Have you ever dreamed of racing through ancient Rome—dust in the air, the crowd roaring, and your heart pounding like a drum?

In this episode of Wonders and Whispers, 11-year-old host Iza Grace brings us the story of Claudia, a brave girl born into royalty but raised as a peasant. All she wants is to race in The Emperor’s Race—on a horse no one believes in. But when things take an unexpected turn in the arena, Claudia must decide what truly matters more than winning.

This story blends courage, second chances, and dusty hooves in a fast-paced tale about kindness and grit.

Perfect for curious kids ages 7–13 who love bold characters, ancient settings, and powerful endings.

00:00 – Intro – The roar of ancient Rome
01:00 – Claudia’s backstory: royalty to peasant
02:00 – Meet Rufus: the dusty red horse
03:00 – Facing the bullies
04:00 – The race begins
05:00 – A crash, a choice, and a surprise ending
06:00 – The real meaning of victory
06:30 – Whisker Wisdom of the Week
07:00 – Outro + how to submit your story

Did you know cats can move their ears independently in different directions?
Each ear has 32 muscles—basically giving them built-in spy gear to catch even the tiniest sounds.

Are you a kid who’s written a fiction or historical story—through IEW or just for fun? We’d love to read it!

Submit your story at: https://wonders-and-whispers.northflow.site
We can’t feature every submission, but we read every single one—and yours just might be next.

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