Hey, howdy, and hippopotamus high-fives, Macaroni Parents! If your family is anything like ours, bedtime is a STRUGGLE! After many attempts with singing, reading, night sky projectors, and rocking my kids to sleep (yes, even my 4-year-old), I FINALLY found the perfect way to send my littles off to dreamland…in a PODCAST! Hosted by Dougie Pickles and his furry friend, Meow Meow, Cozy Critters is an educational podcast that uses soothing music, breathing techniques, and just the right amount of imagination to take you on a different journey every week!
With over 250,000 plays worldwide in just a couple short months, I decided to see if I could catch up with my old friend and Cozy Critters host, Dougie Pickles, to get the inside scoop! So close your eyes and “here…we…go!”
Hey Dougie Pickles, this is your long—but not lost—friend Dana Dudley! I am so thrilled to have you with us here at Macaroni KID - Maryville! I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview and giving us the low down on all things Cozy Critters! So, first thing’s first: What is Cozy Critters?
It’s so great to reconnect with you, Dana! Thanks so much for having me. With Cozy Critters, listeners go on a magical bedtime adventure with me, Dougie Pickles, and my kitten co-host, Miss Meow Meow, as we visit the world's coziest critters and learn about their day. It's fun. It's quirky. It's educational. And best of all, it eases parents' stress during two daily hurdles: nap time and bedtime.
How can we tune in to listen to Cozy Critters?
Cozy Critters is available wherever you listen to podcasts. Here’s a link for a handful of popular podcast apps. It’s also available on YouTube, and if you’d like to watch short clips of animals paired with moments from the show, you can follow us on TikTok.
Choosing to make an educational podcast that includes breathing techniques and soothing music is genius, and truly very helpful in our household! How did you come up with the idea to combine these techniques? Was Cozy Critters always intended to be a bedtime podcast, or did the calming effects come in later?
A few years ago, I discovered meditation through the Headspace app. It changed my life. I wanted to bring pieces of that practice—specifically mindfulness and breathing as a relaxation exercise—to a younger audience.
When it comes to music, I’ve been producing podcasts for about four years now and one of my favorite things is selecting music that helps create an environment for the story at hand. In the case of Cozy Critters, it’s all about tapping into a two-phase approach. The first phase is “Oh, that’s nice music” where the listener’s attention is piqued, but the stimulus is low. The second phase is the impact of the soothing music, aka “I feel like closing my eyes.”
Cozy Critters was always intended to be a kids’ sleep podcast. I created the show about four years ago, and the structure of the show has remained mostly intact.
What were you like as a child?
Curious. Playful. Experimental. I loved puzzles and animals and creating my own science experiments. For the longest time, I wanted to be a marine biologist so I could live by the ocean and swim with sharks. That dream evolved a bit over the years, but my fascination with wildlife never changed.
Did you have trouble settling down for the evening when you were younger?
I have three brothers, so when our parents put us to bed it was time to sneak into each other’s rooms and cause a bit of mischief. If I had something like Cozy Critters when I was a kid, I think I’d be fast asleep long before it was time to creepthrough the halls.
Did you always see children as your audience?
Absolutely. I have such a fondness for my own childhood. I think part of me writing kids stories, and now producing Cozy Critters, is to keep that child-like wonder that’s still inside me alive. It’s an important part of how I see the world, a lens through which anything is possible. I want to nurture that in our younger generation.
If you had to choose one critter, what would be your favorite? And why?
That’s such a tough question! I’d say sharks. They’re not the cuddliest animal, but there’s a mystery about them, a power and beauty that’s always intrigued me.
If you had to describe yourself as a critter, which would it be? And why?
I’d be a harbor seal. I love the ocean and my default state of mind is playful. Plus, I love seafood.
What is something surprising you’ve learned on this podcast journey?
Understanding why someone says “no.” I pitched Cozy Critters around for years and kept getting “no” time and time again. It became deflating. But when I started to understand why distributors were saying no—they loved the show but didn’t know how to monetize it—I realized that “no” was an opportunity to solve a bigger issue at play in the kids’ podcasting space.
My son, Wyatt, is 4 years old and doesn’t know what you look like but tells me daily that he wants to “be just like Dougie Pickles!” Do you have any suggestions on how to get kids involved in your line of work—whether it be the study of animals or getting in on the podcast game?
First off, that’s such an honor! Here’s something I’ve learned that Wyatt and other kids his age will likely do naturally: Be a sponge. Soak up as much as you can about animals, podcasting, or whatever you love. YouTube is an incredible and free resource to learn anything and everything. The more you know about it, the deeper the love will grow. When you truly love a topic or activity, anything is possible.
I love that you did an entire month of “spooky critters”! Do you have anything lined up for the rest of the holiday season?
At the moment, there’s nothing season-specific lined up. However, there are some surprises planned. That’s all I’ll say about that J
If kids wanted to learn about a specific critter from Dougie Pickles and Meow Meow, can they do that?
Miss Meow Meow and I love animal requests! Send your requests to the Cozy Critters Facebook Page or TikTok page.Have a grown-up record audio of your request and we’ll include it in the episode!
Are there plans for merchandising? I know some kids who would absolutely adore and be proud to advertise any sort of Cozy Critter paraphernalia!
There’s a lot! Stickers, stuffed animals, pajamas, backpacks, toys, multiple book series—you name it! In fact, some amazing great horned owl glitter stickers just arrived at my house. Let’s do a giveaway!
If you’re one of the first 20 people to message the Cozy Critters Facebook Page, I’ll send your young one a handwritten letter from Miss Meow Meow and myself, and include some of those fancy shmancy new stickers.
Because Cozy Critters doesn’t have ads and is independently produced just by me, I don’t make any money off the show. So selling merchandise will help keep the show alive for years to come.
Where do you see Cozy Critters heading in the future?
I’d love to do live shows, almost a theater production. I’m still fleshing out the idea in my head, but I think kids and parents would both have a wonderful time. There are a handful of other ideas in the works. Once those come to fruition, you and the Macaroni Kids will be the first to know!
Dougie, do you have any questions or comments for Macaroni KID-Maryville or our readers?!
I’m curious what animals you’d like to learn more about and go on an adventure to visit! I mentioned this earlier but it’s worth repeating: Send your requests to the Cozy Critters Facebook Page or TikTok page. Have a grown-up record audio of your request and we’ll include it in the episode!
Thank you again for taking the time to talk to us! tune in to catch new episodes of Cozy Critters every week on your favorite podcast player!
It was a joy, thank you so much for having me!
