TL;DR: If you’re looking to kill the "are we there yet" chorus without handing over your iPhone for a 3-hour YouTube marathon, Brains On! is your new best friend. It’s a high-quality science podcast that treats kids like the smart humans they are.
Quick Links:
- The Main Event: Brains On!
- The Spinoff for Debaters: Smash Boom Best
- The History Buff's Pick: Forever Ago
- The High-Energy Alternative: Wow in the World
We’ve all been there. You’re twenty minutes into a two-hour drive, and the backseat vibe is deteriorating fast. You’ve already exhausted the "I Spy" repertoire, and if you hear one more person say "Ohio" to describe a slightly weird-looking cow, you might actually lose it.
The easy out is the iPad. We know the drill: open Roblox, let them get lost in a tycoon game, and enjoy the silence. But then you deal with the "screen transition rage" when you finally get to your destination.
Enter the science podcast. Specifically, Brains On!.
It’s the digital wellness "cheat code." It occupies their brains, sparks actual conversation, and—best of all—requires zero eyeballs on a glowing rectangle. Here is why this show is the gold standard for intentional parents and how to make it work for your family.
Brains On! is a science podcast for kids and curious adults produced by American Public Media. It’s hosted by Molly Bloom, who is joined each week by a different kid co-host.
The format is simple but brilliant: kids send in questions—everything from "Why do we sneeze?" to "How do deep-sea fish survive the pressure?"—and the show finds actual scientists to answer them. But it’s not a dry lecture. It’s packed with sound effects, "Mystery Sounds," and recurring characters that keep the pacing fast enough for a generation raised on TikTok but slow enough for actual deep learning.
Ask our chatbot for a list of the best Brains On! episodes for a 7-year-old
Let’s be real: a lot of "educational" media is just... bad. It’s either patronizingly sweet or so chaotic it feels like your brain is being put through a blender (looking at you, Cocomelon).
Brains On! hits the sweet spot for a few reasons:
- The Mystery Sound: This is the highlight of every episode. They play a weird noise, and the audience (and the kid co-host) has to guess what it is. It’s surprisingly competitive. You will find yourself shushing your kids so you can hear if that clicking noise is a toaster or a dolphin.
- The Kid Co-Hosts: Having a real kid on the mic changes the dynamic. It doesn't feel like an adult talking at them; it feels like a peer exploring with them.
- The "Moment of Um": At the end of every episode, they answer a quick "stump the parent" style question. It’s bite-sized, fascinating, and perfect for dinner table trivia later.
- No "Brain Rot": Unlike some YouTube channels that rely on loud noises and flashing colors to keep attention, podcasts require kids to use their "mind’s eye." They have to visualize the black hole or the prehistoric sloth. That’s a workout for the brain that scrolling through Instagram just doesn't provide.
If your kids catch the podcast bug, you don't have to stop at science. The "Brains On" universe and its competitors have expanded into some really cool territory.
This is a debate show for kids. Think: Bats vs. Owls, or Pizza vs. Tacos. Two guests represent a side and use actual rhetorical skills to win over a kid judge. It’s a stealthy way to teach your kids how to build an argument without them realizing they’re learning. It’s also a lifesaver for car rides because it naturally leads to the kids debating their own "Smash Boom Best" matchups in the backseat.
If science isn't their thing, try history. Forever Ago explores the origin of everyday things—like video games, shoes, or umbrellas. It’s hosted by Joy Dolo, who is genuinely funny and keeps the history from feeling like a social studies quiz.
If Brains On! is the "NPR" of kids' podcasts, Wow in the World is the "Nickelodeon." Hosted by Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas, it is much higher energy, much sillier, and a bit louder. Some parents find it a little "much," but for kids who need that extra hook to stay engaged, it’s a massive hit.
From National Geographic Kids, this one is all about mythology. If your kid is currently obsessed with Percy Jackson, this is a mandatory listen. It covers Greek, Norse, and Egyptian myths in a way that is kid-safe but doesn't lose the "cool factor" of the original stories.
Check out our guide on the best podcasts for elementary schoolers
While Brains On! is technically for "kids," the sweet spot is Ages 5-12.
- Preschoolers (Ages 3-4): They might enjoy the "Mystery Sound," but some of the scientific explanations will go over their heads. They might prefer something like Circle Round, which focuses on folktales.
- Elementary (Ages 5-10): This is the target audience. They’re old enough to be curious about the world but young enough to still think science is "cool" and not "homework."
- Middle School (Ages 11-13): They might act like they're too cool for it, but if you put it on in the car, they’ll usually stop looking at Snapchat long enough to weigh in on the Mystery Sound.
Podcasts are generally one of the safest forms of media out there. There’s no user-generated content, no "creepers" in a chat room like on Roblox, and no algorithmic rabbit holes.
However, here are two things to keep in mind:
- Advertising: Most kids' podcasts are supported by ads. Usually, these are for other kids' podcasts or family-friendly products (like KiwiCo or Literati). They aren't predatory, but it’s a good opening to talk to your kids about what an "ad" is and why companies pay for them.
- The "Ick" Factor: Brains On! doesn't shy away from "gross" science. They have episodes on farts, poop, and boogers. If your family is particularly sensitive to that, you might want to screen the titles first. But honestly? The "fart" episode is one of the most scientifically dense and fascinating ones they’ve done.
At Screenwise, we talk a lot about "active" vs. "passive" screen time. While a podcast isn't a "screen," it is digital media.
The reason we love Brains On! is that it encourages co-consumption. It’s hard to co-consume Subway Surfers—you’re just watching them swipe. But you can listen to a podcast together.
It creates a shared language. When your kid asks why the sky is blue, you can say, "Remember that episode of Brains On! about light waves?" It turns a solitary digital experience into a family one.
If you want to move beyond just listening, try asking these questions after an episode:
- "What was your guess for the Mystery Sound? Why did you think that?"
- "If you were the kid co-host, what question would you ask the scientist?"
- "Did anything they said sound totally 'cap' (fake) to you?" (Using their slang correctly is optional, but highly recommended for the eye-roll factor).
Brains On! isn't just "good for an educational show." It’s genuinely good entertainment. It respects your child's intelligence, fuels their curiosity, and gives you a much-needed break from the digital noise of YouTube and TikTok.
Next time you’re heading out, download five episodes (the "fart" one, the "black hole" one, and a few "Mystery Sound" compilations) and see if you can make it to your destination without a single person asking for a screen.
- Subscribe to Brains On! on whatever podcast app you use (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.).
- Check out Smash Boom Best for your next family dinner debate.
- Explore our guide to digital wellness to see how podcasts fit into a balanced tech diet.