The following is a list of a few wonderful podcasts written and designed for children and young adults, in no particular order. The age ranges provided are my suggestions for a minimum age (unless the podcast itself has provided one), but of course they may be enjoyed by older kids (and even adults!).

1. Noodle Loaf

Noodle Loaf is 10-minute episodes of interactive music creation and goofiness, hosted by a dad who specialized in music education and his two kids. It is unbearably adorable and well designed — they even have a little choir kids can join, by getting recorded singing the theme song, which has built up into an impressive number of kids’ voices. Noodle Loaf boasts active engagement that would make for a lovely time to spend with a child, with games that don’t get stale and go through a hearty rotation.

Age Range: 3-9 years

Listen: Apple | Stitcher

2. But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

But Why answers questions from kids who want experts to tackle all their questions about anything under the sun, from why turtles have shells to how hurricanes form to what’s up with different cultural beliefs in fairy tales. They’re often recorded on location where possible, creating a great soundscape to identify with the theme of the episode, and the host sometimes breaks into the recording to highlight cool parts that may have been missed.

Age Range: 3-9 years

Listen: Apple | Stitcher

3. What If World

I love this podcast where the creator, Eric O’Keeffe, takes what-if questions from his young listeners and invents an entire story out of them in the episode. Mr. Eric is joined early on by Petey the Pirate, like the classic kids TV shows with companion puppets, and Petey’s growly voice and easily excited nature sets the perfect tone against the soft bed music. Later on, Mr. Eric is joined by more voices and characters! This is such great improvisational storytelling for the entire family to enjoy together.

Age Range: 5-11 years

Listen: Apple | Stitcher

4. Pants on Fire

A key skill in the age of digital access to information is being able to identify lies and falsehoods, tools which are only learned through practice. Pants on Fire is a podcast game show, where a kid goes up against two adults, only one of whom is an expert on the topic of the episode. It helps kids learn how to ask questions and analyze information given. And it’s a lot of fun to play along with! This is an outstanding podcast from Gen-Z Media’s line-up (and particularly good for road trips).

Age Range: 6-12 years

Listen: Apple | Stitcher

5. Tumble

For the brains who want to learn about science, Tumble explores stories about science discovery, both in historical senses and in thinking about the future. The two hosts, Lindsay and Marshall, talk with scientists about their niche topics — like what would Earth be like if volcanoes didn’t exist — while keeping it fun with puns and their jokey back and forth. The balance between easy humor and more middle grade vocabulary makes this a balanced podcast for many ages.

Age Range: 6-12 years

Listen: Apple | Stitcher

6. Flyest Fables

This hopepunk connected anthology fiction podcast is a shot to the heart of the Narnia, Middle Earth, and The Never-Ending Story atmosphere of storytelling. Starting with the discovery of a magic book bearing the name of our first protagonist Antoine, Flyest Fables tackles magic and quests alongside growing up and conquering fear with honest and excited design. Morgan Givens has a gift for sound design and for performance, and has clearly communicated a vision that engages young and adult audiences in empathetic stories.

Age Range: 7-12 years

Listen: Apple | Stitcher

7. Timestorm

Created by the powerhouse team behind Cocotazo Media, Timestorm centers on Puerto Rican twins Alexa and Benito Ventura, and their lives as they time travel in order to observe and record history of their ancestors. The representation here is strong in creators and cast, as well as in the message it sends about histories that have been erased by colonization and oppression. It takes a positive and hopeful outlook, even when characters are grappling with the oncoming Hurricane María, in school bullying, and keeping their time travel a secret.

Age Range: 8-12 years

Listen: Apple

8. The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel

This serialized mystery podcast is a must-have in any kids audio playlist. Mars Patel is hot on the case of his missing friend Aurora, for whom he is recording all the adventures of him and his friends. This is high quality sound design, amazing acting by middle grade kids, and dedication spent into making it a holistically fun experience — the ads by Pruitt Prep include quizzes and brainteaser riddles whose solutions are found on the Pruitt Prep website.

Age Range: 8-12 years

Listen: Apple | Stitcher

9. The Radio Adventures of Eleanor Amplified

This fiction series follows an intrepid radio reporter, Eleanor Amplified, on all her journeys in pursuit of The Big Story. She’s a wonderful hero, sassy and focused and brave, all while she foils evil villains and their nefarious plots. It’s got a vibe straight from classic pulp superheroes, with distinctive character voices and wildly colorful locations. And they have Road Trip Editions for each of the three seasons!

Age Range: 8-12 years

Listen: Apple | Stitcher

10. Fate & the Fablemaidens

This is a delightful family-friendly D&D actual play, played entirely by women, and constructed carefully so that listeners don’t need to be familiar with the system in order to enjoy their storytelling. They are goofy and fun, great at staying in-character with minimal table talk, which makes it easier to follow the story and pacing, aided by snappy rapport and good editing. Renee Rhodes, the Dungeon Master, does a fantastic job narrating the scenes, helping to illuminate what’s happening and fully embodying different people the players encounter.

Age Range: 9-13 years

Listen: Apple | Stitcher

11. The Past & the Curious

This history podcast for kids is so entertaining, I listen to it by myself.  They’ve got great subject matter, like historical hoaxes, shipwrecks, and 1930s women musicians, and all of them are well-researched and written. To keep it invigorating, they’ve got original themed songs and fun segments like Quiz Time, just to make sure you’re paying attention. This is a labor of love, and it shows in the quality of engagement possible here.

Age Range: 8-14 years

Listen: Apple | Stitcher

12. Lethal Lit: A Tig Torres Mystery

On the higher end of the young adult spectrum is Lethal Lit, a fictional true crime podcast about Tig Torres trying to clear her aunt’s name of being labeled the Lit Killer, a serial killer that plagued the town of Hollow Falls with methods pulled from classic literature. It’s a completed storyline with immersive sound design, and Rebeca Soler knocks it out of the park as Torres, a great hero to have in the spotlight.

Age Range: 14+ years

Listen: Apple | Stitcher

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