Billed as “a podcast for curious kids,” Vermont Public Radio’s But Why is a question and answer podcast led by kids. Kids can send their questions about nature, words, and whatever else is on their minds to questions@butwhykids.org and have them answered every second Friday. Some recent episodes include “Why are fireworks bright?,” “Who invented noodles?,” and “How are words added to the dictionary?.” More often than not, the grown-ups tuning in also end up learning a thing or two.

But Why is best for kids of all ages.

The Two Princes is a scripted musical fantasy action-adventure featuring two princes from warring kingdoms who fall in love with each other. They’re determined to get married, but endless challenges get in their way, from an evil sorceress to a series of mysterious disappearances. Still, nothing can tear the two apart. There are already three seasons of this podcast available from Gimlet Media on Spotify, so kids will have lots to catch up on.

The Two Princes is best for kids 10 and up.

On Ear Snacks on Stitcher, hosts Andrew and Polly get together to bring music to kids and parents alike while also encouraging listeners to consider art, culture, and science in a family-friendly way. For example, in one episode the hosts talk about anti-racist parenting. One recent episode discussed the fact that this year's Grammy-nominees for Best Children's Album are all artists who are white, but “black and brown children deserve access to music that welcomes, reflects, and celebrates them.”

Ear Snacks is best for little kids.

Storynory is a catchall podcast for little kids who want a bit of everything — fairy tales, music, myths, and other stories — told in kid-friendly ways. It’s been around since 2005, so Storynory on Apple podcasts is doing something right. There’s even a section with works from classic authors like Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, Rudyard Kipling, and others.

Storynory is best for little kids.

Brains On! is a science podcast for older kids made available by American Public Media on Apple podcasts. Another podcast answering questions from listeners like “what did dinosaurs sound like?,” Brains On! sees host Molly Bloom delving into the mystery of science on a weekly basis. It’s pretty great for adults, too, with recent episodes exploring such questions as “Why do songs get stuck in our heads?,” and “Do dogs know they’re dogs?.”

Brains On! is best for older kids.

If you’re tired of reading bedtime stories, there’s a podcast for that. Available on Apple podcasts, Little Stories For Tiny People features original kids’ stories little ones will love. And hopefully it will make them fall asleep (or even just relax). Recent titles include “A Walk in the Woods: A Bedtime Story for Kids” and “Little Hedgehog and the Treehouse.”

Little Stories For Tiny People is best for little kids.

Looking for an adventure series for older kids featuring a brave young heroine? Listen to Eleanor Amplified from NPR on Kids Listen. Eleanor is a world-famous reporter who does whatever it takes to get the story, and the whole family will love hearing about her exciting career exploits.

Eleanor Amplified is best for middle school kids.

Girl Tales is for the budding young feminist who wants to reimagine some of those old fairy tales. No more damsels in distress. No more princesses who need protection. Girl Tales tells “feminist stories for a new generation.” Stories include a retelling of the Persephone myth from her perspective and a profile of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Girl Tales is best for middle schook kids.

Want to make cooking fun with your kids? Listen to Mystery Recipe on Apple podcasts. The episodes are ingredient-themed, and the America's Test Kitchen Kids-produced podcast is all about encouraging families to get creative in the kitchen. Each episode leads to a grand finale mystery cookoff.

Mystery Recipe is best for all ages.

Rival pets host NPR’s This Podcast Has Fleas, a comedy podcast where a cat and a dog do a little variety show that also sometimes features a gerbil and Alec Baldwin as a goldfish. Hilarious-sounding episode titles include “Vet Escape” and “Cone of Shame.”

This Podcast Has Fleas is best for middle school kids.

Listen to Buttons & Figs on Kids to really delve into the meaning of words and their power with your middle schoolers. They cover fun word play exercises like limericks and oxymorons, also exploring poetry and sometimes silly verses.

Buttons & Figs is best for middle school kids.

Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl is a weekly music podcast for the whole family, on Apple podcasts, featuring kid-friendly fun music meant for dance parties, storytelling, and laughter. You’ll hear everything from The Story Pirates to Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band to Ween to Schoolhouse Rock, with a different lineup every week.

Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl is for all ages.

KiDNuZ is basically a little news network for kids to hear the news they want, delivered in 5-minute segments. They’ll hear age-appropriate stories from politics, entertainment, science, health, and sports, all professionally written and professionally delivered by 4 Emmy winning journalists who are also moms.

KiDNuZ is meant for all ages.

It’s not just moms who love a good book club; kids need one, too. And Book Club For Kids on Apple podcasts gives tweens and teens the chance to delve into books they love, along with celebrity readers and interviews with authors. Named one of the top 10 podcasts for kids by THE TIMES of London, you’ll hear from such authors as Meg Medina and Geoff Rodkey, and explore a wide range of titles.

Book Club For Kids is best for teens and tweens.

Story Time is another bedtime story podcast delivered every two weeks as a free audiobook available for download. Stories include “Butterfly Magic,” about two girls going on an adventure with their grandparents, and “The Search For The Missing Sock,” starring Violet and her magical unicorn friend Savannah.

Story Time is best for preschoolers.

Pirates, fairies, wizards, and robots unite with a never-ending cast of characters to help Mr. Eric tell wacky stories inspired by kids’ questions: What if cats ruled the world? What if there were a never-ending bowl of ice cream? Grown-ups will want to hear these answers, too.

What If World podcast is best for middle schoolers.

Tumble is a science podcast hosted by scientists who help explain scientific discoveries to kids and adults alike. Tumble answers kids’ questions like “Do Trees Fart?” and “What’s Inside Of An Atom,” along with explaining real-life issues like the coronavirus vaccine. You’ll be just as fascinated as your kids with the answers to q’s like “What if fish has legs?”

Tumble is best for kids and tweens.

Stuff You Should Know is a great podcast to give teens the real story behind the story (stories like the Tooth Fairy, mermaids, dragons, and a bridge where dogs are rumored to commit suicide in Scotland). It also sounds pretty great for adults.

Stuff You Should Know is best for teens.

Based on the famous NPR program All Things Considered, All Songs Considered is a great podcast to introduce teens to different genres of music they might not have been exposed to, like Joni Mitchell. Also a great way to find common ground with new music for kids and parents, with artists like Bachelor, Paris Texas and more.

All Songs Considered is best for teens.

Kids can learn about animals from around the world on the Animal Sound Safari podcast from Earth Rangers. Dedicated to “the weird and wacky histories us humans have with animals,” topics explored include “How sloths went from slackers to superstars” and “The luckiest cat in the world.”

Animal Sound Safari is best for middle schoolers.

Everyone will love having stories read to them by Julie Andrews on the Julie’s Library podcast. It’s like being in The Sound Of Music when Julie and her daughter, children’s author and educator Emma Walton Hamilton, open up their library of children's books and read. Special guests included, too.

Julie’s Library podcast is best for little kids.

Big Life Kids podcast is the first of its kind; a growth mindset podcast encouraging kids to believe in themselves and learn from real-life heroes. In each episode, Zara and Leo “travel the world to discover the living heroes that are making a difference in the world today,” teaching kids resilience and confidence along the way.

Big Life Kids is best for middle schoolers.

The Alien Adventures Of Finn Caspian is a serialized science-fiction podcast. The story focuses on adventurer Finn Caspian, who lives onboard The Famous Marlowe 280 Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station with his friends Abigail, Elias and Vale. They take off on adventures in space together. Segments are told in 15 to 20 minute episodes, perfect for driving around town with the family.

The Alien Adventures Of Finn Caspian is best for tweens.

Almost like a kids’ meditation app, Be Calm On Ahway Island tells little ones soothing stories designed to help them get a restful night of sleep. You’re never too young for a little mindfulness. Perfect for naptime, bedtime, or anytime kids need to chill out, episodes include a soothing story and guided meditation or relaxation.

Be Calm On Awhway Island is for all ages.

Want your kids to learn how to debate? Smash, Boom, Best is a kids’ debate podcast show that sees kids debating big issues like sugar vs. salt and mermaids vs. Big Foot. “Every episode takes two cool things, smashes them together and lets you decide which is best,” the website explains. An absolute blast and genuinely a great skill for kids to learn.

Smash, Boom, Best is best for middle schoolers.