History for Kids / History's Not Boring: The Kids History Podcast

Have you ever wondered how tennis started? Believe it or not, it didn't begin with bouncy yellow balls and fancy rackets! Hundreds of years ago, French monks invented the game to get some exercise in their stone courtyards. But instead of rackets, they used their bare hands to smack a heavy leather ball stuffed with sheep's wool—and sometimes even human hair! Ouch!

In this fascinating episode of History's Not Boring, Mira and Finn serve up the incredible history of tennis! You'll discover how the sport evolved from monks playing the "Game of the Palm" to kings playing in massive royal castles. Find out how early rackets were strung with sheep intestines, why a score of zero is actually called "love" (hint: it has to do with eggs!), and why the very first Wimbledon tournament was held just to raise money to fix a broken grass roller pulled by a pony!

From a game with the completely unpronounceable ancient Greek name "Sphairistikè" to the massive Grand Slam tournaments of today, get ready to smash some amazing historical facts. Hit play and let's explore the wild, wacky origins of tennis!

Have you ever tried to solve a Rubik's Cube and ended up with a totally jumbled mess of colors? You are definitely not alone! In fact, the very person who invented it couldn't solve it either! Join Mira and Finn on a colorful journey back to 1974 to meet Ernő Rubik, a Hungarian architecture teacher. He wanted a fun way to teach his students about 3D shapes, so he built a puzzle using wooden blocks, rubber bands, and paper clips! He painted it with six bright colors, gave it a few twists, and suddenly couldn't get it back to normal. It took him a whole month of non-stop trying to finally solve his very own invention! Originally called the "Magic Cube," this little plastic puzzle has over 43 quintillion possible combinations and went on to become the best-selling toy in human history! Discover how it escaped behind the Iron Curtain to take over the world, learn mind-blowing math facts, and hear about professional speedcubers who can solve it in under three seconds! Get ready to twist, turn, and learn all about the most famous puzzle ever created!

Are you ready for an epic South American adventure? Grab your hiking boots, because we are traveling to the incredible country of Colombia! Did you know the famous legend of El Dorado wasn't actually about a hidden city of gold, but a real-life king covered entirely in gold dust? Discover the fascinating history of the ancient Muisca people, and find out how a daring general named Simón Bolívar led a ragged army across the freezing Andes Mountains to win the country's freedom in just two hours!

But the adventure doesn't stop there! Colombia is the second most biodiverse country on Earth. We'll explore wild jungles filled with bubblegum-pink river dolphins and towering wax palm trees so tall they actually inspired the magical movie Encanto! From mining sparkly green emeralds and growing millions of bags of coffee, to building flying cable cars high above the city of Medellín, Colombia's story is packed with amazing treasures and strong, resilient people. Tune in for a dazzling journey you won't want to miss!

Imagine having to sneak onto a massive, 147-foot-long warship in the middle of the night to save your family! In this thrilling episode of History's Not Boring, Mira and Finn dive into the incredible true story of Robert Smalls! Born enslaved in Charleston, South Carolina, Robert was a brilliant wheelman who knew the harbor like the back of his hand. In 1862, he pulled off one of the most daring and brilliant escapes in American history!

Disguising himself in the captain's long coat and wide-brimmed straw hat, Robert hijacked the giant steamship known as the CSS Planter. He bravely sailed right past five heavily armed Confederate forts—including the famous Fort Sumter! By using secret steam whistle signals, he tricked the guards and sailed his family out to the open ocean to freedom.

But Robert's amazing story didn't end there! He delivered heavy cannons to the United States Navy, helped convince Abraham Lincoln to let Black soldiers fight in the Civil War, and eventually became a United States Congressman! Tune in to discover this heart-pounding adventure!

Have you ever heard of a battle where soldiers used chocolate candy to fix their trucks? Join Mira and Finn as they travel back to 1950 to uncover the amazing true story of the Korean War! When 75,000 North Korean soldiers launch a massive surprise attack across the 38th Parallel border, South Korea and the United Nations need a daring plan to fight back. Enter General Douglas MacArthur, who decides to sail 260 ships into Inchon, a port city where the ocean water literally vanishes twice a day, dropping a dizzying 33 feet!

But that's not the only wild story from the front lines! You'll also meet Marguerite Higgins, a fearless 29-year-old reporter who carried a 10-pound typewriter into battle, dodging bullets in baggy pants and sneakers just to get the scoop. Plus, find out how freezing troops accidentally ordered crates of actual Tootsie Rolls from the sky to survive minus thirty-degree weather! Get ready for a history adventure packed with sneaky military strategy, incredible bravery, and candy!