Downcast

Keeping up with educational podcasts as a family is easier when you have a solid app that just works. Downcast is a long‑running podcast player that lets you subscribe to shows, create playlists, and download episodes for offline listening. Developed by an independent app creator, it focuses on reliability and customization rather than flashy extras. We like that you can speed up playback, trim silence, and organize kids’ shows separately from adult listening. It’s ideal for families who use podcasts regularly for learning—whether that’s history, language, or science—and want more control than default phone apps offer. It is a paid app in many stores, which may deter some, but the one‑time cost is usually modest compared to the hours of use you’ll get. Pro tip: create a dedicated “kids school” playlist with shows like Wow in the World or language podcasts queued for car rides and quiet time.