This episode of Beyond the Broom Cupboard, we speak to Maddie Moate.
BBC’s Do you know:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b09yn3ly/maddies-do-you-know
Maddie’s Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@maddiemoate
A very curious Christmas west end show
https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/maddies-curious-christmas-live-on-stage/
About Maddie Moate:
Maddie Moate is a presenter known for her work on CBeebies, YouTube and in live theatre.
She started her presenting career online with a comedy sketch series about smartphones and apps, sponsored by Nokia.
This led to her presenting for various tech brands and becoming a YouTube tech presenter and journalist.
Maddie was then hired by BBC Earth for their YouTube channel as a scientist familiar with the YouTube format.
CBeebies then approached her to host a new tech science engineering show as they wanted a real person, not an actor, to host.
Maddie's Approach to Science Communication:
Maddie believes in finding the extraordinary in the ordinary and making science accessible to everyone.
She focuses on simplifying complex scientific concepts using relatable examples and language that children can understand.
For example, she explains weight in terms of small elephants and uses familiar objects like forks and fences to spark children's interest.
Maddie prioritises family viewing and avoids patronising language, ensuring her content is engaging for both children and adults.
"Do You Know?" Show:
The show features two segments: "How is it made?" and "How does it work?".
Finding factories in the UK for the "How is it made?" segment became increasingly difficult as the series progressed.
The show's topics were chosen through crowd research, with school children providing ideas, as well as Maddie's own curation of ideas and identifying products made in the UK.
The random nature of the episode topics was partly due to the availability of factory locations.
Maddie's YouTube Content:
Maddie's YouTube content often focuses on finding extraordinary stories within ordinary objects and themes, like paper made from elephant poo and bread baked in geothermal hot springs.
She sees these as opportunities to teach children about topics like sustainability and geothermal energy in engaging ways.
"A Very Curious Christmas" Book and Stage Show:
The book explores the science behind Christmas traditions and cultures, like why we have Christmas stockings and how Christmas crackers work.
The book was inspired by Maddie's difficulty finding resources that collated fun Christmas-themed science questions.
The stage show adaptation is set in Santa's workshop, where Maddie works alongside two elves to fix the chaotic workshop using science.
The show incorporates audience interaction, jokes, music and visual elements to keep audiences of all ages engaged.
Navigating YouTube with Children:
Maddie acknowledges the challenges of YouTube's algorithm-driven content, which can lead to children repeatedly seeing similar content.
She recommends using the YouTube Kids app and curating a list of trusted channels to provide a safer and more enriching experience.
Maddie encourages parents to watch YouTube content with their children to discover family-friendly creators and ensure a shared experience
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