28 Best Educational Podcasts for Teens to Listen to (2026)

Can you recognize bad thinking, manipulative advertising and tricky arguments when you see them?How about your kids - how will they know whether the memes they're seeing on social media are really true? Critical thinking is the most important skill you can have when you're living in a world that seems to have lost its mind.Everyone out there is trying to tell you WHAT to think, I want to teach you HOW to think!In every episode, I'm exposing the logical fallacies & cognitive biases being used by advertisers, politicians, influencers, news outlets, social media memes, and maybe even your own best friend.Warning: listening to this podcast will cause you to see bad thinking everywhere!Welcome to the Filter It Through a Brain Cell Podcast!I'm a homeschooling mama who realized we need to equip the next generation to be able to discern truth from lies and created this podcast with short, fun episodes that you can play in the car with your teens and have a fun discussion about what you've learned!NOTE: While you're certainly welcome to listen to this podcast in any order, I recommend listening in sequential order starting with Episode 1. I think you'll get more out of it that way!Critical Thinking for teensHomeschool curriculumPodcast for teens more

This is 10 for Teens + Tweens, a 10-ish minute podcast by Empowerful Girls that helps you grow curiosity, compassion, and confidence so you can take on the world! Host Stephanie Valdez discusses positive themes and tackles tough topics, teaching girls how to handle them. She shares guidance on personal development, physical and mental health, relationships, and media literacy. She hopes every girl listening will accept and embrace herself (strengths and weaknesses), make stronger connections with friends and family, and be mindful with media. More than anything, Stephanie wants girls to know for themselves that they are enough.   Stephanie Valdez is the founder and director of Empowerful Girls. She has a degree in Communications and a background in Journalism. Stephanie is certified as a Girl Power Instructor, as well as in Social and Emotional Learning and Youth Mental Health First Aid.  She has years of experience mentoring teens and tweens, and is also raising her own. more

This Teenage Life is a podcast made by teens about their ideas, stories, and unique perspectives in the middle of their own growth as humans. Please feel free to reach out to us at ****@thisteenagelife.org, we love hearing from listeners. more

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered. more

Radiolab is on a curiosity bender. We ask deep questions and use investigative journalism to get the answers. A given episode might whirl you through science, legal history, and into the home of someone halfway across the world. The show is known for innovative sound design, smashing information into music. It is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser. more

Why do I feel stuck? How can I become more creative? What can I do to improve my relationships? If you've ever asked yourself these questions, you're not alone. On Hidden Brain, we help you understand your own mind — and the minds of the people around you. (We're routinely rated the #1 science podcast in the United States.) Hosted by veteran science journalist Shankar Vedantam. more

Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engines, and the quirks of human behavior.To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. more

Wanna see a trick? Give us any topic and we can tie it back to the economy. At Planet Money , we explore the forces that shape our lives and bring you along for the ride. Don't just understand the economy understand the world. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org . You'll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Planet Money. more

Volcanoes. Trees. Drunk butterflies. Mars missions. Slug sex. Death. Beauty standards. Anxiety busters. Beer science. Bee drama. Take away a pocket full of science knowledge and charming, bizarre stories about what fuels these professional -ologists' obsessions. Humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward asks smart people stupid questions and the answers might change your life. more

Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio. more

Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world's greatest thinkers. Host Manoush Zomorodi inspires us to learn more about the world, our communities, and most importantly, ourselves. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You'll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for TED Radio Hour. more

Throughline is a time machine. Each episode, we travel beyond the headlines to answer the question, 'How did we get here?' We use sound and stories to bring history to life and put you into the middle of it. From ancient civilizations to forgotten figures, we take you directly to the moments that shaped our world. Throughline is hosted by Peabody Award-winning journalist Rund Abdelfatah. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org . You'll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for Throughline. more

Science, pop culture, and comedy collide on StarTalk Radio! Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and Director of New York's Hayden Planetarium, and his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities, and scientific experts explore astronomy, physics, and everything else there is to know about life in the universe. New episodes premiere Tuesdays. Keep Looking Up! Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. more

There are a lot of fads, blogs and strong opinions, but then there's SCIENCE. Science Vs is the show from Spotify Studios that finds out what's fact, what's not, and what's somewhere in between. We do the hard work of sifting through all the science so you don't have to and cover everything from 5G and ADHD, to Fluoride and Fasting Diets. more

Want TED Talks on the go? Everyday, this feed brings you our latest talks in audio format. Hear thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology, and everything in between given by the world's leading thinkers and doers. This collection of talks, given at TED and TEDx conferences around the globe, is also available in video format. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

New discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines — in just under 15 minutes. It's science for everyone, using a lot of creativity and a little humor. Join hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber for science on a different wavelength. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org . You'll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for Short Wave. more

Covering the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies, Science Friday is the source for entertaining and educational stories about science, technology, and other cool stuff. more

Are you a knowledge junkie who loves when facts are stranger than fiction? Do you find yourself constantly tripping down Wikipedia rabbit holes (and delighting in the journey)? Have you ever been told you ask a lot of questions? If so, congrats! You're one of us: a Part-Time Genius! Join Will, Mango, and the team as we scour the globe in search of obscure facts, offbeat locales, and hidden histories. Along the way, we'll chat with experts, play some games, get in touch with our silly side, and celebrate the fine art of staying curious. more

Whether the topic is popcorn or particle physics, you can count on BrainStuff to explore -- and explain -- the everyday science in the world around us. more

Who decides which snacks are in your office's vending machine? How much is a suburban elm tree worth, and to whom? How did Girl Scout Cookies become a billion-dollar business? In bite-sized episodes, journalist Zachary Crockett looks at quotidian things and finds amazing stories.To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. more

Ologies → Smologies. It's all of the science, with none of the swearing! Smologies are shortened, kid-friendly episodes of the award-winning science podcast, Ologies, which covers topics from Toads (Bufology) to the Moon (Selenology) and everything in between. Enjoy clean and witty bite-sized science delights as host Alie Ward asks Ologists of all kinds smart and sometimes silly questions. Get to know the charming and diverse array of experts who share not only their wisdom, but also their lived experiences. more

Better grades with less stress on your path to the perfect college. Join Megan Dorsey and Erin Tempest as they discuss strategies for SAT/ACT prep, academic planning, study skills, finding the right college, and how to develop successful applications. We know higher education isn't a one size fits all process and we discuss the unique paths and challenges to finding success at a school that is right for you. more

On Our Minds is an Edward R. Murrow award-winning podcast about teen life, produced by teens for teens in collaboration with PBS News Student Reporting Labs. Season 6 is an audio road trip exploring what's unique about teen life in every corner of the country through hyperlocal stories about cities, towns, and neighborhoods. more

How would Bay Area teens be affected by potential BART funding cuts? How are teens finding community in the local underground rap scene? What are teen perspectives on California's proposed social media ban? San Francisco Bay Area teenagers tell their stories on these topics and more, all about finding belonging in a changing world, on KALW Public Media's award-winning tbh podcast. more

The mission of the Alaska Teen Media Institute is to provide teens with the tools and training needed to produce stories and with the opportunity for their stories - told in their own voices - to be shared through a variety of media. ATMI believes the teen perspective is valuable and under-represented. The Alaska Teen Media Institute is a program under the umbrella of Spirit of Youth, 501 (c)(3). more

Welcome to High School Pathfinder: For the Future You! I'm your host, Ayana Mehta- a high school student who, just like you, is figuring out what comes next. I started this podcast to make one thing easier for high school students: finding your path before you're forced to choose it. Each week, I talk with people who are truly great at what they do and ask them how they got to where they are today. This includes everything from doctors, designers, biotech investors, engineers, and more! These aren't just highlight reels or 'follow your dream' speeches. They are honest conversations about doubt, discovery, and decision-making. But this podcast isn't just about job titles. It's about the skills that help you succeed in ANY path: resilience, confidence, focus, and leadership. You'll also hear from mentors and young professionals who've mastered the mindsets we rarely learn in school but absolutely need. If you've ever felt overwhelmed when someone asks, 'So what do you want to do in the future?', this podcast is for you. If you are a parent, teacher, or mentor trying to support someone in that moment, it's for you too!  more

Hosted by educator Ralph Krauss, was founded in 2014 with the mission to educate, inspire, and encourage students to dream BIG. Since its inception, more than 1,000 expert guests have engaged with over 100,000 students across 33 countries. Our podcast, which has been downloaded over 200,000 times by students and educators in more than 50 countries, continues to grow. Recognized as a world leader in connecting students with primary sources of information virtually, Edutainment Learning offers unique opportunities for students to interact directly with experts across various fields. With a global population of over 8 billion, we at Edutainment Learning believe that everyone has a valuable lesson to share! Are you an educator? Go to edutainmentlearning.com/podcasts to download student worksheets for every episode! more

Teen Scientist, hosted by Aryash Shyam on WDIY, Lehigh Valley Public Radio, brings bold ideas in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to life from a teenage perspective. Airing the first Thursday of every month from 6:00 to 6:30 PM, the program features conversations with scientists, engineers, physicians, educators, entrepreneurs, and researchers from leading universities, nonprofits, government agencies, and industry.From artificial intelligence and climate science to space, medicine, math, the brain, technology, and the future of learning, Teen Scientist makes complex ideas accessible, engaging, and relevant for curious listeners of all ages.Through Teen Scientist, WDIY's Youth Media program helps inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, innovators, and informed citizens by connecting listeners with the people advancing science today.Teen Scientist has received three Excellence in Broadcasting Awards from the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters in 2021, 2023, and 2024, as well as a 2024 Keystone Media Award from the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. more