Listen Together!
In the Land of Qook-a-lackas, the creatures there look different to every child who visits. Some have fur and spikes. Some have scales. Some change color depending on how they are feeling. And what each kid sees is shaped entirely by their own imagination. Over the past five seasons of the show, Todd has asked kids this question again and again, and the answers have been endlessly surprising. A panda. A hedgehog. A ginormous unicorn. A lavender dragon. A tiny purple troll from the movie Trolls. The bird on the Fruit Loops box. A creature with tie-dye fur, spikes, and an English flag printed on it.Ā This episode strings many of these moments together, with Todd reflecting on what it means that no two kids ever see quite the same thing: Because the way we view the world shapes what we see everywhere, not just in the land of Qook-a-lackas.
More than five years ago, the very first episode of this podcast was called What’s in Your Heart? It was all about feelings, and one of the kids on that episode said something that has stayed with Todd ever since: “My heart feels all the feelings right now.” Over the years, that idea has come up again and again, in Kidventures, in Missions, in Interviews, and in Storytimes. And in this episode, Todd strings those moments together into one warm, wide-ranging celebration of what it means to feel things. There is anger that sounds like a tuba, heavy and hard to carry, rumbling through your whole body. There is the feeling of being happy and tired at the same time. There are kids feeling mad and sad when a sibling knocks over a Lego build, and kids feeling nervous and excited about dancing. There is Georgia feeling hungry and happy. There is Layla talking about the day she found out her dad had brain cancer and all the mixed emotions that came with it. And there is a very worried Qook-a-lacka named Quaslin, dealing with a gummy bear crop emergency. Because feelings are simply a part of life. And they are part of what makes us who we are.
Songs in This Episode:
š¶ “I’ve Got My Family” ā by Benjamin Weiner, which was first released on the episode “Song: “I’ve Got My Family” with Benjamin Weiner”
š¶ “Room for You at the Table” ā by Benjamin Weiner and Suzi Shelton, which is from the album “We’re Friends Now,” which was shared on the Little Kids, Big Hearts episode, “SONGS: Friendship Songs Thatāll Make You Dance!”
š¶Ā “That’s What Big Brothers Are For” ā by Christopher Burkholder, which was first released in the episode “Song š¶: A Real Songwriter Talks & Sings About Siblings!”
š¶ “I’ll See You Then” ā by Christopher Burkholder, which was first released in the episode “Interview: A Song About Missing Someone You Love!”
š¶ “Together” ā by Lance Horne, which was first released in the episode “Song & Interview: “Together” With Lance Horne”
š¶ “Make the Morning Bright” ā by Benjamin Weiner, which was first released in the episode “Operation Help Out Mission and Song” and was inspired by the episode “Big Hearts in Tough Times: LA Kids Discuss the Fires.”Ā
š¶ “When Something’s Unfair” ā by Benjamin Weiner and performed with Benjamin and Vella Lovell. It was first released in the episode “The Fairness Quest Mission & Song”
š¶ “I’m Grateful” ā by Benjamin Weiner, which was first released in the episode “Song & Interview: Iām Grateful by Benjamin Weiner”
In this “mindful moment mashup,” Todd revisits each of his favorite journeys, one after another, all the deep breaths and the gummy bears, all the moments of arriving to a place that is a little magical. And when the final journey ends, Todd closes with a reflection on what all of it has really been about: the light that every child carries inside them, their curiosity, their imagination, their kindness, and their ability to see possibilities that grown-ups sometimes miss.
Songs in This Episode:
š¶ “I’m Such a Lucky One” ā Bill English ā from the Let’s Talk Siblings episode
š¶Ā “Puzzle Pieces” ā Benjamin Weiner ā from the Celebrating Our Differences episode
š¶ “Try” ā Bill English ā from the Trying New Things episode
š¶ “Furry Friend” ā Bill English ā from the Everything Pets episode
š¶ “Just As You Are” ā Benjamin Weiner ā from the We Belong episode
š¶ “Feelings Are OK” ā Bill English ā from the Feeling Angry episode
š¶Ā “You Can Use Your Imagination” ā Benjamin Weiner, performed by Nadiyah Dorsey ā from the Imagination Time episode
Songs in This Episode:
š¶ “Dreamland” by Bill English from the Dreams and Nightmares episode
š¶ “A Little Bit Better” by Benjamin Weiner from the Moving Time episode (you’ll hear Benjamin in the song, along with guest star Amir Arison, and the guest kids on the episode, Aurelia, Cris, and Henry)
š¶ “Super Super Power” by Benjamin Weiner, performed by Q. Smith ā from the Learning Differences episode
š¶ “Under the New Moon” by Benjamin Weiner, performed by Jolly Abraham ā from the Hopes and Dreams episode
š¶ “I’ve Got Boundaries” by Benjamin Weiner, performed by Michael Cruz Kayne from the Boundaries episode
š¶ “Spread the Love” by Bill English from the Cultivating Sweet Kindness episode
š¶ “The Cat Gets Wet” by Benjamin Weiner, performed by LKBH host Todd Loyd from the Magic of Stories episode