Episodes

Scientist-comedian Sophie goes to extremes, investigating microbe-filled hot springs in Arkansas, the pros and cons of wind farms in Texas, otherworldly fairylands of Carlsbad Caverns, and the search for alien life in Roswell, New Mexico. A last-minute opportunity means a rush to change plans, and a rush of powerful emotions.

Did you know wood turtles stomp a secret rain dance to trick worms out of the ground?! In this episode of the Wild Critters series on Orbit, families join turtle scientist Chris Polinsky from the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute to explore the wild life of wood turtles. Perfect for curious kids ages 3-11 and their families.

Having just driven an electric car from California to Massachusetts, science-comedian Sophie is taking a completely new route back West: as she drives from New York all the way to Tennessee in this leg of the trip, she finds puppets in Baltimore, the Social Justice School in DC, ancient mountains in Shenandoah, and surgical robots in Nashville.

Before heading back across the USA in an electric car, science-comedian Sophie takes a tour of her home turf: finding animals at the Museum of Science, Boston; meeting future engineers at Northeastern University; and getting as stinky as possible at a Garlic and Arts Festival.

Did you know a bald eagle's nest can weigh as much as a pickup truck? Discover how bald eagles build enormous nests, learn to fly through branching, and how they made an incredible comeback from near-extinction.

Racing across the Midwest to get to New York City, scientist-comedian Sophie meets student engineers building electric motorcycles to break landspeed records; learns how much horsepower one horse actually has (spoiler: it’s not one); and finds surprises of all kinds in the City That Never Sleeps.

Why would a scientist get excited about 20,000-year-old poop? In this episode of the Wild Critters USA series on Orbit, families join the U.S. National Park Service discovering what mummified mammoth poop reveals about the Ice Age.

Do animals get hangry? Does everyone get altitude sickness? Will a tiny town in Kansas have a place to recharge an EV and a human? Scientist-comedian Sophie and her co-pilot Brendan face the challenges of 12,000-ft elevation and a bullet run through the middle of the USA, in a rush to get from Moab, Utah through Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri.

While exploring Utah’s stunning national parks, Sophie gets lost in Moab, meets cowboys in Bryce Canyon, and finds a science-y surprise under changing rocks in Arches National Park.

Who cleans a river when it gets dirty? In this episode of the Wild Critters USA series on Orbit, families discover freshwater mussels: tiny animals that filter water, help rivers stay healthy, and go on an incredible baby journey! Episode features Tyler Hern from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Perfect for kids ages 3-11.

Science communicator, actor, and comedian, Sophie Shrand, and crew set out from Los Angeles in an electric vehicle to test America’s charging infrastructure and meet people building a brighter future today. Sophie wants to know: Can it be done? And can it be fun? Logistics complete, car packed, and cameras focused, the mysteries of Lake Mead, NV await!

Could an alligator really win "Mom of the Year"? In this episode of the Wild Critters USA series on Orbit, families travel to Everglades National Park to discover how American alligator moms protect their babies, why alligators are important ecosystem engineers, and what makes the Florida Everglades one of North America's most remarkable wetlands.

Did you know American bison create grasslands for all species? In this episode of the Wild Critters USA series on “Orbit: Science for kids on the move!”, families explore the prairies of North America with the help of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and discover why the American bison is one of the most important animals in its ecosystem.

Did you know a single desert tortoise burrow can become a shelter for dozens of animals? In this episode of the Wild Critters USA series on Orbit: Science for Kids, families explore the Mojave Desert with the help of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and discover why the desert tortoise is one of the most important animals in its ecosystem. Perfect for kids 3-11 years old.

Discover the amazing animals that call America's wild places home in the new podcast series, “Wild Critters USA”. From alligators to bison to tortoises, each episode follows children's questions with the help of wildlife biologists and park rangers. Designed for families with children ages 3-11. Produced by Orbit in collaboration with PBS Nature and the National Wildlife Federation.