Looking for children’s media consulting services?
Please email your request and project details to me at: screenspire[at]gmail[dot]com
Want to Interview Josanne?
Please email your request and interview details to me at: screenspire[at]gmail[dot]com
Client Portfolio
Television Series and Films
- Zokie of Planet Ruby (Nickelodeon Animation): Cultural Consultant
- The Hamster Show (Nickelodeon Animation): Cultural Consultant
- Ariel (Disney Junior): Cultural Consultant – initial character designs
- New Series (Dreamworks Television Animation): Educational Consultant
- Builder Brothers Dream Factory (Sinking Ship Entertainment): Cultural Consultant
- Total Drama Island (Fresh TV): Cultural Consultant
- The Twits (Netflix Animation): Cultural Consultant
- ONI (Netflix Animation): Cultural Consultant
- The Spiderwick Chronicles (Roku): Cultural Consultant
- Donkey Hodie (Fred Rogers Productions): Educational Consultant
- Odd Squad UK (Sinking Ship Entertainment): Educational Consultant
- Strawberry Shortcake (WildBrain): Cultural Consultant – Visuals
- Caillou (WildBrain): Cultural Consultant – Visuals
- Dino Dex (Sinking Ship Entertainment): Curriculum Researcher
- Stay Tooned (Fathom Film Group): Documentary Researcher
- Scrooge (Netflix Animation): Cultural Consultant
- Millie Magnificent (Nelvana): Cultural Consultant
- [Contact Josanne for information about other projects]
Interactive Media / Video Games
- OK Play: Playtesting Researcher
- Sago Mini / 2023 Black History Month Printables: Cultural Consultant
- 3 mobile app projects for Netflix Games: Cultural Consultant
Press
News and Podcast Interviews
- The Eyeopener – Should you be on a social media detox? (Jan 2026)
- Kidscreen – Why The Little Mermaid’s box office is good news for the kids biz (May 2023)
- Clear the Air by Jenna Phillips – Authentic Representation in Children’s Media (March 2023)
- CBC News – Why Encanto’s We Don’t Talk About Bruno is dominating the charts (February 2022)
- CBC News – The Wiggles among children’s TV shows increasing diversity (November 2021)
- CBC News – Sesame Street features Ghanaian Canadian’s short film with Black voices front and centre (February 2021)
- Toronto Star – Who Do our Children see in Canadian and American TV Shows? (Jan 2021) (Soft paywall)
Conferences, Workshops, and Speaking Engagements
- UPCOMING: Children’s Media Lab: Navigating Youth Digital Wellness for Parents and Teachers Seminar (Jan 2026)
- Scarborough Civic Centre: Youth Mental Health Summit (Dec 2025)
- University of Toronto, St. George: PSY204H1S: Psychology Careers and Applications – Guest Speaker (March 2023 / Feb 2024 / Feb 2025)
- Toronto Metropolitan University, Children’s Media Lab: Making Content with Impact for 10-14 Year Olds: The Power of Positivity (June 2024)
- Toronto Metropolitan University, Children’s Media Lab, & Media Innovation Research Lab: Middle Schoolers and Screens: Reimagining the Positive Potential of Media for 12- to 14-year-olds (March 2024)
- Toronto Metropolitan University: Black Culture / Pop Culture Youth Media Conference (Feb 2024)
- University of Toronto, St. George: Rotman Commerce Entertainment and Media Group & Rotman Commerce Arts Group: Intro to Film Panel and Networking Event (Jan 2024)
- University of Toronto, St. George: Rotman Commerce Entertainment and Media Group: Careers in Media Panel Discussion (Nov 2023)
Publications
Scholarly Research
- Buchanan, J. (2024). How Does Dialogic Questioning Affect Young Children’s Science Learning Outcomes After Shared Ebook Reading? TSpace. 1-30. https://utoronto.scholaris.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/3e41da36-af05-4ddd-81c3-ec98190fe296/content
Children's Tech & Media Industry Papers
Madden, M., Rood, E., & Buchanan, J. (2022). Content and platform innovation with youth. Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop. https://joanganzcooneycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/jgcc_contentandplatforminnovation.pdf