Wild Interest

People use language to express themselves, but do you ever wonder how other animals communicate with each other? If they don’t speak like us, how do they convey information? In our first Animal Talk episode we learned about the complex ways animals communicate, and how some species even have their own languages and dialects. In “Paw 2” we find out even more about the amazing world of animal talk, and about the science behind linguistic development in animals. Evan interviews Dr. Irene Pepperberg, research professor at Boston University in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences about her groundbreaking work with Alex the African Grey Parrot. Dr. Pepperberg worked with Alex for 30 years and taught him over 100 English words. Not only was Alex able to communicate with humans, he even asked what color he was when looking at himself in the mirror, becoming the first known non-human to ask a question! Nichole goes beneath the waves with Dr. Aude Pacini from the Marine Mammal Research Program at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. Dr. Pacini records whale and dolphin song with sophisticated underwater microphones. She was part of an expedition where the world-class cellist Yo Yo Ma played music for whales from the deck of a famous Hawaiian canoe! Evan takes us down to North Georgia with Project Chimps, a chimpanzee sanctuary where over 90 retired lab chimps roam freely on six protected acres of forest. Our hosts are also joined by the very human creator of the Brooklyn Folk Festival, Eli Smith, who plays some banjo for us and talks about the upcoming festival this November 7-9. This episode is jam-packed, but don’t worry, we still found room for favorites like Cryptid Corner, Grandparent Stories, jokes and more. Let’s get wild!

Listen now and have a whale of a time - this episode's a hoot!

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 - Episode 16 Intro
01:36 - Dr. Irene Pepperberg & Alex, the African Grey Parrot
14:03 - Joke Time
14:57 - Cryptid Corner: The Wow! Signal
20:09 - Riddle Clue 
20:31 - Deep Listening with Dr. Aude Pacini
27:48 - Favorite Sound
28:35 - Call for Submissions
29:02 - Eli Smith & the 2025 Brooklyn Folk Festival 
34:44 - Going Ape at Project Chimps with Caregivers Lauren and Tawnya
44:31 - Grandparent Stories: Papa Artie
48:22 - Riddle Answer
49:00 - Preview of Episode 17
49:13 - Credits
49:45 - Bloopers

The background music in our interview with Dr. Aude Pacini features audio of live performances by Hawaiian musicians Gary Haleamau and Ledward Kaapana, as retrieved from the Library of Congress.

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Hey Wildlings! Do you ever wonder about things that go “bump” in the night? Do you love ghost stories? What about murky mysteries of the supernatural? 

In this episode we’ll tickle all your scary bones with a marvelous mashup of Halloween fun! You’ll find out just where Halloween traditions like pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating come from as Nichole and Evan trace the holiday all the way back to its ancient roots. You’ll learn of a peculiar American hometown custom of telling jokes if you want to get your sweet reward. We’ll teach you some spooky jokes, too — just in case you need one or two to get your hands on that sweet candy! 

If you love cryptids, you’re in for a treat, not a trick! Evan presents a who’s who of the weirdest, wackiest, and most hotly contested unverifiable creatures out there. Is Bigfoot bashful, brave or boring? Was that a smudge on the windshield, or the mythological Mothman? Do you believe in the Yeti yet or is the idea abominable? Are you a foe of UFOs or a friend to the little grey men? Can you cope with the Jackalope?? Get your candy out, sit back, and get ready for our haunted, hilarious Halloween episode. Let’s get wild!

Listen now and discover the spookiest creatures around!

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 - Episode 16 Intro
01:19 - Spooky in St. Louis
05:58 - Joke Time: Halloween Edition
06:49 - Coming Up with Costume Ideas at Crow Agency Elementary
08:13 - Bigfoot (from Ep.1 "Beneath the Surface")
13:15 - The Yeti (from Ep. 10 "Music Makers (Side A)")
15:51 - Haunted Halloween History 
17:29 - UAPs (from Ep. 3 "UFO Tofu")
22:03 - Area 51 (from Ep.7 "Good Vibrations")
25:34 - Monoliths (from Ep. 4 "Wild and Wonderful")
28:59 - The Jackalope (from Ep. 5 "Folks like Us")
30:57 - Jack O'Lanterns
31:39 - Dover Demon (from Ep. 6 "Tracking")
34:00 - The Loveland Frogman (from Ep. 8 "Dirt")
36:57 - Mothman (from Ep. 2 "Beneath the Surface")
39:37 - Evan's Top Secret Cryptid Corner
43:49 - Conclusion
44:37 - Preview of Ep. 17
45:31 - Credits
45:54 - Bloopers

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Have you ever had that dream where you arrive at school but something’s a little… off? Join us for our Back to School Special where Nichole and Evan experience exactly that. Their plan to squeeze the most out of the final days of summer is thwarted when they doze off by the pool and fall into an unexpected dream that lands them back in the classroom. But this time they’re not students — they’re the teachers! Sharpen your pencils, Wildings: this is learning the Wild Interest way. Prepare to earn your Podcast PhD as our hosts show you an easy way to make ice cream cake at home, and a great prank you can play using a banana. Find out what a palindrome is, and memorize a catchy song that helps you learn the names of all 50 US states. Dive deep into why we have daylight saving time and leap years, and discover the science of solar eclipses from a real astronomer! But wait, there’s more! What’s ASMR? How do you play Concentration 64? How do honeybees communicate? (Hint: they get their groove on!) Kids will come out of this episode prepared to dazzle their schoolmates with scads of new astonishing knowledge — and you’re in store for another hilarious cameo from everyone’s favorite cryptid, Bobby the Bigfoot! Sit back, relax, and let’s get wild!

Timestamps for this episode are available below:

00:00 - Episode 15 intro
02:50 - ASMR
05:40 - Cicadas
07:12 - How Honeybees Communicate
10:25 - Leap Years
12:28 - Solar Eclipses
15:18 - Daylight Saving Time
17:17 - Taste Explained
20:48 - Turkey Facts
23:43 - Ice Cream Cake
25:26 - Sliced Banana Prank
26:47 - Concentration 64
30:28 - Singing a Round: Row Row Row Your Boat
32:09 - Singing a Round: Frère Jacques
34:19 - States Song
36:02 - Palindrones
37:10 - Grammartime
39:30 - Magical Number Nine
42:45 - Fun Facts
44:41 - Nichole Wakes Up From Her Dream
46:22 - Credits
46:46 - Bloopers

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Can a podcast hosted by kids be truly awesome? Yes, it can! Wild Interest takes you on an amazing ride through science, fun facts, natural mysteries and more, all hosted by siblings Nichole and Evan. Perfect for your next road trip, school pickup, or anywhere you want to spark a conversation driven by curiosity. Enjoy the magic that happens when kids are inspired by other kids!

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Is music truly the universal language? And what in the world is the Voyager Golden Record doing floating around in space right now?

In this episode of Wild Interest, sibling hosts Nichole and Evan continue their sonic exploration by taking a trip to Belize to sit in with drummers carrying on the African Garifuna tradition as they gear up for the epic "Battle of the Drums!" Then, they chat with bluegrass pioneer Ron Thomason of the Dry Branch Fire Squad about mandolins, guitars, horses, and how to turn your own body into a drum kit.

But wait, there's more! Ever wonder what aliens might think of human music? Nichole and Evan dive into the incredible story of the Voyager Golden Record—a musical time capsule about life on Earth that's currently 15 billion miles away in interstellar space! Plus, in Cryptid Corner, Evan investigates the Fossegrim, a harmless but damp Norwegian creature who's suspiciously amazing at playing the fiddle.

This episode features all your favorite segments: Animal Call, Grandparent Story, Favorite Sound, jokes and a riddle.

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Listen now and discover the wild rhythms that connect us all!

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 - Episode 14 Intro
01:43 - Ron Thomason
08:59 - Animal Call Clue
09:28 - Word of Mouth
09:44 - Garifuna Drummers Kirwin Ramirez and Kayton Martinez
17:48 - Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
22:10 - Riddle Clue
22:28 - Favorite Sound
23:21 - Grandparent Stories: Eileen
29:59 - Animal Call Reprise
30:11 - Cryptid Corner: The Fossegrim
33:16 - Joke Time
34:03 - Call for Submissions
34:28 - Animal Call Reveal
35:42 - Voyager Golden Record
46:51 - Riddle Answer
47:16 - Preview of Episode 15
48:10 - Credits
48:34 - Bloopers

Click here for tickets to Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters in Nashville

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Mabuhay Wildings! What in the world does "mabuhay" mean, and how did the Philippines give us both Olympic champions AND the modern yo-yo?

This week on Wild Interest, our Philippines Independence Day special is one great big celebration of Filipino life and culture around the world. First up: Nichole says "hi" to Hidilyn Diaz, champion weightlifter and the first Filipino ever to win an Olympic gold medal. Next, Evan riffs with Ramón de Ocampo, acclaimed actor and voice of the hit Diary of a Wimpy Kid audio books.

But wait, there's more! Ever wonder about the history of yo-yos? Evan spins a yarn about yo-yos with his pal Jaxx, and learns some tricks from world champion freestyle yo-yo pro Bryan Jardin. Plus, our hosts take listeners on a lush audio journey through the beautiful island nation.

This episode features all your favorite segments: Grandparent Stories from Manila, Animal Calls, jokes, a pesky riddle, and an extra-creepy Cryptid Corner that takes us into the forest realm of the shape-shifting Tikbalang. Happy Independence Day — let's get wild!

Listen now and celebrate the wild culture of the Philippines!

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 - Episode 13 Intro
 02:15 - Philippines Travelogue
 05:31 - Riddle Question
 05:51 - Ramón de Ocampo
 15:22 - Animal Call Clue
 16:12 - The Yo-Yo: Pedro Flores, Jaxx, and Bryan Jardin
 23:45 - Animal Call Reprise
 25:03 - Hidilyn Diaz
 32:07 - Joke Time
 33:05 - Call For Submissions
 33:31 - Grandparent Stories: Carmen
 37:50 - Favorite Sound
39:09 - Animal Call Reveal
 40:28 - Cryptid Corner: Tikbalang
 44:26 - Riddle Answer
 44:46 - Preview of Episode 14
 45:26 - Credits
 46:06 - Bloopers
 

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Hey Wildlings! Do you believe in rooting for the underdog? What about the under-eagle? And what in the world happened 45 years ago that made everyone believe in miracles?

This week on Wild Interest, Evan takes us back to the "Miracle On Ice" when the US Olympic hockey team didn't have a snowball's chance in heck of beating the stronger, faster Russian team — but somehow they did! He reports in person from where the magic happened in Lake Placid, NY. Plus, Nichole talks to educator and parenting expert Jayme Yannuzzi of Teach Talk Inspire about what it's like to be a momfluencer, and learns how easy it is to make the icky, gooey non-Newtonian liquid known as Oobleck.

But wait, there's more! Ever wonder about the Russian Revolution? We learn about it through Nichole's experience in the musical "Anastasia." Think you're sharp? See if you can hold your own in Concentration 64 as Evan and Nichole face off in this hand-clapping, rhythmic battle of wits.

This episode features all your favorite segments: Animal Calls with a particularly prickly little guy, jokes, Favorite Sound, Grandparent Story, and an ice-cold riddle that's sure to freeze you in your tracks. Let's get wild!

Listen now and discover the wild power of believing in miracles!

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 - Episode 12 Intro
02:07 - Evan's Miracle on Ice
07:00 - Riddle Clue
07:18 - Anastasia
13:07 - Animal Call Clue
13:38 - Favorite Sound
15:07 - Concentration 64
19:13 - Animal Call Reprise
19:34 - Cryptid Corner: Mermaid, Whale, or Spy?
22:40 - Joke Time
23:39 - Call for Submissions
24:06 - Grandparent Stories: Vincas
30:10 - Animal Call Reveal
31:46 - Jayme Yanuzzi of Teach Talk Inspire
41:11 - Riddle Answer
41:32 - Preview of Episode 13
41:43 - Call for Reviews + Word of Mouth
42:00 - Credits
42:22 - Bloopers

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How do we perceive the world around us? With our senses, of course! But what in the world are those two mystery senses you may have never considered?

In this episode of Wild Interest, Evan gets a closer look at the world of sight with eyeglass merchant Adrien Bouet in Paris, France, and Nichole tantalizes your taste buds while discussing the fantastic world of ice cream flavors with Pete Van Leeuwen of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. Then we go beyond the five senses and explore two new mystery senses you may have never considered!

But wait, there's more! Ever wonder about legendary creatures with massive wingspans? Evan's Cryptid Corner takes on the Thunderbird; a legendary creature with a wingspan so broad it's said to whip up storms! Plus, we're introducing a new segment: Bobby the Bigfoot hosts "Name Stuff," a game show where kid contestants try to guess what grown-ups do for their jobs. Let's get wild!

Listen now and discover the wild world your senses reveal!

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

0:00 - Episode 11 Intro
2:26 - Ice Cream Magician Pete Van Leeuwen
15:44 - Favorite Sound
16:51 - Call for Submissions
17:19 - Name Stuff
25:04 - Riddle Question
25:27 - Grandparent Stories
30:16 - Joke Time
31:25 - Two New Senses
34:14 - Riddle Answer
35:07 - Cryptid Corner: The Thunderbird
39:18 - Call for Reviews + Word of Mouth
39:41 - A Daylight Savings Time Diatribe
42:04 - Eyeglass Merchant Adrien Bouet
49:52 - Preview of Episode 14
50:10 - Show Credits
50:37 - Bloopers

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Music is the universal language! But what in the world does it feel like to rock out in the New York subway? And how do bluegrass kids make magic together?

In this episode of Wild Interest, prepare to be dazzled by two amazing groups of kid musicians. New York's Retro Rebelles rock out in the subway, and the plucky Carolina bluegrass quartet Young Mountain Magic picks us a tune or two and talks about what it feels like to play together as a band.

But wait, there's more! Ever wonder about legendary creatures in the Himalayas? You'll brave the Himalayan peaks in search of the legendary Yeti in Cryptid Corner. Plus, toss back some root brewskis as Nichole and Evan get to the bottom of the barrel in an exciting root beer taste test!

This episode features our new segment "Grammartime," animal calls, Favorite Sound, an ancient riddle, jokes, and not one but two Grandparent Stories. It's wild!

Tune in now and explore the universal language that connects us all!

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 - Episode 10 Intro
02:39 - Retro Rebelles
07:58 - Joke Time
08:51 - Animal Call Clue
09:26 - Grandparent Story "Lily"
17:17 - Grandparent Story "Maliya"
20:22 - Animal Call Reprise
20:43 - Young Mountain Magic
29:43 - Call for Submissions
30:06 - Riddle Question
30:53 - Cryptid Corner: The Yeti and the Banjhākri
36:20 - Animal Call Answer
36:56 - Grammartime
39:14 - Favorite Sound
40:07 - Root Beer Taste Test
48:21 - Riddle Answer
49:01 - Preview of Episode 11
49:13 - Show Credits
49:37 - Bloopers
50:16 - Young Mountain Magic Encore

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Do animals talk? The answer might surprise you! But what in the world are whales actually saying to each other? And how does a whale language even have an alphabet?

In this episode of Wild Interest, we dive deep with zoologist and pioneering animal researcher Katy Payne and discover the complex ways whales and elephants communicate. She even does her best whale song impression for us! 

Project CETI linguistics lead and professor Gašper Beguš talks about his work with sperm whales, and the whale language his research is discovering. It even has an alphabet!

But wait, there's more! Ever wonder how honeybees communicate? Dance with us as we buzz about the sweet ways honeybees talk to each other. Plus, bundle up for frigid tales of the Ningen, an aquatic cryptid said to inhabit the Arctic Ocean north of Japan.

This episode features a second hilarious installment of Feeding Ben Stuff, plus Favorite Sound, Grandparent Stories, a real stumper of a riddle, jokes and more. Let's get wild!

Dive in now and discover the wild conversations happening all around us!

Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message.

Timestamps for this episode are available below.

00:00 Episode 9 Intro
01:48 Animal Talk
03:45 Whale Language with Gašper Beguš and Project CETI
10:52 Joke Time
11:46 The Dance of the Honeybee
14:56 Riddle Question
15:20 Cryptid Corner: The Ningen
18:08 Favorite Sound
19:01 Call for Submissions
19:28 Grandparent Story
23:32 Feeding Ben Stuff
29:25 Whale Song and Elephant Communication with Katy Payne
38:31 Riddle Answer
38:53 Preview of Episode 10
39:25 Show Credits
39:57 Bloopers

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