Fifth Grader Turns Orca Encounters Into Ocean Learning for Kids

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - A Santa Barbara fifth grader is turning her fascination with orcas into something other kids and families can experience.

Ten-year-old Malia Westheimer is the voice behind Kiko, a curious young orca at the center of the new children’s podcast “SuperPod Kids.”

From a home studio in Santa Barbara, Malia and her father, film and television composer Cody Westheimer, are bringing Kiko’s underwater world to life through storytelling, music and sound.

“She tries new things. She’s the main character and she learned stuff,” Malia said.

The father-daughter duo created “SuperPod Kids” together, drawing partly from Malia’s own childhood adventures and experiences.

“It’s about a young orca named Kiko, who is loosely based on Malia and her childhood adventures and the kind of developmental milestones she’s navigated,” Cody said.

Malia helped shape the characters and performs in the series. Cody writes, directs and builds the music and sound around them, turning their ideas into an ocean adventure for young listeners.

The stories follow Kiko as she navigates friendship, fear, family and belonging while introducing children to the ocean and the animals that live there.

“My hope is that families can find some joy in listening, but also learn some emotional lessons,” Cody said.

The podcast is geared toward young children and also includes activity materials and guides designed to help parents and teachers continue conversations beyond each episode.

For Malia, the hope is that Kiko’s adventures encourage other children to explore their own interests and ideas.

“My hope is that they hear this story, get inspired and tell other people,” she said.

The first season of “SuperPod Kids” is available now.

Learn more about the podcast, activity books and parent and teacher resources at superpodkids.com.

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