8 podcasts the whole family can listen to on road trips

Photo above by Aleksandr Popov on Unsplash.

Keeping kids occupied during a long ride in the car isn’t always easy. Add in holiday traffic and this task can feel even more challenging for parents.

If you’re looking for ways to help your youngest family members through lengthy road trips, we’ve got a great solution that doesn’t involve looking at a screen: Listening to podcasts.

The trick is finding some that will appeal to kids, while also interesting the grownups who are driving or riding along with their offspring.

Below you’ll find a list of podcasts that can serve exactly this purpose. With a mix of humor, fresh information and positivity, these audio offerings might just make your next long drive go by a whole lot quicker.

Who Smarted? Do clouds weigh more than elephants? What are marshmallows made of? These entertaining and pleasantly silly episodes offer some solid learning tucked into whimsical adventures, so that kids and grownups will get enlightened while following along. Explore everything from the mythology of elves to the uniqueness of the rainforest, and find out why fireflies light up their butts at night. Episodes run about 15 to 20 minutes and there are tons of them available. Check it out right here.

SLB Radio: From There to Here: These personal stories from immigrants who now live in Pittsburgh will open up your family’s world and make you feel more connected to your neighbors. The interviews are done by Pittsburgh-area teens, and there’s a warmth and friendliness that feels very right for the holiday season. Episodes are quick (about six or seven minutes each) and there are just a dozen episodes, so you could explore them all during a single roadtrip. Check it out right here.

Wow in the World: This top-rated podcast for kids and their grownups offers a welcome dose of silliness, along with some solid science info about everything from mini-moons and black holes to how animals communicate and why we get “brain freezes.” Our events editor Meg St-Esprit says her family loves it — and she sometimes listens to Wow in the World even if her kids aren’t in the car. There are hundreds of episodes available, with many ranging from 20 to 30 minutes. Check it out right here.

The Kidsburgh Podcast: We designed our show to give kids and grownups who are hanging out together a chance to make new discoveries and feel inspired. Each episode kicks off with a “Pittsburgh gem” — a cool place or organization that you might not know about. Then we get into an inspiring interview with a Pittsburgh-connected person (everyone from Steelers star Cam Heyward and magician Mr. Messado to multiple medal-winning Olympian Lauryn Wiliams and many more) to hear about their journeys to the fascinating lives they lead today. Each episode wraps up with “Tea with Teens,” a short segment where local teenagers answer real questions from parents. Our 10th episode is out this week and we have two more dropping over the next two weeks, plus more coming this winter. They run between 20 and 30 minutes each. Check it out right here.

NASA’s Curious Universe: This beautifully produced podcast is full of really compelling storytelling. Our friends at Common Sense Media recommend it for ages 5 and over, and it really is accessible for young kids while being super-compelling for bigger kids and grownups. You’ll find eight seasons with episodes that range from about 20 minutes up to 45 minutes. Check it out right here.

Peace Out Podcast – Mindfulness Stories for Kids: Designed as “stories for calming down and relaxation,” this podcast can help create a mellow vibe as you roll down the highway. It may even help restless kids get into nap mode. You’ll find easy mindfulness exercises, including visualization and breathing exercises, along with stories that highlight kindness and even some science info. There are 100 episodes available, most of them ranging from about 10 to 20 minutes. Check it out right here.

The Past and the Curious: This is another podcast recommended by Common Sense Media and also one that our team loves. Funny and compelling storytelling gives kids and grownups a window into everything from the history of ice cream to the tricks of Harry Houdini and the invention of Silly Putty. Many episodes range from about 30 to 45 minutes, so you can take a deeper dive into these subjects. Check it out right here.

The Moth: The powerful storytelling that happens at live Moth events translates perfectly to podcast episodes that can spark great conversations for families. This podcast wasn’t designed specifically for multi-generational listening, but so many of the stories are ones that kids and grownups will be fascinated by. And when content is best for older kids and adults, the producers always flag it before the episode begins. There are more than 200 episodes available, averaging 30 to 60 minutes. Check it out right here.