How We Explore
By Lakshmi Hutchinson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Inspirational journeys of diverse women in STEM.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this podcast.
Where to Listen
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What’s It About?
In each episode of HOW WE EXPLORE, the hosts Gabby Salazar and Munazza Alam interview women from the National Geographic Explorer program in order to dive deeper into what they do and how they made it in their careers. We hear from a Mozambican ecologist studying elephants, whose colleagues doubted her strength and courage yet she proved them wrong. A conservation photographer (and cave diver) talks about how she went from studying snails in a lab to nature photography and communications. A common theme of many of the stories is that everyones path to reach their dreams and goals looks different. The stories help educate young listeners about scientific fields while also inspiring them to take initiative and persevere if they really want to do something. This is a great introduction into the different career paths for older elementary schoolers and middle schoolers, and is likely to be inspirational for tweens and teens. Adults will also find the interviews and insights information, which makes this a great show for co-listening.
Is It Any Good?
This podcast does a great job of introducing kids to science and exploration through interviews with people working in these fields. The hosts of How We Explore offer important context, definitions and insight, as they're also National Geographic Explorers like their guests. Don't expect a lot of bells and whistles — the episodes rely heavily on interviews and commentary and less on audio effects — but the friendly hosts do inject age-appropriate humor into the episodes.
How We Explore is perfect for curious listeners who want to learn more about hands-on science careers. There is a lot of good advice about how exploration can happen anywhere, even in your own backyard. And by providing diverse women in STEM as role models in fields like astronomy, archaeology and volcanology, this podcast can inspire others to not only reach for the stars, but past them.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how many of the explorers interviewed on How We Explore faced challenges along the way. Does hearing about how they didn't give up help you face your challenges? Do you always have to face challenges to reach your goals?
Who do you picture when you hear the words "explorer" or "scientist"? How do you think shows like this can help young women interested in science or other fields once dominated by men?
This podcast promotes curiosity and perseverance. Why are these important character strengths?
Podcast Details
- Release date: June 9, 2022
- Genre: Science & STEM
- Average Run Time: 12 minutes
- Hosts: Munazza Alam, Gabby Salazar
- Publisher: National Geographic Kids
- Pricing structure: Free
- Topics: Activism, STEM, Great Girl Role Models, Science and Nature, Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Curiosity, Perseverance
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: February 27, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
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