Watch Kids' Reviews of
MAGIC SASH, THE

I like the podcast series, The Magic Sash, because it is interesting to learn about the women's right to vote. This podcast series, hosted by Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman, makes learning about history more fun than just reading about it in a book. This is particularly interesting since 2020 is a presidential election. I can't imagine what life would like if women couldn't vote. Listening to this podcast is both educational and fun.

The Magic Sash is a podcast series that follows two fifth graders, named Lotty and Isaiah, to travel back in time to observe important events that lead up to the women's right to vote. Lotty and Isaiah have to make a school presentation, so they get together at Lotty's house. There, they find a box labeled "Granny Flo," where they find a special "Vote for Women" sash, which transports them back in time. They then get to meet historically significant figures, including Lotty's distant relative, Florence Whitaker.

Each episode of about 15 minutes is filled with adventure. I like hearing the differences between what life was like back in the 1800s versus 2020. A simple thing like girls wearing pants was unheard of back in 1848. But in 2020, it's pretty common to see girls wearing pants. My favorite part of this podcast is hearing how excited Florence Whitaker is to see Lotty and Isaiah each time they visit her. It's funny when all three of them don't quite understand what is happening, but it's cool because even though they don't quite get what is happening, they enjoy each other's company. Sometimes I feel like Aly Raisman's commentary is a bit disruptive to the story, but it does help me understand what is happening. The use of music helps the listeners understand when Lotty and Isaiah are switching between time periods.

The message of the podcast series is that sometimes life is unfair, but that you should speak up about things that matter to you. I think Susan B. Anthony is brave and smart because she stands up to people and is strong in what she believes. I am thankful for having people like her so I can vote when I turn 18.

I give The Magic Sash 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 7 to 13. This podcast is available now, so go look for it from TRAX from PRX at: https://www.trax.fm/the-magic-sash

By Cadence G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

The newly released podcast The Magic Sash is entertaining and educational! Aly Raisman, a gold-medal gymnast and advocate, hosts and she pops in multiple times during each podcast to give us some more facts about the events. What's incredibly impressive is that while it is educational, it is also really entertaining. The voice actors are animated, adding fun and detail to each episode.

The Magic Sash follows Lotty (Katelyn Joseph) and Isaiah (David Dotson) as they begin to prepare for their school project about women's rights. Together they unexpectedly dive into the past with a magical sash where they discover the challenges women faced in the 1800s and 1900s. They learn about the struggles that women's rights advocates went through just to make their voice heard. Florence (Jennifer Roszell) and Susan B. Anthony (Susan Riley Stevens) are the main advocates that Lotty and Isaiah learn about.

This podcast has many highlights, including how it really paints a picture in my head, which is especially important in a podcast. The educational facts about women's rights mixed with the edge-of-your-seat storyline are spot on. We get informed about many events in the history of women's rights, but it isn't just a boring fact list. It has a real, big-screen-worthy plot. All the characters are played by talented actors that not only speak in character, but also grab your attention with their tone. Also unforgettable are the sound effects. In entertainment where you can't actually see what is going on, the sound effects are so important. They illuminate what can't be described by voices. For example, when Lotty and Isaiah travel in and out of the past, there is a time-traveling sound that is always used. This is fantastic because I always know when they go back in time. The time warping could easily get confusing, but it's not because of the well-placed sound effects.

The message of this podcast is to be aware of women's rights. Throughout the entire podcast, we are enlightened with plenty of interesting facts. When Lotty and Isaiah are in the past, we learn about certain events by actually participating in them. Once they return back to the future, Aly Raisman usually informs us more about where we were and how that event made a difference in getting rights for women.

I give The Magic Sash 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 9 to14. It can be found free on Trax at https://www.trax.fm/the-magic-sash.

Reviewed by Kyla C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

The Magic Sash podcast is inspirational. It shows how women in the past did not have certain rights, like the right to vote. Strong women like Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul and Elizabeth Cady Stanton and others supported a movement of women rights' protest.

The storyline follows a girl named Lottie and a boy named Isaiah who are studying together at Lottie's house. They go to the basement and find Lottie's great-great-grandmother's sash. As Lottie puts it around her chest, she doesn't know it is a magic time-traveling sash and it takes them back to the women's rights' protest time period. They have a learning history adventure. They meet Susan B. Anthony, Fedrick Douglas and Elizabeth Cady Stanton who are some of the key people in the movement. They also meet one special person, Lottie's great-great-grandmother and have the pleasure of making her dream come true - to vote for the first time. They keep time traveling and are really inspired by the way these women stood up for their rights.

This podcast is really interesting. I learned that women had to fight so they could vote. The adventures they have are so exciting. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. There are eight episodes, based on history, but fictionalized.

The message of this podcast is that you should always fight for what you believe in and for what is right and you should never give up. This is how women's history was changed.

I give The Magic Sash 5 out 5 stars and recommend it for ages 7 to 18. You can find this podcast at TRAX by PRX at https://www.trax.fm/the-magic-sash

By Sara Lea G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10

The Magic Sash is a powerful and moving podcast well worth your listening time. This podcast incorporates accurate educational points in an entertaining fashion that will capture the attention of children.

An 11-year-old boy, Isaiah and girl, Lotty are given a class assignment to learn about the women's suffrage movement. When they meet up to work on the assignment, they discover a way to time-travel, and they get to learn about the women's suffrage with their own eyes. Lotty and Isaiah continue to journey though time and experience the biggest moments in the fight for women's right to vote.

Each episode of The Magic Sash is introduced and closed by gold medal athlete and advocate Aly Raisman. The podcast is high quality with each character having a unique voice. My favorite aspect is how the background sounds and music help bring the storyline to life.

The message that children's voices are important is woven throughout and encourages children to use their voice to accomplish what they are passionate about. This podcast would be great for teachers to incorporate into their curriculum. It focuses on the educational message of women's rights and equality while remaining entertaining, engaging and to the point. The Magic Sash is safe for all listeners, including classroom users, because it has no violence, profanity or bias present.

I give The Magic Sash 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. The podcast and supporting lesson plans can be found at https://www.trax.fm/the-magic-sash

By Angela G., KIDS FIRST! Adult Reviewer

A time-traveling women's voting rights adventure with Aly Raisman. The Magic Sash is a journey back in time hosted by gold medal athlete and advocate Aly Raisman. Join an 11-year-old boy and girl as they experience big moments in women's suffrage first-hand. They'll learn that what women and men fought for -- women's right to vote -- isn't dusty history at all. The Magic Sash is from the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission and the National Park Service.