Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family

We’re back! Brains On Universe has a new headquarters

8 min
Oct 8, 20256 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

BrainsOn, a science and history podcast network, announced its transition to full independence and launched a 2026 live tour across 11 North American cities. The team showcased their new headquarters with humorous facility upgrades and introduced a membership-based funding model (SmartyPass) to sustain their shows.

Insights
  • Educational podcast networks are shifting toward audience-supported independent models as traditional funding becomes scarcer
  • Live touring and meet-and-greet experiences are becoming critical revenue and engagement drivers for podcast networks
  • Direct audience membership programs are replacing ad-dependent models for quality educational content creators
  • Podcast networks are diversifying content verticals (science, history, debate) to build broader audience bases and cross-promote
  • Community co-creation (audience submissions for headquarters features) strengthens listener investment and brand loyalty
Trends
Podcast independence movement: Educational networks transitioning from traditional media backing to direct audience supportLive experience monetization: Podcast networks expanding into touring, meet-and-greets, and in-person events as revenue streamsMembership-based podcast funding: Shift from ad-supported to subscription models (SmartyPass) for sustainable content productionMulti-show network strategy: Single production teams managing multiple branded shows to maximize audience reach and operational efficiencyAudience co-creation engagement: Listener submissions and participation in content decisions driving community investmentKids and family podcast growth: Educational content for younger audiences becoming viable independent business model
Topics
Podcast network independence and business model transitionAudience-supported subscription funding for podcastsLive event touring and monetization for podcast networksEducational content production for children and familiesPodcast network organizational structure and operationsCommunity engagement and listener participation strategiesMulti-show podcast network managementDirect-to-audience marketing and membership programsScience and history education through audio contentPodcast sponsorship and revenue diversification
People
Molly Bloom
Host and co-founder of BrainsOn Universe; leads show production and audience engagement for independent podcast network
Sandin
Co-founder and team member of BrainsOn Universe responsible for show production and operations
Mark
Co-founder and team member of BrainsOn Universe involved in show production and headquarters setup
Joy
Host of Forever Ago podcast within BrainsOn Universe; manages show production and creative direction
Quotes
"BrainsOn is now a fully independent podcast. That means me, Sandin, and Mark are responsible for running everything in the BrainsOn universe."
Molly Bloom
"Shows like ours are getting harder and harder to find, but you love learning about real science and history from real people, so we know we can count on you."
Molly Bloom
"Every cent goes right to the BrainsOn universe, so we can keep making these shows forever and ever."
Molly Bloom
"Shows like ours don't happen without you."
Molly Bloom
Full Transcript
Friends, we are so super duper excited to tell you that we just added a bunch more cities to our 2026 live show tour. Get ready for singing, dancing, magic tricks, game shows, mystery sounds, and scientists falling from the sky. In a totally safe way, we promise. Plus, there's a chance for you to attend special meet and greet parties in every city. So come on! This spring we're coming to Milwaukee, St. Paul. Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Chattanooga, Durham. San Francisco, Portland, Buffalo, Toronto, and Ann Arbor. We're basically going to be everywhere. Look behind you. Are we there? No? Well, we probably will be soon. Head over to BrainsOn.org slash events for tickets. And make sure you grab passes to our meet and greet party. You get to ask us questions, take pictures with us, and I'll even do some close-up magic. That's BrainsOn.org slash events. Can't wait to see you. Broadcasting from the BrainsOn Universe, it's me, Molly Bloom. And yeah, we are so back. Place that box over there, Mark. You got it, Molly. Oh, careful, San. Don't drop that one. It is full of black holes. But you can drop that other one. It's just full of regular holes. That explains why it's so light. Oh, hey! Welcome to our new headquarters. We are busy moving in, lots of boxes everywhere, but you can really see all the potential. See, we told you we'd be back and we're back. New BrainsOn episodes start in October. Smash Boom Best is back later in the year and Forever Ago returns in 2026. We're stoked. And over the summer, a lot changed. For starters, I got bangs. Do you love them? Thanks, me too. Yes, but also, we've gone independent. Oh, right. I should have led with that. BrainsOn is now a fully independent podcast. That means me, Sandin, and Mark are responsible for running everything in the BrainsOn universe. We make the shows. We pay the bills. We get ourselves coffee. It also means we are now audience-supported. Shows like ours are getting harder and harder to find, but you love learning about real science and history from real people, so we know we can count on you. The best way to help is to join SmartyPass. In addition to getting all the warm fuzzies for supporting the BrainsOn universe, you get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus content, plus we do live online hangouts with members all the time. You can even get a special custom message from me, Molly, or Mark. Super fun. Go to BrainsOn.org and join now. If you are already a SmartyPass member, thank you. Thank you so much. We'll keep you in the club. If you haven't joined yet, now is the time. Every cent goes right to the BrainsOn universe, so we can keep making these shows forever and ever. Okay, let's show them around, shall we? First off, we've upgraded our echoes. Our old place had normal echoes, but this one has smart echoes. Check it out. I can change how it sounds, like robot mode, echo, echo, or sports announcer mode, echo, echo, or even dolphin mode, echo. Oh, over here is the taco farm. You'll notice we've expanded. Check out those burrito bushes. Oh, and the nacho trees. Not quite right yet. We switched the slide room for a zipline room. The BrainsOn pool has been upgraded to an indoor ocean. Oh, and get this, we replaced the chocolate milk fountains with milk chocolate fountains. So gooey. Going up. Oh, and SmashBoom Best has its own floor. But they can't tell you anything about the weather. Who cares? I've got googly eyes. What more do you need? Ah, they're arguing the age-old question, which is better, wind socks or sock puppets. And just above this, it's the forever ago floor. Joy said she's decorating it today. Whoa! Settle down, little doggie. Yeah! Um, Joy, why is there a full-on rodeo in your new headquarters? It's part of the decorating process. Haven't you ever set up a full-scale rodeo to help you figure out where to place your lamps and plants and beanbag chairs before? Huh? Hmm? Um, you know, I haven't. It's very innovative, but oh, Joy, that bull is charging at your bookshelves. Uh, he's helping me move it with his horns angrily. Oh, is that horse supposed to be chewing on your wall art? Uh, yes, obviously. This isn't my first rodeo. Okay, you know, I'm not sure why a rodeo is involved at all, but you know, you do you, Joy. You're amazing. We love you. See you later. Later! I gotta go rope that steer. It knows which box has my fridge magnets in it. Come on! Yee-haw! And over here we have... Well, this room is empty. In fact, a lot of rooms are still empty. What should go in here? We want your ideas. Yeah, go to BrainsOn.org and tell us about a room or new feature you want to add to our headquarters. It could be a random cloud generator room or, I don't know, a snail emporium? Or a room for all my best actor awards! Sandin, you don't have any best actor awards. Yeah, because I have nowhere to put them, Molly. Share your idea. Describe it or draw it and send it to us at BrainsOn.org slash Contact. We'll feature your ideas in the show. And now, since we're an independent company and we needed a CEO and he really wanted a job, here is our chief executive officer, Gangador. Hello! World's loudest CEO here! Gangador! When not busy with sock market, sock tip, always buy Argyle. Gangador, working hard to make BrainsOn universe best company ever! Gangador, working hard for you! Please support by joining SmartyPass! You'll subscribe, BrainsOn universe thrives! Okay, one more sock tip. Nobody cares if your socks match. It's how you wear them! Thanks, boss! Like he said, join SmartyPass to keep BrainsOn in action. Head to BrainsOn.org. Shows like ours don't happen without you. And if you're a parent who wants to know more about how we're running things now and how you can help, get in touch. We would love to chat. Okay, should we take a break from unpacking and go to the pickleball room? Ooh, I love a pickleball. I'll go get my racket. Oh, I'm sorry, Molly. I think you misunderstood. It's not a pickleball room. It's a pickleball room. Yeah, you know, a big fancy room with chandeliers where you can dance while eating pickles. Woo! Time to dance! Even better. Okay, friends, keep an ear out for new BrainsOn episodes soon. Smash boom after that and forever ago next year. And thank you for sticking with us. Thanks for stopping by! See you later! Bye!