Squiz Kids

Your daily kids news podcast.

 A cicada summer’s on the way; Mexico City’s Mariachi party; Aussie surfers win big in Cali; and the night-riding dumpling craze.

Australia’s east coast is gearing up for a summer buzzing with cicada songs as these noisy insects emerge by the thousands. Led by the “green grocer” cicada, different types are joining in for an epic, record-breaking “cicadathon” that’s sure to be the soundtrack of summer!

Over a thousand Mariachi musicians gathered in Mexico City, dressed in their best charro suits, to set a world record with the largest-ever Mariachi performance. Trumpets, guitars, and violins filled the plaza, celebrating the first-ever World Mariachi Congress with this grand fiesta!

Huge shoutout to Kai Colless and Jocelyn Neumueller, who just made Australia proud at the Para World Surfing Championships! Taking gold in prone surfing, their amazing achievements boosted the Aussie team, the Irukandjis, to third place overall.

Young people across China are pedalling all night to reach Kaifeng, famous for its tasty soup dumplings. This “Night Riding Army” craze has filled highways with two-wheel traffic jams.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

What is Newshounds - video explainer.

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We'll take you through when we’ve been involved in conflicts, why we’ve joined both fighting and peacekeeping missions, and how we keep the memory of those who served alive. So, strap on your boots as we explore Australia at War.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

For access to classroom resources, click here.

Links :

The Armistice Agreement and How WWI Ended

Australia Frontier Wars Facts for Kids

What is Remembrance Day and why do we commemorate it?

Wars and Peacekeeping Missions involving Australia

Your daily kids news podcast.

Social media ban for kids; the great ape escape; Wallabies win in England; and the how and why of Remembrance Day.

Australia’s set to put TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat off-limits for kids under 16 next year! The government thinks it’ll protect young minds, but not everyone agrees. Some teens are saying, “It’s not fair!”

In South Carolina, 43 rhesus macaque monkeys made a daring escape from a research facility when a new employee forgot to latch a gate! The clever monkeys are hanging around nearby woods, enjoying their taste of freedom while workers try to lure them back with food!

Australia’s Wallabies scored a stunning comeback against England, winning 42-37 in extra time! With help from new star Joseph Sua’alii, the team turned around a rough year and silenced the London crowd.

Tonight’s Taurid meteor shower promises shooting stars before sunrise! Thousands of space particles from comet Encke will light up the sky in a dazzling show. Patience is key, though—you might see only five meteors per hour, but they’re extra bright, so make a wish!

For the full episode transcript, click here.

What is Newshounds - video explainer.

Find out more about Newshounds.

Get started for free HERE.

Who's smarter, kids or adults?

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Check out the Squiz Kids website for all of our other Fun, Free and Fresh offerings!

What is Newshounds - video explainer.

Find out more about Newshounds.

Get started for free HERE.

Your daily kids news podcast.

Trump wins the White House; Kenya’s elephant beehives; Squiz-E’s election sniffing; and a new planet for our solar system.

After months of buzzing rallies and fierce campaigning, the U.S. picked Donald Trump as president once more! Despite polls predicting a tight contest, Trump won big, defeating Kamala Harris. While this won’t change things for Aussies day-to-day, the world is watching America’s next steps closely!

In Kenya, farmers are using a surprising defence against elephants munching on their crops: bees! It turns out these giant animals are terrified of bee stings, and beehives keep them away from farms naturally.

Scientists think they might have found a ninth planet in our solar system! It’s hiding way out in the icy Kuiper Belt, far beyond Neptune. They’re calling it “Planet Nine” for now. We’ll find out next year when new supertelescopes start looking way out there!

With the U.S. election causing a storm of wild rumours online, it’s Newshounds to the rescue! Squiz-E reminds everyone to Stop, Think, and Check what they read, so we don’t fall for fake stories.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

What is Newshounds - video explainer.

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Your daily kids news podcast.

The Melbourne Cup, Australia’s legendary horse race, was a nail-biter this year! Knight’s Choice barely edged out Warp Speed to claim the win—and a prize of $4.4 million. But not everyone’s celebrating; more Aussies are questioning the event’s impact on horses and fans.

Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi volcano erupted with incredible force, shooting ash and hot lava into the sky. Thousands of people have had to leave their homes. Indonesia sits on the “Ring of Fire,” where volcanoes and earthquakes are common, keeping locals on their toes.

Your Squiz Kids Shortcut to... Earthquakes and Volcanoes.

It’s election day in the U.S., and Americans are picking their next president! With six time zones in play, votes will trickle in all day. And the winner isn’t just decided by votes—there’s a system called the Electoral College that plays a big role

Meet Pando, the world’s biggest tree—a forest of aspen trees sharing one root system! Scientists found Pando is a whopping 34,000 years old, dating back to the Ice Age! But climate and disease now threaten it. Let’s hope this incredible tree can keep growing strong.

New fossil evidence shows a gigantic bird once ruled ancient South America—a 3-meter-tall “terror bird”! These flightless predators had sharp beaks perfect for hunting. But even they had enemies: one fossil shows it may have been chomped by a massive prehistoric crocodile!

For the full episode transcript, click here.

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, Amanda Bower, on an audio adventure. Today, we're flying west to South Africa, a captivating country known for its stunning landscapes, vibrant wildlife, and rich cultural diversity. From the majestic savannas and the 'Big Five' animals to its fascinating history and unique blend of languages, there’s so much to discover. So, buckle up and get ready to explore South Africa

LINKS:

Kruger National Park adventure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYc36RX-jZc

Three sample Kruger Tales: http://krugertales.co.za/

Melktert recipe: https://www.africanbites.com/milk-tart/

Your daily kids news podcast.

Tomorrow, Americans pick their next President: Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. It’s a nail-biting race, and if Kamala wins, she’ll make history as the first woman US President. Who will take the top job? Stay tuned!

The underdog team from Tonga pulled off a rugby surprise, edging out New Zealand 25-24 in the Pacific Cup. Their victory was all heart, proving that sometimes it’s not about size but spirit. Now, Tonga heads to the final against Australia. Go, team Tonga!

A father-daughter team cracked an alien-like code from a Mars spacecraft! The mystery message? The molecular structure of amino acids—life’s building blocks! The competition was Earth-made, but the victory was out of this world.

Forget the monkey-Shakespeare myth! Aussie mathematicians prove it’s nearly impossible. Turns out, even typing “bananas” is a long shot. So if you’re hoping a chimp will write a play, it might take a few billion years!

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Who's smarter, kids or adults?

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Check out the Squiz Kids website for all of our other Fun, Free and Fresh offerings!

What is Newshounds - video explainer.

Find out more about Newshounds.

Get started for free HERE.

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Get ready for a ghostly adventure with Squiz-E! 🎃 It's Halloween night, and Squiz-E’s just about to settle in after trick-or-treating when… KNOCK! KNOCK! Something’s at the door. But who could it be so late? Follow Squiz-E into the dark, shadowy night as he faces his fears, braves creepy corners, and discovers a glowing secret that’s got everyone spooked. Will he solve the mystery of the Ghostly Glow? Find out in this spine-tingling tale, full of spooky twists and a heartwarming surprise! 👻

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