About this episode
What if the most influential teacher in a child’s life isn’t a teacher at all—but the stories they choose to watch, over and over again? This is a conversation about the power of storytelling—how it entertains, how it educates, and how, when done with intention, it can shape the values of an entire generation.Aldo de Pape sits down with Aly Jetha at WISE to discuss Big Bad Boo, the children’s media company he founded with his wife.Key Topics:Children don’t separate learning from play. The stories they return to—again and again—shape how they see the world. When done well, entertainment becomes education without resistance.At Big Bad Boo, behind every engaging story lies intentional design: psychologists, educators, and artists working together to embed empathy, resilience, and ethical thinking into narrative. Reaching hundreds of millions of children is not just a distribution challenge—it is a moral one. What we amplify at scale matters.In refugee camps and conflict zones, stories become tools for healing. Content, when paired with curriculum, can reduce trauma and restore a sense of possibility.While academic outcomes are measured rigorously, social-emotional development is often left behind. Yet the data tells a different story—declining happiness, rising bullying, and a growing need for human skills.ReflectionsWhat stories are shaping the next generation—intentionally or not?Where do we outsource education without realizing it?And what responsibility comes with creating at scale?
