History for Kids / History's Not Boring: The Kids History Podcast

Imagine living in a house that floats in outer space and moves faster than a speeding bullet! In this thrilling episode of History's Not Boring, Mira and Finn blast off to explore the International Space Station (ISS). Did you know there is a giant laboratory as big as a football field orbiting high above Earth right now? Discover how astronauts built this one-million-pound puzzle piece by piece while floating in the dark. You'll learn all the wild secrets of living in zero gravity! Find out why astronauts have to strap themselves to the walls just to sleep, and why they see sixteen different sunrises every single day. Plus, get ready for some serious giggles and groans as we reveal how they go to the bathroom using a space vacuum, why they eat tortillas instead of bread, and the gross-but-amazing truth about how they recycle their own pee into perfectly clean drinking water! Join us for an out-of-this-world adventure to learn all about the most amazing house ever built—the one that never touches the ground!

Have you ever wondered how ships found their way in the dark before electricity? More than two thousand years ago, sailing at night was super dangerous! Ships would crash into hidden rocks because sailors only had the stars to guide them. But then, the ancient Egyptians decided to build something absolutely mind-blowing—the very first lighthouse!

Travel back in time to the bustling city of Alexandria, where a brilliant architect built a towering fortress over three hundred feet tall! It was the second tallest building in the world at the time, standing as high as a modern skyscraper! At the very top, a gigantic bonfire blazed every single night, and a massive bronze mirror reflected the bright light up to thirty miles out to sea. You won't believe how they kept the fire burning—they actually used donkeys to carry the fuel all the way up a giant twisting ramp!

Join Mira and Finn as they uncover the amazing story of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Discover how it saved countless sailors, survived for over a thousand years, and how scuba divers recently found its sunken ruins!

How did a hardworking fisherman from the ancient Middle East become the beloved patron saint of Scotland? Meet Saint Andrew! Long before he was famous, Andrew spent his days hauling heavy, soaking-wet fishing nets in the Sea of Galilee. He became one of the very first followers of Jesus and traveled thousands of miles across harsh mountains and freezing deserts to share his faith. When an angry Roman governor eventually arrested him, Andrew was so brave and humble that he asked to be tied to a unique diagonal cross, shaped exactly like a giant letter X!

Fast forward over seven hundred years to Scotland, where a trapped king named Oengus prayed for a miracle before a massive battle. Legend says a giant, glowing white X magically appeared in the bright blue clouds! After winning the epic battle against all odds, Scotland made Andrew their official patron saint, and that giant X in the sky became the Scottish flag, the Saltire! Discover how this ancient fisherman inspired brave knights, gave Scotland its awesome flag, and why he is celebrated every November 30th with wild dancing, bagpipes, and delicious Scottish snacks!

Did you know that long before surfers were riding waves as tall as an eight-story building, surfing was a sacred royal tradition? Grab your swimsuit and get ready to catch a wave, because we are diving into the incredible history of surfing! Thousands of years ago in ancient Polynesia and Hawaii, surfing was known as "he'e nalu," or wave sliding. Kings and queens were the ultimate wave riders, standing on massive 24-foot-long wooden boards that weighed up to 200 pounds! They even used real shark skin as sandpaper to make them smooth! But did you know this amazing tradition was almost lost forever? When outside explorers and strict missionaries arrived in Hawaii, surfing nearly disappeared completely. Thankfully, one incredible Olympic swimmer named Duke Kahanamoku brought it back to life! Known as the Father of Modern Surfing, Duke traveled the world carving his own giant wooden boards and showing amazed crowds how to dance on the ocean. From ancient royal logs to modern daredevils surviving 86-foot waves, discover how surfing became the ultimate extreme water sport!

Have you ever wondered who throws the lightning during a bad thunderstorm? Long ago, the ancient Greeks believed it was the mighty god Zeus, ruling from the very top of a massive peak called Mount Olympus! But Zeus wasn't alone. The Greek world was filled with powerful gods, fearless heroes, and the most terrifying monsters you can imagine!

Join Mira and Finn as they travel back in time to uncover the most epic stories ever told. You'll learn how the brave hero Perseus used a clever trick with a shiny bronze shield to defeat Medusa—a monster with live snakes for hair whose gaze could turn anyone to solid stone! Discover the dark secrets of the twisting underground Labyrinth, where a colossal beast called the Minotaur lurked, and find out how a simple ball of string saved the day. Plus, you will hear what happened when the half-god hero Heracles had to wrestle a magic lion and battle a toxic nine-headed water serpent!

Grab your shiny shield and your courage—it's time to dive into a world of magic, thunderbolts, and ancient myths!