Kids Listen Activity Podcast: The Fina Mendoza Mysteries - Let the Kids Vote

Kids Listen Activity Podcast: The Fina Mendoza Mysteries - Let the Kids Vote

Author: Tal Kelly November 3, 2020 Duration: 32:17
Looking for a way to talk about the election without getting mired in politics? Today's episode is the perfect solution.

Fina Mendoza, the daughter of a congressman, is assigned a Genius Project that lets students pick the topic they'd like to research and present to the class. Since it's an election year and Fina's father is back in California campaigning for re-election, Fina decides to research voting. Specifically, letting kids younger than 18 cast a ballot.

Real-life Congressman Mark Takano of Riverside, California zooms  with the class to answer questions about youth voting. 

There is also a mystery to be solved: who broke into their classroom, ransacking the backpacks and rifling the teacher's desk. Fina consults with her detecting partner, a giant orange dog named Senator Something, and talks her sister into accompanying her on a field trip to see if her hunch about the culprit is correct.

There is FREE curriculum for this episode at the website: finamendozamysteries.com.

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries are  written and produced by Kitty Felde


Ever find yourself searching for the right words when a child is grappling with a huge feeling? Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups About Feelings offers a gentle, creative space for those conversations. Curated by Tal Kelly, this limited series brings together favorite voices from the Kids Listen network for a unique audio experience. Instead of lectures, each episode is a crafted mashup, weaving together original story clips and thoughtful reflections around a pair of connected emotions. The idea is to give shape and sound to the internal world, helping young listeners identify what's swirling inside them-whether it's the tight coil of fear or the warm swell of bravery. For instance, one installment hosted by Eric O'Keefe of What If World explores exactly that pairing, using imaginative storytelling to frame these feelings as part of a shared human adventure. It’s designed for kids to engage with directly, but parents and caregivers will likely find it just as useful, picking up language and perspectives to support emotional growth. This seven-part podcast unfolds with new episodes released on Tuesdays and Thursdays, making it an easy, regular touchpoint for families. By presenting feelings not as problems to solve but as territories to explore, this series becomes a valuable tool for building empathy and self-awareness, one heartfelt mashup at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups About Feelings
Podcast Episodes