Do you ever make things in your house? Do you ever use YARN?
Unwind the knotty world of knitting, coziness, and monster design with our friends Lilah, Gertie, Dot, and Andy Ferguson a.k.a. musician & puppeteer, Red Yarn! Andy shares a paper bag craft, using pantomime to create new puppetry characters, and how crafting can contribute to protest movements.
Our pal Angela Diveglia shares about her time working with Bread and Puppet Theater and the giant protest puppets they've used in civic engagement since the 60's.
Many thanks to Andy Ferguson for sharing his artistry and Red Yarn's song, Town Hall Meeting. You can find more of his music and puppetry at redyarnproductions.com. Thanks to librarian Angela Diveglia for hopping on the phone with old college friends to talk about her super-inspiring work (and muscles!) with Bread and Puppet Theater Company. If you're in Vermont, look 'em up!
Vocabulary & Ideas in this episode include:

Twizzle

Pantomime

Collaborate

Protest puppetry


To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org

Yarn & Protest Puppets (with Andy Ferguson)

Do all hearts beat the same? We don’t know…unless we listen to them.

With the help of four well-informed hummingbirds and renowned muralist Ruben Rojas, Andrew & Polly explore what they know about hearts – biological and metaphorical! Our friends Maya, Anders, Jackson, and Emmet share about how their hearts feel when they give and receive Valentines. And Polly shares about the little robot in her chest (her pacemaker-defibrillator) and the way it keeps her heart dancing to a steady beat.

Many thanks to artist, muralist, designer, entrepreneur and podcaster Ruben Rojas for talking with us. His podcast explores the emotional journeys of artists, athletes and other creators seeking to Live Through Love. You can find more of Reuben’s work at rubenrojas.com – or if you walk around, you might just find it on GIANT WALLS.

And thanks to Fyütch + Aura V for sharing their new single, I AM LOVE, I AM LIGHT, available wherever you get your affirmational bops!

Vocabulary & Ideas in this episode include:

Stethoscope

Animal heart rates

Aorta! Atrium! Ventricle!

Arrhythmia

Pacemaker-defibrillator

Mural

Electro-pounce


Thanks to EVERYPLATE for sponsoring Ear Sncaks. Go to everyplate.com/podcast and enter code 49earsnacks for $1.49 per meal + $1 steaks for life. Subscription must be active to qualify and redeem $1 steak.
Need more snacks? Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok!
To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org

Hearts! (with Ruben Rojas)

Guest host extraordinaire Carly Ciarrocchi introduces you to the GRAMMY®-nominated artists for Best Children's Music Album in 2024:


DJ Willy Wow! for HIP-HOPE FOR KIDS!


123 Andrés for WE GROW TOGETHER: PRESCHOOL SONGS


Andrew & Polly for AHHHHH!


Uncle Jumbo for TASTE THE SKY


Pierce Freelon and Nnenna Freelon for ANCESTARS


Congratulations to all the nominees for the 66th GRAMMY Awards! We hope you'll follow these artists and support their work!

@djwillywow

@123conandres

@andrewandpolly

@hellounclehumbo

@piercefreelon

@nnennafreelon


There is so much amazing music being made for families right now, and it's hard work - do your part and share what you love!
To learn more about Ear Snacks or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org - and thanks for listening!

Ear Snacks Presents: Best Children's Music from the GRAMMY® Awards

Ding ding! Andrew & Polly explore a world of bell sounds and sensations guided by blind author Andrew Leland and percussionist Abby Savell. Kora, Nora, Hazel, Max, Fortney and Berlin think about the use of bells in mindfulness and meditation, around the necks of cats and cows, and the language of fairies.
Topics include the physics of sound, the spectrum of blindness, the British punk band Wire, and a vast array of bells including: Almglocken, Bell Trees, Bicycle Bells, Camel Bells, Cat Bells, Chimes, Church Bells, Cow Bells, Door Bells, Elephant Bells, Hand Bells, Microtonal Bells, Orchestral Bells, Sleigh Bells, Ship Bells, Telephone Bells, Tubular Bells and more!
Many thanks to North American mammal and author Andrew Leland whose book helped us share about visual impairment, parenting with a disability, the spectrum of blindness and disabilities, and the importance of language regarding inclusion. The Country of the Blind is available wherever you get your books. Thanks to Abby Savell of L.A. Percussion Rentals for generously touring us around her cornucopia of over 1300+ percussion instruments available to rent for live and studio music productions in Southern California.
This episode features "The Finest Drops" from A Bell is a Cup by Wire and original underscore by GRAMMY-nominated musicians, Andrew & Polly.
Thanks to EVERYPLATE for sponsoring Ear Sncaks. Go to everyplate.com/podcast and enter code 49earsnacks for $1.49 per meal + $1 steaks for life. Subscription must be active to qualify and redeem $1 steak.

Bells & Blindness with Andrew Leland

Happy Happy Holidays! Let these completely original family-music tunes light up your holidays and upcoming home days. Thanks to these incredibly talented and generous musicians who fill our ears and hearts all year long - a great way to support their work is by sharing their music, adding their songs to your playlists and following them on social media!

Happy Happy Holidays by Aaron Nigel Smith


All I Want for Christmas is Used by Formidable Vegetable


Coniferous Trees by Molly Ledford & Billy Kelly


Zat You Santa Claus by Jazzy Ash


Kwanzaa Slide by Culture Queen & Fyütch


Bright Winter Day by Little Miss Ann


Esta Lucesita by Elizabeth Mitchell & Suni Paz


So Freaking Ready for a New Year by those jokers Andrew & Polly

Songs of Comfort & Joy!

Fun and funny songs to inspire the next generation of scientists!
On this episode, we're sharing the growing-things (biology) part of our Spotify playlist Science Class Soundtrack featuring these radically thoughtful artists:


The Scientific Method by Andrew & Polly feat. Mista Cookie Jar


The Dichotomous Key by Billy Kelly & Molly Ledford


Trees by Ozomatli Presents Ozokids


Micro Biome by Formidable Vegetable


Little Mushroom by Pierce Freelon & Nnenna Freelon


The Mycelium Underground News by the Okee Dokee Brothers


Why is Fruit Fruit? by Andrew & Polly 


We hope you love these tunes, sing them to people who need this information, and support these artists. We've been sharing music from our friends in celebration of our new album, "Ahhhhh!" - songs that empower kids to take on tough stuff by helping them think, feel and sometimes even SHOUT their way through challenges.
To find out more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org

Science Class Soundtrack!

Wheeeee! How do slides work? What makes something slippery? And what happens when one person wants to go down a slide and another person wants to go up?
Andrew & Polly think about the physics of playgrounds, sledding, trombones, and outer space. Our friends Oscar, Alexis, Calvin, Monroe, Tenney, Ainsley, and aerospace engineer Frankie help us make friends with gravity and friction. Plus we turn a playground structure into a percussion instrument.
You can hear the full version of the song featured at the end of the episode “The Scientific Method” (feat. Mista Cookie Jar) on Andrew & Polly’s GRAMMY-nominated album “Ahhhhh!” wherever your get your music.
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Slides!

On this episode of Ear Snacks, Andrew & Polly play some of their favorite songs from family music artists about BIG feelings -- and how it's okay to notice them and be with them for a while. This is just a small selection of the great music made for kids we're curating on Spotify playlists, so check 'em out! On this episode of Ear Snacks, you'll hear:


Tiger in a Hammock by You and Us


Wild Thing by Hot Toast Music Company


Let's Get Mad by Andrew & Polly feat. Alphabet Rockers


Let It Out by Mills Trills feat. Augie Dungey


No Nap Today by Flor Bromley


Grandma Told Me by Makayla Malaka


Everybody Needs to Cry by Strawbitty Yops


Like a Bubble by Andrew & Polly feat. Mista Cookie Jar


We hope you love these tunes, sing them at the top of your lungs, and support these artists. We've been sharing music from our friends in celebration of our new album, "Ahhhhh!" - songs that empower kids to take on tough stuff by helping them think, feel and sometimes even SHOUT their way through challenges.
To find out more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org

Feel It All!

When you need a little pep talk, these songs will reassure you - you can do it! We're celebrating our new album “AHHHHH!” by playing our new songs along with awesome songs from some other amazing family music artists – all about positive self-talk.


Worthy Mantra by Tiptoe Giants


Soy Yo by Bomba Estereo


Powerful, Wonderful by Andrew & Polly (feat. Raye Zaragoza)


Smardi Gras by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo


I Am Enough by Miss Julieann & Propel Schools Performing Arts Academy


I Can Do It! by Kath Bee (feat. Suzy Cato)


Affirmation Interlude by Lavender Blues


Tiny Dino by Andrew & Polly


What Book? by Ants on a Log


The Knowing by Ani DiFranco


We hope you’ll follow and support their work – and find these songs and more rad music like this on our "I Can Do It!" Spotify Playlist.

We can do hard things!

Today on Ear Snacks we're celebrating our new album “AHHHHH!” by playing our new songs along with awesome songs from some other amazing family music artists – all about joy and resilience. Resilience is that thing kids need to help them get through tough stuff, and allowing joyfulness is one of the ways we can fill our tanks when we're feeling on empty. So get ready to bounce - and practice how to bounce back!
Many thanks to these awesome music-makers for sharing their songs:


All We Can Be by Kendall


Glitter Off the Paper by Uncle Jumbo @hellouncleumbo


Rainbow Shoppe by Andrew & Polly feat. Lucy Kalantari @lucytoon


Help You Do the Work by Pierce Freelon @piercefreelon & Nnenna Freelon @nnennafrelon feat. Jarrett Johnson @jarrettamjohnson


Little Grey Cloud (It’s OK to Cry) by Benny Time @bennytimemusic feat. Claudia Robin Guynn, Eastcoast Inspirational Singers @EastcoastInspirationalSingers


I’ve Got a Problem (Ahhhhh!) by Andrew & Polly feat. Kristin Andreassen @thebrightsidersmusic


We Feel It by Alphabet Rockers @alphabetrockers


Hope is a Verb by Claudia Robin Gunn @claudiarobingunn


We hope you’ll follow and support their work – and find these songs and more rad music like this on our Joy & Resilience playlist on Spotify. We hope these bops brighten your day!

Joy & Resilience - A Playlist!

New Yorker cartoonist Tom Toro (Home Free, Back to School Backpack) talks cartoons of all shapes and sizes on this episode of  Ear Snacks! Andrew & Polly avoid anvils, consider political cartoons, think about how it feels to STOP watching your favorite stories, and sing a brand new song by Eilis Cahill.
Thanks for listening! A big thank you to Leo, Solomon, Hannah, Seamus, Leon, Waylan and Izzy — and their parents — for sharing what they know about cartoons. To learn more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org
Thanks to Shopify for supporting Ear Snacks. Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/earsnacks

Cartoons! (with Tom Toro)

Sloths on motorcycles. Stereo sound. Ball bearings left over from WWII.

We're talking about Moves, people. Independent ride operator Bruce Perlman talks about how he got into the carnival industry, how his friend Sergio designs gigantic moving attractions, and how boats and 22-wheelers move these carnival rides from place to place. Ramona, Hank, Willa, Colin, Bella, Desmond, and Charlie also make their Ear Snacks debut pondering what they know about movement.

Moves!

Math and art intersect in this super-fun episode of Ear Snacks! Andrew & Polly invent awesome shape games with author illustrator Carter Higgins, who shares about her awesome book Circle Under Berry and our friends Emmet, Milena, Phoenix and Gertie dish on things with more than three sides.

For more information or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org.

Shapes! (with Carter Higgins)

Put these hot beats in your hot feets! Ear Snacks is back and Andrew & Polly are sharing some of the sunniest, most funniest tunes for your family to enjoy. Feast your ears on:
Ear Snacks Summer Mixtape 2023

“Rainbow Shoppe” by Andrew & Polly feat. Lucy Kalantari


“Be You You You” by Uncle Jumbo


“Start the Discussion” by Esther Crow feat. Strawbitty Yops


“Beautiful You” by Mista Cookie Jar feat. Fyütch, Genevieve Goings, Orbit Dean

“ABC You A G” by Nnenna & Pierce Freelon feat. Stella Freelon

“Sunflower (Kindness Grows)”by Claudia Robin Gunn & Itty Bitty Beats


“So Many Ways” by Little Miss Ann feat. Uncle Jumbo



Please follow, share and support the work of these amazing musicians!
To find out more or be on the show, visit earsnacks.org!
Thanks to Shopify for supporting Ear Snacks. Go to Shopify.com/earsnacks for a FREE trial.

Summer Mixtape

Are you human?

Meet the 90 trillion non-human friends that each one of us carries around every day (plus a couple of goats) with one of our new music friends from down under, Formidable Vegetable's Charlie Mgee. Charlie's music and ideas take us on a journey to consider our relationship to the environment and think about how to be a good friend to the whole world.

100 trillion thanks to Charlie Mgee for popping back on the grid to speak with us and sharing 3 songs from their most recent album "Garbage Buts". To find out more about Formidable Vegetable's music and permaculture activism, visit https://formidablevegetable.com.au/

To find out more about Ear Snacks or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org

Gut Friends with Charlie Mgee (Formidable Vegetable)

GRAMMY-Award-Winning Artists, Alphabet Rockers, join us in a heart-centering conversation about feeling alone. Along with friends Harlow, Alex, Miles, Maya, Jacob & Isabel we think a more about friendship and the vocabulary around sharing and noticing alone feelings.
Many many thanks to Kaitlin McGaw and Tommy Shepherd of Alphabet Rockers. On this episode you heard two of their songs - "You are Not Alone" which is a song AND NOW A BOOK! Their song "Get You a Friend" is on their new GRAMMY-Award-Winning Album, The Movement. On this show you heard their thoughts and their art and now you need to go hear more of their music and get their book and support their work at alphabetrockers.com. 
For more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org.
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You Are Not Alone with Alphabet Rockers

Get to know some of the family music artists nominated for a 2023 GRAMMY Award for Best Children’s Album:


Divinity Roxx from NYC (@diviroxx and @diviroxxkids) plays bass for Beyoncé, writes children’s books, and loves mini-kayaking adventures. She shared “Be Yourself” from her GRAMMY-nominated album “Ready, Set, Go!”


Justin Roberts from Evanston, IL (@justiroberts) plays pinball, complex faming-based board games, writes children’s books illustrated by Christian Robinson, and advocates for musicians rights. He shared “I Have Been a Unicorn” from his GRAMMY-nominated album “Space Cadet”


Alphabet Rockers from Oakland, CA (@alphabetrockets) contain multitudes. We’ve shared their community-based social justice projects The butterfly Effect and We Got Work To Do on the show, and their children’s book You Are Not Alone features in an upcoming episode of Ear Snacks about friendship and loneliness. They shared “Our Turn” from their GRAMMY-nominated album “The Movement”


Wendy and DB from Chicago, IL (@wendyandDB) work with and fundraise for the Chicago blues community, organize community art projects, and yes – eat tuna on crackers. They shared “If I Had a Hammer” from their GRAMMY-nominated album “Into the Little Blue House”


We hope this playlist piques your family’s interest in the awesome artistry at work in the children’s genre and that you take the time to explore the work of these generous guests!
Ear Snacks is made by Andrew & Polly. To find out more or to be on the show, visit earnacks.org - and thanks for listening!

2023 GRAMMY Awards for Kids: Know Your Noms!

Who are your friends? How do people become friends? Can *we* be friends? On this episode of Ear Snacks, Andrew & Polly and their friends contemplate the nature of friendship. We also squawk on our parrot phone to call children’s author Helena Ku Rhee (The Paper Kingdom) about her experience making friends as she grew up in a multilingual apartment complex in Los Angeles, the basis of her 2022 picture book Rosa’s Song illustrated by Pascal Campion.
Many thanks to our friends Harlow, Elijah, Maya, Alex, Miles, Isabel (and their parents!) for sharing what they know about friends with us. For more information or to be on the show, please visit earsnacks.org
Thanks to Shopify for supporting Ear Snacks. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/earsnacks

Making Friends by Singing with Helena Ku Rhee

Andrew & Polly think about how to stay warm in the winter with some of our favorite family holiday tunes. For more great episodes on the holidays, check out these episodes about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, our most favoritest family holiday music playlist and lights in the ocean! Thanks to Sara Louise Callaway from The Music Box and the one and only Mista Cookie Jar. Thanks to Arlo, Molly, Poppy, Opal, Sam, and Thiri (and their parents) for sharing what they know about lights and how their families use lights to celebrate.
Ear Snacks is a free interactive experience centered around children’s voices & ideas. To support the work we’re doing for your kids (and all kids), become a supporter on Patreon or through Apple Podcasts Premium Subscription feature. Thanks for listening!
Need more snacks? Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok!
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Happy Warm and Wishy Holidays

Some things crack by design - like eggs! But it can be really surprising for kids when something breaks, especially if that thing can't be repaired. In this episode, we think about what to do about the unpredictable. Everett (from South Africa), Henry & Saul, Jackson & Beanie and Ainsley tell Andrew & Polly about things that break. Elizabeth Cochran (aka Dr. Earthquakes!) from the USGS talks earthquake science (aka seismology) & L.A. Everett shares about how he cracked the bones in his arm.

To find out more or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org

Thanks to Shopify for supporting Ear Snacks. Go to Shopify.com/earsnacks for a FREE trial.

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