Hello From the Van
*Visual Podcast on Youtube* A Family-Friendly and Educational Podcast for Everyone! Geared to curious families with lots of questions. We cover everything from cancer to paint colors-- always in a safe and educational way. Join us as we explore a new topic each week.
Episodes
60 episodes
How to Help a Burn
What happens when we experience a burn? How do you help a burn when it happens?? That's what we're exploring this week on Hello From the Van!Sources:Hunter, Carin. "Systemic Response to Burns." Physiopedia. 6 J...
FEAR: What Happens When We're Scared?
Ever wonder what's happening inside your body when you get scared? This week we take a family-friendly approach to the science and function of fear! SOURCES: Adolphs R. The biology of fear. Curr Biol. 20...
Mondays and Etymology: An Odd Connection
Ever wonder where the words Monday, Tuesday, etc come from?? Us too! In this episode we break down the science of etymology, and the history of the English days of the week. SOURCES: Almaden, S. A. (2026, July...
Unbe-leaf-able Fall and Photosynthesis
It's fall time here in the US and in some regions the leaves are changing to fantastic yellows, golds, and reds. This week we answer the question, "Why do leaves change color?" and explore the growth cycle of trees. SOURC...
Cats: Domesticated Chaos
Last week it was dogs and this week, we're talking about cats! You'd think after 10,000 years of domestication we'd know more about them, but so much of their feline world remains a mystery. Find out some of what we know and what we don't know ...
Dogs: Sniffing and Service
Have you ever wondered HOW dogs are trained to smell the undetecable or what it takes to be a true service dog?? This week we learn all about how and why dogs smell so well and what it legally takes to be a working dog in the world.
Cool Science: Brian Freezes
Ever wonder what causes a brain freeze? In this episode we go into the science of a brain freeze, different cultural views on icy foods, and the statistics of ice cream. It's a super cooool episode of Hello From the Van! ...
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Why is it SPICY?? A Capsaicin Explainer
Ever wonder why peppers are painful? In this episode we take a look at the fascinating world of plant evolutions, digestive designs, and the history of the pepper plant. Sources: Borrell, B. (2013, ...
AHHcHoOo! Allergies: Explained for Kids
Ever wonder why some people have life threatening allergies and others do not? In this episode we take a dive into the world of antigens and antibodies as we explore the world of allergies. Sources: Allerg...
Labor Day: A Brief History
Happy Labor Day to those in the United States and Canada. To those of you outside of North America...Happy May Day when the time comes around! This week we talk about the history and cultural significance of Labor Day as ...
Blood Types Explained!
One of the most important discoveries of the last century has been blood typing and donation. This week we dive into how blood types got their names, why blood typing is important, the history of the man responsible for it all. ...
Intelligent Animals
Some animals are smart...but others are smarter. This week we discuss the different types of animal intelligence, and the most commonly studied "smart" animals of the animal kingdom. Sources:Vidal, J. (2021, Octobe...
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Motorcycles: A History of Innovation
Motorcycles may have gotten their start in the late 1800's, but their use during World War is what truly solidified their cultural foothold. In honor of the 86th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, this week we talk about invention, muddy history,...
The Conundrum of Cursive
Cursive has largely fallen out of fashion...but it seems that physically writing anything down is also on it's way out. In this episode we explore where cursive came from, why it stopped being taught, and discuss the future of writing.
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How Citrus Took Over the World: A History
Lemons have always been around in the East, but their known history in the West is relatively recent. In this episode we talk about the history of citrus fruit, how explorers brought it to the west, and how all citrus are related. #HelloFrom...
Laughter, Yawns, and Why We Do Them
A laughter and a yawn-- both are contagious-- but why do we perform these "useless" functions?? This week we dive into the long scientific history around laughter and yawns. Warning, we don't know why, but you'll probably yawn while listening t...
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5 Minutes Smarter: Artificial Intelligence Edition
Looking for a way to introduce the topic of artificial intelligence with your kids, but don't want the politics and opinion? In this episode we cover the physical side of AI, how it reasons, and the trade-offs required for instant access to a w...
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The Power of TASTE
Flavor and Taste are powerful parts of our every day lives...but what *are* they? This week we talk about the physical function of flavor, how and why our bodies process tastes the way they do, and how flavor can even warn us of danger.
5 Minutes Smarter: Divorce Edition
Note: As always, our 5 Minutes Smarter series is intended to help adults talk about difficult topics with kids. The episodes are not meant as an exhaustive explainer, but more of a jumping-off point for family discussion. D...
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The Science of Sleep
Humans spend roughly a third of our lives sleeping...but what actually happens while we're sleeping?? In this episode we talk about the great mystery that is sleep science, what we know, and the great big things we don't know about this daily a...
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5 Minutes Smarter: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
To help introduce our new series, "5 Minutes Smarter", we'll be releasing three smaller episodes this week! In this first installment, we're talking about what it takes for a person to be happy and healthy both in their body and their mind.&nbs...
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National Anthems: A Brief History
In this July 4th episode, we explore the history of National Anthems from around the world! Where they came from, why we have them, and how they impact nations around the world. It's a short one this week, but we'll be back with our...
Building A Hummingbird Army
If you live in the Western Hemisphere (North or South America) this episode is for you! We're talking about hummingbird conservation and how to help out your local hummingbird population. In this episode we'll talk about what hummingbirds need ...
Color Blindness Explained
Did you know that not all color blindness is the same? In this episode we talk about the different types of color vision deficiency, how color blindness effects everyday life, and signs to look out for if you suspect a loved one is color blind....
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