Listen Now

No one likes being sick. The fever, fatigue, and the nasty stuff that comes out of you is NO FUN! But how much of what happens to you when you're sick is caused by GERMS, and how much is actually your body's IMMUNE SYSTEM helping you? Take a journey with us into your IMMUNE SYSTEM on today's super sick episode of Who Smarted? as we go to Club Gut to find out how it all works. Your kid will learn that having a fever is your body fighting off germs! By raising your body temperature, a fever heats and kills some germs and stuns and slows down other germs, buying time for your body's immune system to attack them! They will also learn that different types of immune cells take different action, depending on what's required: Some gobble up invasive bacteria, others emit antibodies that stop invaders from multiplying, while other inject germs with toxins that cause them to explode! And they'll discover that when stuff comes out of either end of your body from being sick, that's your body's way of literally ejecting toxins from your system. So, as much as it stinks, it's actually just your body doing its job. Some bonus info about your skin: Your skin is actually a part of your immune system, and is your body's first line of defense. Besides being literal armor your skin cells also perform specialized functions that neutralize infections bacteria, so it is an active immune organ. All that defending against the environment takes its toll, and your skin sheds around thousands of dead skin cells every hour! That adds up to about 9 pounds of dead skin cells every year, so a family of four is shedding around 3 pounds of dead skin cells every month! So yes, though we can't say MOST of the dust in your house is dead skin, it is definitely true that a large percentage of the dust in your home is actually dead skin cells. And that's not gross at all... Nope.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mirror, mirror on the wall...why do I see my reflection at all? On this 12 minute episode of Who Smarted? our Evil Queen will learn how her Magic Mirror works, why we all look different in photos than in the mirror, the science behind how mirrors are made, and the surprising history of the first mirrors! Your kids will discover that the first mirrors were made from rocks - yes, rocks! Specifically obsidian, which is a shiny volcanic rock that can be polished to a glass-like finish. They will learn that modern mirrors are mostly made by spraying aluminum onto glass. And they will learn the reason your face often looks weird in photos is simply because you spend more time looking in mirrors, which flip your image. A photo is actually truer to what other people actually see -- but because you rarely see yourself that way it 'flips you out.' Listen anywhere you get your podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, OR at our site Who Smarted?, where you can also get a FREE episode guide with more information and activities for the kids.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laughter is a great way to release stress, bond with friends & family, and just have fun. It's also why some people end up accidentally WETTING themselves! On this episode of WHO SMARTED?, we'll visit a disastrous rehearsal of Romeo & Juliet -- where the problem isn't that Juliet forgot her lines -- it's that she has a bad case of the giggles and cannot stop LAUGHING. Your kids will learn how laughing can be a way to shield yourself from troubling emotions which is why people sometimes laugh at bad news, or when someone trips and falls. Of course, sometimes someone falling is just plain funny. They'll also learn why laughing can sometimes make you lose control of your bodily functions! Because laughing causes a very fast contraction and release of abdominal muscles, it can actually confuse your bladder - making you pee! And they'll learn that people are more likely to laugh in a group than alone - furthering the theory that laughing evolved partially as a way to bond people together -- just like the Cavemen in today's episode! And if you want to make more memories with your kids with fun after-episode educational activities, go to www.WhoSmarted.com and grab our free newsletter, which is chock-full of easy ways to keep the learning going.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who doesn't love ice cream? Well - on this episode of Who Smarted? it turns out that our special guest Ice doesn't love our OTHER special guest Cream - but maybe by the end of the episode they'll figure out how to work together. (Spoiler alert: they do!). And want to know why there's seaweed in almost all flavors of commercial ice cream? Then sign up for today for our free email, which includes crazy facts like that + more activities to do with your kid.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waves - we usually think of them as something we do when saying goodbye, or when we're at the beach. But there's a kind of invisible wave we interact with all the tie. Sound waves are always around us, and somehow our brain turns these pulses of pressure into what we call "hearing". Come join our special guest Madame Sounds-a-Like on this journey into the world of sound. Keep the learning going after the episode with awesome free exercises at www.WhoSmarted.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Who Smarted? a friendly leprechaun enlists the help of his new digital assistant O'Siri to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Spoiler alert: There is no pot of gold, because there is no end of the rainbow!  Turns out rainbows aren't actually arches - but what they are, and why you see them, is super interesting.  Want the free study guide for every episode?  Sign up at www.WhoSmarted.com and please add to our growing 5-star reviews on Apple podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People love dogs! And what's not to love? Dogs are loyal, helpful, kind, & fill our hearts with joy (and our brains with oxytocin!) They make wonderful companions which is why, during the pandemic, dog adoption rates have doubled, and in some places there are now waiting lists for furry friends that stretch into 2021. Today's episode, DOGS, is for every human who loves dogs - and every dog who loves their human. In other words - it's for everyone! Enjoy! And for some of the LATEST information about our bond with dogs, check out Smithsonian Magazine's excellent article this month The New Science of Our Ancient Bond with Dogs. And to keep the learning going, sign up now for the free episode guide at www.WhoSmarted.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Children love music! (YES, we know, adults do too!) And one reason is because music creates emotions in your brain. But ever wonder how music causes your brain to feel emotion? Why do screechy high note and rumbly low notes make you feel scared? And why do major keys make everyone feel happy? You've got questions - we've got answers in a very interactive episode of Who Smarted? And please, if you LOVED listening to this episode as much as we loved making it, kindly take a second and tell a fellow parent or educator about our show. More listeners = more we can do for everyone. And get our free guide to learning and activities in every episode at www.WhoSmarted.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kids love to stay up past their bedtime - and so do grownups! But why do we have bedtime at all? Why is sleep so important, and why does it naturally happen at night? And what does sleep have to do with memories, unicorns, and a flying trapeze? All your questions about shut-eye are answered on today's episode of Who Smarted? For more great resources about sleep, check out the non-profit Sleep Foundation. And to get every episode delivered right to your inbox along with educational support materials, join us at Who Smarted? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's special guest Thor is a charming Platypus, a creature so odd that when scientists first saw a specimen they assumed it was a taxidermy hoax.  Learn about how this crazy animal mashup happened and how the platypus can see through mud on today's episode of Who Smarted?  www.WhoSmarted.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does a bad snowstorm and a bucket of peaches have to do with basketball? And why are basketballs orange?  Find out on today's bouncy episode of Who Smarted? www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OK you'll probably never be stuck inside a whale, but by spending this episode inside one of these amazing creatures, you'll discover how much you and the whale have in common!  And for free educational resources for parents & teachers, check out www.WhoSmarted.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A drought made skateboards popular, but how?  And how did skateboards get their shape? Get ready for a smooth ride through history on this episode of Who Smarted?   For more kids' skateboarding resources check out: Skate Like A Girl - promoting inclusion, confidence, leadership and social justice through skateboarding. Boards for Bros - giving all kids a chance to own a skateboard and experience self-reliance, perseverance, and physical and interpersonal skills Skate-Aid - creating world peace through skateboarding - seriously. Check them out. Skatepark project - find a skatepark near you with the skatepark finder, from this organization that was formerly the Tony Hawk Foundation www.WhoSmarted.com www.facebook.com/WhoSmarted     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anxiety - it isn't just for adults! On this episode of Who Smarted? kids get tips on where anxiety comes from and how to manage it.  Get ready to slay the worry monster on Who Smarted? www.whosmarted.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The toothbrush was invented in jail - by a prisoner! How did that happen? And how did toothbrushing become a regular daily activity in the 1950s? You'll travel to Egypt, London, and more in this episode that will get your kids excited to brush!   For more great Toothbrushing resources check out the Chompers podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's that smell? It's broccoli! In this episode you'll get a new appreciation for broccoli, learn who invented it, how to make it taste good, and even find out how to make it not smell so bad! You'll journey from ancient Rome to America on a time-bending adventure with broccoli!  Join our Who Smarted? community at www.Facebook.com/WhoSmarted.  And get the free study guide at www.whosmarted.com.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did a home-schooled kid become the greatest inventor of all time? To this day no one holds more invention patents than Thomas Edison!  Find out and inspire your kids on today's fun-filled episode of Who Smarted? And please like & follow us on Facebook for more ... www.facebook.com/WhoSmarted www.whosmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Explosions, lasers, fire, footsteps - these are the audio cues that bring movies and TV shows to life. But most of them are created AFTER the movie is shot, in a sound effects process called Foley Art. Learn about how sound effects work and how kids can make their OWN sound effects, on this episode of Who Smarted? And if you haven't already, join the 10,000+ parents receiving our free home activities newsletter at www.WhoSmarted.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the real story behind pizza? We love it plain, with toppings, to go, and while we watch TV - American's alone eat 3 BILLION pizzas a  YEAR! Find out the history of pizza on this week's episode of Who Smarted? And get the free study guide at www.WhoSmarted.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What goes up must come down, right? But why?  And what is gravity? Find out all this and more on this fun, game-filled episode of Who Smarted? and get the free study guide and home activities at www.WhoSmarted.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.