IndyKids Voices

Someday You Could Be...Keisha Gilles!

Keisha Gilles is a Haitian American singer, actor, teaching artist, and cabaret performer in New York, N.Y who is currently featured in Aladdin on Broadway. She is also a cast member on the hit children’s series, Ms. Rachel, and has produced many of her own plays and theater projects. IndyKids has the pleasure of interviewing Keisha in October 2025. She talked about her journey to becoming a Broadway performer, what it's like to be a professional actor, challenges she's faced, and more! For more from IndyKids, visit our website! IndyKids.org

Someday You Could Be...A Science Communicator Like Dr. Moiya McTier!

Dr. Moiya McTier [https://www.moiyamctier.com/about] is an astrophysicist, folklorist, author, and science communicator. She has her own podcast, Pale Blue Pod [https://palebluepod.com/], and is the author of the forthcoming book, Mothers of Invention: A History of Creativity from the Greek Muses [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/moiya-mctier/mothers-of-invention/9781538768600/]. Hear all about how she ended up pursuing scientific research and folklore—first at Harvard and then at Columbia—and wound up forging her own career path that blends science and creativity. Dr. McTier also works as a senior advisor to the Human Artistry Campaign, helping to educate policymakers and the public about the risks of generative AI.  Want to know more about IndyKids? Visit us at indykids.org to learn more about how to get our newspaper, our writing workshops, and how you can help! Credits: Edited by Sarah Clapp and Laura Weiss Music by Adrian Moring

The Power of Dance

4th graders from P.S. 117Q in NYC explore the power of dance. They interview Kai Martinez, a professional choreographer, animation consultant and dancer, originally from Queens, NY. In the interview, students learn about Kai's journey to becoming a professional dancer and choreographer and learn what it was like to work on movies like Encanto and Spellbound!   Support IndyKids by visiting us at IndyKids.org [http://www.indykids.org/]. Produced by Em Löwinger Edited by Sarah Clapp Music: Dressed To Party from GMP Music

Meeting a Zooarchaeologist with The Gillen Brewer Interviewers!

The Gillen Brewer Interviewers are back and ready to learn about animals and their relationships with humans across time! In this episode, students from the Gillen Brewer School sit down with zooarchaeologist Evin Grody to uncover ancient animal facts—like whether people had pets 2,000 years ago or if anyone ever rode a zebra! Tune in for this paws-itively fun and fascinating journey through history! About Evin Grody: Evin is an absolute nerd about all things ANIMAL and exploring the ways our lives are so very intertwined! Growing up, she spent most of her time outdoors in the Colorado mountains with the various animals her family had (dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, lizard). This left her with an early and deep understanding of how much animals both shape our lives and are shaped by them.  Evin has conducted fieldwork and museum collections work in the USA, South Africa, Zambia, and Madagascar. Her writing, presentations, and archaeological conversations have covered everything from peer-reviewed journal articles and professional conferences to public library chats, YouTube videos, and podcast chats. Visit IndyKids.org to learn more about our newspaper and our educational programs! This episode was edited by Sarah Clapp.  IndyKids' executive director is Isis Phillips. This episode features the song "Cat Walk" by Roie Shpigler, accessed via Artlist.io.

Phones in Schools with Amy Zimmer from Chalkbeat New York!

IndyKids reporters interview Amy Zimmer, the Bureau Chief of Chalkbeat New York, about phone policies in schools. This discussion dives into different policies, and how the treatment of phone use in schools impacts educators, students, and parents. Read "All About Phones" in our latest issue of the newspaper here: https://indykids.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IndyKids-Issue-89-Winter-2025.pdf [https://indykids.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IndyKids-Issue-89-Winter-2025.pdf] IndyKids is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Get involved or find out how you can support IndyKids here: IndyKids.org [http://www.indykids.org] Stay informed about what's going on in the education sphere in New York and beyond by visiting Chalkbeat's website: https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/ [https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/]