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How to conquer Garbage Mountain

After getting a firsthand look at the history of trash, we’re having visions from garbage’s present and future this week. Producer Kunsang Dorjee visits a landfill to see what happens to our trash after we throw it away, and producer Ruby Guthrie shows us how we can make less trash and dispose the trash we do make in ways that are better for the planet. Plus: we hear from a kid who helped her class produce almost no waste during the school year. And our Moment of Um answers the question: if ants like sweet things, why don’t they attack beehives?


The invention of trash

A pair of ghost shoes visit Molly with a message: it's time to think about garbage. They predict that Molly will be visited by three visions of garbage, one from the past, one from the present and one from the future.


A pair of ghost shoes visit Molly with a message: it's time to think about garbage. They predict that Molly will be visited by three visions of garbage, one from the past, one from the present and one from the future.

Today, Producer Sanden Totten takes us on a time traveling journey to see how we started making all this trash in the first place. Plus: the Moment of Um answers the question: Are yawns contagious to animals?

Next week, we'll be back with a look at the present and future of garbage.

Take a deep breath: How does breathing work?

Breathing is a really cool thing. We breathe automatically without thinking about it, but we can also control our breath and play with it. We'll learn how our lungs work and why our bodies need this air in the first place. We'll also hear from a singer and a free diver about how they've trained their breath to do remarkable things -- and how you can too! And we'll talk to a doctor about how deep breathing can help you feel less stressed and she'll teach us an exercise you can do whenever anxiety starts to creep up. Plus: Our Moment of Um answers the question: what is the smallest unit of measurement?

Brains On Podcast

Smash Boom Best is a debate show for kids and families from the makers of the award-winning podcast, Brains On! Every episode takes two cool things, smashes them together and lets you decide which is best.


Smash Boom Best

Julie and her daughter, children’s author and educator Emma Walton Hamilton, invite you into their library to read their favorite children's books. Every story comes to life with sound, music and activities. Authors, kids and other special guests chime in, too! 


Julie's Library

A history show for the whole family! Every episode explores the origin of just one thing — like sandwiches, video games, clocks and more — while teaching listeners to think critically about history.


Forever Ago

Other APM Podcasts

Molly, Marc, and Sanden present a humorous, fact-and fun-filled look at life on Earth — from deep-sea creatures and carnivorous plants to the human body and stinky bacteria. Get your own copy to explore!


Get the Brains On Book Today!

Listen to all the episodes in our series on the coronavirus, get resources and more.


Coronavirus Episodes and Resources

Earlier this year, Brains On teamed up with the Science Museum of Minnesota, with funding from the National Science Foundation, to launch a study on how shows like ours can provide families with science-based information to help ease children’s worries during a pandemic.


Scrapbook to remember what it's like right now

Brains On Coronavirus Research!

Brains On is an award-winning science podcast for kids from American Public Media.  Each week, joined by a different kid co-host, we ask fascinating questions about science and go wherever the answers take us.  Sometimes this means hearing skits about sound waves, songs about slime or interviews with astronauts.


Introducing Debate with Smash Boom Best

Brains On Curiosity Kit Books

Brains On Curiosity Kit Animal Farts

Brains On Curiosity Kit Colds

Brains On Curiosity Kit Deep Sea vs Outer Space

Brains On Curiosity Kit Slime

Resources for Educators

Brains On teamed up with the Science Museum of Minnesota, with funding from the National Science Foundation, to launch a groundbreaking study looking at how families use podcasts.


NSF Research Summary

PHASE 1: Analysis of Secondary Data (Click Here)

PHASE 2: Listener Survey (Click Here)

Brains On! Exploratory Research: Impacts of Listening to a Children's Science Podcast

Brains On Research!

Going on a trip and need to keep the fun going over the long weekend? Here's a list of interactive podcast episodes filled with songs and audio games that will keep you laughing, clapping, and playing until you reach your destination.


Listen On: Fun! Fun! Fun!

Gearing up for a long trip and want to keep the gross out fun going? Check out our handy podcast playlist, featuring episodes of shows that answer questions like: Where does your poop go? What do you think a pig fart sounds like? And just how much did dinosaurs fart, poop, and pee?


Listen On: Gross Out

Going on a long trip and looking for some podcasts to go with the latest Brains On! water show? We've got a fun podcast playlist filled with audio goodies by Tumble, Ear Snacks, and more.


Listen On: Water

Hitting the road this weekend to do a little exploring? Go on a little audio adventure as you prep for your journey with our podcast playlist. You'll learn about Australia's youngest female pilot, discover underground cities in Canada, and so much more.


Listen On: Exploration and Adventure!

Switch up your audio queue with this playlist of podcasts all about music. You’ll learn what it’s like to be a conductor, who was the first music superstar, and so much more.


Listen On: All About Music

Headed out on a summer road trip? Keep the kids happy in the backseat with this podcast playlist. It will take you on an aural adventure around the cosmos.  


Listen On: Out of This World!

Going on a road trip? Keep the fun going with this playlist of podcast episodes all about books (plus a few bonus videos, too). 


Listen On: Book Extravaganza!

Here's something a little new! We're working on a few podcast playlists for the summer to keep the fun and learning going when you're on the road. (By: Rion Nakaya of The Kid Should See This)


Resources