Molly’s just an itsy bitsy cutesy spider, but Carl is freaking out! Lots of people are scared of spiders. In fact, people can be scared of a whole range of things you might find surprising, like a fear of clowns or paper or pancakes. But is that OK?

Cars that drive themselves are no longer just something you’d see in a sci-fi movie… they’re on roads and highways right around the world. But what should happen if something goes wrong? Whose fault would it be – the passenger? The manufacturer? The... car itself?!

Who’s in charge at school? Why, that would be the teachers. And who is in charge at home? Your parents or carers. Who is in charge of running the country? Politicians, that’s who. And what do they all have in common?! They’re all grown-ups! How is that fair?!

As long as kitties have been meowing, and puppies have been prowling, people have asked - which is better, Cats or Dogs? Finally, the Short & Curly crew tackle this colossal question... but is it even a philosophical question?

Molly is having a party so she’s invited over the usual gang – Carl, Eleanor, Tony Ravioli and… the Joker! Batman’s nemesis!! And he’s not a great guy, what with all the crimes he’s committed in Gotham City. Is Molly making the right call here?

Should you judge people because of who they’re friends with?

Thanks to Violet for this quirky conundrum. 

We test for everything: to get a licence, to move to the next grade, to prove you're ready to use a pen. But when it comes to becoming a biological parent, there's no test to pass. Should there be? Would a parenting test be a good idea?

Brains Trust — Gibbs Street Public School, Perth: Fitzroy, Shahla, Jorja, Nafi, Tabitha, Gumaan

Listen to Short & Curly, the fun and educational ABC kids podcast about philosophy and ethics. Join hosts Molly Daniels, Carl Smith, and philosopher Eleanor Gordon-Smith as they explore big questions about right and wrong, fairness, truth, knowledge, logic, beauty and art.

Perfect for tweens aged 8–12, families, and teachers, Short & Curly is one of the best kids shows for curious minds.

• Combines storytelling, philosophy, and comedy
• Perfect for school listening, car trips, or family discussions
• Created by the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), trusted makers of award-winning children's content

Binge this free educational ABC kids podcast series on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts worldwide

We all have thoughts about other people that we’d never say aloud. But do our private thoughts say something about the kind of people we are? Or is it only our actions that count? 

Brains Trust - Gibbs Street Public School, Perth: Layla, Avjot, Johanna, Imogen, Sampada, Claudia.

Listen to Short & Curly, the fun and educational ABC kids podcast about philosophy and ethics. Join hosts Molly Daniels, Carl Smith, and philosopher Eleanor Gordon-Smith as they explore big questions about right and wrong, fairness, truth, knowledge, logic, beauty and art.

Perfect for tweens aged 8–12, families, and teachers, Short & Curly is one of the best kids shows for curious minds. 

• Combines storytelling, philosophy, and comedy
• Perfect for school listening, car trips, or family discussions
• Created by the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), trusted makers of award-winning children’s content

Binge this free educational ABC kids podcast series on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts worldwide

Ever walked past a spray-painted wall and thought, "That's actually really cool and beautiful!" But is it art or just stylish vandalism? Molly and Carl grab some spray cans and dive into the messy, colourful world of graffiti to ask: when does a rebellious scribble become art, and who gets to decide?

Brains Trust — Gibbs Street Public School, Perth: Fitzroy, Shahla, Jorja, Nafi, Tabitha, Gumaan

Listen to Short & Curly, the fun and educational ABC kids podcast about philosophy and ethics. Join hosts Molly Daniels, Carl Smith, and philosopher Eleanor Gordon-Smith as they explore big questions about right and wrong, fairness, truth, knowledge, logic, beauty and art.

Perfect for tweens aged 8–12, families, and teachers, Short & Curly is one of the best kids shows for curious minds.

• Combines storytelling, philosophy, and comedy
• Perfect for school listening, car trips, or family discussions
• Created by the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), trusted makers of award-winning children's content

Binge this free educational ABC kids podcast series on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts worldwide

There's wild surf at the beach today, but people are still choosing to swim outside the area patrolled by lifeguards. If those swimmers get into trouble out there, should other people put themselves at risk to save them? Or does ignoring the warnings mean you're on your own?

Brains Trust — Gibbs Street Public School, Perth: Fitzroy, Shahla, Jorja, Nafi, Tabitha, Gumaan

Listen to Short & Curly, the fun and educational ABC kids podcast about philosophy and ethics. Join hosts Molly Daniels, Carl Smith, and philosopher Eleanor Gordon-Smith as they explore big questions about right and wrong, fairness, truth, knowledge, logic, beauty and art.

Perfect for tweens aged 8–12, families, and teachers, Short & Curly is one of the best kids shows for curious minds.

• Combines storytelling, philosophy, and comedy
• Perfect for school listening, car trips, or family discussions
• Created by the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), trusted makers of award-winning children's content

Binge this free educational ABC kids podcast series on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts worldwide

Most dogs are loving companions, but what about the ones that bite, bark, or cause chaos? Is a dog's bad behaviour their own fault or is it down to the way they were raised? From neglected pups to misunderstood mutts, we dig into the debate: Who's really responsible when a dog goes rogue, and what should we do about it?

Brains Trust — Gibbs Street Public School, Perth: Layla, Avjot, Johanna, Imogen, Sampada, Claudia.

Listen to Short & Curly, the fun and educational ABC kids podcast about philosophy and ethics. Join hosts Molly Daniels, Carl Smith, and philosopher Eleanor Gordon-Smith as they explore big questions about right and wrong, fairness, truth, knowledge, logic, beauty and art.

Perfect for tweens aged 8–12, families, and teachers, Short & Curly is one of the best kids shows for curious minds.

• Combines storytelling, philosophy, and comedy
• Perfect for school listening, car trips, or family discussions
• Created by the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), trusted makers of award-winning children's content

Binge this free educational ABC kids podcast series on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts worldwide

The line between truth and deception can be blurry. Is leaving out important information a lie? What about misleading gestures, or half-truths? Babysitting Matt's kids force Molly and Carl to confront these complexities firsthand as they lie to get out of tricky situations.

Summer Hill Public School: Dimitri, Mia, Teddy, Milla, Cleo, Marcus