What Tumble Media does

Tumble Media is a privately held U.S.-based children's educational audio company founded in 2015. Its core offering is the award-winning Tumble Science Podcast for Kids, a science storytelling podcast that has produced 100+ episodes, generated an average of 187,000 monthly downloads, and accumulated more than 5 million all-time listens. The company's underlying capabilities combine science journalism, educational curriculum development (including NGSS-aligned content), sound design/composition, and proprietary audience research, including the first-ever Kids Podcast Listener Report developed with Edison Research and early listening habits surveys conducted with the National Science Foundation and Kids Listen.

Tumble Media operates a professional services business model layered on top of its flagship content. Revenue streams include: (i) one-on-one consulting with CEO Lindsay Patterson at a publicly disclosed $200 per initial one-hour session, (ii) full-service podcast production for brands, organizations, and family audiences, offered case-by-case with custom proposals, (iii) Broader Impacts science communication services for NSF-funded researchers and scientific institutions requiring grant-compliant K-12 outreach (custom episodes, custom series, audio courses), and (iv) bilingual kids podcast production through a partnership with Shake it Easy Productions, which produced the first-ever Spanish language translation of a children's podcast. Distribution extends beyond iTunes and major podcast apps to kid-safe audio hardware platforms including Yoto, Tonies, and Playaway Products, with additional ecosystem ties to Ohio State University, New England Public Media, Seesaw, Radio Lab, the AAAS/Kavli Science Journalism Awards, and Common Sense Media.

The company runs a lean team of approximately five people organized around three co-founders — Lindsay Patterson (CEO, also co-founder of the Kids Listen advocacy organization), Marshall Escamilla (CFO and Head of Education, 17 years classroom curriculum experience), and Sara Robberson Lentz (COO and Head of Partnerships) — and explicitly assembles project-by-project teams for production work. Its go-to-market is sales-led consulting and direct engagement with enterprises (researchers, brands, educational organizations), supplemented by thought leadership through conference presence and the flagship podcast, which also functions as a top-of-funnel marketing channel.

Name

Tumble Media

Legal name

Tumble Media

Website

https://makekidspodcasts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tumble Media is a children's educational audio company producing the award-winning Tumble Science Podcast for Kids and offering consulting, full-service podcast production, NSF Broader Impacts science communication, and bilingual (English/Spanish) kids podcast services to researchers, brands, K-12 institutions, and families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Educational Audio and Podcast Production

NAICS

Sound Recording Industries (5122), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Audio Publishing (Audiobooks & Podcasts) (MPAJAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s & Youth Educational Entertainment (Edutainment) (EDAGALAK), Audio Learning Content (Podcasts, Audiobooks, Listening Programs) (EDAGALAM), Children’s/Educational Program Syndication (MPABAMAH)

Keywords

• Children's podcast production
• Educational audio content
• Podcast consulting services
• Science communication audio
• Bilingual kids podcasts

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: One-on-one consulting with CEO Lindsay Patterson at $200 per session, including podcast development worksheet and review of up to 30 minutes of audio. Custom proposals for ongoing engagements.
2. Podcast Production Services: Full-service podcast production from concept to audience testing, production, and promotional strategy. Services offered case-by-case for brands and organizations.
3. Broader Impacts / NSF Outreach: Science communication services for researchers and scientific organizations to fulfill NSF Broader Impact requirements. Includes custom episodes, custom podcast series, and audio courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Tumble Media produces children's educational audio content through its flagship Tumble Science Podcast for Kids and offers full-service podcast production, one-on-one consulting, science communication services that help researchers meet NSF Broader Impact requirements, and bilingual Spanish-language kids podcast production in partnership with Shake it Easy Productions. Services are delivered to brands, researchers, educational organizations, and media companies seeking expertise in the kids and family audience.

Product overview

Tumble Media is a children's educational audio company offering podcast production and related services rather than a software platform product. The company's portfolio centers on the Tumble Science Podcast for Kids as its flagship offering, complemented by professional services including Podcast Development & Production (full-service production for kids and family audiences), Consulting Services (one-on-one expertise with CEO Lindsay Patterson), Science Communication/Broader Impacts services (for researchers and NSF compliance), and Bilingual Kids Podcasts (Spanish-language production via partnership with Shake it Easy Productions). The company operates as a services business rather than a software-as-a-service platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tumble Science Podcast for Kids: The company's flagship podcast exploring stories of science discovery for children. Recognized as one of the best podcasts for kids and the first podcast to earn a Gold Award in Children's Science News from AAAS/Kavli Science Journalism Awards.

Products and services

• Tumble Science Podcast for Kids Flagship podcast exploring stories of science discovery for children, recognized as one of the best podcasts for kids and the first to earn a Gold Award in Children's Science News from the AAAS/Kavli Science Journalism Awards.
• Podcast Development & Production Full-service podcast production offering for the kids and family audience, covering concept development, audience testing, production, and promotional strategy.
• Consulting Services One-on-one consulting with CEO Lindsay Patterson providing kids podcast strategy, education expertise, and audio review; initial one-hour session priced at $200 and includes a podcast development worksheet and review of up to 30 minutes of audio.
• Science Communication (Broader Impacts) Science storytelling services for researchers and scientific organizations to fulfill NSF Broader Impact requirements, delivering custom podcast episodes, custom podcast series, and audio courses aligned to NGSS standards.
• Bilingual Kids Podcasts Spanish-language kids podcast production service created in partnership with Shake it Easy Productions, including the first-ever Spanish-language translation of a children's podcast.

Quantifiable outcome

• 78% of kids are engaged just listening (Kids Listen research)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Kids ListencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Tumble Media CEO Lindsay Patterson, Kids Listen is an advocacy organization for podcasts for kids. Tumble Media pioneers research into children's podcast audience through this partnership, including the first survey on kids' podcast listening habits and Edison Research's first-ever Kids Podcast Listener Report.
• Edison ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTumble Media worked with Edison Research to develop and present their first-ever Kids Podcast Listener Report, pioneering research into children's podcast listening behaviors and audience insights.
• National Science Foundation (NSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTumble Media works with NSF to fulfill Broader Impact requirements for researchers, creating meaningful K-12 outreach through high-quality audio services with impressive metrics to quantify reach.
• Shake it Easy ProductionsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership combines Tumble's expertise in kids' podcasts with Shake it Easy's bilingual production experience. Created first-ever Spanish language translation of a children's podcast. Together poised to become premier makers of Spanish language podcasts for kids.
• YotominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAudio hardware platform partner distributing Tumble Media content through Yoto's physical audio player device for kids.
• ToniesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAudio hardware platform partner distributing Tumble Media content through Tonies' creative audio system for children.
• Playaway ProductsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhysical audio format partner distributing Tumble Media content through Playaway's pre-loaded audio devices.
• Ohio State University (OSU)minorOthersAcademic institution partner listed in Partners & Clients section.
• New England Public Media (NEPM)minorOthersPublic media station partner listed in Partners & Clients section.
• Radio LabminorOthersMedia organization partner listed in Partners & Clients section.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Yoto: Yoto makes screen-free audio player devices for kids and curates third-party content. It is both a Tumble distribution partner and an adjacent player shaping the kids audio hardware ecosystem.
• Tonies: Tonies produces the Toniebox, a screen-free audio player for kids, and licenses children's content onto its platform. Comparable as a hardware distribution channel and emerging player in the kids audio ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Storynory: Storynory is a long-running free children's audio storytelling podcast featuring myths, fairy tales, and original stories. Comparable as an established kids audio content producer with a similar audience engagement model.
• Pinna: Pinna is a subscription-based podcast app and original content producer focused exclusively on kids audio. It is the most directly comparable kids audio content platform, competing with Tumble for the same parent/child listener base.
• Gen-Z Media (formerly Gen-Z Media): Gen-Z Media produces original narrative fiction and educational podcasts for kids and families (e.g., The Unexplainers, Marsfall). Directly comparable as a kids/family podcast production studio serving the same audience and licensing into the same hardware partners.

Broad incumbents

• Wondery: Wondery is an Amazon-owned podcast production company and network with deep production capabilities. It is a broader incumbent in podcast production, with the resources to enter and dominate niche categories like kids audio.
• Sesame Workshop: Sesame Workshop is a major children's educational media organization producing TV, digital, and audio content. Comparable as a large incumbent in educational kids content that competes for the same parent/educator attention and curriculum partnerships.
• Gimlet Media (Spotify): Gimlet Media is a Spotify-owned premium podcast production company producing narrative and branded podcasts. It is a broad incumbent with production capabilities and resources well beyond Tumble's.
• NPR (NPR Kids & Family): NPR produces podcasts across formats including kids and family content and operates as a major public media distributor. Larger incumbent in the broader podcast/audio space with overlapping but broader portfolio.

Others

• Common Sense Media: Common Sense Media reviews and curates kids media including podcasts and has named Tumble among its Best Educational Podcasts. It is an adjacent ecosystem player — content rater/recommender — rather than a direct producer, but influences audience discovery and educator adoption.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tumble-media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tumble Media