AAPI Heritage Month, FIFA World Cup Prep, and Animals Around the World

Summary

Podcast Summary:

The Ten News: AAPI Heritage Month, FIFA World Cup Prep, and Animals Around the World
Host: Small But Mighty Media
Date: May 7, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Ten News is a lively, kid-friendly roundup of current events and cool stories from around the globe. Hosts Pamela Kirkland and Ryan Willard dive into sports highlights (from NCAA championships to the Masters and a nine-year-old powerlifting prodigy), breaking space achievements, animal encounters, an update on a Supreme Court case, celebrity legal drama, and even the latest on favorite candies. The show wraps up with a fun trivia segment on Mario movies and a heartfelt listener shoutout for Autism Acceptance Month.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NCAA March Madness Wrap-Up

Timestamps: 00:39 – 01:49

• Women's Basketball: Texas fell to UCLA 51–44, South Carolina topped UConn, but UCLA ultimately snagged the championship with a dominant 79–51 win. Notably, this is the Bruins' first ever women's NCAA basketball title after a 37–1 season.
• Men's Basketball: UConn beat Illinois before the championship, where Michigan defeated Arizona. The climactic final saw Michigan Wolverines beat the UConn Huskies 69–63.

Pamela Kirkland (01:21): “But only one team came out on top. The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Yukon Huskies 69 63.”

2. Masters Tournament Preview

Timestamps: 01:49 – 02:25

• Masters kicks off in Augusta, Georgia, with top-ranked players Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Rory McIlroy. Entry to the Masters requires an exclusive invitation—either from world ranking, past wins, or specific tour victories.

Pamela Kirkland (01:59): “Stay tuned to see who will leave Augusta this Sunday with the prestigious green jacket.”

3. Artemis 2 Moon Mission Update

Timestamps: 02:25 – 03:11

• Astronauts have entered the “lunar sphere of influence,” meaning the moon’s gravitational pull is now stronger than Earth’s on the crew.

Ryan Willard (02:25): “It was the first time that astronauts had entered the lunar sphere of influence since the Apollo 17 mission over a half a century ago.”

4. Animal Encounters: Sailor Meets Whale

Timestamps: 03:11 – 04:06

• Sailor Eric Kramer collided with a whale off Crissy Field Beach; both are unharmed. The incident was caught on camera.

Pamela Kirkland (03:11): “He was seen floating in the water alongside the whale after the animal dove underwater, causing the sail to submerge along with it.”

5. Youth Powerlifting Superstar

Timestamps: 04:06 – 05:00

• Nine-year-old Lucy Milgram of Long Island, NY, sets three American records in powerlifting: 180lb deadlift (triple her body weight), 74lb bench press, 131lb squat. Wrestling is actually her main sport!

Ryan Willard (04:06): “Lucy deadlifted 180 pounds at an all ages competition which is three times her own body weight. Whoa.”

6. Supreme Court Case: Birthright Citizenship

Timestamps: 05:34 – 06:32

• The Supreme Court is considering a pivotal case, Trump v. Barbara, about the constitutionality of birthright citizenship, which could impact US immigration policy.

Pamela Kirkland (05:39): “This rule has been in place for more than 150 years…a ruling is expected in the next few months, potentially impacting the United States immigration policy.”

7. Usha Vance’s Storytime for Child Literacy

Timestamps: 06:32 – 07:13

• The Second Lady, Usha Vance, launches “Storytime with the Second Lady” to encourage literacy, featuring guests like Danica Patrick. 40% of fourth graders, 1/3 of eighth graders are below grade level in reading.

Ryan Willard (06:32): “…reading skills for about 40% of fourth graders and a third of eighth graders are below grade level.”

8. Taylor Swift Lawsuit Over Album Title

Timestamps: 07:13 – 08:06

• Swift faces a trademark lawsuit from Marin Wade, a Las Vegas performer, over the album “The Life of a Showgirl.” Wade claims it infringes on her “Confessions of a Showgirl” brand.

Pamela Kirkland (07:13): “Now we got bad blood.”

9. Hershey's Returns to Classic Chocolate Recipes

Timestamps: 08:06 – 08:56

• Brad Reese, grandson of Reese's Cups inventor, claims Hershey modified the original chocolate formula. By 2027, Hershey pledges to use traditional milk and dark chocolate in all products.

Ryan Willard (08:06): “In addition, Hershey's chocolate bars will be made with pure milk and dark chocolate, and fan favorite Kit Kats will be enhanced for a creamier taste and texture.”

10. Mario Movies Trivia

Timestamps: 09:05 – 10:41

• There are three Super Mario movies: the infamous 1993 live-action film, recent animated hits, with the latest “Super Mario Galaxy” having a record $372 million opening.

Owen (09:54): “The answer is C3 movies. The Super Mario Bros. Movie and its most recent, the Super Mario Galaxy movie were big hits.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ryan (00:21): “There’s a nine year old that is totally showing me up.”
• Pamela (05:00): “Oh, no, no, no, no, no, Ryan. Maybe just keep exercising.”
• Ryan (04:06): “Wait, do I need to start training to be a professional wrestler?”
• Pamela (11:13): “[Listener] Greeking out rules said butterflies look weird. ... This month is important to me because I have autism. ... I would love to be in 10 new snaps.”
• Ryan (11:28): “Happy autism acceptance month. We think you are awesome and appreciate you listening.”
• Ryan (11:33): “...look weird. They are freaky, freaky little nightmares and I don't like them.”
• Owen/Ryan (09:24): “I love Mario. Let's a go.”
• Pamela (07:13): “…Now we got bad blood.” (Cueing the Taylor Swift drama with a song reference.)

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Listener Interaction & Celebration

Timestamps: 11:13 – 11:43

• Listener “Greeking out rules” gets a shoutout for Autism Acceptance Month, reinforcing the show’s supportive, inclusive spirit.

Pamela (11:28): “Happy autism acceptance month. We think you are awesome and appreciate you listening.”

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Fun & Playful Tone

The hosts maintain a light, playful rapport throughout (like Ryan “training” in the snack room so he can snack and exercise, and Pamela’s sisterly advice). Game references and music puns keep energy high and the mood accessible for kids and families.

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Additional Info & Credits

Timestamps: 11:43 – End

• The hosts encourage joining the Tenors Club for ad-free episodes and supporting the show via donations.
• Creative acknowledgments for the team.
• Consistent reminders of their focus on delivering news that matters—always with inclusivity and fun.

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Closing Note

This episode of The Ten News offers a delightful, digestible way for kids (and adults!) to learn about big events and trending topics, blending serious news with positive, humorous, and empowering stories. Perfect for families to listen to together and spark curiosity about the world!

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Transcript

[Ryan Willard]

97, 98, 99.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Wow, Ryan, that's a first. I've never seen you lifting weights.

[Ryan Willard]

Yeah, I'm training, Pam. No time to waste.

[Pamela Kirkland]

But why are you training in the snack room?

[Ryan Willard]

To make sure I have snacks as I burn calories. Of course. There's a nine year old that is totally showing me up.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Okay, you're gonna need to explain. Cause I'm Pamela Kirkland.

[Ryan Willard]

And I'm Ryan Willard. It's Thursday, April 9th.

[Pamela Kirkland]

November. This is 10 things you need to know. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

[Ryan Willard]

We're starting off in the wild world of sports. March Madness has officially wrapped after an exciting final Four matchup on both the men's and women's sides this past weekend that led into the national championship games. On the women's side, Texas fell to UCLA 51 44, while South Carolina defeated UConn 62 48. However, South Carolina came up short in its bid for a consecutive title as UCLA dominated the championship game 79:51. The Bruins capped off a near perfect season with a 371 record, earning the program's first ever NCAA women's basketball title.

[Pamela Kirkland]

On the men's side, UConn defeated Illinois 7162 to advance to the national championship, where they faced Michigan, who beat Arizona 91 73. This marked UConn's seventh appearance in the NCAA men's national championship game as well as Michigan's. But only one team came out on top. The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Yukon Huskies 69 63.

[Ryan Willard]

From one major championship to another, the 90th Masters tournament tees off today in Augusta, Georgia, where the world's top players will compete for the iconic green jacket.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Headlining the field are world number one golfer Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Rory McIlroy. Aside contenders like Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, to qualify for the Masters, players must earn an invitation by meeting specific criteria, including past championships or world rankings and tournament wins. Stay tuned to see who will leave Augusta this Sunday with the prestigious green jacket.

[Ryan Willard]

All right, I think we gotta get out of this world. We have an update from the Artemis 2 mission. As of Monday, the astronauts arrived at the moon's cosmic neighborhood known as the lunar sphere of influence. This is where the moon's gravitational pull is stronger than Earth's. And according to NASA flight director Rick Henflett, it marked a significant milestone in the mission. The lunar sphere of influence is a mathematical boundary indicating that the astronauts are within the moon's vicinity. And by crossing this threshold, it was the first time that astronauts had entered the lunar sphere of influence since the Apollo 17 mission over a half a century ago.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Alright, for 10 points, what animal is this? Eric Kramer was out sailing along Crissy Field beach like any other day, until he suddenly collided with something in the water and it was a whale. The moment was captured on camera as Kramer was thrown off his board upon with the whale, causing him to crash into the water. He was seen floating in the water alongside the whale after the animal dove underwater, causing the sail to submerge along with it. This all happened after Kramer had already slowed down, having spotted other whales in the area. But on his final run back, he and the whale unexpectedly crossed paths. Thankfully, neither the sailor nor the whale was injured in the collision.

[Ryan Willard]

Okay, that is wild. But what's even wilder is this girl's super strength. Lucy Milgram is just nine years old and a fourth grader out of Long Island, New York, and she has set three American records with USA Powerlifting. That's right. Lucy deadlifted 180 pounds at an all ages competition which is three times her own body weight. Whoa. This impressive feat came after she also set the bench press record at 74 pounds and a squat record at 131 pounds. She is now considered among the top young powerlifters in the country and has only been in the sport for a year. Aside from her super strength, Lucy's primary focus is on wrestling, which she trains for about four to five days out of the week. Wait, do I need to start training to be a professional wrestler?

[Pamela Kirkland]

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, Ryan. Maybe just keep exercising.

[Ryan Willard]

Good idea. Let's just take a quick break so I can get a little bit stronger.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Hey tenors. We're planning a deep dive about baseball and we're curious, do you like baseball? If so, what's your favorite part of the game? Send us an email@helloten news.com or leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a comment on Spotify. Spotify. And we might have you on the show. Speaking of, let's get back to it.

[Ryan Willard]

We are back with some news from the Supreme Court.

[Pamela Kirkland]

There is a case currently being argued in front of the court about birthright citizenship, which is the idea that a person automatically becomes a citizen of a country by being born there, regardless of their parent citizenship. In the U.S. all babies who are born here are automatically U.S. citizens, no matter where their parents are from. This rule has been in place for more than 150 years in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. That's until President Trump issued an executive order to end birthright citizenship the administration was sued for, and the case, Trump v. Barbara, is looking at whether his executive order complies with the 14th Amendment citizenship clause clause or is unconstitutional. A ruling on the birthright citizenship case is expected in the next few months, potentially impacting the United States immigration policy.

[Ryan Willard]

Also out of Washington, D.C. the second lady, Usha Vance, is advocating for child literacy. Usha Vance recently launched a new reading series called Storytime with the Second lady in an effort to tackle the decline in childhood literacy rates across the United States. According to data from the Nation's report card, reading skills for about 40% of fourth graders and a third of eighth graders are below grade level. Through her podcast, Vance is reading storybooks and creating conversation with guests like NASCAR driver Danica Patrick and US Paralympian Brett Poppin that complement what educators and families are already doing for children and encouraging kids to get excited about reading.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Meanwhile, out of Las Vegas, Taylor Swift is facing a lawsuit for trademark infringement. Swift's 2025 album the Life of a Showgirl is in the hot seat after a Las Vegas performer, Marin Wade, filed a lawsuit claiming that the title and branding is too similar to her own Confessions of a Showgirl brand that's been around since 2014. She argues the names are similar as well as target similar audiences, creating consumer confusion which could damage Wade's brand through what's called reverse confusion. The lawsuit also alleges that the US Patent and Trademark Office warned Swift's team the title could be confused with an existing trademark, but the album was still marketed under that name. Wade is seeking damages and a court order to prevent further use of the branding. Now we got bad blood.

[Ryan Willard]

Up next, something a little sweeter for you Hershey fans. Brad Reese, the grandson to the inventor of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, recently went public saying the Hershey Company has messed with the classic chocolate formula in its products. In response, the Hershey Company has announced that it will go back to using classic milk and dark chocolate recipes in all of its Reese's and herShey's products by 2027. So candies inspired by the OGs like Minnie, Reese's Cups and other shapes and candies will be made with real milk chocolate instead of a chocolate compound coating. In addition, Hershey's chocolate bars will be made with pure milk and dark chocolate, and fan favorite Kit Kats will be enhanced for a creamier taste and texture.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Well, that's something I'm definitely looking forward to. And for our last thing, you need to know. Let's go to our trivia master, Owen.

[Ryan Willard]

What is going on here?

[Owen]

Trivia on the 10. Thanks, Pam. All right, grab your popcorn and whatever snacks you want because on today's trivia, we're talking movies. Mario movies, that is.

[Ryan Willard]

I love Mario. Let's a go.

[Owen]

The Super Mario Galaxy movie is already one of the most watched films of 2026. But do you know how many super Mario movies have been released? Is it A, two movies, B, four movies, C, three movies, or D19 different Mario movies?

[Ryan Willard]

Oh, I know there's one. And it might not be what you think.

[Owen]

The answer is C3 movies. The super Mario Bros. Movie and its most recent, the Super Mario Galaxy movie were big hits. Galaxy has already scored the biggest opening of the year for a Hollywood movie. It earned a whopping 372 million in its global debut. But do you know that the very first Mario movie came out in 1993. Super Mario Bros. Was a live action film and it was not very faithful to the video games. People did not like it and it took Nintendo 30 years to give Mario a second chance in the movie business.

[Ryan Willard]

And that was 10 things you need to know.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Hey Rye, want to hit the gym with me now?

[Ryan Willard]

Yeah, no thank you. I've just accepted that a nine year old girl is a lot stronger than me.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Well, you can still exercise. That's never a bad thing.

[Ryan Willard]

Very true. How about I walk you to the gym so I can get my steps in?

[Pamela Kirkland]

That's a good start. We should probably give some 10 new snaps first.

[Ryan Willard]

But before that, here's a quick note for the grownups. It's time for 10 new snaps.

[Pamela Kirkland]

A tenor named Greeking out rules said butterflies look weird. I love this pod. It's really great when you want to know what's going on. This month is important to me because I have autism. I also I would love to be in 10 new snaps.

[Ryan Willard]

Aw.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Happy autism acceptance month. We think you are awesome and appreciate you listening.

[Ryan Willard]

And yes, greeking. I also believe look weird. They are freaky, freaky little nightmares and I don't like them.

[Pamela Kirkland]

And two extra notes for the grownups. You can now get ad free versions of our episodes when you join the tenors club on our website.

[Ryan Willard]

And if you want to help support the 10News, you can. You can make a tax deductible donation at the link in our show notes. The whole team thanks you for your support.

[Pamela Kirkland]

The 10News is a co production of small but mighty media and Next Chapter podcasts and part of the Airwave podcast network.

[Ryan Willard]

The Ten News. Creative team is still watching the Artemis 2 updates and loving them. And includes Tracy, Nada 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.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Our production director is Jeremiah Tittle, and our executive producers are Donald Albright. Albright. Albright. And show creator Tracy takes the lead's Kaplan. I'm Pamela Kirkland.

[Ryan Willard]

And I'm Ryan Willard. Thanks for listening to the 10 news.