I don’t often feel that I can listen to podcasts because of my lack of uninterrupted time but I love the idea of them and have a huge list of subscribed podcasts that I am always behind on. In this list are several science and story podcasts that I subscribe to listen to with my kids so I was excited to try out some new podcasts from the lists to see if I had some potential new options!

The Wow in the World podcast from NPR was a super fun educational podcast that is perfect for kids because of it’s fun and simple premise and short playtime. It’s a kids’ version of two lies and a truth but re-marketed as “two whats!? and a wow!” (Raz, G. & Thomas, M., 2017-present). The hosts play two characters that star in a game show in which they announce a different two whats and a wow in each episode but don’t tell you the answer until the next podcast episode, on which a kid gets to answer the challenge (Raz, G. & Thomas, M., 2017-present). The wow in the first episode that I listened to is still my favorite wow so far, coming in strong with “lobsters have teeth in their stomaches and pee out of their eyes” (Raz, G. & Thomas, M., 2020). My six year old was as delighted by this new knowledge as I suspected he would be. While this podcast is probably best for kids 4-10, and I found it to be a fun one to listen to, as well.

What If World was another fun kids’ podcast that I decided to try. The podcast has an imaginative and fun concept-kids ask a what if question and the podcast answers it with a story (O’Keefe, 2020). The first one I listened to featured an author who wrote a book that ended with blank pages so that kids could finish the story–what a cool concept! So, this episode started with the book The Lion and the Elephant by M. Dorsett and then a child called in with their what if question to inspire the ending, told by M. Dorsett and E. O’Keefe (Dorsett & O’Keefe, 2020). I love that they combined story time with creativity and imagination. I also love that if you visit their website, they list each episode with a brief description and lessons learned. I love their lessons, too. They aren’t the recycled usual lessons from kids’ programs but lessons like “learning to get along with different kinds of people can make you happier and more open minded”, “right or wrong if you feed an idea, it will grow”, and one that I know future librarians will appreciate, “read what interests you, just don’t forget to try new things now and then; reading is not a competition, so take your time, be kind to yourself, and enjoy!” (What if world, n.d.).

I found these podcasts to have great concepts and content. I can definitely see using these fun podcasts in a classroom or library in order to let the kids do something relaxing and fun that also introduces them to fun new facts, great life ‘lessons’, literature, and other educational topics.

References:

Raz, G. & Thomas, M. (Host). (present-2020). Wow in the world [Audio podcast]. NPR.

Raz, G. & Thomas, M. (Host). (2020, June 9). Colorful wows [Audio podcast episode]. In Wow in the world.

Dorsett, M. & O’Keefe, E. (Host and Guest). (2020, June 8). What if the lion and the elephant met up to get spaghetti? (No. 137). [Audio podcast episode]. In What if world.

O’Keefe, E. (Host). (2016-2020). What if world [Audio podcast]. http://www.whatifworldpodcast.com/episodes.