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Short & Curly

Short & Curly

ABC Australia 183 Episodes Jul 17, 2026

Short & Curly is a fun and educational podcast from ABC Kids and Family that makes philosophy and ethics easy and entertaining for kids aged 8–12. Hosted by Molly Daniels, Carl Smith, and philosopher Eleanor Gordon-Smith, it explores big questions about right and wrong, fairness, truth, and beauty. The show is loved by families, parents, and teachers worldwide, inspiring learning and critical thinking. Created by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, it is available on the ABC listen app and other podcast platforms.

Episodes

BITES – Being forced to step out of your comfort zone?
BITES – Being forced to step out of your comfort zone? Jul 17, 2026 0:03:12 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 outside our comfort zone, before we’re ready? Or is a gentle push sometimes the only thing that will get us moving? 
BITES – Is it fair if siblings get the same things at different ages?
BITES – Is it fair if siblings get the same things at different ages? Jul 16, 2026 0:03:41 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! Is it fair that she only had to wait to be 8-years-old, but Carl had to wait to be 10?  How do we tell the difference between something being truly unfair, and somet
BITES – Getting annoyed when people don’t say your name properly?
BITES – Getting annoyed when people don’t say your name properly? Jul 15, 2026 0:02:45 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 pronunciation. How important is it that we pronounce people's names correctly, and how annoyed can we be when people get ours wrong? 
BITES – Do adults-only areas discriminate against children?
BITES – Do adults-only areas discriminate against children? Jul 14, 2026 0:03:54 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 kids into adult places, would we have to start letting adults in kids' spaces?  
BITES – What is the meaning of life?
BITES – What is the meaning of life? Jul 13, 2026 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.
A fairy tale by the campfire – is it okay to scare kids into being good?
A fairy tale by the campfire – is it okay to scare kids into being good? Apr 1, 2026 0:22:08 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 old fairy tales so weird and scary?  A quick warning: this episode includes some old fairytales which are pretty gross, dark and scary sometimes – they even ment
The Emperor’s New Clothes - the nudie musical edition
The Emperor’s New Clothes - the nudie musical edition Apr 1, 2026 0:24:03 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 who’s obsessed with her wardrobe, and a whole crowd pretending to see invisible clothes — until one brave kid says what everyone’s thinking.  
Little Red Riding Hood - Why are wolves always the baddies?
Little Red Riding Hood - Why are wolves always the baddies? Apr 1, 2026 0:20:56 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 forests of Germany. But their adventure takes a spooky turn when they get lost on the way back to their hotel in the woods, with just one little torch to guide them
Rumpelstiltskin – is it OK to break a promise?
Rumpelstiltskin – is it OK to break a promise? Apr 1, 2026 0:23:03 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 too— what if a promise you make is made under pressure? Do you still have to keep it? 
The Ugly Duckling – when is excluding someone mean, and when is it OK?
The Ugly Duckling – when is excluding someone mean, and when is it OK? Apr 1, 2026 0:22:01 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 rizz? And is it even possible to create a close-knit group of friends without turning someone else into an outsider? 
What were Molly and Carl like at 10-years-old?
What were Molly and Carl like at 10-years-old? Mar 25, 2026 0:05:15 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!)
BITES – Being scared of spiders
BITES – Being scared of spiders Dec 19, 2025 0:03:31 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 paper or pancakes. But is that OK?

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