Family road trips are a time-honored part of American life. Who doesn’t like piling in the ol’ family SUV and feeling the asphalt under the tires at 70 mph for a few days? Well, I’ll tell you who. It’s the kids.
Between the endless bathroom breaks and general sense of boredom, kids can be difficult in the car. After all, you can only play the license-plate game for so long.
But you can put a stop to all the are-we-there-yets with a podcast that will entertain and enlighten the whole family. We scoured the internet to bring you five can’t-miss podcasts.
But Why? A Podcast for Curious Kids
Kids may ask the questions on the But Why? podcast, but the answers are fun for young and old. Topics range from “parentisms” passed down through the generations—such as how you shouldn’t swallow chewing gum and whether or not eating carrots improves vision—to how dinosaur tracks have survived millions of years. Have a question of your own? Send it to them, and you might hear it on a future episode.
Common Sense Media recommendation: Ages 6+
Story Pirates
The Story Pirates podcast draws more than inspiration from the kids in the audience. The creators actually take original stories submitted by kids and turns them into sketch comedy and songs. The star-studded cast of celebrity voice actors, which includes Kristen Bell, John Oliver, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Seth Myers, makes it a fun listen for the adults in the car, too.
Common Sense Media recommendation: N/A
Song Exploder
This one’s for musical families with teens. Song Exploder dissects popular songs by a wide range of artists to identify what makes them beloved. Scrolling through the hundreds of episodes, you’ll find artists like Maren Morris, John Lennon, Cheap Trick, Imagine Dragons, Mac Miller, Billie Eilish, Sheryl Crow, Fleetwood Mac, R.E.M. and Metallica. Pro tip: You’re guaranteed to not know some of these artists, so stick with what’s familiar. (And you can always rickroll the fam with episode 233.)
Common Sense Media recommendation: Ages 14+
The Hollow
If your family likes a good jump scare, then add The Hollow to your playlist. Based on the classic short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving, The Hollow updates the tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman with three sixth graders at Sleepy Hollow Middle School who hit upon a ghost story they must explore. While the tale is plenty spooky, it doesn’t use violence or mature themes.
Common Sense Media recommendation: Ages 9+
Million Bazillion
It’s never too early to begin teaching your kids and ‘tweens how money works. Million Bazillion uses relatable dilemmas such as wanting to buy a toy but not having the money to talk about saving money, credit cards, the stock market and why prices end in $0.99. Our personal favorite topic: What do grown-ups do with all their money? (Many of us grown-ups are curious, too.)
Common Sense Media recommendation: Ages 7+
Check out more suggestions from Common Sense Media here.
