UPDATE: Pinna has shared a promo code with us! If you'd like to try out the Pinna subscription podcast app, use the code HOLIDAY to receive $5 off your first payment. (Not sure when this expires, so if you try it and it doesn't work, please leave a comment here and I'll take this little update off the post.)
It's time for another podcast round-up! My kids are ages 5 & 9 this year and enjoy listening to funny things and don't mind intense storytelling. If you've got kids with similar tastes, here are a few of my family's favorite listens from this year (in order from best for oldest listeners to youngest):
Six Minutes:
Each episode is only 6 minutes long and strung all together they tell an epic tale full of intrigue, adventure and suspense. Heads up: these do get a little intense at times (at least one character dies), and there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but in 6-minute doses it's not too bad. You'll definitely want to start at the beginning of the series with this one and there's over a year's worth of episodes to catch up on at this point, so it should last you awhile on your next road trip.
Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest:
This podcast is based on the books of the same title by Adam Gidwitz. The podcasts may be even better than the books because he includes interjections from 3rd grade classes that he visits and they break up the weirdest, most intense parts of the tales. He also tells listeners at the beginning whether each tale is rated "Grimm" "Grimmer" or "Grimmest" and encourages them to choose for themselves what they're ready to listen to. Also, they're funny.
Pants on Fire:
A gameshow where one authentic expert and one person posing as an expert on the same subject try to convince a kid judge that they're both telling the truth and are the expert on the topic. An excellent introduction to learning how to decide whether someone is telling the truth or not (an important skill in this digital age especially!).
Don't Break the Rules:
Another game show (exclusively available through the subscription app, Pinna) where four voice actors are assigned characters that they must develop a voice for (e.g. a lazy lollipop!) and then maintain throughout the rest of the show while competing in improvisational exercises. Truly hilarious fun, even for adults to listen to.
Molly of Denali:
Based on the same world as the PBS show of the same name, this podcast follows the adventures of Molly, an Alaska Native. It includes snippets of the Gwich’in language and elements of her culture in light-hearted stories about her day-to-day life.
Remy's Place:
Another Pinna original only available through their app, this one follows Remy, whose parents own a cafe called Remy's Place. It's a hopping establishment, but his gentle parents (and the staff of the cafe) always find time for a kind word or interaction with Remy. Fun side-note: his "aunt Norah" is Norah Jones.
Bonus: This Podcast Has Fleas
I realized that I've never reviewed this podcast on the blog and wanted to remedy that situation. My daughter was OBSESSED with this podcast for a long time and unfortunately, this podcast has only 6 episodes (wah!!). It is quick-paced wit featuring a dog and a cat who each host their own podcast-within-a-podcast, perfect for listeners of all ages. I can vouch that the humor stands up through at least the first 5 or 6 repeat listens (by the 10th I had whole episodes memorized, I think). It features some fantastic voice actors including Emily Lynne, Jay Pharoah, Eugene Mirman and Alec Baldwin.
Be sure to check out my past podcast reviews here, here and here.
You can see my review on the NBC15 newscast here.
