Speaker 1: You're listening to a MoMA Mia podcast.
Speaker 2: Mama Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of land and waters
Speaker 2: that this podcast is recorded on. Hello to all our
Speaker 2: little builders and their grown ups. Welcome to how to
Speaker 2: Build a Universe, where stories Build worlds. I'm Jenuer. I'm
Speaker 2: a parent, educator and mom de four boys, and my
Speaker 2: co host is well, hang on, my co host is
Speaker 2: all dripping wet.
Speaker 1: Tom, Why are you SACHERA? Yeah, I'm sopping wet.
Speaker 3: Hello there, Jen, pardon my part whose I was just
Speaker 3: having a swimming race with some seahorses, but I accidentally
Speaker 3: got stuck in my wet suit. I'm still trying to
Speaker 3: pull it down. Can you just yank this bit off me?
Speaker 1: All right? All right, hold on, let me try that hurt.
Speaker 3: But now I'm already actually speaking of underwater friends. I'm
Speaker 3: so excited about today's episode because we're all going on
Speaker 3: an incredible underwater adventure together. Yep, We're diving deep beneath
Speaker 3: the waves where some amazing sea creatures are waiting to
Speaker 3: meet us. So grab your imaginary snorkel and flippers because
Speaker 3: this is going to be one splashing good time.
Speaker 2: This is exciting. I'll keep some seaweed sandwiches ready for
Speaker 2: when you surf.
Speaker 1: Thank you.
Speaker 2: You know what's absolutely amazing about the underwater worlds. Every
Speaker 2: single creature down there is completely unique, and that's what
Speaker 2: makes the ocean so wonderful. We've got round, puffy puffer
Speaker 2: fish swimming next to big, long, stretchy eels, and they're
Speaker 2: all perfect, exactly as they are. We want our kids
Speaker 2: to be kind and compassionate. We want our kids to
Speaker 2: be inclusive to all people. We also want our kids
Speaker 2: to be happy and accepting of their own appearance. One
Speaker 2: of the ways to help kids accept difference in themselves
Speaker 2: and others is to make conversations about difference a part
Speaker 2: of daily life. Play is a beautiful way to explore this,
Speaker 2: and I think today's episode is a lovely building ground
Speaker 2: to develop an ongoing conversation about difference. Fish are incredible
Speaker 2: creatures with complex mental, emotional, and behavioralb blis. We can
Speaker 2: talk about the unique colors and shapes of fish. Next
Speaker 2: time we're faced with a question from our inquisitive preschooler
Speaker 2: about why that person looks different, we can use the
Speaker 2: metaphor of the ocean to help explain differences in humans.
Speaker 1: Okay, now, take in a deep breath.
Speaker 3: Let's fill those lungs up with air because we're about
Speaker 3: to dive under in.
Speaker 1: And out. I'll see you right after this. Here we go,
Speaker 1: A hoy there, a little sea adventurer.
Speaker 3: Sorry, for some reason, I put on a pirate voice
Speaker 3: when I'm near water.
Speaker 1: Let's try that again. A hoy there, my little adventurer.
Speaker 3: Today we're going on a mystical journey under the sea.
Speaker 3: Are you ready to explore the amazing underwater world?
Speaker 1: Great? Right now, we're standing on a boat, but.
Speaker 3: We're about to enter part of the ocean known as
Speaker 3: Harmony Reef. It's home to sea creatures of all shapes
Speaker 3: and sizes, so who knows.
Speaker 1: We could meet a turtle.
Speaker 3: Down there, or even a shark who we'll see part First,
Speaker 3: let's practice our underwater swimming.
Speaker 1: Reach both your arms right out in front of you, kind.
Speaker 3: Of like you're trying to fly home on Reaching your
Speaker 3: hands out, then pull them.
Speaker 1: Through the water to help you glide. That's it. Let's
Speaker 1: go once more for good measure.
Speaker 3: I know my body can feel a bit tight if
Speaker 3: I don't warm up.
Speaker 1: Properly, I'd say, mum or Dad's does too? Again? Reach
Speaker 1: your arms out. That's it and push the water aside.
Speaker 1: Well done.
Speaker 3: Now can you make a glog glob glob sound like
Speaker 3: we're making bubbles.
Speaker 1: Let's give it a go. I'll do it with you.
Speaker 1: Hang on, blah blah blah.
Speaker 3: Can you try it with me? Mom and dad, you
Speaker 3: two give me your best bubbles? Okay, good bubbles.
Speaker 1: I think we're ready. Let's dive in. I'll count us
Speaker 1: in together. Front. Three. Here we go, three two one jump.
Speaker 3: Alrighty, we're underwater and lucky. With your scuba mask on,
Speaker 3: you can breathe down here.
Speaker 1: Look around, my little diver. Isn't this beautiful?
Speaker 3: Oh my, look at this magnificent coral reef.
Speaker 1: It's like an underwater rainbow.
Speaker 3: These corals are purple, yellow, blue, and even orange, soft
Speaker 3: and squishy. Put your hand out to touch the coral
Speaker 3: as we swim past.
Speaker 1: That's it. Have a feel of the squishy coral.
Speaker 3: The fish here are amazing too, just like us. Every
Speaker 3: fish is unique and special in their own way.
Speaker 1: Wait, do you hear that? Let's lean in a bit.
Speaker 1: Do you hear that beautiful sound?
Speaker 3: Let's swim over and see who's making that marvelous music. Oh,
Speaker 3: look over there, it's Cora the wise old clam. She's
Speaker 3: polishing her musical shells. Let's say hello, wave to Cora.
Speaker 1: Everyone.
Speaker 4: Oh, hello there, my little ones. What are delights to
Speaker 4: have visitors today?
Speaker 1: Of all days, I'm just preparing my shells for the
Speaker 1: under What a parade? Oh?
Speaker 3: Yes, the Sea Symphony Parade, Just the most wonderful celebration
Speaker 3: under the sea. Once a year, all the sea creatures
Speaker 3: come together to create beautiful music and colorful displays.
Speaker 1: Cora, can we join in? Of course, my DearS.
Speaker 4: In fact, I need some help gathering all my performer friends,
Speaker 4: and I'm having a bit of a problem. My music
Speaker 4: just doesn't feel right without my special bass Drumshell, it's
Speaker 4: what gives our symphony that deep rumbling sound.
Speaker 1: It's like the ocean's heartbeat, isn't it?
Speaker 3: Cora?
Speaker 1: What does this sound like? Boom boom, boom boom, just
Speaker 1: like that?
Speaker 4: Wow, Cora, I was sure I left it right here,
Speaker 4: but now it's nowhere to be found. Would you keep
Speaker 4: an ear out for it as we swim deeper to
Speaker 4: gather the other performers.
Speaker 1: It would make all the difference for our parade. What
Speaker 1: do you say, my little friend? Shall we help? Cora?
Speaker 1: Find her bass drumshell to get this party started. Let's
Speaker 1: do it. Thank you Cora.
Speaker 3: Okay, friends, let's swim deeper into the ocean. Let's kicking
Speaker 3: behind you. Try not to kick mumble dad machines though.
Speaker 1: Let's give it a go. That's it, excellent kicking, and
Speaker 1: we're on our way. Oh here's something else. Can you
Speaker 1: hear that?
Speaker 3: Wow? We look ahead. It's Echo the blogal whale. Let's
Speaker 3: get his attention. Can you make it sound like a whale.
Speaker 3: I've got a pretty good grasp.
Speaker 1: On whale language, so i'll go first.
Speaker 3: Yeah, all right, let's hear your whale now. Okay, I
Speaker 3: think he understood.
Speaker 1: Hellos, small friends, Welcome to my rehearsal space.
Speaker 3: Hello Echo, we're helping Cora gather everyone for the Symphony
Speaker 3: of the Sea parade.
Speaker 1: Oh, the parade. I've been practicing my sin. Echo. That
Speaker 1: was stunning.
Speaker 3: Your voice feels like a big, warm hug from the ocean.
Speaker 3: Will you join us at Cora soon for the parade? Oh?
Speaker 1: I'm so excited. I'll be right bed. Thanks Echo.
Speaker 3: Let's keep swimming, friends. This time we gotta go a
Speaker 3: little deeper. Can you swim with me like you're a
Speaker 3: fish gliding along, gliding down into the dark ocean.
Speaker 1: I'm not scared.
Speaker 3: Getting cold down here. Give yourself a big hunk to
Speaker 3: stay warm. Oh look, there's a tiny light glowing in
Speaker 3: the darkness. It Spark the angler fish. She may be small,
Speaker 3: but her light is bright and mighty.
Speaker 5: Now, hello, Spark, Hello explorers. Don't be afraid of the dark.
Speaker 5: That's where my light shines brightest.
Speaker 1: That's so important, Spark. I couldn't see a thing down
Speaker 1: here until your light bobbed up.
Speaker 3: Now, Spark, we're gathering friends for the Sea Symphony parade.
Speaker 1: Would you be interested?
Speaker 5: Oh, perfect timing. I'm practicing my parade route. I'll be
Speaker 5: leading everyone through the darker parts of the ocean. My
Speaker 5: light helps others find their.
Speaker 1: Way, and we're grateful for that.
Speaker 5: Everyone has their special gift. I may be small, but
Speaker 5: my light makes a big difference.
Speaker 1: That's right.
Speaker 3: Will you meet us at Cora's parade. We're actually scheduled
Speaker 3: on very so I.
Speaker 1: Wouldn't miss it.
Speaker 5: I'll bring my brightest glow.
Speaker 1: Great, Spark. What a wonderful collection of underwater creatures we have.
Speaker 3: I can see some puffer fish warm, some dolphins too,
Speaker 3: And if I'm not mistaken. That's Cora's bass. You hear
Speaker 3: it just in time for the parade to begin.
Speaker 1: Are you ready? Echo, spark you good?
Speaker 5: I'm ready.
Speaker 1: Okay, hit it, Cora, Here we go. What season?
Speaker 6: That's another song we like to play down here, Okay,
Speaker 6: take two.
Speaker 1: The sea. I feel so good and so some some
Speaker 1: can right, that's me.
Speaker 4: We can't together in harm for the under.
Speaker 3: Sing Funny were friends and you can be down.
Speaker 1: I feel so good, and so you're singing very quickly,
Speaker 1: you know.
Speaker 3: I loved how all the animals in our underwater parade
Speaker 3: today came together like a big orchestra. In an orchestra,
Speaker 3: each instrument is different in its shape and size, is
Speaker 3: shiny or coarse, and they all make different sounds. But
Speaker 3: when they joined together, well, that music is just magic,
Speaker 3: and it's a bit like us humans. We all have
Speaker 3: different voices, but when we join together in harmony, that's
Speaker 3: when we really make waves.
Speaker 2: I love today's story, Tom, and I loved the idea
Speaker 2: of using that metaphor of the ocean to really explain
Speaker 2: different fishing creatures. I loved how all the fish had
Speaker 2: different ability is and different roles to play as we
Speaker 2: explored under the sea. Parents can even use this metaphor
Speaker 2: next time your child notices difference in others or themselves,
Speaker 2: just light the fish under the ocean. We are all different.
Speaker 2: Being different is really actually our superpower. Whether you're as
Speaker 2: spotty as an octopus, as smooth as a dolphin, or
Speaker 2: as squiggly as a cqucumber, you're absolutely amazing just the
Speaker 2: way you are.
Speaker 1: Yep. Time to dry yourselves off now and head to
Speaker 1: the shore. But oh boy, do.
Speaker 3: I have something wild to tell you about Next week.
Speaker 3: We're swapping our flippers for hiking boots because we're heading
Speaker 3: into the jungle. There might be a few surprises in
Speaker 3: their hiding behind the jungle leaves as well.
Speaker 2: I can't wait until then. Remember, stories build universes.
Speaker 3: And your imagination is always ready for an adventure.
Speaker 1: See you next time, builders.
Speaker 2: Bye.
Speaker 3: The executive producer of How to Build a Universe is
Speaker 3: Courtney Amenhauser, who also played Spark the Fish. The voice
Speaker 3: of Cora is Jessica Bravewait and Echo the Whale was
Speaker 3: played by Tiana and Isaac's Daddy, with story writing and
Speaker 3: sound designed by me Tom Lyon. Thanks for listening to
Speaker 3: today's episode of How to Build a universe.
Speaker 1: We'd love to know what you thought of it.
Speaker 3: You can fill out our survey and go in the
Speaker 3: running to win one thousand dollars.
Speaker 1: There's a link in the show notes