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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Have you ever felt the ground shake beneath your feet—or imagined what it would be like if your whole city disappeared in a single day?

In this episode of Wonders and Whispers, we travel back to AD 79, when Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the city of Pompeii under ash and rock. But this isn’t just a story of destruction—it’s a story of discovery. Centuries later, the city was uncovered, frozen in time, and full of secrets from ancient Roman life.

Step into the past with Iza as she explores what really happened, what archaeologists found, and why Pompeii still captures our imagination today.

⏱ Timestamps

• 00:00 Intro – When the past still whispers

• 01:00 Vesuvius erupts

• 02:00 A city buried alive

• 03:00 The lost city is found

• 04:00 What archaeologists uncovered

• 05:00 Outro + Whisker Wisdom

  
  

🐾 Whisker Wisdom of the Week
Did you know ancient Romans believed cats could protect their homes and bring good luck?
To them, these clever creatures were more than mousers—they were little guardians.

Got a story to share?
If you're a kid with a fiction or historical story—whether from school or your imagination—we’d love to read it!
Submit your story at: https://wonders-and-whispers.northflow.site/

You just might hear it on a future episode of Wonders and Whispers!

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What starts as a simple "no thanks" to a family trip quickly spirals into storms, wild forests, a runaway panda named Chubby Coco, and a breathtaking visit to three of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Join Isabella on a whirlwind adventure through ancient ports, wild forests, dramatic boat rides, and the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon—all told in her bold and sassy voice. Will she have to say goodbye to her new panda friend? Or is this just the beginning of something even more unexpected?

Got a story to share?If you're a kid with a fiction or historical story—whether from school or your imagination—we’d love to read it!Submit your story at: ⁠https://wonders-and-whispers.northflow.site/⁠

You just might hear it on a future episode of Wonders and Whispers!

Perfect for curious kids ages 7–13 who love a good story with imagination, history, and heart.

⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome + Meet Isabella
01:00 – “I’m not going to Babylon”
02:00 – Storm at sea!
03:00 – A coconut forest and a panda appears?!
04:30 – Meet Chubby Coco 🐼
06:00 – Bribes, guards, and standing tall
07:00 – Pirate games and horse adventures
09:00 – The Hanging Gardens revealed
10:30 – Journey home… and a big decision
12:00 – A temple, a torch, and a twist
13:00 – The panda shop surprise
14:00 – Memories, mischief, and Chubby
15:00 – Whisker Wisdom + fun writing fact

✨ Whisker Wisdom of the WeekDid you know cats don’t usually meow at each other—just at humans? They learned we love their tiny voices, so they meow just for us. Smart, huh?

Bonus fun fact: This whole story started as a five-paragraph school paper… but Iza couldn’t stop writing. It ended up five pages long!

Love the episode? Leave a review!
It helps more listeners find the show—and we might feature your story next!

Got a story to share?
If you're a kid with a fiction or historical story—whether from school or your imagination—we’d love to read it!
Submit your story at: https://wonders-and-whispers.northflow.site/

You just might hear it on a future episode of Wonders and Whispers!

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In this special episode of Wonders and Whispers, you’ll hear a first-person story told as if Cleopatra herself were speaking — bold, brilliant, and yes, maybe a little dramatic.

This creative narration was written and performed by Iza as part of her Faces of History paper for Essentials IEW in Classical Conversations. You'll hear Cleopatra recount her own rise to power, alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and the dramatic end of her reign. Packed with humor, emotion, and rich historical details, this episode is perfect for curious kids ages 7 to 13 who enjoy storytelling with a twist of ancient adventure.

Timestamps
00:00 Meet Cleopatra, not your textbook queen
01:00 Royal roots, rise to power, and exile
02:00 Caesar arrives in Egypt and alliances begin
03:00 Throne reclaimed and life in Rome
04:00 Mark Antony, war with Octavian
05:00 Cleopatra’s final moments
06:00 Her lasting legacy in history and pop culture
07:00 Whisker Wisdom: Cat whiskers are like fingerprints!

Whisker Wisdom:No two cats have the same set of whiskers — they’re like fingerprints!

Got a story to share?
If you're a kid with a fiction or historical story—whether from school or your imagination—we’d love to read it!
Submit your story at: https://wonders-and-whispers.northflow.site/

You just might hear it on a future episode of Wonders and Whispers!

Keywords: Cleopatra for kids, Egyptian queen, ancient Egypt, IEW Faces of History, Classical Conversations, homeschool podcast, creative writing for kids, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, educational storytelling, history podcast for kids

Welcome to Wonders & Whispers, a podcast for curious kids ages 8 to 13 who love original stories, surprising facts, and a bit of imagination. I’m your host, Iza Grace — I’m 11, and I’ll be sharing made-up adventures, real history, and even a fun cat fact at the end of each episode.

Our mascot, Berrie the cat, might pop in too… though she mostly naps while I record.

Most episodes are about 20 minutes long. You can even submit your own story, and if it fits the show, I might read it on a future episode.

Hit follow so you don’t miss the first full episode. Let’s start this adventure together.