Tumble Science Podcast for Kids

Why do some trees go dormant? You’ll discover the answer for yourself in this interactive episode, with the help of tree scientist Nalini Nadkarni! Nalini has loved trees since she was little, and dreamed of inventing a special tree microphone to ask them questions. But she found the scientific process was a way to get answers, no special equipment needed. Nalini will guide you through making observations, asking questions, and discovering why trees shut down for the winter.  Special resources for this episode are available on the blog for this episode, at sciencepodcastforkids.com. Do you wonder how trees know WHEN to go dormant? We answer this question on a special mini episode, available to Tumble Patrons who pledge just $1/month or higher. Go to patreon.com/tumblepodcast to support the show and get access to all our audio extras.

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. This is the first episode of Season 6, and we’re so glad to be back! We’ve got so many great science stories to share with you. 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.

All new episodes of Tumble are starting on Friday, September 18! We have a preview of what’s coming (for kids!) and helpful advice from a teacher (for parents!). Our co-host Marshall has been a teacher for almost 17 years. He’s putting together a podcast mini-series for parents on Patreon called, “Tumble Teaching Tips.” In this first episode, he answers a BIG question: “How do I keep my kid(s) engaged in online learning?” You’ll learn about two research-based ideas to keep your child motivated - both in school, and in life. We hope this gives Tumble families some tools to navigate this unusual school year. Marshall will be doing more “Tumble Teaching Tips” on our special Patreon feed. If you’d like to sign up to listen, and receive all our other great rewards, pledge $1 or more a month at patreon.com/tumblepodcast.  We can’t wait to share what’s to come!

Tumble will return with Season 6 in September! In the meantime, please enjoy one of our favorite episodes from Season 5. Craving new Tumble? Check out our brand new audio course on Himalaya Learning at himalaya.com/tumble! “The Wildlife Of Your Home” has new episodes every week. Use code TUMBLE at checkout for a free 14 day trial. “What’s the oldest dinosaur?” “How did dinosaurs come alive?” We tackle two listener questions in one epic story of dinosaur domination. Scientist Jessica Whiteside takes us back in time to the dawn of the dinosaurs, 230 million years ago. The story involves fascinating fossils, intense lava eruptions, climate craziness, and dinosaurs doubling in size. We’re going to find out what happened, and how scientists discovered it all. Hear more from our interview with Jessica Whiteside and discover the bizarre ancestor of the dinosaurs! You can listen to our bonus episode (and many more!) when you pledge just $1/month or more to support Tumble on Patreon, at patreon.com/tumblepodcast. Learn more about dino-tastic topics covered in the show on our blog, at sciencepodcastforkids.com.

New Tumble episodes are coming next month, in Season 6! For now, please enjoy one of our favorite episodes of Season 5, with NASA astronaut Dr. Serena Auñon-Chancellor. How do you become an astronaut? That’s what Tumble listener Margaret wants to know. We go straight to the source to get an answer: A NASA astronaut! Dr. Serena Auñon-Chancellor shares her journey to outer space with us. Starting from being a kid watching shuttle launches, to her school’s Astronaut Club, all the way to NASA’s Astronaut Candidate program, and finally to the International Space Station. Serena also shares the surprising truth about doing science research in space. Join us on her path to the stars!

We're so excited to share the first episode of The Wildlife of Your Home Podcourse with you! We think of it as a true crime science story, happening in your own home. But don't be scared - this is definitely a kid-friendly who-dunnit!  The Wildlife of Your Home is an interactive, educational audio experience - based on one of our favorite episodes of Tumble! Join me and scientist Rob Dunn for a 10 part series that will show your home in a whole - new - way. You’ll meet fascinating creatures and solve the mystery of what lives inside your home. Better yet, you’ll get the tools to do real science - starting a journey that can continue long after you finish the course. If you’ve ever enjoyed hunting for bugs, this course is for you. Go to learning.himalaya.com/tumble and enter promo code TUMBLE at checkout to get your first 14 days free.

Join Tumble for a first-of-its-kind, interactive, educational audio experience. The Wildlife of Your Home Podcourse is a 10 episode series that will train you to become an indoor wildlife investigator - a rare kind of scientist! You’ll learn about ecosystems, by discovering the unknown creatures you wake up with every day. As you listen, you’ll be writing, observing, and getting on your hands and knees to explore. And best of all, you’ll be doing REAL SCIENCE - contributing to a worldwide scientific effort to study indoor ecosystems. The Wildlife of Your Home is coming to you this July, exclusively on the Himalaya Learning Platform. Himalaya Learning provides bite-sized courses from world-class thinkers and industry experts for you to enjoy in the app, on the go. Not only will you receive all of our premium episodes, but you’ll also have access to educational PDFs to guide and expand your discovery. To listen to this audio course and others like it, go to learning.himalaya.com/tumble and sign up to pre-enroll and get your early bird discount.

Mystery Recipe is a children’s podcast about cooking from America’s Test Kitchen Kids. Hosted by Molly Birnbaum (our guest on “The Science of Smell”), the series is a journey through different ingredients, all leading up to a grand finale cook along! The recipe is a MYSTERY—will you be able to guess what it is? Today we’re featuring the first episode. If you like what you hear, the first season is available wherever you get your podcasts. Tumble is working on exciting new projects, and we’ll be sharing them with you soon! Stay tuned for more!

Stoopkids Stories is a storytelling podcast about Black characters navigating and overcoming different obstacles with family, friends and community. It’s hosted and written by performer Melly Victor. This episode, called “The BB Twins” is all about dance. It’s about two twins who hit it big with a dance they upload to the internet. Their success opens a big new opportunity - but is it one they want to take? We hope you enjoy the story, and maybe it will start some important conversations! You can subscribe to Stoopkids Stories wherever you listen to podcasts. To find more podcasts featuring Black voices and Black creators, check out the podcasts on this list by the School Library Journal. Tumble is taking a break from regular episodes, but we’ll be back with some VERY SPECIAL PROJECTS we have in the works, throughout the summer! And don’t worry, birthday shoutouts are still in effect! To get one, just pledge at the $5 level or higher at patreon.com/tumblepodcast.

How would you reinvent something that’s been used for thousands of years, by millions of people? In this episode, we discover the process of invention with Rory Cooper, an engineer who revolutionized the wheelchair. He’s our guide to time traveling back to the kings and queens who used wheelchairs, and to the future of rideable robots. Anyone want a ride on a Mars rover?! Listen to more of our interview with Rory Cooper, when you become a member on Patreon! Just $1/month gets you access to our special bonus interview episodes with all our scientists. Pledge at patreon.com/tumblepodcast.  Watch videos of Rory’s wheelchairs (including the waterpark wheelchair in action!) at our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com.