Okay Wildlings, we'll level with you. We tried. We really tried to petition for the extension of summer vacation.

We gathered our most compelling evidence: the Feeding Ben Stuff crew got together to plumb the depths of the finest pool games in the land, Evan perfected his gnarliest kickflip at Woodward Skate Camp, and, to the delight of teachers everywhere, we had a tête-à-tête to determine the very best and brightest books in the summer reading catalog!

Alas, we are but a simple kids podcast. Perhaps the real victory was the fun with friends and family that we had along the way?

One thing's for sure: we've made this Endless Summer Episode for all of you, Wildlings, to commemorate and celebrate the frolicking freedom of the season!

Not to mention some hilarious jokes and one doozy of a riddle. So grab a snack, tell a friend, stay curious and, as always: keep it WILD!!!

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 - Episode 23 Intro
01:20 - Pool Games
09:16 - Riddle Clue
09:38 - Summer Reading
18:02 - Skate Camp
20:00 - Joke Time
20:42 - Call for Submissions
21:09 - Cryptid Corner: Blobs!
25:39 - Riddle Answer
26:01 - Preview of Episode 24
26:12 - Credits + Call for Reviews + Word of Mouth
26:43 - Bloopers

Cryptid Corner includes audio from the single "The Blob", written by Burt Bacharach and Mack David, performed by The Five Blobs, and released by Columbia Records in 1958.

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What do you know, Wildlings? It’s the 22nd episode of Wild Interest! Join us on our quest as we interview quantum physicist Dr. Shohini Ghose about the history of her quark-y field and her own personal journey of discovery along the path! Then, ready your blindfolds and prep your palettes – it’s time for another installment of Feeding Ben Stuff, featuring Louise! Plus, Nichole shares a special report about the 2026 World Cup and all the enchanting soccer cheers from around the globe. Finally, we pay tribute to the late, great Dr. Jeff Meldrum, renowned anthropologist, professor, and lifelong Bigfoot researcher by returning to the very first Cryptid Corner EVER!

And, we’ve got a super special new segment called “We Made It All Up!”, an improvised storytelling collaboration between three different schools from across the US! Starting the story off are 6th graders from Rocky Heights Middle School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. They passed their part of the story to 8th graders at Rocky Heights, who then sent all their recordings to the 5th graders at St. Veronica Catholic School in Cincinnati, Ohio! Finally, our Penpal by Podcast collaborators, the 5th grade class at Crow Agency Elementary in Crow Agency, Montana, brought the whole made-up journey to an end!

Not to mention some hilarious jokes and one doozy of a riddle. So grab a snack, tell a friend, stay curious and, as always: keep it WILD!!!

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 - Episode 22 Intro
01:27 - Dr. Shohini Ghose
11:19 - Riddle Clue
11:34 - World Cup Fever!
16:49 - Favorite Sound
18:06 - Call for Submissions!
18:34 - Feeding Ben Stuff: Louise's Turn
28:18 - Joke Time
29:10 - We Made It All Up!
32:56 - Grandparent Stories: Nichole's Grandma
44:05 - Cryptid Corner: Bigfoot with Dr. Jeff Meldrum
53:12 - Riddle Answer
53:30 - Preview of Episode 23
53:42 - Credits + Call for Reviews + Word of Mouth!
54:13 - Bloopers

For more quality content from students at Rocky Heights Middle School and St. Veronica Catholic School, check out 2025 NPR Student Podcast Middle School Honorable Mentions “A Late Start Would Be Smart”, “Are You Smarter Than AI?”, “Mystery Unknown!”, and “The Flaws of School – Should Schools be Improved to Fit Students’ Needs?”

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Welcome to summer, Wildlings! Hit the waves with Nichole as she guides you through the ups and downs of her rafting adventure on the Colorado River in Cataract Canyon! Get nostalgic for the past school year as we listen back to the best moments created by our Penpal by Podcast student podcast groups all the way from Crow Agency, MT, to Brooklyn, New York! Evan elucidates the lore behind La Lechuza in Cryptid Corner - it's a real hoot! Haadiyah from South Africa interviews her grandma, Hunter from California reflects on his favorite sound, and back home on the range (in the studio), there's a funny little Animal Call to be identified!

Not to mention some hilarious jokes and one doozy of a riddle. So grab a snack, tell a friend, stay curious and, as always: keep it WILD!!!

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 - Episode 21 Intro
01:20 - Cataract Canyon
09:26 - Animal Call
10:39 - Joke Time!
11:29 - Penpal by Podcast
20:04 - Riddle Clue
20:26 - Animal Call Reprise
21:23 - Cryptid Corner: La Lechuza
24:34 - Favorite Sound
25:17 - Call for Submissions!
25:44 - Animal Call Reveal
28:00 - Grandparent Stories: Haadiyah's Grandma
33:15 - Riddle Answer
33:56 - Preview of Episode 22
34:25 - Credits + Call for Reviews + Word of Mouth!
34:56 - Bloopers

Archival audio in Animal Call:
Rice, Jeff. Audio file copyright 2010, the Western Soundscape Archive at the University of Utah J. Willard Marriott Library, http://westernsoundscape.org & Public Domain recordings from the National Park Service.
Musical segments performed by Daca (Henry Payne Reeves) include "I'm Ridin' Old Paint" and "Old Chisholm Trail", from the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress.

Archival audio in Cryptid Corner:
Snippets from "El Pajaro Gigante de Robe" by Los Campeones de Raul Ruiz, published by Freddie Records, & "El Tecolotito" as performed by Ricardo Archuleta, from the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress.

Archival audio in Grandparent Stories:
Snippets of “Mannenberg” by Abdullah Ibrahim, 1974.

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Hey Wildlings, lace up your cleats and let's hit the pitch, it's time for Episode 20 of Wild Interest, "Red Cards & Redheads"!

Ever wonder who came up with red cards in soccer? Or why some people are redheads even though their parents aren't? Well, it's a red letter day, because we've rolled out the red carpet for our new friends, brother and sister duo Miles & Nico! They tell us all about their love for "The Beautiful Game", their favorite players EVER, and the roots of the yellow and red card penalty system in soccer. Then, they discuss their own roots as redheads and how and why the trait for red hair gets passed down through generations!

We also join Wild Interest collaborator Trey Lander at Fantasy Lane Studios in Atlanta, GA, to hear all about how he's turned his love for music into a career full of inspiration! And, stay tuned for some exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of us cutting tracks in the booth!

Plus, we've journeyed to the highlands of Scotland to follow one of the biggest fish tales of all time - the Loch Ness Monster! And, for Grandparent Stories, we hear from Philip in Maryland as he interviews his grandma!

Not to mention some hilarious jokes, a mind-bending riddle, and a fantastic favorite sound. So grab a snack, tell a friend, stay curious and, as always, keep it WILD!!!

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 - Episode 20 Intro
01:43 - Redcards with Miles & Nico
11:24 - Riddle Clue
11:40 - In the Studio with Trey Lander
23:38 - Favorite Sound
24:50 - Cryptid Corner: The Loch Ness Monster
31:00 - Joke Time!
31:45 - Call for Submissions
32:10 - Redheads with Miles & Nico
35:39 - Grandparent Stories: Philip's Grandma
38:13 - Riddle Answer
38:36 - Preview of Episode 21
38:47 - Credits + Call for Reviews + Word of Mouth!
39:19 - Bloopers!

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Ah, February! Already one month into the New Year, and we've got so much to share with you! Professional spoken word artist Jim Weiss stops by the studio to spin some yarns and talk shop with Evan. Mr. Weiss has narrated countless stories from Tall Tales to Greek Mythology, and U.S. History to Classic Fables. You've probably heard his version of The Tortoise and the Hare - it's pretty epic!!! Plus, get ready for the most dramatic reading of a cereal box...maybe ever? Speaking of drama: steel your nerves and brace your tastebuds - it's another edition of Feeding Ben Stuff! This time, it's Nichole's turn. Tune in to find out what never-before-heard-of-flavor-combination they invent this time! Then, get ready for a real cool treat!!! Introducing: SNOW ICE CREAM! That's right, we go to our test kitchen (and our backyard) to bring you a wonderful wintertime recipe that's sure to be a new favorite! We have a Grandparent story from Blake in Cary, Illinois and his Grandma, who grew up on a farm in Kansas! And, get ready for one of the original supernatural mysteries as Cryptid Corner explores the treacherous Bermuda Triangle! Plus, we share a few tricks for remembering how many days are in each month. You know, because February! Not to mention hilarious jokes, a mind-bending riddle, and a fantastic favorite sound. So grab a snack, tell a friend, stay curious and, as always, keep it WILD!!!

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 - Episode 19 Intro
01:35 - Jim Weiss Spins His Yarns
11:58 - Animal Call!
12:22 - How Many Days in a Month?
15:02 - Riddle Clue
15:29 - Favorite Sound
16:21 - Call for Submissions!
16:48 - Feeding Ben Stuff Part III: Nichole's Turn
29:08 - Animal Call Reprise
29:57 - Grandparent Stories: Blake's Grandma
33:47 - Animal Call Reprise Part II
34:28 - Joke Time!
35:25 - Snow Ice Cream!
40:34 - Animal Call REVEAL
41:11 - Cryptid Corner: The Bermuda Triangle
46:10 - Riddle Answer
46:36 - Preview of Episode 20
46:49 - Credits + Calls for Reviews + Word of Mouth!
47:22 - Bloopers!

***

To hear more of Jim Weiss's storytelling, head to:

jimweiss.com & welltrainedmind.com

Animal Call samples clips from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library, by Allen, Gunn, Johnson, Maia, and Patterson; and "Intergalactic" by The Beastie Boys, © Capitol Records and Beastie Boys, 1999.

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Hey Wildings, welcome to the New Year! If you're wondering what all the fuss is about, you've tuned into the right frequency! We have our very own supernatural elder, none other than Bobby the Bigfoot, join us in the studio for a very extensive, expansive, and enlightening look at the tradition of marking another trip around the Sun, aka the birthday of The Year?! We talk other new beginnings, like resolutions (got any, wildings?) and what it's like to move. Evan's got a real feisty Cryptid this time - don't call it a Marmot! And, we're graced by the cosmic presence of astronomer Wendy Freedman, who chats Dark Matter, Dark Energy, the EXPANDING UNIVERSE, and, oh ya, the new project she's working on called the Giant Magellan Telescope that will be able to see the very first starlight. Yeah, we're starting the year off right, Wildings - so grab a snack, tell a friend, stay curious and, as always, keep it WILD!!!

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 - Episode 18 Intro
01:19 - Reelin' in the (New) Years with Bobby the Bigfoot
12:42 - Favorite Sound
13:31 - Call for Submissions
13:58 - The Expanding Universe with Wendy Freedman
23:51 - Riddle Clue
24:19 - New Year's Resolutions
26:19 - Joke Time!
27:07 - Cryptid Corner: The Barbegazi
29:25 - Unpacking the Big Move
33:08 - Grandparent Stories: Naomi and Levi's Grandmother Nonna
40:07 - Riddle Answer
40:40 - Preview of Episode 19
41:32 - Credits, Call for Reviews, and Word of Mouth
42:05 - Bloopers

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Buckle up buttercups! In this thrilling Wild Interest, we mic Evan up for the first HUGE rollercoaster ride of his life. Listen to Evan shriek as he whips around Candymonium, the tallest, fastest, and longest coaster at Hershey Park. Then listen to Nichole harangue Evan for being too short to go on a zipline by himself. (Typical big sister behavior.) Finally, hear them both shout to the treetops as they whizz along the longest zipline in Central America. Brooklyn’s PS 66 gets in the mix with a mind-bending riddle; Dean in New Paltz, NY interviews his grandma; and Gianna in New Jersey shares her favorite sound. Oh, and there’s even a Cryptid who rides rollercoasters. Leave it to Evan.

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 - Episode 17 Intro
01:28 - Rollercoasters!
04:18 - Hershey Park
05:08 - Evan's First Big Rollercoaster Ride: Candymonium
07:27 - Riddle Clue from PS 66 in Brooklyn
07:53 - Ziplines!
11:11 - Favorite Sound
11:47 - Call for Submissions
12:14 - Cryptid Corner: Rollercoaster Ghost Riders
15:09 - Joke Time
15:53 - Grandparent Stories: Dean's Grandma
20:14 - Riddle Answer from PS 66 in Brooklyn
20:37 - Credits
20:48 - Call for Reviews & Word of Mouth
21:10 - Bloopers

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People use language to express themselves, but do you ever wonder how other animals communicate with each other? If they don’t speak like us, how do they convey information? In our first Animal Talk episode we learned about the complex ways animals communicate, and how some species even have their own languages and dialects. In “Paw 2” we find out even more about the amazing world of animal talk, and about the science behind linguistic development in animals. Evan interviews Dr. Irene Pepperberg, research professor at Boston University in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences about her groundbreaking work with Alex the African Grey Parrot. Dr. Pepperberg worked with Alex for 30 years and taught him over 100 English words. Not only was Alex able to communicate with humans, he even asked what color he was when looking at himself in the mirror, becoming the first known non-human to ask a question! Nichole goes beneath the waves with Dr. Aude Pacini from the Marine Mammal Research Program at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. Dr. Pacini records whale and dolphin song with sophisticated underwater microphones. She was part of an expedition where the world-class cellist Yo Yo Ma played music for whales from the deck of a famous Hawaiian canoe! Evan takes us down to North Georgia with Project Chimps, a chimpanzee sanctuary where over 90 retired lab chimps roam freely on six protected acres of forest. Our hosts are also joined by the very human creator of the Brooklyn Folk Festival, Eli Smith, who plays some banjo for us and talks about the upcoming festival this November 7-9. This episode is jam-packed, but don’t worry, we still found room for favorites like Cryptid Corner, Grandparent Stories, jokes and more. Let’s get wild!

Listen now and have a whale of a time - this episode's a hoot!

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 - Episode 17 Intro
01:36 - Dr. Irene Pepperberg & Alex, the African Grey Parrot
14:03 - Joke Time
14:57 - Cryptid Corner: The Wow! Signal
20:09 - Riddle Clue
20:31 - Deep Listening with Dr. Aude Pacini
27:48 - Favorite Sound
28:35 - Call for Submissions
29:02 - Eli Smith & the 2025 Brooklyn Folk Festival
34:44 - Going Ape at Project Chimps with Caregivers Lauren and Tawnya
44:31 - Grandparent Stories: Papa Artie
48:22 - Riddle Answer
49:00 - Preview of Episode 18
49:13 - Credits
49:45 - Bloopers

The background music in our interview with Dr. Aude Pacini features audio of live performances by Hawaiian musicians Gary Haleamau and Ledward Kaapana, as retrieved from the Library of Congress.

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