 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?”

Understanding big fires and big feelings

In today’s episode, we’re talking with a therapist about how to process the wildfires happening in Los Angeles County and we’ll learn about smoke and how it travels. We’re also going to check in with Sanden Totten, who had to evacuate his home with his family. Then, we’re also going to play some parts of a 2021 episode about how wildfires start and how people work to contain them.





Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Myth Busting Extravaganza

Anna Goldfield is full of facts! She knows the capital of New Hampshire is Concord and that the Greek God of the Sea is Poseidon! But does she know enough to join Anna Weggel and Aron’s Tuesday Trivia Team? Listen to find out, and test yourself along the way!


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 Best, Forever Ago, and more. Plus, you'll get a bonus feat of all new episodes where we play games like this one. 

[WHISTLE] 

ANNA: Oh! 

ARUN: Hi, Anna. 

ANNA: Hi, Arun. So nice to see some pals in the labra-kitchen. 

ARUN: Hi, Anna. 

ANNA: Whoa, intense energy guys. Oh, did you have a nasty snack? Are you disappointed because we're all out of archeology ice cream? It is the best kind. You get to dig with your spoon for chocolate artifacts. 

ARUN: No, we're just feeling anxious. 

ANNA: Oh, do tell. Anxiety is one of my specialties. 

MOLLY BLOOM: 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. 

How is paper made?

Paper is all around us. There’s toilet paper and pizza boxes, wrapping paper, and receipts. Most of the paper in the U.S. is made from trees, but it can be made out of all sorts of plant material – banana peels, cotton, rice, you name it!

Whirr. Zoom! Plink plink. It’s a Mystery Sound extravaganza

Shelley Roden guessing mystery sound

Shelley Roden describes Inside Out 2 scene

Bzzz. Shloop! Bang Bang. Wooooosh! It’s time for another Mystery Sound Extravaganza.

Join Molly and co-host Violet as they figure out what’s making some seriously mysterious noises. 

Plus, they'll interview Foley artist Shelley Roden about the art of making sound effects for movies. And they'll help Bob sort out some mixed up mystery sounds! Tune in and turn on your ears, cuz it’s time to guess some confounding sounds!

Featured Guests:
Shelley Roden is an award-winning Foley artist at Skywalker Sound in Northern, CA. Read more about her work here.


Is it true? Vikings, dogs, and twins edition

Listeners send us LOTS of questions. Like hundreds a month! We read every single one — and we love all of them! Every now and then, we get a special kind of question that starts with “Is it true that…?” These questions are special because they’re skeptical. They’re designed to seek out the truth.

How do whales communicate?

Baleen whales sing. Toothed whales click. But how and why do they make these musical sounds?

Are whales communicating with their clicks and songs?

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Bones On Mystery Sounds!

It’s almost midnight and Mr Bone Jangles has snuck into the studio to debut his new show -- Bones On! His plans are foiled when Molly pops in and asks him to guess some mystery sounds instead!


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 Bust, Forever Go, and more. Plus, you'll get a bonus feed of all new episodes where we play games like this one. 

Mr. Bonejangle, what are you doing in the studio? 

MR. BONEJANGLE: Me, in the studio? 

MOLLY BLOOM: Yes. You're sitting behind the microphone in the Brains On studio. 

MR. BONEJANGLE: Oh, that. [LAUGHS] I was just in there making sure this chair doesn't squeak. [LAUGHS] I wouldn't want any chair squeaks being picked up on this gorgeous microphone. [LAUGHS] You know my motto. My bones may creak, but the chairs shouldn't squeak. It's one of many. 

MOLLY BLOOM: OK. Anyway, as long as you're here, can I test out some new mystery sounds on you? 

MR. BONEJANGLE: Oh, Molly, my esteemed friend, I would be honored and delighted and a little scared. 

MOLLY BLOOM: 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. 

We're back December 17!

Brains On will be back with new episodes starting December 17! We’ve got a gaggle of mystery sounds, so many great questions to answer and surprises in store. We can’t wait for you to tune into our next season!


[BIRDS CHIRPING] SANDEN TOTTEN: Aah, another peaceful day at Brains On! headquarters. 

[EMERGENCY ALARM RINGING] 

Hah! I spoke too soon. Molly, Marc, new question incoming. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Someone just sent us a question? We've got to answer it. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Let's go find out what it is. Quick, to the mail room. 

[FOOTSTEPS STOMPING] 

MOLLY BLOOM: Woo hoo. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Yipee! 

MOLLY BLOOM: Glad I have my question answering pants on. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Question time! 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Oh, it looks like a good one. OK, let's see. The question is-- 

CHILD 1: Does every individual whale sing a different song? 

[BEEPING] 

MARC SANCHEZ: Well, I didn't see that one coming. What a fin-tastic question. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Aw, Marc. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: Whoa, there's another one? 

CHILD 2: I was wondering, why does salt make everything taste so good? 

[BEEPING] 

MARC SANCHEZ: Uh, not just one. Look, heads up! 

CHILD 3: How do solar panels work? 

CHILD 4: How do trends start? Like, how do things become cool? 

CHILD 5: Is it true that Viking helmets didn't have horns? 

CHILDREN: How is paper made? 

CHILD 6: We were wondering, why do some people have asthma and what causes it? 

CHILD 7: Is it true that dogs can't see as many colors as humans? 

MARC SANCHEZ: So much curiosity. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: All those questions are brilliant. How will we choose? 

MOLLY BLOOM: We won't. We'll answer all of them. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: All of them? 

MOLLY BLOOM: All of them. Sanden, you start calling experts. 

SANDEN TOTTEN: On it. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Marc, make sure the Explorer is tuned up and ready to rumble. 

MARC SANCHEZ: Aye, aye, captain. No time to spare. 

MOLLY BLOOM: And I'll finish knitting my new sweater for Mr. Bonejangles. It's a herringbone pattern. His favorite. He keeps complaining about getting the chills. 

Get ready for a brand new season of Brains On! The fun starts Tuesday, December 17th. 

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!

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Game Show Molly

Molly has her sparkly special suit on which means it’s time for GAME SHOW MOLLY! Game show Molly is just like regular Molly but with an awesome new game! Grab your smarty pass to hear Molly’s new rhyming game.


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. 

Oh, my goodness, it's my co-host, Quinn. Thank you so much for the complement. This is my special, sparkly suit that I only wear when I become a "Game Show, Molly," this time with a theme song. 

[THEME SONG] 

QUINN: Ooh, I love this. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Thanks, it's my alter ego. Today, we're going to play an extra special game show all about nature's bloodsucking creatures. It's called "Feast or Flee." 

QUINN: It sounds horrifying. 

MOLLY BLOOM: I know. It's so exciting. In this game, I'll set up a short poem for you and you'll have to finish the last line with the correct word. For example, playing this character makes me jolly. My alter ego's name is "Game Show-- 

QUINN: Molly! 

[CHIME] 

MOLLY BLOOM: That's right. Now, let's start with our first fact. 

[THEME SONG] 

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. 



Achoo! How fast does a sneeze travel?

Every sneeze is like a snowflake. Unique, beautiful, wet! Sneezes help our noses get rid of stuff that’s not supposed to be there, like dust, dirt, or pollen. But how fast do sneezes travel? And how exactly does our body make them?

Navigating the world with white canes

People who are blind or have low vision use different tools to navigate the world. One of the most common is called a White Cane. White Canes are long, thin, and lightweight with a handle on one end and a special tip on the other.

Navigating the world with White Canes

How do animals pick their leaders?

Here in the U.S., we’re gearing up for the 2024 election! We’re about to vote to pick a new president and choose other leaders too. Maybe you’ve seen yard signs for different candidates around your neighborhood or campaign commercials on TV. All this election fever got us wondering: how do different animals pick their leaders?

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Eye-Eye, Captain!

Ahoy, avast, and welcome aboard the good ship Iris, captained by the host with the most in all of the Seven Seas, Molly Bloom! Molly’s brought producer pals Sanden and Jess on board to play a game of EYE-EYE, CAPTAIN! Sanden and Jess will have to guess the answers to some fiendish questions about EYES. Can they navigate their way to the answers, or will their trivia timbers be shivered? YAAARRR!


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. 

[SPLASHING] 

MOLLY BLOOM: Ahoy, me hearties. Welcome aboard the good ship, Iris, queen of the seven seas. I'm your captain, Molly Bloom, and with me are two of the saltiest sea dogs that ever swabbed a poop deck, Sandin Taunton, and Jess Miller. 

SUBJECT 1: Ya ha, ha, arrr. Happy to be here. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Are you ready to play the traditional seafaring trivia game, eye, eye, captain? 

SUBJECT 1: Eye, eye, captain. 

SUBJECT 2: Yeah, hit us with them their boat facts, Molly. I mean, captain, arrr. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Boat facts? Oh, no, no, no, no. That's not how we do games aboard this vessel. Didn't you see the thick brows and luxurious eyelashes fitted on the prow of my ship? Or notice the eye test letters printed on her sails, and the fact that the portholes are all decorated like fancy monocles? 

SUBJECT 1: I did wonder about the eyelashes. 

MOLLY BLOOM: The game is eye, eye, captain, like the eyes on your face. 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. 

[MUSIC PLAYING] 



Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Eye-Eye, Captain! 

How does the internet work?

The internet can feel like magic. You send a video of a squirrel eating an acorn to your friends and BOOM! A few seconds later, they can watch it! But how does the internet actually work?

Why do some of us have food allergies?

About 1 out of 13 kids has a food allergy. Some are allergic to peanuts, others can’t eat dairy or shellfish or – you name it! So, why do some of us have food allergies and others don’t?

Why do some people need glasses?

Eyes are incredible. But sometimes they need a little help to see clearly. Enter: glasses! In this episode, we'll hear how eyes take in light and paint a picture of the world around us. 

Why do some people need glasses? 

How do we name things in space? The quest to name a quasi-moon!

Have you ever wondered how things in space get their names? Us, too! In this week’s episode, Molly and co-host Cassie hear the story of a funky little moon with a very strange name.


Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Sportsball

Smash Boom Best producers Rosie duPont and Aron Woldeslassie are a little early for the BIG game. Looking to kill some time they decide to play Impression Sound. Just like the great Brains On game Mystery Sound, Impression Sound has players guessing sounds. BUT unlike Mystery Sound, Aron and Rosie will be making the sounds with their mouths -- like an impression. Hence the very appropriate name for this game: Impression Sound!


[MUSIC PLAYING] MOLLY BLOOM: Hey there, Molly Bloom here. I'm sure you've heard of our incredible Smarty Pass, but just in case you forgot, let me remind you that for just $4 a month, Smarty Pass gets you ad-free feeds of all of our shows. That's Brains On! Forever Ago, Moment of Um, and Smash Boom Best. And you get new special bonus episodes every month. If you don't subscribe, you'll still get your free feeds like always, but subscribing gets you ad-free feeds and super fun bonus episodes every month. 

In this week's bonus episode, Smash Boom Best producers Aron Woldeslassie and Rosie duPont are making some of their favorite sports sounds before they watch the big game. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: It looks like the All Ball game is not going to start for a few minutes. Want to play a few rounds of impression sound-off while we wait? 

ROSIE  DUPONT: Impression sound-off? What's that? 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: It's like the classic Brains On! game Mystery Sounds, but instead of getting random mystery sounds, this time, we make the sound effects with our mouths. Then the other person guesses what sound we were trying to make. It's like doing impressions, but instead of people, we're doing sounds. 

ROSIE  DUPONT: Oh, that sounds like fun. I like it. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: All right. Since we're here for the All Ball, let's stick to sounds related to sports. Does that sound good? 

ROSIE  DUPONT: Mm-hmm. Yeah, wonderful. On theme. 

ARON WOLDESLASSIE: OK, I'll do an impression of a sports sound, and you'll have to guess what it is, and then we'll switch. 

ROSIE  DUPONT: Bring it on, buddy. 

MOLLY BLOOM: To hear more, head to smartypass.org to subscribe. It's $4 a month or $36 for the whole year. This episode will be waiting for you once you subscribe to the feed. Again, that's smartypass.org. Thanks so much for supporting our shows. 

[MUSIC PLAYING] 



Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: SPORTSBALL Impression Sound

The Good and Bad of Smartphones

Ping! Another episode of Brains On just dropped! And it’s all about phones: how they help us, why they’re so hard to put down – and how to have a balanced relationship with them.


Phones: The fun, the annoying and the confusing

Auroras: Nature’s light show

Have you ever seen an aurora? These spectacular night-time displays can fill our skies with dancing lights and bursts of color. But why do they happen in the first place?

Auroras: Nature's light show

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Me and my pet

Uh-oh, Molly’s new pets are missing! And to make matters worse, Molly won’t tell us what her missing animals are. Although, she is willing to give hints. It’s up to producers Rosie duPont and Ruby Guthrie to find Molly’s missing pets and figure out what they are! Grab your smarty pass to hear this hair-raising episode!


[MUSIC PLAYING] MOLLY BLOOM: Hi there. Molly Bloom here. We love playing games in the Brains On! Universe. 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 $4 a month, you'll get access to ad-free versions of Brains On! Smash Boom Best, Forever Ago, and more. Plus, you'll get bonus games in your ad-free feeds every month, like this one. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Molly Bloom, HR says you're not allowed to trap people in cages anymore. 

MOLLY BLOOM: Ruby, as I've repeatedly told you, I've taken down all of my snares, bait, pitfalls, tripwire, footholds, and every other form of capturing apparatus. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Then what's this? 

MOLLY BLOOM: This is a cage I'm using to capture my missing pets. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Of course, this happened. You have too many pets, Molly. How can you keep track of them all? Wait, which ones went missing? Was it your tarantula, Marci? 

MOLLY BLOOM: No, she's visiting her mom in Toronto. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Was it your honey badger, Gabriel? 

MOLLY BLOOM: She's at a conference in Memphis. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Oh, was it your cat, Schrödinger? 

MOLLY BLOOM: No, no, no. She's in a box. And according to quantum mechanics, she's either fine or not fine. And I really don't want to think about it. No, these are new pets. 

RUBY GUTHRIE: Molly, just tell us which animals are missing. 

MOLLY BLOOM: I don't want to tell you because I'm afraid you'll judge me for having even more unusual pets. 

WOMAN: Molly, we won't judge you, right, Ruby? 

RUBY GUTHRIE: I promise not to judge you much. To hear more, head to smartypass.org to subscribe. It's $4 a month or $36 for the whole year. This game will be waiting for you once you subscribe to the feed. Again, that's smartypass.org. Thank you so much for supporting our shows. 

[MUSIC PLAYING] 



All Episodes

Understanding big fires and big feelings

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Myth Busting Extravaganza

How is paper made?

Whirr. Zoom! Plink plink. It’s a Mystery Sound extravaganza

Is it true? Vikings, dogs, and twins edition

Are whales communicating with their clicks and songs?

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Bones On Mystery Sounds!

We're back December 17!

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Mystery Animal Poetry Slam

Smarty Pass Presents: Noun Noun

The real vampires of the animal world

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Game Show Molly

Achoo! How fast does a sneeze travel?

Navigating the world with White Canes

How do animals pick their leaders?

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Eye-Eye, Captain!

How does the internet work?

Why do some of us have food allergies?

Why do some people need glasses?

How do we name things in space? The quest to name a quasi-moon!

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: SPORTSBALL Impression Sound

Phones: The fun, the annoying and the confusing

Auroras: Nature's light show

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Me and my pet