That’s Terrible!

The Podcast Grotto
  • 5.0 (20)
  • Education for Kids
  • Updated Monthly

Welcome to That’s Terrible! — the fun, fascinating podcast where terrible things turn into amazing learning adventures for kids! Hosted by 10-year-old Amelia and her mom Erika, That’s Terrible! explores some of the world’s most shocking disasters, mysterious events and unbelievable mishaps in a kid-friendly format. Each episode features expert guests who help us understand the stories behind the headlines and the history that shaped our world. Perfect for curious kids, families, classrooms, road trips, and anyone who loves weird history and real-life mysteries! What you’ll find on That’s Terrible!: • Expert interviews that explain history and science • Educational storytelling for curious kids • Book recommendations for further learning  Subscribe and join Erika and Amelia as we ask: What terrible thing should we learn about next?

Episodes

  1. Sep 7

    The gooey, sticky flood that made Boston smell like molasses

    The Great Molasses Flood occurred on January 15, 1919 when a storage tank failed at the Purity Distilling Company in Boston's North End. Millions of gallons of hot molasses went pouring into the streets, then cooled down and thickened, creating a sticky mess. The wave swept up people and animals and destroyed buildings, and the cooled, thick molasses took so long to clean up that for decades afterward, people said they could smell it on a hot day. This week, Amelia and Erika are joined by Steve Gurriero, director of education from the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation in Waltham, Massachusetts. If you want to try Boston brown bread, we used this recipe.   Read more: I Survived the Great Molasses Flood by Lauren Tarshis. There's a graphic novel too! Leah Braves the Flood: A Great Molasses Flood Survival Story by Julie Gilbert Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puleo. This one is more for the adults!

  2. Aug 24

    Why author Alan Gratz loves putting (fictional) kids in danger

    This episode is chock full of book recommendations, so scroll all the way through the show notes for links! Amelia and Erika (and a surprise third cohost, some girl named Nora) are joined by New York Times bestselling author Alan Gratz, whose stories put fictional kids in the middle of terrible true events. He talks about how he chooses his terrible topics, his favorite themes to write about and why kids love learning about war and disasters. Be sure to check out Alan's new novella, Flight, available for preorder now.   Some of our favorite Alan Gratz historical fiction: Two Degrees. A story about climate change and Nora's favorite Projekt 1065: A Novel of World War II. (This one has spy stuff!) War Games: A Novel of 1936 Berlin Heroes. Did you know there were kids at Pearl Harbor? We didn't. Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11. Another of Nora's favorites   Some of Alan's favorite books! Save the People! by Stacy McAnulty History Smashers series by Kate Messner The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic by Allan Wolf Junius Leak and the Spiraling Vortex of Doom by Allan Wolf The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur: A Graphic Novel Based on a True Story by Allan Wolf   If you want to learn more about the Little League Baseball World Series, visit our favorite bookstore in Williamsport, Pennsylvania for a local perspective! Questions? Ideas for an upcoming episode? Email us at thepodcastgrotto@gmail.com.

  3. Aug 10

    The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and the fires that made it worse

    The morning of April 18, 1906 brought a rude awakening for residents of San Francisco, California. At 5:12 a.m., a massive earthquake struck, breaking gas lines and starting fires that burned throughout the city for days. On today's show, Erika and Amelia talk with Jack Grippi, a retired geologist who now conducts walking tours for the San Francisco Historical Society. He talks about the science behind earthquakes and tells the story of a young girl who survived.   Learn more about earthquakes here! See photos of Lily Sung and read more of her story here!   Read more about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake: I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake by Lauren Tarshis Lily and the Great Quake: A San Francisco Earthquake Survival Story by Veeda Bybee   Questions? Ideas for an upcoming episode? Email us at thepodcastgrotto@gmail.com.

  4. Jul 27

    The Radium Girls, Part 2: The fight for justice

    If you haven't listened to Part 1, we highly recommend you do before listening to this one.  The Radium Girls were factory workers who painted clock dials at the United States Radium Corporation in Orange, New Jersey and the Radium Dial Company in Ottawa, Illinois. They were well paid, and the job was fun. The paint made things glow in the dark, and the girls often used it on themselves as well, painting their dress buttons, their nails and even their teeth. Everyone in town knew who the girls were. But soon, the whole world would hear about them. What the girls didn't know was that the paint they were using, and the way they were told to use it, was very dangerous. Some got very sick. Their employers refused to help them, so the Radium Girls had to stand up for themselves. In the last episode, Erika and Amelia talked with Kate Moore, author of The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women, about the dangers of radium and how the factory workers were instructed to handle it. This week, we talk about what happened after the women got sick and how they're remembered today. If you want to read more about the Radium Girls, we recommend: The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore. This is an excellent book but definitely for the adults! Younger readers should check out the edition of Moore's book made just for them called The Radium Girls: The Scary but True Story of the Poison that Made People Glow in the Dark.  The Story of Marie Curie by Susan B. Katz and Who Was Marie Curie? by Megan Stine tell the story of the woman who discovered radium. If you want to see a sneak peek of a production of the play that inspired Kate to write her book, you can find one on YouTube from 2024 done by Columbus State University. Questions? Idea for an upcoming episode? Email us at thepodcastgrotto@gmail.com.

  5. Jul 13

    The Radium Girls, Part 1: The deadly poison that sickened factory workers

    This topic was so big, we had to split it into two episodes. Trust us: It's worth it! The Radium Girls were factory workers who painted clock dials at the United States Radium Corporation in Orange, New Jersey and the Radium Dial Company in Ottawa, Illinois. They were well paid, and the job was fun. The paint made things glow in the dark, and the girls often used it on themselves as well, painting their dress buttons, their nails and even their teeth. Everyone in town knew who the girls were. But soon, the whole world would hear about them. What the girls didn't know was that the paint they were using, and the way they were told to use it, was very dangerous. Some got very sick. Their employers refused to help them, so the Radium Girls had to stand up for themselves. In this episode, Erika and Amelia talk with Kate Moore, author of The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women. She tells us about the dangers of radium and the women who worked at the factories. In the next episode, we'll hear about how the Radium Girls fought back against the companies responsible for making them sick. If you want to read more about the Radium Girls, we recommend: The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore. This is an excellent book but definitely for the adults! Younger readers should check out the edition of Moore's book made just for them called The Radium Girls: The Scary but True Story of the Poison that Made People Glow in the Dark.  The Story of Marie Curie by Susan B. Katz and Who Was Marie Curie? by Megan Stine tell the story of the woman who discovered radium. Questions? Idea for an upcoming episode? Email us at thepodcastgrotto@gmail.com.

  6. Jun 29

    How Dave Sanderson survived the crash of US Airways Flight 1549, the Miracle on the Hudson

    On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 took off from New York's LaGuardia Airport bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, but it wouldn't get far. A few minutes after takeoff, the plane hit a flock of Canada geese, losing both engines. Captain Chesley Sullenberger III called LaGuardia and asked to come back, but he quickly realized he wouldn't have time and made the decision to land the plane in the middle of the Hudson River. Because of his quick thinking, all 155 on board survived. People called it the "Miracle on the Hudson." This week, Erika and Amelia talk with Dave Sanderson, the last passenger off the flight. He tells the story about what happened from his perspective and whether it's changed the way he feels about flying. Read Dave's story and more in this book: Brace for Impact: Miracle on the Hudson Survivors Share Their Stories of Near Death and Hope for New Life You can also read about Maverick Foletta, an eight year old who is learning to fly!   Questions? Ideas for an upcoming episode? Email us at thepodcastgrotto@gmail.com.

  7. Jun 15

    How the Eastland Disaster became the deadliest shipwreck on the Great Lakes

    July 24, 1915 should have been a wonderful day for the employees of Western Electric Company's Hawthorne Works and their families. The company had chartered five passenger steamers to carry around 7,000 people from Chicago to Michigan City, Indiana for a picnic. But one of those ships, the Eastland, capsized before it even left the docks on the Chicago River. In this episode, Ted and Barb Wachholz from the Eastland Disaster Historical Society join Erika and Amelia to tell the story of the disaster and its survivors.   Stories from the episode: Marion Eichholz  Borghild "Bobbie" Aanstad  Clara Schuster    Read more about the Eastland Disaster:   Scritch Scratch  Capsized! The Forgotten Story of the SS Eastland Disaster Sylvia's Story: The Chicago River Tragedy of the SS Eastland   If you want to replicate Ted Wachholz's "Ultimate Whitey's Experience" (which we officially do NOT recommend...but let us know if you do it), you can visit Whitey's Ice Cream in the Quad Cities.   If you want to play it a little safer, visit Maddy's Ice Cream and More in Gardner, Massachusetts and enjoy a sweet treat this summer!   Questions? Idea for an upcoming episode? Email us at thepodcastgrotto@gmail.com.

  8. Jun 1

    How a terrible war inspired the Eurovision Song Contest

    This week, Erika and Amelia are joined by Dimitry Pompée, one of the hosts of the Eurovangelists podcast, to discuss something that is NOT terrible but is affected by terrible things: The Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision is a contest that brings together the nations of Europe (plus a few others) with one great song from each country, each year. It began as a way to unite Europe in the aftermath of World War II, but many events have affected the contest in big ways, some of those being quite terrible indeed. There might have been a few terrible songs along the way too, but that's bound to happen over 70 years. If you'd like to hear some songs from Eurovision, our friends at Eurovangelists helped us make a playlist for this episode. You can find it on Spotify as That's Terrible's NOT Terrible Eurovision Playlist. So give that wolf a banana, and enjoy the music! If you'd like to tell us what you think of this or any episode, you can send us an email at thepodcastgrotto@gmail.com.

  9. May 18

    The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens

    On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens experienced the most devastating volcanic eruption the United States had ever seen. Now, on the anniversary, Erika and Amelia are talking with a park ranger who spends every day at the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center in Washington telling people about everything the mountain has to offer. Alysa Adams talks about life before, during and after the eruption, and what it's like to grow up in the shadow of a volcano. One quick correction though, because nobody's perfect: Harmony Falls was 100 feet tall, not 1,000.    Books: Gopher to the Rescue! A volcano recovery story. I Survived the Eruption of Mount Saint Helens VOLCANO: The Eruption and Healing of Mount Saint Helens   Check out these educational videos (with dancing!) Motion of the Mountain - Part 1 Motion of the Mountain - Part 2 Motion of the Mountain - Part 3   Additional educational videos: Earthquake Shake! Have a blast at our Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center! Ashcam Webcam: USGS Volcano Hazards Program Mount St Helens Visitor Center | Washington State Parks Mount St. Helens Institute | Mount St. Helens Institute GeoGirls - Mount St. Helens Science Camp | Mount St. Helens Institute   Resources for adults: Search | U.S. Geological Survey Mount St. Helens   Questions? Idea for an upcoming episode? Email us at thepodcastgrotto@gmail.com.

  10. May 4

    How the Great Chicago Fire changed the city forever

    The Great Chicago Fire occurred over three days in October 1871 and destroyed more than three square miles of the city. It began in a barn belonging to Catherine and Patrick O'Leary, but what sparked the fire and who was responsible remains a mystery to this day. The most popular theory is that a cow kicked a lantern over (probably because there's actually a song about it) but the real culprit could be as human as you and me. In this episode, Erika and Amelia talk to Ann Keating, a history professor in Naperville, Illinois about the fire and how it changed Chicago.   If you want to learn more about the fire, check out these books: The Great Chicago Fire and the Myth of Mrs. O'Leary's Cow by Richard Bales I Survived the Great Chicago Fire by Lauren Tarshis. There's also a graphic novel version.    We learned after recording this episode that Aly's Monkey Movement has ended their operations, but there's a new group taking up its cause. The Brookie Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children with neurodivergence and medical needs. Their core work is to provide resources and items for these children, but through their initiative called Brookie's Bears, they're able to provide stuffed animals that bring comfort to those who need it most.    Questions? Idea for an upcoming episode? Email us at thepodcastgrotto@gmail.com.

  11. Apr 20

    The mine fire of Centralia, Pennsylvania

    Welcome to Centralia, Pennsylvania, a town with just a few residents and a wild history. Long ago, it was a bustling coal mining town, but everything changed in 1962 when a fire broke out underground. That fire still burns today and will probably continue for 250 years.  Erika and Amelia are joined this week by David DeKok, author of Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy of the Centralia Mine Fire. He shares his theory about how the fire started and what it's like to visit Centralia today. Find more kid-friendly Centralia history here.  And don't forget to check out the Fish Doorbell and assist the lock keeper of Utrecht in The Netherlands in helping the fish move through the lock.   Questions? Idea for an upcoming episode? Email us at thepodcastgrotto@gmail.com.

  12. Apr 6

    The life and disappearance of Amelia Earhart

    Get ready for an adventure into one of history’s greatest mysteries! In this episode, hosts Amelia and Erika take to the skies to explore the incredible life—and puzzling disappearance—of pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart. Who was she? What made her such a fearless trailblazer? And what might have happened on her final flight? Joining the show is special guest Sterling Falk from the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in Atchison, Kansas, who shares fascinating facts, behind-the-scenes stories, and kid-friendly insights about Earhart’s legacy.  Packed with curiosity, history, and a dash of mystery, this episode invites young listeners to think like explorers, ask big questions, and imagine what it takes to chase your dreams—even when the journey gets tough. Special thanks this week to the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum. Also worth visiting in Atchison: the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, where Amelia herself once lived and the Atchison Area Visitor and Information Center, where we learned the town's rich history outside of aviation. If you want to read more about Amelia Earhart, here are some books we think you'll enjoy: The Amelia Six by Kristin L. Gray Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride by Pam Muñoz Ryan Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History (young readers edition) by Heith O'Brien Who Was Amelia Earhart? by Kate Boehm Jerome 20 Hours, 40 Minutes, Our Flight in the Friendship by Amelia Earhart   Questions? Idea for an upcoming episode? Email us at thepodcastgrotto@gmail.com.

  • 12 Episodes

5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Welcome to That’s Terrible! — the fun, fascinating podcast where terrible things turn into amazing learning adventures for kids! Hosted by 10-year-old Amelia and her mom Erika, That’s Terrible! explores some of the world’s most shocking disasters, mysterious events and unbelievable mishaps in a kid-friendly format. Each episode features expert guests who help us understand the stories behind the headlines and the history that shaped our world. Perfect for curious kids, families, classrooms, road trips, and anyone who loves weird history and real-life mysteries! What you’ll find on That’s Terrible!: • Expert interviews that explain history and science • Educational storytelling for curious kids • Book recommendations for further learning  Subscribe and join Erika and Amelia as we ask: What terrible thing should we learn about next?

Information

  • Creator
    The Podcast Grotto
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    That’s Terrible!