Episode Transcript

OPENING STING – LEELA: “New, new, newsy – Newsy Pooloozi!”

THEME MUSIC

LEELA: Hello and welcome to this week’s episode of Newsy Pooloozi – a whirlpool of news and information. Or…

MAMA: As the New York Times described us as last week: ‘’a news variety show.”

LEELA: That’s what we do – give you a wide –

MAMA: And wacky!

LEELA: …variety of news. I’m your host, Leela Sivasankar Prickitt. And this is my co-host, producer and… Mama!

MAMA: Otherwise known as Lyndee Prickitt.

LEELA: On this week’s Newsy Pooloozi we kick off our “variety show” with International Women’s Day – how it started and where it’s going.

We’ll also hear about the future of shopping that means… if you don’t stop by the cashier on the way out, you won’t up behind bars.

And we all know oranges can give us a boost of energy… but wait till you find out what else they spark.

SFX electricity buzz

Talk about cool music – you’ll never guess what’s making this sound…

SFX ice instrument

And a cat-astraphic accident at sea turns into a purr-fect rescue.

Meoooow!

But first up, it’s time for…

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

00:01:23

MAMA: March 8 was International Women’s Day. People all over the world paused for a moment to appreciate the impact women have on all aspects of society. Pictures were posted on social media, smilies were sent to sisters and news organizations covered stories about amazing women or the struggles some still face. Which all begs the question…

LEELA: Why is it just one day of the year???

MAMA: Yeah…

LEELA: We are half the population, after all.

MAMA: Uh ha. I know. But you’re lucky. Because you’re living in a world where you can pretty much do whatever you want to do. Whether you’re a boy or a girl. But it wasn’t always that way and it still isn’t for many.

LEELA: Cue music!

MUSIC

MAMA: The first big “Women’s Day” celebration took place over a hundred years ago in 1909 in New York City, organized by the Socialist Party of America. Then it really took off in other European countries, including Soviet Russia, which made it a national holiday in 1917.

LEELA: Soviet Russia?!

MAMA:  Yep… So for a long time Women’s Day was associated with far-left governments and socialist movements. Until eventually it was just a day – without politics – to celebrate women. In 1977 the world organization called, the United Nations, made it a global holiday.

LEELA: I see… But it started before women had the right to vote, right?

MAMA: Exactly. Most didn’t have a say in the democratic process. Most women weren’t even educated beyond high school and many had to drop out much earlier than that. And that’s still the case in many places around the world. Inequality – as in we’re not treated equally – still exists. For instance, women often work the same jobs as men – but the men get paid more.

LEELA: That’s not fair!

MAMA: I know. And then there’s the jobs they don’t get paid for at all – like when they’re raising kids or looking after the household. And I could go on…

LEELA: So we still have a way to go.

MAMA: We sure do.

LEELA: But maybe in the future  we’ll have days that celebrate certain roles people play in society, rather than have to honor a whole gender to make them feel good about not being treated equally.

MAMA: I really hope so. But we can always celebrate those women who paved the way – which is what America does. For the whole of March it’s Women’s History month.

LEELA: Cool! Like the Rebels Girls book.

MAMA: Bingo. Fabulous book that give brief stories of the most amazing women in history – most who had to rebel –

LEELA: Or “reble” – as we say in India.

MAMA: … rebel against the system to get ahead – to make their mark and help the world. And if you didn’t know – there’s Rebel Girls podcast too. So, to help mark Women’s History Month – we’re going to give a shout out every week this month to other super cool podcasts that are celebrating our sheroes. Get it – not heroes, but she-roes.

LEELA: Ha ha… Ummm… is that a thing?

MAMA: Yeah, ok, it’s a bit dorky. But you get the idea.  In fact, here’s another American kid podcaster who’s latest episode is on Women’s History Month, which you should check out.

LEELA: Wait – before you play that I want to say, after this break…  we’ll have the story of the electric oranges, a purr-fect rescue and you won’t believe what’s missing from a certain store in London. So stay tuned!

TRAILER FOR ALL THINGS MADISON  (no transcription)

LEELA: Thanks a lot, Madison! And now…

00:05:45

TECH STING – LEELA/MAMA: “It’s time for…. Technology News, technology news, tech news!”

MAMA: Leela, you’ve grown up with online shopping – and we’ve really relied on it during the pandemic, haven’t we?

LEELA: Oh yeah for several months we were barley leaving the house and had to order everything online – from food to shoes!

MAMA: Yep, but it’s actually a relatively new concept. And one that – mostly thanks to the online retail giant Amazon – has redefined shopping. It’s hard to believe they started out in 1994 just selling books… Now they’re the biggest online retailer across the board. Well, guess what – Amazon are at it again!

LEELA: Oh, is this a story about drones delivering Amazon products?

MAMA: No – that’s still in the testing stages… But this is almost as crazy. As our tech correspondent Jackson Hoskins is about to tell us.

LEELA: Well then, take it away Jackson.

JACKSON: Thanks, you guys.

So usually if you go to the store and pick something off the shelf, you’d better go to the till or cashier to pay for it, right?

If you don’t – that’s called – shoplifting.

And that could land you in jail.

But not at the Amazon store that’s just opened in West London…!

It have no cashiers or tills.

Just a barcode scanner that identifies you when you walk in and a LOT of cameras.

Then your fill your shopping basket or trolley with whatever your want and walk straight out.

Of course, your credit card has been charged, thanks to all those of cameras and special sensors.

The technology was first used at the firm’s Amazon Go stores in the States  in 2018.

But tech advancements have made the system even slicker and more accurate.

I think it’s pretty cool. But some people find it creepy to have so many cameras watching your every move… Which I can understand.

What do you think Leela?…

In the south of England I’m Jackson Hoskings, reporting for Newsy Pooloozi!

LEELA: Thanks, Jackson. I have to say I think it’s suppppper cooool.

MAMA: Yeah, I guess you’ve grown up with technology all around you, so the idea of all those cameras capturing your every move, from every angle, doesn’t bother you.

LEELA: Nope. I just like the idea of no long lines or queues, no dragging every item across a barcode. Just in your bag and out the door.

00:08:11

WORLD WRAP STING – LEELA: “What’s that? I’ll tell you what. That’s the halftime bell! Which means… it’s time to hear what’s making news around the rest of the world. Hold on tight, it’s around the world in 80 seconds.”

MAMA:

The British Royal family say they’re “very seriously” taking the race issues raised by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their recent interview. Princess Meghan said Prince Harry had been asked by a family member “how dark” their son Archie’s skin might be. Palace officials say “recollections may vary” but the matters will be addressed.

Protesters in the south-east Asian country of Myanmar escape after being trapped by security forces in the capital Yangon. Mass protests have been seen across the country after the military seized power – in what’s called a coup – last month.

The world’s oldest bird – called, rather appropriately, Wisdom, hatches a chick at the age of 70. The albatross, who was tagged with an identification band in Hawaii back in 1956, has had over 30 chicks so far in her long and wise life.

Good news for Tasmanian Devils – who were nearly wiped out by a deadly disease. A new study says conservation efforts are  slowing the decline of the much-loved marsupials, bringing them back from brink of extinction.

And in case you missed it, researchers discovered three deep-sea sharks that glow in the dark

off the coast of New Zealand. Not surprisingly they live in the deep sea, with little or no light, often called the twilight zone.

00:10:05

LEELA: Thank you kindly for that zippity-zip of what’s making headlines around the world. And now for some electrifying news…

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

LEELA: Oranges – we like to peel and eat them for snacks… Or squash and squeeze them into juice… But have you ever thought of using oranges to… turn on your lightbulb or charge your phone?

Well, that’s what they’re doing in Spain – where the city of Seville is famous for its seville oranges. So famous that they now have too many…. At least that’s what I’m hearing from our Spanish correspondent, Marcky Granena…

MARKY:

That’s right, Leela…

You see, the city of Seville is famous for its  oranges.

Long ago, they were a symbol of good luck.

So people planted the trees everywhere.

And now, there are a lot of extras lying around!

When they fall on the ground, they get run over by cars.

The juice attracts black flies.

Lots of em!

Yuk!

Now the oranges are collected and taken somewhere else.

To a place that turns other organic stuff into energy.

They say with 1 ton of juice, you can power 5 homes.

For at least a day.

It doesn´t get any juicier than that!

In Barcelona, this is Marcky Granena for Newsy Pooloozi

LEELA: Thanks, Marcky. See! How cool is that?!

MAMA: Seriously cool.

LEELA: But… I know Marcky said the oranges will go into a place that already generates electricity from organic matter… But how does it work??

MAMA: Well, you know oranges are sweet, right?

LEELA: Oh, yeah!

MAMA: Well, simply put, as the oranges get old and break down, the natural sugars ferment – that’s when its chemical composition breaks down into a simpler substance, usually while giving off heat – that heat and energy is captured and then is used to power the generator.

LEELA: Got it. And according to Marcky, Seville’s electric orange project is expected to generate around 15-hundred (1,500)  kilowatts – in other words,  electricity for 150 homes! It doesn’t get any juicier than that!

MAMA: (laughs) Oh, very funny…!

00:12:19

LEELA: And now for some “cat”astrophic news!

ODDBALL STING – LEELA/MAMA/JACKSON: “Step right up, step right up… Have a go at the lucky dip machine… What’s it gonna be today, eh? And odd ball, no doubt!”

LEELA: An odd rescue, more like.

MAMA: Oh, no… That doesn’t sound good.

LEELA: Don’t worry. It’s harrowing – that means super stressful and disturbing – but it has a “paw”-sitive ending.

MUSIC

Once upon a time – just a few days ago – a boat was burning off the coast of Thailand – a country in Asia.

The crew were swiftly rescued, phew.

But the Thai Navy moved in closer to see if any oil was leaking from it.

Instead of oil, what did they see?

Four darling cats clinging on to the last bits of wood for their dear lives!

Never fear, a feline lover was near.

(Feline is another word for cat.)

What did the 23-year-old naval officer do?

Put on a life jacket… jump into the choppy waters…  and swim to the cats’ rescue.

Naturally. (Wouldn’t you?!)

But, ummm, cats and water don’t really mix, so… they hitched a ride on the sailor’s back.

At least one of them did – as seen in the most adorable picture ever.  (Which we’ll post on our Facebook page.)

But all of them were saved.

Forget about it being an “odd” rescue – I’d say it was “puurrrrr”-fect!

00:14:28

FAB FACTS STING – LEELA: “And it’s time to wrap up the podcast with the top five fab facts heard today. Here goes…”

MAMA – FAB FACT NUMBER 1: It was Interantional Women’s Day on March 8. But when was the first one?

The first big “Women’s Day” celebration took place in 1909 in New York City, organized by the Socialist Party of America.

LEELA – FAB FACT NUMBER 2: For a long time Women’s Day was associated with far-left governments. Until eventually it was just a day – without politics – to celebrate women. When did the UN make it official?

The world organization called, the United Nations, made Women’s Day a global holiday in 1977.

MAMA – FAB FACT NUMBER 3:

Amazon is at it again… it’s opened a store in London that has no cash registers – just a lot of cameras and sensors that will total up how much you’ve spent. But what did the giant American company first do to shake up the retail world?

Amazon started out in 1994 just selling books. But within a decade they became the biggest online retailer in the world, shaking up the whole industry.

LEELA – FAB FACT NUMBER 4: The Spanish city of Seville is going to be turning left over oranges into electricity – thanks to oranges having a lot of natural sugar that can ferment and turn into energy. But what is fermentation?

Fermentation is the natural, chemical breakdown of sugars into simpler substances, while typically  giving off heat.

MAMA – FAB FACT NUMBER 5: Four cats were rescued from a burning boat off the coast of Thailand by hitching a ride on the back of a Thai solder who swam out to save them. It was a harrowing mission. But what does that word mean?

Harrowing means super stressful and disturbing.

00:17:09

LEELA: And that almost brings us to the end of this episode of Newsy Pooloozi!!!!!

But first, thanks so much to Caroline from Tamil Nadu for your lovely email. And…

MAMA: OMG – thank you Gabrielle from Ireland who has told, I think, just about every single one of her friends on Facebook about us.

LEELA: Thank you thank you!

MAMA: And Joe from Texas has shared our podcast far and wide too. So has Pat. So, thanks a lot you guys, it really, really…

LEELA: (singing) Really.

MAMA: …helps others find us!

LEELA: So keep it coming – subscribe, rate and review on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts! See you next week in the Newsy Pooloozi!