The story podcast that surpasses one million downloads

Barcelona“We started listening to podcasts when we were on car trips because they were always asking to watch cartoons, and we only let them watch them on very long journeys. We thought of it as an alternative and looked for children's stories. Now they ask for them themselves, whether it's a short or long trip,” explains Raquel Morta. Although there are increasingly more podcasts dedicated to children, the figures are still far below what is offered to other age groups: only 2% of the podcast programming on the main general audio platforms in Spain is dedicated to children, according to the article. Audio consumption in childhood and adolescence: Radio and Digital PlatformsHowever, it is still unknown to what extent children listen to podcasts because the available data, such as that from the General Media Study (EGM), only includes listeners from the age of 14, which leaves out a whole age group about which almost nothing is known: whether they listen, when they do so, or what podcasts they listen to.

However, at a time when many parents are looking for alternatives to screens, children's podcasts have become a new way to entertain and educate young children. "I much prefer offering them podcasts to screens. There isn't as much stimulation as with cartoons or anything they can consume through a screen that has audio and images, and that overstimulates them," explains Raquel. In a short time, podcasts have gone from being a niche format to becoming part of the entertainment routine: it is estimated that by 2028 there will be 5 million listeners in Spain. This growing interest has also been noticed by Diana Kerbelis, creator of the podcast. Story Wheel"Families expressed to me the need to reduce the amount of time children spent in front of screens, and for many of them it was a relief: "Thank you, we needed this""They thank me for being able to accompany their children in a different way, encouraging listening and enhancing imagination," explains the voice of this podcast, which has more than 30,000 monthly listeners and 14,000 listeners, making it the most listened-to program on the local radio station of Roda de Ter.

Less visual stimulation, more imagination, and better language

"Connecting to and listening to podcasts can be done from anywhere and on many devices, allowing you to do it while doing other activities. It's a resource that sparks the imagination much more than a video," explains Efraín Foglia, professor of Information and Communication Sciences at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC). The ease of access through audio platforms and the availability to listen anywhere makes it possible to integrate this resource into family routines. According to the aforementioned study, among children aged 3 to 6, the preferred place to listen to podcasts is at home (91%), followed by the car (37%). This proportion is repeated in other age groups, such as 7 to 12 years old. "Some families have told me that they use podcasts while driving, at bedtime—when parents no longer have the energy to tell stories—or even to improve their Catalan," comments Kerbelis. Along these lines, Foglia asserts that it is an excellent tool for improving spoken language: "podcasts foster the ability to expand vocabulary and better grasp the nuances of language -synonyms, antonyms, expressions-, a learning that lasts."

"I think it really helps them concentrate. When we play podcasts, they're very focused on listening, and they create their own visual images," says Raquel. In fact, Greta's parents have noticed that, at just 5 years old, she maintains her attention longer listening to audio stories than in activities like painting or playing, where she tends to lose interest more quickly. According to Foglia, there are studies, such as those by Oliver Sacks, that demonstrate that the brain processes auditory stimuli differently and, in some cases, more powerfully than visual ones. "At home, we usually listen to story podcasts while they shower, during dinner, or when they get home tired from school or extracurricular activities, but when we're in the car and they have no other distractions than looking out the window, we put on themed podcasts about history or science," says Raquel.

It sparks interest

In addition to linguistic benefits and improved concentration and imagination, several studies highlight that podcasts can also spark interest in science and technology. Remy Dou, a researcher at the University of Miami, observes that listening to science podcasts encourages children's interest in STEM careers (those related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). "Podcasts do something other media don't: eliminating the visual component helps break down stereotypes and expands children's freedom of imagination," the expert explains. This allows for the representation of a person connected to the STEM field without needing to film an actor or use an image that forces the selection of someone of a certain height, skin color, build, age, etc. "In podcasts, the main decision is whether to represent that person with a male or female voice, and often both can be used. Thus, children learn that their appearance isn't so important for pursuing interests related to science and technology," Dou says.

Their research analyzes how science podcasts for children help eliminate these stereotypes and inspire them to talk to their parents and other adults about what they hear, ultimately becoming a key tool for developing their STEM identity. "When we listen to themed podcasts, they learn what they're about and discover another perspective. I really see them acquiring knowledge because sometimes conversation topics come up and they refer to what they've heard in the podcasts," Raquel explains. This research was conducted by the children's podcast team. Brains Where! It was discovered that 96% of the children talked to another adult about the scientific topics they had learned in the episodes, and 84% acted out, quoted, or sang something they had learned.

"There's no doubt that when children talk about science with other adults and consume scientific content, they are more likely to develop a STEM identity and pursue careers in these fields," says Dou. Some science podcasts include... 365 Why? or of historical figures such as They made history! of Little Sapiens or those of Spanish scope Tumble either Chameleon and Skull"Children can benefit from listening to podcasts in two ways: they nurture and grow their personal interests, and they learn interesting facts that help them gain confidence in their scientific knowledge," Dou concludes.

Go back to stories, learn values

"In our case, Story Wheel "It has generated a presentation of the literature being consumed today and has awakened a passion for children's and young adult literature, for books, stories, and oral storytelling," says Kerbelis, who has listeners in almost twenty countries. Many podcasts address social issues such as wars or complex emotional topics, such as death, helping children to help other children. "Complicated topics give them the ability to understand certain situations much better, to understand the world, or certain values like friendship or love," explains Kerbelis. Connection is very important to Kerbelis, who receives proposals every week from children and families. They then work to select those that uphold positive values. In recent years, she notes, they have seen a return to classic tales. "The lack of understanding of the vertical structure of classic fairy tales means children need to know the character archetypes, and many families don't explain them." Among the stories being proposed are Cinderella, Snow White, and Goldilocks. "We want to showcase these classic tales and their symbolism, while maintaining their positive values," Kerbelis explains.

In Catalonia, although still growing, the podcast offering is expanding. Among the most listened-to and prominent children's podcasts in Catalan are: Radio Stories, CATACRIC-CATACRAC, Tales from Catalonia either Little Sapiens among others. "There are indicators that confirm that growth has been enormous for the last six years and will continue. Furthermore, for something to develop and consolidate, there must be investment behind it, and now everyone is investing in audio storytelling: companies, schools, the media...", Foglia lists. In fact, Story Wheel This year it celebrates its fifth anniversary, surpassing one million downloads with 217 episodes and listeners from all over the world.