WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.782 Hello and a warm welcome. I’m Eric O'Keefe from the kids’ podcast What 2 00:00:08.782 --> 00:00:17.565 If World, and I’m so glad you’re here. This is Part One of Big 3 00:00:17.565 --> 00:00:26.348 Emotions: Kids Listen MASHUPS about feelings. In this series, we’ll 4 00:00:26.348 --> 00:00:35.131 be exploring those big feelings — because they can be powerful… and so 5 00:00:35.131 --> 00:00:43.914 can we! Emotions are useful, they are a source of information. They 6 00:00:43.914 --> 00:00:52.697 are our connection to the world. So let's get to know them better, 7 00:00:52.697 --> 00:01:01.480 invite them in, and create space to choose how we respond to them. We 8 00:01:01.480 --> 00:01:10.263 cannot control the wind, but we can adjust the sails. Today’s journey 9 00:01:10.263 --> 00:01:19.046 is all about Fear 🎶 and Bravery 🎶 - two powerful feelings that seem 10 00:01:19.046 --> 00:01:27.828 opposite but are actually deeply connected. Because we had so many 11 00:01:27.828 --> 00:01:36.611 amazing thoughts on these feelings to share, we decided to split this 12 00:01:36.611 --> 00:01:45.394 adventure into two episodes, so whether you’re in the car or in the 13 00:01:45.394 --> 00:01:54.177 classroom, be sure to tune back in for the second installment. So - 14 00:01:54.177 --> 00:02:02.960 what does Fear & Bravery mean to me? Well, when I was a kid, I took 15 00:02:02.960 --> 00:02:11.743 karate - not to become the next Karate Kid, but because I had a bully. 16 00:02:11.743 --> 00:02:20.526 I practiced obsessively, imagining an epic showdown. But my teacher, 17 00:02:20.526 --> 00:02:29.309 Mr. McGlynn, saw right through me. He taught me something even more 18 00:02:29.309 --> 00:02:38.092 powerful than fighting: de-escalation. He showed me that sometimes the 19 00:02:38.092 --> 00:02:46.874 bravest thing to do is take a deep breath and slow down. Guess what? I 20 00:02:46.874 --> 00:02:55.657 never even had to face my bully; facing my fear quietly helped me grow 21 00:02:55.657 --> 00:03:04.440 beyond it. Fear can actually be helpful, warning us of danger or 22 00:03:04.440 --> 00:03:13.223 helping us get ready for big moments. But sometimes that alarm goes 23 00:03:13.223 --> 00:03:22.006 off for no reason, holding us back instead. Bravery doesn’t mean 24 00:03:22.006 --> 00:03:30.789 having no fear - it means feeling fear and still moving forward. 25 00:03:30.789 --> 00:03:39.572 Here’s something cool: facing fears makes them easier to handle, kind 26 00:03:39.572 --> 00:03:48.355 of like jumping into a cold pool. At first the water feels freezing, 27 00:03:48.355 --> 00:03:57.138 but then, you get used to it. The more you face it, the less scary it 28 00:03:57.138 --> 00:04:05.921 becomes.The water doesn't change, but how you experience it does. This 29 00:04:05.921 --> 00:04:14.703 collaboration brings together our community of creators, each offering 30 00:04:14.703 --> 00:04:23.486 their own unique perspective on emotions. Through a morsel from each 31 00:04:23.486 --> 00:04:32.269 show, we introduce you to a new creative style. We hope you discover 32 00:04:32.269 --> 00:04:41.052 your new favourite podcast here! So for now, get comfy, settle in, and 33 00:04:41.052 --> 00:04:49.835 let’s dive into these incredible stories about fear and bravery. 34 00:04:49.835 --> 00:04:58.618 Our first Kids Listen show to explore Fear and Bravery 35 00:04:58.618 --> 00:05:07.401 is Smash Boom Best - a debate show from the makers of Brains On! In 36 00:05:07.401 --> 00:05:16.184 each episode, two cool things go head-to-head, and listeners decide 37 00:05:16.184 --> 00:05:24.967 which is best. Along the way, the debaters use facts and heaps of 38 00:05:24.967 --> 00:05:33.749 passion to teach you how to defend your own opinions. For this Big 39 00:05:33.749 --> 00:05:42.532 Emotions Mash-Up, Smash Boom Best shared a clip that highlights the 40 00:05:42.532 --> 00:05:51.315 most thrilling and terrifying parts of Jack and the Beanstalk. You 41 00:05:51.315 --> 00:06:00.098 know the story! In this heartfelt moment, the narrator connects Jack’s 42 00:06:00.098 --> 00:06:08.881 fear and bravery to his own experiences growing up. Let’s listen. 43 00:06:08.881 --> 00:06:17.664 That was beautiful! Have you ever stopped to 44 00:06:17.664 --> 00:06:26.447 think about what emotions a story makes you feel? Jack and the 45 00:06:26.447 --> 00:06:35.230 Beanstalk is full of fear and courage, but what about other stories 46 00:06:35.230 --> 00:06:44.013 you love? Next time a story moves you, pause for a moment. Close your 47 00:06:44.013 --> 00:06:52.796 eyes and notice how it makes you feel. Can you put those feelings into 48 00:06:52.796 --> 00:07:01.578 words? Just like Smash Boom Best teaches us to defend our opinions, we 49 00:07:01.578 --> 00:07:10.361 can also take time to understand our emotions and express them. Have 50 00:07:10.361 --> 00:07:19.144 you noticed how many words we use to describe different but related 51 00:07:19.144 --> 00:07:27.927 feelings? It's also interesting to notice that our feelings don't just 52 00:07:27.927 --> 00:07:36.710 flip on or off; they often come in different strengths or degrees. 53 00:07:36.710 --> 00:07:45.493 Fear is when something scary is happening right now, like when Jack 54 00:07:45.493 --> 00:07:54.276 faced the giant. If fear is really strong, we might feel terrified! 55 00:07:54.276 --> 00:08:03.059 Sometimes, we’re just nervous - a little uncomfortable because we 56 00:08:03.059 --> 00:08:11.842 don’t know what to expect. Other times, we feel anxious, which is a 57 00:08:11.842 --> 00:08:20.624 longer-lasting kind of fear about something that might happen. When 58 00:08:20.624 --> 00:08:29.407 we're anxious, our brains often ask, "What if something bad 59 00:08:29.407 --> 00:08:38.190 happens?"—something my What If World brain knows all too well! But 60 00:08:38.190 --> 00:08:46.973 just because we can imagine something doesn't mean it's true or 61 00:08:46.973 --> 00:08:55.756 likely. Next time your brain plays the "What if?" game, flip the 62 00:08:55.756 --> 00:09:04.539 script: "What if it doesn't? Or what if something good happens?! And 63 00:09:04.539 --> 00:09:13.322 even if something tough does happen, remember - you won’t go through 64 00:09:13.322 --> 00:09:22.105 it alone. You have people who care about you, and that makes all the 65 00:09:22.105 --> 00:09:30.888 difference. Up next, we have a heartfelt clip from Koala Moon, a 66 00:09:30.888 --> 00:09:39.671 podcast that helps families unwind with gentle, comforting bedtime 67 00:09:39.671 --> 00:09:48.453 stories. This episode, Isla and the Bravery Dragon, was inspired by a 68 00:09:48.453 --> 00:09:57.236 real listener who donated her own beloved "bravery dragon" - a soft, 69 00:09:57.236 --> 00:10:06.019 cuddly toy that gave courage to anyone who held it, helping them to 70 00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:14.802 overcome their fears. Settle in and listen to Koala Moon, with “Isla 71 00:10:14.802 --> 00:10:23.585 and the Bravery Dragon.” What a beautiful story and 72 00:10:23.585 --> 00:10:32.368 act of kindness. We’ve all felt fear like that before, and sometimes, 73 00:10:32.368 --> 00:10:41.151 just hearing a few encouraging words from a friend can make all the 74 00:10:41.151 --> 00:10:49.934 difference. But being the one who offers support can feel just as 75 00:10:49.934 --> 00:10:58.717 rewarding. Isn’t it amazing how emotions connect us? Our feelings 76 00:10:58.717 --> 00:11:07.499 don’t just shape our own experiences - they help us understand and 77 00:11:07.499 --> 00:11:16.282 support the people around us, too. A thought can spark a feeling, and 78 00:11:16.282 --> 00:11:25.065 a feeling can lead to a thought. They dance together, helping us 79 00:11:25.065 --> 00:11:33.848 understand who we are and what matters to us. When we pay attention, 80 00:11:33.848 --> 00:11:42.631 we can start to learn about ourselves - what makes us happy, what 81 00:11:42.631 --> 00:11:51.414 worries us, and what we care about most. By noticing how our thoughts 82 00:11:51.414 --> 00:12:00.197 can shape our feelings, we can grow, also becoming more understanding 83 00:12:00.197 --> 00:12:08.980 of other people’s emotions. Next up, we have a clip from What’s 84 00:12:08.980 --> 00:12:17.763 Poppin, Penny? - a show about Penny, a little girl growing up in a 85 00:12:17.763 --> 00:12:26.546 warm, multigenerational home, along with her magical teddy bear, T.A., 86 00:12:26.546 --> 00:12:35.328 and her wise, talking cat, Penelepaw. Have you ever felt scared and 87 00:12:35.328 --> 00:12:44.111 found comfort in talking to someone? I bet a name popped into your 88 00:12:44.111 --> 00:12:52.894 head just now.Consider letting them know, when you see them next, how 89 00:12:52.894 --> 00:13:01.677 much their understanding helps. In this clip, Penny confides in T.A. 90 00:13:01.677 --> 00:13:10.460 after watching a spooky movie that left her feeling anxious. Let’s 91 00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:19.243 listen to What’s Poppin, Penny? and hear Penny’s story of courage and 92 00:13:19.243 --> 00:13:28.026 comfort. Big exhale Ahhh. Those calming 93 00:13:28.026 --> 00:13:36.809 tricks from T.A. were pretty great! I might try them next time I get 94 00:13:36.809 --> 00:13:45.592 the butterflies or feel a little scared. Penny showed us something 95 00:13:45.592 --> 00:13:54.374 really important - talking to a trusted friend or adult about our 96 00:13:54.374 --> 00:14:03.157 feelings can make a big difference. What do you think? Have you ever 97 00:14:03.157 --> 00:14:11.940 felt better after sharing how you feel? Feelings are like smells - 98 00:14:11.940 --> 00:14:20.723 some are sweet, others are stinky, but none of them are “bad” or 99 00:14:20.723 --> 00:14:29.506 “wrong.” They just are. They're all trying to tell us something. It’s 100 00:14:29.506 --> 00:14:38.289 okay to feel however we feel. What matters most is how we choose to 101 00:14:38.289 --> 00:14:47.072 react. Fear and bravery are powerful emotions. We can feel them in 102 00:14:47.072 --> 00:14:55.855 ourselves, sense them in others, and even when we’re not paying full 103 00:14:55.855 --> 00:15:04.638 attention, they have a way of making themselves known. Sometimes, they 104 00:15:04.638 --> 00:15:13.421 can feel overwhelming. We’ve already heard how sharing our emotions 105 00:15:13.421 --> 00:15:22.203 with someone can be a big help. Bringing someone in - not just to 106 00:15:22.203 --> 00:15:30.986 support us, but to experience those feelings alongside us - can turn a 107 00:15:30.986 --> 00:15:39.769 difficult moment into a special connection. Have you ever gone through 108 00:15:39.769 --> 00:15:48.552 something scary with a friend or family member? Facing a challenge 109 00:15:48.552 --> 00:15:57.335 together can create a bond that lasts. And it’s not just humans who 110 00:15:57.335 --> 00:16:06.118 sense emotions. Have you ever shared a special connection with an 111 00:16:06.118 --> 00:16:14.901 animal? I know I have. Somehow, animals always seem to find us when we 112 00:16:14.901 --> 00:16:23.684 need them most. We’ll actually be exploring the idea of how our furry 113 00:16:23.684 --> 00:16:32.467 friends can help us in Part two, so stay tuned. Keep 114 00:16:32.467 --> 00:16:41.249 this idea of fear and bravery in your thoughts over the next few days. 115 00:16:41.249 --> 00:16:50.032 Maybe you'll notice a time when you feel a little scared, and then 116 00:16:50.032 --> 00:16:58.815 you'll also discover your own strength to act anyway. Take a gentle 117 00:16:58.815 --> 00:17:07.598 breath right now and really notice how these feelings sit with you. 118 00:17:07.598 --> 00:17:16.381 We’ve explored a lot about fear and bravery in this first part. 119 00:17:16.381 --> 00:17:25.164 Remember, bravery isn’t just about big, bold moments — it shows up in 120 00:17:25.164 --> 00:17:33.947 everyday choices, like speaking up, trying something new, or facing 121 00:17:33.947 --> 00:17:42.730 something that feels hard. We’ll be right here, ready to continue 122 00:17:42.730 --> 00:17:51.513 exploring this with Part 2 on Thursday! Before you go, stick around 123 00:17:51.513 --> 00:18:00.296 after the credits for a very special question! We hope it sparks a 124 00:18:00.296 --> 00:18:09.078 great conversation with someone you love. Thanks so much for listening 125 00:18:09.078 --> 00:18:17.861 and being part of this special Kids Listen Mash-Up. Until next time, 126 00:18:17.861 --> 00:18:26.644 stay curious, stay kind, and remember — big emotions aren’t something 127 00:18:26.644 --> 00:18:35.427 to fear, they’re something to feel. See you soon! This 128 00:18:35.427 --> 00:18:44.210 episode has been a Kids Listen collaboration, created by Tal Kelly, 129 00:18:44.210 --> 00:18:52.993 Jenna Clarke and Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore. Hosted by me, Eric O’Keefe. 130 00:18:52.993 --> 00:19:01.776 This “Big Emotions: Kids Listen MASHUPS about feelings” is produced by 131 00:19:01.776 --> 00:19:10.559 Tal Kelly Executive Writer, Jenna Clarke, Content Director at 132 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:19.342 Sleepiest & Koala Kids. In consultation with Eileen Kennedy-Moore, 133 00:19:19.342 --> 00:19:28.125 PhD., an author and clinical psychologist based in Princeton, NJ Our 134 00:19:28.125 --> 00:19:36.907 intro music was created and generously provided by the wonderful Dan 135 00:19:36.907 --> 00:19:45.690 Saks of Noodle Loaf. You can find full music credits in the show 136 00:19:45.690 --> 00:19:54.473 notes. A special thanks goes out to all of our contributors We 137 00:19:54.473 --> 00:20:03.256 placed links to our featured podcasts in this episode’s show notes. 138 00:20:03.256 --> 00:20:12.039 If you'd like to share your artwork, another powerful way to express 139 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:20.822 emotions is through art. Email a photo to kidslistenmashups@gmail.com, 140 00:20:20.822 --> 00:20:29.605 and we'll proudly share it on social media. Educators interested in 141 00:20:29.605 --> 00:20:38.388 applying this as an SEL resource in their classroom can find a PDF 142 00:20:38.388 --> 00:20:47.171 guide in the show notes. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us 143 00:20:47.171 --> 00:20:55.953 a nice review or share the show with someone you love. Thanks for 144 00:20:55.953 --> 00:21:04.736 tuning in to your emotions as well as our mash-up! Now for 145 00:21:04.736 --> 00:21:13.519 our question…. Think back to a time when you had to do something new - 146 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:22.302 maybe the first time you rode a bike, jumped into the deep end, or 147 00:21:22.302 --> 00:21:31.085 spoke in front of a group. What helped you push through those first, 148 00:21:31.085 --> 00:21:39.868 scary, I’m-not-sure-what-I’m-doing moments? If this question got you 149 00:21:39.868 --> 00:21:48.651 thinking, let us know in the Spotify comments or in a review - we’d 150 00:21:48.651 --> 00:21:57.434 love to hear how it made you feel! And if you have your own thoughts 151 00:21:57.434 --> 00:22:06.217 or questions about this topic, our very own Dr Friendtastic will be 152 00:22:06.217 --> 00:22:14.999 joining the conversation in the Spotify comments too!