15 Kids Podcasts Perfect for Summer Road Trips

By Anna Wayne
Posted Jun 12, 2019 Family Travel Parenting

Packing the whole family into the minivan for a summer road trip comes with its fair share of challenges. Factor in seating arrangements, snack supplies, and entertainment, and sometimes planning for the trip takes more preparation than the drive itself.

While podcasts have become the newest fad among adults, it's not surprising to hear kids love them, too. Podcasts geared toward kids are becoming just as popular as adult podcasts these days, and many parents are taking advantage of these free and educational resources. Bonus - podcasts don't count as screen time!

So pack away those hand-held devices and tune into one of these fun podcasts with your kids. Your next family road trip might become the best one yet!

All Ages

1. Brains On!
For the kids who ask, how, why, and what, over and over, we have the podcast for you! Brains On! is an award-winning podcast for kids and families. In each episode, a different child co-hosts alongside Molly Bloom to answer interesting questions from around the world using science and history. Kids are encouraged to submit their questions, ideas and mystery sounds to the show to be featured on the Brains Honor Roll. With over 100 episodes to-date, they've answered questions from animal farts (gross!) to narwhals and everything in between! Click here to download the app.

2. The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd 
The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd is the longest running family-friendly podcast. Begun in 2004, it follows the World's Most Brilliant Scientist, Dr. Floyd, as he races his arch nemesis, Dr. Steve, through time. Brief, five-minute podcasts are available each week offering fun, imagination and an update on the storyline. Kids will learn history, geography, and science through a journey that feels far from a schoolroom lesson.

3. Wow in the World 
NPR's children's podcast, Wow in the World, is hosted by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, and explores space, technology, and other exciting science-based topics. Mindy and Guy cover the most fascinating stories from outer space to the ocean making science and technology fun and sparking your child's interest in the world around them. At the end of each episode, your kids will be curious to learn more and so will you!

Toddlers

4. Sesame Street Podcast
Parents and kids can bond over their love of "Sesame Street" with the Sesame Street Podcast! Sing songs with Elmo, Abby, Cookie Monster and Grover while learning about friendship, patience and sharing with Bert and Ernie. Listen to all of your favorite Muppets on-the-go, with new episodes every Monday! Click here to listen. 

5. Stories Podcast 
If you are in need of some peace and quiet during a long car trip with little kiddos, then you're in luck. Stories Podcast provides 20-minute episodes that are split up into designated age brackets. Every week, they release a new story, whether it be a retelling of a fairy tale, a classic story or an original. All stories are G-rated and appropriate for kids of all ages. Kids and parents will be entertained, and some kids may even be lulled into a sweet slumber during the car ride.

6. The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian
Created by author Jonathan Messinger, with help from his son Griffin, 7, The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian is a serialized science-fiction story for kids. The ongoing adventure follows Finn Caspian, an 8-year-old boy who is aboard The Famous Marlowe 280 Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station. With help from his friends Abigail, Elias, and Vale, the four of them explore planets, plan rescue missions and solve mysteries. Each episode is 15-20 minutes and some feature Griffin, as he critiques the storyline and share his predictions.

Elementary

7. Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child 
For families that love to jam and sing-a-long in the car, but prefer hip tunes with clean lyrics, check out Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child. The show is described as "indie music for indie kids" and includes music from beloved kid-centric musicians like Dan Zanes, Moona Luna, Ella Jenkins, and Elizabeth Mitchell, as well as kid-friendly tracks from the likes of The Ramones, Mike Doughty, Ella Fitzgerald, Fishbone, and more. It's not your typical kids programming but more like a rockin' playlist to get your family excited about the journey ahead! CLICK HERE to stream.

8. Story Pirates
Story Pirates is a really cool podcast put on by comedians, actors, and performers who bring imaginative stories written by actual children to life. It is currently the #1 podcast for kids and families and offers live performances across the country. They also recently launched a critically- acclaimed middle-grade book series from Random House. Parents and kids will love listening to the funny stories on the podcast, perhaps so much so that you'll want to see them perform live at a location near you! 

9. The Past & The Curious
This educational podcast teaches kids about history through little-known facts. Past podcasts have featured stories of spies, diets of past presidents, the early days of TV and more. Each episode of The Past & The Curios is paired with music that matches the theme. It's unique trivia the whole family will enjoy!

Tween

10. What If World
Host and storyteller Eric James O'Keefe takes you into the fantastical storytelling land of What If World, where kids' most outrageous questions are spun into wild and wacky tales. Past "what if" questions have included, what if a tiny dragon lived in my closet, what if there were a never-ending bowl of ice cream, what if cats ruled the world and more! Kids are encouraged to call to leave their "what if" questions at 205-605-WHAT. Then, tune in - your question just might be heard and embellished on in their next episode!

11. Book Club for Kids 
Book Club for Kids, hosted by Kitty Felde, is the perfect podcast for bookworm tweens. It offers a 20-minute bi-weekly podcast show where young readers discuss new books and includes celebrity readings and interviews with the authors. Young readers will get to hear from other kids about the latest books and stories out there, as well as excerpts from the week's chosen book title. Once you listen in, we have a feeling your library visits will only increase!

12. The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel 
Fans of Netflix's "Stranger Things", this podcast is for you! Designed for tweens ages 8-12 and cast by actual middle schoolers, the Peabody award-winning podcast tells the story of an 11-year-old boy who is in search of his missing friends. The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel is a fun, high-quality, serial mystery that can be described as "The Goonies" meets "Spy Kids" meets "Stranger Things." Parents and kids alike will love listening in on this thrilling mystery series!

Teens

13. Dear Hank and John
Brothers, John Green (young adult novelist) and Hank Green (YouTuber), lead Dear Hank and John, a podcast for teens. In it, they answer questions from random thoughts like, "What tricks can babies do?" to serious questions like, "What do you do when your friends make fun of your friend?" The brothers are always entertaining while sharing inside jokes and good advice.

14. What's Good Games
Your teen can ditch their gaming and screen, and still, have just as much fun with this podcast all about video games. What's Good Games is a weekly podcast hosted by three extraordinary women who also happen to be gaming experts. In it they discuss gaming, tips and tricks, the news, and answer listeners' questions. Parents - the podcast does discuss some MA-rated games.  

15. Stuff You Missed in History Class
This popular podcast series will turn your teen into a history buff! And maybe even make them love learning again (no promises)! Stuff You Missed in History Class puts out three new podcasts every week on exciting historical facts, strange events, and fun, factual stories you never heard about until now. This podcast is created by the people of "HowStuffWorks" and provides educational lessons in a fun format. 

Does your family have a favorite family-friendly podcast that we missed? Drop us a comment and let us know!

For more family fun ideas this summer check out, The Ultimate Summer Bucket List for Kids: 50 Activities to Fill Your Days With Fun!

Tags: Kid Friendly Podcasts Family Road Trips Summer Travel

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