A Ten'er Takeover: The Kid's Choice Episode

Summary

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Podcast Summary: A Ten'er Takeover: The Kid's Choice Episode

The Ten News, News For Curious Kids
Date: December 19, 2025
Host: Small But Mighty Media

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Overview: The Kid’s Choice Ten’er Takeover

This special episode of The Ten News features a full “Ten’er Takeover,” where the show’s young listeners—known as “Ten’ers”—step in to share news on topics they’ve specifically requested. Instead of the usual hosts, a vibrant kid panel (Sasha, Owen, Sadie, Maddie, Everett, and special guest Zach) tackles everything from animal news and space science to indie games, acts of kindness, and a Lord of the Rings trivia showdown. The episode is lively, interactive, and packed with fun facts, making complex subjects accessible and engaging for kids and their grown-ups.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ten’ers Take Over! [01:13–01:47]

• The regular hosts receive “day off” gifts and leave, making way for the Ten’ers.
• Sasha, Owen, Sadie, Maddie, and Everett introduce themselves and take charge.
• Quote:
  • Sasha: “Alright, we’re clear. Pim and Ryan have left the building.” [01:05]
  • Owen: “Let’s get this tenor takeover underway.” [01:22]

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2. By Popular Demand: Animal News—Claude the Albino Alligator [02:03–03:56]

• Multiple listeners wanted more animal stories, kicked off by a request from Luna.
• The group commemorates the passing of Claude, the famous albino alligator from California Academy of Sciences, who lived to be 30.
• Claude Facts:
  • Albino alligators lack melanin, making them extra rare—around 100 exist worldwide.
  • Being albino is a recessive genetic trait, requiring both parents to have the gene.
  • Their pale skin makes them vulnerable to predators and sunburn in the wild; captivity keeps them safer.
• Quotes:
  • Sadie: “Claude the albino alligator passed away at the age of 30 years old… an absolute icon in San Francisco.” [02:17]
  • Maddie: “It’s actually safer for an albino alligator to live in captivity… humans can tend to their special needs and help them survive and live longer.” [03:36]
  • Owen: “Claude, we will miss you very much. Thank you for being the sweetest alligator I’ve ever seen.” [03:48]

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3. Out of This World: Space Exploration Updates [03:57–06:21]

By request from The Elemental Master:

• Russian Launch Mishap:

  • Mishap at a Russian launch pad after a Soyuz mission threatens plans to supply the International Space Station.
  • Repairs will delay future launches and could impact fuel deliveries to the ISS.
  • Quote:
    • Sadie: “Their next mission will certainly be delayed.” [04:55]

• Space Gum on Asteroid Bennu:

  • NASA discovers sugars and a “gum-like substance” never before seen on asteroids, which could help scientists understand the origins of life.
  • Quote:
    • Sasha: “Would you like to try space gum?”
    • Maddie: “I’m good. I think I’ll stick to my bubble gum…” [05:36]

• Artemis II Moon Mission:

  • NASA plans to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in 50 years; mission likely launching as early as February.
  • No landing, but the farthest humans will have traveled into space.
  • Quote:
    • Everett: “NASA hopes to send astronauts on a 10 day trip around the moon as early as February… Artemis II will be the second launch of the Artemis program with hopes to land astronauts on the moon and eventually establish a long term presence on it.” [05:36]

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4. Spotlight: Kindness Superheroes—Jack & Veda Virgo [06:21–07:28]

• Profile of young siblings Jack and Veda, who lead the “25 Days of Kindness” project: performing a kind act every day for a month.
• Jack’s 10th year running the project, Veda’s first; they also craft friendship bracelets for donors.
• Quote:
  • Owen: “Kindness plus friendship equals unbeatable combo.” [07:06]
  • “Want to cheer them on or get inspired for your own acts of good? …ergosgiveback25 and maybe start your own kindness streak.” [07:10]

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5. Most Wanted: Top Indie Video Games of 2025 [07:28–10:25]

• Multiple requests wanted more video game coverage—especially indie games.

Everett and Sasha’s Top 3 Indie Games:

1. Deltarune Chapters 3 & 4

   • Sequel to Undertale, retro RPG style, acclaimed story and music by Toby Fox (who also composed for Pokémon).
   • [08:04] Maddie: “Deltarune takes inspiration from vintage Super Nintendo games… amazing story. I highly recommend it.”

2. Hades II

   • Hotly anticipated sequel by Supergiant Games, set in Greek mythology—players challenge Kronos, God of Time.
   • Roguelike gameplay lets you mix-and-match gods’ powers each run.
   • Fun Fact: The composer, Darren Korb, voices Zagreus.
   • [08:44] Sasha: “The sequel does not disappoint… it’s all centered around Greek mythology. You’re going up against Kronos, the God of time who has imprisoned your family and taken over Mount Olympus.”

3. Hollow Knight: Silksong

   • Long-awaited sequel to indie favorite Hollow Knight; caused massive online store outages at launch.
   • Challenging side-scroller (Metroidvania) with hand-drawn art, tight gameplay, and a “banger” soundtrack.
   • [09:28] Everett: “Silksong is a 2D side scrolling Metroidvania with incredible hand drawn art… Fair warning though, Hollow Knight Silksong is not easy at all… it’s my highest recommended game of 2025.”

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6. Trivia Time: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Name [10:25–11:49]

• A fun trivia segment requested by listener Hallbrand Sauron focusing on Lord of the Rings and its author.
• Question: What does J.R.R. stand for?
  • Correct Answer: “John Ronald Ruel.”
  • Host’s personal connection: “His family called him Ronald… my mom chose my name too.”
  • [11:49] Zach: “The answer is D: The author of the Lord of the Rings’ full name is John Ronald Ruel Tolkien.”

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7. Ten’er Snaps and Listener Shout-Outs [12:27–13:54]

• The hosts read listener comments and requests, including aspirations for future episodes (e.g., requests for “Legend of Tears of the Kingdom” and more about butterflies).
• Personal holiday wishes and stories—kids share book exchanges, favorite gifts, and hopes for a white Christmas.
• Quote:
  • Everett: “Next Ten’er Takeover, I definitely do a segment on Tears of the Kingdom and I don’t know Triforce Hero, but I think butterflies are pretty cool, man.” [12:45]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Claude, we will miss you very much. Thank you for being the sweetest alligator I’ve ever seen.” — Owen [03:48]
• “Kindness plus friendship equals unbeatable combo.” — Owen [07:06]
• “Silksong is not easy at all. It’s one of the most challenging games I’ve ever played, but honestly, I’m not mad at it.” — Everett [09:28]
• “The answer is D: The author of the Lord of the Rings’ full name is John Ronald Ruel Tolkien.” — Zach [11:49]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Ten’er Takeover Begins: [01:13]
• Animal News—Claude the Alligator: [02:03–03:56]
• Space Exploration: [03:57–06:21]
• Acts of Kindness Feature: [06:21–07:28]
• Indie Games of the Year: [07:28–10:25]
• Lord of the Rings Trivia: [10:25–11:49]
• Listener Snaps & Requests: [12:27–13:54]

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Tone & Style

• Friendly, upbeat, and approachable; the kid hosts speak with energy, excitement, and relatable curiosity.
• Emphasizes both fun and education, with voices offering personal anecdotes and genuine enthusiasm for the topics.

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For Listeners

If you haven’t tuned in, this episode is a perfect example of how The Ten News lets young voices guide the show—balancing news with inspiration, fun facts, and direct responses to kid listeners’ interests. Whether you love animals, science, gaming, or stories, this hour is filled with engaging and positive content for curious kids and families.

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Transcript

[A]

Who is it?

[B]

Um, it's Sasha, the intern.

[A]

Oh, of course. Come in. Sasha the intern.

[C]

Hey, Sasha. How are you?

[B]

I'm good, thanks, Pam. I was just wondering if I could talk to you two for a minute.

[A]

Of course. Wait, am I in trouble for something? Because I did not leave all those crumbs in the break room. That was midnight. The TED News Cat.

[C]

What can we help you with, Sasha?

[B]

Well, I just wanted to share a couple gifts with you both since you've worked so hard this year. Here.

[C]

Oh my gosh. This is a day pass to the Four Seasons Spa. That's my favorite spa.

[A]

And a day pass to the Pixel Lab arcade. That's my favorite arcade. What kind of trickery is this?

[B]

I just thought you both could use a day off to relax and have fun after a crazy year.

[C]

Okay, you don't have to tell me twice. I'm out. Rye, if you need a ride to Pixel Lab, I got you.

[A]

I'm coming. Don't leave me.

[D]

Paa.

[B]

Alright, we're clear. Pim and Ryan have left the building.

[E]

Let's go.

[D]

It was really stuffy in that closet.

[F]

Hiding in the snack room was actually kind of fun.

[B]

Wait, where's Owen?

[G]

Be right there. Sorry I'm late. Let's get this tenor takeover underway. I'm Owen.

[D]

I'm Sadie.

[F]

I'm Maddie.

[E]

I'm Everett. It's Friday, December 19th.

[B]

And I'm Sasha. And this is a tenor takeover.

[G]

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

[B]

A lot of tenors have left us Spotify comments and Apple reviews telling us things they wanted to hear about.

[E]

So today for the tenor takeover, we're going to cover some of the topics you guys asked for.

[G]

We've got a lot of ground to cover so I brought my friends Sadie and Maddie. What's up?

[D]

First, we've gotten multiple requests about more animal content from our tenors recently from 12589 Luna.

[F]

We all love animals, so I think we should start there.

[G]

The big story that we first mentioned last week is about Claude.

[D]

Ah yes, Claude the albino alligator passed away at the age of 30 years old. He lived at the California Academy of Sciences and is an absolute icon in San Francisco and brought joy to millions of people at the museum and around the world.

[G]

I visited him a lot over the years.

[F]

Claude was an albino alligator. When an organism is albino, it lacks melanin pigment which results in very pale or light skinned. Albino alligators are some of the rarest animals. It's estimated that that There are only 100 in the world. So, in honor of Claude, here are some awesome albino alligator facts.

[G]

Albinism is incredibly rare because it's inherited, meaning it's passed on by the parents. But the albinism gene is recessive, so both parents need to have albinism to pass it down to their offspring. And the chances of two albino alligators finding each other is really, really rare.

[D]

Their white skin puts them at severe risk if they live in the wild. Their skin doesn't help them camouflage or blend into their environment. It actually makes them stand out. So albino alligators are easily seen and attacked by predators.

[G]

Their skin is also very sensitive to the sun. If albino alligators are in the sun for too long, it can damage their skin and even burn their eyes. They're usually kept in a special warm enclosure that is away from direct sunlight.

[F]

Believe it or not, it's actually safer for an albino alligator to live in captivity. Their white skin has many dangers, and humans can tend to their special needs and help them survive and live longer, more comfortable lives.

[G]

Claude, we will miss you very much. Thank you for being the sweetest alligator I've ever seen.

[B]

I think it's time that we get.

[D]

Out of this world.

[B]

3, 2, 1. We got a request from, from a tenor, the elemental master who wanted us to talk about space. So here are three things you need to know about recent space exploration.

[D]

A mishap with a Russian launch pad could jeopardize getting astronauts and cargo up to the International Space Station. Russia sent three astronauts up to space in a Soryuz rocket that went up without incident. But the force of the rocket launch caused a service platform to fall into the Flame Trench and heavily damaged the entire launch pad. Russia will not be able to send any astronauts or cargo up to the International Space Station, which is problematic because the launch pad is used to send important fuel for the Russian segment of the International Space Station. Russia says that they have the means to repair it, but their next mission will certainly be delayed.

[G]

Now for space fact number two. In some cooler news, space gum was discovered in an asteroid. Samples taken from the asteroid Bennu could help us learn more about the origins of our solar system. NASA's Osiris Rex spacecraft carried samples of Bennu back to Earth in 2020. Scientists have been studying them and recently found that they contain sugars. And NASA said they also contain a gum like substance not seen before in astromaterials. These materials don't prove there's life out there, but NASA said the molecules it contains could have provided some of the chemical precursors that help trigger life on Earth. Maddie, would you like to try space gum?

[F]

I'm good. I think I'll stick to my bubble gum, but I'm excited for point number three because we're going back to the moon. NASA hopes to send astronauts on a 10 day trip around the moon as early as February. No country on Earth has flown a crew lunar mission in 50 years and NASA will send four astronauts there and back to test systems. Artemis II will be the second launch of the Artemis program with hopes to land astronauts on the moon and eventually establish a long term presence on it. The launch window could be as early as February. They will not land on the moon, but they will be the first crew to travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. The flight director says the crew will travel further into space than anyone ever has.

[G]

That would be so cool to see. I'm curious what moon footage would look like now with the technology we have. We love shouting out awesome kids doing awesome things and Jack and Veda Virgo are basically kindness superheroes in training. These two rockstars are leading a super sweet project called 25 Days of Kindness. Yup, for a whole month they do one kind thing every single day for someone in their community and sometimes even beyond. This year is extra special because it's Jack's 10th year running the project and his little sister Veda is jumping in for her very first. Oh and get this. They also hand make friendship bracelets to say thank you to anyone who donates to support their kindness missions. Friendship plus kindness equals unbeatable combo. Want to cheer them on or get inspired for your own acts of good? Follow along at ergosgiveback25 and maybe start your own kindness streak.

[B]

And multiple tenors Asked for our next topic? Video Games. Let's go.

[E]

I got this one. Sasha it has been an incredible year for video games. So many games came out that I couldn't even play them all. But one particular kind of game has shined incredibly bright this year and it's indie games. Games that are made by smaller studios and teams, not big publishers like Microsoft, Sony or Nintendo smashed it this year and ended right on the spot. So here are three awesome indie games that are cheaper and way cooler than a lot of the big AAA games. Deltarune Chapters three and four came out this summer and it's the spiritual successor to the legendary RPG undertale. The deltarune takes inspiration from the vintage super Nintendo games like Earthbound. It's an elevated old school RPG with really great writing and an amazing story. I highly recommend it. Fun fact Toby Fox created undertale and deltarune and he's also a successful game composer who has recorded a bunch of tracks for the Pokemon franchise.

[B]

I do love Pokemon, but there is one game I've been obsessed with this year.

[E]

What game? What game? What game?

[B]

Hades 2 from Supergiant.

[E]

Ah, what a great choice.

[B]

The original Hades was a huge Indie hit in 2020 and the sequel does not disappoint. It's all centered around Greek mythology. You're going up against Kronos, the God of time who has imprisoned your family and taken over Mount Olympus. You travel through the underworld and up Mount Olympus, rallying other gods to assist you with their special powers. Hades II is a roguelike, so each time you play the game you can choose different combinations of gods to help making each play unique.

[E]

Supergiant is one of the coolest indie studios. Fun fact the composer and musical director Darren Korb is also the voice of Zagreus, the main character in the first Hades.

[B]

That's so cool I had no idea. What's your last favorite indie game of 2025?

[E]

It's gotta be Hollow Knight Silksong. It's the long awaited sequel to another indie smash hit. Hollow Knight Silksong. Shadow dropped in September and the demand was so big that it caused a huge traffic spike. The Xbox, Steam and Nintendo Estores were either strained or it completely crashed, which is crazy. Silksong is a 2D side scrolling Metroidvania with incredible hand drawn art. It has some of the coolest graphics I've ever seen with tight gameplay and a banger soundtrack. You play as Hornet, a warrior who gets kidnapped by a local God named Grandmother Silk, and as you explore the world of Pharloom, you gain more strength and abilities and eventually save the residents you met along the way. Fair warning though, Hollow Knight Silksong is not easy at all. It's one of the most challenging games I've ever played, but honestly I'm not mad at it. I dig the challenge so much that it's my highest recommended game of 2025.

[B]

Alright, last but certainly not least, lets go to our trivia master Owen.

[H]

What is going on here?

[G]

Trivia on the 10 usually this is my part, but today I'm handing it off to one of my best friends, Zach.

[H]

Thanks Owen. So a tenor Hallbrand Sauron has requested that we cover the Lord of the Rings. It's one of the most popular stories ever written. The books have been adapted into movies, TV shows and video games. The author of the books goes by JRR Tolkien. But what does JRR Tolkien stand for? Is it A, Joshua Rexmond Reardon, B Jackson Ronald Reagan, C Jimothy Rigby Ryan, or D, John Ronald Ruel? Alright, tenors, did you guess it? The answer is D. The author of the Lord of the Rings full name is John Ronald Reel Tolkien. His family called him Ronald, which his mother chose. So I actually have that in common with him since my mom chose my name too.

[A]

Okay, not gonna lie. Sasha, Owen, Sadie, Madison, Zach and Everett are pretty fire.

[C]

Yeah, they were awesome. These tenor takeovers are tremendous.

[A]

Right, tenors write us an Apple review or a Spotify comment, tell us what they want to hear about, and then other tenors take over and do all the work and we get the day off.

[C]

Best day day ever. I love hearing from the Tenners. I hope they keep telling us what they want us to cover.

[A]

I do know they love 10 new snaps.

[C]

We'll let them do it. But first, here's a quick note for the grownups.

[H]

It's time for 10 new snaps.

[B]

Triforced Hero left a review on Apple Podcasts and said best podcast ever. Love this podcast so much. And can you make an episode on Legend of Tears of the Kingdom? Butterflies are weird.

[E]

Ooh, next Tender Takeover. I definitely do a segment on Tears of the Kingdom and I don't know Triforce Hero, but I think butterflies are pretty cool, man.

[A]

Okay, we got a snap from Jenny458 who said okay, I want Dogman. Big Jim believes a Lego upscaled Santa minifigure Other assorted Lego items GZM to make season two of tomorrow a good book. From the book White Elephant Exchange at School Tomorrow Edit she got the Boxcar Children too. Okay, you said cousins, but most of my cousins live within 10 minutes of me. But they're 1, 2, 4, 5 and I'm 10. But I do have cousins that come from maryland and they're 13, 11, and 5. Oh, and I also want a white Christmas. Then we got an email from a tenor who said hi again, my name is Saruna, I'm 10 and something I want for Christmas is the Nintendo Switch game Princess Peach Showtime. By the way, Ryan, the But are probably gonna leave you alone this holiday season. Probably though. Gosh, I hope so. Love the podcast and happy holidays to the whole team. Love Seruna. Thank you so much Seruna. I appreciate that and I really hope you are probably right.

[D]

Well, that's it for this episode. Let's wrap things up.

[F]

Yep, I got it. The 10News is a co production of Small But Money Media and Next Chapters Podcast and part of the Airwaves Podcast network.

[E]

The ten News creative team is ready to enjoy the holiday season and includes Tracy Not a Crooks, Adam, the Great Bambino, Bernard Brian Not Ryan Douglas, the Duke of Earl, Davis and Carson not so Harry Potter. Big thanks to Owen not slowing down for anybody.

[B]

Our production director is Jeremiah Tittle and our executive producers are Donald Albright. Albright Albright. And show creator Tracy takes the leads. Kaplan. I'm Sasha.

[H]

I'm Zach.

[F]

I'm Maddie.

[E]

I'm Everett.

[D]

I'm Sadie.

[G]

And I'm Owen. And thanks for listening to the Ten News Tenor Takeover. Happy Holidays.