OG Blue's Clues Host Is Launching a Podcast for Grown-Ups
For the millennials who grew up in the late '90s to early 2000s, Steve Burns—the first ever host of Blue's Clues—not only provided entertainment through the show with an animated dog, but he also became that generation's mentor. His specialty? Solving puzzles, following clues, and exercising basic critical thinking—a skill set that needed to be harnessed at a young age. So, you can just imagine the rollercoaster of emotions when the empathetic character abruptly left the show in 2002 with no goodbyes, then gave us closure only 19 years later through a video post. (He really just went to college.) His 2021 revelation resonated with his childhood best friends everywhere—all of whom are now grown-ups and with their own lives, likely grasping straws.
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And so, it is only proper that Burns is returning to give us more clues, this time through a podcast about adulting. This was announced through his TikTok/Instagram channel (@steveburnsalive) on June 26, where he recorded himself saying:
"People have been asking how I'm doing, and honestly, I'm a little freaked out by the world. Seems like lots of people are shouting, and really no one is listening. But that gave me an idea. You know how there's like a billion podcasts that you can listen to? What if we made one that listens back? I think it could be a really cool idea. It would be part podcast, part conversation. Kind of like this. I don't know. I try to keep it short over here, but links in the bio. Meet me over there. I want to hear what you think. I want to hear your ideas. This could be cool. You look great."
A longer clip on his YouTube channel, titled "Alive With Steve Burns," reveals more about this venture.
"Here's what I'm thinking. So, it's basically a societal requirement at this point that everyone has a podcast. So why don't we have one? You and I. Yeah. I mean, it could basically be what we've always done. You and I have always been about this deep and curious investigation of our world, in search of these little bits of information that lead to greater understanding, right? And we would even sit somewhere, always, with the intention of being super thoughtful about it. I don't know, it sounds like a podcast to me. I mean, it used to be about shapes and colors and letters and numbers and vegetables and stuff, but now it could really be about death and sex and taxes and everything that makes it so weird and wonderful to be alive. I don't know. I think it sounds pretty cool, but I want to know what you think. I want to know your thoughts. So leave some comments here. Tell me what you might want to discuss, what you might want to see. Tell me what you think a podcast that listens could be. I'm excited. I am. I'm excited," he says, echoing the call to action of the shorter IG/TikTok Reel.
While the podcast is for adults, it seems that the format is in the same vein as when the younger Burns would come close to the television screen, pause, and eagerly listen to what his viewers had to say. We can already see this in the YouTube clip that dropped right after, "Long Form Listening Opportunity," where the Blue's Clues host really just pauses and listens.
"Hey, there you are. What's going on? How you doing?," he starts. He looks at the screen, nods, and says his "Uh-huh" and "Mm-mmm", as if he's actively listening to someone on the other end. And he probably is. This goes on for about two minutes, and he ends with, "Thanks for sharing all that, and as always, it's great to see you, and you look great." The last phrase is reminiscent of his viral 2021 clip that ended with: "You look great by the way. Whatever it is you’re doing, it's working."
The podcast will explore themes of personal growth, creativity, and the complexities of adult life, offering a platform for Burns to delve into topics that resonate with his now-grown audience. It is set to debut on the podcast network Lemonada Media in the fall of 2025.
Jessica Cordova Kramer, CEO of Lemonada, is quoted in several reports: "Adults need to be shepherded through life just as much as kids do, and Steve is the perfect person to do it. He taps right into your inner child, helping listeners feel delight, comfort and curiosity. From the moment we saw Steve’s videos on TikTok during the pandemic, we knew we had to work with him."
