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Artwork for The Reading Bug Podcast

The Reading Bug Podcast - Original Adventures, Bedtime Stories and Music for Kids

The Reading Bug
Robots
Thanksgiving
Dinosaurs
Hawaii
Kilauea
The Reading Bug
Wampanoag
Pilgrims
Pele
Ants
Children's Literature
Human Body
Geology
Buns Rabbit
Chicago World's Fair
Volcanology
Electricity
Gardening
Imagination
Oceanus

Love our podcast and bookstore? Get the app — available for Apple or Android. Go to thereadingbug.app 🌟

Let’s fly! ✨ The Reading Bug Podcast is a collection of original audio stories for kids, featuring immersive adventures, cozy bedtime stories, bite-sized story snacks, and curious science questions. Brought to life with original music and vivid storytelling, every episode is designed to help k... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes261Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Kids & FamilyStories for KidsEducation for Kids

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Reading Bug Podcast

Latest Episodes

Lauren's Little Bedtime Stories

Deep in Fernhollow forest, a tiny shy dragon named Pip has always believed her fire isn't real fire at all — just small, soft sparks that float gently on the air and quietly go out. When the big dragons all fly off to... more

A Reading Bug Adventure with Original Songs

Part 2 of 2. Step right up! The Reading Bug has run off and joined PT Barnum's circus - and she's got a terrible case of stage fright. Join Lauren to follow her under the Big Top, and discover that the Rea... more

The Fact Fly's One Big Question

Why does your body force you to shut down for eight hours every single night — and what happens inside your brain while you do? Join Lauren and the Fact Fly (fresh off an accidental cold brew catastrophe) as they inve... more

Lauren's Little Bedtime Stories

On a warm summer evening at a little league field, a nine-year-old girl named Rosie steps up to bat in the bottom of the last inning — down by one, two outs, championship on the line — and everything she's worked for ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

PT Barnum
A legendary American showman, encountered by the Reading Bug in the circus
Barnum's Circus
Episode: Adventure Encore: A Circus Adventure, Part 1
Liam Lanigan
Leprechaun guide encountered during the adventure
Episode: Adventure Encore: An Irish Adventure
Chloe Savage
Performer of episode, narrator
The Reading Bug
Episode: Adventure Encore: An Irish Adventure, Part 2
Denal Noonan
Special guest performer
Episode: Adventure Encore: An Irish Adventure, Part 1
Dr. Erin Naifak
Special guest in the episode
Episode: Adventure Encore: A Dinosaur Adventure
Dr. Aaron Nafec
Paleontologist joining the adventure
Episode: Adventure Encore: A Dinosaur Adventure, Part 2
Dan Sax
Music educator and host of Noodle Loaf, an interactive music-themed podcast for kids
Noodle Loaf
Episode: Bedtime Stories: The Knights of the Garden Gate
Dr. Mark Patel
Paleontologist at the Museum of Natural History
University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
Episode: Adventure Encore: A Dinosaur Adventure, Part 1
Dr. Issa A. Abadi
Head of the Institute for Robots and Intelligent Machines
Episode: Adventure Encore: A Robot Adventure, Part 1

Host

Lauren Savage
Primary host and storyteller guiding episode flow, music integration, and audience participation

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 1.9k ratings
  • I agree

    this is a stupid and outright cringe podcast 👎

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    🔉🔉🔉make some noise
    United Statesa month ago
  • Bad

    This podcast is cringe

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Traveleurope25
    United Statesa month ago
  • We need a the reading bug gets lost. Good podcast

    We need a reading bug🐞 gets lost and the only clue is a 📖 and it is, Immi and the spelling bee 🐝 is the leader they go to Greenland 🇬🇱 in the end they find the reading bug🐞

    Yellow from 2026! Uhm, I’m sorry for this, haven’t listened to the podcast in years, I’ll do it tomorrow just to listen to the Greek and yell “ THATS NOT HOW IT WORKS “about the gods lol

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lunahunter19
    Australia2 months ago
  • I love this so much.

    I’m just learning so much from your podcasts and I think you should keep making podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Don’t care claire
    United States3 months ago
  • Boooo

    Bad

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jolp11408
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the imaginative stories and kid-friendly science explained simply.
Many readers want more episodes and consistent cadence, especially for new adventures.
Families highlight the program as a long-running favorite for bedtime and road trips.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Fact Fly: Why Can We See Through Glass?
Q: If you could have a house made of anything clear, glass, ice, or a giant cube of clear apple juice, which would you pick?
Choosing glass or ice would illustrate that transparency comes from how atoms are arranged, while a liquid like apple juice would blur due to movement and disorder, underscoring the solid-state convention for clear visibility.
Fact Fly: Why Can We See Through Glass?
Q: Why would you rather hide behind a clear glass door or a pile of laundry during hide and seek?
Hiding behind glass would demonstrate transparency and how light travels through, whereas laundry would block light; the discussion emphasizes how atomic structure affects visibility and transparency in everyday objects.
Fact Fly: Why Can We See Through Glass?
Q: If you could make one thing in your house completely invisible but still there, what would it be?
A good answer might be to make a window or a door invisible so you could observe the room without obstruction, highlighting how transparency depends on the arrangement of atoms and how light travels through gaps rather than being absorbed.
Adventure Encore: A Dinosaur Adventure
Q: What does a paleontologist do?
Paleontologists study fossils to learn about the history of the earth and ancient life.
Fact Fly: How Do We Know What Happened Millions of Years Ago?
Q: How do we know what happened millions of years ago?
Because the earth used layers of mud to save the data, minerals to 3D print the bones, and amber to pause the bugs.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Reading Bug Podcast

What is The Reading Bug Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show is a family-friendly audio universe built around original stories, cozy bedtime tales, short story snacks, and kid-focused science segments. Episodes blend imaginative adventures with gentle learning moments, music, and audience participation, often tying back to a brick-and-mortar independent children's bookstore and related subscription boxes. The format consistently emphasizes curiosity, creativity, and safe, age-appropriate entertainment for kids and caregivers during car rides, wind-down time, and bedtime. A few episodes stand out for integrating myth and culture with science (volcanoes, light, ancient scribes) and for featuring live-action or guest performances that deepen storytelling, making it approachable for young liste... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Reading Bug Podcast?

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How many listeners does The Reading Bug Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Reading Bug Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does The Reading Bug Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Reading Bug Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Reading Bug Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Reading Bug Podcast:

1. Circle Round
2. Stories Podcast: A Bedtime Show for Kids of All Ages
3. Story Pirates
4. But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
5. Earth Rangers

How many episodes of The Reading Bug Podcast are there?

The Reading Bug Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 261 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Reading Bug Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Reading Bug Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Reading Bug Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Reading Bug Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Reading Bug Podcast?

Recent guests on The Reading Bug Podcast include:

1. PT Barnum
2. Liam Lanigan
3. Chloe Savage
4. Denal Noonan
5. Dr. Erin Naifak
6. Dr. Aaron Nafec
7. Dan Sax
8. Dr. Mark Patel

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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