Re:air- A Total Solar Eclipse Recap + Earth Day 🌎

Summary

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The Ten News, News For Curious Kids

Episode: Re:air- A Total Solar Eclipse Recap + Earth Day 🌎
Date: April 24, 2026
Host: Small But Mighty Media
Summary prepared by podcast summarizer

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Episode Overview

In this episode of The Ten News, hosts Ryan Willard and Pamela Kirkland celebrate Earth Day by exploring positive environmental news, the history and global impact of Earth Day, and the ongoing “Planet vs. Plastics” campaign. Additionally, the show features an engaging recap of the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse, shared through a firsthand account by guest reporter Bridget Todd. The episode wraps up with fun trivia, listener shout-outs, and a humorous nod to Ryan’s ongoing eclipse-glasses obsession.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Earth Day: Significance, History, and Progress

• When is Earth Day?
  • Earth Day 2024 is celebrated on April 22. (00:53)
• Origin Story:
  • Founded in 1970 by Senator Gaylord Nelson and activist John McConnell in response to environmental concerns like air pollution and contaminated water. Over 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day, leading to the creation of the EPA and significant laws such as the Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, and Clean Water Act.
    • “More than 20 million Americans participated. And as a result, the US government created the Environmental Protection Agency...” — Pamela Kirkland (01:21)
• Global Reach:
  • Today, over 190 countries participate in Earth Day. (01:39)
• Environmental Good News Highlights:
  • Solar Power Surge:
    • In 2023, solar energy accounted for most of the new electricity capacity in the US, led by California and Texas. (01:52)
      • “Solar power is smashing records in the United States...” — Ryan Willard (01:52)
  • Amazon Deforestation Drops:
    • Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest hit a 5-year low, with President Lula committing $204 million toward reforestation. (02:14)
      • “Brazil... has made great progress.” — Pamela Kirkland (02:14)

Planet vs. Plastics: Earth Day 2024 Theme

• Goals & Campaigns:
  • The 2024 theme, “Planet vs. Plastics,” aims to reduce plastic production by 60% and eliminate single-use plastics, fast fashion, and promote innovation and strong international treaties on plastic pollution. (02:38)
  • The European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation will ban some plastics and require all packaging to be recycled content by 2030. (03:05)
    • “In the EU, some packaging will be completely banned and by 2030, all packaging material must contain recycled material.” — Pamela Kirkland (03:05)
• Call to Action:
  • Listeners are encouraged to get involved in efforts to combat plastic pollution, with resources provided in the show notes. (03:27)

April 8 Solar Eclipse: Recap and Science

• What is a Solar Eclipse?
  • The moon passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking all or part of the sun; in a total eclipse, it causes near-total darkness for several minutes. (03:50)
  • The April 8, 2024, eclipse’s path went from Mexico to Maine, crossing over 44 million people—the largest US eclipse audience ever. (03:50)
• Bridget Todd’s Firsthand Experience (Mazatlan, Mexico):
  • Bridget Todd traveled to Mazatlan, within the “path of totality,” to experience the eclipse for the first time. She describes the event as “the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” highlighting the darkness, the cooling air, and the sense of wonder shared by a diverse crowd on the beach.
    • Memorable Quote:
      • “It was like somebody just turned the lights all the way down... it seemed like both the longest and the shortest four minutes ever. I didn’t want it to end.” — Bridget Todd (06:27)
  • Safety Note:
    • Never look directly at the sun without eclipse glasses, especially during an eclipse. (05:41)
  • Universal Awe:
    • Bridget reflects on feeling like a child again, marveling at the sky together with people from all over the world. (07:01)
    • “On the beach during the eclipse, we were all little kids looking up at the sky in wonder.” — Bridget Todd (07:28)

Environmental Trivia: Trees on Earth

• Trivia Question:
  • How many trees exist per person on Earth?
    • Options: A) 100, B) 277, C) 400
    • Correct Answer: C) 400 (08:16)
      • “In 2015, a study from NASA estimated there are about 3 trillion trees on the planet... about 400 trees for every person." — Owen (08:28)

Listener Engagement & Fun Moments

• Listener Shout-outs:
  • Hosts read hilarious listener reviews themed around butterflies and foxes, prompting playful banter between Pamela and Ryan. (12:01)
    • “Wait, what? Cool guy 100 left a bunch of butterflies which apparently said we're coming for you Ryan...” — Ryan Willard (12:00)
• Humor:
  • Ryan jokes about wearing eclipse glasses all the time and training his cats as “seeing-eye cats.” (09:42)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Earth Day Success Story:
  • “More than 20 million Americans participated. And as a result, the US government created the Environmental Protection Agency…” — Pamela Kirkland (01:21)
• Solar Power Achievement:
  • “Solar power is smashing records in the United States…” — Ryan Willard (01:52)
• Awe of Solar Eclipse:
  • “It seemed like both the longest and the shortest four minutes ever. I didn’t want it to end.” — Bridget Todd (06:27)
  • “On the beach during the eclipse, we were all little kids looking up at the sky in wonder.” — Bridget Todd (07:28)
• Trivia Fun:
  • “Since there's around 8 billion people on Earth, the math says there are about 400 trees for every person. Wow, that's a lot of trees.” — Owen and Talia (08:28)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:53 – Earth Day intro & origin
• 01:52 – Positive environmental news (solar power & Amazon forest)
• 02:38 – “Planet vs. Plastics” campaign and EU regulations
• 03:50 – What is a solar eclipse? 2024’s major eclipse
• 04:36-07:28 – Bridget Todd’s eclipse experience and reflections
• 08:16-08:41 – Tree trivia segment
• 12:00 – Listener reviews and podcast community shout-outs

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Conclusion

This lively episode of The Ten News delivers Earth Day optimism, science excitement, and practical ways for young listeners and their families to make a difference. Guest Bridget Todd’s awe-inspiring eclipse story reminds listeners of the wonder of our planet and the power of shared experiences. The episode maintains a playful, accessible tone throughout—all while empowering kids to learn and get involved in protecting the environment.

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Transcript

[A]

Hey, Ryan. Happy almost Earth Day.

[B]

What up, Pamelama? Llama, llama.

[C]

Whoa.

[A]

Ryan, are you okay?

[B]

I'm good. It's just hard to see you.

[A]

Why are you wearing eclipse glasses?

[B]

Because I missed the total eclipse and I refuse to miss it again.

[A]

Um, right.

[D]

I'm fine.

[B]

Totally fine. So find that we should start the show. I'm Ryan Willard.

[A]

And I'm Pamela Kirkland. It's Thursday, April 18th.

[B]

This is the 10 News. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

[A]

So if you just sit still and don't move, you won't crash into anything.

[B]

I can sit still, but I cannot promise to not crash into anything. Aren't we celebrating Earth Day today?

[A]

We are. Earth Day 2024 is on April 22. It's a day for humans to raise awareness of environmental issues and to promote eco friendly practices. Do you know how it started?

[B]

Earth Day started in the US in 1970 when Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin senator, and John McConnell, a San Francisco activist, encouraged Americans to join a grassroots demonstration to raise awareness about air pollution, pesticides and toxic drinking water.

[A]

Yep, and it worked. More than 20 million Americans participated. And as a result, the US government created the Environmental Protection Agency by the end of 1970 and followed up with laws like the Endangered Species act, the Clean Air act and the Clean Water Act.

[B]

And now more than 190 different countries around the world celebrate Earth Day.

[A]

Since we're going into Earth Day, let's talk about some good things happening with the planet.

[B]

Solar power is smashing records in the United States. A report from the Solar Energy Industries association showed that in 2023, solar power accounted for most of the capacity the US added to its electric grid. California and Texas led the charge to a stellar year, which we Hope continues in 2024.

[A]

The Earth's lungs are breathing a little bit easier. Deforestation in the Amazon has dropped to a five year low. Brazil, which has the biggest share of tropical forest in the world, has made great progress. And Eco Minded president lula announced a $204 million reforestation fund to work with their pledge to stop all deforestation by the end of the decade.

[B]

Now the theme for Earth Day 2024 is Planet versus Plastics, which aims to raise awareness of plastic pollution for the sake of humanity and planetary health. And demand a 60% reduction in the production of all plastic by 20. The goal is to reduce single use plastic consumption, demand an end to fast fashion, invest in technology that can reduce plastic use, and push for a strong UN treaty on plastic pollution by the

[A]

end of June 2024. The EU is required to finish the packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which is the world's biggest attempt to crack down on microplastics leaking into the environment. In the EU, some packaging will be completely banned and by 2030, all packaging material must contain recycled material.

[B]

We hope to see efforts like this from the US and China. So if you want to join in on the fight against plastics this Earth Day, check out our show notes for some links to help you get involved.

[A]

Did you see the solar eclipse?

[B]

The tenors might have, but I did not. And I can't see much of anything with these glasses on. And I'm still wrapping my head around what exactly an eclipse is.

[A]

A solar eclipse is when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking all or part of the sun. On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse tracked from south central Mexico all the way up across the United States to northern Maine. In a total solar eclipse, the sun was completely blocked, causing a period of dark darkness and was even up to four minutes. In New Jersey, the eclipse's path of totality crossed directly over 44 million people, making it the biggest eclipse crowd ever for North America.

[B]

I can't believe I missed it.

[A]

Well, you're in luck. Bridget Todd is here to give us a recap.

[B]

The Bridget Todd. Where is she?

[A]

Right over here.

[D]

This week there was a solar eclipse. That means the moon traveled in between the Earth and the sun. And I traveled all the way to Mazatlan, Mexico to see the eclipse in what's called the path of totality. That means the moon was directly and exactly in between the sun and the Earth for about four and a half minutes. It was my first time seeing an eclipse in this way. Now, I had been told that it's really cool. It kind of looks and feels like it does when it's nighttime. The sky gets all dark, it gets really quiet, the birds stop chirping, and it's like somebody just turned the lights all the way down. Only it's not happening at night, it's happening in the middle of the day. You didn't have to go all the way to Mazatlan, Mexico, like I did, though, because you could see totality from parts of Vermont, New York State, Ohio, and Texas. As long as it wasn't too cloudy, that is. But even if you don't live in a state in the path of totality, you might have been able to see the moon go over the sun a little bit through special dark eclipse glasses. This is really important. You should never look at the sun without these Special dark glasses because you could hurt your eyes.

[C]

Ah, my eye.

[D]

You shouldn't do it. Ever. But especially you shouldn't do it during an eclipse. I had never seen a total eclipse before, and it felt like the entire city, kids, grownups, everybody, went down onto the beach in Mexico to wait for it and watch as the moon slowly passed in front of the sun. The entire beach got darker, quieter. It started to feel like it does when it's dusk. The air got cooler and there were weird shadows everywhere. And then when the moon was finally directly over the sun, we were in totality, just the tiniest little sliver of sun, y'.

[C]

All.

[D]

Oh, my God. I'm trying to find words to describe it, but I really don't have them. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. It was so beautiful, and it seemed like both the longest and the shortest four minutes ever. I didn't want it to end. But it did end, and we all had to put our special eclipse glasses back on because the moon was slowly uncovering the sun.

[E]

It was beautiful.

[D]

As beautiful as the eclipse was, probably the best part was just watching it down on the beach with so many people, some of whom traveled from all over just to watch this one eclipse for four minutes. And it reminded me of when I was a little kid. When I was a kid, I loved looking up at the sky. I loved laying on my back, looking up at the stars, watching meteor showers and looking for planets. And out on the beach during the eclipse, we were all little kids looking up at the sky in wonder. Back to you, Ryan.

[B]

Thanks so much for stopping by. Bridget.

[A]

She's already gone. Ryan.

[C]

Ah.

[B]

Yep, missed that completely. Excuse me. I hear a human with small feet. Identify yourself.

[C]

Hi, I'm Talia, Owen's cousin. I'm looking for the trivia room.

[B]

Oh, cool. It's two doors down the hall. Thanks.

[D]

Welcome to the trivia room.

[C]

Hi, Owen. Hi, Talia. I'm so excited that you came to visit. What a cool throne. Want to jump on and try it? But you don't know the rule. Whoever sits on the throne has to answer the questions.

[D]

What is going on here?

[C]

Trivia under 10. I'm not sure if you know this, Talia, but I'm a big fan of trees. They do so many cool things. They provide shade, improve air quality, and. And even help fight climate change. But do you know how many trees there are for each person on Earth? Is it approximately A, 100 trees per person, B, 277 trees per person, or C 400 trees per person. C. The answer is see. Eh, I just guessed. In 2015, a study from NASA estimated that there are about 3 trillion trees on the planet, give or take a few million. And since there's around 8 billion people on Earth, the math says that There are about 400 trees for every person. Wow, that's a lot of trees. Thanks for playing, Talia. Thanks for having me. Owen. Tenors, if you have a great trivia question or want to sit on the trivia throne, leave us a message at 87710 NEWS and we might have you on the show.

[B]

You know, I'm getting kind of used to wearing these eclipse glasses. Maybe I can train Midnight and Tuesday to be by Seeing Eye cats.

[A]

I don't think that's an actual thing. And Midnight doesn't look like she wants to leave her bed. So how are you going to play video games wearing those?

[B]

Okay, they're off. That was a great point. Should we do 10 new snaps for our listeners?

[A]

Yep. But first, here's a quick note for the grownups.

[F]

Hey 10 News listeners. As the school year starts wrapping up, a lot of families, especially homeschool families, are thinking about how to finish strong and maybe even keep learning going into the summer. And that's where IXL comes in. IXL is an award winning learning platform with interactive practice in math, language arts, science and social studies from pre K all the way through 12th grade. It's designed to fit right into your routine whether you're wrapping up end of year projects or just trying to keep your brain sharp over the summer break. And it's super flexible. You can practice a little each day, review tricky topics, or even get ahead for next year. No pressure. So whether you're finishing strong or trying to beat the summer slide, iexcel makes it easy to keep learning going. So make an impact on your child's learning and get ixcel now. And TenU's listeners can get an exclusive 20% off Iexcel membership when they sign up [e-mail] 10. Visit iexcel.com 10 to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.

[E]

Are you looking for a podcast that your whole family can enjoy that asks the deep philosophical questions like do trees fart?

[C]

If you are, then you'll love Tumble,

[D]

a psychological science podcast for kids. I'm Lindsay.

[E]

And I'm Marshall. Join us as we explore stories of science discovery from butts to animals, dinosaurs, astronomy, and everything in between.

[D]

You'll love these stories and you'll learn something new.

[E]

Find and follow Tumble Science Podcasts for kids wherever you get your podcasts or at sciencepodcastforkids.com.

[B]

Time for 10 news snaps a number

[A]

of tenors have left reviews with lots of butterfly emojis.

[B]

Wait, what?

[A]

Cool guy 100 left a bunch of butterflies which apparently said we're coming for you Ryan and listener hog I u T D U O R D P u F said Dear Ryan, there is only butterflies and crazy. Fox132 said, I love this podcast. Does Pamela like Fox? Also, Ryan, will you please like butterflies? The pod is better than most. I actually do like foxes.

[B]

Thank you to everyone who left reviews and no thank you to everyone who mentioned. I'm not sure why anyone would mention those terrifying creatures in a review, but we appreciate the feedback and thanks for listening to the 10 news. Our episodes drop on Thursdays and if you want some bonus content, you can join the Tenors Club on our website. And and to our grownups, if you want to Help support the 10News, you can make a tax deductible donation at the link in our show notes. The whole team thanks you for your support.

[A]

The 10News is a co production of Small But Mighty Media and Next Chapter Podcasts and part of the Airwave Podcast Network.

[B]

The 10News Creative team is waiting a really long time for the next total solar Eclipse and includes Tracy Crooks, Logan DeYoung, Karine Kadabayan, and Carson Potter. Big thanks to Bridget Todd for stopping by and Owen for contributing to this episode.

[A]

Our production director is Jeremiah Tittle and our executive producers are Donald Albright and show creator Tracey Leeds Kaplan.

[B]

I'm Ryan Willard.

[A]

And I'm Pamela Kirkland. Thanks for listening to the 10 news.