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This week Haeny and Nathan are sharing their top moments in play and pop culture from 2025! What is giving them hope? What reframed their perspective? Find out in this best-of episode that goes deeper than your typical top 5 lists.  Here’s the Deep Dive on LLMs Nathan mentions in the episode:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xTGNNLPyMI For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Credits: Video and audio for this episode were recorded by Jen Lee. This episode was edited by Billy Collins. Website support by Abu Abdelbagi. Pop and Play is produced by Haeny Yoon, Nathan Holbert, Lalitha Vasudevan, Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Billy Collins and is part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Columbia University. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

How do you know when what you started playing around with has become a serious craft? This week Haeny and Nathan talk with Professor Bryan Keller about his passion for woodworking that has grown some deep roots.  Bryan Keller is an applied statistician and Associate Professor of Practice at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he directs the programs in Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics. His research focuses on the development and application of statistical methods for research, especially in education, health, and psychology. Learn more at his faculty webpage https://www.tc.columbia.edu/faculty/bsk2131/ For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Credits: Video and audio for this episode were recorded by Joe Riina-Ferrie. This episode was edited by Adrienne Vitullo and Billy Collins. Website support by Abu Abdelbagi. Pop and Play is produced by Haeny Yoon, Nathan Holbert, Lalitha Vasudevan, Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Billy Collins and is part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Columbia University. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

Kids these days just don’t know what it was like back in our day. Which makes sense, cause they’re, you know, kids. This week on Pop and Play, Haeny and Nathan talk about the good, the bad, and the nuance of nostalgia. Just a note that this episode was recorded in September, 2025. This episode references the “Nostalgia Bone” episode of Throughline, and the article “Whatever You Want to Call It: Science of Reading Mythologies in the Education Reform Movement” by Elena Aydarova. For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Credits: Video and audio for this episode were recorded by Billy Collins and Madeline McGee. This episode was edited by Adrienne Vitullo with support from Joe Riina-Ferrie. Website support by Abu Abdelbagi. Pop and Play is produced by Haeny Yoon, Nathan Holbert, Lalitha Vasudevan, Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Billy Collins and is part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Columbia University. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

Welcome to a very special holiday music pop off! In this festive bonus episode, Haeny, Nathan, and special guests Sonali Rajan and Lalitha Vasudevan talk holiday music! Which songs do they love, and which would they get rid of if they could? What’s that ringing sound? They’re at your door and they want to sing you songs? For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Credits: Video and audio for this episode were recorded by Abu Abdelbagi. This episode was edited by Adrienne Vitullo with support from Joe Riina-Ferrie. Website support by Abu Abdelbagi. Social media by Madeline McGee. Pop and Play is produced by Haeny Yoon, Nathan Holbert, Lalitha Vasudevan, Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Billy Collins and is part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Columbia University. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

A Pew Center Report from 2024 prompts Haeny and Nathan to ask a big question: “What is the Purpose of School?” And is school the best place for children to learn? For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Credits: Video and audio for this episode were recorded by Abu Abdelbagi. This episode was edited by Adrienne Vitullo. Website support by Abu Abdelbagi. Social media by Madeline McGee. Pop and Play is produced by Haeny Yoon, Nathan Holbert, Lalitha Vasudevan, Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Billy Collins and is part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Cohis episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

This week, Haeny and Nathan finally get to share what’s poppin’ for them! Enough politely making space for guests to share, it’s time for the hosts to show off their play and pop cultural recommendations! For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Credits: Video and audio for this episode were recorded by Abu Abdelbagi. This episode was edited by Adrienne Vitullo and Joe Riina-Ferrie. Website support by Abu Abdelbagi. Social media by Madeline McGee. Pop and Play is produced by Haeny Yoon, Nathan Holbert, Lalitha Vasudevan, Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Billy Collins and is part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Columbia University. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

Welcome to Season 6 and our first “play date”! Listen along with Haeny and Nathan and guest and fellow Swiftie Dr. Cassie Brownell, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto to Life of a Showgirl by a little known artist called Taylor Swift. What is being a Swiftie all about, and what can we learn from being part of that community? Find out this week and check out the album if you want to be part of the phenomenon! For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Credits: Video and audio for this episode were recorded by Jen Lee. This episode was edited by Adrienne Vitullo and Joe Riina-Ferrie. Website support by Abu Abdelbagi. Social media by Madeline McGee. Pop and Play is produced by Haeny Yoon, Nathan Holbert, Lalitha Vasudevan, Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Billy Collins and is part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Columbia University. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

Nathan and Haeny get all dressed up for Halloween! Well, Nathan does. Can you guess Haeny’s secret costume? They talk about some fun and light Halloween topics, and then they get into what really scared them when they were kids and when to let play be scary and when they might want to step in as adults.  For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

What are the implications of controlling play? Haeny and Nathan ask what forms autocratic control can take when it comes to play, when it comes from leaders like those in the government, and how that can be distributed to individuals regulating each other or censoring themselves. And they ask what can be done when people want to resist that control.  For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

This week Haeny and Nathan are here to talk about Summer Break! Just in time for it to be over. But we can look back on it fondly! They talk about pools, road trips with the family, and their advice for parents thinking about what do over the summer with their kids.  For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

Nathan and Haeny are back for another Pop Off about recent cuts to funding for federal research. And they brought in a special guest: Vice Dean for Digital Innovation at Teachers College, Managing Director of the Digital Features Institute, and Pop and Play producer, Lalitha Vasudevan. What is being cut, what are the impacts and implications, and what can people who are concerned about these cuts do? Where was that research money going and why does it matter? Tune in to find out and get ideas about how to take action. Please take our listener survey! We could really use your insight and opinions, and we want to hear your ideas for Pop Off topics and future guests!  For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow Pop and Play on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Our music is selections from Leafeaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

Haeny and Nathan aren’t just here to talk about children’s media - in this season finale, they’re here to MAKE children’s media! Welcome to a fictional tale of what happens after the end of the world, drawing on prompts and suggestions from this season’s guests and narrated by guest star Hannah Holbert. It’s an episode unlike any previous Pop and Play: we hope you enjoy it! And if you share it with any kids, let us know what they think! Send us a message at @popandplaypod on Instagram! For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

What kinds of shows and media are kids into these days? Haeny and Nathan go straight to the source to find out: kids, of course! Their guests this week are three pairs of kids aged six, eleven, and sixteen. They share their viewing habits and opinions, talk about who they watch with, and Haeny and Nathan learn that “kids media” and “adult media” aren’t always such separate things after all.  For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

Haeny and Nathan welcome to the show Andy Davenport, one of the creators of the hit children’s show Teletubbies. Find out about the origins of the show, the inspiration behind the teletubbies themselves, and Davenport’s background in children’s language development that all contribute to the show we know and love. This deep dive into the world of Teletubbies with its rolling hills and baby sun will get deep into why play is so vital to children’s experience of media.  Correction: We know spongebob lives in a pineapple under the sea, not “a little house underground” as Haeny says in the episode. Don't @ us. For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University. 

In this episode, Haeny and Nathan talk with two of the creators of the award-winning kids and family podcast Story Pirates! Co-founder and Creative Director Lee Overtree and Co-founder and CEO Jamie Salka join to talk about how to treat children as true collaborators, both in podcasting, as well as the many other forms of media Story Pirates is creating including books, music and television. We’re warning you in advance: they talk a lot about Northwestern University - but they tie it all in to the creative communities and spaces that gave rise to their approach to making things with children and as artists and storytellers. Also, did you know that Story Pirates responds to tens of thousands of stories submitted to them by kids each year? Listen for more on the story behind the Story Pirates.  For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website.  Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.