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© Sangeetha
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This is a kids podcast about current events. In each episode, the host Sangeetha chats with a child about a news story and engages with them on their ideas of what the world looks like, to them. Topics include recent science discoveries, emerging tech, sports events, countries fighting wars, books they like to read and more.
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The Secret Garden is a story that combines elements of adventure like an Enyd Blyton's Famous Five story, pieces of climate fiction like an episode of 'Planet Earth' and some elements of magic like a Harry Potter story. The story revolves around a household with children living in a manor on the moors. Amongst the many secrets that the manor holds is a secret and locked garden. Through working in the garden, healthy friendships form and lives are redeemed.Young reader who joins in reviewing this book: Prakriti (11 yr old, Mumbai)Related links1. The Book 'Secret Garden' available on Amazon2. Read my newsletter 'Lighter Side'3. Subscribe to the hard copy of the children's magazine 'Lighter Side'4. We also run Writing Courses for kids that help them become published authors. Find out more on the writing courses.
Pope Francis, a man who embraced the need for environmental protection, a man who sought to undo some of the past damages done to indigenous tribes across the world, a man who tried hard to help immigrant refugees, recently passed away. The 1.4 billion Roman Catholics across the world now need a new leader. How will they elect their next leader? 11-yr old Dheer from Surat, India tries to find out more about this. Explore more1. Listen to the episode recommended by Dheer - about refugee Olympics2. We have a newsletter for kids and families about current affairs. You can read recent posts here for free.3. If you are 8-14 years old and would like to join this podcast, (just like Dheer did), write to us via email at hello@wsnt.in. 4. We have a printed magazine for kids about news stories, written through comic strips. To buy our most recent edition for INR 399/-, please click hereFor any comments or questions, please write to Sangeetha at hello@wsnt.in
A photo with sled dogs of Greenland wading through knee-deep water, surrounded by pristine glaciers and mountains, has gone viral. The scientist who took this photo realised that most people who saw it on social media found the picture scenic, but he realised that something about the picture was scary. If the same place were photographed year after year, we would notice all that is unusual. Aesthetics aside, these photos would show us a changing trend in many corners of the earth. Climate change is real. If you want to find out exactly what about the photo is scary, listen to the episode where middle-schooler Darsh solves this puzzle.Explore More1. To join Sangeetha as a young cohost on a podcast episode, please register here2. To listen to the episode on healthy foods for children, please click here3. We publish news stories for children as a children's magazine. To buy our most recent edition for INR 399/-, please click here4. To view the photo of sled dogs that has gone viral, please click here5. For any comments or questions, please write to Sangeetha at hello@wsnt.in
Darjeeling's zoo recently got a rare upgrade. Its zoo will serve two purposes: on one side, it will house creatures that tourists can visit and watch as they stroll around; on the other side there will be something rare and new housed in these premises. This makes it the first of its kind in India. This episode is along the lines of a 20-questions game, where 13-year old Sathwik joins the host Sangeetha, asks a series of questions and finds out what is rare and new in this zoo.Explore More1. To join Sangeetha as a young cohost on a podcast episode, please register here2. To listen to the episode on S.Korea with more dogs on strollers than babies, please click here3. We publish news stories for children as a children's magazine. To buy our most recent edition for INR 399/-, please click here4. For any comments or questions, please write to Sangeetha at hello@wsnt.in
India's SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment) mission, led by ISRO, aims to demonstrate autonomous docking between two spacecraft. It is sort of like a hug in an orbit in space. This skill is critical for future lunar bases, satellite servicing, and space stations. Think of it like high-tech Lego in space—snapping parts together perfectly! A big step for India's space adventures, given India's ambitions for deep-space exploration.Other interesting things1. We write a weekly newsletter on current events and news stories that help kids and families appreciate the world around us. It is called 'Lighter Side' and is free. Check it out here.2. If you are aged between 8-14 and would like to speak on this podcast channel, please drop us a note via email at hello@wsnt.in.3. Our children's magazine 'Bag of tales - 2024' can be purchased here. It costs INR 399/-.Order it here.4. To support us and keep the production of this podcast ad-free, you can buy us a cup of coffee here
Captain Underpants is a super popular book series that has sold more than 80 million copies all around the world. Kids love its funny jokes and surprising story twists. The author, Dav Pilkey, wasn’t always great at reading or sitting still—he had something called dyslexia (a reading disorder) and ADHD (which makes it hard to focus). But as a kid, he used his time while he was sent out of class to draw funny pictures and tell stories to his friends. Instead of letting challenges stop him, he turned them into something awesome!Young guests: Agastya (12 yrs), Darsh (10 yrs), Dhruv Agarwal (11 yrs), Dhruv Gandhi (11 yrs), Dhyan (11 yrs), Nayra (10 yrs), Satwik (12 yrs)Explore More1. Our children's magazine 'Lighter Side: Bag of tales - 2024' costs INR 399/-.Order it here.2. If you are aged between 8-14 and would like to speak on this podcast channel, please drop me a note via email at hello@wsnt.in.3. I write a weekly newsletter on current events to help kids and families make sense of the world with greater ease. It is called 'Lighter Side' and is free. Check it out here.4. Support our show by buying us a cup of coffee
There are startups that solve problems for people - like the ones that help people rent a pet for their Instagram photos. And then, there are startups that solvereal problems - like bringing light into people's homes. Soma Bags is doing just that. This episode carries the story of how its founder Innocent James got the spark of an idea from one of his professors in university. He had seen him sew a small solar panel onto the pocket of his jacket and this had help him keep his smartphone charged through the day.This episode narrates the story of how James used this idea to bring electricity into the homes of Africans in an affordable manner. This is no charitable venture - it makes profits for his company as villagers are willing to pay for a dependable solution priced at $4-$8 a month.While rejoicing at these solutions, one should also wonder, if we are exchanging one problem for another?To BUY our children's magazine 'Lighter side - bag of tales from 2024' (cost INR 399/-) for delivery in India,please click here
Children come up with ideas and stories like magicians pulling rabbits out of hats—nobody knows how, but it’s endlessly entertaining. It’s a mix of imagination (and maybe a little too much candy). But how can they turn their ideas into a well-written story? Menaka Raman, an award-winning children’s author, joins us in this episode. She chats with five young, budding authors about the tricks in her bag for writing great stories.
1. More about Menaka Raman on her website
2. Follow Menaka on Instagram
3. Follow Menaka on X (formerly known as Twitter)
4. More about the book ‘Bird by Bird’ by Anne Lamott
5. Read our newsletter for kids ‘Lighter Side’ about current events
6. To join Sangeetha and speak on this podcast (kids aged 7-15), register here
7. Follow What’s new today on Instagram
8. If you have any thoughts or comments, email us at hello@wsnt.in. We pledge to give your ideas the deep, meaningful consideration that we normally reserve for selecting a dessert.
9. Support us by buying us a cup of coffee
Neeraj Chopra's gold medal was India's first ever gold medal won by an athlete in Olympics. There was much adulation and rejoicing in the country. Sumit Antil also won a gold for India at the Tokyo Paralympics and successfully defended his title at the Paris Paralympics. For all his deeds, he went unnoticed relatively. This episode captures the story of his journey and challenges. Most importantly, the story captures the essence of what an 8-year old perceives as important / interesting in Sumit Antil's story.
Co-host: Ahaan Krishnam (8-yr old, Bengaluru)
1. More on volcanoes in Iceland
2. Support our show by buying us a cup of coffee
3. Feature in our podcasts (for kids aged 7-15), register here
4. Read our newsletters 'Lighter Side' for kids and families here
If you have any comments or questions, please email me at hello@wsnt.in
One of the earliest children's book series that took young readers into magical lands was the 'Chronicles of Narnia' by C.S.Lewis. In this podcast episode, two young readers (10-yr olds Darsh and Prakriti) share what they think of this book's plot, the writing style and how they would change the book (if they had authored it).
1. More on books that we recommend for young readers
2. Support our show by buying us a cup of coffee
3. Feature in our podcasts (for kids aged 7-15), register here
4. Read our newsletters 'Lighter Side' for kids and families here
If you have any comments or questions, please email me at hello@wsnt.in
More people in S.Korea bought strollers for dogs than they did for children (i.e. human babies). The S.Korean government has been alarmed by this trend. While people who have been observing changes in S.Korea over the past twenty years are not really surprised, they still are worried. Why are people not happy with dogs getting more strollers than human babies? What next? Listen to the full episode to find out why.
Co-host: Smyan Shetty (10-yrs old)
1. Where idlis came from
2. Support our show by buying us a cup of coffee
3. Feature in our podcasts (for kids aged 7-15), register here
4. Read our newsletters 'Lighter Side' for kids and families here
If you have any comments or questions, please email me at hello@wsnt.in
One street that is often used by cyclists and pedestrians in Prague has been renamed as Nicholas Winton street. He was no Olympic athlete but had accomplished something else of Olympian proportions. During 1939, he had helped hundreds of Jewish children flee from Nazi persecution and gain safe entrance into Britain. For over 50 years, his actions went unremarked until a British TV show brought them into common memory. As we see ever more wars and conflicts, and refugees fleeing these zones, this story is a warm reminder of the wonders that can be done if we had compassion and courage.
1. Watch the video of Nicholas Winton in the TV show That's Life!
2. Support our show by buying us a cup of coffee
3. Feature in our podcasts (for kids aged 7-15), register here
4. Read our newsletters for kids and families here
If you have any comments or questions, please email me at hello@wsnt.in
Earth is wonderful, but one day we might need more space to live, especially as our world changes. If we could travel to Mars and build homes there, that would solve a lot of our problems right? SpaceX just launched a giant rocket that has taken one step closer to getting to Mars. Before you get excited about booking your next summer vacation in Mars, hold onto that thought for a few years more.
Listen to Darsh (10 yr old, Chennai) and Rohan (10 yr old, Chennai) to find out about why the SpaceX Superheavy is a big milestone in space exploration.
1. Listen to the India Space Podcast series here
2. Listen to the episode on Dogs in Italy
3. SpaceX website - read dimensions of the Starship rocket
4. Watch the video of how the two arms caught the rocket
5. Support our show by buying us a cup of coffee
6. Feature in our podcasts (for kids aged 7-15), register here
7. Read our newsletters for kids and families here
If you have any comments or questions, please email me at hello@wsnt.in
Just like the tale of the old man whose three sons used their silver coins differently, this episode explores how two countries used their pots of liquid gold differently. This episode is styled like a 'Discovery Game'.
We drop new information about what happens in each country every few years, as the game goes on. The cohost (Devansh, 5th grader from Kolkata) makes guesses about what happens to each of these countries. Devansh also gets to decide where he would like to live in (and is allowed to shift between the two countries freely) as the game goes on. It's kind of a masterclass in prediction and exploration :)
Additional links and resources
1. Recommended episode on why health drinks can be bad for kids
2. Pre-order your 2024 copy of the Lighter Side magazine for kids and families covering the top news stories of the year
3. To join Sangeetha as a cohost (just like Devansh), register here
4. Buy us a cup of coffee to keep this podcast going
Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy Hawking forayed into writing a science-fiction book series for young kids. This book (George's secret key to the universe) is the first of the series. The plot involves two young children traveling in space involving a mixed bag of adventures. The authors have also incorporated many images from NASA's repository to bring real science into the hands of the young.
In this episode, four primary schoolers joined us to share their opinions of the book as well as creative ideas of how they would explore space if they had a chance.
If you are looking for a new book to pick up for your 7-11 year old, this might be it. Listen to the full episode to find out more.
Co-hosts: Manisha Maheshwari (educator, Mumbai), Devansh (Kolkata), Prakriti (Mumbai), Smyan (California), Nayra (Mumbai)
Additional links / references
1. About Stephen Hawking
2. About Lucy Hawking
Read our newsletter for kids about current affairs
Support our podcast by buying us a cup of coffee
Send us your thoughts and comments via email to hello@wsnt.in
When sixth grader Sophia came home with a sullen face from school, her mother Pilar Schiavo was busy contesting California's State Assembly elections. Sophia was so overwhelmed by the volume of work expected of her that she requested her mum to ban all homework if she got elected.
Pilar did win the election. She also remembered her daughter's trauma. Keeping these in mind, she has formulated a bill for the State to pass - a bill that mandates limiting homework or altogether banning it, in certain cases.
For more details on this homework ban, read our newsletter
Others
To enrol in our writing courses for children aged 7-15, check out the details here
To support this podcast and keep it ad-free, please donate here.
If your child would like to co-host an episode on this podcast channel, please register here.
Food technologist and communications expert Sarika Singh speaks with Nayra (5th grader) and Shambhavi (10th grader) about foods that help kids gain height, improve their immune system, and whether having junk food is all that bad in childhood.
Resources
1. Book - Eat Right 4 Your type
2. Sarika's website - communications101
3. Listen - why bournvita and complan are unhealthy for kids
4. Indian Academy of Paediatrics - height and weight chart for children
5. National Library of Medicine - nutrition and water requirements for children and adults
Support this show - Donate to keep this podcast free of ads and support the production of this show
Reach out to us with your questions and comments via email at hello@wsnt.in
A food blogger on Instagram raised alarm bells about the so called 'health' claims made by drinks aimed towards the young. Following this, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India directed these companies to remove these claims from their labels.
Joining us in this episode is Sarika Singh, a communications expert to discuss what's wrong with their health claims.
Child guests: Nayra (5th grader, Mumbai) and Shambhavi (10th Grader, Delhi)
Additional references
1) Read: Article in Economic Times on why Bournvita lost its health status
2) Video: How to read nutrition labels on drinks
3) Writing Course for kids - details (for any queries, drop us a note via email at hello@wsnt.in)
4) More on Sarika Singh - her website and her podcast - Communicate 101 - speaking writing tips
Exactly one year ago, on this day, India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission landed its Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover on the South pole of the moon. To commemorate this historic event, India declared that it would celebrate National Space Day every year, on Aug 23rd. When the lander and the rover touched down on the moon, India held the distinction of being the ONLY country ever to have achieved landing on the moon’s south pole. This was a far cry from its early days when India's space scientists began work in a fishing hamlet with a bicycle and an old school for their factory. But one man’s vision, one man’s perseverance and one man’s dedication is what started it all. His name was Vikram Sarabhai. Tracing India’s space journey through history, we had earlier put out an 8-part podcast series.
Recommended listens
a) Part 2 of this podcast series on India's space journey
b) SpaceX to destroy the International Space Station in 2030 - Why
Recommended reads
a) Pictures and blog on India's space journey
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped foot on the moon. 2024 marks 55 years since this achievement. A forgotten astronaut was a part of this mission and we speak about his role and contribution to this mission.
Since the 1970s, there has been a lull in space missions - the kind that sends more people to the moon. However, things have started getting hotter again and NASA is working towards resuming moon-landing missions. We speak about what has prompted this change of heart.
Child co-host: Abhir Ghalke (7th grader, Mumbai)
Recommended listens
a) The story of how India's space missions began
b) Innovations made by Indian school children
c) How Jacky ran 104 marathons in 104 days
Check these out
a) Creative Writing Course for Kids - look up here or drop us a note at hello@wsnt.in
b) Support our show to keep this podcast channel ad-free for children
c) Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for free 'The Lighter Side'
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