Shabam! artwork

Shabam!

23 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 200 ratings

The science podcast that'll eat your brain. Shabam! is a new type of science show that blends fictional stories with real science. If you love science but hate those awkward scientist interviews that involve graphs and confusing metaphors, you’re in luck. First off, Shabam! is an audio program - so no graphs. And second, through the magic of sound effects and music, you’ll hear stories that reveal the awesomeness in the world around us - like cellphones and vaccinations. In season one, our main story is about three kids separated from their parents during a Zombie apocalypse. Over the course of 10 episodes we follow their quest to reunite with their families. But their experience leads us to another conclusion - that there’s a lot of science all around us that we take for granted. And finally, you may be wondering whether we’ve added silly songs and jokes to make up for the fact that we can’t show you graphs. Yes we have. Also, we only interview cool scientists who aren't awkward, which means the whole family can enjoy it!

Kids & Family Science Natural Sciences brain disease learning science survival humor kids music narrative teenager
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Episodes

Connections - Episode 5

August 01, 2019 01:03 - 16 minutes - 23.2 MB

It’s time for another BIG connection..and this one involves all of us. Well, not literally that would be crazy (we can’t include 7.7 billion people on a 15-minute podcast episode) - it’s a metaphor! And a metaphor is like a simile in that it exists only in our minds......which is also part of the episode! (Literally.)

Connections - Episode 4

April 03, 2019 22:55 - 8 minutes - 11.5 MB

In this episode of connections we’re using the month of April as a reminder of the important connection shared by Ben Franklin and George Washington Carver. Hint: it’s not the glasses (Carver didn’t wear glasses so that is obviously wrong).

Bonus 3 - Rat Hunt

February 19, 2019 23:08 - 14 minutes - 20 MB

Whether you're looking for flying humanoids or orange tree-dwelling rats, the scientific steps that lead you to the truth are the same. In this bonus episode we'll take a little trip with Dr. Lavery, our mammalogist from Episode 10, on his quest to find proof of a unique species of rat living on the island of Vanganu.

Connections - Episode 3

January 18, 2019 00:40 - 9 minutes - 13.2 MB

In this episode of Shabam Connections, we go down a rabbit hole; Roman symbols, talking omelettes, french suitcases, and sporks - if you’re gonna make some connections you have to break some nursery rhymes. ANNNNNNND it’s all connected to January!

Connections - Episode 2

November 21, 2018 23:05 - 9 minutes - 13 MB

We go from turkeys to smuggling poop to New Zealand!

Connections - Episode 1

November 05, 2018 03:32 - 9 minutes - 13.3 MB

In this episode of Shabam Connections, we take you on a journey of tangents and non-sequiturs (actually that's what every episode of Connections is, since that's kind of the point). It's like 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon except we start with Zebras and end with an 18th century classical composer. Also, tidbits from the Zombie Medicine Conference, aquatic animals, whiskey, and Shakespeare. It's a wild ride!

Bonus 2 - School's Out! But This Episode Will Make You Love Homework

May 25, 2018 20:37 - 12 minutes - 16.9 MB

So, schools out and summer is here and no doubt there are a lot of listeners who are excited that they’re not sitting in a classroom or doing homework. Well, Shabam! is here to explain why doing homework and going to school is a luxury. Before 1938, if you were a kid who didn't have super wealthy parents, you’d probably be working…all day. Shabam will take you back less than a hundred years so you can appreciate last month.

S1:E10 - Part 2 - The Truth About The End

February 26, 2018 19:23 - 31 minutes - 43.1 MB

The last piece of the puzzle falls into place as Nadine searches for answers. In this episode you’ll get more tips on how to hunt for monsters and seek out the truth. We turn our attention to the skies above Chicago and the trees on the Solomon Islands for a lively “bat chat.”

S1:E10 - Part 1 - The Truth About The End

February 26, 2018 19:18 - 28 minutes - 40.1 MB

The kids finally arrive at Vandenberg but the journey’s not over. In this episode we’ll show you how to sort out fake truths from real fakes, and “truthier trues” from less “truthier trues” (to start, stop using the word “impossible”). Yes, that sounds impossible...but it’s probably not. Also we’ll answer the question: Should you trust your best friend?

S1:E9 - Part 2 - Killing Zombies

August 14, 2017 13:21 - 27 minutes - 38.6 MB

The kids run into a problem. We explore the physiology of the zombie body.

S1:E9 - Part 1 - Killing Zombies

August 14, 2017 13:10 - 18 minutes - 26.2 MB

The kids continue their journey. We explore the zombie brain.

Bonus 1 - Transportation Networks and Snot Paths

May 15, 2017 22:50 - 6 minutes - 12.2 MB

A little more about snot and highways.

S1:E8 - Part 2 - On The Road

March 31, 2017 23:45 - 30 minutes - 42.4 MB

The bike journey continues. We explore navigation.

S1:E8 - Part 2 - On The Road

March 31, 2017 23:45 - 30 minutes - 42.1 MB

The bike journey continues. We explore navigation.

S1:E8 - Part 1 - On The Road

March 31, 2017 23:24 - 23 minutes - 33.3 MB

The kids begin their journey to Vandenberg on bikes. We find out about transportation.

S1:E7 - Starving Time

November 16, 2016 03:37 - 33 minutes - 46.1 MB

The kids decide to hit the road in search of food and safety. We find out how crazy our food supply is.

S1:E6 - Drying Out

August 26, 2016 23:05 - 28 minutes - 40 MB

The kids lose water. We find out why water is the key to survival.

S1:E5 - Going Dark

June 30, 2016 00:52 - 31 minutes - 43.9 MB

The kids are without power. We find out why we need electricity.

S1:E4 - Getting The Message

May 16, 2016 06:18 - 30 minutes - 42.9 MB

The Nox Virus spreads. We find out how much we rely on digital communication. 

S1:E3 - The Epidemic

April 05, 2016 00:39 - 30 minutes - 42 MB

The Nox Virus gets released. We find out how an epidemic starts.

S1:E2 - The Pathogen

March 01, 2016 19:44 - 29 minutes - 40.9 MB

If you like having a brain but don't really care about having skin, please listen to this episode.

S1:E1 - Brain Traps

March 01, 2016 19:41 - 27 minutes - 38.6 MB

Your brain is a wonderfully complex piece of organic equipment that's supposed to tell you the truth about the world around you.

Season 1 Teaser

February 22, 2016 17:00 - 1 minute - 2.69 MB

We’ll follow three kids separated from their families during a zombie apocalypse. Throughout the journey, hosts and creators Josh Kurz, Wendy Roderweiss, and Dr. Mel Herbert weave in jokes, science, historical factoids, and interviews with leading experts. Season 1 starts with the reason we do science in the first place and then tackles topics ranging from digital communication, the power grid, and the immune system, to Polynesian voyagers, and the Underground Railroad.