Squiz Kids

With flu season making its annual return, we’re heading back into the Squiz Kids vault to revisit one of our most fascinating and slightly gross Shortcuts. In Vanquished Viruses and Banished Bacteria, we explore the diseases that once terrified people around the world, from scurvy on the high seas to the Black Death, polio and smallpox.

Along the way, uncover some of the strange and surprising ways people tried to treat illness before modern medicine, and explain how science has helped control, and in some cases, eliminate some of history’s most dangerous diseases.

In this Squiz Kids Science Short, we explore what smell actually is, how your brain recognises different scents using patterns of signals, and why smell has been one of the most mysterious senses for scientists to understand.

Plus, we take a look at brand new research from Harvard Medical School revealing a hidden “map” inside the nose. It’s a fascinating look at one of your body’s most powerful — and surprising — senses… hiding right under your nose.

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.

Meteors and comets in night’s sky; Japan’s pop concert prayers; Tigers fan goes viral; and fighting deepfake photos.

This month, the night sky is putting on a spectacular show!

In Tokyo, music fans are visiting a special shrine hoping for luck in scoring tickets to their favourite bands.

A young Wests Tigers fan was caught crying after his team’s tough loss—but things turned around when Nicho Hynes sent him a kind message.

The Prime Minister of Italy shared a fake AI-made image of herself to warn people how convincing deepfakes can be.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Your daily kids news podcast.

Met Gala costume masterpieces; kiwis comeback to the capital; a donkey in disguise; and gallery goers strip off.

At the famous Met Gala in New York City, celebrities rocked outfits that looked like walking artworks!

In Wellington, the iconic kiwi bird is making an amazing comeback! After nearly disappearing, hundreds are returning thanks to a huge community effort.

People in Armenia were shocked to see a zebra roaming the streets… until they realised it was actually a donkey painted with stripes!

At a museum in Switzerland, visitors explored art while wearing swimsuits! Inspired by famous paintings of bathers, people became part of the artwork themselves.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Your Shortcut to... K-Pop

In this Squiz Kids Shortcut, Christie and Bryce explore what K-pop really is (hint: it’s much more than just music), how young performers train for years to become K-pop idols, and why fans all around the world are chanting, dancing, and waving light sticks — even when they don’t speak the language.

From the viral explosion of Gangnam Style to the global superstar success of BTS, this episode unpacks how a music genre from South Korea became a worldwide phenomenon — powered by talent, teamwork, and some seriously dedicated fans.

So whether you’re already a K-pop superfan or just K-pop curious… this is your Shortcut to understanding the music, the movement, and the magic.

🎧 Listen carefully — there’s a S’Quiz at the end!

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Your daily kids news podcast.

Saving Timmy the whale; Japan’s big bear problem; Fiji’s cyclone-predicting bees; and Baby Yoda’s big debut.

A humpback whale named Timmy got stuck near Germany—uh oh! But a team of helpers dug a channel and used a giant floating barge to guide him back to sea.

In Japan, bears are waking up from winter naps—and heading closer to towns! People are carrying bells to stay safe, while hoping there’s enough food in the forests to keep the bears happy (and away from humans).

In Fiji, bees might be better than weather apps! When they build hives close to the ground, it’s a sign a cyclone could be coming.

It’s Star Wars Day—May the Fourth be with you! Fans are celebrating, and adorable Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) is heading to cinemas in a new movie.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

In this From The Vault episode, we rewind to uncover the real history behind the galaxy far, far away — exploring how events like the Vietnam War, ancient Rome, and even medieval knights helped shape the story.

From the rise of powerful empires to the rebels who fight against them, you’ll discover how real-world history inspired one of the most famous movie sagas ever made.

So, whether you’re a Jedi master or brand new to Star Wars… get ready to see it in a whole new way.

In this week’s Science Short, we explore how cats pull off this incredible trick without pushing off anything at all. It’s all thanks to something called the air-righting reflex, and a clever two-step twist that lets them rotate their bodies in mid-air.

We’ll break down how their super-flexible spine helps them turn, why height plays an important role, and what happens when they reach terminal velocity.

It’s not magic. It’s not luck.

It’s physics… with a furry twist.

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.