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Let's Dive In

RTÉ Kids 38 Episodes Dec 5, 2025

Phil and Julie answer children's big and small questions about life, the universe, and everything in it on this family-friendly podcast. With topics ranging from planets and farts to emotions and pirates, each episode is a journey of discovery. They set up experiments, talk to experts, and follow unexpected rabbit holes to satisfy young curiosities. The show is made in conjunction with Science Foundation Ireland.

Episodes

S4 Episode 5 – Woah Nelly! What’s your birthday? Dec 5, 2025 799 How do you tell a horses age? Phil and Julie discover how vets read teeth, hooks and wear patterns, and explore record-breaking long-lived animals in this fun, fact-packed episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S4 Episode 4 – What a spectacle! How do glasses help us see? Nov 28, 2025 836 How do glasses and contact lenses help us see? With help from real optometrists, Phil and Julie explore eye shapes, “pancake” lenses, and why natural light keeps vision healthy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S4 Episode 3 - How so sleepy, Mr Hedgehog? Nov 19, 2025 680 How do hedgehogs survive months of hibernation? Collie Ennis tells Phil & Julie how heart rate, body temperature, and stored fat keep these tiny mammals alive all winter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S4 Episode 2 – How come heavy trees can stay standing? Nov 14, 2025 687 How do massive trees stay upright? Nick from Redwood Trees talks about roots, pith wood, and flexible fibres let them sway in wind without falling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S4 Episode 1 – How do engines work? Nov 12, 2025 559 Phil & Julie explain how car engines turn fuel into movement, from tiny explosions to electric motors, with fun, science, and plenty of laughs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 Episode 10 - Telescopes in space Feb 9, 2023 1011 Julie & Phil journey into space with Astronaut Bruce Melnick to find out how the biggest telescopes get up there, and why they’re up there in the first place.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 Episode 9 - What is blood and what is it good for? Feb 2, 2023 866 Dive into your blood with Julie and Phil and paediatrician Dr. Cilian Ó Maoldomhnaigh to find out how important it really is.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 Episode 8 - What happens if you fall into a Black Hole? Jan 26, 2023 784 Alan Foster joins Phil and Julie from Antarctica once more to explain what might happen if you fell into the gravitational pull of a dying star. Who likes spaghetti?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 Episode 7 – Why are insects so important? Jan 19, 2023 789 Julie and Phil join forces once more with Critter Shed bug expert Collie Ennis to find out why these tiny creatures are of such huge importance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 Episode 6 – What happens if the sun explodes? Jan 12, 2023 787 10 year old Bobby asks a catastrophic question but Phil and Julie ask scientist Alan Foster for a detailed and somewhat reassuring answer. Because he’s just spent 9 months in Antarctica, 6 months of that without any sun.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 Episode 5 - How does a snail grow its shell? Dec 15, 2022 723 Julie and Phil join forces with Critter expert Collie Ennis to find out how snails grow their shells.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 Episode 4 - What are memories? Dec 8, 2022 680 Julie and Phil speak with memory expert Ciara Greene to find out where and how memories are made in the brain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 Episode 3 - How many organs can you live without? Dec 1, 2022 659 Julie and Phil dive into the human body with Tissue Handling Technician Hannah McGivern to find out how many organs you can live without.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 Episode 2 - What time is it on the International Space Station? Nov 24, 2022 682 Julie and Phil welcome retired NASA astronaut Bruce Melnick back to the show to talk about the time in space.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S3 Episode 1 - Why do animals make noises and not talk like humans? Nov 17, 2022 769 Julie and Phil talk with Simon Watt to find out what noise-making kits different animals have.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're back! Nov 16, 2022 52 The podcast returns for Science Week 22 with 10 inspirational, investigational and altogether illuminating new episodes. Starts Thursday 17th NovemberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2 Episode 10 - What is science? Nov 11, 2021 1408 Our bold presenters dive in to science itself! To explore what science and scientific research are with contributors from across the series.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2 Episode 9 - What are contrails? Nov 4, 2021 1086 Julie and Phil join Red Arrows pilot Nick Critchell to find out that jet planes have magical powers like Elsa from Frozen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2 Episode 8 - People Colours, and why don’t we have stripes? Oct 27, 2021 1511 Why are we all different colours? And why aren't we stripy or spotty like the other animals? Julie and Phil dive in!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2 Episode 7 – Are there different types of water? Oct 21, 2021 1421 Barring earwax, for the first time Julie and Phil can actually dive into this topic with Phil’s Dad, Brian, to talk about how drinking water makes it to our taps. And a lot more splashy goodness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2 Episode 6 - Elbow deep in earwax Oct 14, 2021 1348 Julie and Phil speak to two audiologists to find out what earwax is, what its for, and whether your ears sneeze in order to get it out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2 Episode 5 - How did the giraffe get such a long neck? Oct 7, 2021 1399 To answer a question from 7 year old Ben, Julie and Phil speak to a real life Tarzan about giraffes and their long necks, and to zookeeper Tom about how to look after giraffes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2 Episode 4 - Why are there no wild snakes in Ireland? Sep 30, 2021 1224 Julie and Phil meet Critter Shed Head Honcho Collie Ennis to find out why this tube-of-crisps shaped animal isn’t native to Ireland, and why it’s such a great predator.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2 Episode 3 - Suncream in space with Astronaut Bruce Melnick Sep 23, 2021 1787 Phil and Julie launch into space with a real live astronaut and a satellite engineer to find out if astronauts, and satellites, wear suncream up in space.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2 Episode 2 - The fart should be respected Sep 16, 2021 1533 Join Phil and Julie as they Dive In to your mouth and follow your dinner to see how it gets turned into farts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

S2 Episode 1 – Why do tadpoles blow bubbles? Sep 9, 2021 1270 Julie and Phil are joined by Kurt Schwenk, a biologist at the University of Connecticut in the USA to dive in to find out how tadpoles breathe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 10 – Spiders! Jan 25, 2021 1623 Alice and Florence caught a wolf spider in their house, and asked why do spiders have 8 eyes, and we only have two? Julie and Phil met Collie Ennis of the Critter Shed to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 9 – Why do leaves fall at different times? Jan 18, 2021 1432 Nova asked a tricky question about trees so Phil and Julie find an expert arborist, Nick Rose who answers it and so much more. Plus, an experiment for you to do at home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 8 - Telescope Jan 11, 2021 1082 How far can you see with a telescope? Julie and Phil are joined by Space Pirate Lana to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

07 – Oh Christmas Tree! Dec 21, 2020 1033 In a festive special, Phil and Julie meet an arborist who knows all there is to know about trees. And, in this particular episode, those green spiky ones we all have in our corners right now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Six - Why is the sea salty? Dec 14, 2020 1644 Phil and Julie literally dive in to the Southern Ocean with oceanographer Nick up in Norway to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 5 - Walking on Jupiter Dec 7, 2020 1137 Can you walk on Jupiter? Julie and Phil Dive right to the centre of the giant planet to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 4 - Heart pump Nov 30, 2020 1336 Why does the heart pump? Phil and Julie take a trip into the heart to find out why and how it needs to keep beating.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 3 - Colours Nov 23, 2020 971 Is black a colour, or is white? The kids can’t agree so Phil and Julie try different experiments with paints and lasers to find out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 2 - Explosions! Nov 16, 2020 1383 How do scientists (and pirates) make explosions? Shipmates Julie and Phil are joined by a special guest as they make tiny rockets and slow burning fuses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 1 - Why do you talk? Nov 9, 2020 905 Julie and Phil have a fun-filled adventure into the larynx as they find out how we talk, but also why! Expect baby noises, cats and to make some silly sounds (and faces!).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing... Let's Dive In Nov 2, 2020 56 Phil and Julie dive in to children’s questions about life, the universe and everything in it. Whether it’s about planets, farts, emotions or even pirates, you’ll be amazed, astonished and intrigued as they set up experiments, speak to experts and take you down a rabbit hole to discover new things. Available weekly from Monday 9th November.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's Dive In

Episodes

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