NASA's Curious Universe

NASA's Curious Universe is an official NASA production, and that means you are hearing directly from the people who actually build rockets, study black holes, and plan missions to Mars. Host Padi Boyd is a NASA astrophysicist with a warm, clear delivery that makes complex topics approachable for kids and adults alike. Jacob Pinter co-hosts, and together they bring on a rotating cast of real NASA scientists, engineers, and astronauts as guests. The show has produced around 94 episodes across eleven seasons, with new ones arriving weekly. Each episode runs under 30 minutes and focuses on a single topic -- how NASA studies the Moon, what it takes to become an astronaut, the latest discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope. The sound design is rich and atmospheric, giving each episode a cinematic quality that makes space feel tangible. For kids who are space-obsessed, hearing actual NASA personnel talk about their work is something no other podcast can replicate. It holds a 4.5 rating from about 880 reviews on Apple Podcasts, which is lower in review count than some bigger kids' shows but reflects a more niche audience. Common Sense Media highlights it as family-friendly with real educational substance. The episodes are standalone, so you can jump to whatever topic interests your family most. For road trips, it works especially well as a conversation starter -- kids tend to come away with questions and observations that keep the discussion going long after the episode ends.