For this episode, I sat down with Ken Faier, founder of Epic Story Media and one of the original architects behind Kidscreen magazine — a platform that helped shape and connect the global kids and animation industry.

We talk about:

✨ No Master Plan

Ken didn’t set out to work in animation. From growing up in Montreal to studying business, to landing an unexpected opportunity in publishing — his path into the kids and animation world was built on curiosity, timing, and saying yes to opportunity.

🚀 Building Community Before It Was a Buzzword

Through the launch of Kidscreen in the mid-90s, Ken helped create a global voice for the children’s entertainment industry — connecting producers, broadcasters, distributors, and brand builders long before “ecosystem” became a common term.

🤝 Creative + Business Alignment

Ken reflects on the importance of respecting creators while understanding the commercial realities of the industry. The tension between operational management and creative partnership shaped many of his career decisions — and ultimately led him toward more entrepreneurial paths.

🎯 Knowing When to Move On

From publishing to distribution to launching Epic Story Media, Ken shares how recognizing frustration — and acting before it calcifies — has been key to sustaining both joy and momentum in his career.

💡 Why the Kids Industry Is Different

There’s a particular complexity to children’s entertainment — spanning production, licensing, gaming, consumer products, and global distribution. Ken explains why that interconnectedness has kept him engaged for decades.

This episode is a reminder that careers in animation and kids media are rarely linear — and that sometimes the most impactful journeys begin with a simple phone call you almost didn’t answer.

🎧 Listen now — and if you want to be part of these conversations live, join animators, storytellers, and industry veterans from around the world inside The Toon Room:

👉 thetoonroom.com