Newsy Pooloozi - The News Pod for Kids

In world news this month, we decode the who, what, when, where and – most importantly – why there’s another major war – this one between the US, Israel and Iran. Plus, social media giant, Meta, formally known as Facebook, is told to pay $375million dollars for misleading users over child safety. Speaking of social media, a viral “therian” craze in Spain turns out to be… fake. No idea what therians are – well, you’ll know once you hear the story. And, ever heard of flying windmills? Yep, it’s a thing. Find out WHAT they are and why ELEVEN of them are flying above China... Finally, stay tuned for Japan’s curious incident of the mystery pipe that popped up in the middle of the night.

Hello, hello newsies!! Yes, we’ve taken quite the long Christmas, New Year, errrr, January break! Yes, work, school and life took over a bit (which happens more and more that Leela is a TEENAGER now, can you believe?!). But, we’re back in time for the… new Chinese New Year, yay! Or should we say, neeeehaaaay! Because, yes, it’s the Year of the Horse for 2026. We’ll give you the low-down on what that represents and, as ever, what the zodiac calendar means.

As we gear up for the new year (yes, we’re still on break!), we thought you might like to hear a debut episode from a new series out made by kids for kids on the Hidden History of Mumbai, one of India’s biggest cities. Two Indian cities take you on a journey of this fascinating city that not only used to be called something else but has history mysteries and neat nuggets of fab facts to keep you enthralled.

As we take a break for the holiday season, why not dip into the wonderful new series, “Big Emotions,” from the Kid’s Listen Community. It’s a new podcast series that helps children (and adults!) understand and navigate big feelings – from fear and jealousy to love and sadness – all through connected stories and clips from various Kid’s Listen podcasts (like ours!). Enjoy and do check out the rest at the Kid’s Listen website.

Howdy, Newsies! In wacky world news this month, we dive deep into the high-tech efforts being used to save the world’s coral reefs – from water robots to underwater speakers. But that’s not all. In nature news… what started as a small national prize is now a global beauty pageant for birds. Find out what country and what bird has taken the crown. In Europe a centuries‑old tradition meets modern city life, as thousands of animals march straight through a bustling street in Spain. Here’s a clue: baaaahhh. Heard the one about the stolen skull being returned? Oh, you will if you hear this episode. And as if those two previous stories aren’t odd enough, you gotta hear the one about spiders in a stinky cave – thousands and thousands of them!

This month in wild world news… Israel and Hamas militants agree to a major ceasefire, though it’s hanging by a thread… So, will it help Donald Trump in his ambitions to get a Nobel Peace Prize? In India festival season is on– but have you heard of the 75-day festival that is the longest-lasting in the world? We have a special on-site report. In science news the world’s leading primatologist (as in a person who studies primates!) passes away – we’ll tell you why Jane Goodall was known as the “chimp whisperer.” And with winter fast approaching in the northern hemisphere, bears in the US are fattening up for hibernation – but which cuddly creature will win the Fat Bear Competition? Lastly, forget about the Nobel prizes – the other ones are perhaps more interesting, or, at least more odd! Confused – well, listen to the end and you’ll be all the wiser.

Now that we’re a monthly news pod for kids – boy, do we have a doozy of an episode for y’all! First up, we'll explain why people in Denmark are offering their ailing pets as food (!) at zoos - yes, we'll dive deep into the Danish cycle – or circle – of life belief. Staying with nature, move over Nemo - there's a shark that's been spotted off the coast of Costa Rica, lighting up the ocean. In tech news is it the end of batteries for our tech devices? If so, then how? And the search is BACK on for Amelia Earhart's plane that famously went down in the Pacific Ocean way back in 1937. In entertainment news Taylor Swift is finally getting hitched. In sports find out who takes the crown in The Little League World Series. (Clue – it’s actually a worldly team!) And, why, oh, why do the Spanish like to toss tomatoes? At each other? Yes, we'll have a special report from one of the craziest, or do we mean tastiest, festivals around. All that and more in this monthly episode.

This is our 200th episode, folks. Yes, indeed. And not just that – we also just completed FIVE YEARS of this world news pod for kids! Yep, Newsy Pooloozi turns 5! And coming back after a long summer break, we have a doozy of an episode for you – from a wrap of all the conflicts brewing around the world to AI education in schools, chess at the E-Sports World Cup, Taylor Swift announces her latest album, New Zealand’s former PM shares her secret power, chimps put hair in their orifices (yes!), orcas act strange and a toddler fights a snake (and the snake is the loser – you won’t believe how!). All that and more this episode!

In wacky world news this week… It’s summer in the northern hemisphere and that means prime tourist season in many places, but in Spain – we have a special report – about people who are so sick of tourists, they’re taking to the streets in protests. Speaking of demonstrations, after Paris wins a big football championship celebrations turns nasty. We have the story from the French capital. In the UK, a piano prodigy is invited to the Royal Academy of Music – you’ll never guess how he learned to play the keys. And talk about weird – in Panama monkeys are acting beyond odd, abducting other… well, you gotta listen to find out. That’s not the only oddball either, in Japan, businessmen give professional cheerleading a new meaning. All that and more!

In this episode of world news… We give you the dope on the pope with special reports from BOTH Rome and Chicago, where the world’s first US pontiff comes from. We’ll also try to explain India and Pakistan’s conflict – the aerial dogfight (which is not at all as cute as it sounds) and ceasefire. China and the US agree on some new, cheaper tariffs. The Australian dog lost on Kangaroo Island is trapped and found – confused? Don’t worry, we’ll tell you all. And we’ll also tell you why those kooky Kiwis love the ugly blobfish.

Kid News This Week: A massive prize is being dangled in front of code-breakers and linguists (you know, those people who are foreign language experts) – how much and for what in this episode. Plus, we give you the BREAKING NEWS about the Indian Army’s strike on targets in Pakistan. Also, heard the one about the man who loves snakes so much he’s willing to be bitten endlessly? Well, you’ll never believe what good is coming out of that “sssssssssssssssussss” love. The world’s first human and humanoid robot marathon took place in China – guess who (or what) won? And talk about a wild – or dangerous taxi ride – meet the octopus who jumped on the back of… wait – you gotta listen till the end to hear this one!

In world news for kids… It’s the end of an era for the Catholic church as Pope Francis – known for his kindness that also caused some controversy – passes away. It’s the return of the prehistoric wolf puppies – three to be exact. Yes, the once extinct dive wolf returns thanks to the magic of science. We’ll tell you how. In tech, or should I say, the world of fashion – AI models are replacing humans. In the US a bookstore moves location, one book at a time, thanks to some helpful book lovers. And – heard the one about the wiener dog stranded on an Australian island? Well, you gotta listen to the end to find out whether this story has an odd or a happy ending…

The important and wacky world news for kids this week… The US taxes the world – we’ll have the lowdown on what tariffs are and what they mean. Asia celebrates MANY happy new years – yes, you heard me right – new years (as in plural!), and a special report on celebrations in Cambodia. Are you a junk food addict, do you have tons of junk food stored away, do you take it to school sometime? Well imagine inf your school banned it. Well, that’s what’s happening in Mexico. Rats to the rescue. (We love our good old rat stories – well, I do at least.) This story is about a big rat as it fights disease in Africa. And who – or what – in the world is Ghibli and why is everyone sending cartoon messages and calling it Ghibli??? Well, you gotta listen to find out!

This episode is a packed and punny one… A real flying car takes flight – according to a California aeronautical company that released footage of the “high-way” drive. The two NASA astronauts stuck in space for nine months splash back down to Earth. A quarter of the world celebrates the Islamic Eid festival – we have the lowdown on the festivities. We also have a special report on the marvels of 3D printing in Japan where a train station can be “printed” and then constructed in just six hours! And the US President is walking on eggshells over the high price of eggs and a certain European country he needed a favor from… All that and more this episode!

In wacky world news this episode… The biggest street parades and parties are underway – we’ll tell you where and why in our Mardi Gras explainer. We’ll also give you the low-down on diplomacy – what it means and why it matters – AND what it’s got to do (or not) with Donald Trump and the new world order. Big environment news with an innovative sponge that might help solve the world’s microplastic pollution problem. And, lost at sea… a couple deep sea creatures are showing up on the surface – you gotta listen to the end to find out which ones and where!

We have another packed episode for all you, newsies! Half a billion people attend the biggest peaceful gathering in the world – right here in India. Yes, we’re talking about the mega – or should I say, “Maha,” Khumb Mela. We’ll give you the low-down AND have a special report from a kid correspondent who was there. Ever wondered how polar bears can go in and out of ice-cold water without their fur freezing? Well, some Norwegian scientists did and they found the answer. Heard about Valentine’s Venus – yep, it’s a thing and it’s still happening. We’ll tell you all in our space news. `And some heroic rodents who were beavering away in the Czech Republic save a town a million dollars – but you gotta listen till the end to find out how!

After our lonnnnnnnnng winter break, we’re back!! And boy are we back with a bang – we have a seriously packed and very special episode of Newsy Pooloozi – The New Pod for Kids. First up, we have two special – and touching – on-the-ground reports from both sides of the divide in the Israeli war. Plus, climate change is drastically impacting education with more kids missing school than ever before because of extreme weather. Millions celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Snake. We’ll give you the lowdown on what that means. In India a strange court case brings up a bizarre debate in the world of sports: is a horse an athlete or just part of the equipment? We discuss! And finally, scientists are bottling old bones. Yep. But you gotta listen to the pod to find out what this wacky practice has to do with solving crime!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… But just what that might look like in the southern half of the world might surprise you? Never fear, we have special reports from our teams of Australian and New Zealand correspondents on how they spend December 25. Hint: there are no roasting chestnuts! It’s cold and cozy up in Germany though – where they take their advent calendars to new heights – like human-sized heights, in fact. The world has a new chess champ, and India is over the moon… why? He’s Indian, of course. And the youngest to boot! We’ll go to his hometown of Chennai for that one. And finally, well, there’s a new fashion for… killer whales. Salmon, anyone? Confused? Well, listen to the end to hear this fishy tale!

World news in this episode… Well, it’s official. The Australian government bans its teenagers from using social media – sparking relief in some, anger in others. We’ll have not one – but two – reports from teens down under. In nature news, conservationists are worried giraffes are going bye-bye – yes, we mean endangered. Hear the details in this week’s episode. Also, good news in Paris where the Notre Dame cathedral reopens five years after a major fire. In entertainment news – it’s a tidal wave of sales for Moana 2. And, finally, hamsters don’t run amok but FLY amok in a plane over Portugal. What on earth am I talking about? Well, you gotta listen to the end to find out!

This episode's world news for kids… Donald “trumped” Harris in the race for the US White House – we give you the lowdown and look forward to what the next four years might have in store for us. Elsewhere, Spain is rocked by a crazy torrent of rain that led to deadly floods – we’ll have a special report on the clean-up from Barcelona. Plus, conservationists to the rescue in New Zealand where their beloved kiwi bird is under threat. And you won’t believe what some very dumb art thieves did to four Andy Warhol paintings they stole from a gallery in the Netherlands.