TL;DR: But Why? is the ultimate antidote to "brain rot" and the "are we there yet" refrain. Produced by Vermont Public, it’s a show where actual kids call in with questions, and actual experts give them real, non-condescending answers. It’s perfect for ages 4-10, great for long car rides, and won't make you want to pull your hair out.
Quick Links to Favorites:
- But Why? A Podcast for Curious Kids
- Wow in the World (The high-energy alternative)
- Brains On! (The science-heavy sibling)
- Greeking Out (For the mythology-obsessed)
We’ve all been there. You’re three minutes into a forty-minute drive, and from the backseat comes a question that you are fundamentally unprepared to answer: "Why is the sky blue?" or "Do llamas have feelings?" or the classic existential dread-inducer, "What happens when we die?"
You could try to explain Rayleigh scattering while navigating a merge, or you could lean on the pros.
But Why? A Podcast for Curious Kids is essentially a crowdsourced encyclopedia for the elementary school set. It’s one of those rare pieces of media that feels like it was made by people who actually respect children’s intelligence. It doesn’t rely on fart jokes or frantic sound effects to keep their attention. Instead, it relies on the one thing kids have in infinite supply: curiosity.
Produced by Vermont Public and hosted by Jane Lindholm (and more recently Melody Bodette), the show's format is simple but brilliant. Kids from all over the world record voice memos asking... well, anything. The producers then track down an expert—an astronomer, a historian, a zoologist, or even a spider expert—to answer those questions in a way that’s accessible but never "dumbed down."
What makes this podcast stand out in the crowded "kids and family" category on Spotify or Apple Podcasts is its tone. If Wow in the World is the "Saturday Morning Cartoon" of podcasts (high energy, lots of bits), But Why? is more like the "NPR for Kids." It’s calm, thoughtful, and incredibly well-produced.
There is a specific psychological win here: representation.
When a seven-year-old from Tokyo or a five-year-old from Nebraska hears their own peer asking a question, they immediately lean in. It validates their own internal monologue. It tells them that their questions about how noodles are made or why people have different skin colors aren't "annoying"—they’re important enough to be on a radio show.
It also taps into that "collector" mindset kids have. They love knowing facts that adults might not know. There is nothing a third-grader loves more than correcting their parent on the specific reason why sea turtles return to the same beach where they were born.
Ask our chatbot for more podcasts that empower kid curiosity
If you’re just diving in, the back catalog can be overwhelming. Here is how I’d break down the "must-listens" based on what your kid is currently obsessed with:
For the Science & Nature Nerds
- "Why Do We Have Night and Day?" – A foundational episode that explains the rotation of the Earth without making your head spin.
- "Are Llamas Related to Camels?" – Essential listening before any zoo trip.
- "How Do Deep Sea Creatures Survive?" – This one is great because the deep ocean is basically as alien as Mars to a kid.
For the "Big Life Questions"
- "Why Do People Have Different Skin Colors?" – This is a masterclass in explaining biology and social history in a way that is age-appropriate and direct.
- "What Happens When We Die?" – This is a heavy one, but they handle it with incredible grace and a focus on how different cultures celebrate life.
- "Why Is It Hard to Share?" – Perfect for the younger crowd (ages 4-6) who are currently embattled in the Great Sibling Toy War.
For the Just Plain Weird
- "How Are Noodles Made?" – Warning: You will be required to go to a ramen or pasta spot immediately after listening.
- "Why Is Poop Brown?" – Let’s be real, you can’t have a kids' podcast without at least one episode about bodily functions.
While the podcast is generally aimed at the 5-10 age range, it’s surprisingly versatile:
- Ages 3-5: They might not catch every scientific nuance, but they love the rhythm of the show and hearing other kids' voices. Stick to the animal-themed episodes.
- Ages 6-9: This is the "Sweet Spot." They are old enough to understand the explanations and will likely want to start recording their own questions to send in.
- Ages 10+: Some episodes might feel a bit "young," but the more complex topics (like politics, climate change, or technology) still hold weight.
If you have an older kid who finds But Why? a bit too slow, you might want to point them toward Science Friday or Smash Boom Best, which is a debate-style show that appeals to the more competitive, argumentative tween brain.
We talk a lot about "passive" vs. "active" screen time. While a podcast is technically a "passive" medium (you’re just listening), But Why? is highly generative.
It rarely ends with the episode. Usually, it sparks a conversation that lasts the rest of the car ride. It encourages kids to look at the world around them—the trees, the grocery store shelves, their own bodies—with a more critical and appreciative eye.
In a world of YouTube Shorts and TikTok where the goal is to keep you scrolling mindlessly, But Why? asks kids to slow down and think deeply about one single topic for 20 minutes. That is a "digital win" in my book.
1. It’s Co-Listening Gold: Unlike Blippi (which, let’s be honest, is a form of sensory torture for anyone over the age of six), you will actually learn something from this. I didn’t know why we have eyebrows until I listened to this with a first-grader.
2. Sensitive Topics: They don’t shy away from the hard stuff. They’ve done episodes on the war in Ukraine, on racism, and on scary dreams. They handle these with expert child psychologists and educators, but if your child is particularly sensitive, you might want to pre-listen or listen together so you can pause and discuss.
3. The "Call In" Feature: The show encourages kids to record their own questions. This is a great way to introduce the "creative" side of tech. Instead of just consuming, they are participating in the media creation process.
Learn how to help your kid record their own podcast question
But Why? is a 10/10 recommendation for any parent who wants to foster a sense of wonder without the "zany" overstimulation of typical kids' media. It’s smart, it’s kind, and it’s free.
Next Steps:
- Download the Apple Podcasts or Spotify app if you haven't already.
- Search for "But Why?" and look for the logo with the colorful question mark.
- Start with the "Why Do Lions Roar?" episode if you have a younger kid, or "Why Is The Ocean Salty?" for the older ones.
- If your kids love the "versus" format, check out our guide on Smash Boom Best.
Digital parenting doesn't always have to be about "restricting" or "blocking." Sometimes, it’s just about finding the right signal in all the noise. But Why? is definitely the signal.