But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

Rosalyn Fortin, a fifth grader serving as Vermont's Kid Governor, focuses on homelessness and community action. Galen McNaughton, Corrine Ashley, Lincoln Rada, Romano, and Weston Janforth are fifth-grade cabinet members who present short platform ideas. They discuss school lunches, mental health, healthcare access, anti-bullying, and civic leadership in short, lively statements.

Scott Hershovitz, a philosophy and law professor at the University of Michigan who writes about talking philosophy with kids, tackles big existential questions. He explains what philosophy is and why kids' wonder matters. He explores purpose, mortality, dreams vs. reality, sadness and love, and why adults seem distracted from big questions.

Dr. Emily Bamforth, paleontologist and curator at the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum, explains dinosaur evolution and the bird connection. She discusses how small size, feathers, flight and varied diets helped some survive the meteor. Fossil discoveries tying birds to theropods and why crocodiles and other survivors endured are also explored.

Susan Dominus, journalist and author of The Family Dynamic, explores why siblings can both annoy and shape us. She discusses why siblings sometimes look alike. She talks about how siblings influence skills, choices, and each other’s successes. She explains why fights coexist with love and how sibling bonds can grow into deep friendships.

Margo DeMello, an anthrozoologist and rabbit rescuer who teaches in Montana, talks about rabbit biology and care. Short segments cover why rabbits hop, how their ears help hearing and cooling, differences between hares and rabbits, what they eat, and why they are most active at dawn and dusk. Fun details about tails, vision, and what we call baby rabbits are also included.

Dr. Nick Turk-Browne, a Yale psychology professor, dives into the fascinating world of memory. He discusses why we can’t recall our baby years, shedding light on infantile amnesia. The conversation covers different types of memory, from motor skills to event memories, and how sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation. Turk-Browne also explains why forgetting is beneficial and how some memories are shaped by powerful associations. Plus, he shares insights on why some people are more forgetful and how memory impacts our identity and daily lives.

Explore the exciting concept of bucket lists as the hosts dive into their personal dreams, like hiking Vermont’s Long Trail and visiting Australia. Listeners share athletic goals like climbing V10 and finishing a 10K, alongside travel aspirations to destinations like Ireland and Antarctica. Culinary ambitions shine as kids express wishes to become chefs and savor cuisines worldwide. From whimsical career fantasies to adventurous skills, this discussion sparks imagination and inspires future goals!

Have you ever heard a fox scream at night and thought it was a human? And why, when goats bleat, do they sometimes sound like human babies? Animals can sometimes make similar noises but not because they’re feeling the same things. It often has more to do with how similar the sound-making structures in our bodies are! In this bonus episode, we learn about how animals make sounds and how their vocal folds work with Dougie Pickles, host of the sleepy adventure podcast Cozy Critters. Download Transcript

On a rainy, windy day, But Why hopped on a ferry and headed to Governors Island in New York City with one thing on our minds - oysters! We met up with Mike McCann of the Billion Oyster Project to learn more about these very special bivalves. How do they get their shells? How long do they live? What do oysters eat and who eats them? Why do people eat oysters without cooking them? Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript

How do musical instruments make their sounds? Why do people play music in the first place? What’s a viola bow made out of? How are musical instruments made? How much do professional musicians practice? Three musicians from the Vermont Symphony Orchestra joined families at the Vermont Public Studios for a special live episode during our Curious Kids Day live events. We hear from Melissa Meilens on flute, Katie Oprea on oboe and Stefanie Taylor on viola. Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript