Today, I'm talking with Suzie Hicks, the creator and host of Suzie Hicks, The Climate Chick. The series is the first of its kind, breaking barriers to demystify and inspire future generations. Most importantly, their focus is on the generations that are going to be impacted by the climate change advocacy of today.

Suzie and I recorded this conversation on January 11, 2025. This past week, Los Angeles California has been devastated by the worst wildfires of its history, destroying entire communities and displacing thousands of people. At the time of this recording, the fires are still burning and people are coming together to help one another. Suz lives in LA. They were in a safe place and able to talk about their mission on and off the screen and what they wanted to communicate to support children and their grownups in this moment of climate crises.

You can learn more about Suzie and Suzie Hicks, The Climate Chick at https://www.suziehickstheclimatechick.com/ You can also follow them on social media. As Suzie said, "Feel your feelings and then take action. It is the antidote for despair."

Links to support those impacted by the LA Wildfires at the time of this podcast release are listed below.

https://www.redcross.org/

https://wck.org/

https://supportlafd.kindful.com/?campaign=1040812

https://www.lafoodbank.org/fire/

https://cpf.salsalabs.org/disasterrelief/index.html

On this episode of Cookies for Breakfast, recorded early in 2022, I am joined by my friend and mentor, Eliot Daley. Eliot played a significant role in the early development of the classic children’s television series, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. As friend and partner to Fred Rogers, Eliot served as president of Small World Enterprises, Inc. and Executive Vice President of Family Communications, Inc. (the precursors to Fred Rogers Productions.) He co-wrote several scripts with Fred Rogers under the guidance of Dr. Margaret McFarland. We talk in great detail about that process from concept, to refinement and delivery.

Today's show has a unofficial soundtrack. Be sure to listen to the full episode to fully understand the significance. "I'd rather be nine people's favorite thing than a hundred people's ninth favorite thing." - "Nine People's Favorite Thing" from the musical, Title of Show.

Recorded in April, 2021, join my second guest, Lindz Amer, and me as we talk about LGBTQ+ representation in children's media, discrimination, cyberharassment, and creating safe spaces for all children to be seen, heard, and accepted exactly as they are. We also discuss the then-recent announcement of a version of Instagram, in early development, for children under the age of 13, called Instagram For Kids.

Join my first guest, Howard Blumenthal, and me in this conversation from 2021 as we discussed the announcement of a version of Instagram, in early development, for children under the age of 13, called Instagram For Kids. We have a larger conversation about young children and pervasive technology, today and beyond.

You know that feeling when you refuse a cup of Wilkin’s Coffee and things blow up in your face? (POOF!) In this episode of Cookies for Breakfast, I trip over my own feet by mispronouncing my guest’s last name right off the bat! Thankfully, he didn’t blast me with a cannon. In fact, with grace, thoughtfulness and an abundance of experience as a creative collaborator, Craig Shemin kept us on track and pulled the story together at the end. Writers are good at that! 

Our conversation starts off in the early days of television. Specifically, a few key moments as a young Jim and Jane Henson change the game with Sam and Friends, a puppet series that aired nearly 15 years before another game-changer called Sesame Street! Craig explores this period in his book, Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson’s First Television Show. The book's foreword was written by Jim Henson's longtime collaborator and esteemed film director, Frank Oz. Order your copy here.

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From his website: Craig Shemin began his writing career with the Muppets and when not creating scripts for television and other media, he is a Henson historian and serves as President of The Jim Henson Legacy, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating Jim Henson's artistry. He is the author of The Muppets Character Encyclopedia, and produced and directed an award-winning documentary about the making of Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas.

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Craig has also had so many other experiences in the world of children’s media! He and I discuss the ongoing struggles of creatives from yesterday, today and, most probably, in the near future, as they find ways to financially sustain their work through the art of compromise.

We also talk about certain lines that we shouldn’t cross when creating for children. We take the time to honor the memories of other pioneers in children’s television, including Bob McGrath and Fred Rogers, by sharing personal stories featuring their deep and authentic goodness that was consistent on and off the TV screen. 

Finally, we share an exciting announcement about our mutual connection to the Maryland Center for History and Culture, which will host The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited starting on May 26th, 2023. Craig and I will both attend the Henson Homecoming for The Jim Henson Exhibition Opening Festival on Saturday, June 3rd. Craig will present on Jim and Jane Henson’s early Washington, D.C. work, including a screening of surviving footage from the early Henson series Sam and Friends, as well as newly restored transfers of Henson’s Wilkins Coffee commercials. A newly uncovered Sam and Friends episode, hidden from public view for more than 60 years, is included. This will be followed by a book signing of Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson’s First Television Show. 

As part of the Henson Homecoming Festival, I will have the honor, as Maryland’s current local kids’ show creator, puppeteer and host, of performing two live Danny Joe’s Tree House episodes earlier that day and throughout the run of the exhibition. More information on the events at MCHC here! We hope to see you there as we all celebrate the legacy of Jim Henson!

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Cookies for Breakfast and Danny Joe’s Tree House supports the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. It takes a lot of hard work to make dreams into reality. The human beings that do that work should be acknowledged with respect, protected and fairly compensated.