Wisp — a fresh family podcast every morning

Alex and Sam become 'festival detectives' and investigate why lights, candles, and fire show up at so many different winter holidays around the world, uncovering cool stories from history, science, and culture.

Alex and Sam explore why humans everywhere use lights, candles, and lanterns for winter festivals, from Diwali to Christmas—uncovering the science of darkness, why lights matter, and some seriously bright traditions around the world.

Alex and Sam dig into why so many cultures, from India to Sweden, create light and sparkle when the nights grow long.

Alex and Sam explore why so many cultures—like Hindu, Jewish, and ancient Nordic communities—have festivals of light in the darkest months, with a closer look at Diwali’s story of Rama and why our eyes and brains crave brightness in winter.

Alex and Sam dive into the science and secret meanings behind light festivals, from flickering diyas to glow-in-the-dark bacteria, and discover why humans love lighting up the darkest nights.

Alex and Sam explore why shining light means so much in festivals like Diwali, Hanukkah, and Christmas, and how our brains and bodies respond to darkness and brightness in winter.

Alex and Sam explore why people in so many cultures light candles, fires, and lanterns at the darkest time of year—and what happens in our brains when we chase away the shadows together.

Alex and Sam explore the colorful magic of rangoli, the surprising science of glowing lights, and how humans everywhere surround themselves with sparkle when the world gets dark.

Alex and Sam explore the science and stories behind why people crave light in the darkest winter months, from ancient bonfires to modern fireworks.

Alex and Sam dig into why so many winter festivals around the world—like Diwali, Hanukkah, and Christmas—celebrate with bright lights when days get dark, uncovering the science and secret cozy power of light.

Alex and Sam dig into the science of light in the dark months, follow fire traditions from Diwali (dee-WAH-lee) to Hanukkah (HAH-nuh-kuh), and ask why humans everywhere keep inventing bright, glowing rituals when days get short.

Alex and Sam explore the hidden reasons why humans light up the dark during winter festivals like Diwali, Hanukkah, and Yule, mixing myth, psychology, and a dash of firefly science.

Alex and Sam explore why so many cultures use light to chase away winter darkness, from Diwali and Hanukkah to modern science, animal tricks, and secret winter psychology.

Alex and Sam trace a famous song from the first tune in someone’s head to the giant team who turns it into the song you hear everywhere.

Alex and Sam dive into how a Lego set starts with a wild idea, how kids help designers in the Billund studio decide what works, and all the surprising secrets—including super-rare pieces and rules for building.

Alex and Sam follow the journey of a brand-new pop song from one person humming in a hotel room all the way to being streamed by millions on Spotify, uncovering the teamwork and weird science in every step.

Alex and Sam dive into digital literacy for kids, showing how to spot fake videos, edited photos, and flashy tricks online.

Alex and Sam wonder why people everywhere seem to dance in the street and make a wild mess for special festivals, from oranges raining down in Italy to goats in the spotlight in Nepal.

Alex and Sam dig into what ‘never give up’ looks like by following Olympian Yusra Mardini’s journey, exploring how training your mind matters as much as training your body.

Alex and Sam talk about what 'never give up' actually means, through real stories of athletes like Yusra Mardini and other people who found strength when everything went wrong.

Alex and Sam share what Curiosity and Perseverance actually do on Mars, how they survive, what surprises they've found, and why scientists want to bring Martian rocks back to Earth.

Alex and Sam go behind the scenes of making a hit pop song, uncovering why songs are born in teams, how tiny loops become big choruses, and what it actually takes to turn a tune in someone’s head into a track everyone’s streaming.

Alex and Sam explain how a calm patch of warm ocean turns into a roaring hurricane, what happens inside its spinning center, and how scientists track these powerful storms from space.

Alex and Sam explore the wild world of ballet pointe shoes: how they’re engineered to work for only a few hours, why dancers need so many pairs, and how the colors and science behind them are changing fast.

Alex and Sam break down what really happens if you fall into a black hole, how time and space get weird, and what photos of black holes can—and can’t—show us.