Rephonic
Artwork for Fuse 8 n' Kate
Children's Literature
Picture Books
Halloween
Children's Picture Books
Caldecott Award
Max's Dragon Shirt
The Invention Of Hugo Cabret
Fancy Nancy
Moo Ba La La La
Brian Selznick
Chicago
Kevin Henkes
Hanukkah
The Wretched Stone
The Color Kittens
Tooth - Gnasher Superflash
Illustration
Wemberly Worried
Thanksgiving
Finn M'coul

Two sisters, one in L.A. and one in NYC, both move to the Chicago area and start a podcast. The premise? Picture books and are they really that great? Join Kate and Fuse 8 (Betsy Bird) as they track down a picture book "classic" each episode and try to determine if it deserves to remain in the canon of children's literature. Profile image by Andrea Tsurumi

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes406Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Kids & Family

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Artwork for Fuse 8 n' Kate

Latest Episodes

As it turns out, this is the second time we've done a Pat Mora/Raul Colón collaboration. With this book, though, we delve into a moment in children's book publishing history when multi-ethnic tall tales were the name of the game. It's been a while si... more

It's time to bring out the big guns. The big... Australian guns, that is. The last time we did a Mem Fox title on this podcast it had to have been Where Is the Green Sheep? And the last time we did a Julia Vivas? It was probably The Nativity. Put the... more

"I would trust my baby with Amelia Bedelia before I trusted it with Carl." "Well... she does have opposable thumbs." Poor Kate has just survived the ordeal of solo parenting for around a month with a child not yet a year old and still not on solids. ... more

After Passover, before Tax Day, the holiday Betsy decided to discuss today is Easter! Now Kate already met Max and Ruby back in September of 2025 with Max's Dragon Shirt. Betsy thinks it's weird. Kate doesn't. But a chocolate chicken is not a thing. ... more

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Recent Guests

Travis Jonker
Co-host of The Yarn
The Yarn
Episode: Episode 400 - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Colby Sharp
Co-host of The Yarn
The Yarn
Episode: Episode 400 - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Heidi Rabinowitz
Host of The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kid lit
The Book of Life
Episode: Episode - The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes
Berol Dewdney
Sister of Anna Dewdney and co-owner of Llama Llama legacy
Episode: Episode 357 - Llama Llama Red Pajama
Cordelia Dewdney
Sister of Anna Dewdney and co-owner of Llama Llama legacy
Episode: Episode 357 - Llama Llama Red Pajama

Hosts

Betsy Bird
Co-host of Fuse 8 n' Kate
Kate Atienza
Co-host of Fuse 8 n' Kate

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 62 ratings
  • Kids lit podcast

    As a retired children’s librarian and lover of picture books, this podcast is excellent! Love the dynamic between the 2 sisters and besides the breakdown of a picture book per week, I’m always intrigued by the brief segment at the end called Grown-Up Things We Like

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gertie41
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love this podcast!!

    Funny and insightful commentary on picture books!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OhPeaches
    United States3 years ago
  • Calling all children’s librarians!

    As well as teachers, booksellers, librarians and anyone who appreciates a good picture book. I can’t believe I completely missed this podcast till now. It is hilarious, insightful and learned. I have been a children’s librarian long enough that 25 years is well within my career, so it’s illuminating to see a newer perspective. Sometimes I find the criticism of the mores of the time frustrating, but if an older book exists in this world, that’s how it goes. Keep it up Betsy and Kate!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ualagirl
    United States3 years ago
  • A Picture Book Podcast Favorite

    This podcast has become a “must-listen” for me!

    Always charming and funny, they often feature books that I’ve kind of overlooked over the years, given the 20 year old requirement each book has to meet.

    I know of no other picture book review resource that focuses on the illustrations AND the text the way this one does — and I appreciate it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Painting with Podcasts
    United States5 years ago
  • Funny

    Hi Betsy you know me yes you do your daughter is my best friend.

    Yup. This is me Zara. This is so funny so good so AMAZING and just plain great. I love how you describe the books 📚

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I love it so much it's so good
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows love for books while keeping discussions accessible.
A must-listen for librarians and teachers seeking fresh takes on classics.
Engaging, witty banter and deep picture-book insights.

Top Kids & Family Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode - The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes
Q: How long have you been doing the Fuse 8 n Kate podcast? Where did the idea come from?
I wanted to connect more with my sister and maybe see her on a weekly basis. What's a good way to do that? Well, there's podcasting.
Episode - The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes
Q: 20 years ago, what made you want to start doing a podcast?
I was definitely an early adopter. The word podcast was coined in 2004, just the year before I started my podcast.
Episode 350 - When Marian Sang
Q: Thoughts on why children's books usually have kids as main characters?
The hosts agree that while there's a trend to have children as protagonists, adult characters are permitted, especially in non-fiction contexts where biographies come into play.
Episode 325 - little blue and little yellow
Q: How do you feel that Mommy left the main character at home while she went?
This question prompts children to reflect on feelings of loneliness and abandonment while engaging with the story.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Fuse 8 n' Kate

What is Fuse 8 n' Kate about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two sisters explore picture books and their place in the canon, delivering witty banter and thoughtful critique. Across episodes, the show tends to spotlight classic and lesser-known children's books, analyzing storytelling, illustration, and cultural context while leaning on the hosts' contrasting personalities for humor and insight. Noteworthy is the balance of literary analysis with personal anecdotes, plus a strong emphasis on the artwork and authorial intent in picture books, which makes it appealing to librarians, teachers, and parents who enjoy both critique and nostalgia.

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How many listeners does Fuse 8 n' Kate get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Fuse 8 n' Kate?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Fuse 8 n' Kate:

1. The Yarn
2. Sidedoor
3. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
4. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
5. Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch

How many episodes of Fuse 8 n' Kate are there?

Fuse 8 n' Kate launched 9 years ago and published 406 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Fuse 8 n' Kate?

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What guests have appeared on Fuse 8 n' Kate?

Recent guests on Fuse 8 n' Kate include:

1. Travis Jonker
2. Colby Sharp
3. Heidi Rabinowitz
4. Berol Dewdney
5. Cordelia Dewdney

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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