We’re back! Brains On Universe has a new headquarters

Summary

Podcast Summary: "We’re back! Brains On Universe has a new headquarters"

Podcast: Brains On! Science podcast for kids
Host: Molly Bloom (with Mark, Sanden, Joy, and Gungador)
Date: October 8, 2025
Episode: We’re back! Brains On Universe has a new headquarters

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Overview

This lively episode marks the return of the beloved Brains On! podcast from their brand-new headquarters. Molly Bloom and the team announce exciting changes, including their new independence as a podcast and a whimsical tour of their imaginatively upgraded HQ. The hosts encourage audience participation and support, all delivered with their signature playfulness and humor.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Brains On! Returns and Exciting Changes

• Moving In: The hosts open while unpacking boxes in their new headquarters, setting a playful tone.

  “Oh, careful, Sanden. Don't drop that one. It is full of black holes. But you can drop that other one. It's just full of regular holes.”
  — Molly, 00:17

• Announcement of New Episodes:

  “See? We told you we'd be back. And we're back. New Brains on episodes start in October. Smashboom Best is back later in the year and Forever Ago returns in 2026.”
  — Sanden, 00:37

• Personal News & Independence:

  • Molly jokes about her new hairstyle before making the big reveal—Brains On! is now a fully independent podcast.

    “Oh, right. I should have led with that. Brains On is now a fully independent podcast. That means me, Sanden and Mark are responsible for running everything in the Brains On Universe.”
    — Molly, 01:03

• Audience Support:

  • Now that they're independent, the show relies on supporters and promotes their SmartyPass membership for ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts, and custom messages.

    “We are now audience supported. Shows like ours are getting harder and harder to find. But you love learning about real science and history from real people, so we know we can count on you.”
    — Mark, 01:22

Tour of the Whimsical New Headquarters

• Innovative and Imaginative Rooms:

  • The HQ boasts quirky features such as:
    • Smart echoes with different modes: robot, sports announcer, and dolphin (02:17–02:38)
    • A ‘taco farm’ with burrito bushes and nacho trees (02:38)
    • A zipline room, an indoor ocean pool, and milk chocolate fountains (02:55–03:11)
    • Dedicated floors for Smash Boom Best and Forever Ago, where eccentric activities abound—like Joy hosting a full-scale rodeo during her decorating process (03:22–04:21)

      “Well, it's part of the decorating process. Haven't you ever set up a full scale rodeo to help you figure out where to place your lamps and plants and bean bag chairs?”
      — Joy, 03:43

• Interactive Call to Listeners:

  • Listeners are invited to suggest new features or rooms for the HQ.

    “What should go in here? We want your ideas.”
    — Molly, 04:31
    “Go to brainson.org and tell us about a room or new feature you want to add to our headquarters. It could be a random cloud generator room or…a snail emporium…”
    — Mark & Sanden, 04:43–04:55

Introduction of CEO Gungador

• Comedic CEO Segment:

  • Gungador, the fictional, sock-themed CEO, breaks in with sock stock market tips and encourages SmartyPass support:

    “When not busy with sock market, Sock tip always by Argyle. Gangidor working hard to make Brains on Universe best company ever... Nobody cares if your socks match. It's how you wear them.”
    — Gungador, 05:27–06:18

• Support and Contact for Parents:

  • The team re-emphasizes the need for SmartyPass members and invites parents to learn how to help more.

    “Shows like ours don't happen without you. And if you're a parent who wants to know more about how we're running things now and how you can help get in touch. We would love to chat.”
    — Molly, 06:18

Humorous Finale: The Pickle Ballroom

• Lighthearted Mix-Up:
  • The team wraps up with a laugh over a “pickleball room” that turns out to be a ballroom for dancing while eating pickles:

    “It's not a pickleball room. It's a pickle ballroom…A big fancy room with chandeliers where you can dance while eating pickles.”
    — Mark & Sanden, 06:45–07:00

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 00:17 | Molly | "Oh, careful, Sanden. Don't drop that one. It is full of black holes. But you can drop that other one. It's just full of regular holes." | | 01:03 | Molly | "Brains On is now a fully independent podcast. That means me, Sanden and Mark are responsible for running everything in the Brains On Universe." | | 03:43 | Joy | "Well, it's part of the decorating process. Haven't you ever set up a full scale rodeo to help you figure out where to place your lamps and plants and bean bag chairs?" | | 05:27 | Gungador | "When not busy with sock market, Sock tip always by Argyle...Nobody cares if your socks match. It's how you wear them." | | 06:45 | Mark & Sanden | "It's not a pickleball room. It's a pickle ballroom…A big fancy room with chandeliers where you can dance while eating pickles." |

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:05–01:22: Unpacking, welcome, and announcement of independence
• 01:22–02:17: Appeal for SmartyPass support and explanation of benefits
• 02:17–03:22: Playful tour of HQ features (echoes, taco farm, zipline, pool, fountains)
• 03:22–04:21: Dedicated podcast floors and Joy’s rodeo decorating
• 04:31–05:27: Listener invitation for ideas and room features
• 05:27–06:18: CEO Gungador’s sock tips and support appeal
• 06:36–07:00: Pickle ballroom joke and episode close

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Conclusion

This episode reintroduces the Brains On! team with their signature mix of science, imagination, and humor, celebrating their newfound independence and shared creativity. The hosts encourage listener participation in shaping the new HQ, foster a sense of community support, and keep science learning fun and accessible for all ages.

Transcript

[A]

Broadcasting from the Brains On Universe, it's me, Molly Bloom, and yeah, we are so back. Place that box over there, Mark.

[B]

You got it, Molly.

[A]

Oh, careful, Santa. Don't drop that one. It is full of black holes. But you can drop that other one. It's just full of regular holes.

[C]

That explains why it's so light.

[A]

Oh, hey. Welcome to our new headquarters. We are busy moving in lots of boxes everywhere, but you can really see all the potential.

[C]

See? We told you we'd be back. And we're back. New Brains on episodes start in October. Smashboom Best is back later in the year and forever ago returns in 2026.

[A]

We're stoked. And over the summer, a lot changed. For starters, I. I got bangs. Do you love them? Thanks. Me too.

[B]

Yes, but also, we've gone independent.

[A]

Oh, right. I should have led with that. Brainzon is now a fully independent podcast. That means me, Sandon and Mark are responsible for running everything in the Brains On Universe. We make the shows, we pay the bills, we get ourselves coffee.

[B]

It also means we are now audience supported. Shows like ours are getting harder and harder to find. But you love learning about real science and history from real people, so we know we can count on you.

[C]

The best way to help is to join SmartyPass. In addition to getting all the warm fuzzies for supporting the Brains On Universe, you get ad free episodes of all our shows, bonus content, plus we do live online hangouts with members all the time. You can even get a special custom message from me, Molly, or Mark. You super Fun.

[A]

Go to brainson.org and join now if you are already a Smartypass member. Thank you. Thank you so much. We'll keep you in the club if you haven't joined yet. Now is the time. Every cent goes right to the Brainzon universe, so we can keep making these shows forever and ever. Okay, let's show them around, shall we?

[B]

First off, we've upgraded our echoes. Our old place had normal echoes, but this one has smart echoes. Check it out. I can change how it sounds. Like robot mode.

[D]

Echo.

[C]

Echo.

[B]

Or sports announcer mode. Echo.

[A]

Echo.

[B]

Or even dolphin mode.

[C]

Echo. Oh, over here is the taco farm. You'll notice we've expanded. Check out those burrito bushes. Oh, and the nacho trees. Not quite ripe yet.

[A]

We switched the slide room for a zipline room. The Brainzan pool has been upgraded to an indoor ocean. Oh, and get this. We replaced the chocolate milk fountains with milk chocolate fountains. So gooey going up.

[B]

Oh, oh, and SmashBoom best has its own floor but they can't tell you anything about the weather.

[A]

Who cares? I've got googly eye on.

[E]

What more do you need?

[A]

Ah, they're arguing the age old question. Which is better, wind socks or sock puppets? And just above this, it's the forever ago floor. Joy said she's decorating it today. Whoa.

[E]

Settle down, little doggy.

[A]

Yee. Um, Joy, why is there a full on rodeo in your new headquarters?

[E]

Well, it's part of the decorating process. Haven't you ever set up a full scale rodeo to help you figure out where to place your lamps and plants and bean bag chairs? Huh?

[A]

You know, I haven't. It's very innovative, but. Oh, Joy, that bull is charging at your bookshelves.

[E]

He's helping me move it with his horns angrily.

[A]

Oh, is that horse supposed to be chewing on your wall art?

[E]

Yes. Obviously this isn't my first rodeo.

[A]

Okay, you know, I'm not sure why a rodeo is involved at all. But you know, you do you, Joy. You're amazing. We love you. See you later.

[E]

Later. I gotta go rope that steer. And it knows which box has my fridge magnets in it.

[A]

Come on.

[E]

Yee haw.

[A]

And over here we have. Well, this room is empty. In fact, a lot of rooms are still empty. What should go in here? We want your ideas.

[B]

Yeah. Go to brainson.org and tell us about a room or new feature you want to add to our headquarters. It could be a random cloud generator room or I don't know, a snail.

[C]

Emporium or a room for all my best actor awards.

[A]

Sandon, you don't have any best actor awards.

[C]

Yeah, because I have nowhere to put them.

[A]

Molly, share your idea, describe it or draw it and send it to [e-mail] contact. We'll feature your ideas in the show. And now, since we're an independent company and we needed a CEO and he really wanted a job, here is our Chief Executive officer, Gungador.

[D]

Hello, World's loudest CEO here. Gungador. When not busy with sock market, Sock tip always by Argyle Gangidor working hard to make Brains on Universe best company ever. Kangador working hard for you. Please support by joining Smarty Pass. You subscribe. Brains on Universe thrives. Okay, one more sock tip. Nobody cares if your socks match. It's how you wear them.

[A]

Thanks, boss. Like he said. Join Smartypass to keep brains on in action. Head to brainson.org shows like ours don't happen without you. And if you're a parent who wants to know more about how we're running things now and how you can help get in touch. We would love to chat.

[C]

Okay, should we take a break from unpacking and go to the pickleball room?

[A]

Ooh, I love a pickleball. I'll go get my racket.

[B]

Oh, I'm sorry, Molly. I think you misunderstood. It's not a pickleball room. It's a pickle ballroom.

[C]

Yeah, you know, a big fancy room with chandeliers where you can dance while eating pickles.

[A]

Woo.

[D]

Time to dance.

[A]

Even better. Okay, friends, keep an ear out for new brains on episodes. Soon, smash. Boom. After that and forever ago next year. And thank you for sticking with us.

[C]

Thanks for stopping by.

[B]

See you later.

[A]

Bye. Brains on.