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Program: Short & Curly

Presented by

Molly Daniels portrait

Dr Matthew Beard portrait

SHORT & CURLY is a fast-paced fun-filled ethics podcast for kids and their parents, with questions and ideas to really get you thinking. It asks curly questions about animals, technology, school, pop culture and the future.

Thanks to our two fabulous hosts, there’s lots of time for silliness too. We are also joined by our resident ethicist philosopher Matt Beard, a brains-trust of school children.

SHORT & CURLY is specially designed to be listened to alone or as a family, with questions to think about and time to discuss it together.

Classroom Resources: Listen to the podcast in class or as homework and use these resources to explore and expand upon the diverse themes and subjects covered in the podcast/show.

Listen for free from your mobile device on the ABC listen app.

SHORT & CURLY is a fast-paced fun-filled ethics podcast for kids and their parents, with questions and ideas to really get you thinking. It asks curly questions about animals, technology, school, pop culture and the future.

Thanks to our two fabulous hosts, there’s lots of time for silliness too. We are also joined by our resident ethicist philosopher Matt Beard, a brains-trust of school children.

Episodes

Sorted by latest

Can you lie even when you don’t say anything?

The line between truth and deception can be blurry. Is leaving out important information a lie? What about misleading gestures, or half-truths?

Published: 1 Apr 2025Tue 1 Apr 2025 at 3:30pmwith Molly Daniels, Carl Smith and Dr Matt Beard

A man in blue and woman in red with blue tape crossing their mouths

Duration: 24 minutes

Shape shifters — When is something no longer itself?

Join Molly and Carl as they valiantly attempt a world record sailing around the globe on their boat, the Theseus.

Published: 1 Apr 2025Tue 1 Apr 2025 at 3:15pmwith Molly Daniels, Carl Smith and Dr Matt Beard

A man in blue and woman in red looking surprised

Duration: 22 minutes 12 seconds

Do we need a rule book to be a good person?

Molly and Carl visit Greece in search of the mythical "Scroll of Rights and Wrongs", an ancient guide written by the smartest person to have ever lived: Adamantia The Wise*.

Published: 1 Apr 2025Tue 1 Apr 2025 at 3:00pmwith Molly Daniels, Carl Smith and Dr Matt Beard

A man in blue and woman in red looking puzzled

Duration: 21 minutes 30 seconds

Three siblings, one musical instrument, who should get it?

Have you ever had a fight with your sibling over who should get to keep something?

Published: 1 Apr 2025Tue 1 Apr 2025 at 2:45pmwith Molly Daniels, Carl Smith and Dr Matt Beard

A man in blue and woman in red wearing a crown and holding a recorder

Duration: 23 minutes 36 seconds

Matt's big news: How to give up something you love

As a kid, Matt, our resident ethicist, was always flat out. He juggled volunteering in the school veggie garden, playing sports, sibling duties, music practice, and chores around the house.

Published: 1 Apr 2025Tue 1 Apr 2025 at 2:30pmwith Molly Daniels, Carl Smith and Dr Matt Beard

A man in blue and woman in red looking sad standing before of a picture of a man (Matt)

Duration: 21 minutes 30 seconds

BONUS – Goodbye Matt, thanks for the memories

See if you can work out which episodes these classic Matt moments are from as we say goodbye (but hopefully not forever) to our wonderful ethicist Matt Beard.

Published: 1 Apr 2025Tue 1 Apr 2025 at 2:15pmwith Molly Daniels, Carl Smith and Dr Matt Beard

A man (Matt) holding his index finger up surrounded by love hearts

Duration: 9 minutes

BITES – Dog poo in the bin

You are enjoying a walk with your four-legged friend, when they do a big stinker on the street. Don't worry — you're prepared! You've brought the dog poo bags! But do you really have to carry the smelly parcel of poo all the way home?

Published: 21 Dec 2024Sat 21 Dec 2024 at 1:30pmwith Molly Daniels, Carl Smith and Dr Matt Beard

Duration: 3 minutes 12 seconds

BITES – Paying people to be kind

Everyone says it's good to be kind and that acts of kindness can make the world a better place. But often we aren't as kind as we could or should be. So should we pay people to be kind? Would it make the world a better place?

Published: 20 Dec 2024Fri 20 Dec 2024 at 1:30pmwith Molly Daniels, Carl Smith and Dr Matt Beard

Duration: 3 minutes 12 seconds

BITES – Friends inviting themselves over

It's fun to hang out with our friends, but sometimes we need a bit of alone time. Maybe you want to listen to your favourite music and sing along loudly. Or curl up in a special place and read a book.

Published: 19 Dec 2024Thu 19 Dec 2024 at 1:30pmwith Molly Daniels, Carl Smith and Dr Matt Beard

Duration: 3 minutes

BITES — What to do with unwanted gifts

We all love getting presents, but what about when you get a gift you don't like and will never use? So what should you do with unwanted gifts? Is it ok to give them away or do you have to keep them forever?

Published: 18 Dec 2024Wed 18 Dec 2024 at 1:30pmwith Molly Daniels, Carl Smith and Dr Matt Beard

Duration: 3 minutes 12 seconds

Discover more

Classroom Resources: teachers, explore the diverse themes and subjects covered

Listen to the podcast in class or as homework and use these resources to explore and expand upon the diverse themes and subjects covered in the podcast/show. Short & Curly classroom resources are flexible, easily integrated and fun.

Published: 29 May 2023Mon 29 May 2023 at 5:32am

Photos: Making series 11 during Coronavirus

The team had to make the podcast at home because of Coronavirus and they all improvised to make a recording studio.

Molly working from home in her pyjamas

Don't be afraid to ask your kids curly questions. Their answers might surprise you

We don't give children enough credit for being able to handle questions that adults might think are too dark or hard for them says the team behind the award-winning ABC podcast Short and Curly.

Little girl with headphones on looking at ipad with Short and Curly on screen.

Published: 14 Dec 2019Sat 14 Dec 2019 at 7:17am

The trolley problem: How children view life and death decisions

It's a thought experiment about killing, death and an out of control train, but does the trolley problem really get to the crux of how to make an unpleasant life and death decision?

Young child walking with father along train tracks.

Published: 15 Dec 2017Fri 15 Dec 2017 at 4:17am

Videos

Gamers vs Bookworms — is one better?

When you're looking for a way to relax and have fun, do you reach for a book or a gaming console, and is one better than the other?

Carl acting bookish on Short and Curly

Published: 26 Jun 2024Wed 26 Jun 2024 at 2:48am

Are your parents hypocrites?

Do your parents have one rule for themselves and another for you? Doesn't sound very fair, does it?

Molly wears a moustache

Published: 26 Jun 2024Wed 26 Jun 2024 at 2:48am

Is it okay to use technology to help you sing better?

The three presenters act out a scene relating to the topic

Duration: 2 minutes 34 seconds

Published: 27 Jan 2021Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 4:08am

A sad tale about Matt Beard’s pet fish, Bucket and Spade

The three presenters act out a scene relating to the topic

Duration: 1 minute 11 seconds

Published: 27 Jan 2021Wed 27 Jan 2021 at 4:08am

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