Welcome to the Brains On! Universe, a collection of smart, funny shows for curious kids and their families. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

Brains On! is an award-winning science podcast hosted by Molly Bloom and a rotating cast of kids. Every episode answers questions from listeners like “Why do feet stink?” “What did dinosaurs sound like?” and “What is ADHD?”


Brains On Podcast

Forever Ago is a history show for the whole family! Join actor, comedian, and host Joy Dolo and a kid co-host as they explore the surprising and fascinating history of everyday things – like chewing gum, children’s libraries, Superman and more.


Forever Ago

Smash Boom Best is a debate show that takes two cool things, smashes them together and lets you decide which is best. Cats vs. Dogs. Pancakes vs. Waffles.  Spiderman vs. Batman. Our debaters use facts, jokes and passion to make their case.


Smash Boom Best

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Check out our amazing world of animated episodes, shorts, and special content like “Do Dogs Know They’re Dogs?” or our special “Solar Eclipse” episode! Don’t forget to subscribe!


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Smash Boom Best comes alive on stage at the PST Art X Science Family Festival at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, CA!


Smash Boom Best Live with Sanden Totten and Marc Sanchez

How heavy is the sky? | Brains On! Science Podcast For Kids

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 is an award-winning science podcast hosted by Molly Bloom and a rotating cast of kids. Every episode answers questions from listeners like “Why do feet stink?” “What did dinosaurs sound like?” and “What is ADHD?”

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Mystery Animal Poetry Slam

Molly’s got a case of poetry fever, and she’s ready to rhyme! She’s testing out her newest stash of stanzas on her pals, Marc and Sanden. They’ll have to guess the animals featured in four of Molly’s poems. It’s a case of versus AND verses in the…MYSTERY ANIMAL POETRY SLAM CHALLENGE! 


MOLLY BLOOM: Hi, Molly Bloom here. We love playing games at Brains On. We like tricky trivia, grueling guessing games, and challenging challenges. If you want to play along with us, sign up for the Smarty Pass. For just $5 a month, you'll get access to ad-free versions of Brains On. Smash Boom Best, Forever Ago, and more. Plus, you'll get a bonus feed of all new episodes where we play games, like this one. 

INTERVIEWER 1: Molly, I thought you said you had a present for me. 

INTERVIEWER 2: And don't get me wrong, we are your adoring fans. But I was definitely told that we were having sandwiches. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Well, great news, as a present for you both. I have sandwiched together my love of poetry with my passion for game shows to create the mystery animal poetry Slam Challenge. To hear more, head to smartypass.org and subscribe. A monthly pass costs about the same as an ice cream cone and gets you fun bonus content like this. Plus ad-free versions of all of our shows. Again, that's smartypass.org. Thanks for supporting the Brains On Universe, Smarty pals. 

Smarty Pass Presents: Noun Noun!

Usually, bonus episodes like this are exclusively for Smarty Pass subscribers but this month we’re sharing them with all our listeners. If you like this bonus episode and want to hear fun games every month, plus ad-free episodes, sign up for Smarty Pass.




ARON WOLDESLASSIE: Hey, it's Aron Woldeslassie from Smash Boom Best. I've got exciting news. This October, the Brains On! universe team is sharing some of our super special bonus episodes. If you're a Smarty Pass subscriber, you already know about these episodes. But if you aren't, we wanted to give you a taste of what you'd get if you joined. 

All October, we're asking you to support our shows by subscribing to Smarty Pass. And to celebrate, we'll hosted Virtual Smarty Party in November just for Smarty Pass subscribers. Join today at smartypass.org, and you'll have bonus episodes like these, ad-free episodes, and other awesome perks. Again, that's smartypass.org. Thanks so much for supporting the shows. 

ANNOUNCER: Now entering Brains On! headquarters. 

[BEEP] 

[DOOR OPENING] 

MOLLY BLOOM: Hey there, Smarty pal. I was just on my way to meet producers Ruby Guthrie in Sanden Totten for lunch. I have a new project that I am so excited to tell them about. There they are. Ruby, Sanden, over here. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Hi, Molly. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Hey, Molly. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: So, Molly, what's this new project all about? You've been hinting at it all week. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Ruby, it's only Tuesday. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Ruby Tuesday, that is. Yeah, all week. Let's hear it, Molly. 

MOLLY BLOOM: So you both know that I love to collect things. I've got my doorknob collection, my sticker collection, my Dolly Parton-themed rug collection. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Ugh, of course, the Dolly Parton rug collection. That's legendary. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Well, I am thrilled to announce that I am now collecting collective nouns. 

[CRICKETS CHIRPING] 

I see from your perplexed expressions that I should explain. A collective noun is a word for a group of animals, like a flock of chickens or a pack of wolves. But that's just the start. You may have heard that a group of crows is called a murder of crows or a group of bees is a colony of bees. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Oh, yeah, like a herd of horses, cool. So you have a whole collection of those? 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Wait, I'm sorry. You're collecting words? That doesn't really-- 

MOLLY BLOOM: Yeah, I'm keeping them in this binder here. It's pretty hefty, and I thought it would be super fun to see if you two can guess some of my favorite names for animal groups. Are you ready to play? 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Ready to play what? 

MOLLY BLOOM: The newest game taking the world by storm, Name That Noun. 

[MUSIC PLAYING] 

I will give you a point for each answer you get right. And I may also award bonus points for creative guesses. The person with the most points will get to join the Collective Noun Pantheon of Champions. Here we go. Sanden, what is the collective noun for a group of lions? 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Molly, this one is easy. As a many time watcher of the Lion King, I know that a group of lions is called a pride. Roar! 

[BELL CHIMES] 

MOLLY BLOOM: Correct. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Wow. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Ruby, what is the collective noun for a group of whales? 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Ooh, like a whopper of whales? Wait, I think I actually-- I think I know this one. Aren't whales like dolphins? Is it a pod of whales? 

[BELL CHIMES] 

MOLLY BLOOM: Correct, Ruby. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Aah! 

MOLLY BLOOM: Sanden, what is the collective noun for a group of jellyfish? 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Ooh. So I'm thinking jelly. I'm thinking jar, a jar of jellyfish, but then not quite. Maybe they're globular, maybe a blob of jellyfish, or they could be like fish. It could be a school of jellyfish because they are in the water. I'm going to go with neither of those. I'm going to go with a flotilla of jellyfish. 

MOLLY BLOOM: I love that guess. I'm giving you points for creativity. But the correct answer is a smack of jellyfish. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: [LAUGHS] 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Oh, I should have stuck with jelly, and then gone to Smucker's. And Smucker's sounds like smack. I see how they did that. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: You'll get there eventually. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: The logic is there. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Ruby, it's your turn. What is the collective noun for a group of owls? 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Ooh, I love it, like, a hoot, a hoot of owls, I think-- Harry Potter might serve me here. I think it's like British government and the iconic funk band, parliament of owls? Is that something? 

[BELL CHIMES] 

MOLLY BLOOM: You are correct. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Ha-ha, yes! 

SANDEN TOTTEN: And are those owls wearing curly white wigs when they're in a parliament? 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Always. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Absolutely. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Always. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Sanden, your turn. What is the collective noun for a group of lemurs? 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Oh my gosh. What's a lemur again? 

MOLLY BLOOM: They're the kind that look like meerkats. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Zoboomafoo? 

MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHS] No. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Take me back to Lion King. Speaking the language, I understand, they're like 

MOLLY BLOOM: No, lemurs in Madagascar, Madagascar, the movie. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Oh, yeah, with the stripy tails? That's right. 

MOLLY BLOOM: King Julien. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: That's right. That's right. (SINGING) I like to move it, move it. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Exactly. 

SANDEN TOTTEN (SINGING): We like to move it 

MOLLY BLOOM: [LAUGHING] 

SANDEN TOTTEN: A group of lemurs is called a dance floor of lemurs. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Yes, another point for creativity there, but not correct. The answer is a conspiracy. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Oh, they're up to no good? Let me join in. I love it. 

MOLLY BLOOM: They are. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Sneaky. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Sneaky little lemurs. The owls are making laws, but the lemurs are making plans. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: I knew we would get along. 

MOLLY BLOOM: All right, here's the last one. Ruby, what is the collective noun for a group of hyenas? 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Oh, wow, shout-out Lion King for the third time. I think-- hyenas love to laugh. I wonder if it's like a cackle of hyenas? That would be cool. A cackle of hyenas. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Is that your guess? 

RUBY GUTHRIE: I think that sounds cool. Cackle of hye-- [COUGHS] It sounds cool, but I can't say it. 

[BELL CHIMES] 

MOLLY BLOOM: Ruby Guthrie is on fire because she is correct. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Oh, no! 

RUBY GUTHRIE: That's right? 

[LAUGHING] 

Woo! Shout-out Lion King. Hakuna matata. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Wow. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: I mean, a fitting name, but I really didn't think that was the real answer. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Well, you did-- 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Or like a hysteria of hyenas. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: That's even better. The double H's, yeah. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Alliteration, we love it. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Well, great job, you two. Those are only some of my favorites. There are definitely more than I'm saving for later, though. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Kind of makes me wonder, what would you call a group of Brains On producers? 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Fabulous question, Ruby. How about a confetti, a confetti of producers? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Ooh. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Ooh, I love that, so festive. How about fiesta? No, wait, frolic, a frolic. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Yes, we're totally a frolic, or a boogie-woogie? A boogie-woogie of producers coming to the studio. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: To boogie-woogie. What about an earful? 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Hmm, I mean, maybe when Marc and me are really yapping maybe, but-- 

[LAUGHTER] 

What about you, Molly? What do you think we're called? 

MOLLY BLOOM: A hug, a hug of producers because I love you all so much. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Get in here. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Group hug. I'm adding all of these to my collection. 

That's it for this Smarty Pass episode. It was made by Aron Woldeslassie and Anna Goldfield. Our executive producer is Beth Perlman. And the executives in charge of APM Studios are Chandra Kavati, Joanne Griffith, and Alex Schaffert. Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. Thanks, Smarty Pass friends. We appreciate you. Bye. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: See ya. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Later, Smarty pals. 

[MUSIC PLAYING] 



Smarty Pass Presents: Noun Noun

The real vampires of the animal world

According to legend, vampires are creatures with pale skin and sharp teeth who drink blood. These creepy ghouls are not real, but in this episode, we'll meet some vampire animals that do exist!

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