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New 'Spectacular Specimens' Podcast Brings Burke Museum to Life

An irresistible blend of mystery and science made especially for kids

Sharon Mead headshot
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Published on: January 17, 2025

A girl listens to the new KUOW podcast
Photo:
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Listen up! Did you know that listening supports cognitive development in children? In fact, listening is equivalent to reading when it comes to understanding and retaining information. So, hand your child a set of headphones because you’ll want to tune in to the new science-focused kids podcast brought to you by KUOW.

Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 21, KUOW Radio will inspire curious kids (and adults) to discover “Spectacular Specimens.” This brand-new podcast tells the stories of the interesting, unique and rare animal specimens found at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, and reveals what each can tell us about life on Earth.

This is not your ordinary podcast. Hosts Brandi Fullwood, KUOW senior producer, and Paige Browning, news anchor and KUOW reporter, will auditorily paw through drawers, cabinets and freezers full of interesting museum specimens to give listeners an earful of amazing facts.

Each episode gives kids the opportunity to “peek through the glass” of the Burke and discover how our planet’s most remarkable creatures can help us solve the mysteries of our living world. What Fullwood and Browning uncover might just surprise you, and will likely have your kids clamoring for the next episode.

Listeners will be introduced to an ancient dinosaur crime scene in one episode. And who can resist hearing a story about a fiercely cute wrestling sea otter? In another episode, kids will learn more about a colony of flesh-eating beetles — if they dare!

“The Burke Museum has thousands of animal specimens that are now very important for research. Children are deserving of intentional information and stories that help them make sense of the world,” explains Fullwood.

Listening inspires experiences

If you want to get up close and personal with the specimens you hear about on each episode, families can see the animal artifacts on display at the Burke, with the exception of the dermestid beetles.

The “Spectacular Specimens” podcast is suitable for all ages, and appeals to anyone who likes a little mystery mixed in with their science. It is especially recommended for curious learners in grades 3–5.

"Everyone can be a scientist! You are one when you watch a wild animal, when you stare at insects up close, and when you look out into a forest and wonder 'who lives there'? This show might make you an amateur scientist, if you're not already,” says Browning.

Exciting episodes

Following the launch of the first three episodes this week, new “Spectacular Specimens” episodes will be released weekly on Tuesdays. Here’s what families can listen to this week.

  • “Decomposers”: This episode is about the dermestid beetle, a creepy-crawly insect that eats dead flesh and fur and is helping natural museums curate their exhibits. Outside the museum, the dermestid beetle is an important decomposer that does a lot of dirty work to help clean up our ecosystem.
  • “Triceratops”: In this episode, listeners will meet a triceratops who is now the focus of a team of researchers at the Burke. We’ll also learn a little bit about the T-rex who left a tooth behind when it tried to eat the triceratops. Plus, discover how dinosaur bones can teach us about climate change.
  • “Sea Otters”: Yes, sea otters are super cute. But don’t let their snuggly demeanors fool you. Their fuzzy faces hide incredibly strong jaws, huge, canine-like teeth, and a crushing bite they’re not afraid to use. Burke scientists will reveal how and why sea otters have evolved to be downright ferocious.

An interactive platform

An interactive podcast, “Spectacular Specimens” is designed to create two-way conversations between the hosts and the audience. Kids and other listeners can send in questions, drawings and answers to the questions that are presented in each episode. Send in a submission and you might even be mentioned on the show. Here’s how to connect:

  • Text “spectacular” to 206-926-9955 to join the “Spectacular Specimens” text club, where the hosts send out special prompts and questions to members.
  • Email your drawings or share your Big Think to spectacular@kuow.org.
  • Visit the show’s website to get the free “Spectacular Specimens Listen-Along Activity Book” that pairs a fun activity with each episode.

Where to listen

“Spectacular Specimens” joins KUOW’s growing lineup of podcasts. Families can listen on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, Spotify, the KUOW App and wherever you get your podcasts.

More podcast and museum fun for families: 

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