Nathan Holbert and Haeny Yoon at the podcast microphones
By Joe Riina-Ferrie, Associate Director of Educational Media and Pop and Play Producer, and Nathan Holbert, Associate Professor of Communication, Media and Learning Technology Design and Pop and Play Producer and Co-Host
The Pop and Play podcast from Teachers College, Columbia University launches its fifth season this March! Brought to you by professors Haeny Yoon and Nathan Holbert and the Digital Futures Institute, season 5 of Pop and Play focuses on children’s media, with the first episode set to arrive in feeds on March 11.
Learn more about Pop and Play and access the Season 5 trailer transcript.
Talking with children’s media creators, scholars, and consumers, Haeny and Nathan discuss how children connect with media both on the screen and throughout their lives, and how this media can enable new ways to engage with and explore their world. This season includes the hosts of the acclaimed children’s podcast Story Pirates, a creator of the classic television show Teletubbies, media scholars such as USC Annenberg Professor Henry Jenkins, and of course - children themselves!
Haeny and Nathan know first hand how consequential children’s media is in the lives of kids and families. As Haeny says in this season’s trailer, “Look, television raised me. I say it facetiously, but it's true. I was home alone a lot. My parents aren't native English speakers, so television gave me a sense of the cultural landscape.” Nathan adds, “For me, it was a way to play with other forms of things I already loved–TV shows about games, cartoon characters, et cetera. It also introduced me to new ideas, genres, and experiences that I'm still into today.”
Our hosts leave us with the following question for consideration: Are we valuing children’s media as much as children do? Haeny and Nathan are always happy to relive their childhood with their guests through conversation and games like "which classic board game fits best in the situation" and the ever-popular “explain theories of learning in the styles of classic musicals” (yes, really).
Sock puppet Haeny turns up the volume
Follow Pop and Play on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen, and share with the educators, parents, and people who never stopped watching kids’ TV in your life!