Lightcatchers: Behind the Scenes with C.C. Kimmel

We’re so excited to share our newest creation with families like yours. Lightcatchers, a podcast of original stories written for kids, has been a labor of love for our team.

We recently sat down with C.C. Kimmel, the show’s creator and writer, to discover the process of bringing this imaginative world to life.

What inspired you to create Lightcatchers?

Like many things in my life, Lightcatchers started as a story. It was a story I wrote about two kids who lived on a planet where the only light they had fell from the sky, like rain, and every morning they had to go and catch the light in baskets to bring to their neighbors.

The image of catching light to give to others stuck with me.

I’ve always told stories to my kids. If they want to travel in time, visit a new place, wake up with a mysterious superpower, or just be silly on a pirate ship, they don’t have to leave their home. Everything they can possibly dream can happen through a good story and imagination.

So when the pandemic hit, and the world went dark for my kids and my friends’ kids, I wanted to catch a little bit of light and share it with them. I started writing down and recording the stories I told my kids. Eventually, I thought it would be fun if some of the characters sang, and slowly the podcast was born. When it came time to name the podcast, my wife suggested the name of the short story I wrote, and I did the only smart thing a man can do in that circumstance—listen to his wife.

Who is Lightcatchers for?

The sweet spot is for kids between the ages of 4–10. But more deeply, it is for kids (and their adults) who want good stories well told. It’s a resource for parents who want to grow their kids’ imagination in a way that promotes empathy and emotional resiliency.

Tell us a little about Bob the Bad Pirate. How did he come to life?

I don’t remember exactly when Bob came into existence. He was an idea I had circled around for a while. I love characters who are unique enough to drive any story. The thought of a well-intentioned pirate who just couldn’t figure out how to do anything well made me laugh, so I just followed that thread. 

As I got deeper into developing him, what I really loved was the way he served as a humorous foil to what many would think is success. Bob really isn’t good at being a pirate, but he is a really great friend and an endearing example of a life characterized by grace. Bob is tender and kind, and loyal and honest. He just never developed his sea legs and doesn’t quite understand how spy glasses work. The kind of guy who can make kids laugh but can’t fix the sink. 

The truth is, I’m a bit of a Bob the Bad Pirate in that way. And I grew up in a family of Bobs, so the idea was never far from me.

Who is your favorite character? 

My favorite character is Zoey. She’s the true protagonist of the series. I have four kids, one of whom is a daughter and I think of her a lot when I write Zoey. Zoey is capable and fierce, but with a deep goodness. She’s humble in a way that blinds her to her own destiny, a destiny that she is forced/guided towards by Bob and the situations they find themselves in.

Zoey has an arc, rooted in a past filled with grief and loss, but it doesn’t keep her from fighting for the good and becoming what she becomes (no spoilers). Of course, I love Bob, but Zoey is my favorite character.

How are the songs a key part of the storytelling?

Storytelling and music have a long history together. When Moses shared the story of his people’s redemption from Egypt, he did it through song. So did Deborah, and David, and Ezra. I have no proof of this, but I would be willing to bet that Jesus could carry a tune.

Much of my childhood was shaped by music. And much of my adult career was helping to pastor a community through music. So the idea of incorporating songs into the podcast was a natural combination. Kids love songs. I love songs. And so I decided, there should be songs.

What do you hope parents and their kids get out of this first season?

I hope parents and kids get an image of what life can feel like when it is guided by God’s grace. I want them to laugh, cry, be surprised and delighted. But more than that, I want them to see the little stories as representatives of the bigger story God is telling through his redemption in the world.