Why Kids Need Stories About Belonging and Friendship Right Now | Jasmine Warga

What can a cheetah and a rescue dog teach us about trust, friendship, and belonging? In this episode, Tricia Friedman sits down with bestselling author Jasmine Warga to talk about her newest book and the powerful themes at its heart: vulnerability, unlikely friendships, and the courage it takes to let someone truly see you. Inspired by a real program in zoos where rescue dogs are paired with anxious cheetahs, Warga's story explores how connection can help both animals—and humans—feel less alone. Through the voices of a cheetah and a dog, the book opens up conversations about anxiety, trust, identity, and the universal desire to belong. Together, Tricia and Jasmine explore how storytelling helps young readers navigate big emotions, why animals can sometimes say things humans cannot, and how asking questions—rather than providing answers—is often the most powerful way to write for young people. They also go behind the scenes of Warga's writing process, from messy notebooks and long walks to the surprising freedom of writing a "zero draft." This conversation is a powerful reminder that the stories we share with young readers can help build empathy, connection, and community. 🎧 Podcast Chapters 00:00 — Welcome + Why This Story Matters Right Now Tricia introduces Jasmine Warga and shares why the new book immediately resonated with her. 01:20 — Why Trust and Vulnerability Sit at the Heart of the Story Jasmine explains how the book explores the courage it takes to let someone see your "soft parts." 02:00 — Why the Story Is Told Through a Cheetah and a Dog How animal characters help young readers open their hearts to difficult conversations. 03:30 — The Real Zoo Program Behind the Book The fascinating practice of pairing rescue dogs with anxious cheetahs. 05:00 — How Jasmine Built the Two Main Characters Finding the emotional core of Chase the cheetah and Finnegan the dog. 07:10 — Why Everyone Needs to Hear "You're Good" A powerful moment about reassurance, belonging, and emotional validation. 07:45 — Jasmine Warga's Writing Process Walking, daydreaming, music, and asking questions instead of chasing answers. 09:15 — The Music That Soundtracked the Book Why The National and "You've Got a Friend in Me" became part of the creative process. 10:00 — Why Unlikely Friendships Matter for Kids How stories can help young readers connect with people who seem different from them. 12:10 — Experimenting as a Writer From A Rover's Story to a cheetah and a dog—why Jasmine loves exploring new storytelling lenses. 14:00 — Why Jasmine Starts Every Book with Questions How curiosity drives the themes of belonging and identity. 15:30 — The Power of the "Zero Draft" A strategy for overcoming perfectionism and writer's block. 17:10 — Which Character Is Jasmine Most Like? A fun reflection on perfectionism, identity, and the author's personal connection to the story. About Jasmine Warga Jasmine Warga is a bestselling and award-winning author of books for young readers. Her stories explore themes of belonging, identity, friendship, and emotional courage, helping young people ask big questions about the world and their place in it.