La Sociedad Fantástica de Niños Curiosos (“the fantastic society of curious kids”), a podcast produced by Primo Media (a brand belonging to the Juan Diego Network), was recently honored with the 2024 Gabriel Award for Best Podcast Series. The awards ceremony, held last June 20 in Atlanta, recognizes excellence in Catholic media and has honored works that uplift and nurture the human spirit since 1965.
José Manuel De Urquidi, founder of Juan Diego Network, expressed his gratitude: “It is an incredible honor to receive this recognition. Our mission has always been clear: to create and produce quality content that spiritually educates and nourishes people and accompanies them to a sacramental life. At a time when the concept of love is very distorted, it’s extremely important for children to discover true love.”
La Sociedad Fantástica de Niños Curiosos captivates its young audience by following the adventures of five children as they explore the true meaning of love. The podcast educates and entertains, helping children understand different types of love –including brotherly and Christian love.
A testament to God’s love
Jim Wahlberg, brother of actor Mark Wahlberg and a producer of Catholic films, served as master of ceremonies for the Gabriel Awards. Wahlberg shared his personal journey of addiction and crime, and how meeting Mother Teresa transformed his understanding of God’s love. His testimony underscored the importance of early spiritual formation, in keeping with the mission of La Sociedad Fantástica de Niños Curiosos.
Celebrating excellence in Catholic Media
The Gabriel Awards, organized annually by the Catholic Media Association, honor outstanding productions that promote human dignity and Christian values. This year’s 58th edition in Atlanta highlighted works in various media, including film, television, radio and new media, and recognized projects for their quality and inspirational messages.
Quality Catholic content for youth
The winning podcast stood out for its innovative approach to teaching children about love in an engaging way. De Urquidi emphasized the need for quality Catholic content to compete with secular entertainment giants and social media: “As the Catholic Church has always done, we must evangelize and catechize through beauty and truth.”
Recent statistics from the Pew Research Center and V Encuentro show a decline in young Hispanic Catholics in the United States, underscoring the urgency of reaching Latino children and youth. The Juan Diego Network aims to address this need by providing content that connects children to their faith.
