šŸŒŽ Culture shock. Affirmations. Narwhals. This podcast has it all.

Presented by Cozy Critters

Presented by Cozy Critters

ā

Make no little plans for they have no power to stir one’s blood.

Daniel Burnham

šŸ˜µā€šŸ’« It’s More Exhausting to Think About Than Execute

Nothing drains creative energy faster than imagining doing the damn thing. We pre-live the pain, we scan every mental exit like it’s a fire drill for failure.

But then…if we just start…the weight lifts.

Hit record, sketch the outline, draft the trailer. Even bad progress is less painful than pristine inaction. Because the real exhaustion isn’t in the work, it’s in the avoidance of it.

Creativity, like gravity, rewards movement. The idea quickly builds momentum when you release it.

(Thanks to Adam Savage for the inspiration.)

šŸŽ™ļø Signal Flow: Kristen Kim

Industry game changers and valiant minds share their wisdom, adversities, and paths to innovation.

​Kristen Kim is a Korean American mother of two, wife, and a yoga fanatic with a background in TV Production. She worked at networks such as CBS Sports, NBC Sports, and Discovery Networks in various departments, including production operations, digital production, content creation, and licensing. Her background in TV production allowed her to create this podcast as a solo producer with her son, Asher.

Editor’s note: The following draws from our conversation and has been summarized to highlight key themes. It includes paraphrased reflections rather than direct quotes.

When I was younger, I went out of my way to seem as American as possible. I even pretended not to speak Korean. If my mom packed Korean food in my lunchbox, I’d be upset. It took years before I stopped living a double life. But I kept wondering…what if our children never had to feel that shame in the first place?

I started Culture Kids because I couldn’t find the content I wanted for my son. He was a podcast listener from the time he was born, and as a Korean American, I wanted him to feel proud of his heritage. Not like he had to hide it, the way I felt growing up.

The podcast is now a nonprofit because of the nature of our partnerships. We collaborate with cultural organizations, educators, even tour companies to bring global stories to life in a fun, kid-friendly way. Our mission is to raise children with multicultural mindsets and help them feel seen.

If you want to hear the best representation of our audio, don’t go back and listen to the first several episodes! The technical learning curve was steep, but we’ve come so far since the show started, particularly in terms of audio quality and as indie creators. My co-host is my son, Asher, and we’ve started bringing in other children’s voices as well.

Kids want to hear from other kids. We get messages all the time asking about Asher (his favorite color, his birth sign) but rarely do they ask about me!

We’re also influenced by Korean and Japanese kids’ TV, where there’s no shortage of silly sound effects, visual chaos, and colorful creativity. Even in audio, you can bring that kind of delight. One recent episode had talking narwhals that chimed in with commentary. It’s ridiculous, but it works. Kids love it.

Connection is at the heart of what we do. Yes, we teach about different cultures, but it’s not about becoming more like someone else. It’s about celebrating the differences and finding the things we have in common. You eat with your hands? So do we. You wear a head covering? So do we, for different reasons.

These ideas that feel foreign are often already around us. Our job is to help kids make those connections.

(continued below)

……………………..

ā€œIt’s literal gold for parents.ā€ - Andy S.

Cozy Critters is the bedtime podcast that helps kids wind down while they learn about sleepy animals around the world. It's gentle, imaginative, and made to help little listeners (and their grownups) finally exhale.

😻 Mom’s Choice Award winner

😻 Featured by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine

😻 Top 5 podcast worldwide on Yoto

……………………..

(continued from above)

I studied classical music composition, and my professors used to tell us: nothing good happens when you force it. If I get stuck, I stop. I go touch a tree. I let my kids distract me. And when I come back, I usually know what to do.

Recommending a show to another adult is easy, it doesn’t change their lifestyle. But for parents, introducing audio content to kids can feel like a big shift. That’s why we focus on visibility. We ask listeners to share our episodes with just one person. We ask guests to share it in their newsletters. It works, but it takes effort.

If Culture Kids was a theme park ride, it’d be something like ā€œIt’s a Small World.ā€ I know that’s a controversial answer, but that ride stuck with me as a kid. All the colors, the costumes, the music. It made me realize the world was bigger and more beautiful than I knew. Our version would have a culture train that zooms through different countries, letting kids experience the world with wonder, laughter, and love.

The biggest thing we try to create is warmth. At the end of every episode, we include an affirmation. I think about what I’d want every child to hear, especially the ones who may never hear words like that at home. If I can help just one kid feel loved, that’s enough.

šŸŽ§ Podcast of the Week: This is Actually Happening

What if your life completely changed and you had to live through the unthinkable? This is Actually Happening is an unflinching, deeply human show where real people share their raw, personal stories of transformation, trauma, and resilience. It’s not easy listening, but it’s unforgettable.

🄾 Further Exploration: Podcast Listener Statistics 2025

DesignRush reveals key insights about audience engagement: most listeners tune in for 30–60 minutes per session, 88% listen on mobile, and importantly, they’re surprisingly tolerant of ads. It also shares how host‑read integrations and season‑long partnerships drive lasting ROI.

ICYMI:

šŸ’” The Quiet Spark

A weekly question to ignite fresh thinking, stir self-reflection, and fuel your creative process behind the mic.

Are you being productive? Or just busy?

Enjoying The Noise Gate? Why not share it with a fellow podcaster?

Until next time, have a bold week.

- Doug

For advertising information, contact Kristy at [email protected]