The Arthur Podcast

The World Record

17 min
Mar 23, 2023about 3 years ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

Arthur and his friends attempt to break world records individually but discover the power of teamwork when they unite to create the world's largest pizza. The episode explores themes of collaboration, problem-solving, and community involvement as the children overcome logistical challenges with help from their entire town.

Insights
  • Individual ambition can be redirected toward collective achievement with stronger outcomes
  • Community engagement and volunteer support can solve seemingly impossible logistical problems
  • Practical problem-solving requires diverse skill sets and creative thinking from team members
  • Leadership involves rallying people around a shared vision and maintaining momentum during setbacks
  • Documenting and publicizing group achievements creates additional value through media coverage
Trends
Youth-focused content emphasizing collaborative problem-solving over individual competitionIntegration of technology (drones) into creative projects and real-world applicationsCommunity-building initiatives that engage entire neighborhoods in shared goalsEducational storytelling that demonstrates project management and delegation principlesMedia partnerships and public relations as components of project success
Topics
Teamwork and collaborationWorld records and achievementProject planning and executionCommunity engagementProblem-solving under constraintsLeadership and delegationDrone technology applicationsOutdoor cooking methodsMedia relations and publicityGroup motivation and morale management
Companies
PBS Kids
Produces and distributes The Arthur Podcast as educational content for children
GBH Kids
Production partner for The Arthur Podcast in collaboration with Gen Z Media
Gen Z Media
Co-production partner for The Arthur Podcast alongside GBH Kids
PRX
Distributor of The Arthur Podcast
Elwood City Times
Local newspaper featured in episode that covers the world record pizza event
People
Arthur Reed
Main character and podcast host who initiates and leads the world record pizza project
Buster
Character whose mother is editor of the Elwood City Times; helps with media relations
Brain
Character who invents the Saucinator drone to spray pizza sauce, demonstrating innovation
Francine
Character who obtains permission from Principal Haney to use the school soccer field
Muffy
Character in charge of fundraising and securing donations for pizza ingredients
Binky
Character responsible for outdoor cooking logistics and heat distribution methods
Quotes
"I think that we could break a world record. We could get our name in the book. We'd be famous."
ArthurEarly in episode
"My idea was about working together to break a record."
ArthurMid-episode
"I thought we could break a record. But maybe the record is breaking us."
ArthurDuring challenges
"These people are here to help. Everyone came, Arthur. And they're all here to mix or knead or stir or sprinkle whatever you need."
BusterCommunity arrival
"We couldn't have done it without Arthur. He really kept us together. That was the best idea he's ever had."
BusterEpisode conclusion
Full Transcript
From your friends at PBS Kids! Hey everyone! This is the Arthur podcast and it's me Arthur Reed. I called all my friends to the treehouse today because I've got a great idea. Oh here they come they're climbing up the ladder. Hey Binky. Hey Arthur Buster. Hey Brayden. Hey Arthur. Hey Arthur. Hey Arthur. Hey Arthur. Glad you could make it. So I want to talk about this. This is the book of incredible and amazing world records. I've read the whole thing. You called us here to tell us about world records? Yes Muffy. Here's the big idea. I think that we could break a world record. We could get our name in the book. We'd be famous. What kind of records are you suggesting Arthur? It could be anything Brayden. This book is full of world records. Like, um, oh okay. So here's a guy who had 100 bees in his mouth for 10 seconds. Way too dangerous. Another guy blew 90 bubbles with a tarantula in his mouth. You'd think he would have broken the world record by just blowing one bubble with a tarantula in his mouth. Oh those are all disgusting. Aren't there any records that are more glamorous? Glamorous. Oh there was a woman who had fingernails that were 22 feet long. I love it. Oh here's a guy who tried to walk backwards all the way around the world. Backwards? I'm really good at that. I can even drink from the water fountain backwards. Oh Brayden you're like this. It lists the youngest kid who's ever used drones to make maps. I could invent a new drone use and then I'd get my name in the record book. Sure but what about a record that we could all work together to break? Nah, I'm gonna break a world record on my own. Yeah I want my name in that book. I'm gonna break the world record for um, not talking. Not talking? You? Oh I can stop anytime I want. I like bright. Wow she zipped her lips and threw away the key. She's really going for it. But my idea was about working together to break a record. You know I'm gonna break the record for the most soccer kicks in a row. Well I gotta go practice. Yeah. Wait thanks guys. I thought we would, I guess I'll have to break a world record on my own. Well podcast people what do you think? Let me check my inbox to see what kind of world record you want to break. If I were to break a world record I would grow the tallest asparagus in the world. I would climb the tallest mountain. If I were to break a world record I would eat the most pizza. I want to break a running world record because I run so fast. I want to break a world record for the longest drum soap. The first person to read one thousand million books? Because I love reading books. Those are great ideas. I gotta come up with my own. Tomorrow records will be broken. Well podcast people my plan is to break the record with chewing gum. 108, 109. Arthur if I keep kicking this ball I could break the world record today. Cool Franchine. Hey Muffy. She's not talking. Remember 110, 111. Oops. Buster. And he knocked my ball too. Now I gotta start all over. Sorry I'm still getting used to these rear view mirrors. If you want to walk backwards you have to see backwards too. So I put my bike mirrors on my backpack. What record are you breaking Arthur? I'm trying this gum. Like forever. Cool. What's Binky doing over there at the picnic tables? Let's go see. But watch out. I make wide turns. Hey Binky. What you doing? I'm making the world's largest bridge built out of popsicle sticks but I don't know if I can do it. I feel sick. I must have eaten 25 popsicles. You know my mom once made a popsicle stick lampshade out of 400 popsicle sticks. Wow. She must have a stomach of steel. No. She bought her popsicle sticks at a craft store. What? Oh. I wish I'd known that before I ate all these popsicles. I don't know about this record thing Arthur. I'm getting kind of tired kicking a soccer ball around all by myself. I'm definitely out. What if we go back to my first idea? We all break a record together. Hey. Can you find us a group record to break? Let me look in the book. Okay. 10 friends once ate 60 worms in a minute. Not a chance. Oh. I spoke. Oh. Yeah. I'm terrible at being quiet. I'm never doing that again. And our Muffy is back. Hey. Here's a record. We're going to try to make the world's largest pizza. Why not? Okay. We don't have to eat the world's largest pizza, right? Just make it. The whole town will eat it. Okay. I'm in. I'm in too. But I'm still going to try to break the backwards walking record. I'm really getting the hang of these new mirrors. Wait. I see someone. Is that brain? Get out of the way. It's going to spray you. What's he saying? And what's that flying thing? It's a lawn watering drone. I haven't worked the kinks out. Brain! Brain! Make it stop. It's soaking my hair. I can't stop it. That's the kink I haven't worked out. I'll hit it with my soccer ball. Well, that's one way to stop it. Brain, we were thinking maybe we could all make the world's largest pizza. Instead of our own records? I don't know. Drones are cool. We really need your help to figure it out. Yeah. There's no oven big enough. And how much mozzarella do we need? Hmm. Trying to cook the world's largest pizza is a pretty fascinating idea. I'll have to do a complicated cheese to sauce the crust ratio. Okay. I'm in. Let me get rid of this gum. My jaw is killing me. Okay. Muffy, you're in charge of getting donations. The ingredients for the pizza are going to cost a lot of money. I'll start with the generous head of frost fire motors. Like daddy. And how are we going to cook this thing? At camp, we bake potatoes in tin foil in the coals of the campfire. We can't make that big a campfire, Binky. We burn the town down. But the suggestion of using aluminum is a good one. It's an excellent heat conductor. If we put hot coals between two layers of tin foil, we can evenly distribute the heat around the crust. When it comes to eating outside, I know a thing or two. Okay. So Binky and Rain are in charge of our outdoor cooking. But where are we going to cook this? A soccer field. Perfect. Francine, can you get permission from Principal Haney to use the school field? On it. And Arthur, can you get tin foil and barbecue coals from your dad's catering business? Check. Without the press, Arthur, we want our picture in the paper. And this can be a real marketing opportunity for our sponsors. Buster can help with that. His mom is the editor of the Elwood City Times. Buster, can you ask your mom to send a reporter out? Oodloo. What? I thought I'd try talking backwards too. Oodloo is will do. You sound kind of like an alien. Cool. Focus, people. We have a pizza to make. Bye, everyone. Podcast listeners, this is huge. I mean, literally, this pizza is going to be huge. It was my idea, so I hope we can pull it off. Okay, bye for now. I have a lot to do. Okay, podcast people, it's been a very busy few days. But everybody did their parts, and I think we're ready. Dad and I are driving to the soccer field now. I think you're ready too, Arthur. I talked everyone into doing this, so I really hope it works. I'll be there to help. And bonus, I'll learn how to cater a giant-sized pizza too. Here we are. Wow. Look at all the people at the field already. Hey, Banky. Hey, Brain. How's it going? We got out here at 6 a.m. and got all the tinfoil spread out. The circle has a 252-foot diameter, so we can beat the record by one foot. Yep. And then we got the charcoal on it. This is the last bag. And... yeah. Okay, Banky. Let's get the second layer of tinfoil stretched on top of the coals. Then we'll be ready for the dough. Great. Francine and Muffy are mixing it over there. Hey, Francine. Muffy. How are you doing with the dough? Oh, terrible. Muffy and I have been mixing forever. And we only have half the dough we need. And we haven't even started grating the cheese. Oh, no. Tinfoil is down. Finally. Arthur, were these tomatoes supposed to be mashed into sauce already? Oh, boy. What are we going to do? We'll get into the book of world records as failures. I can see the headline now. Giant Pizza Fiasco. Thanks a lot, Francine. Sorry, Arthur. I'm a journalist at heart. I'm taking a break. Me too. That charcoal was really heavy. But you gotta keep working. We'll never get this done. Arthur, if I don't stop mixing dough, my arms are going to fall off. Everybody, take five. Podcast listeners, this is bad. Nothing is ready and my friends are exhausted. I thought we could break a record. But maybe the record is breaking us. Come on, everybody. Follow me. What's that? Come on, let's go. You mean who's that? I think it's Buster. And it looks like he's got the whole town behind him. Well, in front of him, he's still walking backwards. No, Buster, we aren't ready for the press yet. It's okay, Arthur. These people are here to help. Wow. Everyone came, Arthur. And they're all here to mix or knead or stir or sprinkle whatever you need. Oh, yeah, this is great. Maybe we can do this. Hand me that bullhorn. Everyone, let's make the world's biggest pizza. 500 pounds of flour isn't going to mix itself, people. Get mixing. Looking good. Next up is Keeps Your Binky. Good job, Buster. All right, everyone. Knead that dough. Put your dough on the table and punch down. Huh. That's it. Huh. As it gets firm, start combining your dough balls together. Got it. That's it. Arthur, the dough is ready to roll. Great. Let's carry the dough over to the tinfoil grill. That's it, people. You can do it. I didn't know about this. You got this. Arthur, we made mega rolling pins. They're baseball bats coated with plastic wrap. Awesome, brain. Everybody, let's roll. Get that side flatter. Looking great, people. Keep those bats rolling. Almost there. Okay, Arthur. Dough is down. What's next? Sauce. Arthur, how are we going to get the sauce into the middle of the dough without stepping on it? Oh. I didn't think of that. Wait, Arthur. I have an idea. Podcast, people. Brain took off and he hasn't come back yet. I hope he comes through. Is that brain? Is that a flying garden hose? I can't believe it. Brain is flying his long watering drone to the pizza. Arthur, catch this hose and throw the end into the sauce. Whoa. Okay, got it. Tube going into sauce. Oh, I hope this works. I'm calling my invention the Saucinator. I modified the motor to handle the extra weight of the sauce. It should spray the sauce over the dough. Here goes. Listeners, it's in the air. Brain is steering it to the center of the pizza. It's sauce time. Yes, he has achieved total saucillation. The sauce is being sprayed all over the pizza. Oh, brain. Oh, brain. Arthur, you did it. Okay, next step. People, it's time to get cheesy. Let's make a conga line of cheese, everybody. Okay, grab yourself some plastic gloves and a bucket of shredded cheese. Now everybody make a circle around the pizza crust. And cheesy, cheesy, cheese, throw. Cheesy, cheesy, throw. Cheesy, cheesy, throw. Cheesy, cheesy, throw. That's it, Arthur. We're out of cheese. Okay, people, my dad is going to like the cold. And then we let him cook. Well, podcast people, I think we did it. The biggest cheese pizza in the world is cooking. And now there's just the sound of sizzling cheese. Ah. Arthur, where are you? I have the newspaper people with me. Whoa. Oh, buster. Sorry, still not great with the mirrors. Arthur, my mom's here with a photographer from the paper. My goodness, Arthur. This pizza certainly is enormous. And we've measured it, Ms. Baxter. It's 252 feet across. It definitely breaks the record. Amazing. But does it taste good? The proof is in the pizza. You get the first slice. Mmm. That is the most delicious, gigantic pizza I've ever had. Yay! Let's take that picture for the paper. Everyone say, pizza cheese. Pizza cheese. And you know what, mom? We couldn't have done it without Arthur. He really kept us together. That was the best idea he's ever had. Arthur! Arthur! Arthur! We're record breakers. We did it, everyone. Now let's eat. Well, podcast people, we did it. Mmm. I think enormous pizza might be yummier than regular-sized pizza. Come on, Arthur. Come get another slice with me. Tummy buster, here you next time, podcast people. You've been listening to the Arthur podcast. Hey, parents, do you want your kids to answer my next inbox question? First, go to the Arthur website at pbskids.org to find out what I'll be asking. Then email me a voice recording of your child's response to Arthur at wgbh.org. Your child's answer might even be featured on a future podcast. That's the show, Podcast Nation. If you liked it, ask your grown-up to subscribe so you don't miss any new episodes. You can listen to all our podcasts, play games, and more at pbskids.org. The Arthur podcast is produced for PBS Kids by GBH Kids in partnership with Gen Z Media and distributed by PRX. Thanks for listening and have a wonderful kind of day. And I sing, hey, for a wonderful kind of day. If you could learn to work and play, and get along with each other. You got to listen to your heart, listen to the beat, listen to the rhythm, the rhythm on the street. Open up your eyes, open up your ears, get together and make things better. GBH Kids. Support for this podcast and the following message for parents comes from Ikea. As a parent, you child-proof everything. Well, almost everything. You may not have thought about one thing, and that's securing your dressers and chests to the wall. It helps avoid dangerous tip-over accidents. Secure it from Ikea. Working to create safer homes together. From PRX.