Short & Curly

We visit the bedroom of one of the messiest kids we know, Harriet. She hates cleaning her room more than anything in life and it always looks like someone opened every drawer and threw all the contents into the air. But is it her fault that her room is a pigsty? And if other kids can manage to keep their rooms tidy, why can’t Harriet?   

You're at the movies with a giant box of popcorn on your lap, enjoying the film and eating the popcorn. You look down and see the box is empty, but you don't even remember eating it all, because you were focused on the film. As you gobbled on those salty snacks, were you in control of your actions? Are you still responsible if you do something unconsciously? The famous science writer Sam Harris sa...

Molly and Carl might be great friends but that doesn't mean they don't fight sometimes. But when they do get into conflict they have very different ways of dealing with things. So, what should you do if you're feeling hurt or angry with someone? Is it best to bottle up your emotions and say nothing, or is it healthier to let it all out? We'll be getting some tips from an ancient group called The S...

The bushranger Ned Kelly led a gang of criminals more than 100 years ago. He was first arrested when he was just 14 and then he went on to rob and kill people. But before his last infamous shootout, Ned Kelly wrote a letter to the world saying that none of it was his fault, that society was unfair and he had no alternative. So, can you really blame society for how your life turns out?

Like the whole world, the Short & Curly team is dealing with the coronavirus. In this special episode, Matt, Carl and Molly talk about how working together when things get hard can make a big difference for everyone. And Carl learns that wearing lycra and doing jazzercise is great fun when you’re in isolation! If you’re doing it a bit tough and need some help there are a bunch of places you ge...

Short & Curly listeners Harry, Max and Hugo live on farm surrounded by all kinds of animals: pets, livestock, and also pests like feral pigs. Some animals they love, some animals they hate, and some are just another member of the herd. Why do we value some animals differently from others? Come with us as we get a tour of their farm. And a warning, this episode deals with the death of animals.

Would you like to live forever? Molly and Carl like the idea of being immortal. The upsides: you won’t ever die, you’ll never run out of time to try new things and meet new people. The downsides: drinking blood and sleeping in a coffin, and your non-vampire friends will all leave you when they die. So, would immortality be worth it? And how can you  make a decision about something so hugely differ...

Why do some kids get all the luck? It doesn't seem fair that some kids are born into families with lots of love and support, while other kids don't get any, or don't have a family at all. The philosopher Plato had a pretty wild idea for how to fix this unfairness — get rid of families! He said if we did that, people would care more about all children, not just their own. What do you think? Would t...

Do you have a teddy, a doll or a rug that is, or was, very important to you? We are told that as we grow up we need to get rid of ‘babyish’ things like that, but do we really? And if we lose our teddy or give it away, is it alright to feel sad about it? We hear about teddies and other things which were important to Molly, Carl and Matt and find out who kept theirs and why.

One of the best places to be on a hot summer's day is cooling off in a swimming pool. But until the 1960s Aboriginal people were not allowed to swim in the local pool in Moree, in country New South Wales. They were excluded because of a reason that had nothing to do with the ability to swim. They were excluded only because they were Aboriginal. So what is discrimination and what makes it bad?

Carl is excited because he saw a UFO last night. He can't believe it! (And neither can Molly, but for different reasons). But should we believe Carl and if not, why not? How do we decide if something is true or not? What sort of evidence do we need?

Molly, Carl and Matt become lost at sea, they've run out of food and they lack basic survival skills. So, would it be okay for them to eat each other if they get really really really hungry? Maybe don't listen to this episode while you're eating!

"Do as I say, not as I do!" Does this sound like the adults in your life? Short & Curly listeners often complain that their parents tell them to do one thing but then do something completely different themselves. So unfair! Or is it? Guests: Brains Trust (Warialda Public School) Lisa, Mia, Wes, Lachie, Luke, Frank, Jorja, and Christian.

Here's a question from Short & Curly listener Harvey: "Is it OK to hang out with your friends if they're being mean to other people?" Difficult, right? Have you been in a tricky situation like this? What's the best thing to do and why?

Molly has never been afraid of getting a needle because she knows the Needle Ninja will reward her bravery with a basket of Japanese lollies, cakes and toys. Carl has never heard of this person and thinks Molly has been tricked by her mum and dad. But is there any harm in believing in the Needle Ninja? And is it OK for parents to tell their kids stories if it makes them feel better?

Carl often gets lost when he's out on the streets alone. So the S&C team have decided a tracking device will keep him safe and sound. But is this a good idea? How do we balance safety with the need to become independent? And would you be okay with an adult putting a tracking device on you?

The Titanic cruise ship hit an iceberg in 1912 and sank to the bottom of the ocean. Lots of people died because there weren't enough life rafts for everyone. Women and children were offered seats on the lifeboats first because of their age and gender. But is that fair? Are the lives of kids more precious than the lives of adults? Guest: David Dyer, author of The Midnight Watch. Brains Trust: Buran...

Severus Snape is one of the trickier characters in the Harry Potter series. As a teacher, he can be mean and impatient and unfriendly and sarcastic. But Snape might also be able to teach us a lot about growing up and courage and forgiveness. Listen and decide for yourself. Guest: Lorrie Kim, author of Snape: A Definitive Reading. Brains Trust: Buranda State School — Meena, Caitlin, Banjo, Rosey, H...

To be good at sport you need both physical skills and mental strength. So is it okay to tease and sledge your sporting opponents to get an advantage? Join Molly and Carl for a game of backyard cricket. Brains trust: Cricketers Haadia Khan, Lucy Johnston, Grace Bryson-Smith and Sienna Moore. Actors: Zali, Ngaio, Joel, Adam, Hannah and Jarvis

Test your buzzers, put your Short and Curly thinking caps on and get ready for round one. Molly, Carl and Matt tackle some of the many questions you've emailed us, on the game show that's got everyone talking: Answer The Question! Actors: Zali, Ngaio, Joel, Adam, Hannah and Jarvis.

How much stuff do you have? How many toys, books, games and clothes you have got that you don't use or wear? Is it time to re-think why we give and receive birthday presents? Let's drop in to Molly's birthday party and find out. Brains Trust: Buranda State School — Luca, Huon, Freya, Serefie, Noya and Ava. Actors: Neve and Tessa.

Matt was so excited when he bought two pet fish and named them Bucket and Spade. It wasn't long though before one of those fish got sick. Very sick. The pet shop said he needed special chemicals for the water, so he spent a lot of money to make things better. Sadly, things didn't improve for Bucket. Or was it Spade? Anyway, did Matt do the right thing for his fish? And is a fish's life as importan...

Some kids really want to get their ears pierced but their parents won’t let them. So, who should get to decide when and how you’re allowed to decorate your body with a piercing or even a tattoo? We get out the piercing gun and the tattoo ink and find out how much control we should have over our own bodies.

School uniforms have been around for hundreds of years but what's the point of them? Do they kill your individuality, or do they help you focus on learning, without all the worries about fashion and how you dress? We hear from children who wear uniforms and children who don't.

Robin Hood and his band of merry men of Sherwood forest reckoned rich people had it too good. So, they roamed around the countryside robbing the rich to give to the poor. Do you agree?