Every week, Malia Westheimer, 10, transforms into “Kiko”—a young orca navigating the sea.
Crouched next to a microphone, she records audio clips in the voice of Kiko for the “SuperPod, “a podcast that aims to raise awareness about the environment and teach children about self care. All six episodes were released in early September on several podcast platforms, including Apple and Spotify.
Each episode consists of a storyline and lesson from the perspective of Kiko and her orca family, who go through the different challenges of growing up.
“Kiko doesn’t feel like she has anything special,” Westheimer said, describing the lesson from one episode. “But then she soon realizes that not just one thing she has is special—it’s everything.”
Malia’s father, Cody Westheimer, 47, composes the music scores for each episode. The duo started creating the podcast around January, with Cody bringing experience in making music scores for nature documentaries and Dateline NBC.
Cody said he got inspiration for Kiko’s character last fall, when he went snorkelling in Norway and one orca approached him.
“There was this young orca who kind of kept on coming up to me and like checking me out,” he said.
He added that he shared the footage with Malia after and bonded over it.
“We started talking about it, making up stories about that young orca,” Cody said.
While Cody voices the narrator and father orca in the SuperPod, Malia’s mother and grandmother voice the other two family members.
The episodes serve as bedtime stories or calming audio clips to listen to on car rides, he said. For example, the first episode centers on finding the right home, and the second episode encourages listeners to try new things.
“She doesn’t want to try a new fish, but then she tries it and she actually likes it,” Malia said, describing Kiko’s experience in the second episode.
The SuperPod provides different techniques to overcome challenges—what she calls “Orca skills”—such as breathing techniques.
Malia said she applies the lessons to her own life when she gets frustrated.
“I tried new things,” she said. “I caught myself when I was feeling anxious.”
The SuperPod also includes a bonus 30-minute sleep meditation episode, Cody said.
Cody said he hopes to inspire listeners to protect the ocean and be more like Kiko when dealing with similar milestones. The duo is looking forward to making a second season, expanding on the different “Orca skills” that people can implement in their lives.
“We got to work together and we get to do the voices together,” Malia said. “We both love orcas.”
