What's new today

When the British left India in 1947, they decided to leave one lasting impression - divide the lands between two factions that had different views of the world. The partition of India and Pakistan had a large impact on the hills and valleys of Jammu and Kashmir. The most recent massacre in Pahalgam in Apr 2025 has left many of us wondering - why a conflict that began in 1947 still remains unresolved? I went back to the pages of Ramachandra Guha's 'India after Gandhi' to find answers to some of my questions. This episode is part 1 of 3, where I narrate the story of how this conflict began in 1947. Source material for my research1. 'India after Gandhi' by Ramachandra Guha2. Sarah Paine's lectures on the 'War for India'3. William Dalrymple's piece 'The Great Divide'4. Article in Awaz the Voice by Saquib Salim 'When brothers were pitted against each other'5. Tarekh Fatah's 'The Bloody Partition seen through a Pakistani's eyes'Read other pieces by Sangeetha on the 'Lighter Side' on Substack.Drop your questions or comments via email to hello@wsnt.in

Pope Francis, a man who embraced the need for environmental protection, a man who sought to undo some of the past damages done to indigenous tribes across the world, a man who tried hard to help immigrant refugees, recently passed away. The 1.4 billion Roman Catholics across the world now need a new leader. How will they elect their next leader? 11-yr old Dheer from Surat, India tries to find out more about this. Explore more1. Listen to the episode recommended by Dheer - about refugee Olympics2. We have a newsletter for kids and families about current affairs. You can read recent posts here for free.3. If you are 8-14 years old and would like to join this podcast, (just like Dheer did), write to us via email at hello@wsnt.in. 4. We have a printed magazine for kids about news stories, written through comic strips. To ⁠⁠⁠⁠buy our most recent edition for INR 399/-, please click here⁠⁠⁠For any comments or questions, please write to Sangeetha at hello@wsnt.in

If you ever wondered if there was any place on earth without mosquitoes, or about how big the largest library on earth looked like, or about where you would bump into the most number of English speakers in the world - you have landed upon the right podcast episode.This summer special features a quiz between two sixth graders (Advik and Devansh). More things to check out1. Listen to the episode on Captain Underpants and its author 2. Listen to the episode on wheat and lemon in Yemen3. To join Sangeetha as a young cohost on a podcast episode, ⁠⁠⁠please register here⁠⁠4. We publish news stories for children as a children's magazine. To ⁠⁠⁠buy our most recent edition for INR 399/-, please click here⁠⁠⁠For any comments or questions, please write to Sangeetha at hello@wsnt.in

In this episode, we review a book ‘the Immortals of Meluha' by Amish Tripathi. This is the first book in a 3-part series, and is based on Lord Shiva. Earlier this month, a group of kids signed up to read this book along with me, and we got together at the end of the month, to discuss what we felt about the stories, the characters, the author's writing style and the opinions of some critics. Co-hosts: Prakriti (11 yrs), Agastya (12 yrs), Smyan (10 yrs), Shambhavi (15 yrs)Additional info1. More about the book 'Immortals of Meluha'2. To join Sangeetha as a young cohost on a podcast episode, ⁠⁠please register here⁠3. We publish news stories for children as a children's magazine. To ⁠⁠buy our most recent edition for INR 399/-, please click here⁠⁠For any comments or questions, please write to Sangeetha at hello@wsnt.in

A photo with sled dogs of Greenland wading through knee-deep water, surrounded by pristine glaciers and mountains, has gone viral. The scientist who took this photo realised that most people who saw it on social media found the picture scenic, but he realised that something about the picture was scary. If the same place were photographed year after year, we would notice all that is unusual. Aesthetics aside, these photos would show us a changing trend in many corners of the earth. Climate change is real. If you want to find out exactly what about the photo is scary, listen to the episode where middle-schooler Darsh solves this puzzle.Explore More1. To join Sangeetha as a young cohost on a podcast episode, ⁠please register here2. To listen to the episode on healthy foods for children, please click here3. We publish news stories for children as a children's magazine. To ⁠buy our most recent edition for INR 399/-, please click here⁠4. To view the photo of sled dogs that has gone viral, please click here5. For any comments or questions, please write to Sangeetha at hello@wsnt.in

Darjeeling's zoo recently got a rare upgrade. Its zoo will serve two purposes: on one side, it will house creatures that tourists can visit and watch as they stroll around; on the other side there will be something rare and new housed in these premises. This makes it the first of its kind in India. This episode is along the lines of a 20-questions game, where 13-year old Sathwik joins the host Sangeetha, asks a series of questions and finds out what is rare and new in this zoo.Explore More1. To join Sangeetha as a young cohost on a podcast episode, please register here2. To listen to the episode on S.Korea with more dogs on strollers than babies, please click here3. We publish news stories for children as a children's magazine. To buy our most recent edition for INR 399/-, please click here4. For any comments or questions, please write to Sangeetha at hello@wsnt.in

India's SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment) mission, led by ISRO, aims to demonstrate autonomous docking between two spacecraft. It is sort of like a hug in an orbit in space. This skill is critical for future lunar bases, satellite servicing, and space stations. Think of it like high-tech Lego in space—snapping parts together perfectly! A big step for India's space adventures, given India's ambitions for deep-space exploration.Other interesting things1. We write a weekly newsletter on current events and news stories that help kids and families appreciate the world around us. It is called 'Lighter Side' and is free.⁠⁠ Check it out here⁠⁠.2. If you are aged between 8-14 and would like to speak on this podcast channel, please drop us a note via email at hello@wsnt.in.3. Our children's magazine 'Bag of tales - 2024' can be purchased here. It costs INR 399/-.⁠⁠Order it here.4. To support us and keep the production of this podcast ad-free, ⁠you can buy us a cup of coffee here

Captain Underpants is a super popular book series that has sold more than 80 million copies all around the world. Kids love its funny jokes and surprising story twists. The author, Dav Pilkey, wasn't always great at reading or sitting still—he had something called dyslexia (a reading disorder) and ADHD (which makes it hard to focus). But as a kid, he used his time while he was sent out of class to draw funny pictures and tell stories to his friends. Instead of letting challenges stop him, he turned them into something awesome!Young guests: Agastya (12 yrs), Darsh (10 yrs), Dhruv Agarwal (11 yrs), Dhruv Gandhi (11 yrs), Dhyan (11 yrs), Nayra (10 yrs), Satwik (12 yrs)Explore More1. Our children's magazine 'Lighter Side: Bag of tales - 2024' costs INR 399/-.⁠⁠Order it here.2. If you are aged between 8-14 and would like to speak on this podcast channel, please drop me a note via email at hello@wsnt.in.3. I write a weekly newsletter on current events to help kids and families make sense of the world with greater ease. It is called 'Lighter Side' and is free.⁠⁠ Check it out here⁠⁠.4. Support our show ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠by buying us a cup of coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Project Tiger was launched in the 1970s in India. There was much fanfare, wildlife reserves were created and tiger protection became important to the Indian government. While Project Tiger stopped the killing of tigers, these big cats did not grow in numbers that much. But that trend changed in 2010. For the first time, between 2010 and 2022, tiger numbers nearly doubled, from ~1700 to over 3600. This has happened despite a rise in India's human population and a decline in forest area. How did India achieve this? What lessons can other countries learn from India's practices?Co-hosts: Devansh (10 yr old), Eesha (14 yr old)Check these out as well1. Story of Saroj Raj Choudhury and how he raised Khairi, alongside pictures of the family2. Podcast series on India's wildlife stories3. I write a weekly newsletter on current events and stories like the tiger resurgence in India. I'd like to help kids and families to appreciate the world around us. It is called 'Lighter Side' and is free.⁠ Check it out here⁠.4. If you are aged between 8-14 and would like to speak on this podcast channel, please drop me a note via email at hello@wsnt.in.5. Our children's magazine 'Bag of tales - 2024' can be purchased here. It costs INR 399/-.⁠Order it here.

What does it take to write well? Is it about acquiring better language skills or is there a secret recipe for developing intriguing plots, or does it come from consistent writing practice? Sonia Mehta, a children's author with more than 170 published titles to her credit, shares stories from her writing journey. She has authored both fiction and non-fiction books for children as young as five, and for young adults as well. More about our guest in this episode1. Sonia Mehta on Instagram2. About Sonia Mehta - on Penguin Random House's website3. Sonia Mehta on Facebook4. Sonia's published books on AmazonWe publish a weekly newsletter for children about news stories from around the world. You can check it out here.To support us and keep the production of this podcast ad-free, you can buy us a cup of coffee here

There are startups that solve problems for people - like the ones that help people rent a pet for their Instagram photos. And then, there are startups that solvereal problems - like bringing light into people's homes. Soma Bags is doing just that. This episode carries the story of how its founder Innocent James got the spark of an idea from one of his professors in university. He had seen him sew a small solar panel onto the pocket of his jacket and this had help him keep his smartphone charged through the day.This episode narrates the story of how James used this idea to bring electricity into the homes of Africans in an affordable manner. This is no charitable venture - it makes profits for his company as villagers are willing to pay for a dependable solution priced at $4-$8 a month.While rejoicing at these solutions, one should also wonder, if we are exchanging one problem for another?To BUY our children's magazine 'Lighter side - bag of tales from 2024' (cost INR 399/-) for delivery in India,⁠please click here

Story narrators are the voices that brings stories and characters to life on stage. Both children and adults often stay mesmerised and get a very different perspective to both the plot and the characters, compared to what they get when they read the story. Story narrations help readers think of different plot twists, story endings and even appreciate characters with grey tones. In this episode, Antara Goswami, a story narrator shares how she goes about putting together her narrations, what props she uses and how she scripts these performances.Also, in this episode, five young guests (aged 8-13) share their questions on story narration with Antara.1. More onAntara Goswami on Instagram2. We write a weekly newsletter on current events. It is meant for kids and families to read and appreciate the world around us. It is called 'Lighter Side' and is free.Check it out here.3. If you are aged between 8-14 and would like to speak on this podcast channel, please drop me a note via email at hello@wsnt.in.4. Our children's magazine 'Bag of tales - 2024' can be purchased here. It costs INR 399/-.Order it here.(00:00) Introduction(01:47) What is story narration(09:17) Mono-acting(11:35) Where she narrates(12:30) Shadow Theatre(14:55) Writing stories(16:48) Confidence on stage(19:21) Favourite story amongst children

Ten young readers from India (aged 8-15) recommend one book from amongst all the books they read in 2024. If you thought all recommendations would hover around the fantasy and adventure genre, be prepared to be surprised. I have listed below the books they recommended. If you want to hear the whys and the whats of the book, give the episode a listen. Books recommended 1. Atomic habits by James Clear 2. The Midnight Gang by David Walliams 3. The Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi 4. Sherlock Holmes - A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 5. One More Step : My Journey with the world's largest contingent of school students to Everest Base Camp by Chandrashekar D P with K V Subramanyam. 6. The Harry Potter series by J K Rowling 7. The Island of Dragons (from Geronimo Stilton's Kingdom of Fantasy series) 8. Stellarlune (part of the Keeper of the Lost Cities) by Shannon Messenger 9. Vedas and Upanishads (for children) by Roopa Pai 10. Diary of a wimpy kid series by Jeff Kinney To BUY our children's magazine 'Lighter side - bag of tales from 2024' (cost INR 399/-) for delivery in India, please click here (00:00) Introduction (07:44) Aadya's reco (08:40) Abdul's reco (09:47) Agastya's reco (12:00) Darsh's reco (15:08) Devansh's reco (17:17) Kiaansh's reco (18:27) Maanya's reco (19:40) Prakriti's reco (20:45) Shambhavi's reco (22:28) Zuhair's reco

2024 was a year that marked some interesting achievements in the field of space. Missions to moon have been relaunched by NASA, the International Space Station's ending days have been charted and India's defense systems just tested new missiles. To speak about the space stories that inspired them the most, four primary schoolers joined us to share their views. 1. Order your copy of our book for kids '⁠Bag of stories from 2024' by clicking here.⁠ Each copy costs INR 399/- (we are able to fulfil all orders placed inside India only at the moment) 2. Read our ⁠newsletter for kids ‘Lighter Side'⁠ about space stories and current events 3. To join Sangeetha and speak on this podcast ⁠(kids aged 7-15), register here⁠ 4. Follow ⁠What's new today on Instagram⁠ 5. If you have any thoughts or comments, email us at ⁠hello@wsnt.in⁠. We pledge to give your ideas the deep, meaningful consideration that we normally reserve for selecting a dessert. 6. Support us ⁠by buying us a cup of coffee

Paleontologists uncovered that the T-Rex was quite likely way bigger than they had originally thought it was. Based on recent fossil finds and some intelligent computer simulation, it turns out that if we remade Jurassic Park today, we would have had to create a much larger version of the T-Rex. Apart from this scientific discovery, there were lots of other interesting news stories in science and wildlife this year. To speak about these, four primary schoolers shared their picks of the best stories from the year. Co-hosts: Anina, Chandrika, Smyan and Venkatesh 1.Read the story of why some people think ghosts are real 2. Read the story of how C.V.Raman discovered why the sea was blue 3. Listen to the podcast on how our brains behave when we type vs write 4. Listen to the story of Roger the search and rescue dog from Taiwan Order your copy of our book for kids 'Bag of stories from 2024' by clicking here. Each copy costs INR 399/- (we are able to fulfil all orders placed inside India only at the moment)

Children come up with ideas and stories like magicians pulling rabbits out of hats—nobody knows how, but it's endlessly entertaining. It's a mix of imagination (and maybe a little too much candy). But how can they turn their ideas into a well-written story? Menaka Raman, an award-winning children's author, joins us in this episode. She chats with five young, budding authors about the tricks in her bag for writing great stories. 1. More about Menaka Raman on her website 2. Follow Menaka on Instagram 3. Follow Menaka on X (formerly known as Twitter) 4. More about the book ‘Bird by Bird' by Anne Lamott 5. Read our newsletter for kids ‘Lighter Side' about current events 6. To join Sangeetha and speak on this podcast (kids aged 7-15), register here 7. Follow What's new today on Instagram 8. If you have any thoughts or comments, email us at hello@wsnt.in. We pledge to give your ideas the deep, meaningful consideration that we normally reserve for selecting a dessert. 9. Support us by buying us a cup of coffee

Neeraj Chopra's gold medal was India's first ever gold medal won by an athlete in Olympics. There was much adulation and rejoicing in the country. Sumit Antil also won a gold for India at the Tokyo Paralympics and successfully defended his title at the Paris Paralympics. For all his deeds, he went unnoticed relatively. This episode captures the story of his journey and challenges. Most importantly, the story captures the essence of what an 8-year old perceives as important / interesting in Sumit Antil's story. Co-host: Ahaan Krishnam (8-yr old, Bengaluru) 1. More ⁠on volcanoes in Iceland 2. Support our show ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠by buying us a cup of coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 3. Feature in our podcasts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(for kids aged 7-15), register here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 4. Read our newsletters 'Lighter Side' ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for kids and families here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have any comments or questions, please email me at hello@wsnt.in

One of the earliest children's book series that took young readers into magical lands was the 'Chronicles of Narnia' by C.S.Lewis. In this podcast episode, two young readers (10-yr olds Darsh and Prakriti) share what they think of this book's plot, the writing style and how they would change the book (if they had authored it). 1. More on books that we recommend for young readers 2. Support our show ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠by buying us a cup of coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 3. Feature in our podcasts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(for kids aged 7-15), register here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 4. Read our newsletters 'Lighter Side' ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for kids and families here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have any comments or questions, please email me at hello@wsnt.in

More people in S.Korea bought strollers for dogs than they did for children (i.e. human babies). The S.Korean government has been alarmed by this trend. While people who have been observing changes in S.Korea over the past twenty years are not really surprised, they still are worried. Why are people not happy with dogs getting more strollers than human babies? What next? Listen to the full episode to find out why. Co-host: Smyan Shetty (10-yrs old) 1. Where idlis came from 2. Support our show ⁠⁠⁠⁠by buying us a cup of coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠ 3. Feature in our podcasts ⁠⁠⁠⁠(for kids aged 7-15), register here⁠⁠⁠⁠ 4. Read our newsletters 'Lighter Side' ⁠⁠⁠⁠for kids and families here⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have any comments or questions, please email me at hello@wsnt.in

One street that is often used by cyclists and pedestrians in Prague has been renamed as Nicholas Winton street. He was no Olympic athlete but had accomplished something else of Olympian proportions. During 1939, he had helped hundreds of Jewish children flee from Nazi persecution and gain safe entrance into Britain. For over 50 years, his actions went unremarked until a British TV show brought them into common memory. As we see ever more wars and conflicts, and refugees fleeing these zones, this story is a warm reminder of the wonders that can be done if we had compassion and courage. 1. Watch the video of ⁠⁠Nicholas Winton in the TV show That's Life!⁠ 2. Support our show ⁠⁠⁠by buying us a cup of coffee⁠⁠⁠ 3. Feature in our podcasts ⁠⁠⁠(for kids aged 7-15), register here⁠⁠⁠ 4. Read our newsletters ⁠⁠⁠for kids and families here⁠⁠⁠ If you have any comments or questions, please email me at hello@wsnt.in

Earth is wonderful, but one day we might need more space to live, especially as our world changes. If we could travel to Mars and build homes there, that would solve a lot of our problems right? SpaceX just launched a giant rocket that has taken one step closer to getting to Mars. Before you get excited about booking your next summer vacation in Mars, hold onto that thought for a few years more. Listen to Darsh (10 yr old, Chennai) and Rohan (10 yr old, Chennai) to find out about why the SpaceX Superheavy is a big milestone in space exploration. 1. Listen to the ⁠India Space Podcast series here⁠ 2. Listen to the ⁠episode on Dogs in Italy⁠ 3. SpaceX website - read dimensions of the Starship rocket 4. Watch the video of how the two arms caught the rocket 5. Support our show ⁠by buying us a cup of coffee⁠ 6. Feature in our podcasts ⁠(for kids aged 7-15), register here⁠ 7. Read our newsletters ⁠for kids and families here⁠ If you have any comments or questions, please email me at hello@wsnt.in

Just like the tale of the old man whose three sons used their silver coins differently, this episode explores how two countries used their pots of liquid gold differently. This episode is styled like a 'Discovery Game'. We drop new information about what happens in each country every few years, as the game goes on. The cohost (Devansh, 5th grader from Kolkata) makes guesses about what happens to each of these countries. Devansh also gets to decide where he would like to live in (and is allowed to shift between the two countries freely) as the game goes on. It's kind of a masterclass in prediction and exploration :) Additional links and resources 1. Recommended episode on ⁠why health drinks can be bad for kids⁠ 2. Pre-order your 2024 copy of the Lighter Side magazine for kids and families covering the top news stories of the year 3. To join Sangeetha as a cohost (just like Devansh), ⁠register here⁠ 4. Buy us a cup of coffee ⁠to keep this podcast going⁠

Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy Hawking forayed into writing a science-fiction book series for young kids. This book (George's secret key to the universe) is the first of the series. The plot involves two young children traveling in space involving a mixed bag of adventures. The authors have also incorporated many images from NASA's repository to bring real science into the hands of the young. In this episode, four primary schoolers joined us to share their opinions of the book as well as creative ideas of how they would explore space if they had a chance. If you are looking for a new book to pick up for your 7-11 year old, this might be it. Listen to the full episode to find out more. Co-hosts: Manisha Maheshwari (educator, Mumbai), Devansh (Kolkata), Prakriti (Mumbai), Smyan (California), Nayra (Mumbai) Additional links / references 1. About Stephen Hawking 2. About Lucy Hawking Read our newsletter for kids about current affairs Support our podcast by buying us a cup of coffee Send us your thoughts and comments via email to hello@wsnt.in

When sixth grader Sophia came home with a sullen face from school, her mother Pilar Schiavo was busy contesting California's State Assembly elections. Sophia was so overwhelmed by the volume of work expected of her that she requested her mum to ban all homework if she got elected. Pilar did win the election. She also remembered her daughter's trauma. Keeping these in mind, she has formulated a bill for the State to pass - a bill that mandates limiting homework or altogether banning it, in certain cases. For more details on this homework ban, read our newsletter Others To enrol in our writing courses for children aged 7-15, check out the details here To support this podcast and keep it ad-free, please donate here. If your child would like to co-host an episode on this podcast channel, please register here.

Food technologist and communications expert Sarika Singh speaks with Nayra (5th grader) and Shambhavi (10th grader) about foods that help kids gain height, improve their immune system, and whether having junk food is all that bad in childhood. Resources 1. Book - ⁠Eat Right 4 Your type⁠ 2. Sarika's website - ⁠communications101⁠ 3. Listen - ⁠why bournvita and complan are unhealthy for kids⁠ 4. Indian Academy of Paediatrics - ⁠height and weight chart for children⁠ 5. National Library of Medicine - ⁠nutrition and water requirements for children and adults⁠ Support this show - ⁠Donate to keep this podcast free of ads and support the production of this show⁠ Reach out to us with your questions and comments via email at hello@wsnt.in

⁠A food blogger on Instagram⁠ raised alarm bells about the so called 'health' claims made by drinks aimed towards the young. Following this, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India directed these companies to remove these claims from their labels. Joining us in this episode is ⁠Sarika Singh⁠, a communications expert to discuss what's wrong with their health claims. Child guests: Nayra (5th grader, Mumbai) and Shambhavi (10th Grader, Delhi) Additional references 1) ⁠Read: Article in Economic Times⁠ on why Bournvita lost its health status 2) ⁠Video: How to read nutrition labels⁠ on drinks 3) ⁠Writing Course for kids - details⁠ (for any queries, drop us a note via email at hello@wsnt.in)

Exactly one year ago, on this day, India's Chandrayaan-3 mission landed its Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover on the South pole of the moon. To commemorate this historic event, India declared that it would celebrate National Space Day every year, on Aug 23rd. When the lander and the rover touched down on the moon, India held the distinction of being the ONLY country ever to have achieved landing on the moon's south pole. This was a far cry from its early days when India's space scientists began work in a fishing hamlet with a bicycle and an old school for their factory. But one man's vision, one man's perseverance and one man's dedication is what started it all. His name was Vikram Sarabhai. Tracing India's space journey through history, we had earlier put out an 8-part podcast series. Recommended listens a) Part 2 of this podcast series on India's space journey b) SpaceX to destroy the International Space Station in 2030 - Why Recommended reads a) Pictures and blog on India's space journey

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped foot on the moon. 2024 marks 55 years since this achievement. A forgotten astronaut was a part of this mission and we speak about his role and contribution to this mission. Since the 1970s, there has been a lull in space missions - the kind that sends more people to the moon. However, things have started getting hotter again and NASA is working towards resuming moon-landing missions. We speak about what has prompted this change of heart. Child co-host: Abhir Ghalke (7th grader, Mumbai) Recommended listens a) The story of how India's space missions began b) Innovations made by Indian school children c) How Jacky ran 104 marathons in 104 days Check these out a) Creative Writing Course for Kids - look up here or drop us a note at hello@wsnt.in b) Support our show to keep this podcast channel ad-free for children c) Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for free 'The Lighter Side'

China's taken a giant leap in the world of electric cars, racing far ahead of most countries. More than half of the cars on its roads run on electric batteries, not on petrol or diesel. US does not want any electric cars from China entering its country. Why? Cohosts: Primary schoolers Advik (Chennai) and Smyan (USA) try to find the answer to this question. Recommended listens by Advik and Smyan 1. Wheat and Lemon - why are their prices hard to reckon? 2. Harry Potter book review 3. Queens who ruled India - the story of Keladi Chennamma defying Aurangzeb More reads on electric cars 1. How China leads the world on electric cars 2. US imposes high taxes on electric cars from China

Greece leads the parade and the host country is the last to join the parade, every Olympics. In the last two Olympics, a new contingent joined the Olympics' teams. This contingent was the penultimate to join the parade (ahead of the host country). The participants hailed from across the world and were united by a cause and a flag. Who are these participants? What cause unites them? Why do we continue to have this contingent? Co-hosts: Anindya (9 yrs) and Agastya (11 yrs) figure out who these participants are, and how they come together to represent a common cause. Recommended listens by Anindya and Agastya 1. How search and rescue dogs save people in earthquakes 2. Why are orcas / killer whales attacking ships Source information for this episode 1. Trailer of The Swimmers movie on Netflix 2. Read: Why the IOC Refugee team was formed 3. Watch: Video on this year's team for the Paris Olympics Writing course for kids To find details ⁠about our writing course for kids to become published authors, please click here

For the first time, a 4-year old dog called Beacon joins the official staff team of the US Gymnastics. He will play an important role in maintaining the health and well-being of the players. Can you guess how? The co-hosts Anindya (9-yr old) and Agastya (11 yr old) pit their heads and crack this mystery. To find details ⁠about our writing course for kids to become published authors, please click here

To find details about our writing course for kids to become published authors, please click here SpaceX has won a bid from NASA for one of the most challenging tasks it has ever undertaken. The whole world will be watching the skies in 2031 as SpaceX attempts to destroy and take apart the ISS. Built over more than a decade and a half, the ISS will near the end of its useful life by 2030 and may begin to disintegrate if left in space for longer than that. SpaceX will begin a careful process of bringing the ISS to rest in a deep sea point on earth, without endangering the rest of life. Cohosts: Darsh (5th grader, Chennai) and Aadya (9th grader, Jammu) Recommended episodes a) India's space journey and how the Ramayan TV series was telecast b) NASA's dart mission to change the path of an asteroid To support this podcast, you can buy us a coffee If you have any comments or suggestions, do write to us at hello@wsnt.in

This month, we reviewed the Harry Potter book series along with a group of primary and middle schoolers. This review is part 6 of a 6 part series. In this episode, we ask our reviewers how different are the movies from the books.  To join our ⁠book review club, please click here.⁠ Book review led by Manisha Maheshwari. Young book reviewers who joined us were Prakriti (10 yr), Dhruv (10 yr old), Darsh (10 yr old), Aditi (12 yr old), Viyaa (10 yr old), Rishi (10 yr old), Rusheel (10 yr old), Hrudyaansh (13 yr old), Kiaansh (10 yr old), Pravit (10 yr old), Nayra (10 yr old), Devansh (10 yr old), Smyan (11 yr old)

This month, we reviewed the Harry Potter book series along with a group of primary and middle schoolers. This review is part 5 of a 6 part series. In this episode, we ask our reviewers what would happen if an owl came their way and dropped them an acceptance letter?  To join our ⁠book review club, please click here.⁠ Book review led by Manisha Maheshwari. Young book reviewers who joined us were Prakriti (10 yr), Dhruv (10 yr old), Darsh (10 yr old), Aditi (12 yr old), Viyaa (10 yr old), Rishi (10 yr old), Rusheel (10 yr old), Hrudyaansh (13 yr old), Kiaansh (10 yr old), Pravit (10 yr old), Nayra (10 yr old), Devansh (10 yr old), Smyan (11 yr old)

This month, we reviewed the Harry Potter book series along with a group of primary and middle schoolers. This review is part 4 of a 6 part series. In this episode, we ask our reviewers how different is the magical world from the real world we live in.  To join our ⁠book review club, please click here.⁠ Book review led by Manisha Maheshwari. Young book reviewers who joined us were Prakriti (10 yr), Dhruv (10 yr old), Darsh (10 yr old), Aditi (12 yr old), Viyaa (10 yr old), Rishi (10 yr old), Rusheel (10 yr old), Hrudyaansh (13 yr old), Kiaansh (10 yr old), Pravit (10 yr old), Nayra (10 yr old), Devansh (10 yr old), Smyan (11 yr old)

This month, we reviewed the Harry Potter book series along with a group of primary and middle schoolers. This review is part 3 of a 6 part series. In this episode, we ask our reviewers who they would rather chat with - Hagrid or Dumbledore?  For the uninitiated, Hagrid is a half-giant and half-human. He is also the Gamekeeper at Hogwarts. He is the one who reveals to Harry that he is a wizard. Dumbledore is the Headmaster at Hogwarts. He is also in many ways - a friend, philosopher and guide to Harry. To join our ⁠book review club, please click here.⁠ Book review led by Manisha Maheshwari. Young book reviewers who joined us were Prakriti (10 yr), Dhruv (10 yr old), Darsh (10 yr old), Aditi (12 yr old), Viyaa (10 yr old), Rishi (10 yr old), Rusheel (10 yr old), Hrudyaansh (13 yr old), Kiaansh (10 yr old), Pravit (10 yr old), Nayra (10 yr old), Devansh (10 yr old), Smyan (11 yr old)

This month, we reviewed the Harry Potter book series along with a group of primary and middle schoolers. This review is part 2 of a 6 part series. In this episode, we ask our reviewers what they would see if they stood in front of the Mirror of Erised.  For the uninitiated, The Mirror of Erised is a a magical mirror that shows the "deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts." The word Erised is nothing but "desire" spelled backwards, as if reflected in the mirror. To join our ⁠book review club, please click here.⁠ Book review led by Manisha Maheswari. Young book reviewers who joined us were Prakriti (10 yr), Dhruv (10 yr old), Darsh (10 yr old), Aditi (12 yr old), Viyaa (10 yr old), Rishi (10 yr old), Rusheel (10 yr old), Hrudyaansh (13 yr old), Kiaansh (10 yr old), Pravit (10 yr old), Nayra (10 yr old), Devansh (10 yr old), Smyan (11 yr old)

This month, we reviewed the Harry Potter book series along with a group of primary and middle schoolers. This review is part 1 of a 6 part series. In this episode, we ask our reviewers which house they would like to be sorted into, at Hogwarts. For the uninitiated, the Hogwarts School was founded by four brilliant witches and wizards in the 10th century. Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin made up this quartet. Each of them created a house in their names and the students in each house often have similar traits or qualities as the original founders. To join our book review club, please click here. Young book reviewers who joined us were Prakriti (10 yr), Dhruv (10 yr old), Darsh (10 yr old), Aditi (12 yr old), Viyaa (10 yr old), Rishi (10 yr old), Rusheel (10 yr old), Hrudyaansh (13 yr old), Kiaansh (10 yr old), Pravit (10 yr old), Nayra (10 yr old), Devansh (10 yr old), Smyan (11 yr old)

Nowhere else in Asia do we have recorded history of a line of Muslim women who governed a kingdom. The four Begums of Bhopal ruled for over 100 years. Their reign was marked by peace, good health and great education facilities. This quartet of queens owe their existence to the charisma and keen intelligence of the very first Begum - Qudsia Begum. On her husband's sudden death, a teenager Qudsia managed to marshal support from all corners, so she could ascend the throne and govern the kingdom. Her path was far from easy - she had to battle both patriarchy and religious sentiments (Islamic women as rulers was unheard of). Saif Ali Khan is a descendant of this illustrious dynasty. Listen to the full episode for more details. Co-host: Saatvik Seth (Mumbai) Reference Material 1. Blog with pictures of the four Begums of Bhopal published on Svasa Life Magazine 2. Book - Women who ruled India by Archana Garodia Gupta (Amazon affiliate link) 3. Book - The Begums of Bhopal by a descendant (Amazon affiliate link) 4. Video - Begums of Bhopal on Youtube

Rudramadevi, a warrior queen from South India made an astonishing ascent to the throne, thanks to her royal lineage. Nevertheless she faced much patriarchy and her rule was challenged from all quarters - both from inside and outside. During her rule, the Kakatiya kingdom was attacked from the North, West and the South repeatedly. She managed to thwart all invasion attempts. She strengthened the defense forces by adding to the height and thickness of the Warrangal fort. The Kohinoor diamond was mined in her kingdom and adorned the crown of the reigning deity. Much later, it was plundered by Malik Kafur and carried away to Delhi. This episode is in the form of a game 'Serious of Joking' played by the host Sangeetha and the co-host (12-yr old Trayee). Through the course of this game, we unravel interesting facets of the queen's rule. References 1. Book - Women who ruled India by Archana Garodia Gupta 2. Video - Indian warrior princess from the South 3. Video - Visit this fabulous fort of Warrangal - built by the Kakatiya Dynasty 4. Book - Rani Rudramadevi, a biography by National Book Trust of India

Tribhuvana Mahadevi was a queen who ruled one of the mightiest empires in ancient India - also called Kalinga. Today, this kingdom spreads across the eastern state of Orissa in India. Her reign featured in books written in 10th century AD in Persia. She was called a Rayini (a queen) whose rule eclipsed the reigns of her contemporary neighbours (kings in India). Her name is hardly found in any history textbooks today, but her fame had spread far and wide across Asia and Europe amongst her contemporaries. She came to power as a regent (as the heir to the throne was an infant). Her reign of over 20 years was marked by peace (she successfully fended off invasions); prosperity (she built great trade relations with kingdoms as far as Persia in the west and Indonesia in the east); religious tolerance (she donated liberally to the construction of monasteries of temples of many religious sects), and set an example for the subsequent 5 queens who came to throne from the Bhaumakara dynasty. Co-hosts: Rusheel (5th grader, Mumbai) and Adya (8th grader, Chennai) References 1. Book: The women who ruled India by Archana Garodia Gupta 2. Book: Amar Chitra Katha series on Warrior Queens of medieval India 3. Read: Wikipedia page on Tribhuvana Mahadevi 4. Video: On Youtube - Tribhuvana Mahadevi 5. Video: On Youtube - visit the Diamond triangle in Orissa today to see the remnants of the Buddhist monasteries

At its height, the Mughal empire was the richest in the world. Akbar's son Jahangir ascended the throne after his death. Jahangir was addicted to opium and alcohol, amongst other things. His wife Nur Jahan won his confidence. She was a remarkable woman who managed to keep her husband away from many of his vices. Thanks to her courage and intelligence, she won the loyalty of the nobles in the court and thus wielded much power in the kingdom. She was the only Mughal empress who issued coins in her name, imperial decrees with her signature, presided the court and took part in administration and foreign policy affairs of the state. Her excellent taste in art has left its indelible mark on Mughal architecture. She inspired one of the seven wonders of the world, in its design and use of materials. The tomb she built for her father is also called the Baby Taj, which you can find in Agra. Co-host in this episode: Isabelle Abraham (11-yr old, Mumbai). Reference 1. BBC video - How Nur Jahan ruled the world 2. Blog on Mughal women in maritime trade 3. Book: The Women who ruled India by Archana Garodia Gupta 4. William Dalrymple's Book Anarchy

The Portugese called her 'Raina de Pimenta' or 'The Pepper Queen'. Born to a commoner, married to a king, she ascended the throne after the untimely death of her husband. She not only defended herself against patriarchy, but also against a barrage of enemy armies. She is best known for being the only queen who defied Aurangzeb, took over the might of his army and successfully got him to sign a peace treaty. Child Co-hosts: Kiaansh (6th grader, Mumbai) and Sathwik (7th grader, Kolkata) Reference material: (a) Blog on Keladi Chennamma (b) Swarajya magazine (c) Video on how she gave Rajaram shelter (d) Amar Chitra Katha book on Keladi Chennamma (e) Book on Chennamma by Shantadevi Malwad (f) Book on Women who Ruled India by Archana Garodia Gupta

Newspaper headlines often make loud claims about fitness, health and diet. How much of this is backed by research? Have the facts been verified? This episode is part of our Fake or Real podcast series, where we take a popular newspaper headline and check if its authenticity has been established,This episode is about a headline that appeared earlier on Hindustan Times - 'Sendha namak aka pink salt is healthier than iodized powdered white salt'.  Listen to the episode to find out if this is for real.Recommended  podcast listens by the guests1. NASA's mission to move an asteroid2. Coral reefs are making a comeback! Yay! Do you like to read stories? Read our newsletters hereGet Whatsapp alerts hereFollow us on InstagramEmail your comments at hello@wsnt.in.

A recent YouGov poll shows that a large share of people believe that younger siblings are funnier than their older counterparts. Is this fake or real? Does this story have a sound scientific basis?Guests: Shanaya Shah (4th grader) and her parent Arpita Shah from MumbaiTo donate and keep this podcast channel ad-free for children,  click hereRecommended podcast episodes(a) Why are people in Finland the happiest(b) Interesting innovations from Indian schoolkids(c) Brain boosts better while writing and NOT while typing(d) Wildlife stories To be a part of the Harry Potter book review, join us here. Source article: Please click here to read the YouGov pollDo you like to read stories? Read our newsletters hereGet Whatsapp alerts here Follow us on Instagram Email your comments at hello@wsnt.in.

This episode has been compiled and presented by three of the participants in a Podcasting Course conducted by Cronica Media,Story on Wildlife Conservation: How Istanbul has tried to solve the problems of reccycling, garbage cluttering and stray dog starvation. Presented by Smyan Shetty (4th grader from Mumbai)Story on Art: How Nature has been given a place of prominence by Spotify by designating nature as an artist. Presented by Shriya (5th grader from Bengaluru)Story on Space: How new research on one of Jupiter's moons has thrown up the astounding possibility of the existence of life. Presented by Rusheel (4th grader from Mumbai)Recommended articles for readinga) Vending machines in Istanbul b) Nature is an artist on Spotifyc) Jupiter's moon (article on Wikipedia)d) About Europa (article on Brittanica)For details on our podcasting course for kids, please click hereDo you like to read stories? Read our newsletters hereGet Whatsapp alerts here Follow us on Instagram Email your comments at hello@wsnt.in.

World Athletics has announced something exciting for all athletes participating / competing in the 2024 Olympics edition (to be held in Paris). After many decades of keeping true to the spirit of Olympics as outlined by Pierre de Coubertin (participating is more important than winning), some people on the Olympics committee are concerned if the new move will dilute this spirit. Listen to the full episode to find out more about this new exciting announcement.Co-hosts: Smyan (5th grader, Mumbai), Rishi (4th grader, Chennai)Recommended articles / videosa) Video of Parisian waiters participating in a race b) World Athletics announcement on Paris OlympicsDo you like to read stories? Read our newsletters hereGet Whatsapp alerts here Follow us on Instagram Email your comments at hello@wsnt.in.

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell is considered a children's classic. Although the author did not write this book intended for a young audience, it has become a go-to read for many primary schoolers and middle schoolers. A group of children (

30 years ago in Nepal, Yagya Kumar Pradhan woke up to the news that two holy masks from the community's temple had been stolen. Yagya filed police complaints, but got no closer to the masks. He gave up all hope of ever seeing the masks again. One of his family members reached out to a group 'Lost Arts of Nepal' who track stolen artifacts with the help of amateur art detectives from around the world, using social media and other sleuthing techniques. As luck would have it, Yagya's masks were traced and returned to the Nepali government a few weeks ago, in a grand repatriation ceremony that was held in Manhattan, New York.Support Our Show - Donate to keep this podcast live and goingReference articles(a) Our blog post containing photos of the masks(b) Originally reported in the Himalayan Times.(c) Interview with Yagya and Erin by NPRDo you like to read stories? Read our newsletters hereGet Whatsapp alerts here Follow us on Instagram Email your comments at hello@wsnt.in.

The UK recently passed a bill - as its way of telling people to not come to its country, especially if they are coming by dangerous boats. The UK doesn't want people from poor countries who are fleeing wars and conflicts to end up inside its boundaries. What does this bill contain? Why are people in so many countries watching this bill with bated breath? Will this become the norm for other European countries? Will they also turn their backs to illegal migrants?Co-host: Shambhavi (14-yr old from Delhi)To support team What's new today and to donate to us, please click here.Do you like to read stories? Read our newsletters hereGet Whatsapp alerts here Follow us on Instagram Email your comments at hello@wsnt.in.

A Scandinavian country, deep into the Arctic, is home to one of the happiest peoples in the world. What factors help them stay happier than people in many other developed countries (such as the US / western Europe / Japan)? Why are the children in Finland happier than their peers elsewhere?Listen to this conversation with a primary, a middle and a high schooler, to unravel the rest of the story.Co-hosts: Nayra (from Mumbai), Ayan and Dakshta (from Delhi)Do you like to read stories? Read our newsletters hereGet Whatsapp alerts here Follow us on Instagram Email your comments at hello@wsnt.in.