PBS KIDS Isn’t “Just TV.” It’s a Lifeline, and It’s Being Defunded.
After Bedtime with Big Little Feelings
Dear Media and Big Little Feelings
4.5 • 5.8K Ratings
🗓️ 18 February 2026
⏱️ 58 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
PBS KIDS is one of the only places in kids’ media that still feels like it’s made by people who actually like children. It’s the show your kid watches and then… somehow… can still turn the iPad off without acting like you just stole their life force (because their programming is slow paced, based on research enhancing your child's brain rather than rotting it). It’s the content that teaches real skills (letters, math, emotional regulation, empathy) without turning your child into a tiny zombie who can’t look away. And right now? That lifeline is being cut.
This week, Kristin sits down with Sara DeWitt (Senior VP + General Manager of PBS KIDS) for a conversation every parent needs to hear, about what PBS does differently, why it matters for kids’ brains, and what’s at stake after federal funding was cut, including the termination of the Ready To Learn grant that helped fund PBS KIDS’ education and research work.
In this episode, Sara shares:
- Why some kids’ content is designed to be impossible to turn off, and how PBS builds the opposite
- Why “developmentally appropriate” shows are rarer and rarer these days in the media outside of PBS kids
- The real impact of funding cuts (reduced staff, paused research, fewer new shows in the pipeline)
- The magic of Daniel Tiger (yes, we talk about the iconic “beach in the house” moment)
- And the story behind Carl the Collector, PBS KIDS’ first series with an autistic lead character, and why this kind of representation changes kids forever
If you’ve ever felt like PBS KIDS helped you survive early parenthood… if your kid has learned more from Daniel Tiger than from any parenting book on your nightstand… if you’ve been looking at the screen time landscape like “WE ARE NOT OK”… this one’s for you.
How to help (fast + doable):
- Watch PBS KIDS + download the apps (usage matters).
- Donate to your local PBS station (go to PBS.org, enter your ZIP code).
- Tell your story — why PBS matters to your family. Those stories protect this work
This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The following podcast is a Dear Media production. |
| 0:05.6 | Besties, this is such an important episode today. |
| 0:10.0 | I am interviewing Sarah DeWitt, the senior vice president and general manager of PBS Kids. |
| 0:17.6 | PBS Kids. |
| 0:19.1 | I don't know if you are like me, but during the pandemic, when I was pregnant, |
| 0:25.3 | when I had a newborn, PBS Kids, that was my toddler's lifeline. And if you've read anything in |
| 0:33.0 | the news recently, you know that funding has been cut to PBS and PBS Kids is in jeopardy. And I'm like, |
| 0:40.3 | how is this happening? This is the one children's programming that we can all count on. We can all rely on. |
| 0:46.2 | I know my kids can go onto anything on PBS Kids app and it's going to be a safe place for them. |
| 0:52.7 | And here's my daughter telling you how much she loves PBS kids. |
| 0:55.3 | It's amazing! |
| 0:57.0 | Especially because they have a game up. |
| 0:59.3 | And yes, besties, my children are sitting here while I do the intro, because momming never stops. |
| 1:05.1 | So this was one of my favorite conversations. |
| 1:07.5 | Sarah is a wealth of knowledge. |
| 1:09.4 | She knows so much about children's programming. |
| 1:11.7 | It made me feel even stronger that we need to protect PBS kids at all cost. I'm so excited |
| 1:19.7 | for you to hear this conversation. It's not just about funding. It's not just about that part of it. |
| 1:24.5 | It's also about kids programming in general. It's also about screen time and |
| 1:28.8 | how it affects your child's brain and what is good screen time, what is sort of bad screen time. |
| 1:33.3 | And it's very clear that some screen time actually is good for your kids. They actually can learn. |
| 1:39.1 | All right, my little babies, I'm going to take care of you guys. Besties, I'm so excited for you to hear this |
... |
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