Podcasts are a wonderful, and often underrated, source of intellectual and creative stimulation for the young, open minds of tweens and teens. What’s more, they are great for replacing the music, YouTube videos, and Netflix shows that teens are so often engrossed in these days. Especially for those who haven’t listened to podcasts before, but enjoy audiobooks, or want to experience shows without having to stare at a screen, say hello to podcasts!
Here are six engaging and educational podcasts for tweens and teens.
1. Teenager Therapy
Teenager Therapy is a teen-hosted podcast specifically designed to walk teens through the unique hardships of the coming-of-age journey. With episodes titled “Is Acne Beautiful/Skin Neutrality/Acne Insecurities” and “The Realities Of Our Friendship,” Teenager Therapy is the perfect podcast for all teens and tweens to listen to, to understand that they are not alone in their struggles of self-image and self-doubt. This podcast is 100% genuine, vulnerable, AND free.
Find episodes at https://teenagertherapypodcast.com/.
2. Dear Hank & John
Hosted by the infamous Green brothers, Dear Hank & John is where Hank and John sit down to (in their words) “answer questions, give questionable advice, and talk about Mars (the planet) and AFC Wimbledon (the 3rd tier English football club).”
Here, teens can find their opinions and advice on all sorts of life questions, both big and small, while enjoying iconic comedic twists provided by the Green brothers.
Check out Dear Hank & John on Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and elsewhere.
3. This American Life
Broadcasted every week, This American Life creates stories out of various theme compilations that differ in each episode. This podcast is a classic for teen and tween listeners, and is an especially great choice for those who love seeking creative inspiration and adventure in what they consume.
In addition to airing on the Public Radio Exchange, the CBC in Canada, and Radio National in Australia, This American Life can be found on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, and more.
4. Teen Girl Talk
Especially with the rise of technology, the media has been playing an increasingly large role in teenage self-image and development. Teen Girl Talk is hosted by siblings Franklin and Susie Cota, who spend each episode discussing the influences of all sorts of different media on teen life. They cover media such as movies, books, and TV shows, as well as reflecting on their own personal experiences with being teenagers, all while keeping a joyful, comedic tone. This one is sure to strike a chord with teens who can relate to what the Cota siblings are talking about!
Listen to Teen Girl Talk on Apple Podcasts, Podbean, Podchaser, and elsewhere.
5. TED Radio Hour
Lovers of TED Talks and TED-Ed are sure to latch onto this one! TED Radio Hour is dedicated to “exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world’s greatest thinkers.” Brought to you by NPR, episodes range from discussing historical influences on the present and past, to the significance of scientific phenomena in the modern world, to giving advice on how to build strong interpersonal relationships.
Listen to TED Radio Hour on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and other available platforms found here.
6. The Daily
This classic podcast is hosted by The New York Times, and is sure to be a hit with tweens and teens hungry for new information and opinions. In fact, anyone who reads The New York Times and the newspaper in general should get excited, because The Daily is directly based off of real reports from NYT journalists and interviews! This podcast gives you a unique insight into journalism and how the reporting process works at a well-established, high-level institution like NYT.
Check out The Daily on NYT’s site, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.
Photo by Daniela Mota on Unsplash