ABF Creative, the award-winning producer of children’s and family podcasts, is proud to announce an innovative “Mini Pods” program in partnership with edtech company SonarCloud.
The initiative, which replaces the traditional school bell with a 60-second educational podcast, is currently used in more than 120 New York City public schools, with plans to expand to Chicago and Los Angeles next school year. What’s more, the program hopes to provide funding for classrooms in underserved communities through future podcast brand partnerships.
The “Mini Pods” project integrates short educational content into daily school activities to improve students’ literacy and participation. The program launched in February and has already had a significant impact, garnering 20 million impressions, averaging nearly 5 million impressions per month. The initiative has received hundreds of positive reviews from educators, highlighting improvements in student literacy and comprehension.
“Podcasts allow students to follow transcripts and improve comprehension and confidence, thereby improving literacy, which is particularly beneficial for English learners,” said Anthony Fraiser, CEO of ABF Creative. “Our partnership with SonarCloud transforms any school PA system into Cloud-enabled devices allow us to bring this innovative educational tool to schools across the country.”
In addition to changing school announcements, “mini pods” also support flexible learning environments and diverse content delivery. With educational podcasts covering a variety of subjects including history, science and literature, students benefit from engaging and flexible learning opportunities that suit different learning styles. The initiative is cost-effective and sustainable, requiring minimal equipment for production and enabling content to be reused over many years.
“Replacing the traditional school bell with educational podcasts is more than just a change in sound, it’s a gateway to ongoing, engaging and interactive learning,” said Jesse Baptiste of SonarCloud. ABF Creative is eager to partner with organizations like AdoptAClassroom.org and DonorsChoose, Donate as part of a Future Brand partnership to fund classrooms in underserved communities.
This initiative demonstrates the potential for podcasts to contribute to education funding, providing much-needed resources to schools in need. Anthony Frasier, who was recently named Innovator of the Year at the ADWEEK Audio Awards, added: “Our goal is to integrate educational narratives into the daily rhythms of school, enriching every learning moment. This initiative reflects the diversity of our community and bodes well for the future. A new era of storytelling, learning, and impactful connections.
For more information about this transformative initiative and partnership opportunities, please visit the website.
