Squiz Kids

Your daily kids news podcast.

SA kids join Squiz-E’s gang; a large-as-life foosball record; Roman ruins buried at school; and a big bug bust.

South Australia is partnering with Newshounds to help kids become smarter, safer and savvier online. That means more fact-checking, more critical thinking and more kids learning to STOP, THINK and CHECK.

A whole lot of football fans in Canada became real-life foosball players, gripping giant poles and shuffling side to side to break a world record.

Students in Rome stumbled across a hidden door that led to a 1,900-year-old Roman villa beneath their school.

Biosecurity officers uncovered more than 100,000 illegal cockroaches in Australia’s biggest-ever bug bust.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Researched and hosted by Christie Kijurina

It's watched by billions of people. More than 200 national teams dream of qualifying. And when it's over, one team will be crowned the best on Earth.

In this Squiz Kids Shortcut, Christie and Bryce trace the incredible journey of football from ancient ball games in China and beyond, through the codification of the modern game in England, to the creation of FIFA and the first FIFA Men's World Cup in Uruguay in 1930.

You'll also hear Australia's own World Cup story, from the Socceroos' first appearance in 1974 and John Aloisi's famous penalty in 2005, to the Matildas' inspiring run at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

And with the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup just around the corner, Christie and Bryce explain what makes this tournament the biggest ever: 48 teams, 104 matches, three host countries, three opening ceremonies and even a halftime show.

There’s also a S’Quiz at the end… so listen carefully!

For the full episode transcript, click here.

This episode was hosted by Bryce Corbett and Christie Kijurina

Research by Christie Kijurina

Got a topic you'd like us to Shortcut? Let us know at [email protected]

Cute rabbits. Fluffy cats. Tiny mice.

They might look harmless, but some introduced animals have had an enormous impact on Australia's unique environment.

In this Squiz Kids From The Vault episode, we explore the world of invasive species. You'll discover what makes a species "invasive", how animals like cane toads, feral cats and mice arrived in Australia, and why they can cause such big problems for native wildlife and ecosystems.

🎧 A fascinating look at one of Australia's biggest environmental challenges.

For years, scientists have puzzled over one of the most famous features in dinosaur history. Were those little arms useful? Were they a mistake of evolution? Or did they serve a secret purpose?

In this Squiz Kids Science Short, we explore brand-new research suggesting that some giant meat-eating dinosaurs evolved powerful heads and jaws that made their arms less important over time.

Along the way, we discover that evolution just needs to be good enough, and find out why tiny arms may have been a surprisingly successful design choice.

🎧 A quick, fascinating science fix for curious kids and their grown-ups.

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 case of the missing devil; Operation Mozzie takes off; AFL’s Hawks fans in fake photo drama; and the World Cup’s unlikely hero.

Mary the Tasmanian Devil has escaped from a Queensland wildlife park and is still on the loose!

A New Zealand footballer has gone from 5,000 followers to more than 4 million after being crowned the World Cup’s unlikely hero by an Argentinian influencer.

Scientists are releasing millions of specially bred mosquitoes that could help stop diseases like malaria and dengue fever.

A fake AI-generated image showing a football stadium on fire tricked plenty of people online. Luckily, Squiz-E was on the case, reminding everyone to STOP, THINK and CHECK before believing dramatic posts.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Researched and hosted by Bryce Corbett

Your daily kids news podcast.

Mega month of sport begins; chalk art hits the road; a tiny turtle triumph; and the world’s largest paper plane?

The Socceroos are heading to the biggest FIFA World Cup ever, while ice hockey and basketball finals also burst into action this week.

Artists in Missouri are transforming streets into giant 3D illusions that look like monsters, cliffs and giant holes bursting from the pavement.

More than 9,000 baby green sea turtles are heading out to sea after scientists helped protect their eggs from heat and rising seas.

Students in China may have built the world’s biggest remote-controlled paper plane!

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Researched and hosted by Christie Kijurina

In this episode of Squiz Kids Shortcut, Christie and Bryce explore the weird, surprising and sometimes downright bonkers history of money. From giant limestone wheels on the Pacific island of Yap to the first coins stamped by kings, paper money in ancient China, Renaissance banks, gold bars, Bitcoin and beyond.

Discover what actually makes something “money” in the first place, how money changed from shells, salt, giant stone wheels, shiny coins and paper notes, and why something only becomes money if enough people trust it.

There’s also a S’Quiz at the end… so listen carefully!

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.

Amazing cave rescue in Laos; a rare blue micromoon; big weekend for soccer fans; and the world’s best spellers.

Five men trapped underground in a flooded cave in Laos were rescued after a week of tense efforts.

Shrey Parikh, 14, raced through 32 tricky words in 90 seconds to win the world’s biggest spelling bee.

Australia’s Socceroos kicked off World Cup prep with a 1–0 loss to Mexico in front of 78,000 fans, while PSG snatched Champions League glory from Arsenal after a tense penalty shootout.

Last night, a Blue Moon appeared—the second full moon of the month—and it was also a micromoon, looking smaller than usual because it’s at the far end of its orbit.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Written and hosted by Bryce Corbett

Who was Eddie Mabo… and how did one man help change Australian law forever?

In this special From The Vault episode for Reconciliation Week, we revisit the remarkable story of Eddie Koiki Mabo, a Torres Strait Islander man whose fight for fairness led to one of the most important legal decisions in Australian history.

Discover what terra nullius really meant, why land is so deeply connected to culture and identity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and how the landmark Mabo decision changed the way Australia understands land rights.

It’s a story of courage, truth, fairness… and proof that one determined person really can change history.

Researched by Christie Kijurina

Hosted by Christie Kijurina and Bryce Corbett