
Tumble Science Podcast for Kids
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.
Latest episodes

Oct 29, 2021 • 21min
The Jack O'Lantern Science Mystery
Why do carved pumpkins rot faster than uncarved pumpkins? That’s what Ari, an 11 year old podcast host, wants to know. To find out what’s making good Jack O’Lanterns go bad, we turn to squash detective/ scientist Michael Mazourek. Together, we track down clues to crack the case - and find out how we make a Jack O’Lantern last forever.
Learn more about pumpkin science, like the shocking truth of what’s in your can of pumpkin puree (spoiler alert: it’s not pumpkin), with the free resources on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com.
We have a special bonus interview episode about how to breed vegetables, with Michael Mazourek! It’s available for Patrons who pledge just $1 or more a month on patreon.com/tumblepodcast. Find out what it’s like to make a brand new pepper!

Oct 15, 2021 • 18min
Where Does Laughter Come From?
How do you find out why we laugh? With tickling, of course! Gorillas and other great apes appear to love being tickled, and sound like they’re laughing just like us. Animal biologist Marina Davila-Ross thought tickling might connect humans and great apes - and hold the clues to the origin of laughter. To find out, she assembled teams of ticklers in an experiment full of giggles. It’s the silliest science you’ve ever heard, but the discoveries will blow your mind.
Learn more about laughter in animals and humans in our interview with Marina Davila-Ross. Listen to the bonus interview episode available to Patrons who support Tumble at the $1/level or higher, at patreon.com/tumblepodcast.
See videos of gorillas being tickled, and more free educational resources on our blog at sciencepodcast.com.

Oct 1, 2021 • 16min
How to Be an Ocean Explorer
Want to explore the hidden treasures of the deep sea? Come on board the EV Nautilus, a research ship that searches the seafloor with the help of robot submarines! Our guide is Taylorann Smith, who’s on her third trip on the ship! We’ll witness a whalefall, meet the submarines, and learn how Taylorann discovered what it really means to be a marine biologist.
Want more? You can visit the Nautilus from home! Join Taylorann and the Nautilus team on live deep sea exploration expeditions online at nautiluslive.org. Check out their exciting animal discovery videos, fun try-at-home activities, and explorer career features to envision yourself as a future ocean explorer!
Taylorann has an amazing story of how she found her way to the Nautilus. Hear it on our bonus interview episode, when you pledge $1 or more a month on Patreon! patreon.com/tumblepodcast
We’ll have more links and our favorite Nautilus materials on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com.
This episode was supported by The Ocean Exploration Trust with support from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Audio from the Whalefall is credited to Ocean Exploration Trust / NOAA ONMS.

Sep 17, 2021 • 19min
The Worst Sounds in the World
What are the worst sounds in the world? Lots of noises that can send your hands rushing to cover your ears, but only a select can be the most horrible! Fortunately, one brave acoustic scientist named Trevor Cox decided to find out, by asking hundreds of thousands of people to rank the worst of the worst sound. It was one of the first online sound experiments - and the result was a lot of fun!
Note: This episode features sound effects, and if you’re sensitive to sounds, you may want to skip it.
Hear more about this pioneering internet psychology study on our bonus episode with Trevor Cox, available to Tumble patrons who pledge $1 or more a month! Pledge now at patreon.com/tumblepodcast
Learn more about the horrible sounds experiment on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com.

Sep 13, 2021 • 2min
Tumble Season 7 Starts September 17!
Tumble's seventh season is coming at you THIS FRIDAY! Here's a little taste of what's in store.
While you're waiting, why don't you share Tumble with a friend instead of anxiously refreshing your podcast app all week? Just send them your favorite Tumble episode, show them how to subscribe on their phones, or even share a link to our website where we have lots of educational resources! We'll thank you now, and your friend will thank you later.
See you here on September 17!

Sep 3, 2021 • 19min
What's Inside of An Atom? [ENCORE]
We’re only two weeks away from starting our new season, with all new episodes, on September 17! We’re putting the finishing touches on the first episode as we speak, and we can’t wait to share it with you. But for now, enjoy one of our most favorite episodes about what everything in the universe is made of.
What are protons, neutrons, and electrons made out of? That’s what listener Xander wants to know. Physics expert Aatish Bhatia takes us on a journey into the atom, and explains how scientists discover things that are too small to see. You’ll find out how Albert Einstein helped prove the existence of atoms, and why physicists smash particles like pinatas in massive tunnels.
Learn more about this episode on the blog on our website.

Aug 20, 2021 • 20min
The Poop Collector [ENCORE]
Tumble will return with all new episodes for Season 7, starting September 17! In the meantime, enjoy one of our favorite episodes of Season 6.
If someone asked you to collect your poop every day for a year, would you say yes? That’s what microbiologist Lawrence David did, after watching a movie about a man who said yes to everything. Accepting the challenge led to a year of very stinky international adventures, turning Lawrence into the James Bond of poo. And, he loved every minute of it. Join us for the incredible story of a secretive project about the human microbiome.
Want to learn more about Lawrence and why we are what we eat? Watch curated videos, listen to related podcast episodes, and discover the cutting edge science on a blog for this episode at sciencepodcastforkids.com.
Find out what Lawrence eats, and if he’s good at dealing with bad smells, in a special bonus episode for Patreon supporters. The answers will definitely surprise you. Just go to patreon.com/tumblepodcast and pledge just a dollar a month to hear it, and all our other scientist interviews.

Aug 6, 2021 • 1h 20min
Science Pirates Road Trip
Arrrrr! Join two of our favorite pirates on an adventure across the seven seas of science. In this ocean-themed road trip compilation, you'll hear a bunch of our favorite ocean episodes. Whether it's going on a deep-sea expedition with the JOIDES resolution, attending the largest whale shark party in the world, or collecting whale snot with tiny robots, this episode will take you all over the world's oceans.
This road trip episode includes:
The Expedition of the Science Ship
The Snot and the Whale
The Science of Whiskers
The Voyage of the Ocean Trash with Jenni Brandon
The Case of the Whale Shark Party

Jul 23, 2021 • 18min
Tumble Presents: Yoga Kids Adventure
Tumble Media has a new podcast, Yoga Kids Adventure! Lindsay and Marshall share why we decided to make a yoga podcast for kids, and how to use the show! Then, try out our first episode. It's a trip to the beach!
With Yoga Kid Adventures, you can do yoga from anywhere! All you need is your ears, your imagination, and a safe place to move. In today’s adventure, we’ll salute the sun, splash in the waves, and spot some ocean animals. Get ready to stretch your imagination and your body.
You can subscribe to Yoga Kids Adventure anywhere you get your podcasts, or on our website at yogapodcastforkids.com!
We'll be back with more summer Tumble programming soon!

Jul 16, 2021 • 3min
Yoga Kids Adventure - A new yoga podcast from Tumble Media!
From the makers of Tumble, meet Yoga Kids Adventure - the first ever yoga podcast for kids! Lindsay and Marshall give a sneak of our brand new yoga podcast in this mini-episode.
Yoga Kids Adventure host and kids’ yoga teacher Kathryn invites young yogis to join her on creative journeys through movement. Stretch out with a morning swim at the beach, or calm your body before bedtime in a cozy bear cave. Wiggle with wild animals on a safari or lift off from your chair as you breathe and bend among the stars.
Subscribe and go on your first yoga adventure, wherever you listen to Tumble! Check out the website at yogapodcastforkids.com.
Return to these routines as many times as you want, and do them anywhere that you want! This podcast brings free family yoga to you in your living room, classroom, and even outdoors.