Hello From the Van

Mimi Faatz

*Visual Podcast on Youtube*  A Family-Friendly and Educational Podcast for Everyone! Geared to curious families with lots of questions. We cover everything from cancer to paint colors-- always in a safe and educational way. Join us as we explore a new topic each week. 

  1. 21h ago

    Cats: Domesticated Chaos

    Last week it was dogs and this week, we're talking about cats! You'd think after 10,000 years of domestication we'd know more about them, but so much of their feline world remains a mystery. Find out some of what we know and what we don't know this week on Hello From the Van! SOURCES:  Jiang, Peihua; Josue, Jesusa; Li, Xia; Glaser, Dieter; Li, Weihua; Brand, Joseph G.; Margolskee, Robert F.; Reed, Danielle R.; Beauchamp, Gary K. (12 March 2012), "Major taste loss in carnivorous mammals", PNAS, 13 (109): 4956–4961, doi:10.1073/pnas.1118360109, PMC 3324019, PMID 22411809 McGrane, Scott J.; Gibbs, Matthew; Hernangomez de Alvaro, Carlos; Dunlop, Nicola; Winnig, Marcel; Klebansky, Boris; Waller, Daniel (1 January 2023). "Umami taste perception and preferences of the domestic cat (Felis catus), an obligate carnivore". Chemical Senses. 48 bjad026.  Beadle, Muriel (1979). Cat. Simon and Schuster. pp. 93–96. ISBN 978-0-671-25190-1  Schelling, Christianne. "Do cats have a sense of taste?". CatHealth.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016  Vigne, J.-D.; Evin, A.; Cucchi, T.; Dai, L.; Yu, C.; Hu, S.; Soulages, N.; Wang, W.; Sun, Z. (2016). "Earliest 'domestic' cats in China identified as leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)". PLoS One. 11 (1) e0147295. Bibcode:2016PLoSO..1147295V. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0147295. PMC 4723238. PMID 26799955.  Wikipedia contributors. (2026g, October 1). Cat. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat Stuck in your van too? Give us a follow for more educational resources.  Youtube: Hello From The Van!  Instagram/Facebook @HelloFromTheVan HelloFromTheVan.com

    Cats: Domesticated Chaos

  2. Oct 5

    Dogs: Sniffing and Service

    Have you ever wondered HOW dogs are trained to smell the undetecable or what it takes to be a true service dog?? This week we learn all about how and why dogs smell so well and what it legally takes to be a working dog in the world.  Sources: Cpdt, S. G. M. (2025, August 29). What is a diabetic alert dog? Understanding their Life-Saving abilities. American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/diabetic-alert-dog/ N.D. (2026, June 29) Dogs Leave Antarctica.  National Museum Australia. https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/dogs-leave-antarctica How dogs use smell to perceive the world | VCA Animal Hospitals. (n.d.). Vca. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/how-dogs-use-smell-to-perceive-the-world  Kokocińska-Kusiak, A., Woszczyło, M., Zybala, M., Maciocha, J., Barłowska, K., & Dzięcioł, M. (2021). Canine olfaction: physiology, behavior, and possibilities for practical applications. Animals, 11(8), 2463. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082463 Seizure Alert Dogs | Epilepsy Foundation. (n.d.). Epilepsy Foundation. https://epilepsyfoundation.org.au/understanding-epilepsy/epilepsy-and-seizure-management-tools/seizure-alert-dogs/  "Using Canines to Detect Spotted Knapweed: Field Surveys & Characterization of Plant Volatiles". Goodwin, Kim Marie. 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2010. Stuck in your van too? Give us a follow for more educational resources.  Youtube: Hello From The Van!  Instagram/Facebook @HelloFromTheVan HelloFromTheVan.com

    Dogs: Sniffing and Service

  3. Sep 27

    Cool Science: Brian Freezes

    Ever wonder what causes a brain freeze? In this episode we go into the science of a brain freeze, different cultural views on icy foods, and the statistics of ice cream. It's a super cooool episode of Hello From the Van!  Sources:  Brain freeze. (2025, September 24). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21478-brain-freeze Golen, T., MD. (2023, June 1). What causes brain freeze? Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/what-causes-brain-freeze Ice cream consumption melts from 2000 to 2021 | Economic Research Service. (n.d.). https://ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/106814 Minassian, L. (2026, August 9). The country that eats the most ice cream per person (And it’s not even close). Yahoo Life.  Tuohetibake, R., & Hong, Z. (2026). The logic of hot and cold: cognitive and cultural dynamics of food beliefs in a Uyghur community. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-07038-w 韩晶晶. The Chinese ways of drinking water. China Story. (Selected from 101 Stories for Foreigners to Understand Chinese People by Yi S. Ellis and Bryan D. Ellis, published by China Intercontinental Press in 2012) Stuck in your van too? Give us a follow for more educational resources.  Youtube: Hello From The Van!  Instagram/Facebook @HelloFromTheVan HelloFromTheVan.com

    Cool Science: Brian Freezes

  4. Sep 20

    Why is it SPICY?? A Capsaicin Explainer

    Ever wonder why peppers are painful? In this episode we take a look at the fascinating world of plant evolutions, digestive designs, and the history of the pepper plant.  Sources:  Borrell, B. (2013, November 18). What's So Hot About Chili Peppers? Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/whats-so-hot-about-chili-peppers-116907465/ Farr, K. (2019, May 3). The Scoville rating scale. MySpicer | Spices, Herbs, Seasonings. https://www.myspicer.com/scoville-rating-scale/ Hulick, K. (2019, December 3). The cool science of hot peppers. Science News Explores. https://www.snexplores.org/article/cool-science-hot-peppers Kaiserman, B. (2014, December 5). Hungry for spice: The Story of Hot Sauce in America | Highbrow Magazine. Highbrow Magazine. https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/4481-hungry-spice-story-hot-sauce-america Wikipedia contributors. (2026e, August 29). Ed Currie. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Currie Wikipedia contributors. (2026e, September 16). Scoville scale. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoville_scale Stuck in your van too? Give us a follow for more educational resources.  Youtube: Hello From The Van!  Instagram/Facebook @HelloFromTheVan HelloFromTheVan.com

    Why is it SPICY?? A Capsaicin Explainer

  5. Sep 13

    AHHcHoOo! Allergies: Explained for Kids

    Ever wonder why some people have life threatening allergies and others do not? In this episode we take a dive into the world of antigens and antibodies as we explore the world of allergies.  Sources:  Allergies. (2026, May 7). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8610-allergies Department of Health & Human Services. (n.d.). Allergies explained. Better Health Channel. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/allergies Johns Hopkins Medicine, Allergies and the Immune System.  Healthdirect Australia. (2026, July 28). Allergies and hypersensitivities. Healthdirect. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/allergies-and-hypersensitivities What is a food allergy? (n.d.). FoodAllergy.org. https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/what-food-allergy Stuck in your van too? Give us a follow for more educational resources.  Youtube: Hello From The Van!  Instagram/Facebook @HelloFromTheVan HelloFromTheVan.com

    AHHcHoOo! Allergies: Explained for Kids

  6. Sep 6

    Labor Day: A Brief History

    Happy Labor Day to those in the United States and Canada. To those of you outside of North America...Happy May Day when the time comes around!  This week we talk about the history and cultural significance of Labor Day as well as it's mysterious origins.  Stuck in your van too? Give us a follow for more educational resources.  Youtube: Hello From The Van!  Instagram/Facebook @HelloFromTheVan HelloFromTheVan.com

    Labor Day: A Brief History

  7. Aug 31

    Blood Types Explained!

    One of the most important discoveries of the last century has been blood typing and donation. This week we dive into how blood types got their names, why blood typing is important, the history of the man responsible for it all.  Sources:  Stanford Blood Center. (2019, September 13). Blood types — Stanford Blood Center. https://stanfordbloodcenter.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-facts/blood-types/ Blood types. (n.d.) American Red Cross. https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-types.html Blood typing: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003345.htm Wikipedia contributors. (2026d, August 27). ABO blood group system. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABO_blood_group_system Schreiber BA, Curley R, Gaur A, Rodriguez E, Rogers K, Sinha S (18 July 2017). "ABO blood group system". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.  Kantha SS (September 1995). "The blood revolution initiated by the famous footnote of Karl Landsteiner's 1900 paper" (PDF). The Ceylon Medical Journal. 40 (3): 123–5. PMID 8536328. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2018.  Rhesus (RH) factor incompatibility in pregnancy | Nemours KidsHealth. (n.d.). https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/rh.html Stuck in your van too? Give us a follow for more educational resources.  Youtube: Hello From The Van!  Instagram/Facebook @HelloFromTheVan HelloFromTheVan.com

    Blood Types Explained!

  8. Aug 23

    Intelligent Animals

    Some animals are smart...but others are smarter. This week we discuss the different types of animal intelligence, and the most commonly studied "smart" animals of the animal kingdom.  Sources: Vidal, J. (2021, October 29). The grey parrot and the race against Africa’s wildlife extinction. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/24/cites-endangered-species-meeting-johannesburg Blanket octopus. (n.d.). Great Barrier Reef Foundation. https://www.barrierreef.org/the-reef/animals/blanket-octopus Holdredge, C. (n.d.). Elephantine Intelligence — The Nature Institute. The Nature Institute. https://www.natureinstitute.org/article/craig-holdrege/elephantine-intelligence Wikipedia contributors. (2026c, August 11). Corvidae. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corv American Birding Association, & Kanning, S. (2026, April 6). The Blue Crow. American Birding Association. https://www.aba.org/the-blue-crow/ Caird, J. (2026, June 15). 10 smartest animals on the planet: Discover the world’s cleverest creatures, including some unexpected species redefining intelligence. Discover Wildlife. https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/smartest-animals Stuck in your van too? Give us a follow for more educational resources.  Youtube: Hello From The Van!  Instagram/Facebook @HelloFromTheVan HelloFromTheVan.com

    Intelligent Animals
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

*Visual Podcast on Youtube*  A Family-Friendly and Educational Podcast for Everyone! Geared to curious families with lots of questions. We cover everything from cancer to paint colors-- always in a safe and educational way. Join us as we explore a new topic each week. 

Information

  • Creator
    Mimi Faatz
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hello From the Van
  • Show Website
    Hello From the Van