This Kids' Podcast is “True Crime” with a Twist
Think back to a time that you broke a rule. Do you remember why you did it? Was it to defend yourself or because the rule was unfair? Was it simply because you wanted to break it?
“Ooh You’re in Trouble” continues the narrative beyond the broken rule. It delves into the reasons that motivated the defiance, the lessons learned from it, and how those moments can be defining. The result? A show that’s funny, educational, insightful, and messy. Just like growing up!
David Nadelberg is the Executive Producer and Co-Creator of “Ooh You’re in Trouble” and a self-titled troublemaker. He took some time to share with us how making a show for kids is different than making a show for adults, and how this show breaks rules in the best way.
“Ooh You’re in Trouble” is not about breaking rules, but the reason why someone broke the rules. Why is it important to tell that part of the story?
When we were fleshing out the initial premise, Neil [Katcher, Co-Creator and Executive Producer,] Hadley [producer and sound engineer,] and I spoke a lot about not wanting to make this a show that shames kids for acting up or breaking a rule. Likewise, we did not want to always praise. Breaking a rule is neither inherently a good or bad thing. Sometimes people break rules because they're acting selfish, sometimes people break rules to help make life better for others.
But the one thing that both instances have in common is that breaking rules helps people, especially kids, learn and grow. We wanted to do a show where kids and adults hear fun, fascinating stories that ask big, ethical questions. There’s inherently something dramatic about stories where a person is trying to navigate the consequences of their choices.
Just like our work with “MORTIFIED,” this show is also using personal storytelling to create empathy. You learn a lot when you experience the world through someone else.
What makes for a good “Ooh You’re in Trouble” story and how did you find them?
Our stories feature kids who repeatedly get in wayyyy over their heads. It’s a comedy show but there’s a lot of suspense. Hearing kids try to get themselves out of jam is what makes the show so fun. Whether it’s a kid making a questionable decision to lie to their parents or a kid who seeks outlandish revenge against a teacher or bully, these types of stories transcend generations. We love stories where kids make a bold choice, break a rule, and get unexpected consequences.
Merk Nguyen narrates the show as LV.
This show is narrated by that Little Voice inside your head — aka “LV” — played by Merk Nguyen, who is also co-host of Adult ISH. How does LV help bring these stories to life?
LV is the conscience of the show. The character voices what the audience is thinking or feeling. LV is a little neurotic and mischievous at times, and it’s been fun seeing LV’s persona evolve. Initially, LV began as the Jiminy Cricket type of character — the inner voice of our interviewee. But eventually, it became clear to us that LV is actually the inner voice of the audience, not so much the interviewee. So LV is the show’s ethical center. As LV, Merk really helps the audience connect with each story. Merk’s tone is exactly what the show needs — welcoming and fun and weird.
How did you land on Merk as the LV for the show?
When Neil and I were writing the first two episodes, there were some people we had in our heads. For me, Merk was one of those voices I kept hearing in my head. I did a guest spot on Merk’s show, “Adult ISH,” right around the time we were developing “Ooh You're in Trouble,” and during the recording of that, I got the sense that she might be the right fit as our narrator. She’s got a lot of energy and that is perfect for the frenetic and fun tone of Trouble. We considered a series of people for the LV role, and everyone delivered fantastic performances. But Merk’s energy stood out as the best match.
What kind of listener is This Podcast made for?
“Ooh You’re in Trouble” is a blend of three genres — personal storytelling shows like “MORTIFIED,” true crime shows, and educational series for kids. For kids, I like to say this is a show about what happens when kids do stuff they’re told not to do. For parents and educators, I like to say that this is a comedy show that’s secretly about ethics. Every kid likes to test boundaries. SO this show is relatable to anyone.
How is making a show for preteens and teens different than making a show for adults?
What I love about making “Ooh You’re in Trouble” is that it balances two things — silliness and sincerity — in a way that isn’t done frequently in pop culture. We have episodes featuring talking blankets, talking vegetables, even ghosts — and yet we tackle serious stuff like bullying, racism, financial struggles, disabilities, and sexism. That’s a tough thing to balance but I’m proud of our team for walking that line.
Neil, Hadley, and I have been producing the “MORTIFIED” podcast for years together, so comedy is our comfort zone. That said, adult audiences often roll their eyes at comedy that gets too ridiculous or absurd. It’s been refreshing to make something that’s wacky. Adding to that, our whole production team — Hadley, Neil, Charlene, CC, Rachel, myself, and others — served as actors on the show. This helped infuse our production with an energy that made it welcoming, loose, and celebratory.
What will we hear on OYIT that the podcast world hasn’t heard before?
“Ooh You’re in Trouble” is essentially “true crime for kids.” Not in the literal sense, since our show is not about violating laws so much as violating rules — be they school policies, social norms, household rules, cultural traditions, and sometimes yes, even laws. Each episode, kids break a rule and get in way over their heads.
Some episodes feature heists, other episodes feature revenge or kids sneaking around. To adults, the stakes might seem low. But we do our best to put you in the kid’s shoes and feel the danger they felt. Our show has a lot of hijinx and suspense, stuff that you typically associate with thrillers, not kids.
As far as shows for tweens are concerned, we are among the few comedic personal storytelling formats for young people. It’s been fun bringing years of expertise in the personal storytelling world due to “MORTIFIED” into this different space.
Does “Ooh You’re in Trouble” break any podcasts or storytelling “rules”?
We’re a nonfiction series, and yet we do a lot of absurdist reenactments and fantasy sequences. That isn’t something that typically is allowed to happen in a non-fiction podcast. That’s a tradition we are proud to break.
There was a fear at first that re-enactments might cheapen the sentiment of each story or undercut each story’s believability. But I am really proud of the balance. Our editor, Hadley, did a great job juggling both aspects. Another producer, Charlene, did a great job helping us scout and develop stories that could blend reality with reenactments.
Okay, we have to know: what kinds of rules did you break as a tween? How did that impact you as you grew up?
I often fought with teachers if I felt they were bullying someone or not treating kids with respect. I was never shy about standing up to an authority figure. Now that I am older, I realize that I didn’t need to be so combative with authority figures in order to communicate. But those battles as a teenager taught me that a person’s voice, no matter how young, can be powerful. Getting to spotlight young people’s voices is the most #1 rewarding part of making “Ooh You're in Trouble.”
What do you hope is the impact of this show?
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For kids, I want kids to hear this and be able to apply it to their own lives. I hope kids will make smarter ethical decisions after hearing the show.
For adults, my dream is that they will realize this show is 100% for them, too. These are great stories, regardless of age. Each episode asks big ethical questions about topics — lying, envy, shame, defiance — that adults can relate to because they are issues they still confront.
In 2020, we spent months working on two projects. A podcast for tweens — “Ooh You're in Trouble”— and a party game for grownups called I Can’t Believe I Did That, where adults get to ask friends questions about childhood. And one of the things that became clear making both simultaneously, was that while yes, adulthood and childhood offer different experiences, they offer the exact same issues.
The issues you faced as a kid are still the same issues you face as a grown up. So that is why this is a show for all ages. I hope this show sparks conversations for families.