The Ten News: "Re-air: Competitive Eating and Pyrotechnics! 🎆"

Release Date: July 4, 2025
Host: Bethany Van Zelft, with contributors Jacob & Olivia Rosenzweig (Curious Kid Podcast) and Ryan Nurs
Main Theme:
A kid-friendly exploration of spectacular Fourth of July traditions—fireworks and competitive eating—with a dash of science, history, and fun trivia. The episode mixes fireworks science, hot dog–eating insights, festive foods, fun headlines, and wacky holiday facts.

Fireworks Science & Pyrotechnics

Segment Start: [00:06]

Key Discussion Points & Insights:

• Fireworks as Science, Not Magic
  • Olivia: Fireworks are a beloved fourth of July tradition, alongside barbecues and wearing festive red, white, and blue outfits.
  • Jacob: “They might seem like magic, but fireworks involve lots of science.” [01:17]
• Parts of a Firework
  • Shells contain a stick (directional), fuse, explosive, and “stars" (colorful pellets).
  • Fireworks are launched from ground-based cylinders, each holding one shell.
• How Fireworks Work
  • “When the fuse hits the explosive inside the shell, the shell explodes. The explosion lights up the stars that were inside the shell and sends them soaring in different directions.” — Olivia [02:00]
  • Chemistry of Colors: Copper = blue, sodium = yellow.
• Role of Pyrotechnicians
  • Pyrotechnicians design each shell to achieve the desired colors and patterns.
  • The Macy’s Fourth of July show uses about 65,000 shells in 25 minutes, managed by ~60 pyrotechnicians!
    • “That’s more than 2,500 shells a minute.” — Olivia [03:04]
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Learning how fireworks work gives me a new appreciation for this beautiful Fourth of July tradition.” — Olivia [03:18]

Notable Moment:

• Jacob wishes everyone a happy Fourth of July. [03:23]

Competitive Eating: The Hot Dog Showdown

Segment Start: [03:58]
Contributor: Ryan Nurs

Key Discussion Points & Insights:

• Food as a Core July 4th Tradition
  • Ryan humorously prioritizes food over historical celebrations, spotlighting hot dogs as the ultimate July 4th fare.
• Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
  • Ryan: As a former announcer, shares the scale; Joey “Jaws” Chestnut can eat 25 times as many hot dogs as an average person in 10 minutes.
• Science & Strategy of Speed Eating
  • Training the Jaw:
    • “The jaw, particularly a muscle in your cheek called the masseter, is one of the strongest muscles in the body. But it still gets tired.”
    • Eaters chew gum to strengthen their jaws—up to five pieces at once!
  • Swallowing Skills:
    • “Your body has what’s called a gag reflex…it’s actually a good thing.” [05:30]
    • Pros train throat muscles and practice swallowing water to override this reflex.
  • Stomach Stretching:
    • Pros drink gallons of water to stretch their stomachs for more food capacity.
  • Shimmies and the Kobe Shake:
    • Pro tip: Jumping or wiggling helps push food down.
    • Kobayashi’s “Kobe Shake” is legendary and led him to six titles.
  • Chipmunking:
    • Final seconds: Filling cheeks for extra points—just like chipmunks, whose cheeks can hold food three times their head size!
      • “Whatever you fit into your cheeks counts toward your total.” [07:50]
      • You have 30 seconds post-whistle to swallow it all.
  • Safety Reminder:
    • “Don’t try any of these techniques at home. Just relax and enjoy your Fourth of July cookout.” [08:19]

Memorable Quote:

• “I’d much rather be at the neighborhood barbecue than in Coney Island competing against the world’s greatest speed eaters.” — Ryan Nurs [05:03]

Fun Headlines & Newsworthy Oddities

Segment Start: [08:26]
Host: Bethany Van Zelft, Jacob, & Olivia

Key Highlights:

• Canada Day (July 1)
  • Celebrated with parades, food, fireworks; this year, cities offer take-home s’mores and hot dog kits due to the pandemic.
• Daredevil Tightrope Walkers
  • Two brothers set a state and national record in Yosemite by walking a half-mile highline with a 1,600-foot drop.
• Wild Animal Encounters
  • A lobster diver off Cape Cod was accidentally swallowed and then spit back out by a humpback whale—“a whale of a time!”
• Message in a Bottle
  • A boy in Rhode Island sends a message; three years later it’s found in Portugal. The teens connect after the story goes viral.

Memorable Quote:

• Jacob: “Awesome.” [09:03]
• Bethany: “Life imitates art.” [10:54]

Trivia Time: Quirky 4th of July Foods

Segment Start: [11:02]
Host: Bethany Van Zelft

Trivia Q&A:

• Question: Which unusual Independence Day treat is a New England tradition?
  • a) Salmon and peas
  • b) Beets with blueberries
  • c) Strawberries with cheese
• Answer: Salmon and peas.
  • “The pink fish has been an Independence Day tradition in New England for centuries and a staple on plates since before the country was founded.” — Bethany [11:04]
  • Salmon’s migration in July and the pea harvest made them a natural pairing.

Memorable Quote:

• Olivia: “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.” [11:58]

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “They might seem like magic, but fireworks involve lots of science.” — Jacob Rosenzweig [01:17]
• “Pyrotechnicians know exactly how to get the amazing colors and sounds you see in a beautiful fireworks show.” — Jacob [02:31]
• “Learning how fireworks work gives me a new appreciation for this beautiful Fourth of July tradition.” — Olivia [03:18]
• “As a former announcer of the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, I know that even if I stuff my face with three hot dogs, the reigning champion, Joey Jaws Chestnut, will eat 25 times that in 10 minutes.” — Ryan Nurs [04:42]
• “The jaw, particularly a muscle in your cheek called the masseter, is one of the strongest muscles in the body.” — Ryan [04:56]
• “At the end of the contest, whatever you fit into your cheeks counts toward your total. So the technique of chipmunking…gives you a competitive advantage.” — Ryan [07:52]
• “Don’t try any of these techniques at home. Just relax and enjoy your Fourth of July cookout.” — Ryan [08:19]
• Jacob reacting to the chipmunk fact: “No way.” [07:49]

Episode Tone and Takeaways

• Playful, Engaging, and Informative: The tone is lively and accessible—full of cool facts, friendly banter, and clear explanations.
• Curiosity-Driven: Encourages kids to look at traditions through the lens of science and history.
• Safety–First Message: The fast-eating segment ends with a strong reminder NOT to try competitive eating at home.
• Celebration of Tradition: Explores how classic Fourth of July customs mix fun, community, and a bit of wackiness.

Perfect For: Curious kids, family listening, and anyone looking for fun, bite-sized July 4th facts and science!