8 Podcasts That Help You Talk to Kids About Race

Plus, 10 racially diverse podcasts your kids will enjoy

However old or young your kids are, the time to talk to them about race is now. But how do you start that conversation in a developmentally and contextually appropriate way?

Below, you’ll find eight podcast episodes that offer insight, wisdom, and practical advice for caregivers and educators of all backgrounds — plus, 10 shows that will diversify your kids’ queues.

Expert Advice for Parents

Life Kit: “Talking Race With Young Children”

This is a great primer for talking with young kids about race. In true Life Kit fashion, it offers a step-by-step guide to helping your kids face and fight prejudice, and the reasoning to back it up. If you have no idea where to start, start here.

My American Meltingpot: “How to Talk To Your Kids About Race”

This episode is a roundtable discussion with three educators/parents from different racial backgrounds, plus host Lori L. Tharps. It’s notable to have many perspectives represented because, as Tharps says, “Talking about race isn’t the same conversation based on who you are and who your children are.” You’ll learn how and why to have these conversations, what your friends of other races might be talking about, and why diversity isn’t actually the goal.

Therapy for Black Girls: “Talking to Kids About Race”

This is an interview with Dr. Bedford Palmer, who wrote the children’s book Daddy, Why Am I Brown? He talks about how to discuss race and racism, and encourage a positive racial self-identity with kids of all races, in a proactive and developmentally appropriate way.

MindShift: “Teaching 6-Year-Olds About Privilege and Power”

This episode centers on a straight, white elementary school teacher who brings conversations about identity, power, and privilege into his classroom every day. He shares several specific examples of how he introduces these topics into seemingly unrelated lessons (like learning to tally), and then we follow him home to see how he continues this conversation with his two- and four-year-olds.

How to Talk to Kids About Anything: “How to Talk to White Kids About Race and Racism with Dr. Margaret Hagerman”

Dr. Margaret Hagerman wrote the book White Kids: Growing Up with Privilege in a Racially Divided America, and in this episode, she shares her findings about how white parents shape the racial philosophies of their white children. She offers insights into the kids’ side of the conversation, with anecdotes from kids who are raised to talk about race and those who are raised with a so-called “colorblind” philosophy.

Longest Shortest Time: “How to Not (Accidentally) Raise a Racist”

White parents often avoid overt conversations about race, which does more harm than good (see the episode above). Guest Dr. Brigitte Vittrup researches how kids develop racial attitudes and how parents can effectively teach their children about race. Best of all, Vittrup answers questions from actual parents. (Bonus: When you’re done with this episode, queue up “White Guilt and Other Crazy Sh*t”)

Good Kids: How to Raise Anti-Racist Kids (with Dr. Nzinga Harrison)

This episode moves beyond raising children who embrace diversity, and talks about how to raise kids who act against racism. Dr. Harrison gives advice on how to have conversations with children of different ages because this isn’t a one-time conversation and talking to a five-year-old about slavery or police brutality is very different than talking to a twelve-year-old. She also emphasizes what parents have to do: “To raise anti-racist kids you have to be anti-racist.”

Creating a Family: “Adult Transracial Adoptees Teach Us About Adoption”

Parents who have adopted transracially face unique challenges when talking to their kids about race, but all parents can learn from this conversation. Author and transracial adoptee Rhonda Roorda shares advice from her experience as a Black person raised by white parents and from her research, including writing the book In Their Voices: Black Americans on Transracial Adoption.

Diverse Nonfiction Podcasts for Kids

Activist, You! (ages 5 and up)

Each episode features an interview with a young activist. Guests include kids and teens who fight for racial justice, climate justice, immigration reform, LGBTQ+ rights, and more.

So Get Me (ages 5 and up)

So Get Me: the Alphabet Rockers’ podcast for families making change! is a podcast for families from the Alphabet Rockers, an intergenerational hip hop group. On the show, rocker kids talk about their identities and the change they’re making in their communities. Plus, there’s amazing music!

Kidnuz (ages 5 and up)

It’s news…for kids! Keep your kids up to date with current events and open conversations about what is happening in the world around them.

Code Switch (ages 10 and up)

Code Switch, NPR’s flagship podcast about race, curated a list of episodes from their archive that are suitable for children. They have lessons on xenophobia, education, family life, and more.

Diverse Fiction Podcasts for Kids

Girl Tales (all ages)

These reimagined fairy tales are perfect for the little feminists in your life. Johnny Appleseed becomes Amina Appleseed. Paul Bunyan becomes Paula Bunyan. The Little Mermaid? More like the Literate Mermaid. You won’t find a single damsel in distress here.

Molly of Denali (ages 6–10)

This eight-episode series from PBS Kids follows a nine-year-old Alaska Native girl and her friends as they solve the mystery of the missing birthday cake.

Flyest Fables (ages 7–12)

This interconnected fiction anthology tells the story of a young boy who is being bullied in school and who discovers a magic book that transports him to another world.

Stoopkid Stories (ages 8 and up)

Each episode of this show features a short story about a Black kid who is facing a challenge, like allergies, a spelling bee, or the choice of where to go to school.

Time Storm (ages 9–13)

In this series, twins Alexa and Beni Ventura travel through time to preserve Puerto Rican history, along with navigating everyday life in the 21st century.

Book Club for Kids (ages 10–14)

On Book Club for Kids, kids and authors talk about some of the best books books for middle graders. Learn about the landmark civil rights case Loving vs. Virginia, stay at a summer camp run by the Black Panthers, meet three young refugees, and so much more.

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