Ever wished you could trade places with someone powerful—just to taste their royal life?
Golden gates, endless feasts, and all the sushi you could ever want.
But sometimes even the fluffiest thrones come with danger hanging overhead.

In this episode of Wonders and Whispers, 11-year-old host Iza Grace takes us to ancient Kyoto, Japan, where pandas rule the land. Damocles, a greedy panda, longs to be emperor—and learns that envy isn’t always worth the crown.

This playful twist on an ancient tale shows that power comes with a price, and sometimes the life we want most is the one we already have.

Perfect for curious kids ages 7–13 who love whimsical stories with a lesson at the end.

⏱ Chapters

00:00 – Intro – Trading places with royalty
01:00 – Meet Damocles: the greedy panda
02:00 – The emperor’s offer
02:30 – A feast fit for a panda king
03:00 – The sword above the throne
03:30 – A lesson in envy
04:00 – Whisker Wisdom: cats with extra toes
04:30 – Outro + how to submit your story

Cats usually have 18 toes—five on each front paw and four on each back paw.

🐾 Whisker Wisdom of the WeekBut some cats are born with extra toes!
They’re called polydactyl cats, and it looks like they’re wearing big, fluffy mittens.

✍️ Want Your Story on the Podcast?

If you’re a kid who’s written a fiction or historical story—through IEW or just for fun—I’d love to read it!
Submit your story here: https://wonders-and-whispers.northflow.site
I can’t feature every submission, but I read every single one—and yours just might be next.