Squiz Kids

Your daily kids news podcast.

Basketball madness in the US; Demon Hunters conquer the Oscars; the croc that hunted our ancestors; and the search for future Olympians

Australia is hunting for future Olympic heroes! You don’t need medals yet—just speed, strength, or quick reactions.

In the US, college basketball goes wild with “March Madness”!

Millions of years ago, a massive crocodile may have hunted early humans like Lucy!

A K-pop movie dazzled the Oscars, winning big and making history for Korea! Meanwhile, Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first Bl...

Science legend Dr Karl Kruszelnicki joins Squiz Kids for a very special Q+A — answering questions sent in by curious kids from around Australia. From the size of the universe and whether aliens might exist, to why fish can’t breathe air, how dogs stay cool, and the mystery of where Dr Karl gets his bright shirts from… nothing is off limits.

Tune in to hear Dr Karl tackle big science questions, share his love of curiosity, and help Squiz Kids listeners understand how the world works.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Lear...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Petrol pump politics; Matildas through to semis; Oscar time in LA; and whale-munching micro fish.

Ever noticed mum or dad groaning at the petrol pump? A lot of the oil used to make petrol comes from the Middle East. When conflict makes it risky for ships to move oil through places like the Strait of Hormuz, less oil gets through—so petrol prices go up!

The Oscars have rolled out the red carpet in Los Angeles, and an Adelaide visual effects team is right in the spotlight!

...

Cute little bunnies. Fluffy cats. Tiny mice. They might look sweet and harmless — but in Australia, some introduced animals are causing big problems for our environment.

In this From The Vault episode of Squiz Kids Shortcuts, we explore the fascinating story of invasive species. What exactly makes a species “invasive”? How did animals like cane toads, feral cats and Indian myna birds end up here? And why can they cause so much trouble for Australia’s unique plants and animals?

Listen carefully… there’s a Squiz at the end!

Algorithms are quietly running huge parts of the modern world — from the GPS directions that guide you to school, to the videos that pop up on your screen.

In this week’s Squiz Kids Science Short, we explore what an algorithm actually is, where the word comes from (hint: it traces back more than 1,000 years to a mathematician often called the Father of Algebra), and how simple step-by-step instructions power computers, coding platforms like Scratch and Minecraft Education, and the apps many of us use every day.

Tune in to find out how algorithms work… and wh...

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.

NAPLAN gets underway; Tap water turn off in NT; Tillies do or die match; and satellite crashes to Earth.

Huge rains caused flooding in northern Australia, muddying water supplies in Darwin and sending the Burnett River spilling into Bundaberg streets.

A 13-year-old satellite called the Van Allen Probe is heading back to Earth. Most of it will burn up in the atmosphere like a giant space fireball.

The Matildas battle North Korea in a must-win quarter-final in Perth, while the 2026 Super Netball season kicks off with...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Iran’s footballers seek safety;  NASA nudges an asteroid; an emu at the Paralympics; and a library filled with ants!

Five Iranian women footballers made a brave choice after their tournament in Australia. Worried about punishment back home, they asked Australia for asylum.

At the Winter Paralympics in Italy, Aussie snowboarder Ben Tudhope won silver — even after dislocating his shoulder! Meanwhile, Australia’s lucky mascot, Bruce the Emu, has mysteriously vanished from the team village.

NASA tested a real-life asteroid defence plan by crashing a spacecraft into a...

Squiz the World goes to... Iran

Each fortnight, we give the world globe a spin and see where we land. Then we take the kids of Australia, and the world, 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 Iran, a country once known as Persia, with a history stretching back thousands of years. From the ancient ruins of Persepolis and the poetry of Hafez and Rumi, to saffron-filled kitchens and bustling modern cities, there’s so much to discover. So...

Your daily kids news podcast.

International Women's Day on the football pitch; Matildas draw with South Korea; Sweden’s lolly Saturday; and news of a new Xbox.

International Women’s Day celebrates girls and women everywhere! But one brave soccer team from Iran is in a tricky spot after protesting during a match in Australia. Now they’re worried about going home.

Kids in Sweden have a delicious tradition: a big lolly treat every Saturday! Maybe because sweets are mostly saved for that one day, many Swedish kids have super healthy teeth.

It w...

Today is International Women’s Day — a moment to celebrate the achievements of women and girls around the world.

In this Squiz Kids Shortcut, Amanda and Bryce explore the story behind the phrase “Girl Power” — from its punk music roots to the Spice Girls who made it famous.

They also explain why the United Nations created the International Day of the Girl Child, and look at the challenges still facing millions of girls around the world.

The good news? Opportunities for girls are growing, with more role models than ever in sport, science, politics a...

From sports shirts and washing machines to sea salt and seafood, tiny pieces of plastic are travelling through our world in ways scientists never expected.

In this week’s Squiz Kids Science Short we investigate microplastics — what they are, how plastic breaks down into microscopic fragments, and why researchers are now detecting them in water, food, air and even human tissue.

It’s a fascinating look at the invisible journey of plastic around our planet… and inside our bodies.

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.

A time machine for the nose; the surprising fashion of black teeth; a footballer’s seagull rescue; and AI fakes in the Iran war.

Scientists are recreating smells from the past — from ancient Egyptian mummies to royal cars and even dinosaur breath! By studying tiny scent molecules, they’re building a “time machine for the nose.”

Archaeologists in Vietnam discovered a skeleton with shiny black teeth — and it wasn’t an accident!

During a football match in Turkey, a seagull was accidentally knocked down by the ball. One quic...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Mr Beast tops YouTube charts; London’s hard drive heaters; T-Rex on tippy toes; and human brain cells learn to game.

A new survey says nearly nine in ten Aussie kids are glued to YouTube! Gaming tops the charts and MrBeast is the king of clicks.

In London, computers aren’t just crunching numbers — they’re warming houses! Heat from giant data centres is being piped into nearby homes.

Forget the thunderous stomp — scientists say T-Rex may have tiptoed!

Scientists trained real human brain cells to p...

It’s a big month for football — with the Women’s Asian Cup now underway and the Matildas already on the scoreboard with a 1–0 win over the Philippines!

To celebrate all the action, we’re bringing back this Squiz Kids Shortcut to Women’s Football — where we explore how the game began, what was happening in Australia, and why women’s football has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.

You’ll hear the incredible history of women playing soccer — from queens kicking balls in the 1500s, to record-breaking crowds in the 1920s, to the rise of Austr...

In this special edition of Squiz Kids, Bryce hits pause on normal programming to explain the big news out of Iran.

Over the weekend, the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, and Iran retaliated with its own attacks across parts of the Middle East. Leaders say the strikes were aimed at stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and the biggest shock was the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ruled for decades in a strict religious system.

Bryce breaks down what all that means, what might ha...

Travel back thousands of years to one of the world’s most fascinating civilisations in this From the Vault episode of Squiz Kids Shortcut — Ancient Egypt.

It was a place where pyramids scraped the sky, powerful pharaohs ruled the land, men and women wore eye makeup for surprising reasons, and the rich were carefully mummified for the afterlife. But how much of what we think we know about Ancient Egypt is actually true?

Perfect for curious kids — and especially handy if Ancient Egypt is popping up in your classroom this year.

Listen carefully… there’s...

Why does an ice cube melt… water boil… and steam disappear into thin air?

This week’s Squiz Kids Science Short unpacks the states of matter — solids, liquids, gases… and the one you may not know, plasma. What are they really? What’s happening at the tiny particle level? And why does adding heat completely change how matter behaves?

From frozen jumpers to glowing neon lights and the blazing Sun, we explore how energy makes particles move, spread out, or even lose tiny pieces called electrons.

Solid. Liquid. Gas. Plasma.

It’s not magic. I...

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.

Tillies go for glory; Ukraine’s sad anniversary; Kiwi bird makes berry bounce back; and the cave-dwelling cheetah mummies.

Green and gold fever is here! The Matildas are launching into three huge weeks of Asian Cup action, facing teams from across Asia.

Four years on, the war in Ukraine continues, affecting millions of lives. While leaders prepare for more peace talks, the world hopes for calmer days ahead.

Archaeologists in Saudi Arabia have uncovered ancient mummified cheetahs—up to 4,000 years old!

New Zealand’s quirky...

Your daily kids news podcast.

A pay rise for kids; robots master Kung Fu; the Koala cupid strikes; and a big record for tiny things.

Pocket money is getting a boost — but so are prices! With inflation making snacks cost more, kids in the UK and Australia are earning extra cash for chores.

At China’s mega TV event, robots flipped, kicked and balanced like martial arts masters! Built by tech companies, these AI-powered performers amazed millions.

Scientists at Guulabaa are playing matchmaker for koalas! By carefully pairing healthy, unrelated koalas, they...

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, as we soar to Colombia — a country bursting with colour, rhythm and resilience. It’s home to more bird species than anywhere else on Earth, snow-capped volcanoes that rumble high in the Andes, and a rainbow river that looks like it’s been painted through the jungle.

From ancient civilisations to arepas on the dinner table, there’s so much...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Is the Moon the eighth continent?; Historic tortoise release on Galapagos Island; Aussie Olympic flag bearers revealed; and Punch, the lonely monkey.

Could the Moon actually be Earth’s eighth continent? Scientists think a Mars-sized smash-up billions of years ago created our rocky space buddy! Now four astronauts are gearing up to zoom around the Moon’s far side to uncover its secrets.

Meet Punch — the baby monkey who found friendship in a stuffed orangutan after a tough start in life.

From Aussie champs waving their nation...

Ramadan has begun — a special month observed by millions of Muslims around the world, marked by fasting during daylight hours, prayer, generosity, and time with family and community.

So this weekend, we’re revisiting one of our Squiz Kids Shortcuts to help explain more about Islam — what Muslims believe, how Ramadan is celebrated, and why the city of Mecca is so important.

In this episode, Bryce and Amanda explore the basics of one of the world’s biggest religions, unpack traditions like fasting from sunrise to sunset, and discover the meaning behind important practices followed by Musli...

In this Squiz Kids Science Short, Christie explores what makes you… you. From the ancient Ship of Theseus to the science of cell turnover, brain rewiring and your gut microbiome, we discover your body is constantly changing.

So if your cells replace, your brain updates and even your microbes shift… what actually stays the same?

This episode unpacks when babies develop a sense of self, how memory and relationships might form the thread of identity, and leaves you with one big question:

Where exactly does “you” live?

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.

Ramadan holy month begins; America honours a hero; the seabird who went to hospital; and helping your grandparents on YouTube. 

Ramadan is here! Many Muslims will skip food and drink from sunrise to sunset, then enjoy dinner at night. It’s also a time for prayer, family, kindness, and being your best self. Big respect to everyone observing—Ramadan Mubarak! 🌙✨

The Reverend Jesse Jackson, a major voice for Black rights in the United States, has passed away. He worked against unfair rules that separated people by skin colour, and helped...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Elephant sensory superhairs; a teaching prize triumph; Obama on extraterrestrials; the fart facts project.

An art teacher turned neighbourhood walls into giant textbooks! Rouble Nagi just won $1 million for helping kids learn maths and reading through colourful murals.

Big political news! Angus Taylor has taken over from Sussan Ley as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia.

Scientists in Germany have been researching elephants' super-sensitive whiskers! They even 3D-printed a giant whisker to test it.

When Barack Obama joked that aliens are “real,” the inte...

They’re electric. They’re fast. And they’re suddenly everywhere.

In this Squiz Kids Shortcut, Christie and Bryce explore WHERE e-bikes and e-scooters came from, WHY adults are so concerned about them, and HOW riders and families can use them safely and responsibly.

So grab your helmet and join us for a balanced, kid-friendly look at one of the biggest road safety conversations of the moment.

And listen carefully — there’s a S’Quiz at the end. 🚲⚡

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Your daily kids news podcast.

Gold rush in the mountains; China’s robot revolution; Bettongs bounce back from the brink; and Ed Sheeran comes full circle.

Australia is smashing records in Italy’s snowy mountains! Cooper Woods, Josie Baff and Jakara Anthony grabbed golden glory, with epic jumps, wild bumps and dazzling comebacks. Add Scotty James’ medal haul, and it’s Australia’s greatest Winter Olympics ever. Snow much winning! 🥇❄️

China is gearing up for a robot-powered future! With fewer babies being born, factories are filling up with super-smart robots building everything from electric cars to...

With Valentine’s Day here, and millions of dollars being spent on roses, chocolates and cards, we’re unlocking the surprisingly wild story behind February 14.

Long before heart-shaped boxes and candlelit dinners, this day had its roots in an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia — and yes, it involved goats.

In this episode of From the Vault, we explore when Valentine’s Day began, how it’s celebrated around the world, and some of the biggest and most surprising romantic gestures ever recorded.

This week’s Squiz Kids Science Short, we explore how robotic arms really work — from the tiny electrical signals your muscles send, to the clever sensors that help artificial limbs move. And we uncover something surprising: movement is only half the story. To truly work, a robotic limb needs to feel.

So how do scientists restore touch and that hidden superpower called proprioception — your body’s sense of where it is in space?

It’s a fascinating look at biology, engineering and the question at the heart of it all:

If technology works alongside...

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.

A shark in the Antarctic; kites dance in Pakistan’s skies; AI unlocks a Roman boardgame; and when politics gets sloppy.

Scientists caught a sneaky shark on camera near Antarctica — the first time ever!

After nearly two decades, Lahore’s skies were filled with colourful kites once more! The Basant festival made a joyful comeback with strict safety rules.

A carved rock from Roman times puzzled archaeologists — until AI stepped in! It might be an ancient game board, showing Romans were serious about their playtime.

AI is...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Call out for space cadets; Roblox in trouble again; Snow leopard patrol in the Himalayas; and K-pop Demon Hunters' new music.

Australia’s Defence Force wants real-life space cadets! With Space Command growing, it’s time to reach for the stars—literally.

Way up in India’s icy mountains, a team of mighty women is saving snow leopards—with cameras, courage, and cold toes.

Forget touchdowns, we want tail wags! While football fans cheered, over 150 adoptable pups ran, barked, and tumbled through the cutest game of the year...

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, aboard the Squiz Kids Super Fast Supersonic Jetliner as we head to Greenland — a place of towering glaciers, cracking ice, and some of the most extreme light and darkness on Earth. Known to its people as Kalaallit Nunaat, Greenland is the world’s largest island, with more ice than almost anywhere else on the planet and a history stretching back thousands of y...

Your daily kids news podcast.

Winners and grinners at Winter Olympics; Deer rescued on frozen lake; Super Bowl kicks off with Bad Bunny; and the Gruffalo has a granny.

The Winter Olympics kicked off with fireworks, flags, and frosty fun! Snowy countries grabbed medals, but Aussie snowboarder Valentino Guseli won hearts by landing a super-scary trick.

People in north-west WA had a nervous night as Cyclone Mitchell rolled toward land. With strong winds and wild weather on the way, locals were told to batten down the hatches, hug their pets, and stay safe...

Rockets. Rivalries. Moon landings. Mars missions.

In this episode of From the Vault, we rewind to one of the biggest science and politics stories of the last 100 years: the Space Race.

Why did countries suddenly start competing to leave Earth? How did World War II technology lead to rockets pointed at space instead of enemies? And why did the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union turn the sky into a global battleground?

Then, we fast-forward to today’s new space race: missions to Mars, powerful new space nations, and billionaire-backed co...

Does the Moon really have a dark side?

In this Squiz Kids Science Short, we bust one of space’s biggest myths and explain why the Moon always seems to show us the same face. You’ll find out what the so-called “dark side” really is, why it isn’t dark at all, and how gravity slowly put the brakes on the Moon’s spin billions of years ago.

We explore what the Moon’s far side looks like, when humans finally saw it for the first time, and why scientists think it might be one of the qui...