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Summary

"Who Smarted?" Episode Summary

Episode: Why Do Countries Have National Symbols?

Release Date: August 29, 2025
Podcast: Who Smarted? (Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media)
Host: (not specifically named, humorous narrator with guest characters)

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Brief Overview

This episode dives into the fascinating world of national symbols: the animals, plants, monuments, and even mythical creatures chosen to represent countries around the world. Through humor, playful sketches, and interactive trivia, the host and various comedic guests explore why certain symbols are selected, what they represent, and how they become part of a nation’s identity. With signature Who Smarted? flair, the show draws connections between history, culture, and the surprising significance behind some of the world’s most iconic symbols.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to National Symbols (00:49 – 02:34)

• The narrator sets the scene at Loch Ness in Scotland, using the famous lake to introduce the idea of national symbols.
• A unicorn statue is revealed, prompting a discussion about Scotland’s mythical national animal.
• Quote:
  • “The unicorn is a national symbol of Scotland. Why would a mythical, magical white horse with a long horn represent Scotland?” – Host (01:54)

2. Why Countries Have Symbols (02:52 – 05:16)

• Symbols—whether animals, plants, or monuments—are tools for identity and unity across groups, including nations, schools, and sports teams.
• Examples of other symbols: school mascots, sports logos, religious icons (Jewish Star, Christian Cross, Muslim Crescent), national monuments (Liberty Bell, Big Ben, Eiffel Tower).
• The importance of flags as early symbols, with the oldest national flag being Denmark’s (a white cross on a red background).

3. Animals as National Symbols (05:16 – 09:22)

The Lion’s Popularity

• Over 20 countries use the lion as their symbol due to attributes like strength, courage, and pride.
• Enter “Leo the Lion” character, humorously embodying the pride and popularity of the lion.
• Quote:
  • “Lions are known for possessing superior qualities like strength, agility, courage, and pride. Who wouldn’t want to be a lion?” – Leo the Lion (07:16)

Choosing Symbolic Animals: Local Meaning

• India picked the tiger for agility and power; Australia chose the kangaroo and emu—animals that can’t move backward, symbolizing progress.
• China features the panda, native to the country and globally adored.

4. Surprising & Unusual Symbols (09:22 – 11:58)

Beyond Animals: Plants & Legends

• Gabby the Gum, a silly character, claims anything can be a symbol—even a piece of chewed gum!
• Discussion of the shamrock (Ireland, inspired by legend of St. Patrick), and the maple leaf (Canada, signifying the importance of maple trees and syrup in Canadian history).
• Quote:
  • “Now, when you think of Ireland, you think of a teeny, tiny shamrock.” – Gabby the Gum (10:52)

5. Famous Bird Symbols… and a Surprise Contender (11:58 – 14:18)

• The American bald eagle is chosen for strength, freedom, and as a distinctly North American species.
• A fun fact: Benjamin Franklin once wished for the turkey, not the bald eagle, to represent the USA, describing the eagle’s “bad moral character” and calling the turkey “a much more respectable bird… a bird of courage.”
  • Quote:
    • “He’s a bird of bad moral character… in comparison, the turkey is a much more respectable bird. …He is a bird of courage.” – Leo the Lion, quoting Ben Franklin (13:36)
• Clarification that, though amusing, the turkey was never a real contender as America’s national symbol.

6. Open-Ended Symbols and Modern National Treasures (14:18 – 14:56)

• There are no official “rules” for what becomes a national symbol; it's about what the people connect to, whether animal, object, or even a mythical or humorous choice.
• Recognition of “National Chewing Gum Day” and “World Lion Day,” spinning the idea that anything with meaning to the people (even gum!) could be celebrated nationally.
  • Quote:
    • “So even if you don’t become a national symbol, Gabby, you’re still a national treasure. Ha!” – Host (14:36)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On identity and symbols:
  • “From ancient times to modern day, symbols have been used to help groups of people identify themselves.” – Host (02:52)
• On symbolism in sports and religion:
  • “The Tigers, the Bears, the Banana Slugs.” – Host (03:37, fun list of mascots)
• On the power of connection through symbols:
  • “Anything can be a symbol.” – Gabby the Gum (08:12)
• On humor in education:
  • “People enjoy chewing gum more than hanging around mean lions like you.” – Gabby (14:30)
• On the flexibility of choosing symbols:
  • “There are no rules as to what can become a national symbol. It can be anything, as long as the people of that country connect to it.” – Host (12:42)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:49 – Introduction at Loch Ness; unicorn as Scotland's symbol
• 02:34 – Fun, musical theme song
• 05:16 – Evolution and meaning of national flags
• 06:59 – Lion as the king of national symbols
• 08:00 – Introduction of Gabby the Chewed Gum (comedy break!)
• 09:05 – Australian animal choices: emu and kangaroo
• 10:09 – Shamrock and its Irish origin story
• 11:17 – Maple leaf and Canada’s sweet history
• 12:08 – America’s bald eagle (and Ben Franklin’s turkey preference)
• 14:36 – National Chewing Gum Day and World Lion Day
• 14:56 – End of the episode, shout-out to a superfans

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Tone & Language

• Highly playful, humorous, and interactive
• Educational language tailored for kids but engaging for all ages
• Frequent use of questions, sound effects, songs, and character voices for comedic effect
• Encourages listeners to think about their own national symbols and what they mean

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Summary Wrap-Up

This episode makes learning about national symbols both accessible and silly while remaining informative. With lions, eagles, unicorns, shamrocks, maple leaves, and even gum as teaching tools, listeners are encouraged to see how symbols are more than just images—they’re stories, legends, and traits that bond communities and represent shared values. With regular interactive questions and memorable characters, “Who Smarted?” turns the history and science of national symbols into a laugh-out-loud, fact-filled adventure for the whole family.

Transcript

[A]

The Mysteries About True Histories podcast is back for season two. If you're a kid who would love to travel through time to solve cool mysteries, perplexing puzzles, and tricky riddles, then this podcast is the perfect audio treat for you every week. Join me, Molly, and my best friend Max as we take our problem solving skills to amazing places like ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, or the Galapagos Islands in 1875 to help out the one and only Charles Darwin. We never know where we're going to wind up or what we're going to find, which is all of the fun. So put on your time traveling shoes and listen as a family. You can listen to mysteries about true histories on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[B]

Psst. Hey, smarty pants. I'm standing on the banks of a famous lake in Scotland called Loch Ness. Does that ring any bells? Any idea why this lake's so famous? Did you say the Loch Ness monster? That's right. But guess what? I'm actually not here to see Ol Nessie. I'm here to see something else. No, not Bigfoot. I'm here for something more exciting. Wait, could that be.

[C]

There she is.

[B]

Yes. Why, it's a unicorn.

[C]

Ain't she beautiful? Brings a tear to me eye.

[B]

Wow, everyone's getting emotional over a unicorn. Oh, and I should let you in on the fact that it's not a real unicorn. It's just a statue of a unicorn.

[C]

Oh, Levi, she's very real to us. The unicorn is a treasure for all the Scottish people. It's one of our national symbols.

[B]

The unicorn is a national symbol of Scotland. Why would a mythical, magical white horse with a long horn represent Scotland? Bigfoot, do you know? What about you, Loch Ness monster? How about you, smarty pants? Do you know why the unicorn is the national symbol for Scotland? Or why the shamrock is the national symbol for Ireland? Or why the bald eagle represents the United States? Why do we even have national symbols in the first place? 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 smarted?

[B]

Okay, smarty pants, raise your hands if you knew the unicorn is Scotland's national animal. Hmm, I see a few, but not many. Turns out unicorns have been the national symbol of Scotland for hundreds of years. They first appeared on a Scottish royal coat of arms, which is a symbol representing a king or queen. Historians Say the Scots took a liking to the unicorn's reputation for being courageous, strong and selfless. From ancient times to modern day, symbols have been used to help groups of people identify themselves. You've probably noticed some of these symbols yourself. Maybe your school has a mascot.

[D]

The Tigers, the Bears, the Banana Slugs.

[B]

Or if you're into sports, your favorite team identifies itself with a symbol like a bird.

[D]

Go Cardinals, Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, Orioles, Blue Jays, Ravens, Seahawks, Pelicans and Penguins.

[B]

World religions also have symbols like the Jewish star, the Christian cross and the Muslim crescent. These symbols mean something to the groups they represent. And people of different backgrounds, lifestyles and families feel a sense of connection because they all share a group identity as represented by that symbol. And in some cases, that group is a country. Tell me, what symbols represent your country? Shout out a few. I heard some animals, some buildings and even some monuments, like the Liberty Bell for the usa, England's Big Ben Clock Tower and France's Eiffel Tower. Yep, those are all national symbols. And a big one, of course, is flags. Historians believe flags were invented in ancient times, either in China or India, and were originally used by troops in warfare.

[D]

Charge.

[B]

Centuries later, during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Europeans developed the first flags to represent nations. In fact, the oldest flag still in use today belongs to a country in Europe. Can you guess which it is? Is it A, Greece, B, Italy, or C, Denmark? The answer is C, Denmark. Adopted in the mid-1300s, Denmark's flag consists of a white cross on a red background. Like with most flags, the colors and images represent things that are important to the country's people. To the Danes, the red symbolizes courage and strength, while the white stands for peace and truth. The cross is for Christianity, the major religion in Denmark. Now think about your own flag. Do you know what its images and colors symbolize? If not, ask for help looking it up later. Like Scotland, many countries also have national animals. They try to pick animals with qualities that represent how they think of themselves as a country. But unlike Scotland's unicorn, most of these animals are real. In fact, our next guest is an animal that is so popular, more than 20 countries have it as a national symbol. Can you guess what it is? Here's a hint. That's right. It's the king of the jungle, the lion. Please welcome my friend Leo.

[C]

Thank you. You're too kind. I could just eat you all up. Seriously.

[B]

So tell me, Leo, what makes you such a popular choice for a national symbol?

[C]

Why wouldn't we be? Lions are known for possessing superior qualities like strength, agility, Courage and pride. Who wouldn't want to be a lion? That's why I'm a national symbol of countries like England, Ethiopia, Iran, Bermuda, Afghanistan, Cameroon.

[D]

Yoo hoo. Over here.

[C]

Excuse me. Who's talking?

[D]

It's me, under the desk. I was wondering if it's my turn to speak.

[B]

Um, sorry. We weren't expecting another guest.

[D]

Oh. Should the lion leave?

[C]

I beg your pardon. Who are you?

[D]

I'm going to be a new national symbol someday.

[C]

You. You must be joking.

[B]

Uh, no offense, but you're not exactly a typical symbol.

[D]

Hey, there's no such thing as a typical symbol. Anything can be a symbol.

[B]

But you're a piece of chewed bubble gum.

[D]

Yes. Hurry, Gabby. Gum's the name. Pleasure to meet you.

[C]

Look, I hate to break it to you, kid, but nobody's gonna want a piece of gum to be their national symbol. Countries prefer animals like myself because we carry special meaning. For example, India chose the tiger because of its agility, grace, and enormous power. Australians value progress moving forward, as they say. So they chose an animal from their country that has trouble going backward.

[B]

Oh, smarty pants. Can you guess what animal represents Australia? Why, it's the emu. The emu and the kangaroo both struggle to move backward.

[C]

Plus, these animals are native to Australia, which makes them important to the people there. It's the same reason the giant panda represents China. The panda is one of the popular and beloved animals in the world, and China is its home.

[D]

Okay, but I have qualities people want. I'm strong, flexible, and I'm incredibly loyal.

[B]

Loyal?

[D]

Yep. Once I'm stuck on you, I'm not going anywhere. Like, if I got caught in the lion's fur, I'd be going with him everywhere.

[C]

Delightful. You're also way too small.

[D]

That's where you're wrong, Mufasa.

[C]

It's Leo.

[D]

Whatever. One of the most famous national symbols in the world is the itsy bitsy little green thing with three leaves. You know what I'm talking about, sparty pants?

[B]

Do you know it's the symbol of a country in Europe? Why, it's the shamrock representing Ireland.

[D]

Do you know how the shamrock became Ireland's national symbol?

[C]

Do tell.

[D]

Well, legend has it Ireland's most famous religious leader, none other than St. Patrick, used the shamrock as a symbol when teaching people about Christianity. Years later, when the Irish started celebrating St Patrick's Day, they wanted to wear something to represent him. And lo and behold, it was growing right outside their homes. Over time, this shamrock wearing traditional grew more popular. And soon it became more than just a Religious symbol. It came to represent Ireland itself.

[C]

Whoa.

[D]

Now, when you think of Ireland, you think of a teeny, tiny shamrock.

[C]

Congratulations. You found one example.

[D]

There's also the maple leaf.

[B]

Smartypants, do you know what country has the maple leaf as its symbol? Is it A, Russia, B, Sweden, or C, Canada? Why, it's C. Canada.

[D]

Hundreds of years ago, people living in those parts used the SAP of the maple tree as a source of food. When the Europeans settled there, they used the SAP to make delicious maple syrup and the most popular sweetener of all, which, of course, is sugar. The popularity of the maple leaf tree in Canada led to maple leaves appearing on the country's emblems and military uniforms. In 1965, it premiered on Canada's flag. And now it's the Canadian symbol we recognize most.

[C]

Fine, but most people still prefer animals, like Americans and the powerful bald eagle, which represents freedom and might.

[B]

Fun fact. If Ben Franklin had it his way, Americans would have a much different bird as a national symbol. Any idea what it was? The answer is right after this quick break. Now back to who smarted? Okay, smarty pants. We've been talking about various animals, plants, and even mythical creatures that have come to represent countries as national symbols. But the truth is, there are no rules as to what can become a national symbol. It can be anything, as long as the people of that country connect to it.

[D]

Even a piece of gum. I connect to a lot of people, especially if they accidentally step on me.

[B]

Sure, Gabby. Anything's possible. Take the bald eagle, for example. Shortly after the United States became a new nation, Congress asked Secretary Charles Thompson to create a seal or image to represent the country. Thompson crafted one that included an eagle, since eagles had been recognized as symbols of strength since ancient times. But Thompson didn't pick just any eagle. He chose one that originates from North America, one with a connection to the United States. And that's how we ended up with the American bald eagle. But a few years after Congress approved the eagle design, founding father Benjamin Franklin complained about it in a private letter to his daughter. He wrote, I wish the bald eagle.

[C]

Had not been chosen as the representative of our country. He's a bird of bad moral character.

[B]

Ouch.

[C]

And Franklin added, in comparison, the turkey is a much more respectable word. Though a little vain and silly.

[B]

He.

[C]

He is a bird of courage.

[D]

Wait, wait. The symbol of America was almost the turkey?

[B]

Yes and no. Even though Franklin felt this way in private, he didn't oppose the eagle in public. So while this is a fun rumor, the turkey wasn't really close to becoming America's national symbol.

[C]

Just like no new country would ever choose a piece of gum as their national symbol. If anything, they'd pick a lion like me.

[D]

Why? People enjoy chewing gum more than hanging around mean lions like you.

[B]

That may be true. In fact, in America, September 30th is national chewing Gum Day. So even if you don't become a national symbol, Gabby, you're still a national treasure. Ha.

[D]

Chew on that, lion.

[C]

Did you know World Lion Day is August 10th?

[B]

Looks like you just burst Gabby's bubble. A super shout out to super smarty fan Finn in Cleveland, Ohio. We hear you've listened to every episode many times and that you pack in five or six episodes every day. As Gia the Whoa girl says, whoa. Thanks for being such an epic smarty fan, Sven. This episode, National Symbols, was written by Dave Beaudry and voiced by Taya Garland. Max Brandon Bayless, Adam, Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn. Whosmarted 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. Who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colber. This is an Atomic Entertainment production.

[D]

Whosmarted.