Wild and Kind Kids Podcast

What if an animal could be venomous, have a powerful bite, and still want absolutely nothing to do with you?

Meet the Gila monster, a slow-moving desert lizard with bead-like scales, bright warning colors, and a reputation that might be a little scarier than the animal itself. Gila monsters are one of the world’s relatively few venomous lizards, and they spend much of their lives tucked away underground in the deserts of the American Southwest and northwestern Mexico. 

In this episode, we’ll mosey into the dusty town of Dry Gulch, where a stranger named Gus has arrived just in time for the Desert Bloom Festival. The local animals have heard some alarming things about Gila monsters. They’re venomous. They bite. And when they bite, they can hold on for a very long time. So when Gus ambles into town, everyone keeps a VERY safe distance. But when trouble blows into Dry Gulch, the animals may discover there’s more to Gus than the rumors they’ve heard.

Along the adventure, kids will uncover:

• How Gila monsters use grooved teeth to deliver venom
• Why these desert reptiles spend so much of their lives underground
• How tiny bony plates called osteoderms create armor beneath many of their scales

Wild and Kind Kids blends original animal stories with real wildlife science, helping curious kids ages 3–8 explore animal adaptations, habitats, behavior, and conservation without a screen. This episode is a fun fit for car rides, homeschool science, classroom listening, or a quiet afternoon at home.

Keep exploring:

• Download a Gila monster coloring sheet 
• Follow us on Instagram @wildandkindkidspod
• Join our FREE Kids Club or request an animal at wildandkindkids.com 

Learn along with us and explore some of the resources we consulted:

• Gila Monster (National Geographic Kids) 
• Gila Monster (Phoenix Zoo) 
• Wild About Gila Monsters (UPR) 
• Gila Monster (San Diego Zoo) 

What if the thing that makes you feel a little out of place is exactly what makes you good at something else?

This week, we’re heading into the Amazon rainforest to meet the green anaconda, the heaviest snake in the world. These enormous reptiles spend much of their lives in and around water, where their long, muscular bodies make them powerful swimmers. 

Then it’s time to meet Ana, a green anaconda and proud member of the Midnight Slitherers. Her friends zip between roots, climb trees, and squeeze through tiny spaces, while Ana keeps getting stuck, falling behind, and wondering if she’s really cut out to be a Midnight Slitherer at all. But when the group reaches a wide, muddy river, Ana gets the chance to find out what her enormous anaconda body was built to do.

Together, we’ll learn: 

• What it means when a snake is a “constricter” 
• How a snake can swallow an animal much wider than its own head 
• How camouflage helps anacondas disappear among muddy water and rainforest plants
• How anacondas are uniquely built for aquatic life

Wild and Kind Kids combines original animal stories with real wildlife science, helping curious kids ages 3–8 explore animal adaptations, habitats, and the natural world without a screen. This episode makes a cozy pick for bedtime, a car ride, homeschool science, or any kid currently deep in their snake era.

Keep exploring:

• Download a green anaconda coloring sheet 
• Follow us on Instagram at wildandkindkidspod 
• Join our Kids Club for extra episode book recommendations and activities at wildandkindkids.com 

Learn along with us and explore some of the resources we consulted:

• Green Anaconda (National Geographic Kids)
• Why We Were Totally Wrong About How Boa Constrictors Kill (National Geographic)  
• Green Anaconda (The Smithsonian) 
• Snakes: Super Senses, Stretchy Jaws, and Deadly Venom (Natural History Museum) 

What if your brain could sleep while you were still swimming? For spinner dolphins, rest works a little differently than it does for us. And after a busy night of hunting, swimming, and spectacular spinning, they need it. Spinner dolphins can twist around up to seven times in a single leap! 

In this episode, we travel to the warm waters around Hawaii, where a young spinner dolphin named Dash has one thing on his mind: five spins. He’s come so close, and he’s sure that if he tries just one more time, he can do it. But while the rest of his pod heads toward shallow water to rest, Dash turns back toward the open ocean for another try. His determination leads to an unexpected lesson about rest, belonging, and why some accomplishments feel better when we have someone to share them with.

Together, we’ll explore some seriously splashy spinner dolphin science:

• Why spinner dolphins leap, twist, and spin high above the water
• How whistles, clicks, body movements, bubbles, and touch help dolphins communicate
• What scientists have learned about dolphin play, cooperation, learning, and tool use
• How and why spinner dolphins rest together 

We’ll also hear from Jen Kelly of Whale and Dolphin Conservation, who helps us understand how kids can protect dolphins and ocean habitats, even when they live far from the coast. 

Wild and Kind Kids blends original animal stories with real science, helping curious kids explore wildlife, habitats, adaptations, and kindness without a screen. This episode makes a playful science listen for car rides, homeschool, classrooms, or a little quiet time after a busy day.

Keep exploring:

• Download a spinner dolphin coloring sheet
• Follow us on Instagram at wildandkindkidspod 
• Join our Kids Club for extra episode book recommendations and activities at wildandkindkids.com 

Learn along with us and explore some of the resources we consulted:

• Read more about the Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) and their education programs 
• VIDEO: Why Do Spinner Dolphins Spin? (Getty Images) 
• The Spinner Dolphin (NOAA) 
• Spinner Dolphin (Whale and Dolphin Conservation) 
• Spinner Dolphin Facts (National Geographic) 

What if you lived so deep in the ocean that sunlight never reached you at all? For the humpback anglerfish, the answer is simple: bring your own light.

This week, we’re heading hundreds of meters beneath the ocean’s surface to meet the humpback anglerfish, a deep-sea fish with needle-like teeth, a stretchy stomach, and a glowing lure dangling right above her mouth.

Then, meet Glimmer.

Glimmer loves playing games with her deep-sea friends, but there’s one problem. She is TERRIBLE at hide-and-seek. No matter how carefully she hides, that little glowing light above her head gives her away every single time.

Together, we’ll uncover the real science behind Glimmer’s glow and more, including:

• Why a glowing lure comes in handy in the depths of the ocean 
• How tiny bacteria help create light through bioluminescence
• How an anglerfish’s long, needle-like teeth can help keep a meal from escaping

We’ll also explore what it means to “change the game” when something isn’t working, then turn that idea toward helping our oceans by finding one simple way to use less single-use plastic.

Wild and Kind Kids combines original animal stories with real science, giving curious kids ages 3–8 a screen-free way to explore wildlife, habitats, adaptations, and kindness. This deep-sea adventure is a fun pick for car rides, quiet time, homeschool science, or anyone who loves strange ocean animals.

Keep exploring:

• Download a humpback anglerfish coloring sheet 
• Follow us on Instagram @wildandkindkidspod
• Find more resources or request an animal at wildandkindkids.com 

Learn along with us and explore some of the resources we consulted:

• (PHOTO) Moment of Yikes (National Geographic Kids) 
• Deep sea anglerfish (Oceana) 
• Deep-sea anglerfish (Monterey Bay Aquarium) 

What if one of the most powerful birds in the rainforest was afraid to leave the nest?

High in the Amazon rainforest, a young harpy eagle named Tupi has enormous feet, powerful wings, and talons that look like they belong on a dinosaur. There’s just one problem. Tupi does not want to fly. When an unexpected visitor discovers her secret, Tupi begins to wonder if being brave means waiting until you’re no longer scared, or trying something new while the scared feeling is still there.

Together, we’ll explore how the harpy eagle is built for life high in the tropical rainforest:

• How short, broad wings and a long tail help these powerful birds maneuver around rainforest trees and vines
• How special facial feathers may help funnel sounds toward their ears while hunting
• Why harpy eagles sometimes wait for hours in a single tree for the right hunting opportunity

Then we’ll connect Tupi’s story back to real harpy eagle science, including their enormous nests, sometimes built more than 100 feet above the forest floor, and what it means when a young bird finally “fledges” and leaves the nest.

Wild and Kind Kids combines original animal stories with real science to help kids understand how animals live, adapt, and grow. It’s a screen-free science podcast for curious kids ages 3–8 and their grown-ups, perfect for car rides, homeschool science, classroom listening, or a quiet story together.

And this week’s Wild & Kind Mission takes us somewhere unexpected: the grocery store. Kids can become Shade Detectives, looking with their grown-ups for foods grown in ways that help protect tree cover and wildlife habitat. (See more about Smithsonian Bird Friendly here.) 

Keep exploring:

• Download a harpy eagle coloring sheet 
• Follow us on Instagram @wildandkindkidspod
• Find more resources or request an animal at wildandkindkids.com 

Learn along with us and explore some of the resources we consulted:

• 10 fun facts about the harpy eagle (Audubon Society) 
• Harpy eagle (The Peregrine Fund) 
• Harpy eagle (San Diego Zoo) 

Why, in the world, is that Komodo dragon flicking his tongue all the time? There’s a search underway! 

On the dry, golden hills of Komodo Island, a young deer named Timber has gone missing. Everyone sets off to search, including two neighbors who would rather not work together. Coco the yellow-crested cockatoo can soar high above the trees and see for miles. Dodi the Komodo dragon has another way of finding clues, one that involves a whole lot of flick, flick, flicking his tongue. 

As the search takes them across grasslands, forests, and rocky trails, Coco and Dodi begin to realize that finding Timber might take both of their very different talents.

Along the adventure, we’ll learn: 

• How Komodo dragons use their forked tongues and Jacobson’s organ to detect scents and figure out which direction they’re coming from
• Why young Komodo dragons spend much of their early lives climbing trees
• How sharp, serrated teeth and venom help make the world’s largest living lizard such an effective predator
• Why Komodo dragons sometimes regurgitate their food 

Wild and Kind Kids is a screen-free animal podcast where original stories meet real science. Each episode gives curious kids a chance to imagine life from an animal’s point of view while learning about adaptations, habitats, behavior, and the wonderfully strange ways animals survive.

This Komodo dragon episode is a fun fit for car rides, quiet time, bedtime listening, or homeschool science about reptiles, predators, animal senses, and endangered species.

Keep exploring:

• Download a Komodo dragon coloring sheet 
• Follow us on Instagram @wildandkindkidspod
• Find more resources or request an animal at wildandkindkids.com 

Learn along with us and explore some of the resources we consulted:

• Komodo dragon (National Geographic Kids) 
• Komodo dragon (Louisville Zoo) 
• Komodo dragons bite prey with iron-tipped teeth (Natural History Museum) 
• How dangerous are Komodo dragons? (National Zoo) 
• The myth of the Komodo dragons dirty mouth (National Geographic Magazine) 

What would you do if you heard a blood-curdling scream coming from the forest?

For Wally the wombat and Padma the pademelon, there’s only one reasonable answer: go find out what made it.

As night falls over the forests of Tasmania, the two friends hear something strange among the eucalyptus trees. First comes a scream. Then a growl. Then the unmistakable CRUNCH of something eating a bone.

Whatever is hiding behind those ferns must be enormous. Ferocious. Possibly bigger than a house.

Or … maybe Wally and Padma are getting a little carried away.

Their search leads them to a creature they weren’t expecting, and a chance to see those frightening sounds from a completely different point of view.

In this episode, we’ll get to know the Tasmanian devil and learn: 

• What it means to be a marsupial 
• How Tasmanian devils use powerful jaws to help them crunch through bones and other tough food
• Why these nocturnal animals scream, growl, show their teeth, and open their mouths incredibly wide

Wild and Kind Kids is a screen-free animal podcast for curious kids ages 3–8 and their grown-ups. Each episode combines movement, animal facts, an original story grounded in real science, and a Wild and Kind Mission that helps children see how they can care for wildlife, too.

Perfect for car rides, quiet time, homeschool science, or a family story together.

Keep exploring:

• Learn more about the work of Devils@Cradle and the WWF and see how to adopt a Tasmanian devil 
• Download a tasmanian devil coloring sheet 
• Follow us on Instagram @wildandkindkidspod
• Join our Kids Club or request an animal at wildandkindkids.com 

Learn along with us and explore some of the resources we consulted:

• See Tasmanian Devils (Photo Ark by National Geographic) 
• Tasmanian devil (National Geographic Kids) 
• Tasmanian devil facts for kids (Tasmanian Government) 
• Tasmanian devil (Perth Zoo) 
• Toledo Zoo discovers Tasmanian Devils that glow (NPR) 

What if you met a potential friend ... and they couldn’t understand a word you said?

Off the coast of Vancouver Island, a young orca named Kai has never met a stranger. He’ll race a dolphin, splash a sea lion, and try to turn just about anyone into a new friend. So when another pod of orcas swims into his family’s waters, Kai can hardly contain himself.

A whole pod of new friends?

Game. On.

But when Kai races over to introduce himself, something strange happens. The other young orcas just stare at him. His invitations to race go nowhere. His spectacular leap gets nothing but puzzled looks. Kai is sure they don’t want to play, until his grandfather shares something surprising about the way orca families communicate.

The story may be make-believe, but the science behind it is real. In this episode, kids will get to know the orca and learn: 

• How orcas use echolocation to understand what’s around them
• Why their black-and-white countershading can help them blend into the ocean
• How orca pods work together to hunt
• How different orca families can have their own dialects, with calls passed from one generation to the next

Special thanks to Tamara Kelley from the Orca Conservancy for joining us in this episode! Learn more about their work and how to take action at: orcaconservancy.org/take-action 

Wild and Kind Kids blends original animal stories with real science to help curious kids understand not just what animals do, but why. This screen-free science podcast for kids ages 3–8 is made for family listening, car rides, homeschool science, classrooms, or a quiet story before bed.

Keep exploring:

• Learn how to take action for orcas with the Orca Conservancy
• Download our orca coloring sheet 
• Join our Wild and Kind Kids Club for free recommended readings and episode extenders
• Request an animal for a future episode 
• Follow us on Instagram for bonus facts and footage

Resources we love: 

• Hear Orcas (Orca Conservation Research) 
• Top 10 Facts about Orcas (WWF) 
• Killer Whale Facts! (National Geographic Kids) 
• How echolocation lets animals - and some humans - navigate by sound (National Geographic) 
• Whale Talk: Orca Communication and Dialect (Canadian Network for Ocean Education) 

Have you ever wondered why one of the world's most elusive big cats is called the "ghost of the mountain?"

This week on Wild and Kind Kids, we're climbing high into the snowy peaks of Nepal to meet a remarkable animal that's built for life where few creatures can survive. But while real snow leopards are experts at staying hidden, one young snow leopard wishes everyone would notice her.

In our original story, you'll meet Nima, a playful snow leopard who dreams of becoming the hero of the mountains. She quietly helps marmots, blue sheep, ravens, and other mountain neighbors, but every time, someone else gets the credit. As Nima searches for the recognition she longs for, she discovers that kindness isn't always about being seen.

Along the adventure, children will uncover:

• Why snow leopards are called the ghosts of the mountain
• How their thick fur, wide "snowshoe" paws, and extra-long tail help them survive freezing mountain habitats
• The incredible distance that some snow leopards can leap 
• How camouflage helps these mountain cats disappear into snow and stone

Every Wild and Kind Kids episode blends an original story with real animal facts for kids, helping children explore science through imagination. It's a gentle way to spark curiosity about wildlife, habitats, and conservation while enjoying a screen-free adventure together.

Listen during bedtime, quiet afternoons, long car rides, or a quiet moment in school. 

Keep exploring:

• Download a snow leopard coloring sheet 
• Follow us on Instagram @wildandkindkidspod
• Find more resources or request an animal at wildandkindkids.com 

Learn along with us and explore some of the resources we consulted:

• Snow leopard facts and photos (National Geographic Kids) 
• Top 10 facts about snow leopards (World Wildlife Fund) 

Could a tree be a whole neighborhood?

High in the Australian bush, a barking owl named Bram thinks of his old eucalyptus tree as home. But when a bright red ribbon appears around its trunk, he realizes that home may be in danger. With the help of sugar gliders, possums, rainbow lorikeets, and a few clever ideas, Bram must find a way to help the humans see that this isn't just one tree. It’s a neighborhood. 

In this episode, kids will learn: 

• Why we call them “barking” owls 
• How silent flight helps owls sneak up on prey using specialized feathers
• How trees and tree hollows become essential homes for barking owls, sugar gliders, possums, bats, frogs, and many other Australian animals

Wild and Kind Kids is a weekly, screen-free animal podcast for curious kids and their grownups. Every episode blends an original story with real animal science, helping children build curiosity, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the natural world, one remarkable animal at a time.

Listen during bedtime, quiet afternoons, long car rides, or homeschool science lessons about birds of prey, Australian animals, forests, and habitats. 

Barking owl audio by Hank Bower from Xeno-canto, used under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA) license.

Keep exploring:

• Download this week's free Barking Owl coloring sheet 
• Follow @wildandkindkidspod on Instagram for crafts, nature activities, and behind-the-scenes fun
• Find more resources or request an animal at wildandkindkids.com 

Learn along with us and explore some of the resources we consulted:

• Barking Owl (Australian Museum) 
• Barking Owl (Australia Zoo) 
• “Owl” be Seeing You: Amazing Facts About Owl Eyes (The American Bird Conservancy) 
• The Silent Flight of Owls, Explained (Audubon Magazine)