Don't Let Anyone Dim Your Light: Emmy-Winning TV Host, Author, and Entrepreneur Markette Sheppard

10/26/22 • 41 min

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Markette Sheppard joins us on the podcast to talk about finding your light, shining your light, and not allowing anyone to tell you to dim your light. Along the way, we talk about her best-selling children's books (My Rainy Day Rocket Ship, What Is Light? and the upcoming Ninja Nate) and Alphabet in a Flash, the multicultural ABC flash cards for early childhood learners she created that will soon inspire a children's television series. As a TV host, Markette won an Emmy award for her role as host and moderator of a morning show in Washington, DC. She is the host and creator of The Glow Girl’s Guide to Life, a 12-part social media series on Glow Steam TV. Join us for a conversation about the importance of representation and of shining your light and building connections.

[00:33] Are You Ready To Blast Off Into A World of Imagination and STEAM? We discuss the inspiration for My Rainy Day Rocket Ship.

[04:21] Don't Let Anyone Dim Your Light -- Markette's first book What Is Light? and the power of seeing yourself portrayed accurately in books.

[05:34] There's an energy that we all emit. It's just a warmth and a feeling that people have. And I want children of the world to know you have a light inside of you. Do not let anyone dim that light.

[06:58] The Power of Children's Picture Books and Images In Shining Light

[07:52] The creation and marketing of multicultural ABC cards "When kids go to preschool, the first thing they learn is their ABCs, right? And so I wanted to make sure that they were learning in an environment with pictures and images and words that said, I see you. I hear you. I love you. And there isn't any talk about race or any cultural divide. It's just representation."

[11:20] The Power of Storytelling in Different Mediums

[14:53] From Television and Radio to the World of Entrepreneurship

[19:21] The Power of Connections

[24:15] Childhood

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[00:33] Are You Ready To Blast Off Into A World of Imagination and STEAM? We discuss the inspiration for My Rainy Day Rocket Ship.

[04:21] Don't Let Anyone Dim Your Light -- Markette's first book What Is Light? and the power of seeing yourself portrayed accurately in books.

[06:58] The Power of Children's Picture Books and Images In Shining Light

[11:20] The Power of Storytelling in Different Mediums

[14:53] From Television and Radio to the World of Entrepreneurship

[19:21] The Power of Connections

[24:15] Childhood

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast laun
Start for FREE
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Previous Episode

Lights in the Darkness: Adventures with Legacy Award-Winning Author and Illustrator Grace Lin

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Children's picture books are one of our greatest treasures! Grace Lin won the American Library Association's Legacy Award this year and has been a persistent advocate for diversity and representation on children's book shelves, in libraries and classrooms, and even in museum exhibits. Her beautiful books draw on her Asian American heritage to reweave myths and folk literature, to share stories of families engaged in every day life, and to lift and inspire children and adults everywhere. Join us as we talk about the importance of diverse picture books, Grace's Legacy Award speech, fighting book banning, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, and the joy of creating and building connections.

Follow the show notes for a chance to win an autographed poster of Grace's One Hundred Years of the Newbery Award print. Entries must be received by 11/9/22.
[00:56] In Grace's 2016 TEDx Talk she recounted how it felt to grow up to never see yourself reflected in a book.
[02:41] How Grace's The Seven Chinese Sisters provided a window for one of my college students: “When I looked at this book, I started to cry.”
[6:58] Past Person, Present Person, Or Future Person? What Inspires Writing?
[08:16] A sneak peek at Chinese Menu (fall 2023).
[10:25] Where the Mountain Meets the Moon[12:54] The Wizard of Oz, Olive Lake, and how folk tales adapt and change.
[17:10] Winning the ALA Legacy Award "We are the lights that the world needs when everything has gone dark."
[24:02] Keeping the Lights On Amidst a Climate of Book Banning
[26:05] Pen America town hall strategies for combating book banning challenges [32:47] Taking Action Through Art -- the process behind the Newbery Centennial Horn Book Cover and its after-life as a print benefitting everylibrary.org[37:01] Beard licking, book signings, and curating special exhibits at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art[38:23] Asians, Everyday
[41:09] Once Upon a Book (co-written with Kate Messner)
[44:17] Book Friends Forever

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Putting the A in STEAM -- Actor and Activist Gavin Lodge's Adventures in Learning

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Gavin Lodge -- Broadway actor, small business entrepreneur, TikTok influencer, and Executive Director of the American Alliance of Artists and Audiences -- dishes on the importance of the arts, activism, and education. He also shares some of his favorite diverse LGBTQ friendly picture books that speak to the power of identity and family love.
Gavin and I go way back (we were practically kids) when we performed together in TriArts Sharon Playhouse's production of The Music Man. He was the dynamic Harold Hill and I picked a little and talked a lot. Backstage, we became friends in the kind of friendship that endures. Over the years, we've talked politics, literature, raising kids. And it's been so much fun to be a part of his journey from the Broadway stage to launching his own business, to become a social media influencer, and now, most recently the Executive Director of 4A, the American Alliance of Artists and Audiences. In the conversation that follows, we explore the importance of the arts as part of STEAM education and as an important aspect of American society. We also delve deeply into picture books that help foster positive images of LGBTQ families and children. And there's a lot of laughter as well.

[01:37] What is 4A Arts, the American Alliance of Artists and Audiences?

[05:36] Connecting the A in STEAM (That's Arts)

[07:32] Adventures in Learning: Gavin's Journey from Broadway to 4A Arts Executive Director

[11:02] Gavin has established a successful social media presence on TikTok and has created an entertaining and thought provoking parenting blog, which I highly recommend. In addition, he launched the ECKnox brand. He's been sharing very openly his adventures as a dad since Ellison was born. I asked him to share a little more about the business and the other side of his artistic life.

[17:18] Force Feeding Culture? Or Strategies for Promoting Playful Learning

[20:07] Diverse LGBTQ-Friendly Picture Books That Speak to the Power of Identity and Family Love. Seriously check this section out. There is a lot of power and goodness embedded here.

[32:40] Advice for Our Kids: Applying Our Adventures In Learning
For pictures, book recommendations, and more, check out the full show notes.

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Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning - Don't Let Anyone Dim Your Light: Emmy-Winning TV Host, Author, and Entrepreneur Markette Sheppard

Transcript

If you want the full show notes, including pictures and annotations, click here.
[00:01] Dr. Diane: Wonder, curiosity, connection. Where will your adventures take you? I'm Dr. Diane, and thank you for joining me on today's episode of Adventures In Learning. Hi. Welcome to the Adventures In Learning podcast. I'm Dr