Short & Curly
ABC Australia
Short & Curly is the fun and educational ABC Kids and Family podcast that makes philosophy and ethics easy, entertaining, and thought-provoking. Hosted by Molly Daniels, Carl Smith, and philosopher Eleanor Gordon-Smith, the show explores big questions for kids about right and wrong, fairness, truth, knowledge, logic, beauty, and art.
Perfect for kids aged 8–12, Short & Curly is loved by families, parents, and teachers worldwide. One of the best kids shows for curious minds, it inspires learning, laughter, and big ideas that help children learn how to think, not what to think.
Created by the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), trusted makers of award-winning children's content.
Binge this free educational ABC kids podcast series on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts worldwide
Classroom Resources: Listen to the podcast in the classroom or as homework and use these resources to explore and expand upon the diverse themes and subjects covered in the show.
Perfect for kids aged 8–12, Short & Curly is loved by families, parents, and teachers worldwide. One of the best kids shows for curious minds, it inspires learning, laughter, and big ideas that help children learn how to think, not what to think.
Created by the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), trusted makers of award-winning children's content.
Binge this free educational ABC kids podcast series on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts worldwide
Classroom Resources: Listen to the podcast in the classroom or as homework and use these resources to explore and expand upon the diverse themes and subjects covered in the show.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 31, 2026 • 22min
A fairy tale by the campfire – is it okay to scare kids into being good?
At Camp Short & Curly, the marshmallows are toasty, the swings are wild, and Molly’s Amazing Cool Book Club is about to begin — but her stories? YIKES! From creepy sea witches to thumb-chopping tailors, why were some old fairy tales so weird and scary? A quick warning: this episode includes some old fairytales which are pretty gross, dark and scary sometimes – they even mention violence and death. If you’re not in the mood for that, it might be a good idea to listen to a different episode instead.
Mar 31, 2026 • 24min
The Emperor’s New Clothes - the nudie musical edition
In this epic musical retelling of The Emperor’s New Clothes, Molly and Carl take you deep into a kingdom where following fashion rules and telling the truth is harder than it looks. There’s a sneaky tailor, an emperor who’s obsessed with her wardrobe, and a whole crowd pretending to see invisible clothes — until one brave kid says what everyone’s thinking.
Mar 31, 2026 • 21min
Little Red Riding Hood - Why are wolves always the baddies?
Why are wolves always the villains in old European fairy tales? And is it OK to stereotype animals, or people for that matter? To investigate, Molly, Carl and Eleanor head off on a fairytale research trip to the snowy forests of Germany. But their adventure takes a spooky turn when they get lost on the way back to their hotel in the woods, with just one little torch to guide them...
Mar 31, 2026 • 23min
Rumpelstiltskin – is it OK to break a promise?
Short & Curly's world-famous investigative journalist Molly Daniels uncovers a juicy fairytale scandal full of royal drama, magical gold, and a very peculiar little man named... Rumpelstiltskin. But things get serious too— what if a promise you make is made under pressure? Do you still have to keep it?
Mar 31, 2026 • 22min
The Ugly Duckling – when is excluding someone mean, and when is it OK?
A group of ducklings decide one of their own just doesn’t fit in. He can’t keep up with their games, and — let’s be honest — kind of ruins the vibe. But is it fair to leave someone out just because they don’t have rizz? And is it even possible to create a close-knit group of friends without turning someone else into an outsider?
Mar 24, 2026 • 5min
What were Molly and Carl like at 10-years-old?
Molly and Carl are celebrating a special anniversary... and you are, too!Happy 10th birthday Curly Crew, thanks for all your curly questions and phenomenal feedback. (And get excited for a new season, dropping soon!)
Dec 18, 2025 • 4min
BITES – Being scared of spiders
Molly’s just an itsy bitsy cutesy spider, but Carl is freaking out! Lots of people are scared of spiders. In fact, people can be scared of a whole range of things you might find surprising, like a fear of clowns or paper or pancakes. But is that OK?
Dec 17, 2025 • 4min
BITES – Driverless cars
Cars that drive themselves are no longer just something you’d see in a sci-fi movie… they’re on roads and highways right around the world. But what should happen if something goes wrong? Whose fault would it be – the passenger? The manufacturer? The... car itself?!
Dec 16, 2025 • 3min
BITES – Grown-ups making the rules
Who’s in charge at school? Why, that would be the teachers. And who is in charge at home? Your parents or carers. Who is in charge of running the country? Politicians, that’s who. And what do they all have in common?! They’re all grown-ups! How is that fair?!
Dec 15, 2025 • 4min
BITES – Cats VS Dogs
As long as kitties have been meowing, and puppies have been prowling, people have asked - which is better, Cats or Dogs? Finally, the Short & Curly crew tackle this colossal question... but is it even a philosophical question?
