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

Summary

Forever Ago — “We’re back! Brains On Universe has a new headquarters”
Episode Date: October 8, 2025
Podcast: Forever Ago (by Brains On Universe)
Host: Molly Bloom

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Episode Overview

This lighthearted and playful episode marks the triumphant return of the Brains On Universe team in their new, whimsical headquarters. The cast shares updates about the show, their move to independence, the new subscription model, and invites listeners into their zany creative process, all while giving a behind-the-scenes tour of their new space. The episode is filled with jokes, imaginative descriptions, and audience engagement, appealing to both kids and families.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Brains On Universe is Back!

• Return Announcement: Molly Bloom welcomes listeners back amid the chaos of moving into their new headquarters, establishing an excited and energetic tone.
• Back in Action: New Brains On episodes are coming soon, Smash Boom Best will return later this year, and Forever Ago returns in 2026.
  • “See? We told you we'd be back. And we're back.” — Sandon [00:37]

2. Going Independent

• Major Update: The team is now fully independent.
  • “I should have led with that. Brains On is now a fully independent podcast.” — Molly [01:03]
• DIY Operation: Molly, Sandon, and Mark are running every aspect—from creative to coffee runs.
  • “We make the shows, we pay the bills, we get ourselves coffee.” — Molly [01:12]
• Listener Support: Now funded directly by the audience via SmartyPass.

3. SmartyPass & Supporting the Show

• What Listeners Can Do: Explained by Mark and Sandon, SmartyPass gets supporters ad-free episodes, bonus content, live online hangouts, and even personalized messages.
  • “The best way to help is to join SmartyPass.” — Sandon [01:34]
  • “Every cent goes right to the Brains On Universe, so we can keep making these shows forever and ever.” — Molly [01:52]

4. Tour of the New Headquarters

• The Brains On team takes listeners on a whimsical audio tour of their new HQ, each description more imaginative than the last:
  • Smart Echoes Room: Echoes can change voice effects—robot, sports announcer, dolphin, etc. [02:17–02:42]
  • Taco Farm Expansion: Now includes “burrito bushes” and “nacho trees.” [02:42]
  • Slide Room Upgrade: Now a zipline room. [02:55]
  • Indoor Ocean: Replacing the ordinary pool. [02:55]
  • Milk Chocolate Fountains: “So gooey going up.” — Molly [03:00]

5. Segmented Podcast Floors

• Each Brains On Universe show has its own “floor.”
  • Smash Boom Best floor features googly eyes (and a debate: “Which is better, wind socks or sock puppets?”) [03:19–03:22]
  • Forever Ago’s floor is being decorated by Joy, who employs a full-scale rodeo to place her furniture and art.
    • “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 beanbag chairs before?” — Joy [03:44]

6. Audience Engagement — Help Design the Headquarters!

• Many rooms are still empty, and the team wants listener suggestions on what to add.
  • “What should go in here? We want your ideas.” — Molly [04:35]
  • Suggestions range from “random cloud generator room” to “snail emporium.” [04:43]
  • “Describe it, or draw it and send it to us at brainson.org/contact. We'll feature your ideas in the show.” — Molly [05:05]

7. Fun with the CEO: Gangador

• Introduction: Gangador, the new (fictional) “world’s loudest CEO,” delivers sock advice and promotional pep talks with humor and enthusiasm.
  • “Always buy argyle. … Nobody cares if your socks match. It's how you wear them.” — Gangador [05:29, 06:11]
• Call to Action: Reinforces the need for listener support through SmartyPass. [06:18]

8. Whimsical Surprise — The Pickle Ballroom

• The hosts wrap up their tour with a humorous mix-up: Molly mistakes the “pickle ballroom” for a “pickleball room.”
  • “It's not a pickleball room. It's a pickle ballroom.” — Mark [06:45]
  • “Yeah, you know, a big fancy room with chandeliers where you can dance while eating pickles.” — Sandon [06:53]

9. Looking Ahead

• Reminder: Brains On returns soon, Smash Boom Best later, Forever Ago in 2026.
  • “Keep an ear out for new Brains On episodes. Soon. Smash Boom after that, and Forever Ago next year.” — Molly [07:02]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Molly, on moving: “Oh, careful, Sand. 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.” [00:17]
• Joy’s rodeo logic: “Obviously this isn't my first rodeo.” — Joy [04:10]
• On visionary design: “We replaced the chocolate milk fountains with milk chocolate fountains. So gooey going up.” — Molly [02:55]
• Gangador’s motto: “Brains On Universe thrives. … Nobody cares if your socks match. It's how you wear them.” — Gangador [06:12]
• Pickle ballroom reveal: “It's not a pickleball room. It's a pickle ballroom.” — Mark [06:45]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:05 – Introduction and moving in
• 01:00 – Announcement of independence and SmartyPass
• 02:17 – Smart echoes
• 02:38 – Taco farm, zipline, burrito bushes, nacho trees
• 03:13 – Dedicated show floors and Joy’s “rodeo” decorating
• 04:35 – Listener invitation: help design new rooms
• 05:27 – Meet CEO Gangador
• 06:37 – The Pickle Ballroom
• 07:00 – Episode wrap-up and thank yous

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Summary Tone & Style

The dialogue is lively, loaded with puns, playful banter, and frequent fourth-wall breaks. The hosts create a welcoming, imaginative vibe, encouraging audience input and support for their independent, family-friendly podcast network.

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Final Thought

This episode rekindles the Forever Ago spirit, celebrating creativity, humor, and community, while making listeners feel like co-architects of the Brains On Universe’s wild and wonderful future.

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, Sand. 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 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 Brainzon 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. 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 Brains On 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. Echo.

[A]

Echo.

[B]

Or sports announcer mode. Echo.

[A]

Echo.

[B]

Or even dolphin mode.

[A]

Echo.

[C]

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.

[D]

Own floor.

[B]

But they can't tell you anything about the weather.

[A]

Who cares? They've got googly eyes.

[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. Yee haw.

[A]

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 beanbag chairs before?

[C]

Huh?

[A]

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

[E]

Uh, 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. It knows which box has my fridge magnets in it.

[A]

Come on.

[E]

Yeah.

[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, Gangador.

[D]

Hello.

World'S loudest CEO here. Gangidor, when not busy with sock market sock tip, always buy argyle. Gangidor working hard to make Brains on Universe best company ever.

Gangador working hard for you. Please support by joining Smartypass. 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 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.

[B]

Brains on.