Episode Transcript

00.00

LEELA: It’s all politics and parties in the UK. Food waste concrete in Japan

Rats with backpacks in Scotland. And more!

OPENING STING – LEELA: “Hey, hey, hey. Listen up. New, new, newsy – Newsy Pooloozi!”

Hello and happy summer! School is out and it’s time to travel.

MAMA: Or rest.

LEELA: Or both. Yes, we are taking a little breather this summer, but we know that the news doesn’t stop – so we’re giving you a quick dip of this week’s world news.

MAMA: And after that we’re not leaving you high and dry oh, no, we’ve got episode swaps lined up for the rest of the month.

LEELA: But first, let’s dive into the news with the…

BIG NEWS STORY STING – VARIOUS VOICES: “The big news story of the week!”

MAMA: In the United Kingdom where we are this week as it happens, there were celebrations on the streets, in backyards

LEELA: You mean back gardens.

MAMA: Ohh yes darling, all celebrating the Queen of England’s 70 years on the throne.

LEELA: Otherwise known as the “Platinum Jubilee” – jubilee is a fancy way of saying celebration or paaaarrtee!

MAMA: Meanwhile the real leader of the country Boris Johnson was in trouble for his party or, ummm, gathering – held during strict covid lockdowns.

LEELA: He has survived what’s known as a “vote of confidence,” which is a secret ballot in parliament.

MAMA: Where all the legislators vote on whether he can stay in power or not.

LEELA: 59 percent said he should stay. But, ummmm…

MAMA: 41 percent said he should go-go go.

LEELA: Out of the door.

MAMA: And now he’s now seen as a weak leader with many calling for him to resign.

LEELA: And now to science news…

SCIENCE STING – LEELA: “The world of wow, wow, wow… In other words – science!”   

LEELA: So, you know how parents get really upset when we don’t eat all the food on our plate… And talk about how bad it is to waste it… Well, here’s a great come-back.

MAMA: Ok… Researchers at the University of Tokyo successfully made a concrete-like building material

LEELA: Otherwise known as cement.

MAMA: From leftover food!

LEELA: Wowzers!

MAMA: Yeah, turns out banana and orange peels, pumpkins, onions, tea leaves, coffee grounds and particularly cabbage can be made into super strong concrete.

LEELA: How, you wonder?

MAMA: Well, first they dry it out, then pulverize it into powder, pack it into a mold and bake it.

LEELA: But don’t eat it. It is not a gingerbread house. Or a vegetable house.

MAMA: Whatever that is…

NATURE STING – VARIOUS VOICES: “The call of nature. Get on your safari suit. Or squeeze into your scuba gear. And get ready to hop into a jeep. Or submarines. Submarine. Because Mother Nature is calling! Nature.”  

LEELA: Back in the UK a scientist in Scotland is putting backpacks on rats. Why do you ask?

MAMA: I do.

LEELA: Not for school, no, they’re being trained for earthquake rescue missions.

MAMA: Whoa – so a little like the rats who are used to sniff out mines in war zones?

LEELA: Like Magawa, the hero rat.

MAMA: Who we featured on episode 50 of our podcast

LEELA: Only these rats wear tiny backpacks with a camera and a tracking device, so they can go into the debris and help rescue teams talk to survivors.

MAMA: Man, you gotta respect the rats.

LEELA: Now it’s time for some entertainment news…

ACE STING – LEELA/MAMA: “Now it’s the ace part of our podcast: Arts, Culture and Entertainment. Darling.”

LEELA: This is something any cool kid knows.

MAMA: It’s official. Researchers find that dancing doesn’t just feel good, it also enhances brain function.

LEELA: Once again this is Japanese research.

MAMA: Scientists from the University of Tsukuba found that music – with a groove

LEELA: You know – the kind that makes you wanna dance!

MAMA: Well, it significantly increases measures of executive function and associated brain activity.

LEELA: So… get your groove on!

MAMA: And finally –

ODDBALL STING – VARIOUS VOICES: “Step right up, step right up… Have a go at the lucky dip machine… What’s it gonna be today, eh? An oddball, no doubt!”

MAMA: Back in wacky Britain for this one – where the age-old custom of cheese rolling is back after being on hold for the pandemic.

LEELA: Yes, this is the “extreme sport” and probably extremely smelly of rolling a 4kg or almost nine-pound hunk of cheese down a steep hill.

MAMA: This takes place in Gloucester, of course the home of double Gloucester cheese, where the round mound of cheese can reach 70 miles per hour.

LEELA: First one to the bottom of the hill wins. I don’t know about you, but it sounds pretty cheesy to me. Baa-dump-cheew!

MUSIC

LEELA: And that brings us to the end of this quick dip episode of Newsy Pooloozi.

MAMA: But we know you’re all settled down and want to keep on listening, so we’ve got a super duper treat – an episode from our friends at Cool Facts About Animals who are talking Piranhas…

LEELA: Yikes… watch where you swim this summer, folks!

COOL FACTS ABOUT ANIMALS PODCAST EPISODE ABOUT PIRANHAS FOLLOWS (not transcribed)

-ends