Unschooling with Kai

Follow Unschooling with Kai
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

We research topics interesting to my son Kai (following unschooling principles) and we present the information to you! Feel free to contact us at unschoolingwithkai@gmail.com.

Kai and Dan


    • Mar 23, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 49m AVG DURATION
    • 60 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Unschooling with Kai with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Unschooling with Kai

    Crows - Part III - Diet, Sounds, Intelligence, and Experiments

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2025 63:25


    This is our third edition in the Crows series and we get into conversation about crows' diet, sounds they make, their intelligence, experiments with them and finally, some cool stats.

    Crows - Part II - Scientific Background and Comparison to Ravens

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 50:22


    This is our second episode in the Crow series and we're reporting back what we've researched and learned about their scientific background, a little of their history, some parallels to humans, and a comparison to ravens. Enjoy!

    Crows - Part I - Everything We Know

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 61:33


    It's been a while but we're back in action with an in-depth look at crows. We talk about our experiences seeing and feeding crows, Science Comics, and what we've learned so far about these smart corvids. Is there anything else you can add to our knowledge base or any question you want to find the answer to? Ask us at unschoolingwithkai@gmail.com :DJet shockwave photo: https://scienceinfo.net/capture-a-rare-image-of-a-shock-wave-when-the-plane-is-near-the-speed-of-sound.html

    crows science comics
    Why is the back of the bus bumpier?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 16:55


    Listen in about some of the physics behind what makes the back of the bus bumpier. We talk about the wheelbase, the bounce amplification, and the suspension. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Do tire valve caps keep air in?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 12:53


    What's the deal with those little black plastic tire valve caps? Do they actually hold air in the tires? Do you even need them? Find out in this episode of Unschooling With Kai! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    What is a light year and how far is it?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2024 18:55


    After just having witnessed the recent solar eclipse, we started talking about speed and distance and this question popped up. Join us as we jump into some updates from previous episodes and then break down the distances of a light second, light hour, light day, and light year. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    What are the different uses of brushes vs. combs?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 13:28


    When should you use a brush versus a comb? Does it depend on your hair type? Listen in while we try to get this tangle of an episode all straightened out.

    What is the red stuff they used to seal envelopes with?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024 17:08


    We talk about wax sealing and get a little into the history, the significance of certain wax colors, and the possibility of counterfeiting wax seals. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Do preying mantises live through winter?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 17:50


    The short answer? No. And Yes. Tricky, huh? Guess you'll have to listen to the episode to learn more about the ootheca, the mantid life cycle, and some unrelated updates on pathogens, antigens, and black holes! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Why do we get achy when sick?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2024 20:43


    We dive into an interesting discussion about the immune system's role in collateral damage (AKA pain) to our body. We highly recommend you check out Philip Dettmer's book called Immune or the Kurzgesagt channel to dig deeper into our body's immune system. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Why can't mules reproduce?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 11:52


    We talk about horse and donkey offspring and what genetically stops them from reproducing! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Why does the bed of some empty flatbed trucks curve upwards in the middle?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2023 14:24


    How about that question? Is it a mouthful? Well the science behind it is not as complicated! Join us on another episode of Unschooling with Kai! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Why do knees hurt after sitting too long?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2023 15:25


    Are you an older person without knee pain? Or a young person with knee pain without a history of injury or other explanation? Let us know at unschoolingwithkai@gmail.com !! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    What does “Bah Humbug!” mean?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2023 13:17


    Today we talk about Ebenezer Scrooge's exclamation in Charles Dicken's 1843 book A Christmas Carol. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    What video game has the largest file size? The smallest?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 8:18


    We talk all things video game size from some of the largest Steam games to some of the smallest Nintendo games. We also explain kilobytes, megabytes, and gigabytes. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Do you get an RBI for a solo home run in baseball?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2023 10:21


    Welcome to Season Five of Unschooling with Kai! This is our first question we're answering in this new format. Let us know what you think! Also, feel free to share any questions you want answered at unschoolingwithkai@gmail.com. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Military Working Dogs - Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2023 33:17


    We talk about MWDs and the Gear they use, their History, Rehabilitation after service, and some Dog Tales. Also, we have a big announcement at the end!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Military Working Dogs (MWDs) - Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2023 40:28


    This episode we dive into the Military Working Dogs and figure out what they can do, what kind of dogs they are, which forces uses them, and what their specific training is. Stay tuned for part two! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Amtrak Part II - Equipment, Rider Experience, and the Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2023 50:08


    In the this second Amtrak episode, we talk about: what it's like to ride on an Amtrak train, specific train equipment, the future of Amtrak, and our own personal experience. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Amtrak - Part I - Routes and History

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2022 39:00


    It's been awhile but we're back with a short but sweet episode on Amtrak. We talk about what it is, what routes they have, and some of the difficult history. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Sonic Booms - Part II - The Science and the First Supersonic Plane and Car

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2022 45:32


    The end of this series includes some discussion on the science of the sonic boom. We also get into the secret Bell X-1 flight in 1947 and the Thrust SSC ride 50 years later. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Sonic Booms - Part I - What Are They and Some Examples

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2022 41:03


    We've arrived at season 4 of Unschooling with Kai and decided to kick it off with Sonic Booms! Here we explain what they are, how they happen, and give some everyday and some not-so-everyday examples. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Bees - Part IV - Queens, Communication, and Colony Collapse Disorder

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2022 56:20


    This is our last episode in the bee series and possibly the last in this season. We talk about queens and their brood, bee communication, Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), and bee swarms. Enjoy! … Cover photo provided by: Melanie Mason. Melanie is an unschooling mom of two living in West Chester Ohio. She is a musician by trade, and teaches violin & viola private lessons in addition to playing viola professionally in the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Just within this past year, Melanie has become fascinated with macro photography and has been taking pictures with her Olympus camera since Christmas. Prior to that time, she was taking pictures with a macro lens on her iPhone 12, which she actually bought to share the joy of looking at insects with her kids! She, however, quickly realized her passion for the art of macro photography, and the rest is history! You can find her on Instagram under her account: melaniemason. Prints of her work can be purchased on her website: https://melaniemasonmacro.myshopify.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Bees - Part III - Domestication and What Bees Make

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2022 47:43


    In this third installment, we talk about that various things that bees produce. Then we discuss the various facets of domestication and human intervention including migratory beekeeping and (gasp) killer bees! …Cover photo provided by: Melanie Mason. Melanie is an unschooling mom of two living in West Chester Ohio. She is a musician by trade, and teaches violin & viola private lessons in addition to playing viola professionally in the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Just within this past year, Melanie has become fascinated with macro photography and has been taking pictures with her Olympus camera since Christmas. Prior to that time, she was taking pictures with a macro lens on her iPhone 12, which she actually bought to share the joy of looking at insects with her kids! She, however, quickly realized her passion for the art of macro photography, and the rest is history! You can find her on Instagram under her account: melaniemason. Prints of her work can be purchased on her website: https://melaniemasonmacro.myshopify.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Bees - Part II - Foraging

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2022 49:30


    In this episode we discuss the various jobs a bee cycles through in their lifetime and then get deep into foraging and pollination! Video of vibrating bumblebee: https://youtu.be/SZrTndD1H10 **** The cover art (for this episode and the rest in the bee series) was provided by Melanie Mason. Melanie is an unschooling mom of two living in West Chester Ohio. She is a musician by trade, and teaches violin & viola private lessons in addition to playing viola professionally in the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Just within this past year, Melanie has become fascinated with macro photography and has been taking pictures with her Olympus camera since Christmas. Prior to that time, she was taking pictures with a macro lens on her iPhone 12, which she actually bought to share the joy of looking at insects with her kids! She, however, quickly realized her passion for the art of macro photography, and the rest is history! You can find her on Instagram under her account: melaniemason. Prints of her work can be purchased on her website: https://melaniemasonmacro.myshopify.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Bees - Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2022 48:58


    Wow it's been a while since our last episode, but we're back with Bees! We discuss some bee basics, and then talk about some of their history, and cover “wintering.” This is definitely just the first in a longer bee series. Videos: mesopredators - https://youtu.be/G4K2oBhewFA … drone eviction - https://youtu.be/3gQTtudYUiQ Link: Bee Swarm Simulator on Roblox - https://www.roblox.com/games/1537690962/Bee-Swarm-Simulator --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    MINICAST - The Immune System - Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2022 63:34


    In this second part of the immune system, we cover Murder University (the thymus), Gut Microbiome, Coronavirus and Vaccines, and finally Bacteriophages. Enjoy! Also, check out the Kurzgesagt videos we reference throughout The Immune System Minicasts: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFs4vir_WsTyY31efyHdmtp9l7DpR0Wvi --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    MINICAST - The Immune System - Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2022 63:20


    In this episode, we tackle our love for Kurzgesagt and their accessible explanations of the complicated immune system. We cover the innate and adaptive systems and what all of their cells and proteins do to protect our bodies! Check out the Kurzgesagt videos on the immune system in their Medicine & Biology Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFs4vir_WsTyY31efyHdmtp9l7DpR0Wvi --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Ants - Part V - Weaver Ants

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2022 73:06


    We talk about Kai's favorite ants: the Weaver Ants and get into some specifics of Nests and Queens, Battle and Defenses, and Food and Drink. Enjoy! Also, here is the must-see video on how ants stick to surfaces: https://youtu.be/hd5upt3IrWM --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Ants - Part IV - Marauder Ants

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2021 63:33


    We talk about Kai's second favorite (and currently Dan's favorite) type of ants: the Marauder Ants. We discuss their species as well as their extreme Polymorphism, Trails & Food, and Raids & Fighting. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Ants - Part III - Army Ants

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 56:37


    We talk about Kai's 3rd favorite kind of ant—the Army Ant! We specifically describe their bivouacs, raids, and their queens/reproduction. Enjoy!! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Ants - Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2021 57:31


    We talk about how ants communicate, about queens and reproduction, and about polymorphism (Kai's favorite!). Hope you enjoy this episode! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Ants - Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2021 65:13


    For this episode and next well cover some general (yet still quite interesting) facts that pertain to the majority of ant species. In this episode we cover What Are Ants, Body Parts, and some Special Ants and their interesting abilities/sizes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Black Holes - Part III

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2021 64:56


    Wow, dive even deeper into black holes and talk about gravity, spacetime, and then Hawking Radiation and other quantum weirdness. Phew! Check out the following videos as recommended in this episode: Kurzgesagt Dinosaurs https://youtu.be/xaQJbozY_Is … VSauce Brachistochrome https://youtu.be/skvnj67YGmw … Kurzgesagt Information Paradox https://youtu.be/yWO-cvGETRQ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Black Holes - Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2021 70:15


    We dive deeper into black holes and discuss Andromeda's central black hole, how light works, the picture of M87's central black hole, as well as the biggest and smallest black holes. Stay tuned for the the third and final episode in this series! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Black Holes - Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2021 49:53


    We get our feet wet in this first installment of Black Holes discussing the first observed black hole, the formation of black holes, and the black hole at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. Check out our inspiration here: https://youtu.be/0FH9cgRhQ-k --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Sauropods - Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2021 70:50


    We continue to discuss sauropods and in this episode we hit on their diet, why they got so big, their reproduction and young, as well as detailing a handful of the record-holders. See these Kurzgesagt videos for help understanding the size of life: https://youtu.be/f7KSfjv4Oq0 and https://youtu.be/MUWUHf-rzks --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Sauropods - Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2021 58:38


    We intro sauropods—the biggest land animals to have ever lived. We talk about their classification, their general physical characteristics, and then place them in the larger picture of the Mesozoic era. For clarity, we recommend you look up the “archosaur clade” in an online image search! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unschoolingwithkai/message

    Ninja - Unconventional Warfare

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2021 106:33


    We kick off Season 3 with ninja! What are they and what do they do? Are they still around? How were they trained? What weapons did they use? And were did they come from? We answer all of these questions and also give a quick summary of unschooling as well as our process for learning about each topic.

    Top 3 Largest US Military Cargo Airplanes (C-5, C-17, and C-130)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2021 96:45


    We compare and contrast the three largest US military cargo airplanes including the C-5 Galaxy, the C-17 Globemaster III, and the C-130 Hercules. Then we geek-out over the C-5, it's sheer size, and all of the interesting facts we know about it. Check out our recommended videos on aerial refueling (https://youtu.be/r-s9ajt4aE8), kneeling (https://youtu.be/EqZUVtKzjtc), and backing up (https://youtu.be/PkCYCtIz33o). Finally, here is Kai posing in front of our C-17 Globemaster III chalk drawing (https://readingrecipe.blogspot.com/p/podcast-resources.html).

    Wild Dogs - Part VI - Dholes, Jackals, Dingoes, and African Wild Dogs

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2021 43:04


    We briefly jump between dholes, jackals, dingoes, and African wild dogs giving fun facts on each one. One of these dogs even pees upside down! Here’s the video we mention of jackals masking their own scent: https://youtu.be/AhEdKY4ujjg

    Wild Dogs - Part V - Coyotes

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2021 63:51


    Coyotes: not quite the hopeless cartoon character nor the disease-ridden dog we’ve imagined. In fact, they’re rather well-adapted to the ever-changing environment.

    Wild Dogs - Part IV - Foxes Continued

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2021 54:45


    We cover some of the cool facts and trivia concerning Grey Foxes, Arctic Foxes, Fennec Foxes, and Bat-eared Foxes. The “Kurzgesagt” video Kai mentioned is here: https://youtu.be/MUWUHf-rzks

    Wild Dogs - Part III - Foxes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2021 61:22


    We give a general discussion of foxes and their behavior and then specifically dive into Red Foxes. We’ll continue with other fox species next episode. Also, check out two videos we recommend from Save A Fox to see some “gekkering.” - (on Facebook) https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2127936207336098&id=376054892842542 and (on YouTube) https://youtu.be/3Pu12roK7Rc

    Wild Dogs - Part II - Wolves Continued

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2021 66:26


    We continue to explore wolves in this episode. We talk about: characteristics / abilities, the pack / hunting, and the den and pups. Enjoy!

    Wild Dogs - Part I - Wolves

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2021 52:36


    We are joined again by Ananya (our guest from the Wild Cats series) as we discuss the oldest and largest members of the dog family: wolves.

    MINICAST - The Missing Flight of Malaysian Airlines MH370

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2020 46:34


    MH370 is still an unsolved mystery that may never be solved. Our interest was piqued from the start.

    Tsar Bomba

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2020 91:45


    We get down and dirty about the “clean” Tsar Bomba that the USSR tested on their own land. It was the biggest nuclear bomb ever!

    Wild Cats Part IV

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2020 103:54


    We talk all about the felinae subgroup of cats especially the ones in the BBC documentary Big Cats as well as our favorites. We obviously won’t be able to cover all 33 cats in the subgroup!

    Wild Cats - Part III

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2020 101:26


    We get down and dirty in our discussion of the “panthera” subfamily of cats—those that can roar!

    Wild Cats - Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2020 68:29


    We talk about what makes an animal a mammal, and then zero in more closely on “felids” explaining their physical and behavioral characteristics.

    Claim Unschooling with Kai

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel