Hate is not nature, but nurtured. The Culture Kids Podcast is on a mission to make a multicultural perspective the default for the next generation.

Hosted by a dynamic mother-son duo—Producer Kristen Kim and her 7-year-old son Asher—each episode delves into diverse cultures and their unique practices with the goal of combatting hate. Their expert use of audio to start building an inclusive world earned their podcast a Webby Award during last year’s competition.

In our new series, How Good Ideas Thrive, we’re looking at how Webby Award-winning ideas came to be. We spoke with Kim to unpack her work of bridging cultures through audio and what it takes to grab the industry’s attention as an indie creator.

What inspired the idea behind your project? Why drove you to bring it to life?  

Culture Kids was born from my passion to celebrate the beauty of diversity, individuality, and belonging, shaped by my experiences growing up as a Korean American immigrant. During my childhood years, I often found myself navigating the awkward divide between two cultures, feeling the pressure to hide my heritage in order to fit in. Those early experiences of exclusion and balancing dual identities have stayed with me, and as a parent, they’ve fueled my determination to create a different reality for my children.

Unfortunately, even today, I often hear from parents in various communities about their young children experiencing microaggressions, bullying, and feeling “conditionally accepted”–as early as kindergarten.

Inspired by “The Compound Effect” by Darren Hardy, which emphasizes how small, consistent actions can lead to significant results over time, Culture Kids was built on the same belief that if we educate children from a young age about the beauty of our diverse world, we create a foundation where diversity is embraced as a source of creativity, empathy, and mutual growth.

Culture Kids was created to help break these cycles we see today by nurturing curiosity, inspiring adventure, and encouraging children to appreciate both their own identities and the differences that make our world vibrant, collaborative, and peaceful. From exploring cultural holidays to learning about how different families around the world enjoy their hamburgers, our goal is for children to build friendships that bridge communities and foster understanding, ultimately creating a generation that embraces diversity with open hearts and minds. If we can truly accomplish this through our show, what kind of a future can we create for our children?

What helped your idea flourish? How did you develop your idea from its blueprints to the final form? 

My background in TV production and formal training in classical music composition provided the technical foundation for Culture Kids, but it was the collaborative spirit and community support that truly shapes our show. One of the most impactful aspects of the podcast has been our collaborations with various cultural organizations, educators and community leaders.

Our episode with the Sikh Coalition was a long time in the making, sparked by a personal experience during a family vacation when my son met a Sikh child wearing a patka. Their friendship led us to explore more about the significance of wearing a patka, and through our research, we were saddened to learn that many Sikh children face bullying, exclusion, and misunderstanding in their classrooms. These stories, along with the historical struggles the Sikh community has endured, deeply influenced the direction of the episode with their Education team. Working with them on the episode was both eye-opening and transformative, and I am incredibly grateful for their partnership and the wealth of knowledge they shared with us.

What’s vital in your creative process? What’s a unique strategy or practice that you employ to create out-of-the-box work?

As Andrew Carnegie eloquently articulated, “My heart is in my work.” This quote resonates deeply with my creative process, emphasizing the powerful impact of creating with pure intentions and authenticity from the heart. When we create art to make the world a better place for all of humanity, we harness a powerful energy that cannot be silenced or oppressed by any external forces. 

At Culture Kids, a fundamental mindset that drives every episode is our deep love for all children, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or what they believe in. I hope the warmth, care, and understanding we bring to each episode will continue to be the heartbeat of Culture Kids, helping all children feel seen and celebrated.

We also focus on asking questions in our episodes that people are often uncomfortable or shy about addressing. By framing these questions through a child’s curiosity, we create a safe space where listeners can learn about important cultural topics in an open, non-judgmental way.

Beyond algorithmic success, what does it take for an idea to create a lasting mark on the Internet?

As an independent podcaster, I quickly realized that the creative process is far more mental than technical—90% of it is rooted in mindset, while only 10% is in actual execution. It can often feel overwhelming, particularly when you’re working without the support of a large team. Developing an original idea and putting it out into the world takes incredible courage, especially in today’s environment where criticism is swift and sometimes harsh.

Maintaining the mental strength to push through self-doubt requires consistent courage. It’s about believing in your vision and having the courage to stay true to it, even when external feedback or the fear of rejection might hold you back.

I also believe trusting your initial gut feeling about creative direction is key. Many times, I’ve received suggestions to take my episodes in a different direction, but the episodes where we remained most true to the vision of our guests, cultural organizations and their communities have been the most successful. Authenticity and voices of communities always wins, and it’s this combination of inner conviction and collaboration that helps creative projects leave a lasting mark.

What happened after your Webby Award? What impact did your win have on your work and team? 

Being nominated for a Webby and winning the following year was truly a life-changing experience. What started as a passion project between my 7-year-old son and me has evolved far beyond our initial vision. More than just validation, the Webby win opened doors for us, giving us the opportunity to book inspiring guests and collaborate with cultural organizations I once only dreamed of working with.

Having spent years working at major TV networks and seeing their shows win, I never imagined that one day, as a mother of two young children, I would win one of my own for a project we created as a family in our tiny NYC bedroom. The experience has been humbling and empowering, proving that creativity and purpose can flourish in unexpected ways, even when the timing feels uncertain.

Now that Culture Kids is a nonprofit organization, our vision is expansive and we welcome support for our mission. We aim to reach more families worldwide, and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunities that have come our way, thanks to the Webbys.

This Friday is Your Last Chance to Enter The Webby Awards with Best Pricing

Anyone can win a Webby Award. From independent creators to global brands, the only requirement is to do great work. We’re expanding the breadth of work we honor by introducing brand new categories for Best Indie Podcast, Limited-Series & Specials and Individual Episode—plus, an all-new dedicated suite of recognitions honoring Creators!

Don’t run out of time to put your work in the competition with best pricing. Submit your work before the Early Entry Deadline this Friday, Oct. 25th!