Podcasts · Kids & Family · Society & Culture

Short & Curly

ABC Australia

194 episodes

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.

More about the show

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.

Episodes page 1 of 4

  1. Finders keepers

    · 23 min

    We’re travelling back to the stellar 1970s and Carl has spotted a totally far-out skateboard seemingly abandoned at the local skate park. Can he just… take it? When does finders keepers apply, and how much do we need…

  2. Should you be forced to keep learning a musical instrument?

    · 23 min

    Molly’s newly adopted son Carl Smith Hyphen Daniels Jnr does NOT want to play the violin. He says it’s boring, and hurts his fingers. But Mamma Molly knows best. Why is it that parents can tell us what to do?

  3. The Tragedy of Commonalia

    · 22 min

    Commonalia is an idyllic paradise, and all the happy pixies that call Commonalia home spend their days exploring the grand forest. The trees of the forest have healing powers, their seeds can be used for medicine, and…

  4. Is the number 5 real?

    · 23 min

    You can see 5 dogs playing in a park, you can hold 5 lollies, and you can be 5 years old. But is the number 5 itself real? Molly, Carl and Eleanor head on a road trip to find the number 5, and try to figure out what it…

  5. Zombies Right to Life

    · 23 min

    After five years of brutal fighting, Carl and Molly have defeated all the zombies on planet Earth, including the zombified version of their Producer, Kyla. But is that zombie still Kyla? And what would it mean if that…

  6. Wait... they didn't pay Indigenous workers and they stole their land?

    · 10 min

    Short & Curly will be back very soon, but while you're waiting you should check out the podcast Wait... They Did What!? Just like Short and Curly, Wait... They Did What!? examines some ethical conundrums and…

  7. BITES – Being forced to step out of your comfort zone?

    · 3:12

    It feels soooo nice staying in your comfort zone – it's so comfortable there! But stepping and stretching outside your comfort zone is an important part of life. Is it right when schools or parents push us to do things…

  8. BITES – Is it fair if siblings get the same things at different ages?

    · 3:41

    It was supposed to be the greatest day of Carl’s life – finally, his parents said he was old enough to go on the big dipper ride at the fun park. But! Carl’s parents let his little sister go on the ride the same day!…

  9. BITES – Getting annoyed when people don’t say your name properly?

    · 2:45

    Names are really important things – they form such a big part of our identities. But for people with less common names, or names with uncommon spellings, it can get really exhausting constantly correcting people's…

  10. BITES – Do adults-only areas discriminate against children?

    · 3:54

    There are heaps of seemingly cool places that kids aren’t allowed to visit – fancy resorts, or sometimes even rock concerts. Most of the time we accept these rules, but are they actually unfair? And if we were to let…

  11. BITES – What is the meaning of life?

    That’s right Curly Crew, we’re going there. We’re answering the big kahuna, the ultimate question – what is the meaning of life? No spoilers here! But it definitely involves snacks, I reckon.

  12. A fairy tale by the campfire – is it okay to scare kids into being good?

    · 22 min

    At Camp Short & Curly, the marshmallows are toasty, the swings are wild, and Molly’s Amazing Cool Book Club is about to begin — but her stories? YIKES! From creepy sea witches to thumb-chopping tailors, why were some…

  13. The Emperor’s New Clothes - the nudie musical edition

    · 24 min

    In this epic musical retelling of The Emperor’s New Clothes, Molly and Carl take you deep into a kingdom where following fashion rules and telling the truth is harder than it looks. There’s a sneaky tailor, an emperor…

  14. Little Red Riding Hood - Why are wolves always the baddies?

    · 21 min

    Why are wolves always the villains in old European fairy tales? And is it OK to stereotype animals, or people for that matter? To investigate, Molly, Carl and Eleanor head off on a fairytale research trip to the snowy…

  15. Rumpelstiltskin – is it OK to break a promise?

    · 23 min

    Short & Curly's world-famous investigative journalist Molly Daniels uncovers a juicy fairytale scandal full of royal drama, magical gold, and a very peculiar little man named... Rumpelstiltskin. But things get serious…

  16. The Ugly Duckling – when is excluding someone mean, and when is it OK?

    · 22 min

    A group of ducklings decide one of their own just doesn’t fit in. He can’t keep up with their games, and — let’s be honest — kind of ruins the vibe. But is it fair to leave someone out just because they don’t have…

  17. What were Molly and Carl like at 10-years-old?

    · 5:15

    Molly and Carl are celebrating a special anniversary... and you are, too! Happy 10th birthday Curly Crew, thanks for all your curly questions and phenomenal feedback. (And get excited for a new season, dropping soon!)

  18. BITES – Being scared of spiders

    · 3:31

    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…

  19. BITES – Driverless cars

    · 3:30

    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…

  20. BITES – Grown-ups making the rules

    · 3:02

    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?!…

  21. BITES – Cats VS Dogs

    · 3:43

    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…

  22. BITES – Judging people because of who they're friends with

    · 3:37

    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…

  23. Should you have to pass a test to have kids?

    · 23 min

    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…

  24. Is it wrong to think bad thoughts about people?

    · 20 min

    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…

  25. Graffiti or Gallery? When does graffiti become street art?

    · 23 min

    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…

  26. Risky Rescues: Should you save someone who ignored warnings?

    · 21 min

    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…

  27. Bad dog or bad owner? Who’s really to blame?

    · 21 min

    Most dogs are loving companions, but what about the ones that bite, bark, or cause chaos? Is a dog's bad behaviour their own fault or is it down to the way they were raised? From neglected pups to misunderstood mutts,…

  28. Can you lie even when you don’t say anything?

    · 24 min

    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…

  29. Shape shifters — When is something no longer itself?

    · 22 min

    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…

  30. Do we need a rule book to be a good person?

    · 22 min

    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…

  31. Three siblings, one musical instrument, who should get it?

    · 24 min

    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…

  32. Matt's big news: How to give up something you love

    · 22 min

    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…

  33. BONUS – Goodbye Matt, thanks for the memories

    · 9:00

    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.

  34. BITES – Dog poo in the bin

    · 3:12

    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…

  35. BITES – Paying people to be kind

    · 3:12

    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…

  36. BITES – Friends inviting themselves over

    · 3:00

    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…

  37. BITES — What to do with unwanted gifts

    · 3:12

    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…

  38. BITES – Should teachers bribe students?

    · 5:00

    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!

  39. Is it wrong to love reality TV?

    · 23 min

    There's drama. There's competition. And there's usually a few tears as well. Reality TV takes everyday people and throws them into weird and exciting and sometimes stressful situations. But is it really real? And is it…

  40. How do you know if you're dreaming or awake?

    · 20 min

    Right this very moment, are you awake or are you dreaming? You're awake, right? But are you sure? Maybe you're just in the middle of a very realistic dream? Philosophers have been debating this question for centuries.…

  41. Why do some jobs earn more money than others?

    · 20 min

    Molly and Carl have just found out that some people earn a lot more money than they do, and this just makes no cents (pun intended). So how do we decide what different types of jobs should be paid? What about if those…

  42. What would it be like to talk to a whale?

    · 20 min

    Would you like to learn to speak whale language at school instead of Italian or Mandarin? Molly and Carl go on a deep-sea mission to test a new translation device that will let them talk to whales. But even if they…

  43. Is animal testing worth the cost?

    · 20 min

    Did you know rats are very smart and curious creatures? They laugh when they are tickled, they can take care of each other, and they are actually quite clean. Millions of them are also used in painful scientific…

  44. BITE – Parents' Beliefs

    · 5:20

    Our parents have their own beliefs, and they'll often try to teach us to have the same. Must we believe what our parents believe? Is it disrespectful to question it? A big thank you to Hazel for this curly question!

  45. BITE – Proud vs Showing Off

    · 5:00

    You get an award at school, your dog learns a new trick, or your mum lands a great job – they're all moments we can be proud of. When that pride swells inside, it makes us want to tell the whole world! But is it…

  46. BITE – TV All Day

    · 5:00

    There's nothing like munching on your favourite snacks and watching all your favourite shows and movies. You're not making lots of noise or bothering anyone too. So, why can't you watch TV all day? Thank you to…

  47. BITE – False Advertising

    · 5:00

    We see advertisements all the time. There are companies that say their yoghurt can make us smarter or their pillows will help us sleep better. Some even say their clothes or cars will help the environment! They may…

  48. BITE – School Money

    · 5:00

    It's always different when you visit or go past another school. They have different teachers, buildings, books, and activities. Sometimes they even have private football fields and really fancy computers! So, is it…

  49. Should you listen to good music made by a bad person?

    · 22 min

    Molly is a superfan of the singer Jackfruit Jones (don't try Googling him, we made him up). But she's in for a shock when Carl tells her what Jackfruit is like in real life. Jackfruit Jones has done some bad stuff! So…

  50. Should you leave all your money to a cat?

    · 22 min

    We all know Carl loves cats. But did you know that Carl is actually a super-rich millionaire who loves cats so much that when he dies, he wants his vast fortune to be spent on trying to teach cats to read? Which might…

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.