Motherhood in the Spotlight as Meekah & After Blippi with Kaitlin Becker (E59)

Ep. 2

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[00:00:00] What happens when millions of kids and their parents know you as just one thing? Well, today's guest has lived that life, and she's here to share what it's really like behind the cameras, the costumes, and the character that everyone recognizes.

Kaitlin Becker, the amazing actress behind the original Meekah character from Blippi is Beck, and we're talking about the career decisions that have changed everything, the moments that no one saw and how she's creating work now that's entirely her own.

You don't have to be on TV to know what it's like to be seen as just one thing.

Maybe that's mom, teacher, nurse, or caregiver. Well, my guest today knows exactly what it's like to be defined by the role that the world sees and what it takes to hold on to who you [00:01:00] are underneath. Kaitlin Becker is an Emmy nominated actor, singer and writer.

You might know her for playing Meekah Blippi's Best friend. But she's also performed on off Broadway Stages tour nationally and co-hosted Sprout's sunny Side Up show where she sang with Michelle Obama had tea with Julie Andrews and threw a Greek themed party with Nia Vardalos. She's lent her voice to some of the biggest names in children's entertainment, Sesame Street Workshop, Nickelodeon, Disney. But what happens behind the scenes? In this episode, Kaitlyn's opening up about advocating for herself in the industry, making creative choices that align with her values and building projects that have nothing to do with Meekah. Projects that are purely for her. This is a conversation about career identity and creating a space for your own voice outside of being a mom.

Krissy: Kaitlin Becker, thank you so much for coming back today. I am so excited to dive into your career and hear about what being an international superstar to four year olds is like.[00:02:00]

Kaitlin Becker: it is kind of weird. It's awesome. I get a lot of parent love, which is really, really nice. I love it. I get recognized pretty regularly, uh, by parents, not kids, because, you know, I live in a screen, so for kids they don't understand. So it's a lot of moms like, do you know who this is? You watch her every day, and they're like, no.

Krissy: They're like,

Kaitlin Becker: Literally no. And hey, yeah, like, why is she in the grocery store right now? I don't know this woman.

Krissy: not

Gimme a

Kaitlin Becker: ex exactly. So a lot of times I'll say that, like, I usually wear this, you know, I turn it on a bit and watch their little brains click. But no, it's, it's really great. And I love connecting to parents, especially now that I am a parent.

That's been something really wonderful to come out of that job is this community that has been built and. My little followers on social media. It feels [00:03:00] like a real community and I've met real friends in doing it. So that's been a surprise, a blessing, surprise.

Krissy: I totally agree with you. I have like some of my like closest friends I've met through Instagram and it's, it's just really fun to have moms who are in the same spot as you that you don't have to go out and find.

Kaitlin Becker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. And you don't have to leave your house,

Krissy: Exactly right.

Kaitlin Becker: so

Krissy: doesn't have to be a nightmare.

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah. Sometimes it's just nice to vent like over social media and not have to like, you know. Yeah. It's good. It's good.

Krissy: So your career in children's Entertainment specifically started with Sunny Side Up, is that correct?

Kaitlin Becker: For tv. Yes.

Krissy: So

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah. Yeah.

Krissy: were in TV for kids before becoming a mom and then after becoming a mom. So tell me more about what it was like before becoming a mom. Now for you, you had all these siblings,

Kaitlin Becker: Right?

Krissy: you had a lot of kid energy to pull from.[00:04:00]

Kaitlin Becker: Yes. And I, I was the like teen that was always babysitting, like I babysat everyone. And and I worked in the, uh, daycare, like at the church and all the things. And then I ended up working at the Goddard School as an assistant preschool teacher to all the preschool teachers I would like floated around and was everyone's assistant.

And it's one of those things that came really easily to me, but I never said out loud or never thought like, I love working with kids. I was just like, yeah, it's fun, it's easy.

Krissy: yeah.

Kaitlin Becker: Didn't see it as a special skill or anything. And then I did a lot of theater for kid audiences and same thing. I was just like, this is easy and fun.

And it wasn't until Sunny Side up that I was like, oh wait, I. Wait.

Krissy: have a specific set of skills.

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah. So I did, I always felt a connection to kids. I always, you know, had this empathy for children. But it [00:05:00] definitely changed it being a parent. It also helped me be a better parent

Krissy: Oh,

Kaitlin Becker: of that. Like, yeah. So, because with Sunnyside up specifically, we had a ton, ton of training where we had experts come in and work with us.

We shadowed different preschools. Montessori, like, it was like, I'm so thankful for that because so much of what I learned on that job I've been able to do with my child. So that was a happy surprise. Like, oh, I kind of have a little bit of a leg up as far as understanding kids. Emotions, like how they think, how they feel.

So, but it is different. Everett was three when I started the Meekah journey, so he was the perfect age for the content that we were creating.

Krissy: Yeah.

Kaitlin Becker: So it was fun to show him, like, [00:06:00] I did Blippi Treehouse first, and so I filmed all that way before it was announced or shown. But I had, you know, little cuts and things I could show Everett.

And it was fun to show him, to see like, how is he gonna react to this? Does he think this is funny? Is he bored?

Krissy: Yep.

Kaitlin Becker: to have an at home test audience

Krissy: Yes.

Kaitlin Becker: cool. And I still use him for things like, I'll like read him part of a script or play him a voiceover thing I did. And I'm like, does he like it? I can't tell, you know, I'm like taking notes.

Krissy: Yes.

Kaitlin Becker: But I definitely, I had to like bite my tongue on the Meekah job because sometimes I would have it. Actually as a parent and like not wanting to be annoying, like

Krissy: Right.

Kaitlin Becker: a mother,

Krissy: Right. That's what I was thinking. Like you're

Kaitlin Becker: but there were,

Krissy: You have, you have a target audience member at home, like

Kaitlin Becker: yeah.

Krissy: should be worth something.

Kaitlin Becker: So there were moments where, you know, I would say, Hey, as a mom, I do not want my kid to learn that. You know, if, if it's, [00:07:00] it was something like, sorry, Blippi, I'm gonna say it, but if like, Blippi was doing something that was really like chaotic or out of control or like purposely making a mess, you know, I'm like, uh, I don't want my kid to think it's funny to, you know, purposely make a mess.

And they'd be like, oh, okay, should we do something else? And I'm like, yes. You know, like little things like that where my, my mom brain would, would go off like, let's not like teach, like show these kids that this is, you know, whatever. And that happened like quite a few times where I would have to pick and choose like.

Do I speak up or do I let it go?

Krissy: Sure. And that's a

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah.

Krissy: itself too.

Kaitlin Becker: Oh my God.

Krissy: your battles as a

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah.

Krissy: anything else.

Kaitlin Becker: Yes. Yeah. So that is a, it's been really interesting because he also, Everett was never a huge Blippi kid. He watched like a little bit, he never really liked anything on YouTube. [00:08:00] Now he, he does, he's a big YouTube kid. So, but I still, he was always in my brain, like, everything I did, would this be entertaining to Everett?

Would he think this is funny?

Krissy: Yeah.

Kaitlin Becker: this make sense? Are we making sense to a 4-year-old? So it's definitely helpful

Krissy: Yeah, it

Kaitlin Becker: and I, yeah.

Krissy: I love that you were able to influence a little bit, are the moms everywhere. Thank you. And I'm sure you knew that in the moment you're like, this is probably selfish. I don't want my kid doing this, but I know

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah.

Krissy: the

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah.

Krissy: So I'm glad that that voice was heard because I'm sure that in a lot of work environments that's not necessarily welcome.

Kaitlin Becker: Mm-hmm.

Krissy: glad that you were able to, to have an impact in that kind of way. Not just creatively, but also like on that, that that expertise side of it. And, and it sounds like from Sunnyside up, you got like a crash

Kaitlin Becker: A crash.

Krissy: uh, master's in education.

Kaitlin Becker: Oh my God. It was unbelievable. Like I think about what I learned on that job every week of [00:09:00] my life, something will come up. I'm like, oh yeah, we actually learned that. You know, it's, it was incredible. And the Goddard School as well, I had to do so much training, so I felt like as prepared as I could be before having a kid, you know, as, as far as just getting into a kid brain, but that's it. That's the only little baby leg up I had. But yeah, sunny side up was, it was, it felt like a crash course and the training didn't stop. Like it was the whole four years. They were just constantly bringing people in, okay, now we're gonna learn about this, we're gonna, it was awesome.

Krissy: Wow. That

Kaitlin Becker: Wow. That,

Krissy: asset now in, in this, in this realm. I mean, how incredible to have all of this information, all of this knowledge and the real life experience of being a mom to paired with it. Amazing. So you were, you touched on this, you didn't start Blippi until your son was three, and [00:10:00] did you, when did you finish Sunnyside up?

Was it while you were pregnant?

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah. So I, 2017, I did Sunny set up 2013 to 2017. I was 11 weeks pregnant. Nobody knew. So I was doing, you didn't ask for this, but I'm gonna tell you because it was crazy. I was. The show was live and my call time I think was 7:00 AM and I would have to get my blood taken at the fertility clinic and you had to do it before seven.

And so I would go there at like six 30, get my blood taken, or I would go there at six 30 and like get inseminated and then run to the studio being like, there's sperm in my uterus. This is crazy. Like literally like this is so crazy. Just running to 30 Rock, getting into hair and makeup. Nobody knows anything.

And I'm just wondering while I'm on live television waving to kids wondering like, am I pregnant? [00:11:00] And then, then I got pregnant. And so my whole first trimester, I'm doing a live show for kids. And I had, I didn't have any like crazy morning sickness or anything, but I had crazy exhaustion. Like, oh my God, I didn't, I didn't know it'd be like that.

Like that's a, that's a whole different level. And I remember it during commercial breaks, it's going to the green room and I'd be like, you cannot sit down. 'cause if I sat down, I'd be like,

Krissy: You would be asleep.

Kaitlin Becker: oh my God. And then also just, and again, didn't have bad morning sickness, thank God. But I would get, you know, like a, a wave of like the spins for like a moment.

And I remember, yeah, it was just so funny. And now I'll see old clips and I'm like, I was pregnant there. Like, I can, you know, yeah. I was pregnant there. And then when they canceled the show, the day that they said, today's your last day, the show is no more. And I'm talking to the HR rep and I'm like, okay, I'm an already in mom survivor mode.

Like, [00:12:00] okay, I'm gonna lose this consistent paycheck. I'm gonna lose this incredible insurance. And I was just like, Hey, I'm 11 weeks pregnant. Can you extend my health insurance? And they're like, what? Like, I just went right into like, okay, I have to take care of my new family.

Krissy: Yes. Like immediate survivor mode.

Kaitlin Becker: Yes. And I'm like, whoa. That was weird.

Yeah, there was, yeah. I was like, wow. I wasn't even like emotional or like set it was, I was just like, okay, so what are the next steps for me to, you know, I need to be able to keep up with these doctor visits and all the things. So yeah. So I was. Pregnant and then, I mean, the timing was kind of great because then I just, I did background and voiceover and stuff while I was pregnant, until I couldn't anymore.

Because I was just too pregnant and too tired. And then, uh, I wasn't on camera again until Meekah in 2020. During the pandemic, [00:13:00] they flew me in for a different character. They were trying to figure it out, testing out this best friend character. So it was like three and a half years

Krissy: yeah,

Kaitlin Becker: between the two on camera jobs.

I was doing stuff in between, but yeah.

Krissy: Now, was some of that intentional slow down to at home or.

Kaitlin Becker: I a little bit after Sunny set up, I was like, I don't wanna, I don't wanna pigeonhole myself. I don't wanna be on camera and on another kid show. There's so many other things that I wanna do. And right now I'm known as this sunny set up host and I was like, no more kids. I don't be on camera. I really liked voiceover.

I was doing a lot of that which was amazing. And and then when Covid happened, I could still do voiceover because a lot of the voiceover projects didn't stop if you had the equipment at home. So that was good. But yeah, when moon Bug Productions called me about, I had no idea who Blippi was,

Krissy: Yeah.

Kaitlin Becker: and I was [00:14:00] very just like, Ugh, I don't wanna be on camera for kids.

I'm tired of it.

Krissy: Right. This is what I would not want.

Kaitlin Becker: Ugh. I just said to the universe, no more. But like, what do I know?

Krissy: Right.

Kaitlin Becker: But yeah, so it was like a little intentional and a little just like circumstance.

Krissy: because Covid was in there too, so there was

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah.

Krissy: just forcing into that. Now, thank goodness you had your voiceover work

Kaitlin Becker: Thank God. Yeah.

Krissy: how has that fit into your, your life now? I, it sounds like that's primarily what you're doing as well as your writing projects and, and

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah.

Krissy: work. So tell me about how that fits into life as a mom.

Kaitlin Becker: Well it's funny because, my voiceover booth is in Everett's bedroom in his closet, which is tricky, but it's the only place I can do it because my closet sound wise is really bad and whatever.

So I, my booth is in his bedroom [00:15:00] closet and I have to move things around. Like he has like a basketball hoop on the door that I have to take down, you know, whatever.

Krissy: Yep.

Kaitlin Becker: so when he comes home, he'll be like, where's my basketball hoop? And I'm like, I had a job. Relax. Like, I'll put it back. So he understands that I'm working out of his bedroom.

And he knows now, like he's old enough to know, you know, to be quiet. I'll let him put on headphones and watch, you know, a movie on his tablet if I have to record while he is home. But it's been working out the past like six months. It's been really great. 'cause everything that I've done has been during his school hours.

So that is nice. And then he comes home from school and he really, like, he did not care about my Meekah stuff at all. Like truly was like, I don't ever need to watch this. I don't care that you're Meekah, but the voiceover, he really thinks is cool. So now he can come home from school and I can play him like, Ooh, I played this like funny witch today.

And then I can like play it for him and he loves it. So that's been fun.[00:16:00]

Krissy: That's so fun to

Kaitlin Becker: Some funny song.

Krissy: Yeah.

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah. I'm like, I do cool things. You gotta believe me.

Krissy: Trust me, I'm really cool. I'm a, I'm a cool mom. You don't know

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah, exactly. My face comes up when he's like scrolling Netflix or something, and I'm like, that's me. And he does not even blink. He's just going past and I'm like, that's my face, that's your mother's face.

Krissy: you

Kaitlin Becker: does not care.

Krissy: You should be

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah.

Krissy: be thrilled.

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah. Like some kids, they, they like her face. They would click on that, that right there, that face.

And he's just like, oh my God. Enough. Like I don't care.

Krissy: It's like, mom, get over yourself please.

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. But there was one time where I caught him telling a kid that this kid kept looking at me. 'cause I think they were like, she's familiar and I don't know why, like trying to figure it out. And then he goes, do you know Meekah and Blippi? 'cause my mom is Meekah. And I was like,

Krissy: Aw.

Kaitlin Becker: ah. Like yeah. I was like, wow.

He's never said that, that I know of. [00:17:00] Yeah.

Krissy: That's like one of those movie moments where like, you finally find out that your dad is secretly proud of you

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah. Like what? You care, you telling your friends Wow.

Krissy: oh, I love

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah,

Krissy: It's so cute. So you're not traveling for work anymore. Tell me what, traveling, I mean we, we talked about in

Kaitlin Becker: we talked about,

Krissy: that you were able to sleep, which was wonderful

Kaitlin Becker: yeah. I miss it.

Krissy: now,

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah.

Krissy: to leave?

Kaitlin Becker: Yes and no. I've, I, because I started leaving Everett when he was so young even if it was just, you know, like I said, the background acting or whatever, I really, and that was purposeful. Like, I want him to get used to me coming and going and I always said, I want him to see me working and creating, and I want him to see me more than like just his caregiver.

So, it [00:18:00] was, it feels harder for some reason, the older he gets when he was younger. I don't know. Like I definitely missed him and I was like, oh, my baby. But I was never, you know, I've had friends that are like, oh my God. It's like, you left your heart behind. And I'm like, no, my heart's in here. I'm good.

Like,

Krissy: yeah.

Kaitlin Becker: he's fine. You know? Everyone's different. Yeah. Yeah. But now I think because we have such a strong bond and like great relationship, and like I said, we can have these really deep conversations about feelings and dreams that now I, I get a little, he's like, fine, but I'm like, bye,

Krissy: Yeah.

Kaitlin Becker: I'll see you in five days.

And he's like, bye girl. And I'm like, one more hug for the road. But I do, I miss traveling. I'm, I, I miss. It was just fun. And I think it's good to be away from your kid and [00:19:00] then have that reunion and it's good for them to not, you know, be on top of you every day. And again, everyone's different, but I think it was really good for us to be able to miss each other and then come back and like, it's just good.

And I was so, I felt so lucky that I had a job that took me away because I, even though I would come back really tired I came back like a bit refreshed, you know, and like, just missing my kids so much. And I felt like I could be a more present parent having the, the back and forth and just like appreciating that time more because I'm like, I might have to go outta town again in two weeks.

So, like, really appreciating the time we had together. So yeah, it was good. I, I, I do miss it.

Krissy: Yeah. I love hearing your intention behind even prepping for it because so many of our listeners right now really battle with mom guilt just to go to target by themselves, nevermind to travel for two weeks and to hear your thoughtful planning into [00:20:00] it. You know, it's not, you weren't being reactive. It wasn't, oh, this job has to take me for two weeks to Sequoia, Washington or wherever you might be going.

And like Pan, the panic would set in, I would

Kaitlin Becker: Mm-hmm.

Krissy: point if, if all of a sudden you weren't prepared for that, but because you went into this with a mindset of this is who I want to be, this is how I want a relationship to go. It sounds like you were doing a lot of preparation work for yourself and for your son to prepare for this being normal, but did

Kaitlin Becker: Right.

Krissy: any of that mom guilt or does it come up for you in different ways?

Because I'm sure you're not immune.

Kaitlin Becker: No, no, no. Not at all. I mean, if there's. I, I don't wanna miss any moment ever. And I was there for his, I've always been there for first day of school. And that's like important to me. And I was there for his first day of pre-K, which was huge, you [00:21:00] know, like his first day of school ever fresh out of the pandemic.

But his second day of school, I was not there because I went out of town for Meekah episode and I didn't have any guilt leaving the second day. But the second day of school, a kid bit him and he was fine. Like, it was like not a big deal, but the nurse called to be like, just letting you know he has a bite mark.

And I was like, I missed the bite.

Krissy: Right. You're getting your first nurse call while you're gone.

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah. I was in California get, and I'm, I was like, oh my God, I think this is his school. Oh, his fir the first call from school already. And it was, you know, so he's, he's fine. He didn't cry or anything, just letting you know. He has a bite mark. And I'm like, okay, I'm not picking him up today, but thanks for letting me know.

You know, I was just like, oh or I missed. Uh, one of his belt test for TaeKwonDo, and it was because, not because, but I didn't think I was gonna miss it, but they had to reschedule the test. Like the, the teacher pushed it back a week [00:22:00] and everyone's like, no. And I told her, I was like, that's the week I'm outta town.

Like, my one kid matters. You know, there's like 50 kids doing the test. And I'm like, that's the weekes. She's like, sorry, like

Krissy: Like this is what it

Kaitlin Becker: not,

Krissy: Yeah.

Kaitlin Becker: girl. So. But I'm very lucky that I, 'cause I'm really vocal about what I will and will not do. And I was fortunate that at that Meekah job, I could say like, this, this special day, like my kids' birthday, I'm never missing, you know?

And not all jobs would do that. And so I was lucky that I, I've been able to be there for the big stuff, but I've certainly, I definitely have mom guilt for all different sorts of things,

Krissy: Yeah,

Kaitlin Becker: the going away, I've never, and maybe 'cause it, it was really intentional and purposeful. I just want him to see me as a full person.

Even when I, when I left the Meekah job, he. He was like, wait, you're not going to like, you're gonna [00:23:00] quit. And I told him like, why? And he really understood it. And he was there like in the sitting on the couch, right edge, my right as I was in meetings. Like I wanted, I'm like, yeah, you need to hear me. Like stand up for myself, speak up for myself, self-advocate.

'cause that's important. And I want him to, to know that he can do that. If he wants to walk away from something he has, you know? So, I don't know what your question was.

Krissy: this is wonderful. I, you're, you're

Kaitlin Becker: I could talk for days.

Krissy: about your intention of, of how you've planned things and your mom guilt and, but also I love this piece of it, of teaching him how to advocate for yourself because especially in careers or things like that, we can feel stuck

Kaitlin Becker: Yes.

Krissy: that is a horrible feeling to have.

And

Kaitlin Becker: Yes.

Krissy: of us are afraid of confrontation me

Kaitlin Becker: Mm-hmm.

Krissy: we avoided it

Kaitlin Becker: I can't help you girl. I'm a queen. Confront. Like sometimes I'm like, Kaitlin, why are you always [00:24:00] confronting people? Like relax

Krissy: I love that. Okay, we'll, we'll schedule that for the next call for sure. You can be in the hot seat. Give me the

Kaitlin Becker: the

Krissy: that

Kaitlin Becker: episode title confrontation.

Krissy: We'll have another, a sequel for that. That sounds great. And, and to be able to show him what it means in real life and, and in a professional way. Like, I'm sure you're not

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah.

Krissy: the handle and like,

Kaitlin Becker: Yes,

Krissy: him how it is, but, but thoughtfully share,

Kaitlin Becker: exactly

Krissy: what you're making you uncomfortable, whatever the things are. Like this is how it is, this is, and this is my decision.

Kaitlin Becker: right. Yes. And like really listening to yourself and talking to Everett about that. Like, you know, we all have this little voice

Krissy: Mm-hmm.

Kaitlin Becker: that. That it's really hard to shut the voice up to be like, you don't know.

Krissy: Yes.

Kaitlin Becker: I used to do that a lot. Like, oh, that's just my anxiety.

Krissy: Yes.

Kaitlin Becker: so now I more than ever since being a parent, I'm really listening [00:25:00] in.

And so yeah, I think that's an important lesson. Like you, your, your body reacts and, and tells you what's up,

Krissy: Yeah.

Kaitlin Becker: you need to listen to it and like follow its lead. So yeah, that was like, that was a big deal. And now I've heard him like telling people, he's like, well, my mom is no longer filming Meekah episodes.

She decided, I'm like, okay, maybe he knows too much. Like

Krissy: Yeah. You're

Kaitlin Becker: seven. Like,

Krissy: by

Kaitlin Becker: okay.

Krissy: who knows?

Kaitlin Becker: I'm like, Hey, hey. They don't care. Shut it down. Yeah.

Krissy: Okay. There we go. So we've talked a lot about your television experience working in kids. I wanna hear about this that you seem to be really excited about your writing.

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah,

Krissy: written

Kaitlin Becker: writing.

Krissy: show recently.

Kaitlin Becker: I did, I did. I did. That was a really big deal. Thank you for asking me about it. I haven't had the opportunity to talk about it too much, but yeah, I wrote a one-woman show called, let Me [00:26:00] Explain. It's a show about race queerness and Rosie O'Donnell, and it, it's, it's all true stories, mostly from my adolescence and all my race journey.

I'm biracial for those of you who don't know. And my, my journey to finding myself and coming out and how Rosie O'Donnell was a through line in all of that. And it was really therapeutic to write and it was. It's something that I'm really, really proud of because writing is hard and to write this is an hour long piece.

And to just write and edit and write and cut and all the things, I, I just was really determined to make it happen. And then I submitted the piece into, yeah, the theater festival, uh, Flynn Snap Festival in Burlington, Vermont. And I was chosen. And I admit that like, because of Meekah, anytime someone like something like that [00:27:00] happens, I'm like, it's because I'm Meekah.

Like, it's so hard for me to, I'm working hard at being like, no, it's because you wrote a good piece. They liked it. You're talented, you know, whatever. That's my old stuff. I'll talk in therapy later. But it was cool because. No one in that audience

Krissy: Yes.

Kaitlin Becker: idea who I was. It was a lot, it was an older audience.

But like no one was coming, like for Meekah. They were just excited to hear like a new work. So that was really cool. But I am really excited. I'm also writing some other things, uh, a kid show idea. I'm gonna be pitching something soon. It just feels good to be back in like the creator role, which I did on Sunny side up Meekah was the first job in a long time that I didn't have input as far as writing and producing goes.

I mean, it was all like, pretty much improvised,

Krissy: right,

Kaitlin Becker: but there still was, you know, guidelines and like, here are the points we want you to hit. So I [00:28:00] missed the creating,

Krissy: Yeah.

Kaitlin Becker: part of it. So I've been really exciting. Excited to write and create again, and, and hopefully, hopefully everything will go great. I've planted a lot of seeds and I just need one to pop up, but it would be awesome if all of them did and then yeah.

So keep your eyes and ears out, I guess, because hopefully I'll have some new things to promote that are coming from my own heart and bones that I'm excited about.

Krissy: for you. I hear what you're

Kaitlin Becker: Thank you.

Krissy: the Meekah thing. Like when you're in the Meekah world,

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah.

Krissy: to believe that Meekah is not like a like Beyonce

Kaitlin Becker: Mm-hmm.

Krissy: right? Like this is not a household name. Like when, when we'll say to people like, oh yeah, Libby and Meekah, and people are like, who? like, you would like what? What is your algorithm like?

Kaitlin Becker: Right. It's so interesting because it's, there's really not an in-between [00:29:00] either. People are like, I don't know what that is, or they're like, oh my God, but I've never met it in between. It's either like, I have no idea what you're talking about. Or they're like, oh my, it's like, they're like starstruck. Like I've like held like women's hands that are crying and like telling me all these stories, and I'm like, wow.

Oh my God, that, oh my God. And then I have other people, they're like, oh, you're an actor. What do you do? I'm like, oh, have you heard of Blippi? And they're like, no. I'm like, uh, I do kid stuff, but don't worry about it.

Krissy: about it. Yeah,

Kaitlin Becker: Not a big deal.

Krissy: super niche. It's fine.

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah, yeah,

Krissy: But I'm so

Kaitlin Becker: It's funny.

Krissy: for you and your work in, in another realm too, because you are clearly, incredibly talented and clearly have so much to offer the world. And I don't know when you started your TikTok, but I have a feeling it was fairly ish, recent, I don't know in the last Warps after covid are bizarre.

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah

Krissy: because I remember when you popped up on my feed and I think everybody else in the comments, you popped up at the same time, but your tiktoks are incredible. Tell me [00:30:00] how that has

Kaitlin Becker: thank you. I got on TikTok during lockdown,

Krissy: Okay.

Kaitlin Becker: but I, but I left, but I left it, so I, I got on there and I was like, wow. I, I was, my whole algorithm was funny people, and I just would be like crying, laughing. I'd put Everett down for a nap and then would be on TikTok, like laughing out loud. I was like, this is so good for my lockdown covid soul to be laughing out loud at something.

And then I was like, should I? Put videos on here. And then it was an awesome, like, creative outlet, and I made it a goal to post a video every day. And so this is 2020, and TikTok was like, a little different then. It was either like sketches or like dance challenges and I didn't wanna do the dance thing.

But I started making these videos that were for a gay audience and there was all true stories of like, people assuming I had a husband or looking at my son and be like, oh, [00:31:00] your husband's the redhead.

Krissy: Right.

Kaitlin Becker: and just like real life moments that I would, you know, make a little funnier and I would play all the characters.

So I got like a little audience on TikTok through that. And then I freaked out that that they were getting all of her information and I, I was just like, I don't know, I gotta delete it. I'm freaking out. So I deleted it for years and I got back on, uh, I don't know, two years ago. I say for years, but I probably was off of it for two years and then, and then I got back on and, and realized that TikTok is different now and people were not responding to my old ways of like playing all these different characters.

And then I'm like, I posted a video where I'm just talking to camera, like telling a story and then people were like, oh my God, you are my best friend. And I'm like, oh, y'all just wanna hear about my life. No problem. I have a thousand stories. So it's been fun to like share awkward parenting moments or [00:32:00] whatever on TikTok and, yeah, just like communicate with other parents. And my favorite is if I tell a story and a bunch of people are like, same, same, same. I'm like, oh. It's just like nice to, you know, feel like we're all kind of going through the same stuff at the same time. We're all awkward, we're all insecure, we're all like pretending to know what we're doing.

And so it's comforting and hopefully for people who are watching too, they can feel that and like not feel so alone.

Krissy: Absolutely. And I think it's so comforting in some ways to see you on the tv. You know, you become part of our lives in a lot of ways. And then to see you on our tiktoks be like, oh, she's real. Like we could, like we could have some coffee together and have fun.

Kaitlin Becker: Yeah. And that's like, that's such a compliment. Like I, I get that a lot of people that are like, I just wanna hang out with you. I feel like we could hang out. I feel like we could be friends. And I'm like, probably, yeah, we're all friends. Let's hang. Yeah. That's really nice.

Krissy: thing about Meekah is you were able to collaborate with some really [00:33:00] cool people, right? You,

Kaitlin Becker: Yes.

Krissy: Elmo and Abby and,

Kaitlin Becker: Yes.

Krissy: tell me who was, do you have anybody that was really exciting that you connected with and were able to collaborate with you? That stuck out to you?

Kaitlin Becker: I really loved, and I'm still like, that's kind of crazy. We had Jordan Sparks on for Blippi's Tree House and I never cared about American Idol, but I'm, I just know every like, biracial celebrity

Krissy: Yeah.

Kaitlin Becker: 'cause you know, representation and I'm like, yes, a biracial girl. So anyway, I love her. And she also was on Broadway in one of my favorite shows, waitress.

And so I was just like, oh my God, I'm so excited to talk to her about like musical theater

Krissy: Yeah.

Kaitlin Becker: and the biracial life and she's another mom. And it was so funny because the episode was a rock band episode where we make a rock band. And Meekah is like the singer and Jordan Sparks comes [00:34:00] on to help us create this band, but she doesn't sing.

She plays the guitar while I sing and I was like, this doesn't make sense.

Krissy: an American Idol.

Kaitlin Becker: Like you should be singing and I should be like oohing and ing in the background. But that was just like a, this is so weird. And like I, I was again like new to the Blippi universe and my child was not a Blippi kid, so I really didn't understand how many people were obsessed with this character.

I was learning as I went and she said yes to filming eight hours with us, not singing, not doing what she's known for, just because her son was Blippi obsessed. And she was like, I'll do anything to work with Blippi. And I was like, huh, what is this? Where am I? Who am I?

Krissy: Who am I in this that I'm lead singer for Jordan Sparks.

Kaitlin Becker: was really bizarre and she was so wonderful and like, so kind. And we had like a [00:35:00] really fun day. So that was that one that was big. And then my spoiled little booty. I had worked with Sesame Street before

Krissy: We

Kaitlin Becker: and multiple shows. You are, oh my God, Mecha Builders. I love that show so much. And I was recording Meekah Builders before I got the Meekah job and recorded my last Mecha Builders.

Hopefully not my last, but the last session like a year ago. So it's been a long time. I love Mecha. And then we did a lot of Sesame Collabs on Sunny Side Up,

Krissy: I.

Kaitlin Becker: but that was my first time. That was my first time meeting Abby and first time working with Big Bird, which was,

Krissy: is

Kaitlin Becker: I met the original. Big bird Carol spinning before he died.

'cause he came on sunny side up and we all went out to dinner and I was, ugh. That was like, like pinch me moment. 'cause one of, yeah, one of my first words, uh, was Big bird.

Krissy: Oh.

Kaitlin Becker: 'cause I was obsessed with Big [00:36:00] Bird when I was little. So he would like dip in and out of the big bird voice at dinner.

Krissy: Oh my

Kaitlin Becker: Just like, he would just be like telling a story and then he would like dip into the voice and I would be like, oh my God.

It was crazy. So like very, very fortunate. Uh, but it was really cool to spin, like the sunny set up stuff would be like a three minute pop on for live tv runaway still. Very cool. Cool. But it was amazing to spend like days filming with the Sesame team and singing with them. Like I loved, like getting to sing all those songs with them was, was awesome.

Yeah. Very lucky. I.

Krissy: amazing, amazing. Well, I'm so grateful that you've spent all of this time with us today and sharing all the behind the scenes of who you are and your memories of all of this, and how being a mom has influenced your journey. Tell us where we can find you.

Kaitlin Becker: You can find. What if I just said my exact address? I was like, I live at, you're like, Kaitlin. You could find me [00:37:00] on,

Krissy: it.

Kaitlin Becker: on, yeah. You send me g no, I, you could find me on, on TikTok and Instagram mostly. I'm at Kaitlin, Becks on Instagram and I can't change it to Becker. Dang it. And TikTok is Kaitlin Becker.

Krissy: Excellent.

Kaitlin Becker: You can find me there. Yeah.

Krissy: And

Kaitlin Becker: And my website, Kaitlin becker.com.

Krissy: And if you have AMeekah obsessed child, then we can also find you on cameo. Right?

Kaitlin Becker: God. Thank you. Yes, thank you. Yes. I forget about cameo. Get your cameos. I'm not Meekah in them, but I do bring the Meekah energy and I love, it's awesome. Cameos been awesome because I feel like I can still do my thing. Even though I'm not

Krissy: Yeah,

Kaitlin Becker: the Meekah episodes, I'm still able to connect with kids and I do a lot of videos from moms too, which is my favorite.

Yeah. So yeah, find me wherever you wanna find me.

Krissy: I love it. Well, thank you so much. This has been a, a [00:38:00] pure joy, truly.

Kaitlin Becker: Same for me. Thanks for having me.

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Do you ever end the day feeling like you were behind from the moment you woke up?

The dishes are still in the sink, the emails are still unopened, and somehow you're convinced that you've fallen short in every area of your life.

If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. And in the next episode, we're unpacking why we carry that. I'm failing feeling how to quiet it and how to finally see yourself as the good mom and good human that you actually are