Betsy Bird shares the exciting news that we are nominated for a Webby People's Voice Award in the "Individual Episode - Family and Kids" podcast category. Listen to find out how to vote for our nominated episode, "A Nose that Knows," with Katherine Applegate. Every vote counts, so we're counting on you to cast your ballot and share this episode with three friends!

In our bonus interview episode of The Story Seeds Podcast, host Betsy Bird chats with Newbery Award-winning Katherine Applegate (author of the newly published eco-fable Willodeen) after her starring appearance in Episode 11 “A Nose that Knows.” Listen for a behind the scenes look at Katherine’s collaboration with nine-year old Jocelyn on her real-life inspired story idea about a dog who helps a girl with cancer (and the story that grew out of it, “Two Girls, One With Four Paws".) The episode...

The Story Seeds Podcast is back with a special episode to raise awareness for childhood cancer. Nine-year old Jocelyn teams up with Newbery Award-winning Katherine Applegate to grow her story seed about a super dog who helps a girl with cancer feel better. Jocelyn’s story idea was inspired by her own experience and diagnosis with leukemia—the most common type of childhood cancer in the world—and how her dog Sally sensed she had cancer even before the doctors knew. Listen along as Jocelyn...

During the summer of 2021, Story Seeds hosted an inaugural virtual podcasting camp where young people learned the skills they need to grow the seeds of their curiosities into their own podcasts. One of their assignments was to develop five questions and interview an elder, family member or friend about one of three topics: music they listened to as a teenager, food they like to make, or something they are proud of. This montage of eight intimate interviews conducted by our campers ages 8-15...

We're honored. Our episode "A Worm's Worth" with author Jason Reynolds is in the spotlight on CBC Podcast Playlist, a bi-weekly podcast from Canada's Radio One which samples "fresh, new, provocative, and the most intriguing" programs from the podcasting world. This episode is featured on their June 3rd episode titled "Feel good stories for when you need them most." This week, we give it the good old encore treatment because we agree that it will brighten your day. (If you've already heard...

We’d like to tell you about our new activity book, Imagination Lab: Experiments in Creativity. It’s techie, yet screen free and pairs perfectly with Story Seeds. Inside, you’ll find QR codes that link to each episode of season one and hands-on activities to get you writing, reading, baking, experimenting, and so much more! Grownups, learn more at www.storyseedspodcast.com

In this special bonus interview, host Betsy Bird chats with the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Jason Reynolds about his collaboration with 12 year old Irthan in last week’s episode, “A Worm’s Worth.” They dive into the story Jason grew, “Hoo and Wut”, and explore its themes of friendship, being seen for who you are, and fairness–all of which, Jason explains, reflects his own values and that of his young collaborator. Jason also shares his writing tips and tells all the...

On this week’s episode, 12 year old Brooklynite, Irthan joins forces with the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Jason Reynolds, to grow his story seed about an earthworm that turns into a human every 28 days, on the night of a full moon. Join Irthan and Jason as they meet up at the Youth Wing of the central branch of Brooklyn Public Library where they get to know each other and plant the seeds for their collaboration. Then, sit back and listen to the lyrical and timely short...

On this bonus episode, host Betsy Bird chats with Bil Lepp (five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars’ Competition and author of the 2014 PEN award-winning picture book, THE KING OF LITTLE THINGS) about his collaboration with 11 year old Keshav in last week’s episode, “Look Before You Eat.” They talk about the ins and outs of performing as a professional storyteller, his former life as a pastor, and Bil shares a handful of neat tips for telling a good story, both out loud and on paper.

We've got a delicious story seed on deck for this week's episode as 11 year old Keshav collaborates with author and professional storyteller Bil Lepp (he's a five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars’ Competition and author of the 2014 PEN award-winning picture book, THE KING OF LITTLE THINGS). Together, they stir up an inspired cast of characters —three animals and a big bad wolf!—mix in some sweet  treats and a few red hot chili peppers and give us a fractured fairytale titled "Not by...

On this bonus episode, host Betsy Bird chats with Susan Muaddi Darraj (author of the debut middle grade series Farah Rocks) about her collaboration on a mystery story seed with 12 year old Sulaf in last week’s episode, “A Girl Who Looks Like Me.” They talk about why representing Arab-American girls like Sulaf matters in children's books and about being inspired by the works of Agatha Christie and Edgar Allen Poe. Plus, Susan shares her tip for getting through writer’s block—reading! *Spoiler...

On this week’s episode, we bring you a whodunnit shaped story seed! 12 year old Sulaf collaborates with author Susan Muaddi Darraj (author of the debut middle grade series FARAH ROCKS) on a story starring a young Arab-American girl who looks like Sulaf and who finds herself at the center of a mystery at the theatre where she works. Join our host Betsy Bird as she follows Sulaf and Susan's on their all-access backstage tour of the Riverside Theatre at the landmark Riverside Church in NYC where...

On our bonus author interview episode, host Betsy Bird is back and chats with Tracey Baptiste about her quarantine virtual collaboration with 12 year old Amalia on the story "Joy’s Challenge." They also talk about Tracey and Amalia’s common Trinidadian-New Jersey connection, and how to find ways to stay inspired while at home during the pandemic. Plus: Tracey, author of the New York Times best-selling MINECRAFT: THE CRASH and THE JUMBIES adventure series, shares a few trusty writing tips and...

Things are a little different this week. On this special quarantine episode of our podcast, Story Seeds creator, Sandhya Nankani, sits in for our regular host Betsy Bird to facilitate a virtual field trip between creative rockstar Amalia (age 12) and New York Times best-selling author, Tracey Baptiste. Listen along to their video chat collaboration as Tracey helps Amalia grow a story seed about an athletic girl named Joy and her magical relationship with the oak tree in her backyard. Then,...

We love our theme song and are putting it up in full as a special bonus episode for your listening pleasure! Written and composed by Andrew VanWyngarden, the Grammy-nominated co-founder of indie rock band MGMT, our theme song perfectly sums up what our podcast is all about: kids raising their voices, being seen through the ideas they dream up, and shaping their tenacity with a little help from their favorite storytellers! So, sing along with us: "on Story Seeds, you’re in control of your...

On this bonus episode, host Betsy Bird chats with Carlos Hernandez, (author of the Rick Riordan Presents SAL AND GABI series) about his Story Seeds collaboration with twin sisters Siri and Zarana on the story "Citaria's Paintbrush." They also talk about the power of imagination in a world of screentime, how his work as a game designer and his love of gaming influences his fiction writing, how he met his wife Claire (through collaboration!), and the power of doodling.

On this week’s episode, Carlos Hernandez, author of Rick Riordan Presents' SAL AND GABI BREAK THE UNIVERSE (a Kirkus Best Book of 2019 and the 2020 Pura Belpré Author Award ) is matched with not one, but two creative rockstars: 10 year old twins Siri and Zarana! The twins, who love to write and paint, bring along twice the imagination to create a story seed about a magic paintbrush that makes whatever you paint, real! Maybe too real! Join host Betsy Bird as she follows Carlos and the twins to...

On this bonus episode, host Betsy Bird interviews Rajani LaRocca, author of the middle grade fantasy novel MIDSUMMER'S MAYHEM. Go behind the scenes as Rajani recounts what it was like growing Liyana’s story seed into the modern fairytale, "Aina and the Mirror" on Episode 5, "The Hungry Mirror." They also talk about favorite snacks, the weirdest (but effective!) places to write a novel, writing tips, and Rajani’s not just one, but two successful careers: she’s an author and a doctor!

Mirror, Mirror, can I get a bite of that? On this week's episode, 12 year old Liyana collaborates with Rajani LaRocca (author of "Midsummer’s Mayhem," a Kirkus Best Book of 2019 and long-listed for the 2020 Massachusetts Book Award as a must-read title in MG/YA Literature) to brainstorm her story idea about what happens when a girl who is a misfit in her family of celebrities finds a magic mirror. Join host Betsy Bird as she follows Rajani and Liyana to Pippin Vintage, a NYC antique store,...

On this bonus episode, host Betsy Bird and Aram Kim chat about growing Cici’s electric story seed into the original superhero caper "Adventures of Electric Kitty: The Blackout." You’ll also get writing tips, and hear how Aram Kim got her start as an award-winning author and illustrator of picture books including NO KIMCHI FOR ME and her latest LET'S GO TO TAEKWONDO.

This week’s episode brings together seven year old Cici and Aram Kim, (author and illustrator of Bank Street’s Best Children’s Book of 2018 NO KIMCHI FOR ME). Both call Queens, NYC home and it is here that they meet and collaborate to grow Cici's story seed about a new neighborhood superhero: Electric Kitty! Follow along as they introduce us to Electric Kitty who has the superpower to shoot laser beams of light to fight bad guys, but when she isn't busy saving the world — she's a regular cat...

On this bonus episode, our host Betsy Bird and Chris Grabenstein chat about growing Jasper’s giant story seed into the original story "The World's Biggest Detective." You’ll also get writing tips, imagination improv exercises, and hear how Chris Grabenstein became the best-selling author of multiple award-winning and New York Times bestselling page-turners for kids, including the fast-paced, fun, and funny Mr. Lemoncello's Library series.

This week’s episode features Chris Grabenstein, author of the NYTimes best-selling "Mr. Lemoncello's Library" series, and his story seeds match Jasper. Jasper’s story idea is about a 74 foot tall detective (talk about being well equipped for extreme social distancing) and how he *ahem* turns lemons into lemonade by using his height to see things that others can’t. Join host Betsy Bird as she takes you to collaboration nation with Chris and Jasper, and unveils the brand new original story that...

On this bonus episode, host Betsy Bird and Veera Hiranandani chat about the parallels between Veera's childhood school experiences and those of Willa's story seed. You’ll also get some writing tips from the Newbery Honor-winning author!