← Who Smarted? - Educational Podcast for Kids
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- [00:02]
Jerry Colbert
Hey there Smartypants. Want even more WhoSmarted and less ads. Introducing WhoSmarted plus more WhoSmarted.
- [00:10]
Co-host/Child Voice
Yay.
- [00:11]
Jerry Colbert
That's right. With WhoSmarted plus, you unlock an extra new episode every week. Zero ads plus our special segment SmartYQs where we tackle your curious questions like.
- [00:23]
Co-host/Child Voice
Why is the sky blue?
- [00:25]
Jerry Colbert
Exactly. And guess what? There are even more surprise bonuses from me, your trusty narrator. Wow.
- [00:31]
Co-host/Child Voice
How much?
- [00:32]
Jerry Colbert
Less than $4 a month with an annual subscription. And hey, try it out with an adult's permission with a one week free trial from Apple Podcasts or from WhoSmarted.com I'm in. Let's get smarter WhoSmarted plus more to learn, more to love. Subscribe now. Hey smarty friends. Trusty here with some special Sunday Funday smarting news. I'm proud to announce that your favorite trusty narrator is part of a brand new series from Kids Listen. Big Emotions. Kids Listen Mashups. That's right. And in each episode we'll be exploring a different emotion through the magic of storytelling. Along with tips from experts in child development, I had the pleasure of narrating an episode on Love and Sadness, two feelings that are very interconnected and very important for smarty pants and smarty parents to understand. Listening to the series has been eye opening for me, and I think you, my Smarty Pants listeners, will also get a lot out of hearing different perspectives or thoughts on these big emotions. So take a listen and if you want to check out the other episodes on emotions like embarrassment and pride, anger and forgiveness and more, click on the link in the show notes. Thanks, Smartypants. Hello and a warm welcome. I'm Jerry Colbert. You might know me as the trusty narrator of who's Smarted, a show that mixes brains, humor, and a lot of heart. I'm so glad you're here for episode six of our Big Emotions series where we'll be exploring two feelings that share the same story. Love and Sadness. Love is a feeling of deep affection for and connection with another person. It's both tender and powerful. There are many kinds of love. We often think of love as something that happens between romantic partners. But there's also the love between a parent and a child, or between friends, or between a kid and a pet. Love is one of the biggest feelings there is. It's powerful, joyful, and comforting. But when love changes, or we feel its absence, sadness often shows up too. Sadness is a deep feeling of loss, emptiness, or longing. It can arrive when something we care about is missing. A person, a place, a routine or even a part of ourselves. Sometimes sadness comes with tears. Other times it's quiet, showing up as a lump in our throat or a heavy feeling in our chest. Even though it can feel uncomfortable, sadness is a helpful emotion. It lets us slow down, it helps us understand what really matters to us, and it can bring people closer, especially when we share our feelings with someone we trust. Just like love, sadness is part of being human. And both of these emotions help shape who we are, help us build strong relationships, appreciate the people and places we care about, and make sense of the world around us. In this episode, we'll be exploring some pretty big feelings. They can be powerful, and so can we. Emotions are useful, and they are a source of information. They're our connection to the world. So let's get to know them better, invite them in, and create space to choose how we respond to them. We cannot control the wind, but we can adjust the sails. You'll hear stories about love in unexpected forms, from ancient heart symbols to a girl and her unlikely best friend. And how sadness, though it can be hard, can also make room for growth, gratitude, and healing. This collaboration brings together our community of creators, each offering their own unique perspective on emotions. Through a morsel from each show, we introduce you to a new creative style. We hope you discover your new favorite podcast here. In this episode, you'll hear from a handful of kids Listen shows, and we begin with but why? For now, get comfy, settle in, and let's dive into these heartfelt stories about love and sadness.
- [05:26]
Co-host/Child Voice
Emotions.
- [05:38]
Jerry Colbert
Our journey into love and sadness begins with a question that might seem simple at first, but opens the door to something much bigger. Our first episode in this Big Emotions mashup comes from but why? A podcast for curious Kids, A show where kids ask the questions and grown ups help find the answers. This one starts with a great question from James, age 7. Why do we draw hearts the way we do when the real heart inside our body looks so different? And why has the heart, not the brain, become the symbol of love? Let's listen and find out how a shape became the emoji for one of the most powerful emotions in the world.
- [06:18]
But Why? Host
This is but why? A podcast for curious kids and today we're curious about hearts. How they came to be the symbol of love, when, as we know now, it's actually a part of the brain called the amygdala that controls the love emotions. But also, why do we use a heart shape that doesn't match the actual shape of a heart organ?
- [06:39]
Co-host/Child Voice
My name is James and I'm from Towson, Maryland. And I'm seven years old, and I want to know, why do we draw hearts the way we do when they're nothing like the heart inside of your body?
- [06:51]
But Why? Host
We're getting answers from Tom and Steven Amadon, two brothers who wrote a book for adults called the Sublime, A Biography of the Human heart.
- [07:01]
Tom or Steven Amadon
The heart really became a symbol of human love in the time of the Romans. So this was about 2,000 years ago. And what happened was there was a saint called Valentine, Saint Valentine. And he was a Christian in Rome, so he was very. Had to be in. They had to be hiding from the Romans because the Romans didn't like these Christians. And his job, St. Valentine's job, was to help people get married. And so he would arrange these marriages. And one of the symbols they used was this heart symbol, which was the secret code that they would use among people who were in love who wanted to get married and not get caught by the Romans. Now, why is that funny little heart symbol you see used for love? Well, there are two theories. One is that a Greek philosopher named Aristotle had a theory that that's what the heart looked. And you may ask, well, why didn't they just look at the heart and see, well, because that was illegal. The other theory is that there was something called silphium, which was. This was in the time of the Greeks, that was a love potion. And it was believed that it came from a root, you know, like a little plant called silphium that was found in Libya, in Africa. And if you took this, you would fall in love. Well, the silphium, which no longer exists, if it ever did, looked just like the heart symbol we now use on Valentine's and I Heart New York and all of that. So those are some of the theories about it. But the short answer is no one really knows.
- [08:46]
But Why? Host
That's the worst. We have so many of those on this podcast. No one really knows answers. I have so many questions from that. First of all, so given what we now know about the heart and what that organ does and the brain and what that organ does, and given that we do now know the shape of a human heart, Stephen, do you have any idea why we still use that heart shaped kind of emoji icon that people love so much?
- [09:14]
Tom or Steven Amadon
Well, I think it's basically a romantic idea. I think the further we come to understand the workings of the human body and what our brains look like and so forth, and we want to hold on to an idea that we're just not machines, by that I mean just like these machines that you can figure out.
- [09:35]
But Why? Host
Well, there you have it. We like the idea that the heart is where love lives. And we like that symbolic shape that we put on cards and candy and use as a kind of shortcut way of saying love.
- [09:52]
Jerry Colbert
So maybe the heart shape came from an ancient love potion, or maybe it was just a guess from a philosopher who wasn't allowed to look inside the human body. Whatever the truth is, one thing is clear. Love is such a big feeling, we've always searched for symbols to help express it. Whether it's a pink paper heart, a warm hug, or a simple I love you text. Love can be felt in so many ways. Even if love begins in the brain, it lives in how we treat one another through kindness, attention, gestures, and touch. And that, more than anything, is what makes love so powerful. What did that clip make you think about? Have you ever made a card with a heart on it? Or felt your own heart flutter with excitement or ache with sadness? Feelings can come up inside us like a tiny whisper or a surging wave. Some gnaw at us, eroding our peace of mind. Bit by bit, some flood in so powerfully they take over, making it hard to think straight or be ourselves. Either way, they can affect our bodies, our relationships, and even the way we see the world. So it's important that we listen to them. How we express our emotions can bring us closer or push us apart. So the next time you feel that wave of emotions grow, maybe give yourself some room to pay attention. Let's keep exploring. Our second stop on our journey through love and sadness takes us back in time to a story about love, patience, and a very unusual horse. This clip comes from the Past and the Curious, a history podcast full of surprising true tales from the past. You're about to meet Dr. William Key, a formerly enslaved man who became a self taught veterinarian, and his horse, beautiful Jim Key. At first, no one believed in Jim. He was small, sickly, and didn't look like much. But Dr. Key saw something special and treated him with kindness, patience and love. Let's take a listen.
- [11:58]
Past and the Curious Narrator
And when Loretta gave birth to a colt, Dr. William Key was certain that it would be a strong, brilliant horse. Was he right? He was worse than right. He was wrong. At least at first. No one who saw the puny little horse known as Jim Key held any hope for the gangly and sickly creature. They pointed at his malformed legs. There's no way that he'll ever race. Heck, friends and neighbors talked openly about how unlikely he was to survive at all. Many called him ugly. I say Dr. Williams saw these things too. But he never gave up on Jim Key. There's a reason the horse is not remembered as ugly. Jim Key. Jim might not have been the racehorse that everyone expected, but there were other special things about him. Jim Key's unusual nature first showed up not long after Loretta, Queen of horses, died. Without his mother, the young horse was eager for connection. And after watching how the dogs on the farm interacted with Dr. William, the horse began to mimic their behavior. He even got so good at acting like a dog that he insisted on living in the house with Jim's family and the other indoor pets. And if you're wondering, the answer is yes. Jim was housebroken. But unlike most dogs, Jim could open the door for himself. Sometimes the urge would strike and he'd just head out for a ramble to the countryside before returning home for dinner or for lights out. Dr. Key began giving the horse some special attention, training him in simple tasks in a barn behind the house. After accomplishing a task, Dr. Key would reward Beautiful Jim with an apple that he kept in a drawer. Something peculiar happened once, after Dr. Key had finished one of the training sessions and left the horse alone in the barn, Beautiful Jim must have felt safely alone. And he must have really enjoyed those apples, because the horse confidently walked over to the desk, opened the reward drawer with his mouth, snagged a delicious apple to chow down upon in solitude. Dr. William happened to see this through the window. Opening the drawer to get the apples was impressive, but not totally surprising to the doctor. However, he was truly startled to see the horse close the drawer. Afterwards, the clever creature was covering his tracks.
- [14:33]
Jerry Colbert
People thought Jim wasn't worth much, but Dr. Key didn't give up on him. And Jim learned to do amazing things. Their story became so famous, it helped inspire others to treat animals with more compassion. So love isn't always loud or flashy. Sometimes it's quiet and steady, like believing in someone when no one else does. Empathy helps us understand how others feel, while compassion inspires us to show care and support. But it's not just about others. We can practice compassion with ourselves, too. By being kind and patient with our own feelings, we learn to accept who we are, even when things get tough. It takes courage to be gentle with yourself, but it helps us grow stronger and build better connections with others. Our next clip comes from Newsy Paloozi, a world news podcast for kids that brings surprising and smile worthy stories from around the globe, including this one about a most unusual friendship you'll hear about Lacey, a 13 year old girl from England who spotted a bumblebee with a crumpled wing. She tried to help it rejoin its colony, but the bee had other plans. Let's listen.
- [15:53]
Co-host/Child Voice
Step right up.
- [15:54]
Jerry Colbert
Step right up. Step right up. Have a go.
- [15:56]
Co-host/Child Voice
The lucky dip machine. The lucky dip machine. What's this? What's it diet today? Eh, an oddball, no doubt.
- [16:02]
Jerry Colbert
An oddball, no doubt.
- [16:08]
Co-host/Child Voice
An odd pen. Fact.
- [16:09]
Jerry Colbert
Okay, Are you talking about a dancing turtle?
- [16:13]
Co-host/Child Voice
Uh, no. Is that a thing?
- [16:15]
Jerry Colbert
No, but you said odd pet.
- [16:16]
Co-host/Child Voice
So this is a story that actually might ring, or should I say sting a few alarm bells, actually.
- [16:25]
Jerry Colbert
Oh, like that pet snake in Austria that made its way into a neighbor's toilet bowl.
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But Why? Host
Surprising the neighbor with a snake bite.
- [16:33]
Jerry Colbert
In a sensitive place.
- [16:34]
Co-host/Child Voice
Yikes. No, but that was a seriously funny story. We're happy to say that the bite wasn't bad, but I'm talking about something a little buzzier. Play the music, Mama. Once upon a time, just a few days ago, a 13 year old from Coventry, England, Lacey Schillinglaw, spotted a large bumblebee lying in the road while on a walk with her family. When she scooped up the bee, she noticed it had a crumpled wing. The poor thing. But when she tried to put it on some nearby flowers, hoping it would find the group of bumblebees, which is called a colony that it had come from, it refused to stay put. Buzzing back over to her.
- [17:31]
Jerry Colbert
In fact.
- [17:32]
Co-host/Child Voice
Kind of crawling all over her. So she tried again and again and again.
- [17:42]
But Why? Host
Lacey's made a little friend.
- [17:46]
Jerry Colbert
Or put it on a rock, because if the wind blows it.
- [17:49]
Tom or Steven Amadon
Oh, Lace.
- [17:50]
Jerry Colbert
Think it just wants to stay on you, darling. Maybe it's getting more rich. Just keep her. Keep her with you.
- [17:55]
Co-host/Child Voice
Finally, she just headed home with the creature perched on her shoulder. Once again, she tried to leave the busy bee stage somewhere safe in the garden of her house. But no, the bee refused to leave Lacey's side. So Lacey gave in. She brought the bee inside and named it Betty. Now, when Betty's not sleeping on Lacey's bedside table, she follows the 13 year old everywhere. On walks to the shops, outings with her friends, and once to a bowling alley. Sometimes she buzzes around Lacey's, sometimes she just chills out. Perched on Lacey's glasses. That sure gives a new meaning to the term bff, wouldn't you say?
- [18:53]
Jerry Colbert
Lacey and Betty's friendship is an unexpected kind of love. Gentle, loyal and full of trust. Just as Newsy Paloozi shares news to help kids see and care about people and places beyond their own. This story shows how love comes from connection and understanding. Sometimes love finds us in the most surprising ways. It doesn't always look like hearts and roses. Sometimes it hums softly on your shoulder. And here's something special to notice. This kind of love didn't come from shared words or grand gestures. It came from presence, from simply being there every day with kindness and care. There's a name for this in psychology, attachment. It's the bond we form through repeated, meaningful connection. Lacey offered safety and attention, and Betty, in her own be like way, returned that trust. This story also shows us how love isn't just something we feel, it can be something we do. It grows through small actions like protecting, noticing, checking in and staying close, even when we don't speak the same language. And what happens when that love changes or fades or flies away? That's where sadness can come in. But stories like Lacey and Betty's remind us that the love we share doesn't disappear. It lives on in memory, in gratitude, and in the ways we show up for others. Next time. And just like that, the first part of our journey through love and sadness comes to a close. But the feelings these stories stirred up, those stay with us. We've seen how love can look like kindness, like patience, like a bee on your shoulder or a horse you believed in when no one else did. We've also seen that sadness isn't something to hide from. It's something that shows us what mattered, what still matters. Whether it's the shape of a heart, a friendship that surprises you, or a memory that makes your eyes sting just a little, these emotions help us connect, remember and grow. And the best part? You get to carry those lessons with you and share them in your own way. We'll be back on Thursday with even more stories about love and sadness, and I'm excited to explore a few of my own loved or teary memories with you, too. Like in all of our episodes, be sure to stick around after the credits for a very special question. We hope it sparks a great conversation with someone you love. And until next time, thanks so much for listening. Stay curious, stay kind, and remember. Big emotions aren't something to fear, they're something to feel. This episode has been a Kids Listen collaboration created by Tal Kelly, Jenna Clark and Dr. Eileen Kennedy Moore and hosted by me, Jerry Colbert. This Big Emotions Kids Listen mashups about Feelings is produced by Tall Kelly executive writer Jenna Clark, content director at Sleepiest and Koala Kids, in consultation with eileen Kennedy Moore, Ph.D. an author and clinical psychologist based in Princeton, New Jersey. A special thanks goes out to all of our contributors. We placed links to our featured podcasts in this episode's Show Notes. Our intro music was created and generously provided by the wonderful Dan Sachs of Noodle Loaf. You can find full music credits in the Show Notes. If you'd like to share your artwork Another powerful way to express emotions is through art. Email a photo to kidslistenmashupsmail.com and we will proudly share it on social media. Educators interested in applying this as an SEL resource in their classroom can find a PDF guide in the Show Notes. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a nice review or share the show with someone you love. Thanks for tuning in to your emotions as well as our mashup. And now for our question. Think about a time when you really, really, really loved something. Maybe a favorite toy, a pet, a person, or even a place. Then one day something changed. Maybe it got lost or moved away, or things just weren't the same anymore. How did that feel at the time? And how do you feel about it now? If this question got you thinking, let us know in the Spotify comments or leave us a review. We'd love to hear how it made you feel. And our very own Dr. Friendastic will be joining the conversation too. See you soon.