Get ready to travel back in time with Vikings and Volcanoes, the brain-boosting podcast for curious kids and their equally curious grown-ups! In this powerful episode, we shine a lantern into the dark corridors of history to uncover the incredible life and legacy of Florence Nightingale — the trailblazing nurse who transformed hospitals, saved thousands of lives, and earned a nickname that still glows brightly today: The Lady with the Lamp.

Buckle up as we crank our time machine to the 1800s and visit the battlefield hospitals of the Crimean War — a place of chaos, filth, and danger, where wounded soldiers were more likely to die from dirty water than battle wounds. But just when all hope seemed lost, in marched Florence Nightingale with a lamp in her hand, determination in her heart, and a mission to heal not only bodies but healthcare itself.

In this action-packed episode, we follow Florence from her privileged beginnings in Victorian England — where she shocked her wealthy family by refusing the easy life of parties and marriage — to the front lines of a war that would define her legacy. Guided by a strong sense of purpose and even a divine calling, Florence defied expectations to become one of the world’s first and finest professional nurses.

Listeners will discover how Florence didn’t just bring kindness to the sick — she brought science. With the power of data, diagrams, and sheer willpower, she exposed the deadly truth about hospital conditions and used maths to change minds, policy, and public health. You’ll hear how she inspired reform around the globe, created the first nursing school, and even helped shape hospital design — all while battling illness herself and never giving up on her mission.

This episode is packed with surprising facts, amusing sound effects, and a quick-fire quiz to test your knowledge. Whether you’re listening at home, in the car, or curled up with your own lamp, this episode offers a rich story of bravery, brains, and compassion in action.

Perfect for ages 6 to 106, Florence Nightingale: Battlefields, Bandages and Bravery! will leave you inspired to wash your hands, stand up for what’s right, and believe — like Florence did — that one person can change the world.

Get ready for a red-hot educational adventure as the Vikings and Volcanoes podcast dives headfirst into the fiery world of violent volcanoes! In this action-packed episode, curious minds of all ages will get to peel back the layers of our planet—literally—as we explore what lies beneath our feet and discover how the Earth’s sizzling inner forces shape mountains, cause earthquakes, and create volcanoes. Your host and volcanic guide takes listeners on a journey from the Earth’s crust all the way to its molten core, explaining how colliding tectonic plates and the explosive force of pent-up magma give rise to some of the most mesmerising and mighty of Earth's natural wonders - the volcano! 

From shield volcanoes which erupt like giant syrup spills to the fierce and fiery stratovolcanoes that can darken skies and ground planes, this episode uncovers every thrilling angle of volcanoes. You’ll learn about the legendary eruptions of Vesuvius and Krakatoa, explore what really happens during an eruption, and even find out why millions of people still choose to live in the shadow of these natural giants. Bursting with mind-blowing science, sizzling storytelling, and just the right amount of lava-powered humour, this episode is perfect for curious minds of all ages. So strap in, turn up the volume, and prepare to feel the heat—this is one Earth-shaking episode you won’t want to miss!

Discover the story of the man who saved millions of lives in this episode of Vikings and Volcanoes! Join your time-travelling guide, Ross, as we journey back to 18th-century England to meet Edward Jenner, the pioneering doctor who changed the world by creating the first vaccine. Explore the terrifying history of smallpox, learn how a mild disease from cows sparked a medical revolution, and uncover the brave experiments that led to modern immunization. Packed with fascinating facts, quirky sound effects, and a fun quiz, this episode is perfect for curious minds of all ages. Tune in, subscribe, and prepare to be amazed!

in today’s fin-tastic episode, the Vikings and Volcanoes podcast will be diving into the deep blue sea to learn all about one of the planet’s most incredible species: the Great White Shark!

That’s right, the biggest, most feared fish in the sea. But don’t worry, I promise you, there’s more to this impressive beast than terrifying teeth.

We'll be learning all about the Great White Shark's size, speed, incredible hunting skills and its amazing adaptations.

We'll also be learning about the one animal even the Great White Shark fears!

Join as we explore the secrets of the Japanese Samurai! In this episode, we will uncover the history, habits and formidable fighting skills that made these Japanese warriors famous still to this day. 

Whether you are listening to at home, on the school run (or even on a holiday road trip!), this fun and family-friendly podcast brings you big ideas in bite-size learning. It is perfect for listeners of all ages curious about history, science, and more. In this episode, you will be taken back in time to Ancient Egypt to explore the fascinating and sometimes gory process of mummification!

The Ancient Egyptians were of course well-known for their monumental pyramids, but the podcast will discuss how these massive structures were, in fact,  built as tombs for their kings. Inside the pyramids, deep within stone sarcophaguses, the Pharaohs' bodies were preserved as mummies — but what exactly does that mean? The podcast humorously breaks down the real reason Ancient Egyptians practised mummification and explains how it was all related to a belief in life after death. Yet, in order for a Pharaoh to live again in the afterlife, their body had to be perfectly preserved.

In a lively and engaging tone, and with more than a few humorous sound effects, the Vikings and Volcanoes podcast describes the 7-step process of mummification, from purifying the body with water from the Nile and wine, to removing the Pharaoh’s brain using a hook slid up the nose (yes, really!). However, all is explained as the Egyptians thought the brain was useless — all the thinking and feeling, they believed, happened in the heart, so the brain was discarded. The Pharaoh’s other organs were carefully removed, cleaned, and placed in special containers called canopic jars, each guarded by a different god. After drying out the body with salt and filling it with spices, plants, and even mud to restore its shape, the priest would wrap it in linen bandages, tuck lucky amulets between the layers, and add a final touch — a wig and a protective mask.

The podcast also shares some strange and surprising mummification facts along the way. For example, did you know the word “mummy” comes from the Arabic word “mumiya,” meaning tar, because ancient mummies looked like they were covered in it? Or that Egyptians didn’t just mummify Pharaohs, but also their pets — from cats and dogs to birds and even crocodiles? The episode also highlights the lengths pyramid builders went to protect the Pharaoh’s tombs from robbers, including secret tunnels, false burial chambers, and even used 150,000 tonnes of rubble to block the entrance to the tomb of the famous Pharaoh, Tutankhamun.

To wrap things up, listeners' newfound knowledge is put to the test with a four-question quiz, making it fun for young historians or families to see what they remember from the episode. From the 70-day mummification process to the lucky charms hidden in the bandages, there’s plenty to learn in this fast-paced, entertaining dive into ancient history.

With sound effects, playful jokes, and a deep dive into the grisly yet fascinating process of mummification, Vikings and Volcanoes offers an engaging and educational listening experience. Tune in to the first episode to uncover the secrets of ancient Egyptian mummies, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any future adventures in bite-size learning!