This episode aired on April 7th, 2025 at 12:00pm.
When it comes to media for children, there’s one element that kids are drawn to the most. Well maybe two, because first is that they always want it to be fun. But after that, kids are drawn to media that reflects their lives, their lived experiences. And that’s not just because it’s fun to see your life on screen, but because seeing your life, your world reflected on screen, especially when you’re young, tells kids that their lives are important, that their lives are worthy of being seen. Unfortunately, not all kids’ lives are reflected on screen. For autistic, neurodivergent kids, that’s been true for years. But, one mew show has made a big change in that. On this episode, we’ll go behind the scenes of a new animated kids show, with characters and storylines really never seen before in children’s media. Let’s go inside.
Guests
Zachariah OHora
Zachariah OHora is the Creator and Executive Producer of Carl the Collector, a groundbreaking animated series on PBS KIDS. The show highlights an autistic raccoon who loves collecting, along with his neurotypical and neurodiverse friends. It proudly features autistic actors, writers, and neurodiverse individuals throughout the entire production process. O’Hora is also the illustrator of the New York Times bestseller Wolfie the Bunny and the author and illustrator of several award-winning books, including Niblet & Ralph, which was featured on The Today Show, and Whale Song, a non-fiction picture book about jazz musician Paul Horn and his unique communication with orcas.
Maja Watkins
Maja is the creator of The Red Fuzzy Rug, a playful new project where Teacher Pearl and her magical red fuzzy rug take kids on thrilling adventures, helping them build social skills, explore their emotions, and conquer imaginative quests. Based in Los Angeles, Maja is a mother, author, and educator with a background in Child Development and training from The Second City in Hollywood. Her work is deeply informed by years of working with children and growing up with a brother on the autism spectrum. She specializes in Social and Emotional Learning and creates inclusive, engaging experiences that help every child shine in their own way. Maja is also the author of The Brain’s Playground: Using Improv Games To Teach Social and Emotional Learning and 10 Minutes of Play for 10 Days, a parenting guidebook.