiddle Around!

Polly goes to Fiddle Camp, violinist Katie Buckbee and her son Archer expound on their love of bluegrass, and our pal Eddie Berman introduce us to his 5-string banjo. A bit of ear training on Ear Snacks! (And we use "fiddling" as a model for ways of learning by doing.) We're getting ready for the 10th year of Ear Snacks, and we can't make this show without you! Parents around the world have shared their children's voices & ideas with us, and we love building inspirational, educational, fun shows centered around them. To find out more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org - and thanks for listening!

Jun 11, 202521 min

S5 Ep 1What's a Mustache?

We mustache you a question -- What exactly IS a mustache? And WHO can have one? Celebrate Pride month with Andrew & Polly by wondering about all the different types of hairs that can grow on a face! Filmamker Sally Rubin joins us to talk about her family's mustaches and her animated short film "Mama Has a Mustache" a conversation starter for families and educators thinking about gender (that we made the music for!) To support all kinds of families and hear kids talk about gender, visit mamahasamustache.com To support our work, visit patreon.com/earsnacks or find our music & merch at andrewandpolly.com -- and to learn more or be on the show, visit earsnacks.org Thanks for listening!

Jun 4, 202519 min

S4 Ep 29Comfort & Joy Playlist! (Winter Break remix)

(Hello! We're excited to make more music and podcasts for & with you in 2025! Meanwhile, enjoy these holiday-themed episode remixes -- and thanks for listening!) Happy Happy Holidays! Let these completely original family-music tunes light up your holidays, road trips and home days! Thanks to these incredibly talented and generous musicians who fill our ears and hearts all year long - a great way to support their work is by sharing their music, adding their songs to your playlists and following them on social media! Happy Happy Holidays by Aaron Nigel Smith All I Want for Christmas is Used by Formidable Vegetable Coniferous Trees by Molly Ledford & Billy Kelly Zat You Santa Claus by Jazzy Ash Kwanzaa Slide by Culture Queen & Fyütch Bright Winter Day by Little Miss Ann Esta Lucesita by Elizabeth Mitchell & Suni Paz So Freaking Ready for a New Year by those jokers Andrew & Polly Ear Snacks is a free interactive experience centered around children’s voices & ideas. To support the work we’re doing for your kids (and all kids), become a supporter on Patreon or through Apple Podcasts Premium Subscription feature. OR you can always leave us a 5-star rating & review for free. Or just tell a friend about this great show your family likes? Thanks for listening! Need more snacks? Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok!

Dec 27, 202428 min

S4 Ep 28Boxing Day! (Winter Break remix)

(Hello! We're excited to make more music and podcasts for & with you in 2025! Meanwhile, enjoy these holiday-themed episode remixes -- and thanks for listening!) Andrew & Polly talk about BOXES in a special interview with Antoinette Portis, author of Not a Box. This episode also highlights The Box Project with Eliza Gregory - and, of course, thanks to our kid experts: Ruslan, Gavin, Manny, Charlie, Penny, Ainsley, Liliana, Lane, Guy, Grey, Sadie & William. Oh - and this episode was the first time we released our modern holiday-adjacent classic, Thank You for the Box! Ear Snacks is a free interactive experience centered around children’s voices & ideas. To support the work we’re doing for your kids (and all kids), become a supporter on Patreon or through Apple Podcasts Premium Subscription feature. OR you can always leave us a 5-star rating & review for free. Or just tell a friend about this great show your family likes? Thanks for listening! Need more snacks? Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok!

Dec 26, 202419 min

S4 Ep 27Hanukkah & How Candles Work (Winter Break remix)

(Hello! We're excited to make more music and podcasts for & with you in 2025! Meanwhile, enjoy these holiday-themed episode remixes -- and thanks for listening!) Sundown, lights up! Andrew & Polly ask their friends about sources of illumination, human-made and natural. Lori Hoch Stiefel from PJ Library shares her Hanukkah story and we begin to wonder...why do candlelight and winter celebrations go hand-in-hand? Thanks to Arlo, Molly, Poppy, Opal, Sam, and Thiri (and their parents) for sharing what they know about lights and how their families use lights to celebrate. To be on the show or to find out more, visit earsnacks.org Ear Snacks is a free interactive experience centered around children’s voices & ideas. To support the work we’re doing for your kids (and all kids), become a supporter on Patreon or through Apple Podcasts Premium Subscription feature. OR you can always leave us a 5-star rating & review for free. Or just tell a friend about this great show your family likes? Thanks for listening! Need more snacks? Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok!

Dec 25, 202420 min

S4 Ep 26Bioluminescence! (Winter Break remix)

(Hello! We're excited to make more music and podcasts for & with you in 2025! Meanwhile, enjoy these holiday-themed episode remixes -- and thanks for listening!) Celebrate the winter solstice by exploring the darkest depths of the ocean with marine biologist and self-proclaimed Mermaid Danni Washington! Check out her amazing book, Bold Women in Science, and her podcast for kids, Genius Generation. Thanks again to our friends Arlo, Molly, Poppy, Opal, Sam, and Thiri (and their parents) for sharing what they know about lights! And thank you to all our listeners for shining your beautiful inner lights wherever you are! Ear Snacks is a free interactive experience centered around children’s voices & ideas. To support the work we’re doing for your kids (and all kids), become a supporter on Patreon or through Apple Podcasts Premium Subscription feature. OR you can always leave us a 5-star rating & review for free. Or just tell a friend about this great show your family likes? Thanks for listening! Need more snacks? Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok!

Dec 24, 202424 min

S4 Ep 25Homemade Instruments for the Holidays! (Winter Break mixtape)

(Hello! We're excited to make more music and podcasts for & with you in 2025! Meanwhile, enjoy these holiday-themed episode remixes -- and thanks for listening!) Andrew & Polly think about how to stay warm in the winter with some of our favorite family holiday tunes. For more great episodes on the holidays, check out these episodes about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, our most favoritest family holiday music playlist and lights in the ocean! Thanks to Sara Louise Callaway from The Music Box and the one and only Mista Cookie Jar. Thanks to Arlo, Molly, Poppy, Opal, Sam, and Thiri (and their parents) for sharing what they know about lights and how their families use lights to celebrate. Ear Snacks is a free interactive experience centered around children’s voices & ideas. To support the work we’re doing for your kids (and all kids), become a supporter on Patreon or through Apple Podcasts Premium Subscription feature. OR you can always leave us a 5-star rating & review for free. Or just tell a friend about this great show your family likes? Thanks for listening! Need more snacks? Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok!

Dec 23, 202424 min

S4 Ep 24Sing with Andrew & Polly at Austin City Limits!

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Hey Texas! Andrew & Polly are SUPER-excited to finally perform in you! We're taking the stage at Austin City Limits / Austin Kiddie Limits this Friday and Saturday, October 4th & 5th, at 12:30p. Awesome band? GRAMMY-nominated music? Double check. Enough shakers, stickers & bubbles to share? Check, check, check! The good people of ACL are bringing some amazing live acts for all ages along with crafts, activities & snacks to support a full day of rocking and rolling -- so come sing & dance with us? Or tell a friend who can? Thank you for any way you can support family musicians these days, so we can keep making good stuff for your kids - and all kids!

Oct 2, 20241 min

S4 Ep 23Songs About Rainbows

Kick off your summer with new bops and classic tunes about translucent spectra! Here’s just a taste of the songs you’ll discover on our Spotify playlist, Songs About Rainbows 🌈: Sing a Rainbow by Peggy Lee Cry a Rainbow by Pierce Freelon & Nnenna Freelon Rainbowland by Miley Cyrus & Dolly Parton Rainbow Seekers by Ants on a Log Rainbow Shoppe by Andrew & Polly feat. Lucy Kalantari Rainbow World by Claudia Robin Gun Over the Rainbow by Dan Zanes Parents - please help support these amazing independent family music artists! To support Pierce Freelon's plant-based space ice cream, visit the Coco Fro kickstarter ending soon! To find their brand new Rainbow Seekers album, tour + musical, visit Ants on a Log! And hooray for our pal Lucy Kalantari's first Spanish language album, Creciendo! We're making more great episodes for hungry ears this summer - to learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org - thanks for listening!

May 29, 202425 min

S4 Ep 22A World of Bugs! (Earth Week remix)

Metamorphic caterpillars! Fungus farming ants! Digital bees? Oh my! -- how can these all be bugs? In this episode, Avery talks about bugs in computer code and how she built a pollination video game with a Raspberry Pi. Izaiah updates us about the worms in the compost pile on his farm. And our friends at Valle de Niños in San Francisco take us on a tour of the life cycle of caterpillars. (Entomolgist Chris Wheeler also gets some words in edge-wise1)

Apr 18, 202425 min

S5 Ep 22Critters around the World! (Earth Week remix)

What IS a CRITTER? Andrew & Polly ask some friends around the world about the different critters that live in their neighborhoods. Ear Snacks is a free interactive experience centered around children’s voices & ideas. To support the work we’re doing for your kids (and all kids), become a supporter on Patreon or through Apple Podcasts Premium Subscription feature. Thanks for listening! Need more snacks? Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok!

Apr 18, 202426 min

S4 Ep 21Oceans vs. Microplastic vs. Mermaids! (Earth Week remix)

An interview with a mermaid scientist!!! This Earth Week remix episode of Ear Snacks features the bright light of science communicator and mermaid, Danni Washington. Check out her amazing book, Bold Women in Science, and her podcast for kids, Genius Generation. Thanks again to our friends Arlo, Molly, Poppy, Opal, Sam, and Thiri (and their parents) for sharing what they know about lights! And thank you to all our listeners for your beautiful inner lights and for using them to help others see something new. Please consider supporting our work this holiday season at patreon.com/earsnacks (and receive a cameo-style personalized video!) To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org – thanks for listening!

Apr 16, 202421 min

S14 Ep 20Family of Trees! (Earth Week remix)

Happy Earth Week! What has 3 trillion trees and one kid named after a birch tree? Andrew & Polly's family tree has (at least!) 3 tree experts who give us just the tiniest glimpse into the wonder of all things arboreal. Thanks to Bay Area-based Plant Stars and Oakland Aesthetics for sharing what they love! To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org - and thanks for listening!

Apr 16, 20249 min

S4 Ep 19Eclipse!

What do you see during an eclipse? What does it feel like? What does it sound like? In 2017, we asked kids and families living in the path of totality to record their experience of the Great American Eclipse. If you're getting ready for the total solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024 that will stretch from Texas to Maine, check this out! More awesome eclipse- and science-related listening goodness, including… Our episode about Shadows where Mat Kaplan from Planetary Radio explains how eclipses are space shadows! Our first Eclipse episode in 2017 featuring more great science and history stories about eclipses from our Kids Listen friends Mick Sullivan at The Past & The Curious and Molly Bloom at Brains On! There’s also a brand new Eclipse MUSICAL out now by Alphabet Rockers You can hear their song Syzygy and more mind-expanding bops on our Spotify Playlist: Science Class Soundtrack! Ear Snacks is a podcast about art, music, science and culture centered around kids voices and ideas – if you know a kid with things to say, let us know! To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org Are we still going to be podcasting during the next total solar eclipse in 2045? 🙂

Mar 27, 202418 min

S4 Ep 18Rainbows & Holi (with Charu Suri)

Why ARE there so many songs about rainbows? Because there's SO MUCH TO SAY about them! Happy Holi! Andrew & Polly act as the prism for some awesome tangential concepts connected to ROY G BIV. Jazz piansit Charu Suri shares the connection between raga (Sanskrit for "color" or "dye") and the aura of music, as well as her love of the mischievously vibrant paint-throwing Festival of Colors, Holi! And Nina Silver takes us on a guided unpacking of flood myths and rainbows as symbols of hope in a sonically rich imagining of Noah's Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center. In this episode, you'll hear: Rainbow Shoppe by Andrew & Polly (feat. Lucy Kalantari) Bourbon Street Stroll (Raga Hemant) by Charu Suri from Rags & Ragas Aaj Rang Hai (Today There is Color) by Charu Suri from The Book of Ragas (Vol. 2) additional underscore by Andrew & Polly You can hear more colorful bops on our Spotify Playlist: Songs About Rainbows 🌈 Many thanks to Charu, Nina, and our friends Adrian, Stella Rose, Townes, and Tenny (and their parents & siblings) for sharing what they know about rainbows! If you know a kid who has something to say (spoiler alert: they all do!), to learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org

Mar 22, 202433 min

S4 Ep 17Pi + Pie! (with America’s Test Kitchen Kids)

WHAT IS PIE? What about pi? Can I have 3.1415 pieces, please? Pre-heat your International Pi Day festivities! Andrew & Polly get granular with Molly Birnbaum from America’s Test Kitchen Kids who does all kinds of fascinating kitchen experiments and games on her new kids podcast, Mystery Recipe. Find more at ATKkids.com/mysteryrecipe and earsnacks.org — we hope family time can be filled with fun and learning and good food!

Mar 8, 202415 min

S4 Ep 16Yarn & Protest Puppets (with Andy Ferguson)

Do you ever make things in your house? Do you ever use YARN? Unwind the knotty world of knitting, coziness, and monster design with our friends Lilah, Gertie, Dot, and Andy Ferguson a.k.a. musician & puppeteer, Red Yarn! Andy shares a paper bag craft, using pantomime to create new puppetry characters, and how crafting can contribute to protest movements. Our pal Angela Diveglia shares about her time working with Bread and Puppet Theater and the giant protest puppets they've used in civic engagement since the 60's. Many thanks to Andy Ferguson for sharing his artistry and Red Yarn's song, Town Hall Meeting. You can find more of his music and puppetry at redyarnproductions.com. Thanks to librarian Angela Diveglia for hopping on the phone with old college friends to talk about her super-inspiring work (and muscles!) with Bread and Puppet Theater Company. If you're in Vermont, look 'em up! Vocabulary & Ideas in this episode include: Twizzle Pantomime Collaborate Protest puppetry To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org

Feb 23, 202430 min

S4 Ep 15Hearts! (with Ruben Rojas)

Do all hearts beat the same? We don’t know…unless we listen to them. With the help of four well-informed hummingbirds and renowned muralist Ruben Rojas, Andrew & Polly explore what they know about hearts – biological and metaphorical! Our friends Maya, Anders, Jackson, and Emmet share about how their hearts feel when they give and receive Valentines. And Polly shares about the little robot in her chest (her pacemaker-defibrillator) and the way it keeps her heart dancing to a steady beat. Many thanks to artist, muralist, designer, entrepreneur and podcaster Ruben Rojas for talking with us. His podcast explores the emotional journeys of artists, athletes and other creators seeking to Live Through Love. You can find more of Reuben’s work at rubenrojas.com – or if you walk around, you might just find it on GIANT WALLS. And thanks to Fyütch + Aura V for sharing their new single, I AM LOVE, I AM LIGHT, available wherever you get your affirmational bops! Vocabulary & Ideas in this episode include: Stethoscope Animal heart rates Aorta! Atrium! Ventricle! Arrhythmia Pacemaker-defibrillator Mural Electro-pounce Thanks to EVERYPLATE for sponsoring Ear Sncaks. Go to everyplate.com/podcast and enter code 49earsnacks for $1.49 per meal + $1 steaks for life. Subscription must be active to qualify and redeem $1 steak. Need more snacks? Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok! To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org

Feb 9, 202434 min

S4 Ep 14Ear Snacks Presents: Best Children’s Music from the GRAMMY® Awards

Guest host extraordinaire Carly Ciarrocchi introduces you to the GRAMMY®-nominated artists for Best Children's Music Album in 2024: DJ Willy Wow! for HIP-HOPE FOR KIDS! 123 Andrés for WE GROW TOGETHER: PRESCHOOL SONGS Andrew & Polly for AHHHHH! Uncle Jumbo for TASTE THE SKY Pierce Freelon and Nnenna Freelon for ANCESTARS Congratulations to all the nominees for the 66th GRAMMY Awards! We hope you'll follow these artists and support their work! @djwillywow @123conandres @andrewandpolly @hellounclehumbo @piercefreelon @nnennafreelon There is so much amazing music being made for families right now, and it's hard work - do your part and share what you love! To learn more about Ear Snacks or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org - and thanks for listening!

Jan 27, 202433 min

S4 Ep 13Bells & Blindness with Andrew Leland

Ding ding! Andrew & Polly explore a world of bell sounds and sensations guided by blind author Andrew Leland and percussionist Abby Savell. Kora, Nora, Hazel, Max, Fortney and Berlin think about the use of bells in mindfulness and meditation, around the necks of cats and cows, and the language of fairies. Topics include the physics of sound, the spectrum of blindness, the British punk band Wire, and a vast array of bells including: Almglocken, Bell Trees, Bicycle Bells, Camel Bells, Cat Bells, Chimes, Church Bells, Cow Bells, Door Bells, Elephant Bells, Hand Bells, Microtonal Bells, Orchestral Bells, Sleigh Bells, Ship Bells, Telephone Bells, Tubular Bells and more! Many thanks to North American mammal and author Andrew Leland whose book helped us share about visual impairment, parenting with a disability, the spectrum of blindness and disabilities, and the importance of language regarding inclusion. The Country of the Blind is available wherever you get your books. Thanks to Abby Savell of L.A. Percussion Rentals for generously touring us around her cornucopia of over 1300+ percussion instruments available to rent for live and studio music productions in Southern California. This episode features "The Finest Drops" from A Bell is a Cup by Wire and original underscore by GRAMMY-nominated musicians, Andrew & Polly. Thanks to EVERYPLATE for sponsoring Ear Sncaks. Go to everyplate.com/podcast and enter code 49earsnacks for $1.49 per meal + $1 steaks for life. Subscription must be active to qualify and redeem $1 steak.

Jan 12, 202432 min

S4 Ep 13Songs of Comfort & Joy!

Happy Happy Holidays! Let these completely original family-music tunes light up your holidays and upcoming home days. Thanks to these incredibly talented and generous musicians who fill our ears and hearts all year long - a great way to support their work is by sharing their music, adding their songs to your playlists and following them on social media! Happy Happy Holidays by Aaron Nigel Smith All I Want for Christmas is Used by Formidable Vegetable Coniferous Trees by Molly Ledford & Billy Kelly Zat You Santa Claus by Jazzy Ash Kwanzaa Slide by Culture Queen & Fyütch Bright Winter Day by Little Miss Ann Esta Lucesita by Elizabeth Mitchell & Suni Paz So Freaking Ready for a New Year by those jokers Andrew & Polly

Dec 16, 202328 min

S4 Ep 12Science Class Soundtrack!

Fun and funny songs to inspire the next generation of scientists! On this episode, we're sharing the growing-things (biology) part of our Spotify playlist Science Class Soundtrack featuring these radically thoughtful artists: The Scientific Method by Andrew & Polly feat. Mista Cookie Jar The Dichotomous Key by Billy Kelly & Molly Ledford Trees by Ozomatli Presents Ozokids Micro Biome by Formidable Vegetable Little Mushroom by Pierce Freelon & Nnenna Freelon The Mycelium Underground News by the Okee Dokee Brothers Why is Fruit Fruit? by Andrew & Polly We hope you love these tunes, sing them to people who need this information, and support these artists. We've been sharing music from our friends in celebration of our new album, "Ahhhhh!" - songs that empower kids to take on tough stuff by helping them think, feel and sometimes even SHOUT their way through challenges. To find out more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org

Dec 1, 202328 min

S4 Ep 11Slides!

Wheeeee! How do slides work? What makes something slippery? And what happens when one person wants to go down a slide and another person wants to go up? Andrew & Polly think about the physics of playgrounds, sledding, trombones, and outer space. Our friends Oscar, Alexis, Calvin, Monroe, Tenney, Ainsley, and aerospace engineer Frankie help us make friends with gravity and friction. Plus we turn a playground structure into a percussion instrument. You can hear the full version of the song featured at the end of the episode “The Scientific Method” (feat. Mista Cookie Jar) on Andrew & Polly’s GRAMMY-nominated album “Ahhhhh!” wherever your get your music. Thanks to Shopify for supporting Ear Snacks! Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/earsnacks

Nov 17, 202328 min

S4 Ep 10Feel It All!

On this episode of Ear Snacks, Andrew & Polly play some of their favorite songs from family music artists about BIG feelings -- and how it's okay to notice them and be with them for a while. This is just a small selection of the great music made for kids we're curating on Spotify playlists, so check 'em out! On this episode of Ear Snacks, you'll hear: Tiger in a Hammock by You and Us Wild Thing by Hot Toast Music Company Let's Get Mad by Andrew & Polly feat. Alphabet Rockers Let It Out by Mills Trills feat. Augie Dungey No Nap Today by Flor Bromley Grandma Told Me by Makayla Malaka Everybody Needs to Cry by Strawbitty Yops Like a Bubble by Andrew & Polly feat. Mista Cookie Jar We hope you love these tunes, sing them at the top of your lungs, and support these artists. We've been sharing music from our friends in celebration of our new album, "Ahhhhh!" - songs that empower kids to take on tough stuff by helping them think, feel and sometimes even SHOUT their way through challenges. To find out more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org

Oct 21, 202337 min

S4 Ep 9We can do hard things!

When you need a little pep talk, these songs will reassure you - you can do it! We're celebrating our new album “AHHHHH!” by playing our new songs along with awesome songs from some other amazing family music artists – all about positive self-talk. Worthy Mantra by Tiptoe Giants Soy Yo by Bomba Estereo Powerful, Wonderful by Andrew & Polly (feat. Raye Zaragoza) Smardi Gras by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo I Am Enough by Miss Julieann & Propel Schools Performing Arts Academy I Can Do It! by Kath Bee (feat. Suzy Cato) Affirmation Interlude by Lavender Blues Tiny Dino by Andrew & Polly What Book? by Ants on a Log The Knowing by Ani DiFranco We hope you’ll follow and support their work – and find these songs and more rad music like this on our "I Can Do It!" Spotify Playlist.

Oct 6, 202329 min

S4 Ep 8Joy & Resilience - A Playlist!

Today on Ear Snacks we're celebrating our new album “AHHHHH!” by playing our new songs along with awesome songs from some other amazing family music artists – all about joy and resilience. Resilience is that thing kids need to help them get through tough stuff, and allowing joyfulness is one of the ways we can fill our tanks when we're feeling on empty. So get ready to bounce - and practice how to bounce back! Many thanks to these awesome music-makers for sharing their songs: All We Can Be by Kendall Glitter Off the Paper by Uncle Jumbo @hellouncleumbo Rainbow Shoppe by Andrew & Polly feat. Lucy Kalantari @lucytoon Help You Do the Work by Pierce Freelon @piercefreelon & Nnenna Freelon @nnennafrelon feat. Jarrett Johnson @jarrettamjohnson Little Grey Cloud (It’s OK to Cry) by Benny Time @bennytimemusic feat. Claudia Robin Guynn, Eastcoast Inspirational Singers @EastcoastInspirationalSingers I’ve Got a Problem (Ahhhhh!) by Andrew & Polly feat. Kristin Andreassen @thebrightsidersmusic We Feel It by Alphabet Rockers @alphabetrockers Hope is a Verb by Claudia Robin Gunn @claudiarobingunn We hope you’ll follow and support their work – and find these songs and more rad music like this on our Joy & Resilience playlist on Spotify. We hope these bops brighten your day!

Sep 22, 202337 min

S4 Ep 7Cartoons! (with Tom Toro)

New Yorker cartoonist Tom Toro (Home Free, Back to School Backpack) talks cartoons of all shapes and sizes on this episode of Ear Snacks! Andrew & Polly avoid anvils, consider political cartoons, think about how it feels to STOP watching your favorite stories, and sing a brand new song by Eilis Cahill. Thanks for listening! A big thank you to Leo, Solomon, Hannah, Seamus, Leon, Waylan and Izzy — and their parents — for sharing what they know about cartoons. To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org Thanks to Shopify for supporting Ear Snacks. Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/earsnacks

Sep 8, 202323 min

S4 Ep 6Moves!

Sloths on motorcycles. Stereo sound. Ball bearings left over from WWII. We're talking about Moves, people. Independent ride operator Bruce Perlman talks about how he got into the carnival industry, how his friend Sergio designs gigantic moving attractions, and how boats and 22-wheelers move these carnival rides from place to place. Ramona, Hank, Willa, Colin, Bella, Desmond, and Charlie also make their Ear Snacks debut pondering what they know about movement.

Aug 9, 202318 min

S4 Ep 5Shapes! (with Carter Higgins)

Math and art intersect in this super-fun episode of Ear Snacks! Andrew & Polly invent awesome shape games with author illustrator Carter Higgins, who shares about her awesome book Circle Under Berry and our friends Emmet, Milena, Phoenix and Gertie dish on things with more than three sides. For more information or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org.

Jul 26, 202330 min

S4 Ep 4Summer Mixtape

Put these hot beats in your hot feets! Ear Snacks is back and Andrew & Polly are sharing some of the sunniest, most funniest tunes for your family to enjoy. Feast your ears on: Ear Snacks Summer Mixtape 2023 “Rainbow Shoppe” by Andrew & Polly feat. Lucy Kalantari “Be You You You” by Uncle Jumbo “Start the Discussion” by Esther Crow feat. Strawbitty Yops “Beautiful You” by Mista Cookie Jar feat. Fyütch, Genevieve Goings, Orbit Dean “ABC You A G” by Nnenna & Pierce Freelon feat. Stella Freelon “Sunflower (Kindness Grows)”by Claudia Robin Gunn & Itty Bitty Beats “So Many Ways” by Little Miss Ann feat. Uncle Jumbo Please follow, share and support the work of these amazing musicians! To find out more or be on the show, visit earsnacks.org! Thanks to Shopify for supporting Ear Snacks. Go to Shopify.com/earsnacks for a FREE trial.

Jul 12, 202325 min

S4 Ep 3Gut Friends with Charlie Mgee (Formidable Vegetable)

Are you human? Meet the 90 trillion non-human friends that each one of us carries around every day (plus a couple of goats) with one of our new music friends from down under, Formidable Vegetable's Charlie Mgee. Charlie's music and ideas take us on a journey to consider our relationship to the environment and think about how to be a good friend to the whole world. 100 trillion thanks to Charlie Mgee for popping back on the grid to speak with us and sharing 3 songs from their most recent album "Garbage Guts"! To find out more about Formidable Vegetable's music and permaculture activism, visit https://formidablevegetable.com.au/ To find out more about Ear Snacks or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org

Mar 15, 202320 min

S4 Ep 3You Are Not Alone with Alphabet Rockers

GRAMMY-Award-Winning Artists, Alphabet Rockers, join us in a heart-centering conversation about feeling alone. Along with friends Harlow, Alex, Miles, Maya, Jacob & Isabel we think a more about friendship and the vocabulary around sharing and noticing alone feelings. Many many thanks to Kaitlin McGaw and Tommy Shepherd of Alphabet Rockers. On this episode you heard two of their songs - "You are Not Alone" which is a song AND NOW A BOOK! Their song "Get You a Friend" is on their new GRAMMY-Award-Winning Album, The Movement. On this show you heard their thoughts and their art and now you need to go hear more of their music and get their book and support their work at alphabetrockers.com. For more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org. Thanks to Shopify for supporting Ear Snacks. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/earsnacks

Feb 15, 202330 min

S4 Ep 12023 GRAMMY Awards for Kids: Know Your Noms!

Get to know some of the family music artists nominated for a 2023 GRAMMY Award for Best Children’s Album: Divinity Roxx from NYC (@diviroxx and @diviroxxkids) plays bass for Beyoncé, writes children’s books, and loves mini-kayaking adventures. She shared “Be Yourself” from her GRAMMY-nominated album “Ready, Set, Go!” Justin Roberts from Evanston, IL (@justiroberts) plays pinball, complex faming-based board games, writes children’s books illustrated by Christian Robinson, and advocates for musicians rights. He shared “I Have Been a Unicorn” from his GRAMMY-nominated album “Space Cadet” Alphabet Rockers from Oakland, CA (@alphabetrockets) contain multitudes. We’ve shared their community-based social justice projects The butterfly Effect and We Got Work To Do on the show, and their children’s book You Are Not Alone features in an upcoming episode of Ear Snacks about friendship and loneliness. They shared “Our Turn” from their GRAMMY-nominated album “The Movement” Wendy and DB from Chicago, IL (@wendyandDB) work with and fundraise for the Chicago blues community, organize community art projects, and yes – eat tuna on crackers. They shared “If I Had a Hammer” from their GRAMMY-nominated album “Into the Little Blue House” We hope this playlist piques your family’s interest in the awesome artistry at work in the children’s genre and that you take the time to explore the work of these generous guests! Ear Snacks is made by Andrew & Polly. To find out more or to be on the show, visit earnacks.org - and thanks for listening!

Jan 26, 202320 min

S4 Ep 1Making Friends by Singing with Helena Ku Rhee

Who are your friends? How do people become friends? Can *we* be friends? On this episode of Ear Snacks, Andrew & Polly and their friends contemplate the nature of friendship. We also squawk on our parrot phone to call children’s author Helena Ku Rhee (The Paper Kingdom) about her experience making friends as she grew up in a multilingual apartment complex in Los Angeles, the basis of her 2022 picture book Rosa’s Song illustrated by Pascal Campion. Many thanks to our friends Harlow, Elijah, Maya, Alex, Miles, Isabel (and their parents!) for sharing what they know about friends with us. For more information or to be on the show, please visit earsnacks.org Thanks to Shopify for supporting Ear Snacks. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/earsnacks

Jan 11, 202326 min

S3 Ep 33Happy Warm and Wishy Holidays

Andrew & Polly think about how to stay warm in the winter with some of our favorite family holiday tunes. For more great episodes on the holidays, check out these episodes about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, our most favoritest family holiday music playlist and lights in the ocean! Thanks to Sara Louise Callaway from The Music Box and the one and only Mista Cookie Jar. Thanks to Arlo, Molly, Poppy, Opal, Sam, and Thiri (and their parents) for sharing what they know about lights and how their families use lights to celebrate. Ear Snacks is a free interactive experience centered around children’s voices & ideas. To support the work we’re doing for your kids (and all kids), become a supporter on Patreon or through Apple Podcasts Premium Subscription feature. Thanks for listening! Need more snacks? Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok! Thanks to Shopify for supporting Ear Snacks. Go to Shopify.com/earsnacks for a FREE trial.

Dec 14, 202225 min