The term podcast was coined in 2004. Since then, podcasting has emerged as a mainstream media platform that has engaged audiences worldwide. The appeals of podcasts include their ease of use, accessibility and opportunity for audience participation which is why the platform is well suited to both parents and children. According to the Kids Podcast Listener Report by the Edison Research Center, 63% of children ages 6 to 12 are aware of podcasts and 46% of this group have listened to one. The report also found that a large majority of kid podcast listeners (87%) have shared something they learned from a podcast with other people, making the platform a valuable tool for education.
AVDF aims to support public media-produced podcasts for kids that serve as a learning resource for families and schools. AVDF awarded New York Public Radio (NYPR) a $100,000 grant to support the Terrestrials pilot which launched in September 2022. The six-part podcast series presented by RadioLab for Kids invites listeners of all ages, but particularly children, on a lyrical journey of science learning. The podcast utilizes multiplatform audio along with mystery and natural curiosity to engage listeners while teaching them about neuroscience, animal behaviors and biology.
The podcast cultivates an enthusiasm for science education among young people through original songs, fun sound effects and the element of wonder. The typical format for each episode includes host Lulu Miller, Peabody award-winning science journalist, guiding listeners through fascinating explorations with the help of diverse storytellers. Listeners learn intriguing facts about nature through the podcast itself as well as associated extensions such as YouTube videos, a website, social media and live events.
The new series has already gained an impressive following. Each of the pilot episodes averaged about 65,000 downloads. The most popular episode, “The Mastermind” was downloaded or streamed over 1.5 million times.
These kid-friendly and entertaining podcast series sparks inquisitiveness among young listeners. The episodes include a segment when experts answer solicited questions from the audience, including children. The NYPR team received more than 600 questions from listeners, of which 24 were answered on aired episodes and several others were answered through written correspondence.
NYPR received valuable and positive feedback about the piloted podcast through a listener survey which revealed that parents and their children re-listened to Terrestrials episodes several times. The survey also found that listeners sought out additional information about the program topics, and several educators indicated they used episode content in the classroom as a teaching tool. Overall, the series received very positive reviews from the audience and 99% of those surveyed responded that they would like more Terrestrials content.
NYPR prioritized forming partnerships with other children’s content resources to position Terrestrials as a valuable children’s learning tool. Terrestrials formed partnerships with Pinna, a subscription-based children’s streaming service, and Yoto, a screen-free audio player for kids. It was also featured on educational subscription platforms such as the Music Library Box, and on established kids podcasts like Brains ON! and Draw Together.
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