Brains On Puberty Podcast: What Kids Need To Know

Developing a podcast for kids is a challenging exercise. For the podcast developers, the show must be age appropriate, written specifically for children, and designed with a vibe that attracts them. 

The Brains On podcast is an award-winning, NSF-funded science podcast specifically designed for curious kids and their families. Hosted by former public radio journalists Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez, and Sanden Totten, the show’s mission is to answer listener-submitted questions using fun science, history, and expert interviews—without talking down to children. 

Each week, the main host is joined by a different kid co-host to guide listeners through the answers to big, funny, or fascinating questions. 
The podcast includes these features: Listener Questions, where kids submit their curiosities, ranging from "Why do feet stink?" and "Do dogs know they're dogs?" to "What would happen if you dug a hole through the Earth?"; Mystery Sounds, which is a recurring, interactive game where listeners and the kid co-host guess what an obscure everyday sound is; Moment of Um, which is a  short segment that answers quick-fire questions not related to the main episode topic; and Diverse Topics, covering educational topics stretch across biology, astronomy, engineering, and history

The Brains On podcast has launched a new project, which is the first ever podcast for kids about puberty.

Brains On Universe Presents... Puberty! (The Podcast) is a special, dedicated audio series from the creators of the award-winning Brains On! science podcast for kids. Designed primarily for children and tweens ages 7–12, the show demystifies the physical and emotional changes that occur during growing up.

The show is hosted by Molly Bloom alongside high-school co-hosts, the podcast acts as a safe, stigma-free space for young people to understand their changing bodies and brains, while also serving as a helpful resource for parents.

Molly Bloom, the award-winning host of Brains On & Smash Boom Best, is adored by millions of kids worldwide. The co-host includes a rotating cast of teen co-hosts (ages 15–19) from diverse backgrounds, including trained peer health educators. 

Key topics on the series include: 

* When to talk with kids about puberty (it's younger than you think)

* How to teach kids to speak up about their boundaries.

* How phones and social media have changed this experience.

* Prepping your kids for body changes without shame or judgment.

The Brains On people exclaim: "We've gotten a ton of feedback from parents that is like THANK YOU WE NEEDED THIS!!!! And we've heard from kids basically saying this is helping more than school."

Puberty is a notoriously tough time for kids. It brings a sudden wave of physical, hormonal, cognitive, and emotional changes that can leave both children and parents feeling overwhelmed. Surges in testosterone and estrogen directly affect moods, often leading to unpredictability, irritability, and intense emotions. Growth spurts, body hair, oily skin, and menstruation for girls can be daunting and affect a child's body image. Kids who mature earlier than their peers are especially vulnerable to anxiety and unwanted social pressure.

The parts of the brain that control emotions and decision-making grow at different speeds. This makes feelings much stronger and harder for kids to manage.

Sanden Totten tells us: "When to talk with kids about puberty (it's younger than you think) and how to start. How to teach kids to speak up about their boundaries. How phones and social media have changed
what it means to go through puberty. Prepping your kids for body changes without shame or judgment."

Brains On Universe Presents... Puberty!is a superb evergreen, eight-part series for kids ages 7 – 11, and their families. The Brains On people know how to talk to kids without talking down to them, and Molly Bloom is so good that she challenges Carol Brady on The Brady Bunch TV show on Adult-To-Child communications skills.