Podcasts are the hottest thing in entertainment these days. Everyone’s doing them and/or listening them.
National Public Radio is getting in on it too with the launch of its new podcast for kids ages 5-12 called Wow in the World that illuminates the wonders of science, technology, discovery and inventions.
This is the first time in NPR’s 47-year history that it will release a children’s program.
Starting May 15, NPR’s Guy Raz and SiriusXM’s Mindy Thomas will take kids and their grown-ups on a journey into the most incredible science and kid-friendly news stories of the week.
The duo previously hosted a Friday news segment on Sirius XM’s Kids Place Live channel called Breakfast Blast Newscast. The 3-year old segment went on to win the International New York Festivals Award for best children’s program in 2016.
And now the experienced two are taking their talents to the NPR podcast world.
“Wow in the World is a place where we can tap into the crazy cool things that are happening all around us, every day!” Thomas said of the series in a press release. “We want to help spark conversations between kids and other kids and also with their grown-ups that will ultimately lead to their own big discoveries.”
Each episode begins with a series of questions that lead to an explanation about a new amazing scientific discovery or finding. For example, “How long would it take to get to the closest star outside our solar system?” or “How did we Homo sapiens come to dominate the planet?” or “How do astronauts poop in space?”
They hope to make the news fun and interesting by using comedy infused with conversation and voices from real kids.
“As parents and caregivers, many of us grapple with screen-time,” Raz adds. “This show is not just an alternative to screens but a show about celebrating the spirit of inquiry and encouraging kids to ask even more questions.”
Episodes will feature new research on , dinosaurs, animals, technology and human origins.
NPR will distribute the show and Tinkercast, a new production company that focuses on family-friendly content, will produce the program.
Wow in the World can be downloaded wherever podcasts are available including npr.org/wow, Apple Podcasts, and at www.wowintheworld.com