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Maybe you don't need another gentle parenting conversation.

Maybe you just need the right song.

What is Punk Science?

You're a music lover. You have kids. Somewhere between those two things, your playlist died. Punk Science is pirate radio for parents and their culturally fluent, fully weird little humans. The antidote to dumbed-down kid music and algorithmic culture. A weekly A-Side music podcast, playlist, and mini zine.  A deeper B-Side launches summer 2026.

Who is the Punk Scientist?

Basically your resident fairy god DJ. A music supervisor and music psychology researcher with two decades in the music industry working with Alabama Shakes, SZA, DJ Shadow, Fred again.., Florence and the Machine, Dior, Nike, and Louis Vuitton. Three Gold British Podcast Awards. A Webby Honoree. A Cannes Lion Grand Prix. A Masters in music psychology. A biometric study with Brian Eno. A mother.

Who is this for?

For all-ages of music lovers - toddlers, tweens, teens, and the grown-ups raising them. The kids aren't being talked down to. The grown-ups aren't being treated like delivery systems for someone else's playlist. Punk Science is built for listening out loud, together. The OG social media. If you've ever found yourself stabbing the skip button on yet another twee, annoying, or dull-as-dishwater kid song, this is for you. Research shows that families who listen out loud feel happier, hug more, and are less unhinged (yes, you too).

Is this an alternative to Kidz Bop, Baby Shark, or CoComelon?

Kid music isn't a genre. It's a market opportunity dressed up as child safety. We pick real songs by real artists that work for the whole family.

Is the music safe and clean for kids? Are there explicit lyrics? 

We take lyrics seriously without being scared of them. This is a love letter to music, not a censorship filter.  No swearing beyond the odd damn and h-e double hockey sticks. Expect things like joint, high, and other words with more than one meaning. What's out: overt themes of violence, drugs, death, sex and language that punches down.

How do you decide which songs make the cut?

When you're up against poop jokes and princesses, the bar has to be high. That means thinking about what the music HAS, not just what it doesn't. Melody you can hum, hooks that stick, color that makes the room feel something, weirdness that delights, and the kind of staying power that means it's still in rotation in five years. Music is for real life, all of the ups and downs. We want songs you didn't know you needed, by artists worth knowing, that make life feel better.

Is this music education?

Yes, but maybe not the kind you're thinking of. We teach the stuff most music lessons don't: who the artist is, what scene they came out of, the lore, why a song hits the way it does. Education by way of stories, culture, and music science.

What's the deal with AI music and algorithms?

One-third of new music on streaming services is AI-generated, and 97% of listeners can't tell. The algorithm doesn't care whether a human ever touched it. Punk Science is the opposite.

Is this screen-free?

Yes. Music does what screens can't — fills a room without anyone having to look at it. Music turns car rides, school runs, bath times, and kitchen mornings into IRL connection through speakers instead of screens.

How can music help my kid regulate emotions?

Music does more for emotional regulation than most SEL and gentle parenting hacks. A song can shift a nervous system in under sixty seconds. The right track at the right moment is a tool. 

Does music actually do anything, or is this just vibes?

It does a lot. Five minutes of music listening releases significant levels of oxytocin, the bonding hormone you get from hugging, breastfeeding, or falling in love. Over 400 studies have shown music can reduce anxiety as effectively as prescription medication. Singing together has been shown to reduce postnatal depression as well as antidepressants. And so much more.

How do I expose my kid to diverse music from around the world?

Right here.

What's good music for car rides, school runs, and family time?

Press play on Punk Science.

Will I love every song?

If we're doing our job right, absolutely not. You won't love everything. You'll meet music you might've otherwise missed, and introduce genres and sounds and voices into your home from a variety of cultures. That's the whole deal.

Is it free?

The A-Side is free, weekly, forever. The B-Side launches summer 2026 with limited founder spots.

How do I get in touch?

Drop a line below or hello@thepunkscientist.com. Real human curation means real human mistakes. A lyric misinterpreted/missed, a take that landed wrong, a song that wasn't right for your house. Or, get in touch to say hi, share something you love and want more of, suggestions, recommendations and the like.  

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The Punk Scientist would love to hear from you.

hello@thepunkscientist.com

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