Squiz Kids

Your daily kids news podcast. Petrol pump politics; Matildas through to semis; Oscar time in LA; and whale-munching micro fish. Ever noticed mum or dad groaning at the petrol pump? A lot of the oil used to make petrol comes from the Middle East. When conflict makes it risky for ships to move oil through places like the Strait of Hormuz, less oil gets through—so petrol prices go up! The Oscars have rolled out the red carpet in Los Angeles, and an Adelaide visual effects team is right in the spotlight! Australia’s Matildas scored a big 2–1 win over North Korea to leap into the Asian Women’s Cup semi-finals! Goals from Sam Kerr and Alana Kennedy sealed the deal. When a whale sinks to the ocean floor after it dies, it becomes a giant underwater buffet called a “whale fall.” Sharks, crabs, worms—even spooky “zombie worms”—move in to feast. For the full episode transcript, click here.

Cute little bunnies. Fluffy cats. Tiny mice. They might look sweet and harmless — but in Australia, some introduced animals are causing big problems for our environment. In this From The Vault episode of Squiz Kids Shortcuts, we explore the fascinating story of invasive species. What exactly makes a species “invasive”? How did animals like cane toads, feral cats and Indian myna birds end up here? And why can they cause so much trouble for Australia’s unique plants and animals? Listen carefully… there’s a Squiz at the end!

Algorithms are quietly running huge parts of the modern world — from the GPS directions that guide you to school, to the videos that pop up on your screen. In this week’s Squiz Kids Science Short, we explore what an algorithm actually is, where the word comes from (hint: it traces back more than 1,000 years to a mathematician often called the Father of Algebra), and how simple step-by-step instructions power computers, coding platforms like Scratch and Minecraft Education, and the apps many of us use every day. Tune in to find out how algorithms work… and why understanding them might just change the way you look at your feed.

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. NAPLAN gets underway; Tap water turn off in NT; Tillies do or die match; and satellite crashes to Earth. Huge rains caused flooding in northern Australia, muddying water supplies in Darwin and sending the Burnett River spilling into Bundaberg streets. A 13-year-old satellite called the Van Allen Probe is heading back to Earth. Most of it will burn up in the atmosphere like a giant space fireball. The Matildas battle North Korea in a must-win quarter-final in Perth, while the 2026 Super Netball season kicks off with exciting matches this weekend. Plus, Paralympian Michael Milton showed incredible grit competing just days after surgery. A flood of fake videos online is spreading confusion about the war in Iran. Some are created with AI to trick people. For the full episode transcript, click here.

Five Iranian women footballers sought safety in Australia after a tournament. NASA tested a real-life asteroid deflection by nudging Dimorphos. An emu mascot vanished from the Paralympic village, sparking a search. Scientists created AntScan, a huge online 3D library of over 2,000 ant species.

A globe-trotting audio trip to Iran that explores ancient Persia, famous poets and the craft of Persian carpets. Kids hear about Tehran, towering mountains, diverse wildlife and the lost Persian lion. The program also covers school life, youth creativity, saffron-filled food and Nowruz hospitality.

Your daily kids news podcast. International Women's Day on the football pitch; Matildas draw with South Korea; Sweden’s lolly Saturday; and news of a new Xbox. International Women’s Day celebrates girls and women everywhere! But one brave soccer team from Iran is in a tricky spot after protesting during a match in Australia. Now they’re worried about going home. Kids in Sweden have a delicious tradition: a big lolly treat every Saturday! Maybe because sweets are mostly saved for that one day, many Swedish kids have super healthy teeth. It was a big sports weekend! The Matildas drew 3–3 with South Korea and now head to the quarterfinals. Meanwhile in Melbourne, George Russell zoomed to victory in the Grand Prix. Gamers are buzzing! Microsoft says a brand-new Xbox console is on the way—and it might play both Xbox and PC games. For the full episode transcript, click here.

Today is International Women’s Day — a moment to celebrate the achievements of women and girls around the world. In this Squiz Kids Shortcut, Amanda and Bryce explore the story behind the phrase “Girl Power” — from its punk music roots to the Spice Girls who made it famous. They also explain why the United Nations created the International Day of the Girl Child, and look at the challenges still facing millions of girls around the world. The good news? Opportunities for girls are growing, with more role models than ever in sport, science, politics and the movies. Listen carefully — there’s a Squiz at the end!

From sports shirts and washing machines to sea salt and seafood, tiny pieces of plastic are travelling through our world in ways scientists never expected. In this week’s Squiz Kids Science Short we investigate microplastics — what they are, how plastic breaks down into microscopic fragments, and why researchers are now detecting them in water, food, air and even human tissue. It’s a fascinating look at the invisible journey of plastic around our planet… and inside our bodies.