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The Pinna Origin Story — How We Got Started, What We're Up To Now, And Where We're Headed

Pinna has always been way ahead of the curve when it comes to audio entertainment for kids.

Are you a longtime listener? Or maybe you only recently subscribed? Either way, you may be wondering how Pinna got its start.

Today, we’re sharing where Pinna began, what they’re up to now, and a few things they hope to accomplish in the future.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

Pinna: In The Beginning

Pinna got its start in 2017 as a pilot project under the umbrella of Panopoly Media (now Megaphone). The goal was to give families a place to access children’s podcasts, audiobooks, and music on one convenient interface. It did so well that in January of 2019, Pinna was launched as a standalone podcast platform backed by Slate and Panopoly’s parent company, Graham Holdings.

Steered by CEO Maggie McGuire, Pinna is now leading the way in children’s audio entertainment with many exciting projects on the horizon. Maggie comes to Pinna after working over 20 years in education and children’s media — first teaching and then working with notable names such as Scholastic and Nickelodeon. Her extensive experience in this industry makes her perfect for the role of CEO.

Pinna has since grown into the children’s entertainment brand we know and love today.

Pinna: Right Now

Currently, Pinna has a library of thousands of podcasts, audiobooks, and music albums for kids — and they are continually adding more. Everything on Pinna is kidSAFE certified, kid-tested, and parent-approved.

You’ll find a wide variety of content spanning different topics of interest and age groups on Pinna. We’ve shared before how Pinna podcasts, audiobooks, and music can be integrated into teacher lesson plans to help kids learn math, reading, writing, science, history, and more. Plus, parents enjoy having a screen-free alternative to entertaining kids at home and on the go.

In fact, Pinna recently launched three new podcasts that encourage kids to interact directly with the audio — Escape the Marshmallow Dream Forest, Escape the Haunted House, and Escape the Sinking Ship. This innovative technology means that kids can say “yes” and “no” as they go through the podcasts and try to escape whichever imaginary perilous situation they have found themselves in. Kids are learning necessary skills like critical thinking and active listening…all while having fun.

Pinna: In The Future

As a media company, Pinna is in its prime — with so many exciting things in store! New partnerships, new technology, and new content will leave kids and their families coming back for more. Pinna hopes to continue their current work in entertaining families, giving kids a voice, and expanding their content library through innovative technology and immersive stories.

Pinna’s mission statement nicely sums up both their current work and future goals.

“Through immersive storytelling, Pinna activates kids' imaginations and sparks conversation; inspiring listeners to wonder, laugh, learn, participate, and think critically and creatively in a safe place made just for them.”

Stay tuned to find out what’s coming in 2023!

The Wrap-Up

Pinna is an excellent tool for screen-free learning and fun all year round. Keep your kids engaged and entertained with Pinna’s comprehensive and growing library.

We’re all ears!


What is your favorite podcast on the Pinna app? We’d love to hear from you! Find us on all our social platforms – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest – or email us at contact@pinna.fm.

Amy Thetford

Amy Thetford

Amy is a freelance writer and homeschooling mom to her tribe of tiny humans. She's fueled by coffee and the desire to do ALL. THE. THINGS. She blogs about all things motherhood at realtalkwithamy.com