PRX, Gen-Z Media and WGBH announce the Molly of Denali podcast, a prequel to the upcoming PBS KIDS series

Boston MA, USA—WGBH Boston — in partnership with public media leader PRX and podcast producer Gen-Z Media — announced the launch date of the MOLLY OF DENALI podcast, a new action-packed adventure for kids rooted in Native storytelling. The podcast will debut on Thursday, May 30 ahead of the premiere of the PBS KIDS series MOLLY OF DENALI on July 15. An audio trailer for the podcast is available now.

At the center of the MOLLY OF DENALI podcast is Alaska Native Molly Mabray, whose 10th birthday is quickly approaching. Molly lives in rural Qyah, a fictional Alaskan town where she helps her mom, Lyla (a bush pilot) and her dad, Walter (a wilderness guide), run the Denali Trading Post. In the podcast, listeners will hear the rollicking story of how Suki (an Alaskan Malamute, equal parts brave and smart) charged into Molly’s life and became a part of her family, which all started when Molly’s birthday cake went missing. In the first episode, Molly sets out to solve the case of the missing cake with the help of a mysterious raven.

After the first two episodes of the MOLLY OF DENALI podcast are released on Thursday, May 30, a new episode will be released every Thursday through July 11 on mollyofdenalipodcast.org or your favorite podcast a

The eight-part podcast is a prequel to the PBS KIDS animated series, MOLLY OF DENALI, debuting on Monday, July 15 on PBS stations, the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and PBS KIDS digital platforms. Funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the series is the first nationally distributed kids’ show in the U.S. to feature a Native American lead. All Indigenous characters are voiced by Indigenous actors, including Molly, voiced by Alaska Native, Sovereign Bill.

The MOLLY OF DENALI series and podcast feature Alaska Native voices in all aspects of production, including story development and creative direction. The theme song, which is featured in the PBS KIDS series and podcast, is sung by members of the Yupik Alaska Native band Pamyua, with music from Gwich’in fiddler Brennan Firth.

“Alaska Native kids and families will hear themselves represented in MOLLY OF DENALI,” said Dorothea Gillim, Executive Producer of MOLLY OF DENALI at WGBH Boston. “The podcast, like the TV series, emphasizes important Alaska Native values, including respecting others, sharing, and honoring elders, while providing kids with empowering role models.”

“Public media is at its best when we delight, inform and inspire,” said Kerri Hoffman, CEO of PRX. “WGBH and Gen-Z Media tell powerful stories that do just that every day. We’re excited to partner with them to introduce Molly and her world to our newest listeners.”

About PRX

PRX seeks to build a public media company focused on the next generation of creative talent, across broadcast and audio on demand, to serve listeners who demand the highest-quality content that represents the voices and people across diverse and nuanced communities. PRX programming has been recognized with numerous awards, including two 2018 Peabody Award for Reveal, from the Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, and four 2019 Webby Awards. PRX reaches an audience of more than 28 million listeners each month across broadcast and web, and more than 58 million monthly podcast downloads. More info at prx.org.

About WGBH

WGBH Boston is America’s preeminent public broadcaster and the largest producer of PBS content for TV and the Web, including Frontline, Nova, American Experience, Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow, Arthur and more than a dozen other prime-time, lifestyle, and children’s series. WGBH also is a major supplier of programming for public radio, and co-producer with Public Radio International (PRI) of PRI’s The World. As a leader in educational multimedia for the classroom, WGBH supplies content to PBS LearningMedia, a national broadband service for teachers and students. WGBH also is a pioneer in technologies and services that make media accessible to those with hearing or visual impairments. WGBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors, including Emmys, Peabodys, duPont-Columbia Awards and Oscars. More info at wgbh.org.

About Gen-Z Media

Gen-Z Media produces fun, exciting scripted podcasts with high production values and unique stories, featuring real kids playing the lead roles and entertaining for the whole family. Gen-Z founders, Ben Strouse, David Kreizman, and Chris Tarry, co-creators of the Peabody award-winning podcast The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel, are committed to producing stories that are as relatable as they are surprising, filled with twists and turns and humor and heart.

About PBS KIDS

PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers children ages 2-8 the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital media and community-based programs. PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support the entire ecosystem in which children learn, including their teachers, parents and community. Provided by stations, the free PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream is available to more than 95% of U.S. TV households. Kidscreen- and Webby Award-winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including digital games and streaming video. PBS KIDS offers mobile apps to help support young children’s learning, including the PBS KIDS Video app, which is available on a variety of mobile devices and on platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Chromecast. PBS KIDS also offers parent and teacher resources to support children’s learning anytime and anywhere. For more information on PBS KIDS content and initiatives supporting school readiness and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.