Squiz Kids

A fun kids vs adults news quiz to test who’s been paying the most attention to the week in news.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Written and hosted by Christie Kijurina

Your daily kids news podcasts.

We’re off to the Moon!; Blues win first Origin; Squiz-E sniffs a fake; and Britain’s cheese rolling championships

NASA wants humans living on the Moon by 2032!

In England, brave and slightly bonkers racers chased a rolling cheese wheel down a steep hill.

NSW pulled off a huge State of Origin comeback, beating Queensland 22–20 with a last-minute try.

Squiz-E is warning kids about false claims spreading online about diphtheria.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Researched and hosted by Bry...

Your daily kids news podcast.

National Reconciliation Week starts; a student tractor take-over; some furry film stars; and an Aussie astronaut’s invited to space.

Australia is marking National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week by remembering the Stolen Generations and thinking about how people can listen, learn and move forward together.

Millions of Muslims from around the world are gathering in Mecca for the Hajj, an important pilgrimage filled with prayer, reflection and community.

Forget buses... students in rural Michigan, USA, celebrated finishing school by driving tractors, golf carts and gi...

Each fortnight, we give the world globe a spin and see where we land. Then we take the kids of Australia on an audio excursion to visit that country and its people.
Join your captain, Christie Kijurina, on an audio adventure. Today, we’re flying to the United Arab Emirates, a country where desert traditions and futuristic ambition race side by side. From robot camel jockeys and towering skyscrapers to pearl-diving history, giant shopping malls and skiing with penguins in the desert, there’s so much to discover.
So, buckle up and get ready to explore the UAE...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Hopes for peace in Iran; footy player breaks most games record; the galaxy that ate another; and bringing dino-birds back from extinction.

The world is watching closely as hopes rise for a truce in the Iran conflict.

Scientists are hoping to bring the giant moa back from extinction using super-clever artificial eggshell technology.

AFL great Scott Pendlebury made history by playing a record-breaking 433rd game.

From meteors blazing overhead to galaxies gobbling neighbours and rockets zooming skyward, space has been busier than a school...

This weekend, we’re heading beneath the waves to explore one of the most extraordinary places on Earth... Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

In this classic Squiz Kids Shortcut, Bryce and Amanda unpack why the reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, what coral reefs actually are (spoiler: coral is alive!), and why scientists are worried this incredible underwater ecosystem could be in trouble.

Along the way, discover a dazzling world packed with turtles, whales, sharks, clownfish, coral spawning, tiny creatures called polyps, and more biodiversity than you can poke a snor...

A blue-whale-sized asteroid zoomed surprisingly close past Earth this week... so naturally, we had questions.

Would it wipe out humanity? Trigger a dinosaur-style disaster? Smash into the ocean and cause giant tsunamis? Or explode in the sky before it even reached the ground?

In this week’s Squiz Kids Science Short, we unpack what would actually happen if an asteroid about the size of a blue whale hit Earth, why where it lands matters, the giant explosion over Russia that flattened millions of trees, and how scientists are already protecting Earth by tracking space rocks an...

A fun kids vs adults news quiz to test who’s been paying the most attention to the week in news.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

 Hey, adults! Find out more about The Squiz; listen to the podcast or sign up to the newsletter here.

Researched and hosted by Christie Kijurina

Your daily kids news podcast.

Mice plague hits Aussie farmers; Arsenal’s historic win; Koalas caught in fake news; and meet one super tall baller.

Thousands upon thousands of mice are swarming Aussie farms, sneaking into homes, machinery and even bedrooms!

Football fans in London erupted in celebration as Arsenal finally won the English Premier League after a 22-year wait.

A towering Aussie basketball teen is catching NBA attention, while speedy young runners are racing into headlines.

Squiz-E has uncovered fake online claims about koalas and renewable energy. The le...

Your daily news podcast.

Huge dinosaur discoveries; an ancient ship beneath a car park; a giant wearable robot revealed; and a whale-sized asteroid zooms by

Scientists have uncovered a super-rare stegosaur skull in Spain and a gigantic long-necked dinosaur in Thailand!

Workers digging under a car park in Spain struck something incredible—a 500-year-old shipwreck.

A giant robot suit in China is turning science fiction into science fact! People can climb inside, switch between two or four legs, and stomp around like movie heroes.

An asteroid the size of a...

Thousands of giant humpback whales are on the move right now along Australia’s coastline… travelling one of the longest migrations of any mammal on Earth. In this Squiz Kids Shortcut, Christie and Bryce head out onto the ocean to explore the incredible “Humpback Highway”, the giant whale migration routes that run along both the east and west coasts of Australia.

Along the way, they uncover where humpback whales travel each year, why mums migrate thousands of kilometres to give birth in warmer waters, and how industrial whaling nearly wiped humpbacks out forever.

Fasten your life jac...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Roblox in the spotlight; Delta does us proud in Vienna; Magic Round footy delivers; and the hot dog munching fox.

Researchers say some games inside Roblox may encourage kids to spend money and even learn gambling-style habits. [link requires subscription]

Delta Goodrem wowed Eurovision fans in a sparkling dress covered in thousands of crystals, finishing fourth in Europe’s wildest music contest.

Thousands of rugby league fans flooded Brisbane for NRL Magic Round, cheering through rain, tackles and try celebrations.

Boston is building a gi...

Mars has fascinated humans for centuries — but why are scientists and billionaires so determined to get there?

In this week’s From The Vault episode, we revisit the Squiz Kids Shortcut to Mars and explore the race to send humans to the Red Planet.

Discover how far away Mars really is, why it looks red in the night sky, and what makes it strangely similar to Earth despite freezing temperatures and giant dust storms.

It’s a story about exploration, curiosity and one enormous question: could the first person to walk on Mars alread...

What if humans could regrow lost arms or legs the way some animals can?

In this week’s Squiz Kids Science Short, we explore the incredible science of regeneration: from lizards that regrow tails to axolotls capable of rebuilding limbs, spinal cords and even parts of their brains.

Could this research one day help humans regrow damaged body parts too?

Grab your lab coat, and let’s explore one of the wildest abilities in nature.

A fun kids vs adults news quiz to test who’s been paying the most attention to the week in news.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Your daily kids news podcast.

Rise and rise of womens’ sport; Myanmar’s massive ruby find; seeing through virus misinfo; and here comes Eurovision.

Women’s sport is booming, with huge crowds, big TV audiences and more athletes turning pro.

A giant ruby weighing 2.2 kilograms has been discovered in Myanmar. At 11,000 carats, it’s a sparkling monster of a gemstone.

Eurovision is back with wild songs, sparkly outfits and lyrics that make your brain do cartwheels and Australia’s Delta Goodrem is in the mix.

Squiz-E is on the case, snif...

Your daily kids news podcast.

The facts about hantavirus; Nollywood’s night of nights; huge-mouthed humpbacks; and a goalpost goof-up

Passengers from around the world are being carefully flown home after a rare virus outbreak on a cruise ship near South America. Experts say it’s serious, but thankfully, it's much harder to spread than COVID.

At Nigeria’s biggest entertainment awards, stars rocked outfits covered in crystals, giant sculptures… and even 500 loaves of bread!

Humpback whales have been caught opening their mouths super wide underwater, and we're not sure why...

Po...

Each fortnight, we give the world globe a spin and see where we land. Then we take the kids of Australia on an audio excursion to visit that country and its people. Join your captain, Christie Kijurina, on an audio adventure.

Today, we’re flying to Tanzania, a spectacular East African country famous for the Great Migration, where millions of animals thunder across the Serengeti plains each year. Along the way, we’ll climb mighty Mount Kilimanjaro, discover some of the oldest human footprints ever found, explore the spice-trading history of Zanzibar, and learn about the Maasai peop...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Minions and Lego in meme warfare; Venice’s arty toilets; UFO files released; and David Attenborough honoured with a wasp.

AI-made videos using Lego characters and Minions are flooding the internet during the war in Iran. Experts call it “meme warfare."

At the famous art festival in Venice, crowds are lining up to see… toilets. Yep, a bizarre artwork turns toilet water into clean water in front of visitors.

The US government released secret reports about UFO sightings, including strange lights spotted by pilots and astronauts.

...

With flu season making its annual return, we’re heading back into the Squiz Kids vault to revisit one of our most fascinating and slightly gross Shortcuts. In Vanquished Viruses and Banished Bacteria, we explore the diseases that once terrified people around the world, from scurvy on the high seas to the Black Death, polio and smallpox.

Along the way, uncover some of the strange and surprising ways people tried to treat illness before modern medicine, and explain how science has helped control, and in some cases, eliminate some of history’s most dangerous diseases.

In this Squiz Kids Science Short, we explore what smell actually is, how your brain recognises different scents using patterns of signals, and why smell has been one of the most mysterious senses for scientists to understand.

Plus, we take a look at brand new research from Harvard Medical School revealing a hidden “map” inside the nose. It’s a fascinating look at one of your body’s most powerful — and surprising — senses… hiding right under your nose.

A fun kids vs adults news quiz to test who’s been paying the most attention to the week in news.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Your daily kids news podcast.

Meteors and comets in night’s sky; Japan’s pop concert prayers; Tigers fan goes viral; and fighting deepfake photos.

This month, the night sky is putting on a spectacular show!

In Tokyo, music fans are visiting a special shrine hoping for luck in scoring tickets to their favourite bands.

A young Wests Tigers fan was caught crying after his team’s tough loss—but things turned around when Nicho Hynes sent him a kind message.

The Prime Minister of Italy shared a fake AI-made...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Met Gala costume masterpieces; kiwis comeback to the capital; a donkey in disguise; and gallery goers strip off.

At the famous Met Gala in New York City, celebrities rocked outfits that looked like walking artworks!

In Wellington, the iconic kiwi bird is making an amazing comeback! After nearly disappearing, hundreds are returning thanks to a huge community effort.

People in Armenia were shocked to see a zebra roaming the streets… until they realised it was actually a donkey painted with stripes!

At a museum in...

Your Shortcut to... K-Pop

In this Squiz Kids Shortcut, Christie and Bryce explore what K-pop really is (hint: it’s much more than just music), how young performers train for years to become K-pop idols, and why fans all around the world are chanting, dancing, and waving light sticks — even when they don’t speak the language.

From the viral explosion of Gangnam Style to the global superstar success of BTS, this episode unpacks how a music genre from South Korea became a worldwide phenomenon — powered by talent, teamwork, and some seriously dedicated fans.

So whe...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Saving Timmy the whale; Japan’s big bear problem; Fiji’s cyclone-predicting bees; and Baby Yoda’s big debut.

A humpback whale named Timmy got stuck near Germany—uh oh! But a team of helpers dug a channel and used a giant floating barge to guide him back to sea.

In Japan, bears are waking up from winter naps—and heading closer to towns! People are carrying bells to stay safe, while hoping there’s enough food in the forests to keep the bears happy (and away from humans).

In this From The Vault episode, we rewind to uncover the real history behind the galaxy far, far away — exploring how events like the Vietnam War, ancient Rome, and even medieval knights helped shape the story.

From the rise of powerful empires to the rebels who fight against them, you’ll discover how real-world history inspired one of the most famous movie sagas ever made.

So, whether you’re a Jedi master or brand new to Star Wars… get ready to see it in a whole new way.

In this week’s Science Short, we explore how cats pull off this incredible trick without pushing off anything at all. It’s all thanks to something called the air-righting reflex, and a clever two-step twist that lets them rotate their bodies in mid-air.

We’ll break down how their super-flexible spine helps them turn, why height plays an important role, and what happens when they reach terminal velocity.

It’s not magic. It’s not luck.

It’s physics… with a furry twist.

A fun kids vs adults news quiz to test who’s been paying the most attention to the week in news.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Your daily kids news podcast.

King’s message of friendship; China’s flying cars; Melbourne Storm’s fake news problem; and monkeys find a junk food antidote.

With the world feeling a bit fiery, King Charles III stepped in with a message: take a breath and be kinder.

At a massive car show in Beijing, flying cars that look like giant drones wowed crowds!

In Gibraltar, cheeky monkeys gobble junk food from tourists… then eat dirt to fix their tummy aches!

Sneaky fake stories about the Melbourne Storm are tricking...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Remembering Port Arthur;  a running record tumbles; Chonkers the chunky sea lion; and the world’s biggest snack store

A peaceful gathering marked 30 years since the Port Arthur tragedy. Families and communities remembered loved ones and the changes that followed.

A giant sea lion named “Chonkers” is making waves in San Francisco! Weighing as much as a small car, he wobbles docks and surprises other sea lions.

At the London Marathon, runners smashed records! Two athletes ran the full race in under two hours, something once thought...

Each fortnight, we give the world globe a spin and see where we land. Then we take the kids of Australia on an audio excursion to visit that country and its people.

Join your captain, Christie Kijurina, on an audio adventure. Today, we’re flying to Vatican City, the smallest country in the world, completely surrounded by Rome, and home to the Catholic Church.

From its beginnings as a marshy patch of land on the edge of ancient Rome to a place of emperors, early Christians, and centuries-old traditions, this tiny nation has a history th...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Record crowds for ANZAC services; ancient killer octopus discovered; new evidence of life on Mars; and the world’s fastest corgis.

Early alarms rang across Australia as huge crowds gathered at dawn to remember brave soldiers.

Things got tense when Donald Trump had to leave a big dinner after shots were heard nearby!

In a hilarious race in Prague, speedy little corgies zoomed to see who was quickest over 100 metres.

Scientists uncovered clues of a MASSIVE ancient octopus—almost as long as two buse...

What’s really going on when the sky flashes and booms during a storm? ⚡🌩️

In this Science Short, inspired by a question from Squiz Kid Clancy in Lindfield, we unpack the science behind thunder and lightning.

Along the way, we’ll explore lightning as a giant spark, thunder as a shockwave (a bit like a mini sonic boom), what plasma is (yep — a fourth state of matter!), and why counting seconds after a flash can tell you how far away a storm is.

Plus — what to do to stay safe, and why hair standing on end...

This week on From The Vault, we’re marking ANZAC Day with a special replay of our Squiz Kids Shortcut to ANZAC Day.

It’s a story that begins on the beaches of Gallipoli in 1915, when Australian and New Zealand soldiers landed in one of the most significant campaigns of the First World War… and one that didn’t go to plan.

In this episode, we explore what happened on that day, why ANZAC Day became such an important moment in our history, and how the way we remember it has changed over time.

Listen...

A fun kids vs adults news quiz to test who’s been paying the most attention to the week in news.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Your daily kids news podcast.

Rugby league’s brain-safety bid; Aussie Pizza King cooks the competition; a ten-year-old chicken champ; and blue sunsets on Mars?

Rugby league is tackling brain injury. New rules limit rough training to protect players’ brains.

Aussie legend Johnny Di Francesco (AKA Mr Pizza) spun his way to 5th place worldwide in the World Pizza Championships in Italy.

Move over, grown-ups—10-year-old Sophie and her superstar chickens just won big! With training, treats, and one bird named KFC, she wowed judges at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Oreos - exhibit A in court; a beakless bird becomes the boss; robots outrun humans in China; and a Queensland bushie rolls the dice

A shopping showdown to decide if those bright sale tags can really be trusted!

A clever bird missing half his beak is the top bird in his group, winning every showdown!

In a half-marathon in China, robots sprinted alongside humans — and some even beat them! These speedy machines used smart tech to zoom ahead.

A man in the Aussie outback tu...

Your Shortcut to... The Titanic

This week, we’re pulling out a powerful piece of history from the Squiz Kids Vault — the story of the RMS Titanic, the most famous shipwreck in the world.

More than a century ago, in April 1912 — 114 years ago last week — the Titanic set sail on its very first journey across the Atlantic Ocean. It was the biggest, most luxurious ship ever built… and it was said to be unsinkable.

But just days into that journey, everything changed.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Links:

Your daily kids news podcast.

Humans lap the Moon; penguins make a splash in Argentina; an ancient egg cracks a prehistoric mystery; and the UN maps hunger in real time.

A recap on what happened while we were away...

Pictures from Space

After being rescued and nursed back to health, 15 penguins waddled back into the ocean together!

A 250-million-year-old fossil egg revealed a wild truth—early mammal relatives laid eggs!

The UN created a super-smart map that shows where people are going hungry in real time. Using da...