SolveItForKids podcast

Solve It! for Kids - The science podcast for curious & creative kids and their families. Peek into the world of real-life scientists, engineers, and experts as they solve problems in their every day jobs. Kids and families are then invited to take on a challenge and solve a problem themselves! Join Jennifer Swanson and Jeff Gonyea as they ask questions, solve problems, and offer challenges that take curiosity and creativity to a whole new level. Don’t forget to participate in our weekly challenges!

How Do Birds Fly? 04/16/2024

How Do Birds Fly? Have you ever watched birds soaring in the sky and wondered... How do they fly like that? Our guest, Alex Troutman, wildlife biologist and science communicator, is here to explain it all. A lifetime birding enthusiast, Alex turned his interest in birds into a job as a scientist. He now shares all of his awesome knowledge with us. Every episode of this award-winning science podcast for kids and families takes you behind the scenes of a scientist, engineer, or expert's day job. Packed with fun facts, intriguing information, and lots of fun, this podcast aims to educate as well as inspire. The best part is that every guest gives our listeners and easy challenge to learn more. This episode's challenge is to: make a paper airplane that looks like a bird and test it out! Find more information on our website: /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/30833633

How Will AI Affect Learning to Code? 04/09/2024

How Will AI Affect Learning to Code? Artificial Intelligence (AI) is on everyone's minds these days. What is it? How can it help me? Is it a good thing to learn to use? Our guest, Peter Kuperman Founder and CEO of HATCH Coding, answers all of those questions and more! Peter gives us a very user-friendly analogy for how to think of coding that's as simple as setting the table. Don't miss this intriguing episode. Every episode of this award-winning podcast for kids (of all ages) takes you behind the scenes of a a scientist, engineer, or expert's life. Packed with fun facts, intriguing information, and lots of fun, this podcast aims to educate as well as inspire. The best part is that every guest gives the listeners an easy challenge to do to learn more. The challenge for this episode is: Use Chat GPT to create a title for your own app, and then have it outline how to build the app. Check out our website: for more information about the guest, their job, and even book recommendations for young readers to learn more. /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/30721323

How Do Dolphins Recognize Humans? 04/02/2024

How Do Dolphins Recognize Humans? Have you ever wondered how dolphins respond to their trainers? Do they actually recognize humans? Learn the answer on today's show from dolphin trainer Griselda Mora as she explains how smart dolphins are and talks about how you can become a dolphin trainer one day! Participate in this episode's challenge: Build something out of recyclables, like an ocean creature. Award-winning podcast for kids, parents, teachers, homeschoolers, and anyone who is curious about science and STEM careers. Highlighting STEM careers, diversity, and women in STEM. /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/30626383

What's it like to be a Civilian Astronaut? 03/26/2024

What's it like to be a Civilian Astronaut? Have you ever wanted to go to space? Meet Chris Sembroski, civilian astronaut member of Inspiration4, a historic orbital mission that took four civilian astronauts to space. Chris shares his amazing experience with us. Hopefully, he'll inspire one of you to head to space, too! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/30520293

How Do You Study Exoplanets? 03/19/2024

How Do You Study Exoplanets? What types of planets are way out in space and how do scientists study them? We have the awesome Dakota Tyler, astrophysicist and science communicator at DT Star Kid on our show to talk all about the fascinating field of exoplanets. You won't want to miss this out-of-this-world episode! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/30417188

How Much is there Still to Learn About the Ocean? 03/12/2024

How Much is there Still to Learn About the Ocean? How much do we know about the ocean? And how much is there still to learn? TONS! Aquanaut and scientist Brian Helmuth is on our show today to talk about all of the amazing things he has learned about while studying the ocean for his entire career. Listen and celebrate our 200th episode with a repeat visit from our very first amazing guest! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/30325658

What Would it Look Like if We Lived in Space? 03/05/2024

What Would it Look Like if We Lived in Space? What do you think it would look like if we lived in space? Would we have houses? Mobile homes? Moon buggies? What kind of food would we eat? Entrepreneur and Axiom astronaut John Shoffner is here to talk to us about what it's like to live in space for a short time. And he challenges us to participate in the International Space Art and Poetry Contest to share your ideas! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/30219088

How do Old Wind Turbines Blades Become Art? 02/27/2024

How do Old Wind Turbines Blades Become Art? Have you seen those giant wind turbines across the country? Ever wondered what happens to the blades when they have to be replaced? They can be recycled! Take a listen to our guest, Brian Donahue, with Canvus, a company who manufactures furniture out of old wind turbine blades. You may have some of these awesome structures in your community right now. What an awesome combination of STEM, ART, and recycling. /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/30101203

Where Could We Find Life in the Solar System? 02/20/2024

Where Could We Find Life in the Solar System? We now know that the universe is vast and filled with billions of stars. But where could we find life? It's such a big place to search, so why not start with our own solar system. What are we doing to search for life here? Natasha Carr, a PhD candidate studying physics and space science at the University of Leicester, has a lot of thoughts about this. She is sharing them with us today. Don't miss this excellent out-of-this-world episode! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/30014113

How Long Can Humans Live Underwater? 02/13/2024

How Long Can Humans Live Underwater? Humans have live over a year in space, but how long can they live underwater? Not many people can answer that question, but our amazing guest can. Known as Dr. Deep Sea, Dr. Joseph Dituri has spent 100 days living underwater. He is on our show to tell us what it was like and how exciting it was to experience the ocean up close! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/29897733

How Can You Use Music to Get Kids Excited About STEM? 02/06/2024

How Can You Use Music to Get Kids Excited About STEM? How can you get kids excited about STEM? Put it to music! That's exactly what our guest today has done. Victor Villegas is a Digital and Technology Coordinator for Oregon State University by day and the "DroneSinger" at night! You'll want to tune in to hear how Victor turns STEM topics in to amazing music and songs. You may even get to hear one performed on the show! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/29815108

Why Do Science at Sea? 01/30/2024

Why Do Science at Sea? Have you ever wondered how scientists learn about the ocean? They do science at sea! We have Science Communicator Erin Winick Anthony who is currently onboard the Joides Revolution ship as the scientists study cores of the ocean floor to learn about climate change (Jan 2024). This episode includes a fun video on our website so be sure to check that out! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/29698633

How Can You Prepare for the Total Solar Eclipse? 01/23/2024

How Can You Prepare for the Total Solar Eclipse? Are you aware that there will be a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024? This amazing event doesn't happen very often, so you should really try to see it. But how can you prepare to see one? Dan Schneiderman, Eclipse Partnership Coordinator at the Rochester Museum and Science Center is here to give us tons of tips. Don't miss this awesome episode or the eclipse! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/29591843

How Do You Study the Smallest Things? 01/16/2024

How Do You Study the Smallest Things? Welcome to the 8th season of Solve It for Kids! We start our new season off right by exploring some of the tiniest things in the universe... particles you can't even see. Dr. Katy Grimm, associate professor of physics at Cal State University East Bay and her research is performed at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research that operates the large Hadron Collider. In other words, Dr. Katy is one of the best people to answer our episode topic because she STUDIES some of the smallest things in the universe! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/29499888

The BEST of Launching a Rocket! 01/09/2024

The BEST of Launching a Rocket! The Solve It for Kids Podcast team is on their last week of holiday break. Please enjoy this out-of-the-world episode about launching rockets. You'll hear clips from guests who are talking about getting ready for a launch, moving rockets, and what it's like to blast off in a rocket. Look for our new season to start next week! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/29392638

The BEST of Energy and Engineering 01/02/2024

The BEST of Energy and Engineering Happy 2024! The Solve It for Kids Podcast team of Jennifer and Jeff are still on holiday break. We have left you a few clips from some of our favorite episodes about energy and engineering. Get ready to ... learn how to get energy from the wind, learn how drinking water gets to your house, and also how you get materials from the Earth. Such wonderful STEM topics to explore! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/29297223

The BEST of Extreme Places to Live 12/26/2023

The BEST of Extreme Places to Live The Solve It for Kids podcast is on holiday break! Please enjoy some snippets of our favorite shows about Living in Extreme Places! You'll "visit" an underwater habitat, Mars, and learn how plants live in extreme environments. Wishing you all a very Happy Holidays. See you in the new year! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/29230843

The BEST of Amazing Animals 12/19/2023

The BEST of Amazing Animals The Solve It for Kids podcast is taking a holiday break! Please enjoy clips from three of our favorite episodes about amazing animals! You'll learn about how to help native bee populations, how to count penguins, and also why some jellyfish have stinging snot. Happy Holidays! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/29144718

How Do You Build a Space Station? 12/12/2023

How Do You Build a Space Station? Twenty-five years ago, last week (December 6, 2008), the International Space Station was created. Bob Cabana, astronaut and Associate Administrator of NASA, was on that special mission. He is with us today to talk about what it felt like to be a part of that historic event, his amazing career at NASA, and also to encourage kids (of all ages) to pursue their dreams whatever they may be. /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/29022238

Do Animals have Feelings? 12/05/2023

Do Animals have Feelings? Have you ever wondered if your pets or animals have feelings? Dr. Carl Safina, best-selling author, a TED speaker, and a leader in the field of conservation biology. He is on our show to give his expert insight into just what our animals might be thinking. Don't miss this fun and exciting episode! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/28919623

What it's like to Blast off on a rocket? 11/28/2023

What it's like to Blast off on a rocket? How would it feel when blasting off to space? We have the amazing Astronaut Nicole Stott on our show today to tell all about this and also to share many more awesome experiences that she has had while in space. Don't miss this out-of-the-world episode! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/28794718

Do All Jellyfish have Stinging Snot? 11/21/2023

Do All Jellyfish have Stinging Snot? Do all jellyfish have stinging SNOT? This is a question you probably never thought to ask, but now really want to know the answer to, right? Well, take a listen to the awesome Jennie Janssen, assistant curator at the National Aquarium and President and cofounder of MIAZS as she explains this rather intriguing and little known characteristic of some jellyfish. /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/28720148

Why is the International Space Station so Important? 11/14/2023

Why is the International Space Station so Important? The International Space Station, (ISS) orbits the Earth 16 times every day. But it's so much more than just a spacecraft. The ISS is a laboratory in space that provides awesome information about living and working in microgravity. Listen to Erin Winick Anthony, science communicator, founder of STEAM Powered Media, and former NASA engineer explain just how important the ISS is to us here on Earth. /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/28627673

What Skills do Space Entrepreneurs Need? 11/07/2023

What Skills do Space Entrepreneurs Need? Have you ever considered being a space entrepreneur? What is it? And How can you become one? Our guest, Vered Cohen-Barzilay, CEO of Out of the Box Space Innovations will explain how YOU can become a space entrepreneur yourself! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/28528553

How Would you Send a Message to an Extraterrestrial? 10/31/2023

How Would you Send a Message to an Extraterrestrial? If you could send a message to an extraterrestrial, what would it say? What language would you use? How would you deliver it? These are all great questions and ones that we discuss in this fun and informative chat with Julia Brodsky, STEM Education lead at Blue Marble Initiative and former NASA Astronaut instructor, as she helps us to consider some things that we might think about IF we were ever to converse with an extraterrestrial. /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/28455074

How Do You Hack Your Ability to Learn? 10/24/2023

How Do You Hack Your Ability to Learn? Have you every really thought about how you learn? What are your good and not-so-great habits of learning? We have Dr. Justin Sung, medical doctor, researcher, certified teacher, learning coach, and CEO of ICanStudy.com on our show today to talk about how to "hack" your brain to learn more efficiently. Get ready to learn HOW to learn! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/28400288

What Would it be Like to Live on Mars? 10/17/2023

What Would it be Like to Live on Mars? Have YOU ever wondered what it would be like to live on Mars? We have just the right person to answer this question. The awesome Janet Ivey Duensing, Creator and CEO of Janet's Planet and the Director of Education for Explore Mars! You'll leave this episode wanting to don your spacesuit and head to the red planet soon. /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/28336727

What's it like to Fly a Plane Across the Ocean? 10/10/2023

What's it like to Fly a Plane Across the Ocean? Have you ever wondered what it's like to fly one of those giant airplanes across the ocean? We have Cran Middlecoat, pilot and aerospace nerd, on this episode to tell us all about it. Cran is not only a pilot, but also a huge advocate for STEM and most of all kids in aviation and aerospace, as he's also the founder of It's Rocket Science! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/28269017

What's it like to Live Underwater? 10/03/2023

What's it like to Live Underwater? Would you like to live underwater? It would definitely be different but so cool! Take a listen to awesome aquanaut Liz Magee, as she shares all of the amazing adventures she had under the sea. /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/28203533

How Do You Make Sound for a Movie? 09/26/2023

How Do You Make Sound for a Movie? When you watch a movie, how much do you pay attention to the sound? If it's done right, sound is one of the biggest effects that makes you feel like you're really "in" the movie. We have the awesome Bob Pepek, Sound designer and owner of MelonCollie Productions, to explain just how sound is created and added to a movie, cartoon, or video to make it come alive! /episode/index/show/solveitforkids/id/28144631

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