Lisa Skinner steps into the world of the new children’s Bible podcast series from Premier and finds a brilliant tool for exploring the Bible with her son
Teaching the Bible to children can be challenging, especially when trying to make God’s story meaningful for them. Over the past few weeks, my five-year-old son and I have set time aside before bedtime to journey through stories of the Bible together with the help of the Premier Step In podcast. This podcast invites listeners to enter into biblical stories and discover what God might be saying to us through them. Every story in this series is narrated by Rev David Senior, Associate Minister at St Paul’s Howell Hill, CofE Mission Enabler, and Premier Christian Radio presenter.
As a parent always searching for quality resources to help disciple my children, this has been an absolute gem
The episodes feature prominent characters from both the Old and New Testaments, offering a balanced mix of male and female figures. Many of these characters will be familiar to children who regularly attend church and engage with the Bible at home. For those encountering these stories for the first time, they are filled with wonder and adventure. Five of the episodes are dedicated to the Nativity story, which you may want to reserve for the Advent season to enjoy with your children.
The episodes are not presented in a specific order, allowing your child to choose which characters they want to explore each time. I’ve found that giving my five-year-old son the freedom to decide helps him engage more actively. Since his name is Elijah, it was no surprise that he chose to start with that story.
Rev Senior begins each session by drawing listeners in, introducing the characters being explored and providing a brief overview of their story. This leads into a conversational-style narration that builds tension throughout. Each episode concludes with reflections on how the story might apply to our lives today, leaving listeners with a meaningful takeaway and often closing with a prayer.
Music is woven throughout each episode to create natural segments, while Rev Senior keeps his audience engaged by asking thought-provoking questions and pausing for reactions, making the experience feel interactive. Since episodes range from 11 to 17 minutes in length and have no visual elements, these pauses help maintain attention, especially for younger listeners. However, because the pauses are brief, I found it useful to manually pause the episodes, giving my son more time to process and respond to the questions. I also encouraged deeper thinking by asking him follow-up questions. At times, he even paused the story himself to ask me something—one of the great benefits of listening to a podcast on your phone.
melodic tone, shifts in pitch, volume, and pacing add drama to each story and keep listeners engaged
Well-placed sound effects throughout the stories help emphasise key moments, engaging children’s imaginations and often eliciting a laugh or two. Rev Senior uses vivid, descriptive language to help his audience visualise scenes and connect with the emotions of the characters. During moments of heightened emotion, he invites listeners to relate to the character’s experience, prompting reflection on how we ourselves might feel in similar situations.
One of his most effective storytelling techniques is his dynamic delivery—his melodic tone, shifts in pitch, volume, and pacing add drama to each story and keep listeners engaged. He gives each character a unique voice, allowing them to stand out in the story and remain memorable. In all, David Senior is a highly gifted and effective storyteller.
Elijah and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to and engaging with these stories together. Since he is five, his attention occasionally drifted during some of the longer episodes, but overall, he seemed to enjoy them—and, more importantly, grasp the message.
I believe this podcast series is best suited for children aged six to eight. However, even as an adult, I valued the reminder of how captivating these tales are and the chance to revisit biblical narratives that we may believe we know well but often overlook or forget important details. Rev Senior delivers the stories with both skill and theological accuracy, ensuring no important details are left out while thoughtfully explaining more complex words and concepts when needed.
This series has been carefully curated, and I believe it will be well received. As a parent always searching for quality resources to help disciple my children, this has been an absolute gem. I highly recommend Step In to anyone looking to share biblical truths with the children in their care—whether during mealtime conversations or as part of a bedtime routine. I’m definitely looking forward to the next instalments.
