Cocoa for Koko 🐨☕️ with Storypillar 🐛

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[00:00:19] If you loved the time-travelling antics of Potato and Beans in the Wild Wild West, I've got a great new podcast for you. It's called Mysteries About True Histories, and it follows best friends Max and Molly on thrilling time-travelling quests. Using their maths and logic skills, they must outsmart pesky trolls and prevent chaos across space and time. It's full of adventure, clever puzzles, and plenty of fun.

[00:00:48] Can they crack the code before time runs out? Join in on the fun every Thursday to find out. Follow Mysteries About True Histories on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your podcasts.

[00:01:02] Hey parents, I'm Carissa, the host of Sleepwave, a sleep meditation podcast from the creators of Koala Moon. We understand how much you appreciate the bedtime stories on Koala Moon for your little ones.

[00:01:15] But as a mother myself, I know that parents need their relaxation time too. With soothing meditations and nostalgic stories, each episode of Sleepwave is crafted to help busy minds slow down, so you can wake up feeling well-rested tomorrow.

[00:01:32] Each night I'll guide you to sleep with beautiful visualizations and calming journeys, which listeners describe as perfect for drifting off to.

[00:01:41] Not sure where to start with meditation? Try one of my favorite episodes, A Mental Vacation, where I'll lead you through using your imagination to experience the deep relaxation of a holiday without ever leaving your bedroom.

[00:01:56] You can discover Sleepwave on all major podcast platforms. Simply search Sleepwave Sleep Meditations and hit follow so you can easily find the show later tonight.

[00:02:09] Sweet dreams.

[00:02:09] Hey Koala Kids. Today I have something special for you. It's a bit different, but I think you're going to love it.

[00:02:32] It's a collaboration episode with my friend Bean from the Story Pillar podcast, who invited me to do a Beanometer check with her.

[00:02:39] That's when you check in with how you're feeling and work out how to feel better.

[00:02:43] It did me the world of good, and there's even a fun activity for you to do at the end.

[00:02:48] So listen up and learn all about it.

[00:02:55] Hey, it's me, Bean.

[00:02:58] I'm a butterfly.

[00:03:00] I wear a yellow hat.

[00:03:01] And I have a podcast called Story Pillar with my caterpillar brother Sneak.

[00:03:07] Hello, chicken toe.

[00:03:09] His pet giant chicken Sparky.

[00:03:12] And our friend Meg.

[00:03:14] Hey, Story Pillar friends.

[00:03:15] Anyway, it's like December, which means that lots of people are celebrating some pretty amazing holidays right now.

[00:03:24] Uh, are you celebrating anything cool this month?

[00:03:30] Uh, I'm not sure what giant marshmallow snow fort day is, but it kind of sounds amazing.

[00:03:39] Just maybe try not to get squashed by a giant gooey marshmallow?

[00:03:45] Uh, anyway, thanks for joining me for this week's Benometer check.

[00:03:50] Oh, and I actually have a friend here to help me out.

[00:03:53] Um, do you want to say hey?

[00:03:55] Hi, Bean.

[00:03:56] Hi, everyone.

[00:03:57] I'm Abby, host of Koala Moon, a podcast of kids' bedtime stories and meditations made to make bedtime a dream.

[00:04:06] Yeah, you definitely have some pretty great stories.

[00:04:09] Uh, they actually help me fall asleep even when my little brother and his crazy chicken are like running around screaming their faces off.

[00:04:20] Have you ever, like, been to a Benometer check before, Abby?

[00:04:25] No, I haven't. I haven't even done an Abby-o-meter check. Never mind a Bean one.

[00:04:31] Well, like, don't worry at all, because I'll totally guide you through it.

[00:04:35] Um, it's kind of like checking the temperature in the morning, but, like, with feelings.

[00:04:41] Like a weather report? Seeing if your heart's full of stormy clouds or shiny sunshine?

[00:04:47] Yeah, exactly like a weather report.

[00:04:50] And Benometer checks are really good for people like me who don't always know how we're feeling or how to tell other people how we're feeling.

[00:04:59] But, like, anyone can do them.

[00:05:00] I mean, if you've got feelings and, like, a body, you're pretty much set.

[00:05:05] I have a body. And wait, let me check.

[00:05:08] Yep, I have feelings too.

[00:05:11] Well, me too.

[00:05:12] So let's get started with our mind and body check.

[00:05:17] Ready?

[00:05:17] Check.

[00:05:18] Okay, let's close our eyes, deep breath in, and out.

[00:05:27] Okay, Abby, so if you check in with your mind, how does it feel?

[00:05:32] Well, to be honest, Bean, it's pretty cloudy in there.

[00:05:37] Like one of those grey, grey days when you can't see the sun at all.

[00:05:43] It's like it's snowing, like there's a blizzard and the snowflakes are whirling and whirling around, making it hard to see things very clearly.

[00:05:50] Yikes, that doesn't sound fun, like at all.

[00:05:54] Uh, how about if you check in with your arms and legs and wings, uh, if you have wings?

[00:06:01] My wings feel invisible. Guess I don't have any of those.

[00:06:05] My arms feel kind of heavy and gloopy, like overcooked spaghetti.

[00:06:10] Like when you accidentally boil it for like a gabillion minutes and it looks like a bunch of skinny worms covered in glue or something?

[00:06:21] Yeah, like that.

[00:06:22] Hmm, okay, what about if you check in with the rest of your body? Like, how's your stomach feeling?

[00:06:29] Well, kind of jumbly and smushy. Kind of like it's full of stodgy oatmeal, but also somehow empty and gurgly at the same time.

[00:06:39] Oh yeah, I definitely get that bubbly, boily feeling sometimes. Uh, it's not exactly one of my favourites.

[00:06:48] Um, how about if you check in with your heartbeat?

[00:06:51] Hmm, kind of slow and achy, like a sock full of that stodgy oatmeal. Like it's heavy, kind of.

[00:07:00] Okay, so your mind is kind of cloudy and blizzardy. Uh, your body's feeling like a big gluey worm.

[00:07:10] Uh, and your heart feels like it's pumping out an oatmeal sock.

[00:07:14] Um, so I wonder what exactly your benometer check or like I guess it would be your abby-o-meter reading would be today.

[00:07:23] Um, any ideas?

[00:07:25] Well, I have been feeling kind of blue because of my friend Coco.

[00:07:30] Really? Who's Coco?

[00:07:31] He's a koala who lives in Sleepy Forest.

[00:07:34] Got it.

[00:07:34] He's been feeling all left out because there's a big holiday party in Sleepy Forest soon and he can't go.

[00:07:41] Really? Uh, why not?

[00:07:42] Because it's only for grown-ups.

[00:07:44] Oh, poor Coco.

[00:07:46] He sees his dad and grandpa preparing their outfits and shining their shoes and poor Coco can't join in.

[00:07:52] He even has a sequined waistcoat he wants to wear and sometimes he just looks at it in his wardrobe and wishes he could put it on and go to a party.

[00:08:01] Okay, so you like saw your friend feeling left out and then you started feeling sad and like a snowy oatmeal worm?

[00:08:10] Um, yeah, I guess that's right, Bean.

[00:08:12] It is horrible seeing Coco upset.

[00:08:15] He's usually such a ray of sunshine and I feel like there's nothing I can do about it.

[00:08:21] Yeah, I get that. I was like feeling that way about my brother not that long ago actually and I kind of think your abeometer reading is that you're feeling sympathetic.

[00:08:33] Uh, that's like when you see someone you love feeling upset or like left out or whatever and you kind of start to feel it too and want to help them feel better.

[00:08:44] That's it, Bean. Coco's sad and I can't help him and I guess that makes me sad too.

[00:08:49] Uh, which is like one of the worst feelings ever.

[00:08:53] But a few months ago when my brother Sneak and his pet giant chicken Sparky were having the biggest argument in like the entire Galactiverse,

[00:09:04] I drew a picture of them eating like a gooey chocolate ice cream sundae the size of a mountain to like cheer them up or whatever.

[00:09:13] Maybe I could do that for Coco. I could draw something absolutely amazing for him so that he feels better.

[00:09:20] Yeah, that's like exactly what I was gonna suggest. So does Coco have like a favorite food or drink or something?

[00:09:28] Well, he loves hot chocolate with cream and sprinkles and marshmallows and more chocolate and anything you can fit in the mug.

[00:09:37] Maybe I can draw him an extra special towering cup of cocoa.

[00:09:42] Uh, well, I don't really know Coco that well, but a ginormous cup of hot chocolate that barely fits in the mug would like totally cheer me up.

[00:09:53] Oh, and we can call it Coco for Coco. Get it?

[00:09:57] It's perfect!

[00:09:59] Okay, so we'll need some paper.

[00:10:03] And some crayons.

[00:10:05] And let's start with a huge mug that takes up most of the whole page.

[00:10:11] Okay, got it. Um, let's see. Does Coco like marshmallows?

[00:10:16] He adores marshmallows.

[00:10:19] Me too. They're like squishy little sugar pillows and pretty much my favorite thing in the world.

[00:10:26] So we should draw a mountain of marshmallows for Coco, right?

[00:10:29] Definitely. Uh, oh, and what if we draw whipped cream on top of the marshmallow so it looks like a giant sugary snowball, like shooting out of his hot chocolate?

[00:10:42] Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

[00:10:44] Yes, and I think Coco would really love sprinkles and, of course, a cherry on top.

[00:10:51] Okay, here's the red crayon for the cherry.

[00:10:53] Thank you.

[00:10:54] Oh, and like a bajillion different colors for the rainbow sprinkles.

[00:11:00] And maybe we can draw Coco sitting on top with a straw slurping it all up.

[00:11:05] And like with a big smile on his face and maybe sprinkles stuck in his fur.

[00:11:12] Okay, I think we're done. Uh, what do you think?

[00:11:16] Coco will love that and he'll forget all about wanting to be grown up and going to the party.

[00:11:22] It's much better to be a kid on top of a hot chocolate mountain.

[00:11:26] Uh, yeah, like way better.

[00:11:28] Um, thanks for helping out with this benometer check.

[00:11:32] Or I guess it ended up being more like a Coco-ometer check.

[00:11:37] I feel better now. Thank you, Bean.

[00:11:39] Uh, you're like totally welcome.

[00:11:41] Maybe I'll do Bean-ometer checks more often.

[00:11:44] Well, like you, Coco, and all your friends can come back anytime you need to check in with your feelings.

[00:11:51] Or like just want to hang out and draw pictures of giant sugary food with cute bears sitting on top.

[00:11:58] Thank you, Bean.

[00:12:00] Oh, and until next time, sweet dreams.

[00:12:05] Grownups, if you and your kids had fun making a giant cup of cocoa for Coco with Bean and I,

[00:12:10] head to storypillar.com for many more mind and body checks,

[00:12:15] cheeky characters, and great stories from all over the world.

[00:12:19] Grownups, if you and your kids want to add Abby and Coco's super chill,

[00:12:25] super sleepy stories and meditations to your bedtime routine,

[00:12:28] check out Koala Moon wherever you get your podcasts.