From the creators of the award-winning podcast Out There

ONCE UPON A MEADOW features fictional stories about a community of creatures who must find ways to live in harmony, despite their differences.

Geared toward 4- to 9-year-olds, the podcast explores themes of environmental and social justice.

Each story is interwoven with original music, and episodes end with young listeners sharing their thoughts about the story’s message.

The Production Team

  • Jeff Lockwood

    WRITER & NARRATOR (he/him)

    Jeff is a writer, ecologist and professor of natural sciences and humanities at the University of Wyoming. He’s published numerous books, essays, and even operas, and he loves making up bedtime stories with animal characters.

  • Willow Belden

    EDITOR & PRODUCER (she/her)

    Willow is an award-winning journalist and creator of Out There, an internationally recognized podcast that explores big questions through intimate stories outdoors. She loves hiking, nordic skiing, and long, introspective conversations.

  • Nadav Amir-Himmel

    COMPOSER & PERFORMER (he/him)

    Nadav is an internationally acclaimed pianist and composer based in Israel. His work has received dozens of awards, has been commissioned and performed around the world, and has been streamed millions of times on Spotify.

Story Consultants

Our consultants were key players in the story development process, helping us make each tale more inclusive with regard to race, ethnicity, and gender.

  • Tracey Owens Patton

    she/her

    Tracey is a professor of Rhetoric and Critical Cultural & Mediated Studies at the University of Wyoming. She has presented at nearly 80 academic conferences, and her work has appeared in numerous books and journals.

  • Melvin Arthur

    he/him

    Melvin Arthur is the Director of Education Excellence for the Wind River Indian Reservation’s community healthcare system. He is an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho tribe and advocates for learning the historical narrative of Indigenous peoples.

  • Forrest Wood

    they/them

    Forrest is a writer, podcaster, outdoor enthusiast, and advocate for the intersection of queer and environmental justice. They work year round at a YMCA Summer Camp, upgrading facilities for improved sustainability.

Arts & Activities

  • Gracie Canaan

    ILLUSTRATOR she/her

    Gracie is a California-born, Brooklyn-based, RISD-grown illustrator, graphic designer, and motion designer. She works in industries ranging from audio, to editorial, to food & beverage. Her muse for her playful and colorful style is her cat, Engine.

  • Cara Schaefer

    ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR she/her

    Cara is an environmental educator and outdoor interpreter living in Reno, Nevada. She's pursuing her master’s degree in biology, and when she's not writing papers, you can find her exploring trails, birdwatching, reading, or baking.

Marketing

  • Tara Hutson

    MARKETING COORDINATOR she/her

    Tara is a children’s librarian and branch manager for a library in central Ohio. She’s an avid bird watcher, a board member for Ohio Nature Education, and she enjoys reading, CrossFit, and being an aunt.

  • Sheeba Joseph

    MARKETING ADVISOR she/her

    Sheeba is the Audience Growth Director for Out There Podcast and a producer and marketing strategist at Campside Media in NYC. She was inspired to work on a children’s podcast through her love for her nieces.

Focus Group

Focus group members provided inspiration and feedback on everything from the stories’ edutainment qualities to age-appropriate activities we could offer our audience.

  • Charlotte Czerw

    she/they

    Charlotte is an early childhood educator/researcher and certified Holistic Doula in New York. She is a life-long learner, play advocate and parent, and she loves theatre and climbing trees.

  • Thomas Lee

    he/him

    If Thomas could have one superpower, it would be flying while invisible. (That’s actually two superpowers, but why place constraints on imagination?) Thomas lives in central California with his wife and two daughters.

  • Camellia Moses Okpodu

    she/her

    Camellia is a plant biochemist with more than 25 years of experience in higher education. A former Dean at both the University of Wyoming and Xavier University of Louisiana, she has been celebrated by numerous awards and distinctions.

  • Ashley White

    he/him

    Ashley is an avid fisherman, lover of kayaking and backpacking, and father of four. He’s committed to instilling a love of nature into his children, and he’s also an ambassador for Out There Podcast.

  • Jill Woltkamp

    she/her

    Jill loves turning pieces into something — be it marketing campaigns, elaborate meals, home design, themed events, running challenges, or crafts. Jill lives in Laramie, WY with her husband, two children, and dog.

Once Upon a Meadow is funded by

Additional support from an anonymous donor.

Special thanks to the Wyoming Outdoor Council for serving as our fiscal sponsor.