Short & Curly
Kids & Family Podcasts
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.
Location:
United States
Description:
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.
Language:
English
Episodes
BITES – Being scared of spiders
12/18/2025
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?
Duration:00:03:31
BITES – Driverless cars
12/17/2025
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?!
Duration:00:03:30
BITES – Grown-ups making the rules
12/16/2025
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?!
Duration:00:03:02
BITES – Cats VS Dogs
12/15/2025
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?
Duration:00:03:43
BITES - Judging people because of who they're friends with
12/14/2025
Molly is having a party so she’s invited over the usual gang – Carl, Eleanor, Tony Ravioli and… the Joker! Batman’s nemesis!! And he’s not a great guy, what with all the crimes he’s committed in Gotham City. Is Molly making the right call here?
Should you judge people because of who they’re friends with?
Thanks to Violet for this quirky conundrum.
Duration:00:03:37
Should you have to pass a test to have kids?
9/30/2025
We test for everything: to get a licence, to move to the next grade, to prove you're ready to use a pen. But when it comes to becoming a biological parent, there's no test to pass. Should there be? Would a parenting test be a good idea?
Brains Trust — Gibbs Street Public School, Perth: Fitzroy, Shahla, Jorja, Nafi, Tabitha, Gumaan
Listen to Short & Curly, the fun and educational ABC kids podcast about philosophy and ethics. Join hosts Molly Daniels, Carl Smith, and philosopher Eleanor Gordon-Smith as they explore big questions about right and wrong, fairness, truth, knowledge, logic, beauty and art.
Perfect for tweens aged 8–12, families, and teachers, Short & Curly is one of the best kids shows for curious minds.
Binge this educational ABC show for free on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts worldwide.
Duration:00:22:30
Is it wrong to think bad thoughts about people?
9/30/2025
We all have thoughts about other people that we’d never say aloud. But do our private thoughts say something about the kind of people we are? Or is it only our actions that count?
Brains Trust - Gibbs Street Public School, Perth: Layla, Avjot, Johanna, Imogen, Sampada, Claudia.
Listen to Short & Curly, the fun and educational ABC kids podcast about philosophy and ethics. Join hosts Molly Daniels, Carl Smith, and philosopher Eleanor Gordon-Smith as they explore big questions about right and wrong, fairness, truth, knowledge, logic, beauty and art.
Perfect for tweens aged 8–12, families, and teachers, Short & Curly is one of the best kids shows for curious minds.
Binge this educational ABC show for free on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts worldwide.
Duration:00:20:06
Graffiti or Gallery? When does graffiti become street art?
9/30/2025
Ever walked past a spray-painted wall and thought, "That's actually really cool and beautiful!" But is it art or just stylish vandalism? Molly and Carl grab some spray cans and dive into the messy, colourful world of graffiti to ask: when does a rebellious scribble become art, and who gets to decide?
Brains Trust — Gibbs Street Public School, Perth: Fitzroy, Shahla, Jorja, Nafi, Tabitha, Gumaan
Listen to Short & Curly, the fun and educational ABC kids podcast about philosophy and ethics. Join hosts Molly Daniels, Carl Smith, and philosopher Eleanor Gordon-Smith as they explore big questions about right and wrong, fairness, truth, knowledge, logic, beauty and art.
Perfect for tweens aged 8–12, families, and teachers, Short & Curly is one of the best kids shows for curious minds.
Binge this educational ABC show for free on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts worldwide.
Duration:00:23:00
Risky Rescues: Should you save someone who ignored warnings?
9/30/2025
There's wild surf at the beach today, but people are still choosing to swim outside the area patrolled by lifeguards. If those swimmers get into trouble out there, should other people put themselves at risk to save them? Or does ignoring the warnings mean you're on your own?
Brains Trust — Gibbs Street Public School, Perth: Fitzroy, Shahla, Jorja, Nafi, Tabitha, Gumaan
Listen to Short & Curly, the fun and educational ABC kids podcast about philosophy and ethics. Join hosts Molly Daniels, Carl Smith, and philosopher Eleanor Gordon-Smith as they explore big questions about right and wrong, fairness, truth, knowledge, logic, beauty and art.
Perfect for tweens aged 8–12, families, and teachers, Short & Curly is one of the best kids shows for curious minds.
Binge this educational ABC show for free on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts worldwide.
Duration:00:20:30
Can you lie even when you don’t say anything?
4/1/2025
The line between truth and deception can be blurry. Is leaving out important information a lie? What about misleading gestures, or half-truths? Babysitting Matt's kids force Molly and Carl to confront these complexities firsthand as they lie to get out of tricky situations.
Summer Hill Public School: Dimitri, Mia, Teddy, Milla, Cleo, Marcus
Duration:00:24:00
Shape shifters — When is something no longer itself?
4/1/2025
Join Molly and Carl as they valiantly attempt a world record sailing around the globe on their boat, the Theseus. Faced with a constant need for boat repairs, they are forced to confront a perplexing question: how many changes can you make to something before it's no longer the same thing it started out as?
South Wagga Public School: Noah, Lucas, Jasmine, Hunter, Olivia
Duration:00:22:12
Do we need a rule book to be a good person?
4/1/2025
Molly and Carl visit Greece in search of the mythical "Scroll of Rights and Wrongs", an ancient guide written by the smartest person to have ever lived: Adamantia the Wise. The elusive ancient text contains the ultimate guide to morality, but what does it say?
South Wagga Public School: Noah, Lucas, Jasmine, Hunter, Olivia
Duration:00:21:30
Three siblings, one musical instrument, who should get it?
4/1/2025
Have you ever had a fight with your sibling over who should get to keep something? In a small village a long time ago, Queen Ethiconia had to settle a dispute between three siblings fighting over a musical instrument they all want and all think they deserve: a wooden recorder. Each says the recorder should be theirs, but for very different, compelling reasons. So, who should get the flute? You decide.
South Wagga Public School: Noah, Lucas, Jasmine, Hunter, Olivia
Duration:00:23:36
Matt's big news: How to give up something you love
4/1/2025
As a kid, Matt, our resident ethicist, was always flat out. He juggled volunteering in the school veggie garden, playing sports, sibling duties, music practice, and chores around the house. After a while, it started to feel overwhelming, even though they were all important responsibilities that he cared about! But do humans try to do too much and is okay to just simply do nothing when there are so many important things the world needs?
Summer Hill Public School: Dimitri, Mia, Teddy, Milla, Cleo, Marcus
Duration:00:21:30
BONUS – Goodbye Matt, thanks for the memories
4/1/2025
See if you can work out which episodes these classic Matt moments are from as we say goodbye (but hopefully not forever) to our wonderful ethicist Matt Beard.
Duration:00:09:00
BITES – Dog poo in the bin
12/21/2024
You are enjoying a walk with your four-legged friend, when they do a big stinker on the street. Don't worry — you're prepared! You've brought the dog poo bags! But do you really have to carry the smelly parcel of poo all the way home? Is it okay to put your dog poo in someone else's bin?
Thanks to Genevieve for this stinky dilemma!
Duration:00:03:12
BITES – Paying people to be kind
12/20/2024
Everyone says it's good to be kind and that acts of kindness can make the world a better place. But often we aren't as kind as we could or should be. So should we pay people to be kind? Would it make the world a better place?
Thank you to Pepper for this awesome question!
Duration:00:03:12
BITES – Friends inviting themselves over
12/19/2024
It's fun to hang out with our friends, but sometimes we need a bit of alone time. Maybe you want to listen to your favourite music and sing along loudly. Or curl up in a special place and read a book. So should you always say yes if someone asks if they can come over to your house?
Thanks to Melissa for this curly question!
Duration:00:03:00
BITES — What to do with unwanted gifts
12/18/2024
We all love getting presents, but what about when you get a gift you don't like and will never use? So what should you do with unwanted gifts? Is it ok to give them away or do you have to keep them forever?
Thanks to Oscar for this curious question!
Duration:00:03:12
BITES – Should teachers bribe students?
12/17/2024
It must be hard work being a teacher and trying to get a classroom of kids to behave. But is it ok for teachers to bribe kids with lollies to get them to be good?
Thanks to Milly for this curious question!
Duration:00:05:00