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!

Pack your imaginary bags, Culture Kids! In this episode, Kristen, Asher, and our special guest Ms. Zoe, producer of Getty's podcast If Objects Could Talk, take you on a magical adventure to the Getty Villa Museum in Los Angeles. Together, we stroll through sunlit gardens and explore an ancient Roman-style villa. Then, with a whirl of our time machine, we journey back two thousand years to a grand dining room to see how Romans prepared for a spectacular dinner party. Kids will discover how ancient Romans reclined on couches while eating, what dishes and cups looked like in the ancient world, why people often ate with their hands, and how paintings inspired by Egypt became popular decorations inside Roman homes.

This episode also includes a special shout-out to Henry for his wonderful five-star review and a reminder to send in your funniest joke for our end-of-year Culture Kids Joke Fest!

 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!

All aboard, Culture Kids!

In this week’s magical adventure, Mom and Asher hop on the Culture Train and travel to Beijing, China, a city filled with history, color, and stories that stretch back thousands of years. Together with special guest Ms. Dan Song, author of the My City Adventures series, they step through the mighty red gates of the Forbidden City, where emperors once ruled and legends were born.

You’ll hear the echoes of ancient footsteps, learn what the color red means in Chinese culture, and even discover why the Forbidden City was once “forbidden.” From dragons and phoenixes to royal bedrooms and bronze cranes, this episode brings China’s past to life in a way kids can see, hear, and imagine. And of course, no Culture Kids adventure would be complete without food! 🍽️

Join us as we try Peking duck, one of Beijing’s most famous dishes, once enjoyed by emperors and still beloved today.

Families will also learn simple Mandarin phrases, explore what makes each region of China unique, and celebrate the beauty of cultural diversity across this incredible country.

About Our City Adventure Series :

The Our City Adventure series is published by Phoenix Tree Publishing, Inc.

These books invite readers to travel vicariously through several of China’s exciting cities: Xi’an, Chengdu, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, etc., learning about the local culture, language, foods, and more!

Buy Here:

https://www.phoenixtree.com/shop

Search for "Our City Adventures" and choose a city of your choice- or buy them all!

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: Dan Song

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!

Helloo Culture Kids! Grab your imaginary passports and bags because today, Mom (Kristen) and Asher hop on our magical train and travel to the beautiful island of the Dominican Republic. 🇩🇴 We meet our friend Ms. D, a Dominican social-media chef, by a riverside feast to cook the national dish: La Bandera Dominicana (the Dominican flag on a plate!). Together we explore the island’s music, languages, food, community spirit, and why this dish means so much. We hope you’re ready for delicious smells, sizzling pans, river fun, and lots of learning. And don’t forget Asher’s reminder: after all that cooking, we might just dip into the river!

In this episode, you’ll learn where the Dominican Republic is and what makes it such a musical, vibrant, and culturally rich country. You’ll discover what La Bandera Dominicana is and how its colors, white rice, red beans, stewed chicken, and a green salad, represent the nation’s flag. You’ll also hear how to cook chicken in a caldero, a traditional Dominican pot used over a fire, using sofrito, Dominican oregano, garlic, and black pepper. Ms. D even shows us the clever trick of adding a little brown sugar to create that deep, golden color on the chicken.

Connect & Follow Ms D

Instagram: @_cookingwitd — “The Dominican Way, bueno my way!”

TikTok: (look for “CookingWitD”)

Email/Partnerships: [email protected]

📣 Please join our journey and help spread the word!

Visit culturekidsproductions.org and click on SUPPORT, to learn how you can support our mission, subscribe to episode updates, and help us reach more families.

Follow us on Instagram @culturekidsproductions and tag us when you ride the “Culture Train” or explore a new tradition.

Leave us a 5★ rating on Apple Podcasts !

Your review amplifies our reach so more children feel they belong and discover new cultures with us.

Credits

Hosts: Kristen & Asher Kim

Guest & Co Producer: Ms. Dahianna (CookingwitD)

Edited, Written and Produced by: Kristen Kim

Music & Sound FX: Envato Elements

Audio Engineer & Post: Robin Lai

Academic Consultant: Elisha Li

Join us on a brand-new Culture Kids adventure as we celebrate Día de Muertos with Mexican American author Mariana Ríos Ramírez, author of

Abuelita’s Gift. Together, we journey through an endless field of glowing marigold flowers, learning how families in Mexico honor and remember loved ones with ofrendas, papel picado, and pan de muerto.

Through Mariana’s heartfelt stories, kids discover how this beautiful tradition shows that love never disappears; it lives on in our memories, laughter, and shared stories.

Learn more about Ms. Mariana

http://marianariosramirez.com, where you’ll find free activities and links to her books, Abuelita’s Gift and Santiago’s Dinosaurios, available everywhere books are sold.

Instagram: @marianariosr.

Follow Mariana:

https://linktr.ee/MarianaRiosR

📣 Please join our journey and help spread the word!

Visit culturekidsproductions.org and click on SUPPORT, to learn how you can support our mission, subscribe to episode updates, and help us reach more families.

Follow us on Instagram @culturekidsproductions and tag us when you ride the “Culture Train” or explore a new tradition.

Leave us a 5★ rating on Apple Podcasts !

Your review amplifies our reach so more children feel they belong and discover new cultures with us.

Credits

Hosts: Kristen & Asher Kim

Guest & Co Producer: Mariana Rios Ramirez

Edited, Written and Produced by: Kristen Kim

Music & Sound FX: Envato Elements

Audio Engineer & Post: Robin Lai

Academic Consultant: Elisha Li