Exclusive: My Love for Japan Started Through Cartoon Shows Like Doraemon and Shin Chan, Says Samarth Chitta

Samarth Chitta is an 11-year-old student in Grade 5 at The International School, Bangalore. He started a weekly podcast called Kidacity in 2021, and it completed 100 episodes on 15th April 23. The podcast is a talk show to help his young listeners learn, share and grow. Over the last 100 episodes, he has covered topics across science, book reviews, geography, Yoga, pet care, Indian Shlokas and more. He has also published two books - The Walking Talking Tree and Konnichiwa Izumi: Adventures in 2040. Samarth published his first book when he was 7 years old in 2019. The book The Talking Walking Tree was a collection of Samarth's original short stories and poems. He published his second book at the age of 9 yrs in 2021. 

Let's dive into his podcasting journey and explore what inspired him to start, his favourite moments, and how he came up with content ideas.

Here are the edited excerpts from the exclusive interaction:

Congratulations on completing 100 episodes of Kidacity! What inspired you to start a podcast, and how has the experience been so far?

Thank You. I started my podcast Kidacity during the lockdown in 2020. I was at home like most of my friends and other people, and I happened to listen to podcasts that my parents were listening to. It was pretty interesting as they did not have to be looking at a screen at all times. I also decided to try it, and that is how my journey started. The experience has been quite incredible, and I'm very happy that with the help of my parents, I've kept the podcast going for three years now.

What are some of the most memorable moments from your podcasting journey, and which episodes were your favourites to record?

The journey has been memorable, but speaking with The Habit Coach Mr Ashdin Doctor as a part of my 100-episode milestone was special. I looked back at my entire journey, the lessons I've learned and many other aspects of that conversation. It was also my first time being interviewed. My interview with the Executive Editor of Amar Chitra Katha, Ms Reena I Puri, was also special. I learned many things about the characters, stories and the team behind this publication. Episode 13, about India's Independence Day, is my most popular episode to date and recording that was also special. 

How do you develop ideas for your podcast episodes, and what is your process for researching and preparing for them?

My podcast's theme is topics kids my age would like to learn more about. Until episode 98, I had different segments, and I would pick 2 of them for each episode. Some of my segments included book reviews, MythBusters, learnings from Indian shlokas, pet care, inspiring interviews, travel and geography etc. The most popular segment was '1 Country 10 amazing things', which is about knowing the history, geography, culture and cuisine of a new country/place each week. So, starting from my 99th episode, the podcast will focus on this theme. I will also discuss one problem or issue children in that country/city face. After all, we are global citizens, and we should know more about how children in other parts of the world live.

Each episode is about 8-10 mins long, and I spend time during the week researching the topics. It is a combination of online and offline research. I make sure that I refer to only reliable sources such as Encyclopaedia Britannica, official websites or newspaper articles to keep the information trustworthy.

What message would you like to give your young listeners, and how do you hope your podcast can help them learn, share, and grow?

One message based on my learning is that we should never give up. For, e.g.:- We took breaks between seasons, especially during my vacations. If some week I had more homework, I skipped an episode. But I did not give up throughout these three years and kept the podcast going. Also, many kids my age worry about what others think of us. I believe that in whatever we do if you think you've done your best, don't let anyone judge you. Through my podcast, I hope children can learn new topics they are interested in, share new things with their friends, and grow together. 

You've written two books at such a young age! What inspired you to become an author, and what was the process like for writing and publishing your books?

I enjoy reading and writing. Whenever I was given a writing task, I wrote a lot, and my teachers and parents encouraged me to start writing stories. That is how my first book, The Talking Walking Tree, was created. It is a collection of short stories and poems on different topics. My 2nd book started as a part of my podcast. In early 2021, I started a story segment on my podcast where I would write and read out a story I wrote each week. After writing 5-6 stories, I added a few more and published it as a book. 

Your second book, Konnichiwa Izumi, takes readers on adventures in Japan. What interested you in Japanese culture, and what was your favourite aspect of researching and writing the book?

My love for Japan started through cartoon shows like Doraemon and Shin Chan. Whenever I went to my grandparents' house, I would watch these shows as they would play on a loop on a few channels. I was intrigued by the food, houses and cities showcased in the shows. I started reading more about the country, bought many books and researched online. My favourite aspect of writing the book was creating the characters and adventures. I really like imagining the future and building stories in my head. 

You are also an accomplished essay writer, having won the Gold Medal in the Queen's Commonwealth Essay Writing Competition. What motivated you to participate in this competition, and what was your essay about?

The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Writing Competition is the oldest essay writing competition in the world. I thought it would be really cool to take part in it. The topic of the essay was to write a bedtime story about an inspiring figure, and I decided to write about the Ukrainian President, Mr Volodymr Zelensky. There were so many photos, stories and news articles about him then, and I was inspired by how he stood with the people of his country and was not giving up. 

You have travelled to many countries and are interested in learning about new cultures. What has been your favourite country, and what have you learned from your travels?

I love all the countries, but I really love Turkey. It was beautiful, with many different landscapes, from beaches to mountains and ruins. It is also a very old country with a lot of history, much like India. The people were also warm and hospitable. My travel has taught me to be open to new adventures and how people live in various parts of the world. We usually go on long drives, which allows us to stop by small villages and interact more with locals than visiting only tourist places.  

What are some of your future goals and aspirations, and what are you most excited about in your life right now?

I want to be many things when I grow up- an architect, a chef, an entrepreneur, a news reporter. So, I'm yet to decide on one thing. I also want to continue working on my podcast and writing. I want to visit Japan soon and live in different cities worldwide. Right now, I'm most excited about going to middle school. It will be a whole different experience from the primary.