Culture Kids

Grab your imaginary passports, Culture Kids! In this episode, Kristen and Asher welcome their friend Senna into the kitchen to cook up a Korean side dish called sukju namul (숙주나물), better known in English as seasoned mung bean sprouts. But this isn't just a cooking lesson. Halfway through sautéing sprouts with soy sauce and sesame oil, the Culture Train whisks the kids back to 15th century Hanyang (modern-day Seoul) during the Joseon Dynasty, where they uncover the real reason this humble vegetable carries the name of a royal scholar named Shin Suk-ju.

Kids will learn how a political betrayal during a real moment in Korean history became forever linked to a fast-spoiling vegetable, and why Koreans have called mung bean sprouts "sukju namul" for hundreds of years. It's a story about food, memory, loyalty, and how history hides in the meals we eat every day.

What mung bean sprouts (sukju namul) are and how they're prepared in Korean cooking

The difference between how mung bean sprouts were cooked in the Joseon Dynasty versus how they're cooked today

The true story of Korean scholar Shin Suk-ju and the royal succession crisis that changed his legacy

How a vegetable came to be named after a real historical figure

A hands-on family recipe families can recreate at home

Sukju Namul (Korean Seasoned Mung Bean Sprouts)
Lightly boiled mung bean sprouts, tossed with sesame oil, garlic, salt, and sesame seeds. Serve as a banchan (Korean side dish) alongside rice.

Hosted by Kristen Kim and Asher, Culture Kids Productions

Host & Producer: Kristen Kim

Co Host & Co Producer: Asher Kim

Guest Host: Senna Turin

Script Review/Academic Consultant: Elisha Li

Nonprofit Consultant: Emil Kang

Audio Engineering: Robin Lai

Music & Sound FX: Envato Elements

Kristen, Asher, and Arden board the Culture Train Time Machine and travel to two extraordinary moments in history. First, they land on the Persian Royal Road in 400 BCE, where merchants and travelers are exchanging stories from distant lands - including eyewitness accounts of mysterious one-horned creatures from beyond the rivers of India.

Then they leap forward to a Medieval European castle, where knights and nobles are marveling at what they believe is a real unicorn horn - not knowing it is actually the spiral tusk of a narwhal, carried thousands of miles by clever traders.

Along the way, kids learn how stories travel, how imagination fills in the gaps, and how a legend is born when one curious mind sparks an idea and another passes it on.

Fun Facts from This Episode

The earliest known written description of a unicorn-like creature was recorded by the Greek historian Ctesias around 400 BCE

Historians believe early unicorn stories may have been inspired by travelers describing a rhinoceros to people who had never seen one

In Medieval Europe, narwhal tusks were sold as unicorn horns and were sometimes worth more than gold

Traders carried narwhal tusks thousands of miles south from the Arctic, and most buyers had no idea what they really were

Unicorn legends appear independently in ancient India, China, Persia, and Europe- showing how powerful a traveling story can be

SUPPORT CULTURE KIDS

If you enjoyed today's adventure, please subscribe, leave a review, and share Culture Kids with a family you love. Every share helps more children discover new places, meet new people, and grow curious about the world around them.

Culture Kids Productions is a 3x Webby Award-winning nonprofit podcast dedicated to sparking curiosity, connection, and wonder in children around the world. Rated five stars by Common Sense Media. Listed as an Apple Podcasts Essentials pick for Kids and Family.

Join our newsletter:https://culturekidsproductions.org

Support our mission:https://culturekidsproductions.org

Follow Culture Kids:

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/culturekidsproductions

Credits:

Host & Producer: Kristen Kim

Co Host & Co Producer: Asher Kim and Arden Kim

Script Review/Academic Consultant: Elisha Li

Audio Engineering: Robin Lai

Music & Sound FX: Envato Elements

Disclaimer: This episode is a work of fiction created for entertainment and educational purposes. While inspired by real historical periods, cultural traditions, and figures, the characters, dialogue, events, and time-travel elements depicted are imagined and do not represent an accurate historical record. Any resemblance to actual events is used in a fictionalized context. Culture Kids Productions is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any government, institution, or organization referenced in this episode unless otherwise stated.

Hop aboard the Culture Train with Kristen and Asher as they head to the world famous San Diego Zoo to meet wildlife specialist Marco Wendt. Twelve thousand animals, more than 650 species, and a whole lot of heart await on this stop in sunny San Diego, California.

In this episode, families will discover:

Why San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a nonprofit conservation organization, not just a zoo, and how their work has helped reintroduce more than 44 endangered species back into the wild

The incredible true story of Tatqiq, a polar bear rescued as an orphaned cub in Alaska, who now helps scientists understand how polar bears hear, move, and survive a warming Arctic

How Karen the orangutan became the first great ape in history to undergo open heart surgery, and how she's thriving today with her orangutan and siamang family

The journey of giant pandas from Endangered to Vulnerable, and just how much bamboo it takes to keep Yun Chuan and Xin Bao happy (hint: it's a lot~!)

About our guest:

Marco Wendt has worked as a wildlife specialist at the San Diego Zoo for almost thirty years, caring for everything from cranes and cassowaries to red river hogs and giant pandas.

A huge thank you to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance for believing in our work and partnering with us on this episode and for the incredible work they do protecting wildlife for future generations. 

About San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is located at 2920 Zoo Drive in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101, and is operated by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, an international nonprofit committed to creating a world where all life thrives. The Zoo is 100 acres and home to more than 12,000 animals representing over 650 species and subspecies! 

Website: zoo.sandiegozoo.orgWildlife Alliance site: sandiegozoowildlifealliance.orgInstagram: @sandiegozooFacebook: facebook.com/SanDiegoZooTikTok: @sandiegozooX: @sandiegozoo

SUPPORT CULTURE KIDS

If you enjoyed today's adventure, please subscribe, leave a review, and share Culture Kids with a family you love. Every share helps more children discover new places, meet new people, and grow curious about the world around them.

Culture Kids is a nonprofit organization creating free educational adventures for families around the world.

Join our newsletter:https://culturekidsmedia.com

Support our mission:https://culturekidsproductions.org

Follow Culture Kids:

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/culturekidsproductions

Credits:

Host & Producer: Kristen Kim

Co Host & Co Producer: Asher Kim

Guest & Collaborator: Marco Wendt

Sponsored By: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Script Review/Academic Consultant: Elisha Li

Audio Engineering: Robin Lai

Music & Sound FX: Envato Elements

In this special adventure, Kristen and Asher step off their magical Culture Train and onto a real-life train, the Pacific Surfliner, for one of the most beautiful train journeys in America.

Together with special guest Alyssa Dowdalls from Pacific Surfliner, families travel along the stunning California coastline, discover the history of train travel, learn about the Chumash people who have called this region home for thousands of years, and explore the beautiful beach city of Santa Barbara.

Along the way, kids will learn:

• How trains changed the world and helped people travel farther than ever before

• Why the Pacific Surfliner is one of the most scenic train routes in the United States

• What it feels like to ride on a two-story passenger train

• The rich history and living culture of the Chumash people

• Why Santa Barbara's famous red tile roofs and white buildings tell an important story

• Fun family activities to enjoy in Santa Barbara, including MOXI, Stearns Wharf, beaches, and more

• Important travel etiquette and train safety tips for kids

ABOUT PACIFIC SURFLINER

Pacific Surfliner is Southern California's premier passenger rail service, connecting San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and many communities in between. Known for breathtaking ocean views, spacious seating, onboard amenities, and family-friendly travel, Pacific Surfliner offers one of the most memorable ways to experience California's coastline.

Learn more and plan your trip:https://www.pacificsurfliner.com

CONNECT WITH PACIFIC SURFLINER

Website:https://www.pacificsurfliner.com

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/pacificsurfliner

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/PacificSurfliner

SUPPORT CULTURE KIDS

If you enjoyed today's adventure, please subscribe, leave a review, and share Culture Kids with a family you love. Every share helps more children discover new places, meet new people, and grow curious about the world around them.

Culture Kids is a nonprofit organization creating free educational adventures for families around the world.

Join our newsletter:https://culturekidsmedia.com

Support our mission:https://culturekidsproductions.org

Follow Culture Kids:

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/culturekidsproductions

This episode of Culture Kids was made possible through a paid partnership with Pacific Surfliner.

How to Be a Good Neighbor on Buses, Trains & Airplanes | Public Transportation Etiquette for Kids!

Have you ever wondered how to act on a bus, train, or airplane? In this episode, Kristen and Asher hop aboard real city transit and a jet plane with special guest Ms. Kelly, an etiquette coach and early childhood educator, to learn the art of being a thoughtful, respectful traveler in shared spaces.

Together, they explore what etiquette really means, why it looks different around the world, and why the heart of it is always the same: see the people around you and make the shared space better because you were in it.

In this episode, kids will learn:

Why we let passengers off before getting on a bus or train

What the "invisible bubble" rule is and why it matters on airplanes

How the greeting culture in Nigeria teaches us something beautiful about respect

Why offering your seat to an elder is a universal act of kindness

Simple ways every child can be a good neighbor wherever they travel

ABOUT OUR GUEST
Ms. Kelly (Kelechi Anselem-Okorie) is an etiquette coach and early childhood educator based in California, originally from Nigeria. She helps children build confidence, make friends, and show up their best everywhere they go through the power of manners, kindness, and cultural awareness.

📖 Order Ms. Kelly's book Food, Friends and Finesse (Mirrors and Manners Series):

Amazon

Follow Ms. Kelly:


Instagram: @mirrorsandmanners


Website: http://mirrorsandmanners.com

ABOUT CULTURE KIDS
Culture Kids is an award-winning, screen-free audio adventure podcast for children ages 4-8, hosted by mom and son duo Kristen and Asher. With 177+ episodes, three Webby Awards, and partnerships with 90+ cultural organizations including the San Diego Zoo, the Getty Museum, and the New York Hall of Science, Culture Kids brings the world to your child's ears, one adventure at a time.

📱 Instagram: @culturekidsproductions

🎙 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culture-kids/id1492741709

🎙 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/culturekids

SUPPORT CULTURE KIDS

Culture Kids is a nonprofit production. Every episode is made possible by listeners like you. If this show has brought joy, curiosity, or a little more connection to your family, please consider supporting us.

💛 Donate here: http://culturekidsmedia.com/support

Your contribution helps us keep creating free, screen-free adventures for children everywhere.

CREDITS

Hosted by: Kristen Kim and Asher Kim

Guest: Ms. Kelly (Kelechi Anselem-Okorie)

Written and Produced by Kristen Kim

Sound Design and Post Production: Culture Kids Productions/Envato Elements