Philosophy for Kids / Philosophy's Not Boring: The Kids Philosophy Podcast
A groundbreaking podcast for curious kids aged 4-12, and the grown-ups listening with them, that proves philosophy, psychology and religion are anything but dull.
Join our fictional AI hosts Mira, a brilliant 9-year-old, and her younger brother Finn, age 7, as they explore philosophy, psychology and religion as one big family of questions about how we make sense of things. Each episode takes a real thinker or idea seriously, from what makes you the same person you were as a baby to why people across the world believe such different things about the soul, and then lands it somewhere in your actual life.
We don't hand you the answer and move on. Some questions have one; some have several worth comparing; some nobody has ever settled, and we'll tell you which is which. On matters of faith we stay even-handed: we describe what people believe from the outside, and never tell you what to believe yourself. Because philosophy isn't a pile of hard words to memorize. It's learning to ask a better question, and to sit with it honestly, even when it's uncomfortable.
A note on why we use AI. For us, AI allows us to deliver learning at a scale and quality that previously would have been too expensive. If we make the odd technical error, or the sound goes a bit funny, bear with us, we're trying our best. We hope you enjoy the show!
Episodes
53 episodes
Who was George Berkeley?
Have you ever heard the famous riddle: If a tree falls in a forest and absolutely nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound? It seems impossible to answer! But what if the secret to solving it is just realizing we're using two totally diff...
Who was Confucius?
Imagine waking up to a world with absolutely no rules, where everyone is fighting all the time! How would you fix it? Two and a half thousand years ago, during the chaotic and violent "Spring and Autumn" period in Ancient China, a towering teacher...
What is a tickle robot?
Have you ever wondered why you can’t tickle yourself? It’s a mystery that even the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle tried to solve over two thousand years ago! Join Mira and Finn as they uncover the massive, mind-bending secret hidden inside yo...
What is the voice in your head?
Have you ever noticed that you have a tiny narrator inside your brain? When you read a book silently or think about your favorite animal, do you hear a voice talking? It turns out, that invisible voice is full of wild scientific secrets! In this m...
Who was Ludwig Wittgenstein?
Have you ever had a massive argument with your friends over whether a hot dog is actually a sandwich? Or what exactly makes a game a "game"? Welcome to the wildest, messiest problem in human history: language! In this brain-bending episode of Phil...
What is luck?
Have you ever rolled a double six in a board game and felt like you had magical powers? It feels like the universe is totally on your side! But is luck real, or is it just a feeling? In this mind-bending episode of Philosophy is Not Boring, Mira a...
What is the Butterfly Effect?
Have you ever wondered if a tiny butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil could cause a giant tornado all the way in Texas? It sounds like superhero magic, but it is actually real science! Join Mira and Finn on Philosophy is Not Boring as we dive in...
What is Hare Krishna?
Have you ever walked down a busy city street and suddenly heard drums, tiny cymbals, and joyful singing? You might have just seen the Hare Krishna tradition in action! In this special episode inspired by a listener's amazing question, Mira and Fin...
Who was Marcus Aurelius?
Imagine being the most powerful person in the entire world! You could order everyone to eat ice cream for breakfast or build a giant rollercoaster in your bedroom! But what if, instead of bossing everyone else around, you spent all your time bossi...
What is the Baha'i Faith?
Have you ever wondered why there are so many different religions in the world? What if they weren't actually rivals fighting against each other, but just different chapters of one giant, epic storybook? In this mind-bending episode, Mira and Finn ...
What is the Zeigarnik Effect?
Have you ever wondered why a TV show cliffhanger drives you totally crazy, or why that big homework project you haven't started nags at you all weekend long? Your brain is actually trying to help you! In this fascinating episode of Philosophy is N...
What is the Veil of Ignorance?
Imagine there is only one piece of delicious chocolate cake left, and you have to share it with your sibling. How do you make sure it is split perfectly fair? Easy! One person cuts the cake, and the other person gets to pick their slice first! Tha...
What is a Quaker?
Imagine being in a room with no teacher, no boss, and absolutely no rules about what to do next—except that everyone sits in total, peaceful silence for an entire hour! It sounds totally impossible to most of us, but that is exactly how a religiou...
What is a growth mindset?
Have you ever been told you are super smart, a certified genius, or completely brilliant? It feels totally amazing, right?! But what if being called a genius actually makes you worse at solving your very next problem? Join Mira and Finn on this mi...
Who was Aristotle?
Have you ever wondered how someone becomes brave? Is it a magical gift you are just born with, or can absolutely anyone learn it? In this amazing episode of Philosophy is Not Boring, Mira and Finn dive into the brilliant mind of the ancient Greek ...
What is Anicca?
Have you ever felt sad on the very last day of summer vacation? You wish you had a magic pause button to make the fun last forever! But what if the fact that things end is actually the best news ever? In this mind-bending episode, Mira and Finn ex...
What is a flow state?
Have you ever looked up from building a massive Lego spaceship or reading a fantastic book and realized two whole hours just vanished into thin air? Where did the time go?! Join Mira and Finn on this episode of Philosophy is Not Boring as they unc...
Who was Laozi?
Have you ever tried so hard to untie a knot that it just got tighter? Or tried to balance on a skateboard, only to wobble and fall? We are usually told that to win or be strong, we have to push harder. But what if the secret to true strength is ac...
What was the monkey fairness experiment?
Have you ever felt completely outraged when a friend or sibling got a bigger piece of cake than you? You probably yelled, "That is NOT fair!" But did grown-ups invent the rules of fairness, or were we born already knowing them? Join Mira and Finn ...
What is the Experience Machine?
Imagine a magical machine that could give you any experience you ever wanted—for the rest of your life! Want to fly to space, hit a game-winning home run, or eat a giant mountain of chocolate ice cream? Once you plug in, it feels one hundred perce...
What is Sufism?
Have you ever tried to be the absolute best version of yourself? We are always trying to level up, earn gold stars, and improve! But what if the ultimate goal of life wasn't to improve "you", but to completely let go of being a separate person alt...
Who was Donald Winnicott?
Imagine having perfectly perfect parents. They never burn the toast, always play exactly what you want, and never make you wait for anything. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, prepare to have your mind blown! In this episode of Philosophy is Not B...
What is the Paradox of the Heap?
Imagine a giant mountain of sand at the beach. If you take away just one single tiny grain, is it still a heap? Of course! But what if you keep taking away one grain at a time, all afternoon, until there is only one microscopic grain left? When ex...
What is the Fundamental Attribution Error?
Have you ever noticed that when someone bumps into you in the hallway, you instantly think they are rude? But when YOU bump into someone, you have a perfectly good excuse, like being in a massive hurry! Welcome to the Fundamental Attribution Error...
What is the problem of other minds?
Have you ever stubbed your toe and felt a huge wave of pain? You know for certain that it hurts! But how do you know your friends feel pain exactly the same way? Welcome to one of the biggest brain-twisters in human history: The Problem of Other M...
