100% Handmade Kids TV

Just hours after getting laid-off, the idea for a kids' show, "Show Me Howie," came to me!

Filming the intro to the first episode of “Show Me Howie’ in our bedroom turned studio.

I was unexpectedly laid off in mid-November last year. Long walks in the Panhandle of Golden Gate Park have always been how I return to center. Striding towards my new reality, just an hour after getting the news, an idea for a kids' show, "Show Me Howie," came to me. I imagined a puppet named Howie, meeting creative people and just having fun.

Having worked a decade in TV production, creating educational content for adults, my dream has always been to pivot towards kids' content. In my YA memoir "Bear Boy" I share the impact of 1990s Nickelodeon on my youth—a refuge from suburban bullying. Now, with some free time, I’ve decided to contribute to a medium that once provided solace and one desperately in need of a glow-up.

I can count on one hand the shows I truly feel comfortable with my kids watching. Instead, I’d need a few peoples hands to count the shows we actually watch. My compromise is that we watch them together—giving me a chance to analyze characters, dissect plot lines, and highlight things that don’t align with our values.

Not long after the idea for "Howie" came to me, I began plotting the format. Ideas flowed easily, but the prospect of handling everything alone was overwhelming. Unlike my past work with a large team, I’d have to tackle this production alone. I was daunted by the challenges of playing set designer, camera person, TV host, puppeteer, and motion designer.

Taking a breath, I realized that without a full-time job, this was not only an opportunity to step out of my creative comfort zone but chance to bring my dream to life — inviting young viewers to immerse themselves, experience new perspectives, and connect with their grown-ups through commercial free made media.

After getting real about what it would take to create Howie, I committed to embracing the imperfections of the creative process and making that part of the show. I decided I could do most things but decided that Howie’s creation should be left to the professionals. Amazingly, a puppeteer from a small village in Transylvania materialized, delivering Howie in a tiny box days before Christmas, delighting my kids.

Check out the first episode here:

With tight finances, Howie's world emerged from recycled cardboard and children's paint. While my kids slept, late-night sessions creating 3D set pieces fulfilled a longing to work with my hands, slowly helping me overcome my fear of the messiness of paint.

Howie set and video transitions are all made of recycled cardboard, water based spray paint, tempura paint and hot glue.

As Howie's world took shape, his first guest,

Cody Cook-Parrott

, agreed to join. We had become close working together at Skillshare, and after I was laid off, I had a creative session with them. “I want to be on the Howie show," Cody told me, and there it was, this idea was quickly becoming real.

During our filming, challenges arose. Tech issues, first-time puppeteering, and the biggest—staying present with Cody while I played all the different technical roles. Luckily, we had a few good laughs, a fab dance session and despite all the issues, the essence of fun and playfulness was captured.

There was a moment I panicked about being the voice of Howie, after sharing a short clip it with a few friends. Am I going to humiliate myself making a puppet show? Then I shared this unedited clip of Howie struggling to say his full name with my kids:

Witnessing their uproarious laughter at Howie's antics shocked me at first. Did I actually make something that my kids would enjoy? I was honestly mesmerized by their response. They didn't know it, but in a split second, seeing their little faces light up gave me the boost I needed. As they laughed, they affirmed the worthiness of this adventure, fueling my excitement about creating a show capable of making them and maybe others ask “When will the next ‘Howie’ episode drop?”

Now, on the cusp of launch, I find myself immersed in crafting cardboard motion graphics, spray painting DIY green screens, getting help to film from my brother-in-law. I can get lost in my thoughts, contemplating the future of this project and the state of kids' media.

On my morning walks, I daydream of a fully-fledged media network for kids, free from commercials and corporate overlords. I hope to create something that becomes a beacon of authenticity in an era of corporate consolidation.

The title sequence for “Show Me Howie”

For now, I forge ahead, creating one "Show Me Howie" episode at a time—a perfectly imperfect show with the simple hope of inspiring my kids and hopefully more, each episode being a step into a whimsical world where imagination, emotional intelligence and laughter reign.