Fred Rogers Productions partners with The Mash-Up Americans for new podcast "Young Neighbors"

Fred Rogers Productions partners with The Mash-Up Americans for new podcast “Young Neighbors” – Señal News

Fred Rogers Productions partners with The Mash-Up Americans for new podcast “Young Neighbors”

Scheduled to launch in 2027 with 12 full-length and 12 mini-episodes, the audio series marks the children’s media company’s first original podcast.

Fred Rogers Productions partners with The Mash-Up Americans for new podcast "Young Neighbors" (5)

Fred Rogers Productions and award-winning media studio The Mash-Up Americans team up to produce “Young Neighbors”, a brand-new non-fiction podcast featuring stories from children across the United States told in their own voices. Made possible with support from Lilly Endowment Inc., the project marks the first original podcast from Fred Rogers Productions and is slated to debut in 2027 with 12 full-length episodes and 12 mini-episodes.

Targeted at children aged 8 to 11 and their families, “Young Neighbors” will utilize a documentary-style magazine format combining field reporting with host-led conversations. The audio series explores kids’ everyday lives, feelings, families, and local communities through relatable, firsthand stories layered with ambient soundscapes.

Ellen Doherty, Chief Creative Officer and Executive Producer at Fred Rogers Productions, said: “Young Neighbors builds on Fred Rogers’ legacy of modeling kindness and curiosity with uplifting conversations, and audio is a beautiful medium for that. We’re excited to partner with The Mash-Up Americans, who are passionate about producing stories that highlight community and belonging, to bring our first original podcast to life.”

Kristin DiQuollo, Executive Producer at Fred Rogers Productions, added: “We want to highlight the joyful, everyday experiences of kids in different parts of the country. We’ll discover what they love, where they play, and how they feel. By hearing stories from kids in their own voices, and layering in textures and sounds of their neighborhoods, we hope to spark wonder about what it’s like to live somewhere else and to celebrate the things we have in common with each other.”

Rebecca Lehrer, CEO of The Mash-Up Americans, said: “It is a dream to be working with Fred Rogers Productions on Young Neighbors. The Fred Rogers Productions ethos of elevating curiosity, humanity, kindness, and empathy through storytelling reflects our shared vision for this community and country as a whole. It’s an absolute delight to get to hear the stories of kids from across the country.”

Amy S. Choi, Editorial Director at The Mash-Up Americans, stated: “The central question of Young Neighbors aligns with the central question of The Mash-Up Americans: What’s it like to be an American? We are lifelong storytellers and insatiably curious about America. All of our work hinges on the idea that stories change lives. And we know that one of the keys to unlocking our imaginations is seeing the world through a kid’s eyes, which provides awe in abundance.”

Fred Rogers ProductionsThe Mash-Up AmericansYoung NeighborsEllen Doherty