In this episode, Culture Kids travels to New York City to explore City Works, a hands-on family exhibit at the New York Hall of Science.

Together with Amelia- the Director of Exhibit Design and Development, Asher and Mom discover the incredible systems and the people behind them that keep cities running every single day. From buses and ferries to water pipes and wastewater treatment, this episode helps kids understand that cities are much more than buildings. They’re living systems powered by teamwork, science, and care.

How transportation systems like buses, subways, and ferries help people move around a city

Where clean drinking water comes from and what happens after we flush the toilet

How sanitation and wastewater systems protect neighborhoods, rivers, and oceans

Why scientists, engineers, and city workers are so important to everyday life

How cities around the world may look different—but all work to care for their communities

Kids will love pretending to drive a city bus through Times Square, learning about rainwater and drains, and discovering the famous “4 Ps” of what’s safe to flush: pee, poop, puke, and paper!

About CityWorks

City Works is a large-scale, interactive exhibit designed especially for children and families. Through hands-on play, kids can explore real city systems like transportation, water, sanitation, and energy—and see how these systems are connected and supported by people working behind the scenes.

The exhibit encourages curiosity, problem-solving, and empathy by helping children understand how cities function and how their everyday choices matter.

Museum: New York Hall of Science

Location: Queens, New York

Website: https://nysci.org

Exhibit Info: https://nysci.org/exhibitions/city-works

The New York Hall of Science is a family-favorite destination with hundreds of interactive exhibits that make science fun, accessible, and engaging for kids of all ages.

🎧 Credits

Host & Producer: Kristen Kim & Asher Kim

Guest & Collaborator: Amelia, Director of Exhibit Design and Development

Sound Design/Music/Edit: Culture Kids Productions

Music: Envato Elements

Audio Engineer: Robin Lai

Academic Consultant: Elisha Li

In this immersive Culture Kids adventure, Kristen and Asher hop aboard the Culture Train and travel to the lush island of Kauai in Hawaii to visit Aunty Christy at the Kauai Animal Education Farm. Along the way, families learn where Kauai is located, why it is known as the “Garden Isle,” and how its rainforests, rivers, waterfalls, and dramatic coastline were shaped over millions of years. Once at the farm, listeners are welcomed into a peaceful, storybook-like setting where rescued animals roam freely and live in environments designed to help them feel safe, calm, and at home. Asher meets gentle tortoise Sherman, playful sheep Twinkletoes, and energetic rabbits doing joyful binkies, while Aunty Christy explains how animals come to the farm, how they are cared for, and how spending time with them can help people slow down, feel grounded, and connect more deeply with the world around them.

This episode invites children and grown-ups alike to explore what it means to care for animals, learn their stories, and discover how humans and animals can support one another. Through hands-on moments, cultural connections, and thoughtful conversations, Culture Kids highlights how learning about animals where you live can be a meaningful way to help them, even from afar. Families will leave this episode feeling relaxed, curious, and inspired by the idea that every living being has a story worth listening to. As always, Culture Kids reminds listeners that they belong, that their curiosity matters, and that every adventure begins with an open heart and a willingness to learn.

About Kauai Education Farm

Website
https://www.kauaianimaleducationfarm.org

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/kauaianimaleducationfarm

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/kauaianimaleducationfarm

Visiting the Farm

Supporting the Farm

Please support Culture Kids!

Culture Kids is a volunteer supported nonprofit creating immersive, screen free stories that help children and families explore the world together through curiosity, respect, and imagination.

If you would like to support our mission of creating a more connected world for our children, please consider donating any amount to help keep the Culture Train chugging along!

http://culturekidsproductions.org

Click on "Support"

Check out our instagram and send us a DM! @culturekidsproductions

🎧 Credits

Host & Producer: Kristen Kim & Asher Kim

Guest & Collaborator: Christy at Kauai Education Farm

Sound Design/Music/Edit: Culture Kids Productions

Music: Envato Elements

Audio Engineer: Robin Lai

Academic Consultant: Elisha Li

All aboard the Culture Train. This week, Kristen and Asher travel to sunny South Africa to meet some very special coastal residents, African penguins.

On this adventure, Culture Kids learn that not all penguins live in icy places. African penguins live along warm, sandy beaches and rocky coastlines in southern Africa. We visit SANCCOB, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, where we meet Lisa Faith, an education supervisor and real life penguin protector. SANCCOB is like a hospital for seabirds, rescuing injured and orphaned African penguins, helping them heal, and preparing them to return safely to the ocean.

Along the way, Culture Kids discover why African penguins are critically endangered and what that means for their future. We learn how SANCCOB began over 50 years ago when a woman named Althea turned her own bathroom into a penguin wash station after an oil spill, and how today the organization has helped more than 100,000 seabirds. Asher even gets to help feed real African penguins, meeting penguins named Sammy and Batman, and learning how each penguin’s belly spots are as unique as fingerprints.

This episode is full of fun facts and meaningful learning. Culture Kids hear how African penguins eat sardines and anchovies, why they sneeze out extra salt from the ocean, how humans help replace lost nesting spaces, and how people and animals depend on one another. Most of all, this journey shows how care, teamwork, and learning can help protect animals and the planet we all share.

ABOUT SANCCOB:

Visit: www.sanccob.co.za.

You can also follow them on Instagram at @sanccob and on Facebook by searching SANCCOB.

Families can even adopt a penguin to help support their ongoing care and conservation efforts!

Please support Culture Kids!

Culture Kids is a volunteer supported nonprofit creating immersive, screen free stories that help children and families explore the world together through curiosity, respect, and imagination.

If you would like to support our mission of creating a more connected world for our children, please consider making a donation of any amount to help keep the Culture Train chugging along!

http://culturekidsproductions.org

Click on "Support"

Check out our instagram and send us a DM! @culturekidsproductions

🎧 Credits

Host & Producer: Kristen Kim & Asher Kim

Guest & Collaborator: Lisa Faith, Education Supervisor at SANCCOB

Sound Design/Music/Edit: Culture Kids Productions

Music: Envato Elements

Audio Engineer: Robin Lai

Academic Consultant: Elisha Li

Today, the Culture Train rolls back in time to explore the incredible story of Dalmatians, the spotted dogs you might recognize right away but whose history might surprise you.

With Mom, Asher, and special guest Arden, we travel to England in the late 1700s, where Dalmatians worked as carriage dogs, running alongside horses on busy cobblestone streets. We then journey forward to an early 1800s firehouse, where these hardworking dogs became trusted companions to firefighters and the horses that pulled fire wagons through growing cities.

Along the way, we learn what makes Dalmatians unique, how their strong bodies and steady focus were shaped by life on the road, and why they became such an important symbol in firehouse history. We also explore how their role changed as technology evolved and what families should know about Dalmatians as pets today.

This episode reminds us that animals, just like people and places, are shaped by where they come from and what they experience over time. Every journey leaves a story behind.

💙 A Note for Families

Today’s adventure reminds us that everything around us has a story. When we take time to listen and learn, our curiosity grows and we feel more connected to the world around us.

So next time you meet someone new, notice an animal, or discover something unfamiliar, try asking yourself, “What’s their story?”

If you enjoy Culture Kids, a five star rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps more families discover the show. Culture Kids is a volunteer run nonprofit, and your support helps keep our Culture Train moving.

Grab your imaginary passport and join us again soon for another adventure around the world.

This episode is lovingly dedicated to our forever family dog, Sammy. The pawprints you left on our hearts will stay with us always. As a beautiful white Jindo, brave, loyal, and full of curious energy , you always found your way back home to us. We love you Sammy.

Today, the Culture Train travels to Jindo Island in South Korea, the enchanting home of Korea’s national treasure, the extraordinary Jindo dog.

With Mom and Asher leading the way, we explore a peaceful island filled with pine trees, fishing villages, ocean breezes, and deep connections between people, land, and animals. Along the shore, we meet a friendly white Jindo dog named Miso and begin to discover what makes this breed so special.

In this episode, we learn how Jindo dogs have lived alongside families on Jindo Island for hundreds of years, helping guard homes, move through forests and mountains, and build strong bonds with the people they love. We discover why Jindos are known for their loyalty, why they rarely bark unless there is a reason, how they groom themselves like cats, and how the island itself helped shape their courage, intelligence, and calm nature.

Through sights, sounds, and stories from the island, this adventure reminds us that just like dog breeds, cultures and communities are shaped by the places they grow from and the people who care for them. Jindo Island shows us how land and living beings can shape each other over time.

This episode invites Culture Kids and families to reflect on their own communities, the places that feel like home, and the experiences that help shape who they are becoming.

As always, we end with a reminder that here at Culture Kids, you and your family are welcomed, included, and celebrated for exactly who you are.

CREDITS

Host and Produced By: Kristen Kim

Co-Hosts: Asher Kim

Post Production & Audio Engineer: Robin Lai

Academic Consultant: Elisha Li

Nonprofit Consultant: Ami Awad & Emil Kang

STAY CONNECTED WITH US!

Instagram: @culturekidsproductions

Website: http://culturekidsproductions.com

Email / Voicemail: available through our site, we love hearing from you!

Sources:

https://www.thekkf.or.kr/new_home/en/koreanbreeds.php

https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/utility/korean-jindo-imp/

https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?vcontsId=93802

http://www.jindos.org/breed-info.htm

https://korelimited.com

Get ready for giggles as Culture Kids from around the world share their silliest, funniest, laugh-out-loud jokes. From animal jokes to classic kid humor, this segment is all about having fun, using your imagination, and laughing together.

Thank you to every Culture Kid who sent in a joke. We loved reading them, we loved sharing them, and most of all, we love YOU. Your jokes make our Culture Train even more joyful.

As we look ahead to a brand new year, we want to pause for a moment and say thank you to our amazing Culture Kid...YOU! We hope you remember that there is nobody else in the world like you. Your curiosity, imagination, and sense of adventure help make our world brighter, and we cannot wait to keep exploring our beautiful, diverse planet with you.

And to the grown ups listening, thank you for helping create a more connected and welcoming world for children everywhere. It’s because of you that our Culture Train can keep chugging along. We hope you’ll continue leaning into the magic, wonder, and meaning of these shared adventures.

Here’s to a year filled with joy, connection, and exciting new journeys and we’re so glad you’re riding the Culture Train with us!!!

ABOUT CULTURE KIDS

Culture Kids is a grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit powered by families and volunteers, creating free, world-class cultural education for children everywhere. We rely on your support to keep the Culture Train chugging along.

Here’s how you can help:

Donate: https://www.culturekidsmedia.com/support/

Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts; it really helps new families discover our show.

CREDITS

Host and Produced By: Kristen Kim

Co-Hosts: Asher & Arden Kimt

Post Production & Audio Engineer: Robin Lai

Academic Consultant: Elisha Li

Nonprofit Consultant: Ami Awad & Emil Kang

STAY CONNECTED WITH US!

Instagram: @culturekidsproductions

Website: http://culturekidsproductions.com

Email / Voicemail: available through our site, we love hearing from you!

Please note this episode was originally produced last year and has been thoughtfully recreated this year with updated storytelling and sound design.

Grab your imaginary passports and hop aboard the Culture Train, because today we are traveling to the Sahara Desert in Morocco, located in North Africa, where golden sand dunes stretch as far as the eye can see.

On this immersive adventure, Kristen and Asher meet Mohammed, a local Amazigh (Berber) tour guide who grew up in the Sahara Desert and speaks seven languages. With Mohammed as our guide, we learn what daily life is like in the desert and what it means to grow up in a nomadic community.

What the word “Sahara” means in Arabic

Where Morocco is located and why it’s known for colorful cities and vast deserts

Who the Amazigh (Berber) people are and why they are the Indigenous people of North Africa

The languages spoken in Morocco, including Arabic, Amazigh, French, and more

Moroccan mint tea traditions, including why bubbles matter

Riding dromedary camels and learning why they have one hump

How desert homes are built using mud, clay, and hay to stay cool and warm

Why soccer is loved by kids all over the world

Desert adventures like sandboarding and watching the sunset over the dunes

Through gentle conversation, sound-rich storytelling, and lots of imagination, this episode helps kids picture life in the Sahara while learning how environment, culture, and history shape the way people live.

This episode features Mohammed, a local Amazigh guide who grew up in the Sahara Desert and now shares Moroccan culture, language, and desert life with families from around the world.

If your family is planning a trip to Morocco and would like to experience the Sahara Desert with a local guide, you can learn more through:

Positively Morocco Tours (ask for Mohammed from Culture Kids)

https://positivelymoroccotours.com/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293732-d16734409-Reviews-Positively_Morocco_Tours-Casablanca_Casablanca_Settat.html

CREDITS

Host and Produced By: Kristen Kim

Co-Hosts: Asher & Arden Kim

Guest: Mohammed from Positively Tours Morocco

Post Production & Audio Engineer: Robin Lai

Academic Consultant: Elisha Li

Nonprofit Consultant:  Ami Awad, Emil Kang

STAY CONNECTED WITH US!

Instagram: @culturekidsproductions

Website: http://culturekidsproductions.com

Email / Voicemail: available through our site, we love hearing from you!

All aboard, Culture Kids families! In this adventure, Mom and Asher hop back onto the Culture Train Time Machine for an unforgettable visit to ancient Rome, where they reunite with Ms. Zoe, producer of the Getty Museum podcast If Objects Could Talk. Together, they tiptoe into a glowing triclinium, the Roman dining room, to watch a real dinner party happening over two thousand years ago.

 VISIT THE GETTY VILLA MUSEUM

The Getty Villa Museum in Los Angeles is dedicated to the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria. It is housed in a re-created Roman country home, complete with gardens, pools, mosaics, and over a thousand ancient artworks. 

Website: ⁠https://www.getty.edu/visit/villa/⁠

Follow the Getty: Instagram: ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/gettymuseum⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/gettymuseum

⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@gettymuseum⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/gettymuseum⁠

CHECK OUT IF OBJECTS COULD TALK:

https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/⁠ 

includes episodes, transcripts, activity guides, coloring sheets, and images

Apple Podcasts : ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/if-objects-could-talk/id1833978909⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLij2XTFgmBSRjG57WlJA2RhkWB4OkGGtG

*********************

ABOUT CULTURE KIDS

Culture Kids is a grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit powered by families and volunteers, creating free, world-class cultural education for children everywhere. We rely on your support to keep the Culture Train chugging along.

Here’s how you can help:

Donate: https://www.culturekidsmedia.com/support/

Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — it really helps new families discover our show.

CREDITS

Host and Produced By: Kristen Kim

Co-Hosts: Asher & Arden Kim

Guest & Co Producer: Zoe Goldman/ J. Paul Getty Trust

Post Production & Audio Engineer: Robin Lai

Academic Consultant: Elisha Li

Nonprofit Consultant: Ami Awad

STAY CONNECTED WITH US!

Instagram: @culturekidsproductions

Website: http://culturekidsproductions.com

Email / Voicemail: available through our site, we love hearing from you!

🎉 Culture Kids Joke Fest Reminder!

There is still time to send in your funniest joke. Simply leave it in a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts. Your joke might be featured in our special end of year Joke Fest episode.

Grab your imaginary passports because today, we’re fluttering into a magical world filled with glowing flowers, shimmering wings, and butterflies from all around the globe!

This special adventure was inspired by Eleanor, age 5! Thank you for suggesting this beautiful episode!

🌼 What Kids Will Experience

In this immersive audio journey, children and families explore an enchanted meadow where flowers shift colors, mango trees suddenly appear, and butterflies share their hidden secrets. Through storytelling, imagination, and playful discovery, kids learn surprising facts about butterflies and the important role they play in different cultures around the world.

🦋 What Kids Will Learn

• Why butterflies can taste with their feet

This adventure invites children to slow down, look closely, and appreciate the small wonders around them. Butterflies teach us that even delicate creatures can be extraordinary, surprising, and important, and that our world is full of magic waiting to be discovered.

ABOUT CULTURE KIDS

Culture Kids is a grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit powered by families and volunteers, creating free, world-class cultural education for children everywhere. We rely on your support to keep the Culture Train chugging along.

Here’s how you can help:

Donate: https://www.culturekidsmedia.com/support/

Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, it really helps new families discover our show.

CREDITS

Host and Produced By: Kristen Kim

Co-Hosts: Asher Kim

Post Production & Audio Engineer: Robin Lai

Academic Consultant: Elisha Li

Nonprofit Consultant: Ami Awad

STAY CONNECTED WITH US!

Instagram: @culturekidsproductions

Website: http://culturekidsproductions.com

Email / Voicemail: available through our site, we love hearing from you!

Bundle up, Culture Kids! Today, we travel to the sparkling heart of winter magic at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Together, we explore the world-famous Rockefeller Christmas Tree, sip hot chocolate, glide past the ice-skating rink, and discover the golden story of Prometheus, the statue who brings light and hope to millions. This audio-immersive episode is filled with twinkling lights, heartwarming stories from history, and the incredible tradition that began with one small tree during the Great Depression. Your Culture Train tickets are ready… all aboard!

In this episode, kids will learn the rich history behind the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, starting from its humble beginnings in 1931 and the reason it brought so much hope during the Great Depression. They’ll discover fun facts about the Norway spruce and the glittering star that crowns it, along with the meaning behind Paul Manship’s Prometheus statue and why it shines so brightly at Rockefeller Center. Children will also explore what winter holiday magic means to families around the world and learn simple, meaningful ways they can share their own spark of kindness this season.

Links & Resources

Explore more about today’s destination:

Rockefeller Center Official Site:
https://www.rockefellercenter.com

ABOUT CULTURE KIDS

Culture Kids is a grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit powered by families and volunteers, creating free, world-class cultural education for children everywhere. We rely on your support to keep the Culture Train chugging along.

Here’s how you can help:

Donate: https://www.culturekidsmedia.com/support/

Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, it really helps new families discover our show!

CREDITS

Host and Produced By: Kristen Kim

Co-Hosts: Asher Kim

Guest: Dhruv Singhal

Post Production & Audio Engineer: Robin Lai

Academic Consultant: Elisha Li

Nonprofit Consultant: Ami Awad

STAY CONNECTED WITH US!

Instagram: @culturekidsproductions

Website: http://culturekidsproductions.com

Email / Voicemail: available through our site, we love hearing from you!