But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

podcast2016

94%

WISE Score

The ultimate 'outsource' for your kid’s endless questions, handled by experts who actually know why the sky is blue and how spiders spin webs.

But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

podcast

Clean, 2016

94%

WISE Score

The ultimate 'outsource' for your kid’s endless questions, handled by experts who actually know why the sky is blue and how spiders spin webs.

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the gold standard for kids' audio. Produced by Vermont Public, it has that calm, thoughtful vibe that won’t make your ears bleed during a road trip.

Unlike a lot of high-energy 'kid-core' content, it treats children like small humans with real brains. They tackle everything from 'why are there wars?' to 'why do we have toes?' and they do it without talking down to the audience. It’s the perfect antidote to the over-stimulated chaos of YouTube. If you want your kid to be a critical thinker rather than a passive consumer, this is a must-subscribe.

Age Fit

Ideal for the 4-to-10 crowd. Younger kids will enjoy the sounds and simple explanations, while elementary kids will actually soak up the science and logic.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Hosted with a calm, respectful tone that treats kids as serious thinkers. It models active listening and empathy, especially when handling sensitive questions from children around the world.

Imaginative

The entire premise is built on curiosity. By validating every 'silly' question, it encourages kids to look at the world with a scientific and creative lens.

Safe

Public radio standards mean zero profanity, no aggressive advertising, and no toxic content. It’s one of the few things you can put on in the car without hovering over the skip button.

Enriching

It connects kids with actual experts—scientists, historians, and authors—to provide factual, age-appropriate answers to complex questions.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

It makes kids feel heard by using their actual voices and recordings from all over the globe.
Zero 'brain rot'—this is high-quality, thoughtful audio that respects a child's intelligence.
It tackles 'big' stuff (like why people look different or what death is) with incredible grace and facts rather than fear.
Perfect for long car rides where you want to stop the 'are we there yet' cycle with something genuinely interesting.

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What to Watch For

They don't shy away from reality; some episodes cover scary topics like war or climate change, though they do it very gently.
It’s very 'public radio'—if your kid only likes high-octane, loud cartoons, the pacing might feel slow at first.

Conversation Starters

"If you could send one question to Jane, what would it be?"
"Did that expert’s answer change the way you think about [topic]?"
"Why do you think kids in other countries are asking the same questions as you?"

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