Common Sense Media Review
By Crystal Stone
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Edgy romance pod has sex, drugs and mature themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Listen
What's It About?
Based on the young adult novel Paper Princess, THE ROYALS OF MALIBU follows Ella, an orphan who's taken in by her dad's best friend as she navigates a new high school, coming out of poverty, sexual relationships, and more. Episodes are from the point of view of Ella, voiced by TikTok star Alyssa McKay, in a storytelling format. Ella is fascinated by her new "stepbrothers" and their rich lifestyle. Episodes discuss topics such as sex work, crime, high school parties, romance, and more.
Is It Any Good?
Although it's clearly aimed at teens, this podcast has some pretty heavy and mature content. The Royals of Malibu is meant more for young adult listeners and features sexual and edgy situations between high schoolers, which can make episodes uncomfortable to listen to at times. This is a fun listen to for adults who love mystery and romance, but at times there's a reliance on high school tropes and discussions of poverty that miss the mark. Likely to draw a teen (and maybe even tween) audience, some parents may not want their kids listening since the messages this show sends tend to be more negative and superficial.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how in The Royals of Malibu, Ella is determined to find ways to survive on her own. How does Ella's experience change how you understand complex topics such as poverty and sex work? Families with teens can use this podcast as a way to have candid discussions about these difficult topics.
The characters in the show are in high school, but many of the experiences seem to be catered towards adults. Do you think this show is an accurate representation of high school? Why or why not?
The show sometimes glamorizes behaviors like drinking or doing drugs. Research what the actual affects of these things can be on teens. What are some consequences to media making these types of behavior look "cool"?
Podcast Details
- Release date : February 6, 2023
- Genre : Storytelling
- Run time : 28 minutes
- Website : https://diversionaudio.com/podcasts/the-royals-of-malibu/
- Production Company and Network : Diversion
- Pricing structure : Free
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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