It’s Good to Be Smart!

Dr. Dave Mulder

Hey friends, I’m Dr. Dave! I am a college professor and former math and science teacher, and I love to learn new things. This podcast is a chance for us to all keep learning things together, because there is always something new to discover. One of my deeply held beliefs is that “smart” is not something that you *are,* but rather it’s something you *become* as you learn new things. Sometimes you might not feel very smart; there have been plenty of times in my life when that has been the case for me! But here’s the thing: there are so many interesting, curious, mysterious, downright amazing things about this world! If you have your eyes and ears open, you can always learn something new–and get smarter in the process. So that’s the plan for this podcast: each episode will be a short burst of learning, a boost for finding out something amazing about the way this world works. I’m excited to share fascinating facts and super science stories with you in every episode.

See All

  1. EPISODE 1

    Episode 05-01 - “Crust Issues”: How Earth’s Layers Work Together to Shape the Planet

    Earth isn’t a solid ball—it’s made of distinct layers that behave differently and work together to shape everything we see on the surface. This episode explores what’s inside Earth and how scientists know without ever digging that deep.   This episode is part of a rock-solid season of It’s Good to Be Smart!—where terrible puns meet seriously important science as we dig into Earth from the inside out. From shifting plates and shaking faults to exploding volcanoes, cycling rocks, and the everyday forces that shape the ground beneath your feet, each episode uncovers how our dynamic planet really works. By the end, you’ll see Earth as one big, connected system—and you might even groan your way into becoming a geology expert.   Each season of this podcast has a different thematic focus, so if you found this episode interesting or helpful, check out the rest of the episodes in this season! Instructional resources for this episode, including the script, a thinksheet, and alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards can be accessed for free at https://goodtobesmart.com    Remember, “smart” is something we *become* as we learn new things. So, keep listening, keep learning, and keep getting smarter every day!   It’s Good to Be Smart! is created by Dr. Dave Mulder with support from the National Science Foundation through a grant from the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. (DUE-2243334). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

    8 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Episode 05-02 - “Plate Expectations”: How Tectonic Plates Move and Reshape Earth’s Surface

    The continents don’t sit still—they ride on massive plates that slowly move, collide, and pull apart. This episode explains plate tectonics and why moving plates explain so many of Earth’s biggest features.   This episode is part of a rock-solid season of It’s Good to Be Smart!—where terrible puns meet seriously important science as we dig into Earth from the inside out. From shifting plates and shaking faults to exploding volcanoes, cycling rocks, and the everyday forces that shape the ground beneath your feet, each episode uncovers how our dynamic planet really works. By the end, you’ll see Earth as one big, connected system—and you might even groan your way into becoming a geology expert.   Each season of this podcast has a different thematic focus, so if you found this episode interesting or helpful, check out the rest of the episodes in this season! Instructional resources for this episode, including the script, a thinksheet, and alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards can be accessed for free at https://goodtobesmart.com    Remember, “smart” is something we *become* as we learn new things. So, keep listening, keep learning, and keep getting smarter every day!   It’s Good to Be Smart! is created by Dr. Dave Mulder with support from the National Science Foundation through a grant from the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. (DUE-2243334). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

    8 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    Episode 05-03 - “Faulty Behavior”: Why Earthquakes Happen and How Scientists Study Them

    Earthquakes happen when stress builds up and suddenly snaps along faults in Earth’s crust. This episode unpacks why earthquakes happen where they do and how scientists measure and study them.   This episode is part of a rock-solid season of It’s Good to Be Smart!—where terrible puns meet seriously important science as we dig into Earth from the inside out. From shifting plates and shaking faults to exploding volcanoes, cycling rocks, and the everyday forces that shape the ground beneath your feet, each episode uncovers how our dynamic planet really works. By the end, you’ll see Earth as one big, connected system—and you might even groan your way into becoming a geology expert.   Each season of this podcast has a different thematic focus, so if you found this episode interesting or helpful, check out the rest of the episodes in this season! Instructional resources for this episode, including the script, a thinksheet, and alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards can be accessed for free at https://goodtobesmart.com    Remember, “smart” is something we *become* as we learn new things. So, keep listening, keep learning, and keep getting smarter every day!   It’s Good to Be Smart! is created by Dr. Dave Mulder with support from the National Science Foundation through a grant from the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. (DUE-2243334). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

    9 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Episode 05-04 - “Pressure Makes Perfect”: What Causes Volcanoes to Explode—or Ooze

    Volcanoes are Earth’s pressure valves, releasing heat and material from deep below the surface. This episode explains why some volcanoes erupt explosively while others quietly spill lava.   This episode is part of a rock-solid season of It’s Good to Be Smart!—where terrible puns meet seriously important science as we dig into Earth from the inside out. From shifting plates and shaking faults to exploding volcanoes, cycling rocks, and the everyday forces that shape the ground beneath your feet, each episode uncovers how our dynamic planet really works. By the end, you’ll see Earth as one big, connected system—and you might even groan your way into becoming a geology expert.   Each season of this podcast has a different thematic focus, so if you found this episode interesting or helpful, check out the rest of the episodes in this season! Instructional resources for this episode, including the script, a thinksheet, and alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards can be accessed for free at https://goodtobesmart.com    Remember, “smart” is something we *become* as we learn new things. So, keep listening, keep learning, and keep getting smarter every day!   It’s Good to Be Smart! is created by Dr. Dave Mulder with support from the National Science Foundation through a grant from the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. (DUE-2243334). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

    8 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    Episode 05-05 - “Don’t Take It for Granite”: How Rocks Form, Change, and Cycle Through Earth

    Rocks may look boring, but they’re constantly forming, changing, and recycling. This episode shows how the three rock types are connected through an ongoing cycle of change.   This episode is part of a rock-solid season of It’s Good to Be Smart!—where terrible puns meet seriously important science as we dig into Earth from the inside out. From shifting plates and shaking faults to exploding volcanoes, cycling rocks, and the everyday forces that shape the ground beneath your feet, each episode uncovers how our dynamic planet really works. By the end, you’ll see Earth as one big, connected system—and you might even groan your way into becoming a geology expert.   Each season of this podcast has a different thematic focus, so if you found this episode interesting or helpful, check out the rest of the episodes in this season! Instructional resources for this episode, including the script, a thinksheet, and alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards can be accessed for free at https://goodtobesmart.com    Remember, “smart” is something we *become* as we learn new things. So, keep listening, keep learning, and keep getting smarter every day!   It’s Good to Be Smart! is created by Dr. Dave Mulder with support from the National Science Foundation through a grant from the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. (DUE-2243334). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

    8 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    Episode 05-06 - “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do”: How Weathering Breaks Rock into Smaller Pieces

    Earth’s surface is shaped by everyday forces like water, wind, ice, plants, and gravity. This episode focuses on how rocks are broken down and moved, creating familiar landforms all around us.   This episode is part of a rock-solid season of It’s Good to Be Smart!—where terrible puns meet seriously important science as we dig into Earth from the inside out. From shifting plates and shaking faults to exploding volcanoes, cycling rocks, and the everyday forces that shape the ground beneath your feet, each episode uncovers how our dynamic planet really works. By the end, you’ll see Earth as one big, connected system—and you might even groan your way into becoming a geology expert.   Each season of this podcast has a different thematic focus, so if you found this episode interesting or helpful, check out the rest of the episodes in this season! Instructional resources for this episode, including the script, a thinksheet, and alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards can be accessed for free at https://goodtobesmart.com    Remember, “smart” is something we *become* as we learn new things. So, keep listening, keep learning, and keep getting smarter every day!   It’s Good to Be Smart! is created by Dr. Dave Mulder with support from the National Science Foundation through a grant from the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. (DUE-2243334). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

    9 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    Episode 05-07 - “Sedimental Value”: How Earth’s Geology Supports Life—and How Life Shapes Earth

    Earth’s geology and life are deeply connected—rocks help create soil, soil supports life, and living things reshape the land. This episode brings the series together by showing Earth as an interconnected system and exploring our role in caring for it.   This episode is part of a rock-solid season of It’s Good to Be Smart!—where terrible puns meet seriously important science as we dig into Earth from the inside out. From shifting plates and shaking faults to exploding volcanoes, cycling rocks, and the everyday forces that shape the ground beneath your feet, each episode uncovers how our dynamic planet really works. By the end, you’ll see Earth as one big, connected system—and you might even groan your way into becoming a geology expert.   Each season of this podcast has a different thematic focus, so if you found this episode interesting or helpful, check out the rest of the episodes in this season! Instructional resources for this episode, including the script, a thinksheet, and alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards can be accessed for free at https://goodtobesmart.com    Remember, “smart” is something we *become* as we learn new things. So, keep listening, keep learning, and keep getting smarter every day!   It’s Good to Be Smart! is created by Dr. Dave Mulder with support from the National Science Foundation through a grant from the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. (DUE-2243334). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

    7 min
See All Season 5 (7)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Hey friends, I’m Dr. Dave! I am a college professor and former math and science teacher, and I love to learn new things. This podcast is a chance for us to all keep learning things together, because there is always something new to discover. One of my deeply held beliefs is that “smart” is not something that you *are,* but rather it’s something you *become* as you learn new things. Sometimes you might not feel very smart; there have been plenty of times in my life when that has been the case for me! But here’s the thing: there are so many interesting, curious, mysterious, downright amazing things about this world! If you have your eyes and ears open, you can always learn something new–and get smarter in the process. So that’s the plan for this podcast: each episode will be a short burst of learning, a boost for finding out something amazing about the way this world works. I’m excited to share fascinating facts and super science stories with you in every episode.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Dave Mulder
  • Episodes
    50
  • Seasons
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    It’s Good to Be Smart!