Common Sense Media Review
By Molly Jackel
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Diverse heroes of history come to life.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Listen
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
WHO, WHEN, WOW! is an engaging kids' history podcast from the creators of the podcast Wow in the World. Each weekly show tells the story of a different, largely unknown character from history, like the first Black deputy marshal west of the Mississippi and a female Chinese-American physicist from the 1940s whose huge influence gave her the title "First Lady of Physics." The writing is engaging and tight with a variety of lively voice actors, creating effective storytelling over a short time. Characters are well-rounded people of various races who've achieved greatness by persevering against odds. They make for fresh role models in a history largely represented by White men.
Is It Any Good?
This podcast features very entertaining, well-researched biographies of change makers in history. Various talented voice actors appear in each episode of Who, When, Wow! along with the host, who is a veteran audio storyteller. Well-timed music and sound effects, plus fun banter, keep things lively and the writing and acting make it accessible to younger and older kids. Considering the overall quality and that many of the stories will be new to adults, this is an engaging listen for them, too. Strong representation of women and people of color are highlighted.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Who, When, Wow! highlights heroes of history. What do you think it takes to be a hero? Who are your heroes and why?
Which of the heroes in this podcast interest you most, or did you most identify with? Why?
Why do you think this podcast features these particular people? And why is it important to learn about heroes who may be female, transgender, or of different race or ethnicity, for example?
Do you have a dream you wish to follow? What, if anything, is holding you back? What is the first step you can take to push through that obstacle?
Podcast Details
- Release date : October 6, 2021
- Genre : History
- Run time : 25 minutes
- Website : https://tinkercast.com/shows/who-when-wow
- Host : Rebecca Sheir
- Production Companies and Networks : Tinkercast , Wondery
- Pricing structure : Paid, Free (Free with ads. Ad-free and 1-week early access for $4.99/month or $34.99/year with Wondery+ subscription.)
- Topics : History
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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