Best Kids Podcasts 2026: Ranked by Real Chart Data
Updated September 2026 · Based on CastFox data covering 24 Apple Podcasts chart snapshots in 78 countries (2026-02-24 to 2026-09-08) and 5M+ indexed podcasts
The 20 shows below are the best kids podcasts 2026 has on the chart, measured one way: every one of them held a US top-100 position in the Apple Podcasts Kids & Family category across all 24 snapshots CastFox took between February 24 and September 8, 2026. Not one missed a single snapshot, in a category where new shows appear and vanish inside a month. We rank by that consistency first, average US rank second, and how many of the 78 countries CastFox tracks the show charts in third.
Kids and family podcasting has settled into four formats, and the chart mixes all of them together. Story shows built like radio plays (Circle Round, Greeking Out from National Geographic Kids, Story Pirates, Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, The Arthur Podcast). Science and learning shows organized around a kid's question (Brains On!, Wow in the World, But Why, Who Smarted?, Curious Kids Every Day, Smash Boom Best). Bedtime and sleep audio that goes on at seven in the evening (Sleep Tight Stories, Koala Moon, Little Stories for Tiny People, Storyland, Deep Sleep Sounds). And shows made for the grown-ups rather than the kids (Good Inside with Dr. Becky, Calm Parenting Podcast, Always Here, Focus on the Family with Jim Daly), which Apple files in the same category because that is who is listening.
Each card shows the real cover art, who makes the show, what it is, why it earned its place in 2026, and who it is best for, plus the chart record behind the ranking: how many of the 24 US snapshots it appeared in, its average US rank, its best rank, and how many countries it was charting in on the latest scrape. Click through to CastFox for the full profile with audience estimates, chart history by country, reviews, and contact details. You can also monitor any of these shows in CastFox and watch the category move week to week.
The 20 best kids and family podcasts of 2026 at a glance
| # | Podcast | Hosted by | Avg US rank | Best rank | Countries charting | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greeking Out from National Geographic Kids | National Geographic Kids | Realm | 1.3 | #1 | 65 | 93 |
| 2 | Deep Sleep Sounds | Slumber Studios | 9.7 | #5 | 64 | 360 |
| 3 | Good Inside with Dr. Becky | Good Inside | 7.4 | #2 | 57 | 114 |
| 4 | Brains On! Science podcast for kids | Brains On Universe | 7.8 | #2 | 53 | 427 |
| 5 | Circle Round | WBUR | 2.8 | #1 | 40 | 462 |
| 6 | Wow in the World | Tinkercast | 3.9 | #2 | 40 | 1,000 |
| 7 | Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family | Brains On Universe | 13.4 | #7 | 38 | 237 |
| 8 | Story Pirates | Story Pirates | 7.3 | #4 | 29 | 475 |
| 9 | Sleep Tight Stories - Bedtime Stories for Kids | Sleep Tight Media | Calming Bedtime Stories for Kids & Starglow Media | 18.5 | #10 | 42 | 1,000 |
| 10 | But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids | Vermont Public | 17.5 | #13 | 36 | 296 |
| 11 | Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest | Pinna | 20.5 | #6 | 38 | 38 |
| 12 | The Arthur Podcast | GBH & PBS Kids | 7.9 | #1 | 19 | 30 |
| 13 | Little Stories for Tiny People: Anytime and bedtime stories for kids | Rhea Pechter | 22.4 | #9 | 33 | 182 |
| 14 | Who Smarted? - Educational Podcast for Kids | Atomic Audio | 22.7 | #15 | 31 | 1,000 |
| 15 | Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast | Kids Bedtime Stories by Koala Moon | Starglow Media | 30.3 | #17 | 32 | 500 |
| 16 | Always Here | Abby Howard and Abby Howard | Daylight Media | 22.7 | #8 | 20 | 37 |
| 17 | Curious Kids Every Day: A Daily Educational Podcast | Curious Kids Every Day | 25.3 | #8 | 22 | 469 |
| 18 | Calm Parenting Podcast | Kirk Martin | 22.3 | #2 | 17 | 639 |
| 19 | Focus on the Family with Jim Daly | Focus on the Family | 20.1 | #11 | 13 | 100 |
| 20 | Storyland | Kids Stories and Bedtime Fairy Tales for Children | Seth Williams | 21.3 | #10 | 11 | 129 |
Jump to a Show
- #1. Greeking Out from National Geographic Kids
- #2. Deep Sleep Sounds
- #3. Good Inside with Dr. Becky
- #4. Brains On! Science podcast for kids
- #5. Circle Round
- #6. Wow in the World
- #7. Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family
- #8. Story Pirates
- #9. Sleep Tight Stories - Bedtime Stories for Kids
- #10. But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
- #11. Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest
- #12. The Arthur Podcast
- #13. Little Stories for Tiny People: Anytime and bedtime stories for kids
- #14. Who Smarted? - Educational Podcast for Kids
- #15. Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast
- #16. Always Here
- #17. Curious Kids Every Day: A Daily Educational Podcast
- #18. Calm Parenting Podcast
- #19. Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
- #20. Storyland | Kids Stories and Bedtime Fairy Tales for Children
Rising this month · How we ranked these · How to pick the right show · FAQ
The 20 Best Kids and Family Podcasts to Listen To in 2026
Myths, Folktales, and Fairy Tales
#1. Greeking Out from National Geographic Kids
Hosted by National Geographic Kids | Realm
About this show: National Geographic Kids retells classic ancient Greek myths for a family audience: gods and goddesses, monsters, and heroes, kept intact rather than sanded down. The show is produced with Realm and has spun off a book series.
Why it made the list in 2026: No other show in the category held the top of the US chart as steadily through 2026, and few kids shows travel across as many countries. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 1.3, best #1, charting in 65 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Kids who have outgrown picture-book stories and families who want mythology done properly.
#5. Circle Round
Hosted by WBUR
About this show: WBUR adapts carefully selected folktales from around the world into sound-rich radio plays of 15 to 25 minutes, scored with original music. Each episode ends with an activity that gives kids and grown-ups something to talk about.
Why it made the list in 2026: The best-produced show in the category and the one with the widest usable age range, which is why it has never dropped out of the US top ten group for long. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 2.8, best #1, charting in 40 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Families with younger kids who want a story with real production behind it.
#11. Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest
Hosted by Pinna
About this show: Bestselling author Adam Gidwitz retells classic Grimm fairy tales to a group of kids who interrupt, joke, and guess what is coming. Every episode is rated Grimm, Grimmer, or Grimmest so a family can choose its level of spookiness.
Why it made the list in 2026: It owns the scary-story slot in a category that is otherwise very gentle, and the rating system makes it workable for a nervous younger sibling. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 20.5, best #6, charting in 38 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Kids around 7 to 12 who like being a little frightened, with a volume knob.
Comedy and Familiar Characters
#8. Story Pirates
Hosted by Story Pirates
About this show: A company of comedians, songwriters, and guest performers turn stories written by kids into sketch comedy and original songs, then interview the young authors behind them.
Why it made the list in 2026: The funniest show in the category, and the only one whose source material is written by its own audience. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 7.3, best #4, charting in 29 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Kids who write their own stories, and families who would rather laugh than wind down.
#12. The Arthur Podcast
Hosted by GBH & PBS Kids
About this show: Arthur Read and the rest of the Elwood City cast return in audio form, produced by GBH Kids and distributed by PBS KIDS and PRX.
Why it made the list in 2026: A brand new show that reached the very top of the US chart in 2026 on the strength of a name parents already trust, with a short catalog that is easy to start from the beginning. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 7.9, best #1, charting in 19 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Kids around 4 to 8, and parents who grew up with the television show.
Science and Learning Shows for Curious Kids
#4. Brains On! Science podcast for kids
Hosted by Brains On Universe
About this show: A weekly science show from Brains On Universe where a different kid co-host joins Molly Bloom to answer questions sent in by listeners, with mystery sounds, songs, and answers checked by experts.
Why it made the list in 2026: The most reliable pick in the category for a child who asks why all day, and one of the deepest archives on this list. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 7.8, best #2, charting in 53 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Curious kids roughly 6 to 12, and the adults driving them around.
#6. Wow in the World
Hosted by Tinkercast
About this show: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz host a science and technology show for kids and their grown-ups, covering new discoveries from microbes to deep space in a fast, comedic style.
Why it made the list in 2026: It sat at the sharp end of the US chart on the most recent scrape and has the largest back catalog of any learning show here, which matters on a long drive. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 3.9, best #2, charting in 40 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Kids who want jokes with their science, and parents who will laugh at them too.
#7. Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family
Hosted by Brains On Universe
About this show: A debate show from Brains On Universe that smashes two things together, Pikachu against Mario or cats against dogs, and lets guest debaters argue it out while listeners judge the winner.
Why it made the list in 2026: It teaches how an argument is built without sounding like a lesson, and it held a strong US position across the entire 2026 window. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 13.4, best #7, charting in 38 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Kids around 8 to 12 who like to argue, and classrooms teaching persuasive writing.
#10. But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
Hosted by Vermont Public
About this show: Vermont Public's show is led entirely by kids: they record the questions, the show finds the answers, on subjects from nature to words to the end of the world.
Why it made the list in 2026: Public-radio rigor in a format where children set the agenda, and a steady presence on the US chart all year. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 17.5, best #13, charting in 36 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Kids who ask questions the adults around them cannot answer.
#14. Who Smarted? - Educational Podcast for Kids
Hosted by Atomic Audio
About this show: A near-daily educational show from Atomic Audio that mixes jokes with facts. The show says it is used by teachers in classrooms and by homeschooling families.
Why it made the list in 2026: Publishing volume is its edge: there is almost always a new episode, which keeps it on the chart without needing a weekly event. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 22.7, best #15, charting in 31 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Kids around 6 to 11, classrooms, homeschools, and car rides.
#17. Curious Kids Every Day: A Daily Educational Podcast
Hosted by Curious Kids Every Day
About this show: Josh, a dad of four, answers one curious question every single day in a deliberately slow, interactive format made for kids and parents to listen to together.
Why it made the list in 2026: It is the low-stimulation alternative in the learning group, and daily publishing keeps it on the chart against much larger studios. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 25.3, best #8, charting in 22 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Preschool and early-elementary kids, and parents who want less noise in the room.
Bedtime Stories and Sleep Audio
#2. Deep Sleep Sounds
Hosted by Slumber Studios
About this show: Slumber Studios produces original sleep soundscapes rather than stories: nature recordings, binaural sleep music, and calming white noise, with a premium tier for eight-hour ad-free episodes.
Why it made the list in 2026: It charts in Kids and Family because parents use it as a bedtime tool, and it held a top-ten US position all year without a single narrated episode. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 9.7, best #5, charting in 64 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Households where a story keeps a child awake and plain sound works better.
#9. Sleep Tight Stories - Bedtime Stories for Kids
Hosted by Sleep Tight Media | Calming Bedtime Stories for Kids & Starglow Media
About this show: New calming bedtime stories every week, written around things children actually experience and, in the show's own words, designed to spark wonder without overstimulating so listeners drift off.
Why it made the list in 2026: The most consistent bedtime show on the US chart in 2026 and the one with the widest international footprint in the sleep group. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 18.5, best #10, charting in 42 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: The nightly bedtime routine for kids roughly 3 to 9.
#13. Little Stories for Tiny People: Anytime and bedtime stories for kids
Hosted by Rhea Pechter
About this show: Rhea Pechter writes and narrates original stories with recurring characters, made for car rides, bedtime, or any time, with a premium tier for ad-free listening and extra stories.
Why it made the list in 2026: Independent, warm, and a fixture of the US chart all year in a group otherwise dominated by studios. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 22.4, best #9, charting in 33 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Younger kids, roughly 3 to 7, and long drives.
#15. Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast
Hosted by Kids Bedtime Stories by Koala Moon | Starglow Media
About this show: Bedtime and sleep stories for kids from Starglow Media, built as a shared listening experience for a parent and child rather than something handed to a child alone. A paid Koko Club tier adds more.
Why it made the list in 2026: One of two bedtime shows that never left the US top 100 in 2026, and it reaches families in dozens of countries. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 30.3, best #17, charting in 32 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: A nightly wind-down for kids roughly 3 to 8.
#20. Storyland | Kids Stories and Bedtime Fairy Tales for Children
Hosted by Seth Williams
About this show: Seth Williams writes original fairy tales and adventure stories for young listeners, published several times a week.
Why it made the list in 2026: It reached the US top ten in 2026, the strongest peak of any single-creator show in the bedtime group, though its position moves around more than the studio shows. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 21.3, best #10, charting in 11 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Kids who want a new story often, not only at bedtime.
Made for the Grown-Ups
#3. Good Inside with Dr. Becky
Hosted by Good Inside
About this show: Clinical psychologist and mother of three Dr. Becky Kennedy answers hard parenting questions in short weekly episodes, with an approach built around repairing after mistakes and staying steady in conflict.
Why it made the list in 2026: The strongest of the parent-facing shows in this category, and one of very few to reach the top of the US chart in 2026. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 7.4, best #2, charting in 57 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Parents who want a specific script for the hard moment rather than parenting philosophy.
#16. Always Here
Hosted by Abby Howard and Abby Howard | Daylight Media
About this show: Sisters-in-law Abby Howard and Abby Howard talk about family life, the funny parts and the hard parts, in a conversational weekly show from Daylight Media.
Why it made the list in 2026: The newest parenting show in this top group, and it reached the US top ten in 2026 largely on word of mouth. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 22.7, best #8, charting in 20 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Parents who want company more than instruction.
#18. Calm Parenting Podcast
Hosted by Kirk Martin
About this show: Kirk Martin, the founder of Celebrate Calm, gives parents and teachers practical strategies for strong-willed kids, aimed at ending power struggles, yelling, and defiance.
Why it made the list in 2026: It reached the very top of the US chart in 2026 and has one of the deepest archives of any parenting show in the category. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 22.3, best #2, charting in 17 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Parents of a strong-willed child who want something to try tonight.
#19. Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
Hosted by Focus on the Family
About this show: A short daily Christian family show hosted by Jim Daly and John Fuller, covering marriage and parenting from a faith perspective, drawing on more than 40 years of the organization's programming.
Why it made the list in 2026: A long-running daily that keeps its US chart position week after week, almost entirely on domestic listening. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 20.1, best #11, charting in 13 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Christian families looking for marriage and parenting content in under a coffee break.
Rising This Month: Kids and Family Podcasts Climbing the Charts (September 2026)
These are the kids and family shows moving up fastest in CastFox rankings. We compare each show's average US chart position across the 3 most recent snapshots (2026-08-18 to 2026-09-08) with the 3 snapshots before that. A show that was outside the top 100 in the prior window is marked as new to the top 100. This section is refreshed every month; the main list above changes more slowly because it rewards consistency.
Parenting & You With Dr. Shefali New to the top 100
Hosted by Dr. Shefali / Maia Wisdom. Parenting & You With Dr. Shefali new to the US top 100, now averaging #13.5, with a best US rank of #11 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 28 countries on the latest snapshot. This is not your typical parenting podcast. It is a podcast about raising the parent as much as it is about raising our children. Join Dr. Shefali, the pioneer of conscious parenting, New York Times bestselling author,...
Now That We're A Family
Hosted by Elisha and Katie Voetberg. Now That We're A Family moved from an average of #98 to #21.5 (up 76.5 places), with a best US rank of #11 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 11 countries on the latest snapshot. Culture has reduced the modern family to a joke -- informing parents they are only capable of shuttling their children from expert to expert who experiment with untested agendas. Katie and Elisha lean on their...
Birth of a Parent
Hosted by Early Childhood Matters with Michael Feigelson. Birth of a Parent moved from an average of #95 to #46 (up 49 places), with a best US rank of #30 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 11 countries on the latest snapshot.
Lions and Legends New to the top 100
Hosted by Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis. Lions and Legends new to the US top 100, now averaging #57.5, with a best US rank of #51 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 5 countries on the latest snapshot. Produced by Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis of Circle Round, Lions and Legends presents fun, fantastical retellings of legends, myths, folktales, and fables through the ages.
The Happy Pawcast New to the top 100
Hosted by Richard Sieben. The Happy Pawcast new to the US top 100, now averaging #64.5, with a best US rank of #59 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 3 countries on the latest snapshot.
How We Ranked These: CastFox Methodology
CastFox scrapes the Apple Podcasts charts every day in 78 countries and stores every position in the top 200 of every genre. For this list we took the 24 2026 snapshots of the US Kids and Family chart between 2026-02-24 and 2026-09-08, and scored every show that appeared in the top 100 of any of them.
- Consistency (50% of the score): the number of snapshots in which the show appeared in the US top 100. Every show on this list scored 24 out of 24, which is the filter that removes one-week spikes.
- Average US rank (30%): the mean of the show's US chart positions across those snapshots. Lower is better.
- Global reach (20%): the number of tracked countries in which the show was in the genre top 100 on the most recent snapshot. This is what separates a show with a large US following from a show with a global one.
There are no paid placements and no editorial overrides. A few shows on this list would not be our personal picks; they are here because the chart data put them here, and we would rather show you what people are actually listening to than what we think they should be. Chart position is not the same as audience size, so treat the ranking as a measure of sustained popularity rather than a download count. For a deeper look at what chart data can and cannot tell you, read how podcast audience demographics are calculated.
How to Pick the Right Kids and Family Podcast for You
What are the best podcasts for kids ages 5 to 8?
Start with Circle Round, which WBUR writes for ages 3 and up and keeps to 15 to 25 minutes an episode, and Little Stories for Tiny People, which is built on short original stories with recurring characters. The Arthur Podcast works if the television show is already familiar, and Story Pirates is the one that gets the laughs at this age. Save the longer science shows for a year or two later.
What are the best podcasts for kids ages 9 to 12?
Greeking Out and Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest both assume a listener who can follow a plot with real stakes, and the second one lets you pick how frightening the episode gets. Smash Boom Best suits the age when arguing becomes a hobby, and But Why takes a kid's question seriously instead of closing it with a joke.
What are the best bedtime story podcasts for kids?
Sleep Tight Stories is the most consistent bedtime show on the US chart this year, and it says outright that its stories are written to spark wonder without overstimulating. Koala Moon and Storyland cover the same slot with fairy tales. If a story keeps your child awake rather than settling them, Deep Sleep Sounds is soundscapes and white noise with no narration at all.
What are the best educational podcasts for kids?
Brains On! answers listener questions every week with a kid co-host and expert fact-checking. Who Smarted? publishes nearly every day and says teachers use it in classrooms. Curious Kids Every Day answers one question a day at a deliberately slow pace, and Smash Boom Best teaches how an argument is built without calling it a lesson. Our best education podcasts of 2026 covers the shows aimed at adults.
What are the best family podcasts for road trips?
You want a deep archive and episodes nobody has to be tucked in for. Wow in the World and Brains On! have the largest back catalogs in the learning group, Who Smarted? names car rides in its own description, and Little Stories for Tiny People does the same for younger passengers. Smash Boom Best is the one that gets the whole car voting.
What are the best science podcasts for kids?
Four of them are on this list. Brains On! is the weekly question-and-answer show, Wow in the World is the comedic one with Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, But Why is the public-radio version led entirely by kids' questions, and Who Smarted? is the near-daily one. For science shows written for adults, see our best science podcasts of 2026.
Want the next 180 kids and family podcasts?
This list is the top 20. The CastFox Kids and Family chart page shows the top 50 updated daily, and PodcastGPT can find shows on any specific topic across 5M+ podcasts.
See the daily top 50 → Search by topic →Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Kids and Family Podcasts
What is the best kids podcast in 2026?
By CastFox's chart-consistency score, Greeking Out from National Geographic Kids is the best kids podcast of 2026. It appeared in all 24 US Kids & Family chart snapshots between February and September with an average US rank of 1.3, and it was charting in 65 of the 78 countries CastFox tracks on the latest scrape. Circle Round and Wow in the World are second and third.
How is this list ranked?
Each show's score combines three things from CastFox's daily Apple Podcasts chart data: how many of the 24 US Kids & Family snapshots it appeared in the top 100 of (50% of the score), its average US rank across those appearances (30%), and how many of 78 tracked countries it was charting in on the latest scrape (20%). There are no paid placements and no editorial overrides.
What is the most popular kids podcast on Apple Podcasts right now?
On the most recent snapshot, September 8, 2026, Greeking Out from National Geographic Kids was number one in the US Kids & Family chart, Wow in the World was second, Circle Round was fourth, and Brains On! was fifth. Daily position moves around, which is why this list ranks by the whole year rather than one day. The CastFox Kids & Family chart page shows today's order.
Are these kids podcasts free?
Yes. Every show on this list is free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the other major apps. Several also sell an optional ad-free or bonus tier, including Greeking Out through Pinna, Deep Sleep Sounds, Koala Moon, and Little Stories for Tiny People.
How often is this list of kids podcasts updated?
We rebuild it monthly from the latest CastFox chart snapshots. The rising section changes fastest because it compares the three most recent snapshots with the three before them, while the main ranking moves slowly by design, since it rewards shows that hold their position all year.