KidsPod

KidsPod Co.

KidsPod

KidsPod is a free children's audio platform that provides equal access to high-quality and beneficial podcasts and audiobooks.

Billings, MT, USA

USA

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

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In the U.S., 40% of fourth graders are unable to read at a basic level¹—a rate that’s worsened over the past decade and is even higher among boys, Black and Latino students, children from low-income households, and those with learning differences. Globally, more than 600 million children are below minimum proficiency levels in reading², reflecting a widespread crisis in foundational literacy. Over this same period, children’s screen time has sharply increased³, displacing at-home activities that build literacy—such as shared reading, reading for pleasure, conversation, and informal learning⁴. The effects are most pronounced in families with fewer resources: children from low-income or non-white households log nearly twice as much screen time as their high-income, white peers⁵, further widening opportunity gaps. These trends reflect a deeper shift: screen use and mobile devices are now central to modern childhood. For many parents, it’s no longer just difficult—but nearly impossible—to reverse this dynamic and reclaim routines that support literacy and learning. Our work addresses this new reality and the growing barrier it poses to educational equity.

KidsPod is a free iOS and Android audio streaming app with over 700 children’s podcasts and a growing library of audiobooks, making high-quality audio universally accessible for ages 0–13. Podcasts are a powerful, research-backed way to build literacy and social-emotional skills—even for children who are dyslexic, neurodivergent, or learning English as a second language—while also reducing screen time. But most are buried on adult platforms, locked behind paywalls, or tied to expensive audio devices. KidsPod unlocks this untapped resource by curating the best publicly available content in one safe, kid-friendly app. Unlike other screen alternatives, KidsPod easily becomes part of kids’ routines. It runs on the devices families already use and doesn’t require major habit changes or extra time from busy parents. Same devices. Same situations. Better outcomes. The current MVP includes child-specific profiles and a draw-along coloring book to enhance engagement. Future development will focus on research-backed interactive and gamified features that further amplify the benefits of audio learning—like read-along transcripts and AI-generated comprehension prompts. https://bit.ly/kidspodtour

KidsPod serves families with children ages 0–13, especially those most affected by the literacy crisis: low-income households, children of color, and kids with learning differences like dyslexia, ADHD, or ESL needs. These families are often underserved by current solutions. Books and enrichment programs may be out of reach. Screen-based tools dominate, yet excess screen time displaces the very at-home activities—like shared reading and conversation—that build literacy and emotional well-being. Audio is a proven alternative, but it’s often locked behind paywalls, buried on adult platforms, or tied to expensive devices. KidsPod makes high-quality audio accessible and engaging using the devices families already own. It’s free, safe, and designed just for kids—so parents don’t have to supervise or change routines. KidsPod supports informal learning anytime: on car rides, during play, at bedtime—turning everyday moments into opportunities to build vocabulary, comprehension, and connection. While most of our users are in the U.S., KidsPod is already being used around the world. By reducing barriers to literacy-building experiences, we help close opportunity gaps and support healthier, more connected childhoods—especially in communities with the fewest resources to spare.