STEM with Dr. Owl
Big questions. Curious kids. Science adventures!
Join curious explorer Emma, her wise feathered mentor Dr. Owl 🦉, and their goofy robot sidekick Ziggy 🤖 as they explore the amazing world of STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
Each bite-sized episode starts with a question kids actually wonder about: How do birds fly? Why do we dream? What makes volcanoes erupt? Why do some people get carsick? Then Emma, Dr. Owl, and Ziggy turn the answer into a fun, easy-to-follow adventure filled with surprising facts, silly moments, and plenty of “Whoa!”
Along the way, we answer questions sent in by young listeners from around the world—including special Ziggy’s Mailbag episodes inspired by their curiosity.
Our goal is simple: help kids keep asking why, how, and what if? Because STEM isn’t just something you learn in school. It’s hiding everywhere—from your backyard and your breakfast to your body, the weather, and the stars above. 🌎🔬🚀
For curious kids ages 5–9 — and anyone who loves asking questions.
Episodes
![[Ziggy's Mailbag] Why Are Owls Wise & Other Creepy Critters! – Animal Biology & Halloween Science for Kids](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog20467555/processed-image_20261016_003250_300x300.jpg)
22 hours ago
22 hours ago
12 min
Discover the fascinating animal biology and adaptations behind the world's spookiest creatures as we explore why owls fly silently and whether toads really give you warts. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they dive into a haunted mailbag to learn how spiders spin their incredible webs and why jellyfish are transparent ocean ghosts. It is the perfect spooky season adventure for curious explorers!
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3 days ago
3 days ago
13 min
In this episode, kids will learn the science behind natural rubber, polymers, and the chemical process of vulcanization that makes tires strong and bouncy balls jump. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy the Robot as they journey to a tropical rainforest to discover how milky tree sap transforms into everyday items—while Ziggy tries to plant a bouncy ball to grow his very own bouncy ball tree! Join our explorers' club and sign up for the newsletter at orbitalowl.com for more fun STEM activities and episode updates.
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5 days ago
5 days ago
10 min
Discover the physics and chemistry behind gas density and buoyancy to understand why party balloons slowly shrink and fall to the floor. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they zoom in to the microscopic level to explore how tiny helium particles escape through solid-looking rubber polymers!
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![[Ziggy's Mailbag] What's Hiding in Your Blood? & More Spooky Body Science!](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog20467555/processed-image_20261008_230459_300x300.jpg)
Oct 9, 2026
Oct 9, 2026
12 min
Discover the fascinating science of human anatomy as we explore the functions of blood cells, tooth enamel, bone healing, and the nervous system. Ziggy the Robot transforms the lab into a silly haunted house to answer your spookiest body mysteries. Join Dr. Owl and Emma to find out why we shudder, how broken bones fix themselves, and why our blood is like the ultimate rescue team!

Oct 7, 2026
Oct 7, 2026
12 min
Discover the science of temperature, thermal energy, and the lowest possible limit of cold known as absolute zero. Ride along in a wacky Temperature Elevator as we travel past freezing water, extreme Antarctic blizzards, and liquid nitrogen to find out just how chilly the universe can get. See if tiny particles really stop moving forever at the very bottom of the thermometer!
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Oct 5, 2026
Oct 5, 2026
13 min
Explore the mechanical engineering and physics of hydraulics that give giant excavators their incredible lifting power. Answering fantastic questions from our curious explorers Everett and Kaiyi, Dr. Owl and Emma head to a muddy construction site to investigate how pressurized liquid, heavy counterweights, and wide tracks work together to move mountains of dirt. Plus, find out what happens when Ziggy tries to upgrade his own mechanical strength using a belly full of apple juice!
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![[Ziggy's Mailbag] All About the Moon! – Astronomy & Lunar Science for Kids](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog20467555/processed-image_20261002_011906_300x300.jpg)
Oct 2, 2026
Oct 2, 2026
15 min
Learn how the Moon formed, why it changes shape, and what astronauts left behind in this special listener Q&A edition. Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy dive into Ziggy's Mailbag to answer curious questions from real young explorers about lunar dust, gravity, and Apollo rocket missions. A fun, fact-filled lunar adventure explaining Earth's closest neighbor in space.

Sep 30, 2026
Sep 30, 2026
12 min
How do birds fly, how do bugs stay up, and why can’t people flap their arms and take off? Emma follows a bird from takeoff to landing while Ziggy tests his cardboard wings. Discover lift, gliding, the tiny wing moves of insects, and the machines that let humans fly.

Sep 28, 2026
Sep 28, 2026
10 min
Discover the science of extreme weather as we explain updrafts, wind shear, and how mesocyclones create tornadoes. Join Dr. Owl, Curious Emma, and a very dizzy Ziggy the Robot in the weather lab to solve the mystery of why only some thunderstorms spin. Find out exactly what ingredients it takes to build a twisting funnel cloud and learn important tornado safety tips along the way!
![[Ziggy's Mailbag] Why Do Trees Grow Curvy and More! - Plant Science & Biology for Kids](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog20467555/processed-image_20260924_232447_300x300.jpg)
Sep 25, 2026
Sep 25, 2026
13 min
Discover the incredible science of plant biology, including how flowers use turgor pressure to bloom, why leaves change color in autumn, and how evergreen trees survive the freezing winter. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they open the mailbag to answer explorer questions and learn the secret superpower plants use to bend and reach the sunlight!







