Look at the other nominees and remember how much funding got cut this year. We love you all! To the Secret Museum…!

And watch the full episode here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1_J...

#inspiration #love #jackierobinson #xavierriddle #ordinarypepplechangetheworld #fyp

On behalf of Chris and myself, thank you to our incredible Xavier family including Vince, Meghan, Desmond, Hong, and so many more, everyone at Brown Bag/9 Story/Scholastic. And of course our PBS KIDS family for having the faith to let us try again.

There's nothing more intimate in life than simply being understood. And understanding someone else. And to that dad out there, THANK YOU, MY FRIEND!

Come out of our bubbles and get uncomfortable. So often, we’re convinced we’re absolutely right, but if you really want to make a difference, start listening.

But I do care about that father’s response. He felt like I heard him. And I felt like he heard me.

That is the only way out of the puzzle box we are currently in as a country. When I got that father’s first letter, my initial instinct was to be defensive. But we need to embrace complexity.

I still don’t know if we did anything courageous. And it’s not about being nominated for an Emmy. This is our sixth nomination, and we’ve lost every time.

“Dear Brad...I confess that I watched this episode multiple times; each time with increased joy and amazement. From my heart, Brad, I truly thank you... You heard my cry that 'something wasn't right' and you had the courage to change it."

And so, I was proud (and nervous) to eventually share our new episode on Jackie Robinson with him.

This is what he wrote back to me:

Last year (it was four years later since animation takes so long), I wrote back to that father and told him I’d been thinking of him—and that every time I tried to write a proper response, it felt like a lame excuse. He deserved better.

I wanted to tell him how many advisers worked on that episode. Jackie Robinson‘s family worked on that episode. But all that expertise fell short. After we talked to PBS KIDS, they correctly made the decision to pull the episode—and in season two we decided to tackle Jackie Robinson’s story again.

He said he watched our Jackie Robinson episode, but when he considered where the world was, how could he possibly teach his daughter to become a doormat or push-over? When I got that father’s letter, I immediately started crafting a response.

In season one, we created a different episode about Jackie Robinson -- a beautiful story about turning the other cheek. But just before it aired, George Floyd was murdered. Soon after, I got a letter from a concerned father who told me he was trying to raise a strong black daughter.

Featuring art from I AM BILLIE JEAN KING by me and @chriseliopoulos.com. Thanks, @threadless.bsky.social too!

#inspiration #tennis #fashion #fyp #biio

Fur children count too!

I miss you, Dad. So lucky I had you, even with all the crazy.

#dad #dadlife #parenting #son #eulogy #love