WNYC Studios Launches Its First-Ever Podcasts for Kids

(New York, NY– November 29, 2017) – WNYC Studios, a leading producer of top podcasts and original audio programming including Radiolab, Freakonomics Radio, and 2 Dope Queens, is making its foray into podcasting for kids with two new shows: This Podcast Has Fleas and Pickle.

Kicking off on Monday, December 4, This Podcast Has Fleas is a six-episode scripted comedy series about a well-intentioned dog named Waffles (Emily Lynne) who can’t seem to make things go her way and a cool cat named Jones (Jay Pharoah) with a fondness for auto-tune. Not only do Waffles and Jones live under the same roof, but these lovable pets also have competing podcasts! With unpredictable storylines, original music your kids will sing along to, and hilarious recurring characters—including a goldfish played by Alec Baldwin and a gerbil played by Eugene Mirman—the series is sure to tickle kids and parents alike.

This Podcast Has Fleas is a partnership between WNYC Studios and kids television veterans Adam Peltzman and Koyalee Chanda, whose credits include some of the most beloved kids television shows, including Blue’s Clues, Wallykazam! and the Emmy-winning Odd Squad, The Electric Company and The Backyardigans.

On Monday, December 11, WNYC Studios will follow Fleas with Pickle, a five-episode ethics series looking at big issues for kids. Co-hosts Shumita Basu (WNYC) and Carl Smith (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), along with ethicist Jennifer Morton (The City College of New York), use humor and storytelling to help kids and families grapple with real life ‘pickles’ such as “When is it okay to tell on a friend?” and “Should elephants be in zoos?” Recording for the series took place at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, and on the New York City subway.

Pickle is co-produced with ABC, and is an adaption of the Australian podcast Short & Curly.

“One of the goals of WNYC Studios is to bring wonder and personality to podcasting,” said Dean Cappello, Chief Content  Officer, WNYC and Head of WNYC Studios. “We like to make you laugh and learn, and deliver big ideas in fun and compelling audio. So we approached making shows for kids the same way. The result is This Podcast Has Fleas, a hilarious take on scripted storytelling for the entire family. And Pickle, an ethics show that speaks directly to kids, but doesn’t shy away from difficult topics and honest conversations. We’re honored to partner with Koyalee Chanda, Adam Peltzman, and ABC on these great, big shows for little listeners.”

“It has been a really exciting creative challenge to go from television, where the visuals are everything, to telling a story with just sound,” said Koyalee Chanda and Adam Peltzman. “These podcasts are essentially cartoons with no pictures, and we hope kids will be completely absorbed in this immersive audio experience. As longtime listeners of WNYC, we cannot imagine better partners to bring this experiment to life.”

"The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is thrilled to partner with podcasting powerhouse WNYC Studios to create a zany, fast-paced ethics show for children that asks them to unpack all sorts of curly questions,” said Kellie Riordan, Head, ABC Audio Studios. “It's the perfect co-listening experience for parents and kids alike and helps us all navigate the complexities of the world."

ABOUT WNYC STUDIOS

WNYC Studios is the premier producer of on-demand and broadcast audio, home to some of the most critically acclaimed and popular podcasts of the last decade, including Radiolab, 2 Dope Queens, Nancy, The New Yorker Radio Hour, Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, Here’s the Thing with Alec Baldwin, Note To Self, On the Media, and A Piece of Work with Abbi Jacobson. WNYC Studios is leading the new golden age in audio with podcasts and national radio programs that inform, inspire, and delight millions of intellectually curious and highly engaged listeners across digital, mobile, and broadcast platforms. Their programs include personal narratives, deep journalism, interviews that reveal, and smart entertainment as varied and intimate as the human voice itself. For more information, visit wnycstudios.wnyc.org.