Podcasts That Spark Important Conversations

Sometimes the most important conversations are the hardest to have. How do you talk with kids about divorce? Moving? Racism? Death? How do you talk with teens about puberty? Consent? Losing friends? These podcasts offer a helping hand in getting these necessary discussions started in an inviting, compassionate, productive way. They can alleviate adults' anxiety while giving kids a comfortable, safe space to learn, be heard, and feel understood. For relevant conversation starters, check out the "Talk to your kids about" section in each of our reviews. These conversations can often stir up big emotions, so make sure to check out our other podcast recommendations that can help kids talk about their feelings and discuss their mental health.

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The Emotion Motion Podcast Poster
PODCAST

The Emotion Motion Podcast

age 4+

Underwater adventure teaches social-emotional learning.

Production company: Move This World Audio Network (Average run time: 20 minutes)
Animal paw print above the words Warrior Kids Podcast.
PODCAST

Warrior Kids Podcast

age 6+

Educational & inspiring celebration of Indigenous cultures.

Production company: Independent (Average run time: 15 minutes)
Stoopkid Stories Podcast Poster
PODCAST

Stoopkid Stories

age 8+

Stories of family and friendship set in Black communities.

Production company: Independent (Average run time: 16 minutes)
Hey Black Child poster
PODCAST

Hey Black Child: The Podcast

age 8+

Young hosts celebrate Black history-makers past and present.

Production company: Independent (Average run time: 7 minutes)
Rebel Girls Growing Up Powerful Podcast logo, girls at a sleepover talking into microphones.
PODCAST

Rebel Girls: Growing Up Powerful

age 8+

Educating and empowering pod for young girls and teens.

Production company: Rebel Girls (Average run time: 8 minutes)
A Kids Book About: The Podcast Poster
PODCAST

A Kids Book About: The Podcast

age 8+

Important relevant topics tackled, some difficult content.

Production company: A Kids Company About (Average run time: 18 minutes)
The Ten News Poster
PODCAST

The Ten News

age 8+

Relevant news topics for kids in easily digestible bites.

Production company: Small But Mighty Media , iHeartPodcasts (Average run time: 15 minutes)
Illustration of a teen girl and a woman wearing headphones. Speech bubbles says The Smart Girls Podcast.
PODCAST

American Girl: The Smart Girl's Podcast

age 9+

Talk show for tween and teen girls; promotes book series.

Production company: American Girl , Talk to Jess , Cloud10 (Average run time: 35 minutes)
The Big Melt title image featuring an illustration of a girl with headphones on sitting at her desk drawing.
PODCAST

The Big Melt

age 10+

Teens discuss climate change with experts and parents.

Production company: Gen-Z Media , Wondery (Average run time: 28 minutes)
Turquoise, yellow and pink graffiti on a brick wall reads "Ooh You're In Trouble"
PODCAST

Ooh You're In Trouble

age 10+

Stories of rebellion and rule breaking prompt discussions.

Production company: TRAX from PRX , Mortified Media (Average run time: 25 minutes)
Toasted Sister Podcast poster
PODCAST

Toasted Sister Podcast

age 10+

Insightful exploration of Indigenous culture through food.

Production company: Native Voice One - NV1 (Average run time: 30 minutes)
Milky Way Underground Podcast Poster
PODCAST

Milky Way Underground

age 10+

Dream-like journey mirrors real life issues; heavier topics.

Production company: TRAX from PRX (Average run time: 20 minutes)
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PODCAST

Sssh! Periods

age 11+

Tween/teen peers talk honestly about puberty & adolescence.

Production company: Independent (Average run time: 7 minutes)
We Got You Podcast art: the words "We Got You" in white letters, surrounded by emoji and a rainbow colored starburst
PODCAST

We Got You

age 11+

Tweens and teens get real about difficult topics.

Production company: Sonic Union , TRAX from PRX (Average run time: 18 minutes)
Grown podcast logo, three people standing over a river looking at their reflections
PODCAST

Grown, a podcast from The Moth

age 12+

Storytelling pod reflects on awkwardness of growing up.

Production company: The Moth , PRX (Average run time: 27 minutes)
10 for Teens and Tweens artwork: Teal background with a tinted pink photo of the host.
PODCAST

10 for Teens and Tweens

age 12+

Empowering pod for tween and teen girls with short episodes.

Production company: Empowerful Girls (Average run time: 10 minutes)
StoryCorps written in cursive
PODCAST

StoryCorps

age 13+

Stories of humanity encourage empathy and compassion.

Production company: NPR (Average run time: 20 minutes)
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PODCAST

Hold Me Back

age 13+

Father-son debates bridge generational gap; mild language.

Production company: Independent (Average run time: 60 minutes)
This Teenage Life Podcast Logo
PODCAST

This Teenage Life

age 13+

Teen-led pod offers compassion & advice on relatable issues.

Production company: Independent (Average run time: 20 minutes)
Worth Noting poster
PODCAST

Worth Noting

age 13+

Current events pod sheds light on inequity and injustice.

Production company: A Kids Company About (Average run time: 10 minutes)