Julian Shapiro-Barnum knows better than most that wisdom can come at any age

Julian Shapiro-Barnum knows better than most that wisdom can come at any age. From his New York-based show Recess Therapy, Shapiro-Barnum shows us that the most poignant thoughts come from our youth. While kids take center stage on Recess Therapy, Shapiro-Barnum is the heart of the show, speaking to the guests with compassion and levity, whether they're global superstar Charli XCX or a Brooklyn elementary school student.

Recess Therapy stemmed from Shapiro-Barnum’s senior thesis while a student at Boston University, in which he interviewed kids on the playground during the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s grown is a social media empire of sorts with Recess Therapy accounts gaining millions of followers and subscribers across TikTok (2.7 million), Instagram (3.2 million), and YouTube (1.32 million).

The show has produced many viral moments. Ever used that sound of a kid lamenting his love of corn? You have Shapiro-Barnum to thank for that. The show has gone beyond the playground, with Shapiro-Barnum and his crew of kids interviewing celebrities like Margot Robbie and Ryan Reynolds on red carpets.

So what’s next for Shapiro-Barnum? His first book, How to Grow Up Without Becoming a Grown-Up, will be published by Penguin Random House later this year.