Podcasts are a terrific way to learn something new, whether you’re at home, in the car, or in the classroom. They cover a wide variety of topics, so there’s something to interest pretty much everyone. These podcasts for kids and teens are sure to engage young listeners and start interesting conversations. Plus, we’ve suggested enrichment activities to go along with each one!
Disclaimer: We’ve divided the list by grade level because some might be more intense or cover more mature topics than is appropriate for younger students. You are the best judge for your own kids or students, though, so we recommend vetting all material before sharing.
Best Podcasts for Kids in Elementary School
Circle Round
Circle Round adapts folktales from around the world into music-rich radio plays for kids. Each episode explores universal themes like friendship, persistence, creativity, and generosity, and ends with an activity that inspires a deeper conversation between children and grown-ups. This is one of those podcasts for kids that appeals to adults too!
Activity to try: Print the free coloring page that goes along with each episode and let kids use their crayons or markers while they listen.
Radiolab for Kids Presents: Terrestrials
Life on Earth can be awfully strange, don’t you think? The folks at Radiolab, creators of popular podcasts for adults and teens, produce this special series just for kids. Each episode has accompanying “shovels,” which are activities to help kids dig deeper. This one is perfect for the classroom.
Activity to try: The drawing prompts for each episode are really unique. Have kids complete them, then display them on a bulletin board or slideshow for others to see.
Little Stories for Tiny People
These original audio stories are filled with whimsy and wonder for young listeners and their families.
Activity to try: Let kids write, illustrate, and make a recording of their own original story.
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
Kids have all kinds of curious questions—it’s one of the things we love most about them! This production, from Vermont Public Radio, tackles such topics as Why Do People Have Nightmares?, Do Animals Get Married?, and Why Do Lions Roar?
Activity to try: Have kids start a log, using a special notepad, of all the crazy questions they can think of. They should take the notebook with them everywhere they go.
The Big Fib
In an era of fake news, kids need to be able to determine what’s true and what’s false. And what better way to do that than a game show that puts kids in the driver’s seat, adults on the hot seat, and a sound-effects robot strapped to the roof? Each week, a kid interviews two experts on a particular topic, one of whom is a genuine, credentialed expert, the other a liar. Hilarious and fast-paced, the show teaches kids to ask insightful questions, weigh the evidence before them, and trust their gut.
Activity to try: Play an in-class or at-home version of Two Truths and a Lie to polish truth-telling skills.
KidNuz
There’s a whole lot going on in the world these days, and not all of the news is kid-friendly. KidNuz informs in a way that explains but doesn’t overload kids. Their mission statement says it all: “To engage the next generation with news that will inform without fear and educate without opinion.”
Activity to try: Pick an issue and do a “deep dive.” Specifically, look for the upside of a situation—people helping people, people bonding together, etc.
Short and Curly
A fun-filled podcast for kids all about ethical questions that get kids and adults thinking. “Do you have to love your sibling?” “Are some lies actually OK?” “Is it ever OK to fight back against a bully?”
Activity to try: Have your students write down questions to which they don’t know the answers and discuss them (after vetting them, of course).
Tumble
If you’re looking for science podcasts for kids, this one tells stories about science discoveries with help from actual scientists. They explore things like why cats always seem to land on their feet and what a journey to the center of the earth would look like.
Activity to try: Discuss the topic of any given episode as a class, opening it up to questions and encouraging further research.
The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd
Follow the ongoing battle between Dr. Floyd and the evil mastermind Dr. Steve (along with his sock-shaped assistant, Fidgert). During all their fighting, Dr. Floyd learns about history. With more than 400 episodes, there are plenty to choose from.
Activity to try: Have students write their own episodes, including a historical event that they love or that you have covered in class.
Brains On!
“Brains On!” features science and kids. The host and her kid co-host talk with food scientists and snake handlers, put on plays, write songs, and so much more. It’s a science lesson for your ears!
Activity to try: Listen to the episode “Books: How they’re made and how your brain reads them.” Afterward, have a discussion with your class about the many ways that reading is great for them.
Storynory
This is an online treasure trove of free audio stories. You can listen to a mixture of original stories, fairy tales, and specially adapted myths and histories. Storynory has published an episode every week since 2005, so there is plenty to love and something for everyone.
Activity to try: Have students write an original short story and then present it to the class.
What If World
In search of podcasts for curious kids? Every two weeks, the creative host of this podcast takes questions from kids and spins them into an entertaining tale. Check out What If Clouds Were Made of Cotton Candy? or What If Magic Didn’t Exist?
Activity to try: Make a top-10 list of your own What-Ifs. Write a story, create a comic strip, or make a drawing to go with your favorites.
The Rez
In a distant future that’s either really bad or really good (depending on whose side you’re on), two strange and unlikely champions embark on a series of adventures to stop a wicked A.I., and in the process must struggle to understand “old-fashioned” ideas like “kindness” and “just hanging out not doing much.”
Activity to try: Start a discussion on how devices such as smartphones impact students’ interactions with the people around them. Discuss the pros and cons of technology and the things we can do to be more connected with each other.
Treasure Island 2020
James Hawkins helps his mom run a motel in modern-day Montauk, Long Island. When a mysterious man washes up on the beach with a treasure map tattooed on his chest, James discovers that Billy Bones is, in fact, a time-traveling pirate from the 18th century. James and his new friends, Morgan and Max, follow the map right into a magical portal that leads them back nearly 300 years and into a swashbuckling adventure.
Activity to try: Have students write the story of what they would do if they discovered someone was a time-traveler. Would they want to enter the portal and go back in time?
The Mayan Crystal
In the spirit of Mayan folklore, an 11-year-old Belizean girl accidentally invokes an evil spirit that threatens to consume the rain forest. She goes on a thrilling journey to save her home and her people.
Activity to try: Ask students to write their own story of what they would do to protect their home. Do they see any similarities to the environmental problems we face today?
The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian
Finn Caspian is an 8-year-old boy aboard the Famous Marlowe 280 Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station. He and his friends Abigail, Elias, and Vale are Explorers Troop 301, taking off from the Marlowe to explore uncharted planets, help the occasional alien, and solve a mystery that threatens to destroy their space station.
Activity to try: Have students create their own illustrations of Finn’s adventures. Would they want to be among his explorer friends?
Best Podcasts for Kids in Middle School
Tai Asks Why
Tai has been uncovering the mysteries of the universe in this podcast since he was 11. Four years in, he’s tackling topics like how to fix recycling, why math is so hard to love, and other subjects tweens can relate to.
Activity to try: Before listening to a podcast, pose the title question to students and ask them to think, write, or discuss their initial responses. After listening, see how their opinions stack up to Tai’s findings.
Fierce Girls
Though this podcast focuses mainly on Australian girls and women, their stories are meaningful around the world. Learn about athletes, scientists, adventurers, and more.
Activities to try: Challenge students to try to find girls or women in their own lives who have had similar experiences to the ones featured in this podcast.
The Radio Adventures of Eleanor Amplified
Listen as world-famous radio reporter Eleanor foils devious plots, outwits crafty villains, and goes after the Big Story. Eleanor’s pursuit of truth takes her into orbit, out to sea, and even to the halls of Congress! Her adventures are entertaining and informative.
Activity to try: Have a discussion about Eleanor and her values, especially the importance of access to information, being inclusive to different points of view, and telling the truth. Then have your students write about what their values are.
Flyest Fables
If you’re looking for podcasts for kids who are into hip-hop, this one for tweens might be just their speed. Episodes follow the main character, Antoine, a boy who is bullied and finds a magical book that transports him to another world.
Activity to try: Have students create an illustrated version of the story as they follow along with the podcast.
StarTalk Radio
Neil deGrasse Tyson talks about all things space: stars, planets, humans in space, and so much more. He also interviews a lot of amazing people, from astronaut Buzz Aldrin to actress Olivia Munn to former president Jimmy Carter.
Activity to try: Have students research the science topic covered in a given episode, learning more about the topic and sharing their findings.
The Allusionist
Explore all of the oddities of the English language! Filled with good humor and levity, this podcast will help students explore the roots of words and phrases that we use every day.
Activity to try: Have students write their own grammatical or linguistic jokes, using these as starter examples.
Stuff You Missed in History Class
Looking for history podcasts for kids? This title speaks for itself. Learn about people and events that are often overlooked in a typical history class.
Activity to try: Choose a popular unit of historical study, like the Civil War or Great Depression, then have students research the little-told stories related to it. They could even write a readers theater based on their findings.
Listenwise
Listenwise is an award-winning listening-skills platform, searchable by topic area or school subject. It advances classroom learning by providing additional content and building listening skills. There is also a focus on current events that helps keep the learning tied to the real world.
Activity to try: Each episode comes equipped with teaching resources, so pick the topic that is best for your class and get listening.
The Past & the Curious
Humans are a curious lot as this podcast attests to in its mission statement: “True stories of inspiration, humor, and the incredible achievements of all types of people, many of which are sadly under-shared.”
Activity to try: Have your students reach out to relatives, friends, or neighbors and ask them to share stories from their past.
Cupid and the Reaper
This thought-provoking podcast tells the origin story of middle schoolers Marcus Aronson and Mondo Ramirez, also known as Cupid and the Grim Reaper. Can these two mismatched heroes overcome their differences and learn to harness the powers of life, death, and love?
Activity to try: Start a conversation about what it would be like to be a teen with superpowers. Discuss the perspectives of the main characters. How would students feel if they were 13 years old and found out they are Cupid or the Grim Reaper?
Best Podcasts for Kids in High School
Romeo y Julieta
Help students connect with this centuries-old play using this new bilingual podcast version. It’s ideal for schools where Spanish is just as prevalent as (or even more common than) English.
Activity to try: Ask students to select a passage from the original play and translate it into another language. Rather than insisting on word-for-word translation, encourage them to rewrite the passage in a way that captures the rhythm and emotion of the original.
Adult Ish Youth Radio
Adult ISH is a culture, advice, and storytelling podcast produced entirely by youths who are almost adults.
Activity to try: Have your students select a topic in the news today and write their own podcast that shares their take on the news.
Freakonomics Radio
A podcast created by the co-author of Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics, Stephen Dubner, invites listeners to explore the hidden sides of everything. And given his almost 300 episodes on topics ranging from Millionaires vs. Billionaires to How To Win a Nobel Prize, he is well on his way to talking about everything.
Activity to try: Have students pick an episode and find how it affects their everyday lives. These can be written or presented to the class, allowing for discussion and questions.
Welcome to Night Vale
Tune in to the community radio of this desert town for the news on local weather, the mysterious lights overhead, announcements from the Sheriff’s Secret Police, a dog park that prohibits dogs, and dark-hooded figures with unknowable powers.
Activity to try: Challenge students with this prompt: You have been hired by Night Vale Community Radio to write a segment. It could be a continuation of a segment that already exists, like The Children’s Fun Fact Science Corner or Community Calendar, or a report of a strange happening in the town, told in Cecil-fashion. These could be performed in front of the class, written, or put in podcast form.
Stuff You Should Know
This podcast brings you the “ins and outs of everyday things,” from the “Pledge of Allegiance” to Mexican jumping beans to “Your Limb Is Torn Off (obviously for teens and older!).
Activity to try: Ask each student to give a short presentation on something they think all their classmates should know about—whatever they find fascinating!
Serial
Sarah Koenig tells one story week by week. The first season covers the true story of Adnan Syed, convicted for the murder of his ex-girlfriend in Baltimore. The problem: Adnan cannot remember what he was doing the day of the murder. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, there’s someone claiming that he helped Adnan hide the body.
Activity to try: Have students find a famous crime in history and write a dialogue between themselves and the accused, having the accused tell their side of the story. These projects can be handed in, performed in front of the class, or put into podcast format.
Radiolab
Radiolab is a show about curiosity where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience.
Activity to try: Listen to the episode Sight Unseen about a soldier’s last moments and the photographer who captured them. Divide the class in half, and have them prepare and then conduct a debate on whether or not the photographer has the right to publish the photos.
Criminal
Stories of people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle. Phoebe Judge explores topics from owls killing people to how to fake your death to the life of a police dog.
Activity to try: Have students pick an episode that interests them and do more in-depth research on the topic, presenting their findings to the class.
Revisionist History
Malcolm Gladwell, author of Outliers and The Tipping Point, looks back through the overlooked and misunderstood in history, reexamining the past and asking whether we got it right the first time.
Activity to try: Listen to the three-part series on college (season one, episodes 4-6), and have a class discussion. Trust me, there will be plenty to talk about.
This American Life
Each episode of This American Life centers around a theme. Most are journalistic at the core, but some are comedic. This podcast is hard to generalize, especially after over 600 episodes. But the number of episodes and the podcast’s massive popularity should speak for themselves.
Activity to try: Have students take a theme from an episode and write their own report or story surrounding that theme.
99% Invisible
99% Invisible is a narrative podcast hosted by Roman Mars about all the thought that goes into the things we don’t think about—the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world.
Activity to try: Ask students to pay closer attention to the buildings and infrastructure in their town or city. Have them make a list of things they had never noticed before.
Science Friday
Covering the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies, Science Friday shares news about science, technology, and other cool stuff. Host Ira Flatow mixes it up by featuring people in the know and those who want to be. The podcast frequently features listeners that call in with their most riveting science questions. if you’re looking for science podcasts for kids in high school, this is a winner.
Activity to try: Choose from a wide range of topics such as Racism and Mental Health, Privacy and Big Data, and Structure of Conspiracy Theories, and spark a discussion.
Part-Time Genius
Will and Mango have lots of questions. Will we ever live without sleep? How do rats keep outsmarting humans? Where are the sunniest tax havens to hide your money? Join these Part-Time Geniuses as they dive into ridiculous topics and discover some pretty smart stuff along the way.
Activity to try: Ask students to come up with an interesting question. Then, once their topic is approved, have them share the answer with their classmates.
Let’s Be Real With Sammy Jaye
This highly acclaimed podcast delivers honest and unfiltered conversations with celebrities, activists, athletes, and influencers focusing on real-life issues—from mental health and political activism to pop culture and more.
Activity to try: At 18, Sammy Jaye became the youngest person to host her own podcast on iHeartRadio. Have students write a short paper on whether they’d want to have their own podcast while reflecting on the challenges they might face.
Plus, check out The Big List of Virtual Author Activities.
