Storypillar

<p><strong>May’s Brain Breather: Setting Boundaries with Purrcy and Flush</strong></p><p><em>Figuring out how we’re feeling is hard…but easier with friends. Join Bean for a silly story that will help us check in with our minds and take care of our feelings.</em></p><p><strong>Feelings Focus: </strong>Setting boundaries, facing bullies, being assertive, speaking up</p><p><strong>Protagonists:</strong> Purrcy the Mountain Lion and Flush the Toilet</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>A tree fort in the Smoky Mountains </p><p><strong>Strategies: </strong>Great Grandpotty Lidbert’s 4 S’s of Setting Boundaries<strong> </strong>(Stand tall, Speak calmly, Say what needs to stop, Suggest an alternative)</p><p><strong>Resources: </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://childrenswi.org/at-every-turn/stories/2025/07/helping-kids-stand-up-for-themselves">Helping Kids Be Assertive</a><strong>, </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.kidscape.org.uk/advice/advice-for-young-people/how-can-i-be-assertive-and-stand-up-for-myself/">Assertive Practice for Kids</a></p><p><strong>Info/Get in Touch: </strong></p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.storypillar.com">www.storypillar.com</a> </p><p>Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/storypillar/">@storypillar</a> </p><p>Join our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://storypillar.com/#mailinglist">mailing list</a>. </p><p><em>Please subscribe, rate, and review wherever you love listening!</em></p><p><strong>Donate: </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ko-fi.com/storypillar">https://ko-fi.com/storypillar</a> </p><p><strong>Shop:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://storypillarstore.threadless.com">storypillarstore.threadless.com</a> </p><p><strong>Created, Written, Edited, and Produced by: </strong></p><p>Meg Lewis</p><p><strong>Storypillar Theme Song: </strong></p><p>Lyrics by Meg Lewis </p><p>Music by Meg Lewis, Andy Jobe, and Suzanna Bridges </p><p>Produced by Andy Jobe </p><p><strong>Episode Cover Art: </strong></p><p>Mackenzie Allison</p><p>Meg Lewis</p><p><strong>Sound Effects and Additional Music:</strong></p><p>-<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://freesound.org">freesound.org</a></p><p>-<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://pixabay.com">pixabay.com</a></p><p><strong>-</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://freesound.org/people/tombenedict/sounds/397997/">Hawaii Nature Ambient Sound</a> </p><p><strong>-Pixabay Artists: </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-acoustic-simasx27s-243677/">SIMAS-2010</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-surprise-115066/">SunnyScy</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/modern-blues-lost-in-the-swamp-235829/">AlanaJordan</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/modern-country-wild-west-wedding-126336/">Music_for_Creators</a><strong>, </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/solo-guitar-the-beat-of-nature-122841/">Folk_Acoustic</a></p><p><em>Know a kid with great advice for sticky situations? Tell us! Details at </em><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.storypillar.com/unsticktricks"><em>www.storypillar.com/unsticktricks</em></a><em>. </em></p><p>© 2026 PowerMouse Press, LLC </p>

<p><strong>May’s Full Episode: Rabbits Don’t Climb Trees (The Smoky Mountains)</strong></p><p><strong>Story: </strong>A sneezy rabbit, cheeky snail, and <em>slightly</em> overbearing possum learn a thing or two about setting boundaries…and manage to get animals with no climbing skills whatsoever up a giant tree. </p><p> </p><p><strong>Region: </strong>The Smoky Mountains (Southeastern United States)</p><p><strong>Sticky Situation: </strong>What do you do when a friend is being rude? </p><p><strong>Unstick Tricks by: </strong>Vivienne (Age 8), Lena (Age 6), and Jayna (Age 6)</p><p><strong>Feelings Focus: </strong>Speaking up; empathy; setting boundaries; managing with bullies; standing up for yourself</p><p><strong>Know a kid with great advice for Sticky Situations?</strong> Tell us! Details at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.storypillar.com/unsticktricks">www.storypillar.com/unsticktricks</a>.<em> </em></p><p><strong>Make a donation! Support Storypillar!</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ko-fi.com/storypillar">https://ko-fi.com/storypillar</a> </p><p><strong>Info/Get in Touch: </strong></p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.storypillar.com">www.storypillar.com</a> </p><p>Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/storypillar/">@storypillar</a> </p><p>Join our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://storypillar.com/#mailinglist">mailing list</a> </p><p><strong>Story by:</strong></p><p>Meg Lewis</p><p><strong>Created, Written, and Produced by: </strong></p><p>Meg Lewis </p><p><strong>Sound Design/Audio Editing: </strong></p><p>Meg Lewis and Nate Blaweiss</p><p><strong>Storypillar Theme Song: </strong></p><p>Lyrics by Meg Lewis </p><p>Music by Meg Lewis, Andy Jobe, and Suzanna Bridges </p><p>Produced by Andy Jobe </p><p><strong>Episode Cover Art </strong></p><p>Mackenzie Allison</p><p><strong>Sound Effects and Additional Music: </strong></p><p>-<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Freesound.org">Freesound.org</a></p><p>-<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://freesound.org/people/tombenedict/sounds/397997/">Hawaii Nature Ambient Sound</a></p><p>-Suzanna Bridges (As Sparky) </p><p>-Pixabay Artists: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/beats-sad-emotional-beat-cry-alone-broken_heart-121597/">NightCityTunes</a>; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/modern-blues-lost-in-the-swamp-235829/">AlanaJordan</a>; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/modern-country-wild-west-wedding-126336/">Music_for_Creators</a>; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/traditional-country-fried-taters-bluegrass-18547/">Caffeine_Creek_Band</a>; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/ireland-bag-o-irish-310585/">Grumpynora</a>; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/solo-guitar-the-beat-of-nature-122841/">Folk_Acoustic</a></p><p>© 2026 PowerMouse Press, LLC </p>

<p><strong>May’s Sneak Attack!!! Deer Tigers and Cherokee Culture in the Smoky Mountains </strong></p><p><em>Join Sneak for facts about our next Storypillar destination and kid-approved jokes that will make you laugh your face off! </em></p><p><strong>Region:</strong> The Smoky Mountains</p><p><strong>Facts:</strong> The Great Smoky Mountains; Sequoya, Ayoka, and the written Cherokee language; the first Cherokee newspaper; Traditional Cherokee games</p><p><strong>Animals: </strong>Mountain lions, aka deer tigers, aka pumas, aka the mammal with the most names EVER! </p><p><strong>Jokes:</strong> Cats and mountain lions!</p><p><strong>Links for Kids:</strong> </p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cherokeepublichealth.org/content/sites/cherokee/Healthy_Cherokee_/PH_Cherokee_Games_Handouts.pdf">Traditional Cherokee Games</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://smokymountainnationalpark.com/blog/why-are-the-smoky-mountains-smokey/">Why are the Smoky Mountains Smokey?</a> </p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://kidadl.com/facts/animals/cougar-facts">Mountain Lion Facts for Kids</a> </p><p><strong>Trail of Tears Resources: </strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://historyforkids.org/trail-of-tears/">https://historyforkids.org/trail-of-tears/</a> </p><p><strong>For Our Long-time Storypillar Friends: </strong>Today’s episode might sound familiar. That’s because we’ve learned a lot over the past four years and decided to give some of our favorite episodes a fresh sound. We hope you enjoy this brand-sparkling new version with even more catchy music, ridiculous jokes, and silly shenanigans…we made it just for YOU! ❤️</p><p><strong>Make a donation! Support Storypillar!</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ko-fi.com/storypillar">https://ko-fi.com/storypillar</a> </p><p><strong>Shop at: </strong></p><p>storypillarstore.threadless.com</p><p></p><p><strong>Info/Get in Touch: </strong></p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.storypillar.com">www.storypillar.com</a> </p><p>Instagram: @storypillar</p><p><strong>Created, Written, and Produced by: </strong></p><p>Meg Lewis </p><p><strong>Storypillar Theme Song: </strong></p><p>Lyrics by Meg Lewis </p><p>Music by Meg Lewis, Andy Jobe, and Suzanna Bridges</p><p>Produced by Andy Jobe </p><p><strong>Episode Cover Art: </strong></p><p>Mackenzie Allison and Meg Lewis</p><p><strong>Sound Effects and Additional Music: </strong></p><p>-Freesound.org</p><p>-Joke Time Song: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://freesound.org/people/BlondPanda/sounds/659889/">https://freesound.org/people/BlondPanda/sounds/659889/</a> </p><p>-Silly Country Rhyme Song: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/folk-polka-song-polish-traditional-music-background-intro-theme-261890/">BackgroundMusicforVideo</a></p><p>-Episode Refresh Song: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/ireland-bag-o-irish-310585/">Grumpynora</a></p><p>-Pixabay Artists: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/modern-country-wild-west-wedding-126336/">Music_for_Creators</a>; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/indie-pop-iowa-153165/">SergePavkinMusic</a></p><p><strong>Know a kid with great advice for Sticky Situations? </strong>Check out <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.storypillar.com/unsticktricks">www.storypillar.com/unsticktricks</a>.</p><p></p><p><strong>© 2026 PowerMouse Press, LLC </strong></p>

<p><strong>April’s Brain Breather: Feeling Worried with Milky and Flop</strong></p><p><em>Figuring out how we’re feeling is hard…but easier with friends. Join Bean for a silly story that will help us check in with our minds and take care of our feelings.</em></p><p><strong>Feelings Focus: </strong></p><p>Feeling worried, managing anxiety</p><p><strong>Protagonists:</strong> </p><p>Milky the Cow and Flop the Lasagna Noodle</p><p><strong>Setting:</strong> Kenya’s Masai Mara </p><p><strong>Strategies: </strong>Cloud Dragons (Anxiety defusion; visualization) </p><p><strong>Resources:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.calmkidcentral.com/defusion-and-acceptance-ideas-to-help-children-with-upsetting-thoughts-and-beliefs/">Helping Kids Defuse Worries</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.handspringhealth.com/post/anxiety-activities-for-kids">Anxiety Coping Activities for Kids</a></p><p><strong>Info/Get in Touch: </strong></p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.storypillar.com">www.storypillar.com</a> </p><p>Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/storypillar/">@storypillar</a> </p><p>Join our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://storypillar.com/#mailinglist">mailing list</a>. </p><p><em>Please subscribe, rate, and review wherever you love listening!</em></p><p><strong>Donate: </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ko-fi.com/storypillar">https://ko-fi.com/storypillar</a> </p><p><strong>Shop:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://storypillarstore.threadless.com">storypillarstore.threadless.com</a> </p><p><strong>Created, Written, Edited, and Produced by: </strong></p><p>Meg Lewis</p><p><strong>Storypillar Theme Song: </strong></p><p>Lyrics by Meg Lewis </p><p>Music by Meg Lewis, Andy Jobe, and Suzanna Bridges </p><p>Produced by Andy Jobe </p><p><strong>Episode Cover Art: </strong></p><p>Mackenzie Allison</p><p>Meg Lewis</p><p><strong>Sound Effects and Additional Music:</strong></p><p>-<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://freesound.org">freesound.org</a></p><p>-<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://pixabay.com">pixabay.com</a></p><p><strong>-Pixabay Artists: </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-acoustic-simasx27s-243677/">SIMAS-2010</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/upbeat-surprise-115066/">SunnyScy</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/techno-trance-the-nutcracker-dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy-electro-house-version-173832/">White_Records</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/christmas-jingle-bells-hip-hop-350035/">Tunetank</a></p><p><em>Know a kid with cool facts, great jokes, or who wants to share how they’re feeling? Tell us! Details at </em><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.storypillar.com/unsticktricks"><em>www.storypillar.com/unsticktricks</em></a><em>. </em></p><p>© 2026 PowerMouse Press, LLC </p>

<p><strong>April’s Full Episode: Nobody’s Dinner (Kenya)</strong></p><p><strong>Story: </strong>Nia the eland is SUPER worried about joining the Great Migration from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara. I mean treacherous rivers…hungry lions and crocodiles…who could blame her?? Luckily, Tosha the cheerful bee eater and Kiloki the cool Zebra are on hand with friendly encouragement, good advice, and a few swift kicks to the armpit…for the lions and crocodiles, of course.</p><p><strong>Region: </strong>Kenya</p><p><strong>Sticky Situation: </strong>What do you do when you’re feeling worried about EVERYTHING?</p><p><strong>Unstick Tricks by:</strong> Denver (Age 6), Valentina (Age 7)</p><p><strong>Special Guest Narrator: </strong>Njeri Gachathi</p><p><strong>Feelings Focus: </strong>Feeling worried, coping with anxiety; managing fear; positive visualization</p><p><strong>Know a kid with great advice for Sticky Situations?</strong> Tell us! Details at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.storypillar.com/unsticktricks">www.storypillar.com/unsticktricks</a>.<em> </em></p><p><strong>Make a donation! Support Storypillar!</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ko-fi.com/storypillar">https://ko-fi.com/storypillar</a> </p><p><strong>Info/Get in Touch: </strong></p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.storypillar.com">www.storypillar.com</a> </p><p>Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/storypillar/">@storypillar</a> </p><p>Join our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://storypillar.com/#mailinglist">mailing list</a> </p><p><strong>Story by:</strong></p><p>Courtney Lewis </p><p><em>Listen to another of Courtney’s stories </em><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/season-4-story-sip-3-little-hippo-big-swim-story-replay/id1671452499?i=1000747677841"><em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p><p><strong>Created, Written, and Produced by: </strong></p><p>Meg Lewis </p><p><strong>Sound Design/Audio Editing: </strong></p><p>Meg Lewis and Nate Blaweiss</p><p><strong>Storypillar Theme Song: </strong></p><p>Lyrics by Meg Lewis </p><p>Music by Meg Lewis, Andy Jobe, and Suzanna Bridges </p><p>Produced by Andy Jobe </p><p><strong>Episode Cover Art </strong></p><p>Mackenzie Allison</p><p><strong>Sound Effects and Additional Music: </strong></p><p>-<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Freesound.org">Freesound.org</a></p><p>-<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Sounddino.com">Sounddino.com</a> </p><p>-Suzanna Bridges (As Sparky) </p><p>-Pixabay Artists: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/world-wildlife-african-safari-music-269374/">HitsLab</a>; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/world-congaboom-27414/">Miguelppais</a>; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/beats-safari-349492/">Tunetank</a>; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/adventure-africa-beat-266157/">9JackJack8</a>; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/afrobeat-untouched-land-afrobeat-travel-vlog-370015/">RaspberryMusic</a>; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://pixabay.com/music/cartoons-raggamuffin-173303/">GeoffHarvey</a></p><p>© 2026 PowerMouse Press, LLC</p>