Squiz Kids

Latest Episodes:

Iran - Squiz the World goes to... Mar 09, 2026

Show notes

Squiz the World goes to... Iran

Each fortnight, we give the world globe a spin and see where we land. Then we take the kids of Australia, and the world, on an audio excursion to visit that country and its people.

Join your captain, Christie Kijurina, on an audio adventure. Today, we're flying to Iran, a country once known as Persia, with a history stretching back thousands of years. From the ancient ruins of Persepolis and the poetry of Hafez and Rumi, to saffron-filled kitchens and bustling modern cities, there’s so much to discover. So, buckle up and get ready to explore Iran.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Links:

Map of Iran and the Middle East

Landscapes of Iran

Timeline of the MANY rulers of Ancient Persia

A Persian fable - Bozee the goat, and the fox

Famous Persian poems and poets

Khoresh recipe

Saffron facts for kids

Matildas draw with South Korea, and news of a new Xbox Mar 08, 2026

Show notes

Your daily kids news podcast.

International Women's Day on the football pitch; Matildas draw with South Korea; Sweden’s lolly Saturday; and news of a new Xbox.

International Women’s Day celebrates girls and women everywhere! But one brave soccer team from Iran is in a tricky spot after protesting during a match in Australia. Now they’re worried about going home.

Kids in Sweden have a delicious tradition: a big lolly treat every Saturday! Maybe because sweets are mostly saved for that one day, many Swedish kids have super healthy teeth.

It was a big sports weekend! The Matildas drew 3–3 with South Korea and now head to the quarterfinals. Meanwhile in Melbourne, George Russell zoomed to victory in the Grand Prix.

Gamers are buzzing! Microsoft says a brand-new Xbox console is on the way—and it might play both Xbox and PC games.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Girl Power - From the Vault Mar 07, 2026

Show notes

Today is International Women’s Day — a moment to celebrate the achievements of women and girls around the world.

In this Squiz Kids Shortcut, Amanda and Bryce explore the story behind the phrase “Girl Power” — from its punk music roots to the Spice Girls who made it famous.

They also explain why the United Nations created the International Day of the Girl Child, and look at the challenges still facing millions of girls around the world.

The good news? Opportunities for girls are growing, with more role models than ever in sport, science, politics and the movies.

Listen carefully — there’s a Squiz at the end!

Why are microplastics everywhere - even inside us? Science Short Mar 06, 2026

Show notes

From sports shirts and washing machines to sea salt and seafood, tiny pieces of plastic are travelling through our world in ways scientists never expected.

In this week’s Squiz Kids Science Short we investigate microplastics — what they are, how plastic breaks down into microscopic fragments, and why researchers are now detecting them in water, food, air and even human tissue.

It’s a fascinating look at the invisible journey of plastic around our planet… and inside our bodies.

Kids vs Adults Weekly News S'Quiz Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

A fun kids vs adults news quiz to test who’s been paying the most attention to the week in news.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

The surprising fashion of black teeth, and a footballer’s seagull rescue Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

Your daily kids news podcast.

A time machine for the nose; the surprising fashion of black teeth; a footballer’s seagull rescue; and AI fakes in the Iran war.

Scientists are recreating smells from the past — from ancient Egyptian mummies to royal cars and even dinosaur breath! By studying tiny scent molecules, they’re building a “time machine for the nose.”

Archaeologists in Vietnam discovered a skeleton with shiny black teeth — and it wasn’t an accident!

During a football match in Turkey, a seagull was accidentally knocked down by the ball. One quick-thinking player rushed over and performed CPR on the bird.

Some shocking videos about world events are spreading online — but many aren’t real. Fact-checkers use clever tools to trace images, detect AI fakes, and reveal the truth.

Newshounds

TinEye
Snopes
Reuters Fact Check
AAP Fact Check
PolitiFact

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Mr Beast tops YouTube charts, and T-Rex on tippy toes Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

Your daily kids news podcast.

Mr Beast tops YouTube charts; London’s hard drive heaters; T-Rex on tippy toes; and human brain cells learn to game.

A new survey says nearly nine in ten Aussie kids are glued to YouTube! Gaming tops the charts and MrBeast is the king of clicks.

In London, computers aren’t just crunching numbers — they’re warming houses! Heat from giant data centres is being piped into nearby homes.

Forget the thunderous stomp — scientists say T-Rex may have tiptoed!

Scientists trained real human brain cells to play the video game Doom! Grown on tiny chips, these neurons are learning faster than ever — but no one fully knows how.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Women's Football (Soccer)... Your Shortcut Mar 02, 2026

Show notes

It’s a big month for football — with the Women’s Asian Cup now underway and the Matildas already on the scoreboard with a 1–0 win over the Philippines!

To celebrate all the action, we’re bringing back this Squiz Kids Shortcut to Women’s Football — where we explore how the game began, what was happening in Australia, and why women’s football has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.

You’ll hear the incredible history of women playing soccer — from queens kicking balls in the 1500s, to record-breaking crowds in the 1920s, to the rise of Australia’s very own Matildas.

Note for listeners: This episode was originally recorded in 2023, before the FIFA Women’s World Cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand — so you may hear references to that tournament coming up.

🎧 Perfect for curious kids aged 8–12 — and anyone who loves sport, history, and a great comeback story.

Listen carefully… there’s a Squiz at the end!

For the full episode transcript, click here.

LINKS:

Women's football - primary sources: ⁠http://www.donmouth.co.uk/womens_football/womens_football.html⁠

The story of women's football in England: ⁠https://www.thefa.com/womens-girls-football/heritage/kicking-down-barriers⁠

History of women's football in Australia: ⁠https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/history-womens-football-australia⁠

How the Matildas' got their name: ⁠https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/sometimes-you-strike-it-lucky-how-a-25-cent-phone-poll-gave-the-matildas-their-name-20230517-p5d93q.html?instance=2023-06-24-06-06-AEST&jobid=29705766&list_name=E2446F7A-1897-44FC-8EB8-B365900170E3&mbnr=MzE0NDQ1OTU&promote_channel=edmail&utm_campaign=am-smh-weekend&utm_content=good_weekend&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=2023-06-24⁠

Everything we need to know about the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: ⁠https://www.refinery29.com/en-au/2023/06/11417703/fifa-womens-world-cup-2023-details

Special Edition - Iran explained Mar 01, 2026

Show notes

In this special edition of Squiz Kids, Bryce hits pause on normal programming to explain the big news out of Iran.

Over the weekend, the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, and Iran retaliated with its own attacks across parts of the Middle East. Leaders say the strikes were aimed at stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and the biggest shock was the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ruled for decades in a strict religious system.

Bryce breaks down what all that means, what might happen next, and why it’s extra important to use your Newshounds “Stop, Think, Check” skills when misinformation spreads online.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Ancient Egypt - From the Vault Feb 28, 2026

Show notes

Travel back thousands of years to one of the world’s most fascinating civilisations in this From the Vault episode of Squiz Kids Shortcut — Ancient Egypt.

It was a place where pyramids scraped the sky, powerful pharaohs ruled the land, men and women wore eye makeup for surprising reasons, and the rich were carefully mummified for the afterlife. But how much of what we think we know about Ancient Egypt is actually true?

Perfect for curious kids — and especially handy if Ancient Egypt is popping up in your classroom this year.

Listen carefully… there’s a Squiz at the end!

Link: ⁠How to mummify a chicken