By Southwester Staff
Longtime Southwest resident Kitty Felde recently announced the debut of Season 2 of her popular podcast for kids: The Fina Mendoza Mysteries. The podcast is based on the book, State of the Union, in which a mysterious bird poops on the head of the president during the State of the Union address. Can Fina Mendoza, the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, outsmart the Secret Service, the Capitol Police, and most of Capitol Hill and find that bird to learn its secret message?
Season 2 begins on May 3. The 18-episode podcast includes a massive snowstorm, a congressional battle over immigration reform, and a family battle when Fina’s grandmother is nearly arrested at an immigration protest outside the U.S. Capitol. In addition, Ken Rudin, who is a National Public Radio (NPR) veteran political pundit and host of Ken Rudin’s Political Junkie, plays himself in an episode of Season 2. Other notables who are included in the new season include actor Garrett Brown (Sisters), actress Christine Avila (Mayans and Pretty Little Liars), NPR reporter Steven Cuevas, and the House Chaplain from the U.S. House of Representatives.
In addition, a 56-page teacher’s guide is available for State of the Union. The books and podcast are designed to introduce civics education to elementary school students. The podcast is free and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.
Felde is also the host of the free podcast, Book Club for Kids, which is a sponsor of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly (SWNA). To learn more about that affiliation, or to donate to SWNA, visit https://www.mightycause.com/story/Cm09we.