Shows
Your Parenting Mojo - Respectful, research-based parenting ideas to help kids thrive218: What children learn from video gamesHow Video Games Shape Learning and Children’s Development
Last week, parent Nicole and I talked with @TheGamerEducator Ash Brandin about the challenges we can have when our kids love video games. [insert link to previous episode]
I had also hoped to ask Ash a lot of questions about what children learn from video games but we completely ran out of time, so I spent a fun day reading 10 books on the topic at the University of New Mexico library (non-students can’t check out books!).
I wanted to know a lot more about:
Why do childre...2024-07-2957 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 53 - Last Radio Show / Personal FavoritesIt's our last radio show folks! Not our last podcast - just our last hour long radio show. It was a wonderful ride! 53 hours!! You could listen to nothing but Benedettiville for 2 whole days! Non-stop!!!! In this episode all of us, Gio, Jen, Stella and Emmy, pick our favorites and we play them for you. Thanks to KPCA for having us - it was an amazing run! Now - back to our regularly scheduled podcast. See you in February!2019-02-0157 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 52 - The Library Mystery Part 3/3We complete 2 stories in this episode - the conclusion of Admiral Snackbar, and the final installment of Chevrolet Glitterwing. There may be another Rocco and Blue story from the road tucked in there...2019-01-2700 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 51: Library Mystery Part 2/3We bring you part 2 of the Library Mystery! We also bring you Part one of Admiral Snackbar... which will conclude next week.
Also also also - some fun commercials and Rocco and Blue reminisce about their old touring days.2019-01-2057 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 50: Chevrolet Glitterwing and the Library Mystery - Part 1This week, in our final month of hour-long radio broadcast episodes, we bring you part one of Chevrolet Glitterwing and the Library Mystery.2019-01-0955 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 49: The Emergency Backup EpisodeEmergency! Emergency! Whatever the reason, this past Sunday Benedettiville couldn't be in the studio... Luckily this track was left with Dave (our producer) and he could play it.
What happened?
Why weren't they there?
We hope and trust that all these questions will be answered next week!2019-01-0256 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 48 - All-Sponsor special + Rocco's Christmas Adventure Part 2With Gio and Stella in the studio, we try and raise money for our gift to Petaluma: A huge, actual, full-size, real-life castle. It will be expensive, so we get all of our sponsors to sponsor the episode. It's sponsor-mania here! Also - Rocco's funk-fueled Christmas mission is concluded.2018-12-2657 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 47 - Rocco's Christmas Adventure: Part 1This week, we follow the bold adventure of Rocco Blastorius, as he heads for the North Pole.
We also hear from our sponsors: Candles, and Ned's Nog.2018-12-1957 min
BenedettivilleEpisode 46 - Christmas CoalIn this episode: Gio waxes nostalgic about winter, we follow a strange Holiday tale about coal, stockings, elves and childhood, and we broadcast (for the radio folks) the Puppet Lands classic: The Tale of Rosco & The Spirit of Giving.2018-12-1057 min
BenedettivilleTHEM! - Part 10: The ConclusionWe missed the to-be-continued deadline for the story last week and, of course, the Story Police picked Gio up and have him in Story Jail. Will he be able to claim his freedom? Can he continue the story? What happens to Josie and her family? All is revealed this week!2018-12-0714 min
BenedettivilleThe Missing Radio Hour: A Puppet Holiday TaleGio, sadly, has once again fallen afoul of the Story Police. You may have noticed that last Friday he did not continue THEM! with part 10. Alas. Deep in story jail he was unable to make it to the radio station for the live show on Sunday. Thus, we bring you this Holiday Puppet Special unearthed by the Story Police. Happy Holidays.2018-12-0626 min
BenedettivilleEpisode 44Stella and Maya join Gio in the studio this week for some Things to Do When You're Stuck Inside. Rocco makes an appearance, and we share the story we told live on the Mystic Theater Stage back in August.2018-11-2957 min
BenedettivilleTHEM! - Part 9Josie, Sham and Uncle are hurtling through Hyperspace on their way to free Josie's parents. What are THEY? Why are they after Magic folks? What's the plan? All this and more is revealed in THEM! - Part 9.2018-11-2411 min
BenedettivillePodcast Episode 43This week we have an amazing guest co-host, COOP! Gio and Coop tell stories about Thanksgiving, unveil the new Draw a Dragon book, and romp their way through a Dragon-and-Turkey-filled hour of radio joy.2018-11-2157 min
BenedettivilleTHEM! - Part 8It's THEM! PART 8!! A daring escape - an old friend reappears! Space and aliens and lasers and blastings and smashings!! Things get wild this week.
Enjoy!2018-11-1611 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 42 - Emmy Stonewall Benedetti, & a Troll StoryEmmy joins Gio in the studio this week, and she shuts him down pretty hard for an hour... but the show goes on! Blue has some Troll Safety Tips, and there's a Troll story with Leah and Emmy.2018-11-1557 min
BenedettivilleTHEM! - Part 7Welcome to Part 7 of THEM! We are continuing the story separate from the main radio show and podcast. And it is continued! There is magic and spacehips afoot now that Josie and Sham are on the world of Gouda (no relation to the cheese). The mystery of THEM deepens, as Josie begins to harness her magical powers.2018-11-0809 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 41 - Blah Blah & The Switch WitchGio's poetic muse turns to candy, Emmy tells a story in a foreign language (Blah Blah) and we premier ads from our new sponsors: The Switch Witch and Dr. Ronaldo T. Pickleshin's Pro-Candy Dental Clinic.2018-11-0754 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 40 - Halloween! Emmy Stories, Troll Safety, & Them - Part 6Happy Halloween, y'all. Stella and Emmy join Gio for some Book Club reviews, we have the next installment of Them, a visit from The Story Police, Troll Safety Tips, and Emmy has a whole mess of scary and spooky Halloween songs and stories.2018-10-3156 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 39: Them Part 5, Bue and Rocco Reminisce, and HomonymnsStella comes to the studio! She and Gio talk books, and homonyms, Blue and Rocco talk about the good 'ol days, and we continue our story with Them - Part 5.2018-10-2453 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 38: Them - Part 4, Rocco talks Trolls and Funky Grooves and morePart 4 of Them! is here, and things get clock-y! Rocco tries to fill in for Blue, and there's a new poem - a ballad, in fact. Enjoy!2018-10-1757 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 37 - Them: Part 3, Troll Season, and Gio's Still SickGio is still sick, but the mucus is still inspiring poetry, so it's OK. We continue the story of Them!, Blue shows up for a Troll-Safety PSA and more.2018-10-1055 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 36 - FIXED FILE! Them: Part 2, and Gio's Head Cold Inspires PoetryHey gang! Sorry that the file that's been up all week stopped after 20 minutes!! Bad form on my part. I think I fixed it. So, now, finally, we can bring you Part 2 of "They". Also, Gio's head cold reaches heroic proportions and inspires snot-filled poetry.2018-10-0356 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 35: Them - Part 1, The Guardians, and Goodnight for KnightsStella joins Gio in the studio for some moxy, and some seriously delightful banter. The Guardians investigate a fire-breathing dragon in Petaluma, some Knights try and go to sleep, and Gio begins a to-be-continued-story about THEM.2018-09-2757 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 34: The Sly, The Eye and The Armor, Gio is sick, andGio has a cold, but soldiers on! There's a new story of dreams called The Sly, The Eye & The Armor, and, of course, a bunch of other things.2018-09-2157 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 33: The Story Eater! Robert Boss, & A Detail-Oriented NarratorStella and Gio are in the studio to bring you the Stella-and-Emmy inspired story: The Story Eater. Also, a Robert Boss episode, also also, The Detail-Oriented Narrator. And, of course, more.2018-09-2157 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 32 - Chevrolet Glitterwing concludes, and Rocco and Blue tell a storyMaya and Stella join Rocco (and eventually Gio) in the radio studio to conclude the Chevrolet Glitterwing adventure, hear Rocco and Blue tell a gig story, and discuss school, weekends, and Gio's hair.2018-09-0656 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 31 - Chevrolet Glitterwing Continues! Part 4Gio's back in the studio with a new poem, and the continuing adventure of Chevrolet Glitterwing, Half-Fairy.2018-08-2954 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 30 - Post-Live-Show wrap-up + Marty Schwartz, Chevrolet GlitterwingPuppet interviews!! Rocco and Blue get together with three kiddos to bring you the Post-Live-Show wrap-up - Legendary guitar teacher, Marty Schwartz, comes in to talk to Rocco, and we continue the saga of Chevrolet Glitterwing.2018-08-2257 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 29 - Chevrolet Glitterwing Part 2The story of Chevrolet Glitterwing is back, and the case of Magnus' Mysterious Closet is reopened for strange and potentially dangerous reasons!2018-08-1658 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 28: Chevrolet Glitterwing Part 1We're back with new live episodes! We begin the wonderful and magical tale of Chevrolet Glitterwing, half-faerie, magical investigator of her small town of Grimsford.2018-08-0956 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 27: Live in the Studio with Stella & MayaStella & Maya join Gio and the puppets in the studio for a new poem (about monsters), stories, The Guardians, and more.2018-08-0158 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 26 - The Story RetrospectiveThis week Stella, Emmaline and Gio introduce 3 stories improvised and co-told by the kiddos. Also, the Incredible Circus of Daves is coming to town?2018-07-2657 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 24: Mangia! Mountain Naming & The Grocery Store HippoWe continue our summer vacation retrospectives! Mission InPastaBowl - the Mangia episodes are here - as is our interview with Brian Christensen of Brian's Comics, as is a lovely tale bout a Hippo we picked up at the grocery store.2018-07-1857 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 23 - The First Mission Inpastabowl... and moreIt's our second week of a lovely vacation here in Benedettiville, so we're bringing you another collection of favorites. This time: The full 2 parts of our first ever Mission Inpastabowl! There's heaps of other good stuff in there too. Enjoy!2018-07-1256 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 22 - The Admiral Snackbar RetrospectiveBenedettiville is on vacation, and that means that you're in for some BEST OF! This episode is the Admiral Snackbar Retrospective - our most requested story from the radio show. We interview Coop at the Farmer's Market, tell a Farmer's Market poem, and throw all kinds of other fun bits in there!2018-07-0356 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 21: The PAC Summer Camp: 'Make A Radio Show' ShowBenedettiville hosted a 4-day summer camp at The Petaluma Art's Center, and this show is the wonderful result. We have guest hosts - students from the camp, and plenty of pieces created and produced by the kiddos themselves. Puppet interviews, a Fly Swatter commercial, a Pet Talking Rock, a poem about the fair, a rhyming story, and more.2018-06-2751 min
BenedettivilleEpisode 20: Father's Day!We honor Father's Day with: A Father's Day story, some father-friendly commercials, Pond Staring, Father's Day Traditions, a talking BBQ, and the sure-to-be-a-hit poem, It's Hard To Be a Dad.2018-06-2645 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 19: The Interdimensional Vacation ReportWe went on a 1-week, 4-dimension, Inter-Dimensional Vacation. And we came back to tell you ALL about it.2018-06-1355 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 18 - Summer Plans, The Garbage Pail, What Ifs, and an Inter-dimensional Travel AgencyThis week we talk summer plans. There's a poem about it, we interview lots of kids about it, and we even hear an ad from a very compelling Inter-Dimensional Travel Agency...2018-06-0650 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 17 - The Chocolate Milk Spy, Matthew Harris, Pancake Magazine and CheeselandIn this episode: An amazing tale about a chocolate milk spy! Mr. Matthew Harris talks to Blue about art, reading, schools and more! Cheeseland! Pancake Magazine! Kids and the books they love! Also, much more.2018-05-3046 min
BenedettivilleKETCHUPJUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH OF KETCHUP - HAVE SOME MORE!!2018-05-2401 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 16 - The Library, Josh Windmiller & Our Family Book ClubWe start a family bookclub with the help of Patty at Copperfields. We investigate the bold claims of the Library that "reading takes you everywhere." Rocco interviews the amazing Josh Windmiller! Ketchup! Raccoons! A detail-oriented narrator... and more.2018-05-2432 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 15 - MOTHER'S DAY!It's a Mother's Day Spectacular! Gio goes downtown in Petaluma, asking how to make Mother's Day better. The attendees of our One Day Radio Play create... well, a Radio Play. But also a song and a short skit. Rocco interviews Stephanie Rastetter - chef of Waterstreet Bistro, AKA, Gio's favorite place.2018-05-1652 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 14 - Loquats! Recycle Town! The Agitator! ROBOTS!!In this Episode: Benedettiville goes Loquat Hunting, The Guardians Investigation Team investigates what happens to our garbage (hint: it gets eaten by a monster), and lots and lots of Robots.2018-05-0954 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 13 - Arann Harris, Butter, Eggs, and Gio Returns from StorylandBlue the Puppet fills in while Gio is trapped in Storyland; Arann Harris tells everyone how to make their own butter among other things; Robert Boss paints a landscape; Butter, Eggs and more.2018-05-0350 min
BenedettivilleMission: In Pastabowl - The Case of the Missing Parmegian pt. 2/2Our heroes, Agents Penne and Linguine have been captured by the Evil Don Spaghetti. What will become of them and the stolen Parmegian?2018-04-2706 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 12 - The Brothers Comatose on Tour, Gardening, & Gio in StorylandIn this episode - Gio runs afoul of the Story Police and ends up serving time in Storyland. Rocco interviews the Brothers Comatose on tour. And... GARDENS!2018-04-2750 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 11: Games! The Guardians, Tag, & Mission In Pasta BowlIn this episode: Games. The conclusion of Mission: In Pastabowl, the Fake Oil Factory, the origin of The Guardians: Investigators of mysterious and magical happenings, tag, ASH Legion, and more.2018-04-1957 min
BenedettivilleMission: In Pastabowl - The Case of the Missing Parmegian pt.1In this, the first Mission: In Pastabowl Episode, our heroic agents Penne and Linguine investigate a cheesy emergency: All the parmegian of Pastopolis is missing. Perhaps the evil Don Spaghetti and his dastardly scheming is to blame...2018-04-1507 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 10 - Magic Beans, A Giantess Tailor, Mission InPastabowl, & Tom GaffeyIn this episode (our 10 week anniversary!) we bring you: More Magic Beans; Helga: Giantess Tailor for Giants; Mission InPastaBowl and the Fake Olive Oil Factory; and an interview with Petaluma's Good Egg, Tom Gaffey2018-04-1254 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 9: The Fast Talking Banjo Curse, Giant Tailor, Jet Lag, and Princess Harmony ConclusionA man with a strange curse, Helga: Giant Tailor for Giants, the mystery of time-travel and jet lag, and the conclusion of Princess Harmony's Adventures.2018-04-0558 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 8: Gio in Australia 3/3, and Princess Harmony Marathon 3In our 8th episode, we bring you 2 more Princess Harmony stories, Gio and Rocco send their last report from Australia, and Jenny, Stella, Emmy and Emmaline take over the radio mics.2018-04-0557 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 7: Princess Harmony Marathon 2, Gio in Australia... stillGio is still in Australia, and we have some great Australian answers to Petaluma-kid questions. There's a new episode of Paint Like a Robert Boss - our home-town host Jenny is joined by niece and nephew Elan and Eliana in addition to Benedettivillians Stella and Emmy, not to mention the continuing Princess Harmony marathon.2018-03-2856 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 6: Gio in Australia, & Princess Harmony Marathon part 1Gio heads out on tour to Australia, and so the radio crew back home cook up a Marathon of Princess Harmony stories, interspersed with the usual tomfoolery, shenanigans and waggery.2018-03-2250 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 5: Jim Agius, Paint Like a Robert Boss, & Dragons!Our Patreon page has launched! patreon.com/benedettiville! Also - the thrilling conclusion to Admiral Snackbar, Paint Like a Robert Boss, Kid Superheroes traveling through different dimensions to ward of Frumpyness... it's all here. Also - lots of dragons.2018-03-1556 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 4: Mr. Mushroom! Finding a Banjo Teacher, & Admiral SnackbarEpisode 4 introduces the adventures of Admiral Snackbar, Blue - the puppet correspondent - interviews Mr. Mushroom! There's a story about finding a teacher, plus our usual sponsors, shenanigans, songs and all sorts of nonsense.2018-03-0956 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 3: Space! Paige Warner, Science, & Toilet Paper Emergency PersonIn our 3rd Radio Hour episode, we head to outer space. We interview Academy Award Winning Special Effects artist, Paige Warner, we meet Toilet Paper Emergency Person, hear a report from our Science Correspondents, and enjoy many more shenanigans and much more tomfoolery.2018-03-0152 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 2: Trolls! + Brian Christenson, & Mission InpastabowlWe delve into Petaluma's (alleged) troll problem, concludes the Mission InPastaBowl adventure, involve a professional yet sleepy narrator, and our puppet correspondent, Blue, interviews Brian of Brian's Comics.2018-02-2156 min
BenedettivilleRadio Hour 1: Patty Norman, Mission Inpastabowl & BalloonsOur first ever Benedettiville's Small Town Adventures Radio Hour! Recorded for KPCA here in Petaluma, California. An hour of interviews, stories, songs, and whatever else we can cook up.2018-02-1556 min
BenedettivilleThe Story of B & DragonheadOur friend B goes on a walk in the woods and undertakes a very strange and wonderful adventure.2016-12-2013 min
BenedettivilleHappy Halloween!Emmaline (almost 3) tells a spoooooky (actually, rather hilarious) story to her dad. Also, a sneak peak at a song from the full-length CD we've been working on!2016-10-3110 min
BenedettivilleBack to School & The Grocery Store HippoA song written with the help of kiddos from a Benedettivlle show, a song about the first day of school, and a story about a Grocery Store Hippo. Enjoy!2016-09-1418 min
BenedettivillePrincess Harmony & The Quest for Music - Part 8: The ConclusionThe tremendous and long-awaited conclusion to the musical adventures of Princess Harmony and her quest to bring music back to the Kingdom of Silence!2016-08-2538 min
BenedettivillePrincess Harmony & The Quest for Music - Part 7Princess Harmony has to sneak her way into the camp of a Noise Goblin army in search of the 6th note of the Great Scale! High adventure and musical magic are afoot in this penultimate episode of our towering sonic saga!2016-07-2227 min
BenedettivillePrincess Harmony & The Quest for Music - Part 6Princess Harmony must find the 5th note of The Great Scale... and to do it she must break a curse, overcome a fear of Spiders, and, of course, go on a fine adventure. Stella guest stars as the singing voice of Princess Harmony!2016-06-2925 min
BenedettivillePrincess Harmony & The Quest for Music - Part 5Princess Harmony and Ruxipold head towards the Greybog Swamp in search of the 4th note of the Great Scale. Great danger and adventure lurks ahead!2016-06-1619 min
BenedettivillePrincess Harmony and The Quest for Music - Part 4Our adventure continues! A river trail, caves, trolls, and the Third Note of The Great Scale are all in this podcast episode as our epic quest continues!2016-06-0117 min
BenedettivillePrincess Harmony & The Quest for Music - Part 3Part 3 of our Epic Quest to return music to the Kingdom of Silence! Our team of Princess Harmony and Ruxipold must find the 2nd note of the Great Scale - lost somewhere in the Old Forest... watch out for Noise Goblins!2016-05-1916 min
BenedettivillePrincess Harmony & The Quest for Music - Part 2Welcome to Part 2 of our tale, in which Princess Harmony enters the Old Forest, and follows her map to meet a curious new friend in a curious new place.2016-05-0513 min
BenedettivilleBenedettiville Podcast: Princess Harmony & The Quest for Music - Part 1The Kingdom of Silence has been without music for as long as anyone can remember. It is up to the young Princess Harmony - with her mysterious map - to find music, and bring it back home.2016-05-0113 min
BenedettivilleBenedettiville Podcast Presents: The Hungry Hungry LaptopPapa Gio heads to the mall to pick up a broken computer... and adventure strikes! Curses, traps, dragons, and hungry hungry laptops abound in this week's podcast.2016-04-0515 min
BenedettivilleBenedettiville Podcast: A Desert AdventureAn evil Genie casts a curse on a desert oasis! Who can save the day?
Genies, superheroes, princesses and wizards abound in this (very late) edition of the Benedettiville podcast.2016-03-3030 min
BenedettivilleThe Magic Knights vs The Meanest Ogres in TownHere is an oldie but a goodie - re-uploaded to get it in proper podcast sequence. Stella and I told this story in 2014, and we bring it to you now from the archives for our podcast.
Enjoy more swarthy adventures of The Magic Knights!2016-03-0217 min
BenedettivilleA Journey to Dragon MountainA new theme song (under mild protest from Jen), another song, and then a story about Stella Gene the carpenter and a trip to Dragon Mountain to save the day.2016-02-1622 min
BenedettivilleThe Magic Knights In: A Visit To Bulgar's Floating CastleIn the second episode of our Podcast, The Magic Knights are called upon to save the day (yet again). Off they go, adventuring, solving problems, making friends, fighting Bumblehills! It's an epic quest to help the Cloud Kingdom!2016-02-0224 min
BenedettivilleThe Three Little PigsGio and Stella re-tell The Three Little Pigs: Tim, Tom, and Rumplestiltskin, and relate their difficulties with building materials and a Wolf named Carl.2016-01-2018 min