Common Sense Media Review
By Robert Yaniz Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun detective pod centers Black culture & valuable lessons.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Listen
What's It About?
KEYSHAWN SOLVES IT follows 10-year-old Keyshawn and his friend Kiki as they attempt to solve the mystery behind a string of recent bike disappearances in their neighborhood. Inspired by their favorite detective book series, Kiki and Keyshawn use teamwork and perseverance to work through mysteries and challenges, supporting and empowering each other along the way. Each episode they get closer to solving the mystery, while also learning even more about themselves, life skills and Black history. Both Kiki and Keyshawn balance one another out in ther endearing friendship and Keyshawn will often express his feelings and fears through rhyme as he raps on his favorite voice recorder. This podcast has great character development, intriguing storylines and satisfying audio production.
Is It Any Good?
Think Nancy Drew meets Hey Arnold! with this excellent kids mystery podcast from PBS Kids and GBH Kids. Keyshawn Solves It is an absolute triumph, using the hook of a kid-friendly detective story to tackle social-emotional learning and to highlight and celebrate Black history and Black culture. The two lead characters, Keyshawn and Kiki, are worthy role models for listeners, as they use their ingenuity and work together to solve the central mystery. With a set of skeleton keys dating back nearly 200 years, the show harkens back to Black history in a way that makes it accessible to kids. And this device serves the show's central metaphor of the "keys to success," such as self-worth and responsibility.
In addition to its undeniable value for listeners, the show is impeccably produced, with crisp audio, a charming voice cast, and a catchy hip hop soundtrack (not to mention Keyshawn's love for rapping into his voice recorder, using it as a way to express his emotions). Its breezy 15-minute runtime, clever writing, and endearing characters have the potential to make it a family favorite for listeners. Even when the plot is a bit light, the themes and lessons contained in every episode make Keyshawn Solves It one of the most promising podcasts of its kind in a long while.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Keyshawn Solves It integrates life lessons into the mysteries Keyshawn and Kiki are trying to solve. Courage, teamwork and perseverance are key concepts. Why are these important character strengths? How are they important in solving mysteries as well as working through everyday problems in life?
It can be difficult to fully understand the culture and backgrounds of characters in podcast since there are usually no visuals. How does this podcast try to showcase Black culture in audio only format?
Talk about how Keyshawn Solves It adds to representation in the mystery genre that was once primarily dominated by White characters and stories. How does this podcast break down barriers and break stereotypes? What are some other steps creators can take to diversify the mystery genre in all forms of media?
Podcast Details
- Release date : May 29, 2023
- Genre : Kids & Family
- Run time : 15 minutes
- Production Companies and Networks : GBH Kids , PBS Kids
- Pricing structure : Free
- Topics : Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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