Squiz Kids

Your daily kids news podcast. Celebrating Aussie Citizenship Day; Japan’s record-breaking 100-year-olds; big weekend for AFL and NRL; and taming the AI robots. It’s Australian Citizenship Day! A chance to think about what unites Australians, from democracy and equality to freedom and the famous fair go. Japan has reached one seriously impressive milestone: more than 100,000 people are now aged 100 or older! It’s crunch time! Sydney faces Fremantle and Hawthorn takes on Brisbane, with two precious AFL Grand Final spots up for grabs. Add massive NRL elimination clashes into the mix and you’ve got one gigantic weekend of footy. An alarming magazine cover might look convincing, but Squiz-E says appearances can deceive in the AI age. For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched and hosted by Bryce Corbett

Your daily kids news podcast. Bringing back the Tassie Tiger; keeping Venice afloat; dinosaur poo delivers a clue; and the Big Peg is up for sale. Could the Tasmanian tiger be about to claw its way back from extinction? Venice’s incredible flood barriers have already saved the floating city more than 150 times. But rising seas mean they’re being used more and more, creating a tricky new problem. Scientists peering inside 66-million-year-old fossilised dung discovered amazingly preserved feathers, bird bones and fish scales. Forget the pool and renovated kitchen — this NSW property comes with a 5.2-metre steel clothes peg! For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched and hosted by Christie Kijurina

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, on an audio adventure to Panama, a skinny, S-shaped country known as the “Bridge of the World, Heart of the Universe”. Discover how giant ships climb a watery staircase through the rainforest, meet golden frogs that wave to one another, and learn why the famous Panama hat isn’t actually Panamanian. Buckle up... we’re taking off for Panama! Want to explore some more? ⁠Watch how the Panama Canal’s lock system works⁠ ⁠Watch David Attenborough meet Panama’s extraordinary waving golden frogs⁠ ⁠Find out about the famous hat that's actually not from Panama⁠ For the full episode transcript, ⁠click here.⁠ Researched and hosted by Christie Kijurina

Your daily kids news podcast. Screen time limits in classrooms; England’s planet-saving zoo; Footy semi-finals bring the action; and celebrating International Democracy Day. NSW classrooms are heading for a digital detox, with screen time set to shrink and good old pen-and-paper making a comeback. Bristol Zoo is giving its animal collection a conservation makeover, focusing on species threatened with extinction. September footy is getting serious! AFL and NRL teams battled through a massive weekend of finals, the NRLW locked in its contenders, and the NFL took over the MCG. Today’s Squiz Kids Salute goes to kids proving you don’t need to be a grown-up to make a difference. For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched and Hosted by Bryce Corbett Aussie of the Month https://www.aussieofthemonth.org.au/

Celebrate Roald Dahl Day with a scrumdiddlyumptious trip into the Squiz Kids Vault. Roald Dahl gave us chocolate factories, giant peaches, marvellous medicines and some of the nastiest grown-ups ever committed to paper. But did you know he was also a fighter pilot, a spy and a schoolboy chocolate tester? In this Shortcut, we explore the real-life experiences that inspired Dahl’s much-loved stories, discover why children adore his revolting characters and phizz-whizzing invented words, and pick up some tricks for creating wonderfully Dahl-esque characters and stories of our own. Links: ⁠⁠A toxicological analysis of George's Marvellous Medicine - The British Medical Journal.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Listen and describe, and create your own character task. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Create your own Marvellous Medicine!⁠

Where does wind begin? It can mess up your hair, slam doors shut and send umbrellas tumbling down the street, but what gets all that invisible air moving? Inspired by an excellent question from Judah in Wollongong, Christie discovers how the Sun and differences in air pressure create everything from refreshing sea breezes to wild gusts. Plus, why buildings can create wind tunnels... and the special weather ingredients needed to form cyclones and tornadoes. Do you have a science question you'd like Christie to investigate? Email it to us at [email protected], and you might hear your answer on an upcoming episode.

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. Digital devices out of classrooms?; France’s famous painting heist; Bird flu conspiracy debunked; and bandicoots and bilbies bounce back. Could laptops and tablets be making it harder to concentrate? A major international study found Aussie students report more digital distractions than the global average. It sounds like a movie plot! Thieves broke into France’s Renoir Museum and grabbed four paintings before police arrived, forcing them to flee. Bilbies, bandicoots, bettongs and quolls are making a comeback inside enormous fenced areas designed to keep feral cats and other pests out. Wild conspiracy theories about bird flu are spreading online, making Squiz-E’s nose twitch overtime. Shortcut to Invasive Species: https://www.squizkids.com.au/squiz-kids-shortcuts/invasive-species/ For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched and hosted by Bryce Corbett

Your daily kids news podcast. Footy gets a theme park; Rwanda’s school-meal mission; Australia’s wild house guests; and the Pope farms aura. NRL fans could soon step inside the game at a new Sydney attraction packed with augmented reality, coaching clinics, video games and giant match parties. Rwanda wants to put even more healthy, locally grown food onto school lunch plates. Possums in roofs, bats in curtains and an echidna rearranging the pantry! Aussie wildlife is increasingly turning up inside homes as natural habitats disappear. Is the Pope farming aura? Pope Leo tried out some viral slang during a Vatican family celebration. For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched and hosted by Christie Kijurina

From lost socks to millions of followers, the Macfarlane brothers know where a homemade movie can lead. Filmmakers and content creators Lachlan and Austin Macfarlane join Bryce under the Squiz Kids Spotlight to talk about making movies as kids, building an audience of millions and the hard work behind their wildly creative videos. Their best advice for young creators? Don’t wait! Just start making stuff. Plus, find out how budding filmmakers aged 15 and under can enter this year’s Trop Jr short-film competition. If you’ve got a movie idea bubbling away, now’s the time to grab a phone, tablet or camera and bring it to life for Trop Jr. To enter, you’ll need to be aged 15 or under and create a short film of no more than five minutes featuring this year’s special signature item: a map. It could lead to buried treasure, point the way to another dimension, or simply appear somewhere in the background. It’s entirely up to you. The deadline for entries has been extended to October 23, so get cracking! ⁠https://www.tropfest.com/tropjr⁠ Macfarlane Bros: When you give a kid unrestricted internet access ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4OjoWAiFqY⁠

Your daily kids news podcast. New world map unveiled; Korea’s robot theme park; the Star Wars museum of storytelling; and soiled undies and kissing bears win science prize. The familiar world map set to get a serious resize! K-pop dancers, pianists and kickboxers... South Korea’s new theme park has robots doing the entertaining. Buried undies, kissing polar bears and stolen baby lollies. Welcome to the wonderfully weird Ig Nobel Awards! Star Wars creator George Lucas has turned his love of storytelling into a spectacular new museum in Los Angeles. For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched and hosted by Bryce Corbett. Trop Jr: Short Film Competition for kids  https://www.tropfest.com/tropjr Macfarlane Bros: When you give a kid unrestricted internet access  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4OjoWAiFqY

In this Squiz Kids Shortcut for Fathers' Day, Christie and Bryce explore the wild world of animal dads. From devoted emperor penguins and pregnant seahorses to fathers whose parenting methods are a little more questionable. They also travel through history to discover how the role of dads has changed and meet the many different people who can do the dadding in our lives. So grab your dad, stepdad, grandad or another special father figure and listen together. There’s a S’Quiz at the end!

Eight-year-old Ethan from Casula in Sydney wants to know how 3D printers work. Christie discovers how computer designs are sliced into thousands of incredibly thin layers, then built into real objects using everything from melted plastic and powdered metal to concrete and chocolate. Along the way, we find out how 3D printing could help astronauts, hospitals and people living in remote communities. Do you have a science question you'd like Christie to answer? Send it in to [email protected], and you might hear your answer in an upcoming episode.

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. The algorithm robot in the spotlight; Canada’s mysterious moving island; Footy finals fever is here; and where have all the dugongs gone? The algorithm knows what you watch, click and like, and keeps serving up more to keep you scrolling. Now Australian politicians are debating whether we should get to choose if it tracks us at all. Is it an island or an enormous raft? A football-field-sized chunk of trees and plants has been spotted floating across a Canadian lake. Grab the snacks and claim the couch... Australian footy is entering crunch time! Scientists are trying to solve a worrying mystery in northern Australia, where dugong numbers may have fallen dramatically. For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched and hosted by Bryce Corbett.

Your daily kids news podcast. Big ticks for bush schooling; a backyard Viking Treasure find; gamers get a glimpse of the future; and a phone survives a fall from space! Could climbing trees help your times tables? Sydney students swapped the classroom for the bush and returned more confident, engaged and connected to nature. Forget finding worms while gardening — one Danish homeowner uncovered a Viking fortune! Hundreds of thousands of gamers descended on Germany for Gamescom, getting an early look at the games heading our way. Talk about a drop test! A phone was carried more than 30 kilometres above Earth before being released without a parachute. For the full episode transcript, click here(opens in new tab). LEGO Skylines Trailer Minecraft Dungeons II Trailer Researched and hosted by Christie Kijurina

Some dads brave the Antarctic winter to protect a single egg… others give birth to hundreds of babies… and almost all of them believe their jokes are hilarious. In this Squiz Kids Shortcut for Father’s Day, Christie and Bryce meet some of the animal kingdom’s most extraordinary fathers. From egg-balancing emperor penguins and pregnant seahorses to fish dads that occasionally eat their own offspring. They also discover how dadding has changed throughout human history, explore the origins of Father’s Day, and celebrate the dads, grandads, stepdads and other special people who do the dadding in our lives. There’s also a S’Quiz at the end… so listen carefully! For the full episode transcript, click here.

Your daily kids news podcast. Nepal’s glacier landslide explained; Roger the working seagull; Media literacy in the spotlight; and Fat Marmot Week crowns a winner. Rescuers are working around the clock after catastrophic flooding devastated communities in Nepal and Tibet. All hail Dawn, the newly crowned champion of Fat Marmot Week! More Aussie kids are turning to AI for their news, but research shows plenty are also accidentally sharing fake stories. Meet Roger, possibly Britain’s first seagull security guard. For the full episode transcript, click here. Donate to help victims of Nepal-Tibet tragedy: https://emergencyaction.org.au/nepal-flood-appeal/ Bears in a pool Squiz Kids Instagram Researched and hosted by Bryce Corbett

To celebrate World Lake Day, we went searching through the Squiz Kids Vault for an episode all about water. Which was lucky, really, because we’d sprung a leak and were well on the way to creating an underground lake of our own. Thankfully, we found this Shortcut sitting safe and dry on a high shelf. Join us as we discover where Earth’s water came from, why it’s essential to life and how the same water has been travelling around our planet for billions of years.

Look up on a clear night and you might see hundreds, or even thousands, of stars. But where did they all come from, and what makes a new star begin to shine? This week, Isabella from Cammeray asks: How are stars formed? Christie travels into a stellar nursery to discover how gravity gathers enormous clouds of gas and dust, why a growing protostar becomes incredibly hot, and how nuclear fusion turns it into a shining star. Plus, if stars aren’t really on fire, what produces all that heat and light? If you have an excellent science question you’d like Christie to investigate, send it to [email protected]. You might hear your answer in a future Squiz Kids Science Short!

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. The world remembers Dolly; Spain’s food fight festival; Sniffing out voice clones online; and Game of Thrones meets Harry Potter. The world is remembering country music superstar Dolly Parton, not just for thousands of songs, but for her enormous generosity. More than 20,000 people have turned a Spanish town into the world’s messiest salad, hurling squishy tomatoes at each other for La Tomatina. From battling dragons to teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts! Game of Thrones star Kit Harington is reportedly swapping Westeros for Hogwarts. Hear a celebrity say something outrageous online? Your ears might be fooling you. AI can now clone famous voices and make people appear to say things they never did. Squiz-E’s advice has never sounded better: STOP, THINK and CHECK! For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched and hosted by Bryce Corbett Trop Jr: Short Film Competition for kids https://www.tropfest.com/tropjr Macfarlane Bros: When you give a kid unrestricted internet access https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4OjoWAiFqY

Your daily kids news podcast. A billion-galaxy telescope prepares for launch; 10,000 animals step onto the scales ; robot-made records get the boot; and a googly-eyed gamble pays off.  NASA is preparing to launch a telescope with some seriously gigantic ambitions. Click here for the NASA livestream link. From teeny snails to hefty capybaras, London Zoo’s residents are hopping, waddling and slithering onto the scales for their annual weigh-in. Robots can write songs, but they won’t be topping Australia’s official music charts by themselves. Those googly eyes weren’t fooling everyone! A bizarre stuffed “fox” bought for around $120,000 has been X-rayed to reveal a genuine thylacine skull hiding inside. For the episode notes, click here(opens in new tab). Erling Haaland's new do. Researched and hosted by Christie Kijurina

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, on an audio adventure to Scotland, a country of rugged Highlands, ancient castles and deep, mysterious lochs. We’ll discover why Scotland’s national animal is a unicorn, meet the legendary creatures hiding in its folklore, find out why people toss giant wooden poles at the Highland Games, and explore the Scottish inventions that helped change the world. Strap yourselves into the Squiz Kids Super Fast Supersonic Jetliner and get ready to take a squiz at Scotland. For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched and hosted by Christie Kijurina Caber tossing

Your daily kids news podcast. The infinite scroll goes on trial; Raccoon racket rocks Germany; Saving Aussie sea lions; and the robot that runs faster than Usain Bolt. Social media’s addictive scroll is getting its day in court. US states are taking on Meta over claims its platforms were deliberately designed to keep young people hooked. Usain Bolt, meet your robotic competition! A humanoid robot has zipped through 100 metres in 9.39 seconds, before spectacularly crashing into a foam barrier. Australia’s adorable sea lion pups could be next in line for bird-flu vaccinations. Cute face, criminal tendencies! Europe’s raccoon population has boomed, with the introduced animals spreading across the continent and causing plenty of mischief along the way. For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched and hosted by Bryce Corbett. Ellie's Book ⁠https://www.quotev.com/story/17504497/Winner⁠ Aaron's Book ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Radiant-Rainbow-Run-Aaron-Fan/dp/B0H4L6DQFF⁠

Book Week is here, so we’re dusting off a favourite Shortcut from the Squiz Kids Vault. Travel back thousands of years to discover how books developed from clay tablets and handmade paper to the invention of the printing press. Then, meet the author behind the first book written especially for children and count down some of the bestselling children’s books of all time... from much-loved animal adventures to magical worlds, hungry caterpillars and young wizards.

Every night, your sleeping brain creates strange new worlds filled with familiar people, powerful emotions and events that make absolutely no sense. But how does it build a dream—and why do we dream at all? Inspired by a question from Will, Christie explores what happens inside our brains while we sleep and whether animals dream too.

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. Spaceship splashdown near Christmas Island; baby whale shark nursery revealed; a zero-gravity fake; and why otters love to watch. A SpaceX rocket booster the size of an Olympic swimming pool has splashed back to Earth and is being towed toward Christmas Island. Scientists think they may have found a nursery for baby whale sharks off Indonesia after tiny youngsters were spotted in a protected cove. Turns out zoo visitors may be entertaining the otters just as much as the otters entertain us. Social media posts claimed gravity would disappear for seven seconds during the eclipse. It didn’t. The wild rumour is a perfect example of why Newshounds should always STOP, THINK and CHECK before sharing something unbelievable. For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched by Bryce Corbett Written by Bryce Corbett

Your daily kids news podcast. Parliament takes on betting ads; monkey business in the Scottish Highlands; some picture-perfect animals; and the Milky Way’s ancient feeding frenzy  Australia is moving to put more distance between sport and gambling. Luka the macaque fancied a Scottish adventure, escaping his wildlife park and wandering kilometres into the Highlands. Smile for the camera! More than 800 photos have captured the beautiful, bizarre and downright photogenic residents of British and Irish zoos and aquariums. Our Milky Way has quite the appetite! Astronomers have uncovered evidence of an enormous ancient galactic collision involving the brilliantly named Low-energy-Kraken-Heracles. For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched by Christie Kijurina Hosted by Christie Kijurina

Dinosaurs ruled the Earth for more than 160 million years… then, 66 million years ago, almost all of them disappeared. In this Shortcut, Christie and Bryce fire up a time machine to visit the final days of the dinosaurs, discover how a thin layer of rock helped scientists work out what happened, and follow the chain of events after a giant asteroid struck Earth. Then they meet the survivors, including the dinosaur descendants still all around us today. Listen carefully. There’s a S’Quiz at the end! For the full episode transcript, click here.

Your daily kids news podcast. Operation Fairy Penguin; Earthquake in Indonesia; Socceroo’s Michael Jackson moment; and the world’s ugliest dog. Roll up those tiny sleeves! Victoria is launching an enormous operation to vaccinate thousands of fairy penguins against bird flu. The ground is rumbling again, with powerful earthquakes striking parts of Indonesia following other major quakes and volcanic eruptions around the world. Nestory Irankunda is taking his fancy footwork to Portugal! Who is the World's Ugliest Dog for 2026? For the full episode transcript, click here Australian Government website on bird flu Science Short on bird flu   Researched by Bryce Corbett Hosted by Bryce Corbett

It’s National Science Week, and what better time to celebrate one of the most important things about science: sometimes, it gets things wrong. People once believed the Earth was at the centre of the universe, illness was caused by an imbalance of blood, phlegm and bile, and maggots simply appeared from rotting meat. So how did we go from those ideas to the science we know today? This week, we’re heading back into the Squiz Kids Vault for our Shortcut to Science That Was Wrong, where Christie and Bryce discover why changing your mind when new evidence comes along isn’t a weakness in science. It’s one of its greatest strengths. Listen carefully... there’s a S’Quiz at the end!

Felix, from Hunters Hill, wants to know why slicing into an onion can leave our eyes stinging and tears streaming down our faces. In this week’s Squiz Kids Science Short, Christie breaks into the onion’s tiny chemical security system, discovers how cutting it releases an irritating mist into the air, and reveals why a blunt knife may make things even worse. Plus, do any of those strange onion-chopping tricks actually stop the tears?

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. The President, the plane and secret escape; Wallaby on the run in Netherlands; a Bunnings sausage saga; and shark scientists on hurricane watch. It sounds like a spy thriller: a president, a super-secure jumbo jet and a secret escape involving a catering container! Catch me if you can! A runaway wallaby has spent six months hopping around the Netherlands. Forget weather balloons — scientists are recruiting sharks! No, the Bunnings sausage sizzle hasn’t been replaced by Indian food stalls. AI-generated images are being used to stir up anti-migrant feelings online. For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched by Bryce Corbett Hosted by Bryce Corbett.

Your daily kids news podcast. A total eclipse over Europe; Colombia’s earthquake emergency; Aussie teens make their mark; and Brisbane’s underwater light show. The Northern Hemisphere is getting a cosmic double feature! A total solar eclipse will briefly turn day to darkness before the Perseid meteor shower lights up the night. Rescuers and volunteers are working through rubble after Colombia’s strongest earthquake this century. World records, gold medals… and an election campaign! Young Australians Isaac Beacroft, Izobelle Louison-Roe and Hera Sheppard are proving teenagers can achieve seriously big things. Brisbane’s water has been glowing electric blue thanks to teeny-tiny organisms known brilliantly as “sea sparkles”. For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched by Christie Kijurina Hosted by Christie Kijurina

Squiz Kids Q+A with kids' author extraordinaire Andy Griffiths. Andy braves the Hot Seat for the fifth time with his new book... You and Me and the Gigantic Knucklehead. From what Andy's favourite snack is when he's writing, to where he gets his funniest ideas, whether there's an idea too gross to put in a book,  and whether he's ever laughed so hard that he needed to stop writing.... The Squiz Kids crowd ask all the tough questions, and Andy gives some surprising answers!

Your daily kids news podcast. It’s Census time in Oz; Brazil’s capybara invasion; Mice plague a feast for owls; and Minecraft comes to Switch 2. Australia, prepare to be counted! Census night is rolling around, giving the country a giant snapshot of who lives where and how we live. Move over politicians... there are some new rodents in the house! A pair of curious capybaras wandered into a parliament building in Brazil. Australia’s mouse plague has produced an unexpected winner: barn owls! With millions of mice providing an enormous feathered feast. Grab your pickaxes! Minecraft is heading to the Nintendo Switch 2, with a new version arriving in October. For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched by Bryce Corbett Hosted by Bryce Corbett

The James Webb Space Telescope has been sending back extraordinary images of newborn stars, distant planets and some of the earliest galaxies ever seen. So, this week, we’re blasting open the Squiz Kids Vault and revisiting our Shortcut to the telescope that some people call the Just Wonderful Space Telescope. Join Amanda and Bryce as they discover HOW the JWST works, WHAT its first spectacular images revealed, and WHY scientists believe studying distant galaxies and planets could help us better understand the universe, and our own little corner of it. LINKS: How the James Webb telescope works: https://graphics.reuters.com/SPACE-EXPLORATION/TELESCOPE/klvyknwbrvg/ Image One – SMACS 0723: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2022/nasa-s-webb-delivers-deepest-infrared-image-of-universe-yet Hubble’s view of SMACS 0723: https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/1996/news-1996-01.html Image Two – WASP 96B: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2022/nasa-s-webb-reveals-steamy-atmosphere-of-distant-planet-in-detail Image Three – Carina Nebula: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2022/nasa-s-webb-reveals-cosmic-cliffs-glittering-landscape-of-star-birth Image Four – A dying star: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2022/nasa-s-webb-captures-dying-star-s-final-performance-in-fine-detail Image Five – Stephan’s Quintet: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2022/nasa-s-webb-sheds-light-on-galaxy-evolution-black-holes  

Bird flu has reached Australia, but what exactly is H5N1, how does it spread, and what can families do to be prepared? In this special Science Short, Christie speaks with Dr Tiggy Grillo from Wildlife Health Australia about how bird flu affects birds and other animals, how Australia prepared for its arrival, and what scientists are watching for now. They also explain whether people and pets can catch it, how families can help protect backyard chickens and other animals, and exactly what kids should do if they spot a sick or dead bird. The Emergency Animal Disease Hotline number is 1800 675 888. Birdlife Australia Atlas of Living Australia For the full episode transcript, click here.

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. Rocket crashes into the Moon; Guatemala’s fire volcano erupts; Escaped lion fake news; and New Zealand’s ducks breathe a sigh of relief. A runaway rocket booster has slammed into the Moon at more than 8,000 km/h, kicking up a giant cloud of lunar dust. People living near Guatemala's Volcano Fuego have been evacuated as lava and ash pour from the mountain. After three years on the run, a feral cat nicknamed "Nine Lives" has finally been captured in New Zealand, giving endangered native ducks a much-needed chance to recover. Following Japan's earthquake, fake videos and wild rumours spread quickly online. Squiz-E's message is as important as ever: STOP, THINK and CHECK before believing or sharing anything you see. For the full episode transcript, click here. Researched and hosted by Bryce Corbett. Want to work with us on Newshounds in SA? ⁠Learn more here.

Your daily kids news podcast. Aussie bird flu outbreak worsens; Spider-Man’s massive weekend; Salty sea dogs ride the waves; and some very Hungry Hippos Wildlife experts are urging Australians to keep their distance after bird flu was found in wild seabirds. If you spot a sick or dead bird, remember the golden rule: look, don't touch. One family in the United States has set a lightning-fast Hungry Hungry Hippos world record. Dozens of talented dogs hit the surf at the World Dog Surfing Championships in California. Spider-Man: Brand New Day has spun its way into the record books, becoming the biggest opening weekend ever in North America. For the full episode transcript, click here. Emergency Animal Disease Hotline - 1800 675 888

Why do humans sort people into groups? What happens when those groups become “us” and “them”? And how can fear, stereotypes and repeated messages make unfair ideas seem true? With jellybeans, tigers, and magpies, this episode helps kids understand that racism isn’t only found in history books, and it doesn’t always arrive shouting. Sometimes it can show up in everyday assumptions, jokes, exclusions or stereotypes. We’ll look at Australia’s history, including racism towards First Nations people and migrant communities, and consider how the people once labelled “too different” have helped shape the diverse, multicultural Australia we know today. Most importantly, we’ll explore what kids can do: pause before making assumptions, question stereotypes, speak up safely and make the echo wobble. Listen carefully. There’s a Squiz at the end! For the full episode transcript, click here. This episode was hosted by Bryce Corbett and Christie Kijurina Research by Christie Kijurina

Your daily kids news podcast. Curtain closes on Commonwealth Games; Our shortcut to racism; Astronauts float back to Earth; and how polar bears keep cool in zoos. Australia has wrapped up a spectacular Commonwealth Games campaign, finishing miles ahead on the medal tally. After eight months aboard the International Space Station, three astronauts are back on Earth! With Europe sweltering through summer, zoo keepers in Prague gave their polar bears tonnes of ice to roll, slide and play in. A catchy song about eastern rosellas, written by a seven-year-old Aussie, has become an internet sensation. Scientists even say it's the perfect "earworm"... the kind of tune that gets happily stuck in your head! For the full episode transcript, click here. Want to work with us on Newshounds in SA? Learn more here.

How are Spider-Man, Iron Man, Black Panther, Thor and the Guardians of the Galaxy all connected? They’re part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU, a gigantic collection of movies and TV shows whose characters and storylines exist in one connected world. With Spider-Man: Brand New Day arriving in cinemas, we’re swinging into the Squiz Kids Vault for a Shortcut first released in August 2021. Find out how the MCU began, who helped create its best-known superheroes and what goes into making a Marvel movie. Just remember: this episode is a snapshot of the MCU in 2021, and a lot has happened in the MCU since this Shortcut was recorded, but every superhero needs an origin story!

We’d love your feedback! Help us make Squiz Kids even better by completing our short listener survey. It takes about 15 minutes, and you’ll go into the draw to win a $250 THE ICONIC fashion voucher. Just remember to select Squiz Kids. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[Click here to take the survey.]

Faster. Higher. Stronger. From Australian sprint stars Lachlan Kennedy and Torrie Lewis to record-breaking swimmers and sports stars, athletes keep pushing beyond what once seemed humanly possible. But surely we can’t keep getting faster, higher and stronger forever… can we? In this Squiz Kids Science Short, Christie investigates why world records keep tumbling, how training and technology help athletes improve, and whether our brains sometimes apply the brakes before our bodies have truly reached their limit. Plus, could you become a world-record holder simply by pulling enough socks onto one foot? Will humans eventually reach the finish line of human ability? Let’s find out! Email [email protected] if you'd like Christie to investigate your science question.

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. We’d love your feedback! Help us make Squiz Kids even better by completing our short listener survey. It takes about 15 minutes, and you’ll go into the draw to win a $250 THE ICONIC fashion voucher. Just remember to select Squiz Kids. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[Click here to take the survey]⁠