Wild Interest

Ah, February! Already one month into the New Year, and we've got so much to share with you! Professional spoken word artist Jim Weiss stops by the studio to spin some yarns and talk shop with Evan. Mr. Weiss has narrated countless stories from Tall Tales to Greek Mythology, and U.S. History to Classic Fables. You've probably heard his version of The Tortoise and the Hare - it's pretty epic!!! Plus, get ready for the most dramatic reading of a cereal box...maybe ever? Speaking of drama: steel your nerves and brace your tastebuds - it's another edition of Feeding Ben Stuff! This time, it's Nichole's turn. Tune in to find out what never-before-heard-of-flavor-combination they invent this time! Then, get ready for a real cool treat!!! Introducing: SNOW ICE CREAM! That's right, we go to our test kitchen (and our backyard) to bring you a wonderful wintertime recipe that's sure to be a new favorite! We have a Grandparent story from Blake in Cary, Illinois and his Grandma, who grew up on a farm in Kansas! And, get ready for one of the original supernatural mysteries as Cryptid Corner explores the treacherous Bermuda Triangle! Plus, we share a few tricks for remembering how many days are in each month. You know, because February! Not to mention hilarious jokes, a mind-bending riddle, and a fantastic favorite sound. So grab a snack, tell a friend, stay curious and, as always, keep it WILD!!! Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message. Timestamps for this episode are available below. 00:00 - Episode 19 Intro 01:35 - Jim Weiss Spins His Yarns 11:58 - Animal Call! 12:22 - How Many Days in a Month? 15:02 - Riddle Clue 15:29 - Favorite Sound 16:21 - Call for Submissions! 16:48 - Feeding Ben Stuff Part III: Nichole's Turn 29:08 - Animal Call Reprise 29:57 - Grandparent Stories: Blake's Grandma 33:47 - Animal Call Reprise Part II 34:28 - Joke Time! 35:25 - Snow Ice Cream! 40:34 - Animal Call REVEAL 41:11 - Cryptid Corner: The Bermuda Triangle 46:10 - Riddle Answer 46:36 - Preview of Episode 20 46:49 - Credits + Calls for Reviews + Word of Mouth! 47:22 - Bloopers! *** To hear more of Jim Weiss's storytelling, head to: jimweiss.com & welltrainedmind.com Animal Call samples clips from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library, by Allen, Gunn, Johnson, Maia, and Patterson; and "Intergalactic" by The Beastie Boys, © Capitol Records and Beastie Boys, 1999. wildinterest.com

Hey Wildings, welcome to the New Year! If you're wondering what all the fuss is about, you've tuned into the right frequency! We have our very own supernatural elder, none other than Bobby the Bigfoot, join us in the studio for a very extensive, expansive, and enlightening look at the tradition of marking another trip around the Sun, aka the birthday of The Year?! We talk other new beginnings, like resolutions (got any, wildings?) and what it's like to move. Evan's got a real feisty Cryptid this time - don't call it a Marmot! And, we're graced by the cosmic presence of astronomer Wendy Freedman, who chats Dark Matter, Dark Energy, the EXPANDING UNIVERSE, and, oh ya, the new project she's working on called the Giant Magellan Telescope that will be able to see the very first starlight. Yeah, we're starting the year off right, Wildings - so grab a snack, tell a friend, stay curious and, as always, keep it WILD!!! Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message. Timestamps for this episode are available below. 00:00 - Episode 18 Intro 01:19 - Reelin' in the (New) Years with Bobby the Bigfoot 12:42 - Favorite Sound 13:31 - Call for Submissions 13:58 - The Expanding Universe with Wendy Freedman   23:51 - Riddle Clue 24:19 - New Year's Resolutions 26:19 - Joke Time! 27:07 - Cryptid Corner: The Barbegazi 29:25 - Unpacking the Big Move 33:08 - Grandparent Stories: Naomi and Levi's Grandmother Nonna 40:07 - Riddle Answer 40:40 - Preview of Episode 19 41:32 - Credits, Call for Reviews, and Word of Mouth 42:05 - Bloopers wildinterest.com

Join us as we get into the holiday spirit with a special Christmas-themed episode! Frankincense sounds intense... what the heck is myrrh? Learn about the three wise men, also known as the Magi, and the gifts they carried across the desert. Pucker up as we unravel the mysteries of mistletoe, and hear all about Three Kings Day, which comes 12 days after Christmas and is believed to be the day the Magi first saw the baby Jesus. Our special correspondent Rio tells us how he celebrates Christmas in Puerto Rico, and we get to enjoy a special holiday song from musician OK Ivy. All that plus Grandparent Stories, jokes, songs, and a real stumper of a riddle. To hear the original, longer version of Wild Interest producer Scott Gurian's story about parranda Christmas caroling in Puerto Rico, check out his podcast Far From Home. Music in this episode included Act II Hygro by Jo Wandrini courtesy of Epidemic Sound. Timestamps for this episode are available below. Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message:  www.wildinterest.com/submissions 0:00 - Christmas Special Intro 1:28 - Three Kings Day 6:29 - Joke Time 7:04 - Call for Submissions 7:31 - The Music of OK Ivy 13:32 - Favorite Sounds 15:03 - Riddle Question 15:24 - Singing a Christmas Round 16:27 - The Meaning of Mistletoe 21:07 - Frankincense and Myrrh 22:27 - Christmas Caroling in Puerto Rico 26:25 - Grandparent Stories 33:56 - Riddle Answer 34:17 - Christmas Reflections 34:58 - Twas the Night Before Christmas 39:38 - Call for Reviews 40:00 - Show Credits 40:39 - Bloopers wildinterest.com

Buckle up buttercups! In this thrilling Wild Interest, we mic Evan up for the first HUGE rollercoaster ride of his life. Listen to Evan shriek as he whips around Candymonium, the tallest, fastest, and longest coaster at Hershey Park. Then listen to Nichole harangue Evan for being too short to go on a zipline by himself. (Typical big sister behavior.) Finally, hear them both shout to the treetops as they whizz along the longest zipline in Central America. Brooklyn’s PS 66 gets in the mix with a mind-bending riddle; Dean in New Paltz, NY interviews his grandma; and Gianna in New Jersey shares her favorite sound. Oh, and there’s even a Cryptid who rides rollercoasters. Leave it to Evan. Parents: visit our website to help your kids contribute jokes or favorite sounds, or to send us a message. Timestamps for this episode are available below. 00:00 - Episode 17 Intro 01:28 - Rollercoasters! 04:18 - Hershey Park 05:08 - Evan's First Big Rollercoaster Ride: Candymonium 07:27 - Riddle Clue from PS 66 in Brooklyn   07:53 - Ziplines! 11:11 - Favorite Sound 11:47 - Call for Submissions 12:14 - Cryptid Corner: Rollercoaster Ghost Riders 15:09 - Joke Time 15:53 - Grandparent Stories: Dean's Grandma 20:14 - Riddle Answer from PS 66 in Brooklyn 20:37 - Credits 20:48 - Call for Reviews & Word of Mouth 21:10 - Bloopers wildinterest.com