25 best educational podcasts for kids

A science show where a kid co-host and the team answer listener questions, from why cats purr to how AI learns. Smart, funny and well researched.

Kids send in big questions and the host finds experts to answer them, about nature, feelings, history and more. Gentle, warm and great for younger kids and car rides.

Two goofy hosts turn brand-new science discoveries into silly stories with sound effects. A long-time family car favorite that makes kids ask follow-up questions. Episodes run about 25 minutes.

Watch for: Host-read ads in the free feed.

Real scientists explain their work through mysteries and interviews. Each episode shows how science is done, not just what we know, which is a useful lesson in an age of AI answers.

Folk tales from around the world, acted out with music and a discussion question at the end. Calm, thoughtful and great for bedtime or quiet time.

Comedy actors turn stories written by kids into musical sketches. It is very funny, and it makes kids want to write and send in their own stories.

The history of everyday things, like birthday cakes, pencils, toilets and video games. A painless and funny way into history that families can enjoy together.

Two things go head to head in a friendly debate, like cats vs. dogs or pizza vs. tacos. Kids learn to build an argument with evidence and to change their minds.

Short, comedy-packed lessons on science, history and the arts, each built around one fun question. Episodes are quick and easy to fit into a school run.

Money questions kids actually ask, like how banks work, why things cost what they do and what taxes are. A strong, friendly start on financial literacy.

Watch for: Check for new episodes; the archive is the main draw.

A fun ethics podcast from Australia. Each episode asks a tricky question, like whether robots should have rights, and pauses so families can argue it out.

True history stories with music, humor and a quiz, chosen for the surprising bits most textbooks skip. Good for families listening together on trips. Episodes suit ages six and up.

A serialized mystery about a girl found in the ocean, told in short episodes. It builds listening stamina the way a good chapter book does, and kids beg for the next one.

A kid listens to two experts and must guess which one is lying. It teaches kids to notice when something does not add up, a key skill for spotting false claims online.

World news explained for kids, with care around scary stories and plenty of fun facts. Good for kids who hear about headlines and have questions.

A short daily news show for kids, read by former TV news reporters. Episodes are under ten minutes and balanced, so it fits into breakfast.

An interactive music show where kids clap, sing and echo rhythms back. Episodes are short and great for preschoolers who need to move. Each one ends with a song to sing back.

Kids ask wild what-if questions, like what if dogs could talk, and the host spins them into stories. Fun for imagination, writing ideas and car rides.

A radio-drama adventure about a reporter who outsmarts villains. Along the way it builds media literacy: who to trust, how to check facts and why it matters.

Radiolab's nature show for families, with songs, strange animal facts and great sound design. Beautifully produced and fun for adults too. Each episode answers one wild nature question with real scientists.

Short biographies of famous people based on the popular book series, with kid hosts asking the questions. A good bridge to the books themselves. Each episode is a short, complete life story.

Kids discuss a book together, and an actor reads part of it aloud. A gentle push toward the library and a model for talking about books.

Free audio fairy tales, myths and classic stories, read by professional narrators. The archive is huge, and the text is on the site for reading along.

Public radio's weekly science show, with interviews with researchers about new discoveries. Teens get real science news and a sense of how research works. Older episodes are free in the archive.

A daily 10-15 minute science episode from NPR about one discovery or question. A good daily habit for teens and easy to fit into a commute.