Digital Learning & High Abilities

Podcasts

Wikipedia defines a podcast as "an episodic series of spoken-word digital audio files that a user can download to a personal device for easy listening. Streaming applications and podcasting services provide a convenient and integrated way to manage a personal consumption queue across many podcast sources and playback devices." I couldn't have said it better myself!

There are podcasts to suit everyone's tastes, ranging from fiction to discussions, history, science, sports, and politics. I want to focus on several acclaimed podcasts that would serve students of all ages. The beauty with podcasts is that they can be heard while:

• Dropping of or picking up your kids from school
• On weekends, instead of the television
• During road trips

Here are a few that I would recommend. 

1. ABC KIDS News Time - From Mars missions to dinosaur discoveries, join Ruby Cornish for this week's top five news stories for kids.
2. StarTalk Radio - Science, pop culture and comedy collide on StarTalk Radio! Astrophysicist and Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, along with his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities, and scientists, discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
3. Stories Podcast:  A Bedtime Show for Kids for All Ages - On the Stories Podcast, we perform a new story for your children every week. The stories range from retellings of fairy tales, such as Snow White, to classic stories like Peter Rabbit, and even completely original works. Everything is G-rated and safe for all ages. The perfect kids podcast for imaginative families. Whether you're driving with your children or simply want to limit your kids' screen time, Stories Podcast delivers entertainment that both kids and parents will love.
4. But Why:  A Podcast for Curious Kids - But Why is a show led by you, kids! You ask the questions, and we find the answers. It's a big, interesting world out there. On But Why, we tackle topics large and small, ranging from nature to words, and even the end of the world. Have a question? Please send it to us! Adults, use your smartphone's memo function or an audio app to record your kid's question (get up nice and close so we can hear). Be sure to include: your child's first name, age and town. And then email the audio file to questions@butwhykids.org.
5. Story Pirates - The Story Pirates aren't your typical swashbuckling sailors. We don't steal gold, pillage villages, or claim land; We're searching for a different kind of treasure: kids' wildest, most imaginative stories. Each week, the crew aboard the Story Pirates' ship—including world-class actors, comedians, improvisers and musicians—takes original stories from real kids around the country, and turns them into a wildly funny comedy podcast for kids, ages 3 - 103.

How can I listen to podcasts?

To listen and subscribe to podcasts, you need to download and use a podcast app. There are hundreds around, but here is the list of the most popular ones:

• Pocket Casts (Android, IOS)
• Overcast (IOS)
• Apple Podcasts (IOS)
• Spotify (Android, IOS)
• Castro (IOS)
• TuneIn Radio (Android, IOS)

To find these, enter their names into the App Store for Apple or Google. Then, happy listening. 

Did you know?

Did you know that you can create your very own podcasts? All you need is a microphone, a computer, and a topic to share with your listeners. If you're interested in finding out more, please click here.