🎉 The Kids Show that Won Best News Podcast at The Ambies

Presented by LEADR

✅ The Audacity to See It Through

Ideas are easy. You’ve probably had five today before finishing your morning coffee. But the real art—the magic—is in sticking around long enough to bring one of them to life.

Because podcasting, like any creative act, is equal parts vision and endurance. It takes guts to start, sure. But it takes audacity to keep going. To show up when no one’s listening. To edit the tape that’s not working. To release the episode that scares you a little.

Keep going. Your idea deserves it. So do you.

🎙️ Signal Flow: Tracy Leeds Kaplan

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

Tracy Leeds Kaplan has a deep background in media and tech, having started her career at the public broadcasting powerhouse GBH and later overseeing video partnerships at CBS Interactive during the early days of video streaming. She has worked with publishers and creators of all sizes at Twitter, TuneIn, and Patreon before founding her own company, Small But Mighty Media, and becoming a creator herself. She now divides her time between managing partnerships and operations for the independent podcast company Tenderfoot TV and running her own company, producing award-winning shows such as The Ten News, Nature Nerds, and The Weekly Roar: Your Mane Source of Animal News.

We created The Ten News because there was a huge gap for current events programming for 8–12-year-olds. That age group is hungry for smart content, and they’re capable of handling complex topics—if you deliver it the right way.

Winning the Ambie for Best News Podcast was honestly overwhelming. We were up against NPR and other major players. For a small show like ours to be recognized like that? It meant everything—to me, to the team, and to every contributor who’s ever been part of The Ten News family.

The emails we get from kids keep me going. I still remember the first message, from Alex in South Dakota. It’s wild to think our show reached someone there. That’s when I realized we’re not just creating a podcast, we’re connecting with kids in every corner of the country.

We don’t shy away from tough topics. When the war in Ukraine broke out, we covered it. I remember being nervous, worried it would be too much. But the listener feedback was incredible. Kids asked for follow-ups. They didn’t want us to drop the story. That taught me to trust our audience more.

To make a topic digestible for kids, I always go to kids first. I ask what they want to know. Their questions are so different from what adults expect. And when possible, I let kids speak for themselves. That’s powerful.

We did an episode on gun violence and created two versions—one for grown-ups and one for kids. We gave caregivers tools to talk about the issue, and we let a young gun-sense activist share her own story. That’s the kind of approach I believe in: layered, respectful, and honest.

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Advertising on kids' podcasts has to be thoughtful. I once approved an ad that ended up being pre-produced and not what I expected. A parent reached out, concerned, and they were right. I pulled the ad immediately. That experience reinforced how seriously I take my responsibility to our listeners.

Kids are smart. They’re curious. They want real stories, not dumbed-down ones. I think adults often underestimate how capable kids are. But if you give them great content, they’ll devour it.

I started The Weekly Roar to balance the heaviness of some Ten News episodes. Not every family is ready to talk about things like gun violence. The Weekly Roar offers something lighter—animal news, fun facts, quick hits. It brings me a lot of joy.

Each episode of The Weekly Roar is about 10 minutes—bite-sized on purpose. Something kids can listen to on their way to school, or binge a few at a time. If they want longer episodes, I’m open to that, but I wanted to start small and nimble.

I’d love to see more creative sponsorship models for kids' podcasts. Something like: “This science segment is brought to you by Google.” Or a Halloween takeover where a brand like Hulu sponsors spooky specials across 30 kid shows. There’s so much potential—but we need buyers willing to think outside the box.

I want kids’ podcasts to get the respect they deserve. We work just as hard—if not harder—than adult shows. Kids are tough critics. If an episode’s not great, they’ll bounce. Adults might give you another shot. Kids? They’re out.

My dream is that someday, opening a podcast app becomes as natural for kids as opening YouTube. That’s when we’ll see true growth in the space. If Disney can help shift that behavior with Frozen audio stories, more power to them. The more kids who start with audio, the better for everyone.

We’ve built a whole newsroom world inside The Ten News. It’s playful, inclusive, and designed to bring kids in. If someone has a new book or show for kids, we’re always open to collaborations. Come pretend you’re in the studio with us—it’ll be the most fun you’ve ever had on a podcast.

🎙️ Podcast of the Week: Doughboys

If you’ve ever had a heated debate over curly fries or ranked mozzarella sticks with deadly seriousness, Doughboys is for you. Comedians Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger bring their chaotic charm to chain restaurant reviews, sparring over everything from Taco Bell to TGI Friday’s. It’s hilarious, weirdly insightful, and guaranteed to make you crave something fried.

🥾 Further Exploration

Why do we cry during movies? Or feel lighter after a great story ends? In this short video, StudioBinder breaks down the emotional arc of catharsis—and how storytellers can tap into it to create deeper, more lasting impact. A must-watch for podcasters aiming to move their listeners, not just entertain them.

ICYMI:

🤔 Podcasting, Persistence, & Breaking Big Stories w/ Denise Chan

🎙️ Gretchen Rubin on Happiness, Habits, & Podcasting Success

🎧 Rob Rosenthal on Good Storytelling