Can you train a Bearded Dragon?

Summary

Who Smarted? - "Can you train a Bearded Dragon?"

Podcast Date: May 11, 2026
Host: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media
Notable Characters: Trusty Narrator (A), Rascal the Bearded Dragon (C)
Target Audience: Kids, Parents, Teachers

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Who Smarted?" dives into the funny, fascinating world of bearded dragons—Australia’s bearded, spiky, and surprisingly lovable reptiles. With Rascal the Bearded Dragon joining the host, listeners are treated to a fact-filled romp exploring where bearded dragons come from, what makes them such great pets, their quirky habits, and the science behind their names. The episode answers key questions like:

• Can you train a bearded dragon?
• Why are they called bearded dragons if they’re not really dragons (and don’t have true beards)?
• What unique abilities and characteristics do these lizards have?

Using humor and interactive trivia, this episode is designed to be both educational and entertaining for young listeners and curious adults alike.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meet Rascal the "Bearded" Dragon (01:32–02:57)

• Rascal is introduced with playful banter and immediately dispels the myth that bearded dragons have hairy beards, or breathe fire.
• Quote:

  "See, I told you you’d never guess it... my friend Rascal might not be one of our greatest presidents...but he is bearded. And he is named after a cool mythical creature." — Host (A), [01:32]

2. Bearded Dragon Basics (03:33–06:46)

Facts Shared:

• Bearded dragons are reptiles, making them cold-blooded.
• Despite being cold-blooded, they thrive in warm climates like deserts, woodlands, and savannas.
• Originally from Australia.
• Diet: Bearded dragons are omnivores, eating both meat (like mealworms and insects) and a range of plant foods (parsley, kale, peppers, sweet potatoes, some fruits).
• Quote:

  "Despite our cold blood, bearded dragons like things warm. We make our home in habitats like deserts, woodlands, or flat grassy plains called savannas." — Rascal (C), [04:08]

Fun Interactive Moment:
The host quizzes listeners about bearded dragon facts (e.g., their country of origin and dietary habits).

3. Name Origins and Physical Traits (05:47–07:34)

• Name Explanation:

  • The "bearded" part refers to their ability to puff out their throat and darken their necks, which looks like a beard.
  • Quote:

    "The bearded part of our name refers to our ability to puff our throats and make our necks darker to scare predators away." — Rascal (C), [06:13]

• Physical Traits Covered:

  • Neck spikes for protection and appearing larger.
  • Small size (about 1.1 pounds).
  • Color variation (tan, gold, red, gray, brown).
  • Triangular head ("like a slice of pizza!").
  • Tails don't regenerate if lost.
  • No external ears, but good vibration-based hearing.
  • Eyes on sides of the head for predator spotting.

4. Survival in the Wild (07:56–10:38)

• List of predators: birds, snakes, large lizards, wild dogs, foxes.

• Bearded dragons use their sticky tongues (not claws or spikes) to catch prey.

• Strong climbers due to hand-shaped feet with sharp claws.

• Camouflage helps avoid predators.

• Inject mild venom to quickly subdue small prey.

• Notable Quote:

  "Instead, we use our sticky tongues to grab food." — Rascal (C), [09:28]

• Discussion about their energy-efficient metabolism, being able to go days without eating, especially when food is scarce.

5. Seasonal Behaviors & Lifecycle (15:35–17:46)

• Brumation:

  • In cold seasons, bearded dragons sleep a lot, conserving energy.
  • Quote:

    "Since the winter months are colder with less sunlight, it’s not really a favorite time for bearded dragons. So we sleep a lot more and save a ton of energy." — Rascal (C), [16:05]

• Reproduction and Growth:

  • Eggs are laid in a "clutch" (more than 20 eggs at a time).
  • Babies are called "hatchlings" and start out 2–4 inches long.
  • Hatchlings shed skin every few weeks; adults shed twice a year.
  • Lifespan: up to 10 years in the wild.

6. Bearded Dragons as Pets (18:05–19:25)

• Became pets in the U.S. during the 1990s.

• They are manageable in size, playful, and social.

• Trivia: Other similar-sized beardies can live together.

• Communication:

  • Head-bobbing = dominance
  • Arm-waving = submission
  • Beard flaring/darkening = feeling threatened
  • Color changes during fights
  • Open mouth = hunger

• Memorable Banter:

  A: "Whoa. I thought you were just nodding your head yes."
  C: "Waving my arms means I'm okay with the other bearded dragon being the leader."
  — [19:42–19:51]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Why are Bearded Dragons called "bearded"?

  "The bearded part of our name refers to our ability to puff our throats and make our necks darker to scare predators away." — Rascal (C), [06:13]

• On communication:

  "If I bob my head at another bearded dragon, I’m showing it that I’m the boss." — Rascal (C), [19:28]

• On Pet Popularity:

  "Compared to other pets, bearded dragons haven’t been in the United States very long. If you said c the 1990s, you’re right, but beardies have become pretty popular in a short amount of time." — Host (A), [18:50]

• Humorous Interaction:

  C: "I’ve seen the way you eat pizza. I wouldn’t talk."
  A: "Fair point." [10:34]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction to Rascal: [01:32–02:57]
• Bearded Dragon Basics: [03:33–06:46]
• Name & Physical Traits: [05:47–07:34]
• Predators & Survival Skills: [07:56–10:38]
• Energy Saving / Brumation: [15:35–16:16]
• Eggs, Babies, and Growth: [16:21–17:46]
• Bearded Dragons as Pets & Communication: [18:05–20:12]

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Episode Summary

This episode delivers a fun, interactive exploration of bearded dragons, blending scientific facts with clever animal banter and quizzes. Listeners learn about habitat, diet, defensive mechanisms, communication styles, and what makes these reptiles so incredible as both wild animals and pets. The host’s playful tone, Rascal’s quirky personality, and kid-friendly explanations make complex biological concepts understandable and memorable.

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Takeaway

Bearded dragons are fascinating reptiles from Australia, known for their puffed “beards,” playful personalities, and suitability as pets. They’re hearty survivors, clever communicators, and a terrific topic for adventurous learning—proving once again how science and humor can go hand-in-hand!

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Recommended for: Families, teachers, and curious kids wanting a dose of reptile facts and laughs.

Transcript

[A]

Hey, parents trusty here. You know what I hear constantly from homeschool parents in the whosmarted community? Thank you for introducing us to ixl. I get it. My cousin homeschools her kids and raves about how much IXL helps. We're heading into that stretch where families are finishing the year strong, and then summer hits with travel camps and shifting routines, and that's where IXL shines. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into homeschooling, with interactive practice across math, language arts, science and social studies from Pre K through 12th grade. Everything's organized by grade and subject, so you quickly find what each kid needs. Kids get instant explanations. And parents, you get clear Progress reports. Over 15 million students use IXL and it's proven to improve achievement in all 50 states. So make an impact on your child's learning. Who Smarted? Listeners get an exclusive 20% off when they sign up today at www.ixl.com smartid. That's ixl.com/smarted. And now it's time for who's Smarted? Psst. Hey, smarty pants. You're never gonna guess who my special guest on this who's Smarted episode is. Here, I'll give you a hint. They have a beard. No, it is not Abraham Lincoln delivering the Smartiesburg address. And no, it's not Zeus or Santa Claus. Ho, ho, ho. But those are great guesses. Nope. Today's beardy guest is my friend Rascal.

[B]

Huh?

[A]

See, I told you you'd never guess it. Anywho, my friend Rascal might not be one of our greatest presidents, a Greek God, or the giver of presents, but he is bearded. And he is named after a cool mythical creature. We did a recent episode. Now, can you guess? Hmm.

[C]

What's with all the suspense? Just tell them I'm a bearded dragon.

[A]

That's right. Rascal is a bearded dragon. Now, I know what some of you might be wondering. Can Rascal fly and breathe fire? No, he cannot. And does Rascal have a big, long, hairy beard? No, he does not. So what exactly is a bearded dragon?

[C]

I'm an easygoing reptile that makes a great pet. Oh, and I can do some awesome things.

[A]

What do you think, smarty pants? If you have a bearded dragon, you know we're in for a fun time. And if you've never heard of bearded dragons before, get ready to learn some pretty cool things about them. Like where do bearded dragons live? How big do they grow? Why are they called bearded dragons? And what makes them Such great pets.

[C]

Do you want to tell them or me?

[A]

Hang on, Rascal. I know you're excited, but first we gotta do the theme song. It's time for another whiff of science and history on who smarted?

[D]

Who's smarted? Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up everyone. We make smarting lots of fun. But who's smart and.

[C]

Hello? Is this this thing on?

[A]

Yes, Rascal, it's on. We're recording.

[C]

Sorry.

[A]

It's okay. Hey, smarty pants. I'm here with my pal Rascal the bearded dragon. As he mentioned earlier, bearded dragons are reptiles. So smarty pants, as a reptile, would that make Rascal warm blooded or cold blooded? Yep. Most of you know your animal facts. Reptiles are cold blooded.

[C]

But I'm a really nice guy.

[A]

Of course you are, Rascal. Now smarty pants, as a cold blooded animal, does that mean bearded dragons prefer to live in warm or cold places? The answer might surprise you.

[C]

Despite our cold blood, bearded dragons like things warm. We make our home in habitats like deserts, woodlands, or flat grassy plains called savannas. We love resting on rocks and climbing through trees and bushes.

[A]

Here's an even harder question that even the bearded dragon owners might not know, Smartypants. Can you name the country bearded dragons are native to? Now native to means the place where an animal is originates from. Did you say Australia? Hey, that's where my lunch stealing friend Robert Maroon lives.

[C]

I would never steal your lunch. Unless you like eating mealworms, king worms and crickets.

[A]

Nope, all yours. Of course. Bearded dragons are omnivores. Do you know what that means, smarty pants? That means they eat meat and plants. What veggies do you eat, Rascal?

[C]

I like greens like parsley and kale. And veggies like peppers and sweet potatoes and some fruits.

[A]

Hmm, maybe I'd better hide my lunch from you on salad day.

[C]

Not cool, dude.

[A]

Speaking of cool, while bearded dragons do depend on arid conditions and heat to survive, sometimes the desert can get too hot even for them. How do bearded dragons stay cool on super hot days? Do they A burrow underground, B go swimming or C lick ice cream?

[C]

When it gets too hot for us, we burrow underground to cool off.

[A]

If you said a great job. Okay, let's address your name. You're called a bearded dragon, but neither of those things are true. After all, you don't have any hair on your chin.

[C]

Nope, hair is more of a mammal thing.

[A]

So is your name ironic? And who would have thought it's bigger?

[C]

No, the Bearded. Part of our name refers to our ability to puff our throats and make our necks darker to scare predators away. Humans thought this looked like a beard, so they called us bearded.

[A]

Makes sense.

[C]

I also have neck spikes to protect me and help me look bigger.

[A]

Oh, yeah, you definitely look bigger, but still way smaller than a dragon. Smartypants, how big are bearded dragons? Are they A, about 1 pound, B, about 3 pounds, or C, about 5 pounds? The answer is A, 1 pound.

[C]

Even with my beard and spikes, I only weigh around 1.1 pounds.

[A]

That's only a little more than a loaf of sandwich bread.

[C]

Yep, we're pretty small. And there's lots of bigger animals that would love to snack on a bearded dragon sandwich. So now you know why our beards are so important.

[A]

Gotcha. Okay, so that covers the bearded part. As for the dragon part, your face does kinda look dragon like. But since this is a podcast, why don't you describe yourself so the smarty pants can mentally picture what you look like? Sure.

[C]

I love describing things I like. Most bearded dragons am tan with a little red and gold mixed in. We can also be gray or brown. My head is shaped like a triangle.

[A]

Ooh, like a slice of pizza.

[C]

Do I have to worry about you eating me?

[A]

No, you're fine.

[C]

As you can see, my tail is about half the length of my body. Unlike other lizards, bearded dragons tails don't fall off and grow back. Also, you'll notice I don't have external ear structures. Just two holes on the side of my head.

[A]

How's your hearing if you only have holes and not ears?

[C]

Surprisingly good. I can press my ear holes against the ground and hear vibrations. You'll also notice my eyes are on the side of my head. This helps me see all around so I can quickly spot predators. You know the saying, eyes on the side we hide?

[A]

What animals do you need to worry about in the wild?

[C]

Oh, we have quite a few predators. Birds, snakes, large lizards, wild dogs, and foxes.

[A]

Huh. That is quite an enemies list.

[C]

I wouldn't call them enemies. Everyone's gotta eat trusty, including me. Luckily, bearded dragons have something pretty cool that helps us catch prey.

[A]

Smarty pants. What helps bearded dragons catch their prey? Is it A, their spikes, B, their claws, or C, their tongues?

[C]

If you said see tongues, good job. We don't have to chase our prey. Which is good, since we're not what you'd call fast. Instead, we use our sticky tongues to grab food.

[A]

Oh, yeah? How does that work?

[C]

Believe it or not, we're good climbers. Our feet are shaped like human hands, and each finger or toe has a strong claw on it. These help us easily climb trees and rocks. From up high, we can look down at a bug or worm crawling around on a branch below us and dinner is served.

[A]

And I'm sure your colors help you blend into your surroundings. What's known as camouflage.

[C]

That's true. For a bigger meal, we might wait for a mouse or a small lizard to go by. And then we bite it. We let out some venom, which kills it quickly so we can eat it without a fight.

[A]

Okay, okay. Things are getting a little gross here.

[C]

I've seen the way you eat pizza. I wouldn't talk.

[A]

Fair point. Do you have a hard time finding things to eat in the desert?

[C]

Yeah, it isn't always easy. Luckily, we can go a few days without food.

[A]

Not me. I can barely go a few hours.

[C]

I've noticed. But that's also because you're always expending energy. Bearded dragons are very good at saving energy, especially during a particular time of year.

[A]

Hmm. We'll learn what that is, as well as some more fun bearded dragon facts right after this quick break. And a word from our sponsors. Attention, smarty parents. Do you run your family off sticky notes, random texts, and crossed fingers? Then you need the Skylight calendar. It's a digital calendar that syncs with Google, Apple, Outlook and more, becoming the central information hub for your family. Now. I love using the Tasks feature on who Smarted? It means no more. Wait, what am I supposed to be doing? And for smarty pants, checking off their tasks makes it fun and rewarding to do chores like brushing teeth and homework. Skylight also simplifies grocery lists, meal planning, and never ending pickups and drop offs. Skylight is so confident you'll love their calendar that they offer 100% money back, no questions asked, for four full months. Families are better when they're working together. Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch calendars by going to myskylight.com smarten go to my sky skylight.com smarted for $30 off your 15 inch calendar. That is my s k y l I g h t.com smarted. You know what I love? TaskRabbit. When we moved our whosmarted office, how did we find our mover TaskRabbit When I've got errands piling up and zero time to run them? TaskRabbit Ikea furniture assembly that's about to drop. Drive me mental. I. Call me a tasker. I've been blown away. By how helpful and awesome they are every single time. TaskRabbit connects you with skilled taskers in your area for moving furniture, assembly, home repairs, mounting a tv, yard work, you name it. You can search based on cost, skill set, availability and past client reviews and these taskers have put in the reps. Over 3.4 million million pieces of furniture assembled. 700,000 home repairs. 1 1/2 million moves and counting. I love TaskRabbit smarty pants. And you will too. When life happens, your to do list grows. Get ahead of it now and get 15 off your first [e-mail] or on the TaskRabbit app using promo code Smarted Taskers book up fast, especially for same day tasks. So book trusted home help today. That's $15 off your first task using promo code smarted with the TaskRabbit app [e-mail]

[B]

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[A]

Attention all non mouth breathers. This is a code red. I repeat, this is a code red. So listen very carefully. What I'm about to say will turn your world upside down. I'm transmitting to you from Hawkins, Indiana to deliver this urgent message. Something survived in the winter of 85. So get ready for an all new animated adventure from the creators of Stranger Things. Bundle up and join 11 Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and all your most beloved characters as they uncover new mysteries, new monsters and their greatest adventure yet. You've seen them fight Demogorgon, you've seen them fight Vecna. But you've never seen anything like this. Return to Hawkins for a whole new dimension of the Stranger Things universe in this epic animated series. Friends don't lie, so believe the hype. Stranger things tales from 85 only on netflix. Over and out. Now back to who Smarted Rascal. Wake up. We're back.

[C]

That wasn't me. It's the sound effects guy.

[B]

Huh?

[A]

What?

[C]

Sorry.

[A]

Ah, I thought you were conserving energy. Speaking of smarty pants, how do bearded dragons save energy? Do they A, sleep more in the winter, B, eat more in the summer, or C nap more in the spring? The answer is they A, sleep more in the winter.

[D]

What?

[C]

Sorry, I'm jet lagged from the long flight to Australia.

[A]

Anyway, Rascal.

[C]

Since the winter months are colder with less sunlight, it's not really a favorite time for bearded dragons. So we sleep a lot more and save a ton of energy.

[A]

Ah, you're like me. I just love the spring and the summer.

[C]

Oh yeah, that's the best time to be a bearded dragon. It's when our babies hatch.

[A]

Smarty pants. Any idea what a group of bearded dragon eggs is called? Is it A, a carton, b a clutch, or C a basket?

[C]

If you said clutch, you're right. And while the eggs you get in the grocery store come in a dozen or 12, a female bearded dragon can lay over 20 eggs at a time.

[A]

That is a lot of cute baby bearded dragons. Aw. By the way, what are baby bearded dragons called? Are they beardlets, dragon puppies, or hatchlings?

[C]

Why hatchlings, of course.

[A]

Makes sense. Even if dragon puppies sounds pretty cool. How big is a hatchling?

[C]

Hatchlings start out only 2 to 4 inches or 5 to 10 centimeters long.

[A]

Aw.

[C]

When a bearded dragon is young, it sheds its skin every few weeks as it grows bigger. When a bearded dragon is two years old, it's fully grown.

[A]

When a human is two years old, it's still a toddler. Do adult bearded dragons shed their skin?

[C]

Yep, I shed my skin twice a year.

[A]

That's better than every few weeks.

[C]

Definitely. We shed in patches. And when we're shedding, we eat less and are less active.

[A]

I hope this isn't a sad question, but how long do bearded dragons typically

[C]

live in the wild? We can live up to 10 years, but many people like to keep us as pets.

[A]

You know, something tells me a bunch of our smarty pants listening have bearded dragons as pets. And one even has one named Rascal.

[C]

What can I say? It's a great name. And also, bearded dragons, or beardies, as some of our human friends like to call us, are one of the most popular reptiles to keep as pets.

[A]

So what makes a bearded dragon such a good pet?

[C]

We're a good pet size. We're also playful and get along well with humans.

[A]

Smartypants. When did bearded dragons first go from living only in the wild in Australia to being pets in the USA? Was it a, the 1970s, the 70s, b the 1980s? I love the 80s. Or see the 1990s compared to other Pets. Bearded dragons haven't been in the United States very long. If you said see the 1990s, you're right, but beardies have become pretty popular in a short amount of time.

[C]

We're not just popular with humans. We also like each other. Bearded dragons are pretty social, and similarly sized lizards can live together.

[A]

How do you communicate with other bearded dragons?

[C]

We use our bodies to communicate with other bearded dragons, and humans can learn what our movements mean too. If I bob my head at another bearded dragon, I'm showing it that I'm the boss.

[A]

Whoa. I thought you were just nodding your head. Yes.

[C]

Waving my arms means I'm okay with the other bearded dragon being the leader.

[A]

Oh, I thought you were just waving hello.

[C]

And of course, if my beard flares out and gets darker, I'm feeling threatened and scared. I can even change color if I'm fighting with another bearded dragon. Oh, and if my mouth is open, that means I'm hungry.

[A]

Me too. Ah. A big shout out across the pond to Finn and Jensen in England, uk. Let's see, I hear Finn loves learning new things and says the spaceship episode made him laugh so much. And Jensen loves how funny and interesting the show is, especially the dragon and Pokemon episodes. Aw, thanks for smarting with us, you two. This episode, Bearded Dragons was written by Sarah Sweetek and voiced by Matteo Parotti and Jerry Colber. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn, who Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room Studios. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis. Whosmarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production. Hey, smarty pants. Trusty narrator here. Spring is here and you know what that means on the farm. Baby chicks hatching inside their eggs. Calves moving into their tiny little houses. Flowers figuring out when it's time to wake up. And yes, that smell. You know the one. If you've ever wondered why an any of that happens, I have got the show for you. The Super Smart Farm Show Podcast. But don't take it from me. Take it from my friend Elmer, who actually lives this stuff and hosts the show. This spring on the Super Smart Farm show, we're hatching chicks visiting baby calves. And yes, we are going to talk about why farms smell funny in the spring. And trust me, once you know the reason, you'll never look at your garden the same way again. Again. See what I mean? That Super Smart Farm Show. A family podcast that answers every question you never knew you had about farms, animals and food. Playful, curious and genuinely smart. From the Lancaster Farming Team, who've been covering agriculture since 1955. Find super smart Farm show wherever you get your podcasts or@lancaster farming.com.