SolveItForKids podcast
206 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago -Solve It! for Kids - The science podcast for curious & creative kids and their families.
Peek into the world of real-life scientists, engineers, and experts as they solve problems in their every day jobs. Kids and families are then invited to take on a challenge and solve a problem themselves! Join Jennifer Swanson and Jeff Gonyea as they ask questions, solve problems, and offer challenges that take curiosity and creativity to a whole new level.
Don’t forget to participate in our weekly challenges!
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Episodes
Why are Whales Important?
April 23, 2024 04:40 - 31 minutes - 29.6 MBHave you ever wondered why whales are important to the planet? On our special Earth Day edition of the podcast, we talk with Dr. Emme Devonish, an Amelia Island Whale Ambassador, as she discusses how whales contribute so many things to our ecosystem. You can learn a lot about right whales who live on the east coast of the U.S. Every episode of this award-winning podcast for kids (of all ages) takes you behind the scenes of a scientist, engineer, or expert's day on the job. Packed with fu...
How Do Birds Fly?
April 16, 2024 04:40 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBHave you ever watched birds soaring in the sky and wondered... How do they fly like that? Our guest, Alex Troutman, wildlife biologist and science communicator, is here to explain it all. A lifetime birding enthusiast, Alex turned his interest in birds into a job as a scientist. He now shares all of his awesome knowledge with us. Every episode of this award-winning science podcast for kids and families takes you behind the scenes of a scientist, engineer, or expert's day job. Packed ...
How Will AI Affect Learning to Code?
April 09, 2024 04:30 - 42 minutes - 39.6 MBArtificial Intelligence (AI) is on everyone's minds these days. What is it? How can it help me? Is it a good thing to learn to use? Our guest, Peter Kuperman Founder and CEO of HATCH Coding, answers all of those questions and more! Peter gives us a very user-friendly analogy for how to think of coding that's as simple as setting the table. Don't miss this intriguing episode. Every episode of this award-winning podcast for kids (of all ages) takes you behind the scenes of a a scientist, e...
How Do Dolphins Recognize Humans?
April 02, 2024 04:27 - 26 minutes - 25.7 MBHave you ever wondered how dolphins respond to their trainers? Do they actually recognize humans? Learn the answer on today's show from dolphin trainer Griselda Mora as she explains how smart dolphins are and talks about how you can become a dolphin trainer one day! Participate in this episode's challenge: Build something out of recyclables, like an ocean creature. Award-winning podcast for kids, parents, teachers, homeschoolers, and anyone who is curious about science and STEM care...
What's it like to be a Civilian Astronaut?
March 26, 2024 04:30 - 32 minutes - 30.6 MBHave you ever wanted to go to space? Meet Chris Sembroski, civilian astronaut member of Inspiration4, a historic orbital mission that took four civilian astronauts to space. Chris shares his amazing experience with us. Hopefully, he'll inspire one of you to head to space, too!
How Do You Study Exoplanets?
March 19, 2024 04:30 - 33 minutes - 31.9 MBWhat types of planets are way out in space and how do scientists study them? We have the awesome Dakota Tyler, astrophysicist and science communicator at DT Star Kid on our show to talk all about the fascinating field of exoplanets. You won't want to miss this out-of-this-world episode!
How Much is there Still to Learn About the Ocean?
March 12, 2024 04:30 - 38 minutes - 35.9 MBHow much do we know about the ocean? And how much is there still to learn? TONS! Aquanaut and scientist Brian Helmuth is on our show today to talk about all of the amazing things he has learned about while studying the ocean for his entire career. Listen and celebrate our 200th episode with a repeat visit from our very first amazing guest!
What Would it Look Like if We Lived in Space?
March 05, 2024 05:30 - 29 minutes - 41 MBWhat do you think it would look like if we lived in space? Would we have houses? Mobile homes? Moon buggies? What kind of food would we eat? Entrepreneur and Axiom astronaut John Shoffner is here to talk to us about what it's like to live in space for a short time. And he challenges us to participate in the International Space Art and Poetry Contest to share your ideas!
How do Old Wind Turbines Blades Become Art?
February 27, 2024 05:30 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBHave you seen those giant wind turbines across the country? Ever wondered what happens to the blades when they have to be replaced? They can be recycled! Take a listen to our guest, Brian Donahue, with Canvus, a company who manufactures furniture out of old wind turbine blades. You may have some of these awesome structures in your community right now. What an awesome combination of STEM, ART, and recycling.
Where Could We Find Life in the Solar System?
February 20, 2024 05:30 - 33 minutes - 46.5 MBWe now know that the universe is vast and filled with billions of stars. But where could we find life? It's such a big place to search, so why not start with our own solar system. What are we doing to search for life here? Natasha Carr, a PhD candidate studying physics and space science at the University of Leicester, has a lot of thoughts about this. She is sharing them with us today. Don't miss this excellent out-of-this-world episode!
How Long Can Humans Live Underwater?
February 13, 2024 05:30 - 28 minutes - 26.6 MBHumans have live over a year in space, but how long can they live underwater? Not many people can answer that question, but our amazing guest can. Known as Dr. Deep Sea, Dr. Joseph Dituri has spent 100 days living underwater. He is on our show to tell us what it was like and how exciting it was to experience the ocean up close!
How Can You Use Music to Get Kids Excited About STEM?
February 06, 2024 05:30 - 39 minutes - 36.7 MBHow can you get kids excited about STEM? Put it to music! That's exactly what our guest today has done. Victor Villegas is a Digital and Technology Coordinator for Oregon State University by day and the "DroneSinger" at night! You'll want to tune in to hear how Victor turns STEM topics in to amazing music and songs. You may even get to hear one performed on the show!
Why Do Science at Sea?
January 30, 2024 05:30 - 29 minutes - 27.9 MBHave you ever wondered how scientists learn about the ocean? They do science at sea! We have Science Communicator Erin Winick Anthony who is currently onboard the Joides Revolution ship as the scientists study cores of the ocean floor to learn about climate change (Jan 2024). This episode includes a fun video on our website so be sure to check that out!
How Can You Prepare for the Total Solar Eclipse?
January 23, 2024 05:30 - 30 minutes - 28.6 MBAre you aware that there will be a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024? This amazing event doesn't happen very often, so you should really try to see it. But how can you prepare to see one? Dan Schneiderman, Eclipse Partnership Coordinator at the Rochester Museum and Science Center is here to give us tons of tips. Don't miss this awesome episode or the eclipse!
How Do You Study the Smallest Things?
January 16, 2024 05:30 - 32 minutes - 45.8 MBWelcome to the 8th season of Solve It for Kids! We start our new season off right by exploring some of the tiniest things in the universe... particles you can't even see. Dr. Katy Grimm, associate professor of physics at Cal State University East Bay and her research is performed at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research that operates the large Hadron Collider. In other words, Dr. Katy is one of the best people to answer our episode topic because she STUDIES some of the smalles...
The BEST of Launching a Rocket!
January 09, 2024 05:30 - 31 minutes - 29.7 MBThe Solve It for Kids Podcast team is on their last week of holiday break. Please enjoy this out-of-the-world episode about launching rockets. You'll hear clips from guests who are talking about getting ready for a launch, moving rockets, and what it's like to blast off in a rocket. Look for our new season to start next week!
The BEST of Energy and Engineering
January 02, 2024 05:30 - 28 minutes - 27.7 MBHappy 2024! The Solve It for Kids Podcast team of Jennifer and Jeff are still on holiday break. We have left you a few clips from some of our favorite episodes about energy and engineering. Get ready to ... learn how to get energy from the wind, learn how drinking water gets to your house, and also how you get materials from the Earth. Such wonderful STEM topics to explore!
The BEST of Extreme Places to Live
December 26, 2023 16:18 - 28 minutes - 27.9 MBThe Solve It for Kids podcast is on holiday break! Please enjoy some snippets of our favorite shows about Living in Extreme Places! You'll "visit" an underwater habitat, Mars, and learn how plants live in extreme environments. Wishing you all a very Happy Holidays. See you in the new year!
The BEST of Amazing Animals
December 19, 2023 11:25 - 26 minutes - 25.1 MBThe Solve It for Kids podcast is taking a holiday break! Please enjoy clips from three of our favorite episodes about amazing animals! You'll learn about how to help native bee populations, how to count penguins, and also why some jellyfish have stinging snot. Happy Holidays!
How Do You Build a Space Station?
December 12, 2023 05:30 - 40 minutes - 37.8 MBTwenty-five years ago, last week (December 6, 2008), the International Space Station was created. Bob Cabana, astronaut and Associate Administrator of NASA, was on that special mission. He is with us today to talk about what it felt like to be a part of that historic event, his amazing career at NASA, and also to encourage kids (of all ages) to pursue their dreams whatever they may be.
Do Animals have Feelings?
December 05, 2023 05:30 - 31 minutes - 29.9 MBHave you ever wondered if your pets or animals have feelings? Dr. Carl Safina, best-selling author, a TED speaker, and a leader in the field of conservation biology. He is on our show to give his expert insight into just what our animals might be thinking. Don't miss this fun and exciting episode!
What it's like to Blast off on a rocket?
November 28, 2023 05:30 - 34 minutes - 33.6 MBHow would it feel when blasting off to space? We have the amazing Astronaut Nicole Stott on our show today to tell all about this and also to share many more awesome experiences that she has had while in space. Don't miss this out-of-the-world episode!
Do All Jellyfish have Stinging Snot?
November 21, 2023 05:30 - 39 minutes - 37.1 MBDo all jellyfish have stinging SNOT? This is a question you probably never thought to ask, but now really want to know the answer to, right? Well, take a listen to the awesome Jennie Janssen, assistant curator at the National Aquarium and President and cofounder of MIAZS as she explains this rather intriguing and little known characteristic of some jellyfish.
Why is the International Space Station so Important?
November 14, 2023 05:30 - 30 minutes - 28.9 MBThe International Space Station, (ISS) orbits the Earth 16 times every day. But it's so much more than just a spacecraft. The ISS is a laboratory in space that provides awesome information about living and working in microgravity. Listen to Erin Winick Anthony, science communicator, founder of STEAM Powered Media, and former NASA engineer explain just how important the ISS is to us here on Earth.
What Skills do Space Entrepreneurs Need?
November 07, 2023 05:30 - 30 minutes - 29.4 MBHave you ever considered being a space entrepreneur? What is it? And How can you become one? Our guest, Vered Cohen-Barzilay, CEO of Out of the Box Space Innovations will explain how YOU can become a space entrepreneur yourself!
How Would you Send a Message to an Extraterrestrial?
October 31, 2023 04:30 - 38 minutes - 36.1 MBIf you could send a message to an extraterrestrial, what would it say? What language would you use? How would you deliver it? These are all great questions and ones that we discuss in this fun and informative chat with Julia Brodsky, STEM Education lead at Blue Marble Initiative and former NASA Astronaut instructor, as she helps us to consider some things that we might think about IF we were ever to converse with an extraterrestrial.
How Do You Hack Your Ability to Learn?
October 24, 2023 04:30 - 34 minutes - 32.1 MBHave you every really thought about how you learn? What are your good and not-so-great habits of learning? We have Dr. Justin Sung, medical doctor, researcher, certified teacher, learning coach, and CEO of ICanStudy.com on our show today to talk about how to "hack" your brain to learn more efficiently. Get ready to learn HOW to learn!
What Would it be Like to Live on Mars?
October 17, 2023 04:30 - 34 minutes - 32.5 MBHave YOU ever wondered what it would be like to live on Mars? We have just the right person to answer this question. The awesome Janet Ivey Duensing, Creator and CEO of Janet's Planet and the Director of Education for Explore Mars! You'll leave this episode wanting to don your spacesuit and head to the red planet soon.
What's it like to Fly a Plane Across the Ocean?
October 10, 2023 04:30 - 32 minutes - 31 MBHave you ever wondered what it's like to fly one of those giant airplanes across the ocean? We have Cran Middlecoat, pilot and aerospace nerd, on this episode to tell us all about it. Cran is not only a pilot, but also a huge advocate for STEM and most of all kids in aviation and aerospace, as he's also the founder of It's Rocket Science!
What's it like to Live Underwater?
October 03, 2023 04:30 - 34 minutes - 32.8 MBWould you like to live underwater? It would definitely be different but so cool! Take a listen to awesome aquanaut Liz Magee, as she shares all of the amazing adventures she had under the sea.
How Do You Make Sound for a Movie?
September 26, 2023 10:46 - 33 minutes - 32.1 MBWhen you watch a movie, how much do you pay attention to the sound? If it's done right, sound is one of the biggest effects that makes you feel like you're really "in" the movie. We have the awesome Bob Pepek, Sound designer and owner of MelonCollie Productions, to explain just how sound is created and added to a movie, cartoon, or video to make it come alive!
How Do You Program AI Robots?
September 19, 2023 04:30 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBIf you've been listening to the news lately, you know that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere. So, is it possible to get your own robot? Maybe not now, but one day. And when that day happens, Dr. Elliott Heflin, Jr., CEO/Founder realitytechs.com is here to tell us how easy it can be to program an AI robot. How cool!
How Do You Fly a Helicopter on Mars?
September 12, 2023 04:30 - 31 minutes - 30.2 MBHave you every wondered just how difficult it is to fly a helicopter on another planet? It's not easy! Keri Bean an engineer who worked on the Ingenuity helicopter that has flown on Mars explains exactly how it's done. Don't miss this exciting and informative chat!
How Does Drinking Water Get to Your House?
September 05, 2023 04:30 - 31 minutes - 29.4 MBWhen you're thirsty, you probably just turn on a tap and water comes out. You may not think about how that drinking water got to your house. Our guest, Charles (Trip) Barton, a civil engineer with a large American water company, will explain just how that happens.
How Do You Protect Native Bees?
August 29, 2023 04:30 - 30 minutes - 43.6 MBDid you know that there are red bees, green bees, and even blue bees? We didn't! Don't miss this fascinating episode all about native bees and how we can help protect them from bee lover Julie Travaglini, Senior Director of Education and Curriculum at Allegheny Land Trust.
How Do You Get a Rocket Ready for Launch?
August 22, 2023 04:30 - 35 minutes - 33 MBHave you ever wondered how those giant space rockets are prepared for launch? It takes a lot of planning and testing. We are excited to chat with Nathalie Quintero, an aerospace engineer with Boeing who works on the on Space Launch System (SLS) program as the Core Stage Launch Operations Lead. Doesn't that sound like a cool job? Take a listen and find out some amazing facts about how to get a rocket ready for launch
What Would Happen if we didn't have Magnets?
August 15, 2023 04:30 - 33 minutes - 31.4 MBThis is probably not a question that you would think to ask, but it's actually a very important one. What DO magnets and magnetism do for us? A LOT. Take a listen to this fascinating chat with Dr. Dario Arena, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at USF as he explains just how important magnets are to our everyday life
What is an Atmospheric River?
August 08, 2023 04:30 - 38 minutes - 36.4 MBHave you been watching the news and heard the term -- atmospheric river? Well, our guest, Dr. Kristine Harper, is here to explain what one is and how they affect our planet. Don't miss this very intriguing chat about weather science and STEM careers
How Can you Solve a Problem Using NASA Data?
August 01, 2023 15:21 - 31 minutes - 30.2 MBDid you know that NASA collects all kinds of data about our world? You can learn about clouds, trees, weather patterns, planets, moons, deep space and more. And the cool thing is all of this data is open to the public. Cindy Chin, NASA Datanaut, joins us for an exciting and informative chat about ways you can use this data. She also tells us about NASA's Data App Challenge and gives us information about how to participate!
The BEST of Thinking Like an Engineer
July 25, 2023 04:30 - 24 minutes - 23.5 MBThe Solve It for Kids Podcast is on vacation for the month of July. But we have left you a great clip of three episodes that show the BEST of Thinking Like an Engineer! Listen to short chats from these three amazing guests: Dr. Jermey Matthews (Ep 91: How Do Scientists Get Kids Excited about STEM?), Dr. Cory Hixon (Ep. 77: How do Engineers Think?) and Tracy Drain (Ep 124: How Do You Study Another Planet's Moon?). Enjoy these fun and interesting topics and see you next week for new episodes!
The BEST of Space Exploration (to the Moon)
July 18, 2023 04:30 - 23 minutes - 22.8 MBThe Solve It for Kids podcast is on summer break! But we have left you a few clips of some the best space exploration episodes to enjoy. Take a listen to Carl Sandifer from NASA Glenn Research Center, (How do you Power a Spacecraft?), Dr. Sarah D'Souza from NASA Ames Reserach Center (Why does a spacecraft need a heat shield?) and Julie Wolfson at Lockheed Martin (How do you slow down a spaceship?). Don't miss these out-of-this-world episodes!
The BEST of Studying Animals
July 11, 2023 04:30 - 23 minutes - 22.2 MBThe Solve It for Kids podcast is on vacation for the month of July. But don't worry, we've left some of our favorite episodes for you to enjoy. This week it's the BEST of Studying Animals. You'll hear clips from previous episodes with Dr. Mireya Mayor (primatology), Doug Wechsler (army ants), and Dr. Monica Bond (giraffes). We hope you have fun learning about these amazing scientists and the animals they love studying.
The BEST of Working With Robots
July 04, 2023 04:30 - 23 minutes - 22.2 MBThe Solve It for Kids Podcast is on vacation for the month of July. But don't worry, we have left a few clips of our favorite episodes for you to enjoy. This one is The BEST of Working With Robots. You'll hear from Dr. Carlotta Berry (How do you talk to a robot?), Dr. Darren Lipomi (How do humans--and robots-- feel?) and Dr. Topher Hunter (How do you build a droid?). Have fun listening and learning from these amazing guests!
How Can We See the Universe in a New Way?
June 27, 2023 04:30 - 41 minutes - 38.8 MBHow do you view the universe? Chances are that answer has changed a lot in the last few years. With all of the amazing images coming from Mars (via the Perserverance Rover), the James Webb Space Telescope, and even the Artemis 1 mission, the universe seems even more incredibly amazing than before. It is our honor to chat with the person who was in charge of the teams at NASA who completed all of these amazing missions. Our guest today is Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator for the ...
How Do You Dress an Astronaut?
June 20, 2023 04:30 - 32 minutes - 45.6 MBWhat is one of the coolest jobs at NASA? Well, if you can't be an astronaut, maybe you can help dress one. Meet Sharon McDougle former NASA Spacesuit Technician, who was responsible for helping the astronauts to put in their pressure suits. It's not as easy as you would think. Take a listen to this episode as Sharon describes just how important fit is to a pressure suit.
How Do You Get Rid of Bad Breath?
June 13, 2023 04:30 - 32 minutes - 45.4 MBOn today's show, we discuss a problem that most people, well, probably don't like to talk about. But, bad breath can be an important-- and embarrassing-- problem. Just how can you fix it? Dr. Mel Rosenberg, Professor Emeritus at Tel Aviv University, tells us all about the scientific solution he developed to treat this problem. And he also shares his love of children's books, too.
What is the Super Guppy?
June 06, 2023 04:30 - 31 minutes - 29.6 MBIt's a bird. It's a plane. It's the Super Guppy! Have you ever wondered type of plane can transport really huge objects like NASA's Orion spacecraft? Yep. It's the Super Guppy. We are thrilled to have Herb Baker, retired NASA business manager who worked on programs such as the Space Shuttle, the Space Station, and Orion, as well as, the Super Guppy. He's here to tell us all about this amazing aircraft.
Where and When do Earthquakes Happen?
May 30, 2023 15:15 - 35 minutes - 33.6 MBEarthquakes happen every day, all around the world. Since they are so prevalent, is there a way to predict just where and when they will occur? We have the fabulous Dr. Wendy Bohon, earthquake geologist and awesome science communicator, on our show today to discuss this groundbreaking topic!
Why Does a Spacecraft Need a Heat Shield?
May 23, 2023 04:30 - 36 minutes - 34.2 MBDid you watch the Orion spacecraft come back from its trip around the Moon? Besides the parachutes, what is one key piece of the spacecraft that helps to protect the astronauts upon re-entry? The heat shield!! But just how is a heat shield made and why is it so important? Take a listen to the fantastic Dr. Sarah D'Souza, the Orion Thermal Protection Deputy System Manager at NASA Ames. She is on our show today to give us the scoop on this amazing engineering!
What Can We Learn from Volcanoes?
May 16, 2023 04:30 - 35 minutes - 50.3 MBVolcanoes are awesome natural events. They happen all over the Earth and on many celestial bodies. But why are they important? Skylar Hughes, volcano expert, a private tour guide for Big Island VIP, tells us what we can learn from volcanoes, particularly the ones located on the Big Island in Hawaii. Don't miss this explosively fun expisode!