NPR is thrilled to announce the launch of Wow in the World, a new podcast for kids ages 5-12 that illuminates the wonders of science, technology, discovery and inventions. 

This is the first time in NPR's 47-year history that it has launched a children's program.

With new episodes released every Monday, NPR's Guy Raz and SiriusXM's Mindy Thomas take kids and their grown-ups on a journey into the most incredible science and kid-friendly news stories of the week. Earlier this week I had the opportunity to talk with Guy and Mindy about Wow in the World and the inspiration behind it. 

"The whole idea behind Wow in the World is to help foster a sense of wonder with kids and make them feel like this world is for them too and that they’re a part of it!" says Thomas. "We want to help spark conversations between kids and other kids and also with their grown-ups that will ultimately lead to their own big discoveries."

Each episode begins with a series of questions that lead to an explanation about a new amazing scientific discovery or finding. For example, "How long would it take to get to the closest star outside our solar system?" or "How did we Homo sapiens come to dominate the planet?" or "How do astronauts poop in space?" Through comedy and conversation, along with voices from real kids, Mindy and Guy make the news engaging for young minds.

"Believe it or not, almost everything we talk about on the show comes from peer-reviewed academic journals," says Raz. "We take those articles and we break them down and try to make them fun and interesting for kids."

Episodes will highlight some of the most exciting new research about space, dinosaurs, animals, technology and human origins.

Wow in the World can be downloaded wherever podcasts are available including npr.org/wow, Apple Podcasts, and at www.wowintheworld.com.

About The Hosts

Guy Raz is the award-winning host, co-creator, and editorial director of two of NPR's most popular programs: TED Radio Hour and How I Built This. Both shows are heard by more than 14 million people each month around the world. He joined NPR in 1997.

He has been a foreign correspondent for NPR and CNN and a host on All Things Considered. Most importantly, Guy is a father of two boys. He's performed in DC children's theater as the narrator in "Cat in the Hat." He helped design the local playground in his neighborhood. And he's been known to organize epic pick-up baseball games with 4-8 year olds at his local park.

Mindy Thomas is the Gracie Award winning host of the national, interactive, Absolutely Mindy Show, heard weekday mornings on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live channel. From 2006-2017, Mindy served as the Director of Children's Programming for Kids Place Live, establishing herself as an expert and advocate of both children's literature, and the growing genre of independent family music.

Mindy lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two curious and creative kids who provide her with endless amounts of laughs, spilled milk and inspiration. She has no plans of ever growing up.