What if your first storytelling partner was a stuffed squirrel?

This episode introduces YY, the thread running through Ben’s entire identity arc. It explores early emotional resilience, solo play as narrative training, and how childhood imagination becomes the foundation for adult creativity. If you’ve ever wondered how emotional intimacy, memory scaffolding, and voice develop in childhood, this is your entry point.

Keywords: emotional storytelling, childhood memory, creative voice development, reflective parenting, stuffed animal psychology, identity formation through narrative

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Full Transcript:

YY and Me Episode 1: Ben Chan and YY, Timelessly Bound

(Opening motif – plucked AE–AE, DA–DA, GD)

Hi everyone – it’s Ben Chan. And this is my furry little sidekick, YY.

YY’s voice:

“Testing… testing… um, this is WEIRD.”

It is, and that’s the point, actually.

YY’s voice:

“Whaat?”

Yeah. This is my – our – opportunity to tell our story.

What we’ve built, what we’re building, and…

YY’s voice:

“Yeah?”

Yup. Let’s just be ourselves.

Ready? Here goes.

Around 40 years ago, my parents bought me a stuffed animal.

He was a furry, reddish-brown squirrel with a Y-shaped nose.

I don’t remember exactly where the name came from, but it stuck. YY.

My mom made a yellowish bear we called Jason Junior—modeled after Home Ec creations my brother and I made in middle school.

Ducky was a bluish, bird-looking guy with a quiet charm.

Jason Junior, Ducky, and YY became a trio of recurring heroes in my drawings and stories.

Over time, Jason Junior’s neck frayed slowly, and Ducky’s wings and legs came off.

YY has definitely aged as well, looking more and more frail.

But their personalities, experiences, and sentimental value have deepened.

Actually, Jason Junior is tucked away in a crate, alongside my journals and awards from school.

Ducky is currently perched on top of my bedroom dresser.

YY plays with the kids regularly.

The trio is still home.

YY’s voice:

“You got that right!”

I sure did.

Together, these three fueled my early childhood.

I spent a lot of time playing in my room, alone, inventing voices and backstories and plots.

I was a pretty shy kid overall.

I rarely raised my hand in class, often ate lunch alone, and felt like a shadow compared to my siblings—both older and younger.

But when I was with my stuffed animals, I felt different.

I was the creator of worlds, orchestrator of emotion…

YY’s voice:

“Captain of… the Author Ship!”

Uh, sure, YY.

Captain of the, uh, Author Ship – that works.

And the thing is, part of my mind was inventing through my characters.

My imagination unlocked when I looked at ideas through each lens.

They all came from me, but partitioned—separated into distinct roles.

Of course, I had no idea I was doing this back then.

YY has absolutely kept my inner kid alive.

It’s not every day you see a seasoned professional wearing a tie with a squirrel-shaped clip—handmade by one of his kids.

Or a crate full of The Adventures of YY tucked behind old journals and awards.

All still here.

YY’s voice:

“Yup, we’re all still here. So… what’s next?”

Honestly, you’ve gotten me through a lot.

At 42, I’ve seen well-intentioned plans fall apart—in music, business… family.

Maybe there are other people – parents, professionals, builders – who could learn something from what we’ve lived.

YY’s voice:

“Worth a try, I guess!”

I agree.

Next time, we’ll talk about practice.

And what happens when you keep doing something over and over…

but it still doesn’t work.

See you then.

YY’s voice:

“Bye!”

(Closing motif)