

Tumble Science Podcast for Kids
Tumble Media
A Common Sense Selection! Exploring stories of science discovery. Tumble is a science podcast created to be enjoyed by the entire family. Hosted & produced by Lindsay Patterson (science journalist) & Marshall Escamilla (teacher). Visit www.tumblepodcast.com for educational content.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 14, 2025 • 23min
What Sounds Do Fish Make?
What sounds do fish make? 🐟🎶 We know that cows say moo, and sheep say baa, but what do fish say? Come explore “Under the Sea” to discover the chorus of fish noises with help from fish ecologist Audrey Looby. We’ll find out how fish can be sneaky, loud, and even “slimy, grumpy cuties” (Audrey’s words) who go boop boop - and what they can tell us about life underwater. 🌊
You can learn more about Audrey, and find a transcript of this episode on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com.
Support us on Patreon! You’ll get ad free episodes, special chances to be on the show, and of course, birthday shoutouts, when you sign up at the $5 level at patreon.com/tumblepodcast.
Find out what we’re up to - from live events, merch drops, and more when you subscribe to our newsletter, on sciencepodcastforkids.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube.

Oct 29, 2025 • 26min
Are Ghosts Real?
Join science historian Efram Sera-Shriar, who delves into the intriguing world of ghost investigations. Discover how 19th-century scientists explored spiritualism, attended seances, and used experimental controls to debunk tricks. Learn about Thomas Edison's ambitious spirit phone idea and Michael Faraday's inventions aimed at testing ghostly phenomena. With the rise of spirit photography, curiosity about the supernatural continues, but science remains skeptical. Efram shares tips on how to investigate ghost sightings, sparking a fun discussion on the unknown!

Oct 17, 2025 • 25min
The Dino Butt Fossil
Dr. Diane Kelly, a biologist from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and expert in animal anatomy, explains the quirky side of dinosaurs. She unpacks whether dinosaurs, like dogs, sniffed each other's behinds. Through a fascinating discussion of a well-preserved Psittacosaurus fossil, Diane reveals how researchers use cloaca anatomy to infer dinosaur behavior and chemical communication. The conversation highlights the link between anatomy and behavior, leaving listeners intrigued about the smelly secrets of the prehistoric world!

Oct 3, 2025 • 25min
Tumble Mailbag: Season 11 starts Oct 17 + Your Universe Questions!
This is our final Mailbag episode before all-new stories of science discovery arrive on Friday, October 17. Lindsay and Marshall share behind-the-scenes updates on what’s coming up in Season 11 — plus a special challenge to guess the topics of our first three episodes!
Then, astrophysicist Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi (host of NOVA’s Particles of Thought and judge on Netflix’s Baking Impossible) joins us to tackle your big-universe questions:
How does your body know you’re in a black hole?
How do asteroids form?
Why don’t we feel dizzy as Earth spins?
And… what dessert would be best to eat in space?
Plus we read your reviews, share how to support Tumble, and send in your own guesses and stories. Next time, we kick off a brand-new season of science adventures!
LINKS!
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/tumblepodcast
Yoto cards: https://us.yotoplay.com/products/animal-facts-critter-curiosities-gross-science-pack
Audiobook: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/single-post/tumble-media-announces-first-audiobook-collaboration-with-rbmedia
Merch store: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/
Want to hear Aidee's Album "Nothing Rhymes With Orange?" Just click here. (https://platoon.lnk.to/nothing-rhymes-with-orange)

Sep 19, 2025 • 30min
The Wild Axolotl - And Tumble en Español is Coming Back!
We have a big announcement: Tumble en Español is returning on September 25th!
This is a rebroadcast of an episode of Tumble from last season. If you can't wait to hear the Spanish-language version, just go subscribe to Tumble en Español wherever you get your podcasts.
Why are there so many axolotls in fishtanks, and so few in the wild? That’s what Maximiliano wants to know. You may have found axolotls in the lush caves of Minecraft, but in real life, they live in the lakes and canals of Xochimilco, near Mexico City. But the species is slowly disappearing from its native habitat. Axolotl veterinarian Horacio Mena takes us on a journey to Xochimilco to find out what scientists are doing to save these adorable amphibians.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2415575.
Want to hear Aidee's Album "Nothing Rhymes With Orange?" Just click here. (https://platoon.lnk.to/nothing-rhymes-with-orange)
Also don't forget to support Tumble on Patreon by going to patreon.com/tumblepodcast.
Our t-shirts can be found at tumblepodcast.dashery.com.
Also subscribe to Tumble en Español wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://pod.link/1521514886
You can also find more resources about axolotls on our blog at sciencepodcastforkids.com.

Sep 5, 2025 • 27min
Tumble Newsflash: Yoto Cards, Audiobook, & Your Plant Questions!
There’s so much happening in the world of Tumble, and we’re excited to share it all with you! Plus we answer questions about plants with the help of plant biologist Carina Baskett.
Tumble Yoto Cards
A brand-new pack of 3 cards with Tumble episodes on our most popular themes - Animals, Bugs, and Gross Science - for the Yoto audio player!
Get it 20% off during Yoto’s Back to School sale on educational cards: https://us.yotoplay.com/products/animal-facts-critter-curiosities-gross-science-pack
Tumble Science in the Field: Europe
Our first ever audiobook featuring science adventure episodes in Europe! Find it where you get your audiobooks:
Audible , Libro.fm , Hoopla , Audiobooks.com , and more!!
Tumble Live Events!
Cambridge Science Festival in Cambridge, MA - Sept 21
Princeton Public Library, Thursday September 25th
The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University. Saturday September 27th
Connecticut River Museum in Essex, CT - October 11
Lincoln Center, NYC - February 7, 2025
We can’t wait to see you there.

Aug 22, 2025 • 24min
Tumble Mailbag: The Science of Questions and What State of Matter Is Fire?
Is fire a liquid, a solid, or is it even matter at all? And what is the science of asking good questions? Lindsay and Marshall dig into the Tumble mailbag to answer listener questions with the help of Tumble's science advisors, and respond to reviews! Somehow, the whole "cats are evil" thing just refuses to die.
We want to hear from you! Send us YOUR science questions, and let us know what you think of this mailbag episode! Here's how to do it:
Email Lindsay & Marshall at tumblepodcast@gmail.com
Upload a voice recording on our website sciencepodcastforkids.com
Want to support Tumble on Patreon? Go to patreon.com/tumblepodcast, and for a limited time you can get 75% off the first month using the code BTS2025 at check out!
You can also stream Science Songs vol. 1 here, or find the album on Bandcamp here.
Our merch store is tumblepodcast.dashery.com, where you can find the bird jacket t-shirt!

Aug 8, 2025 • 24min
How Big is the Universe?
Dive into the incredible story of Henrietta Leavitt, the groundbreaking astronomer who helped measure the universe's vastness through her work on variable stars. Discover how her discoveries revolutionized astronomy and challenged societal norms for women in science. Hear about the Galaxy Zoo project, where citizens contribute to astronomical research, and explore humanity's ongoing fascination with galaxies beyond the Milky Way. Join in the excitement of scientific exploration and the journey of understanding our cosmic home!

Jul 25, 2025 • 29min
Tumble Mailbag: Four-Leaf Clovers, Brains, Fish & Infinity!
Do you know why four leaf clovers are so rare? Or if just one side of our brain can fall asleep? Why do fish have different colors, and how big is infinity? Lindsay & Marshall dig into the Tumble mailbag to answer listener questions with the help of Tumble’s science advisors, and respond to reviews! (Yes, we’ll talk about cats.)
We want to hear from you! Send us YOUR science questions, and let us know what you think of this mailbag episode! Here’s how to do it:
Email Lindsay & Marshall at tumblepodcast@gmail.com
Upload a voice recording on our website sciencepodcastforkids.com
Donate to Central Texas Flood Relief: bit.ly/tumbletexasfloods
Support Tumble on Patreon: patreon.com/tumblepodcast
Stream Science Songs Vol. 1 here!

7 snips
Jul 11, 2025 • 41min
Summer Episode: Science Songs and Games!
In this lively chat, Erica Fink, the singer behind 'Sometimes But' from the band 'Eric and Erica', shares the excitement of their new album, Science Songs Vol. 1. The conversation is a delightful mix of catchy songs and fun games, exploring topics like the speed of capybaras and playful interactions with pets. Listeners are invited to engage in quizzes about fossils and planets, while also diving into the whimsical world of dinosaurs. Erica's infectious enthusiasm brings science to life through music, making learning an adventure!


