Who, When, Wow!
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this podcast.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Who, When, Wow! is a podcast about largely unsung heroes of history, mostly women and people of diverse races, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. The storytelling is engaging including many different voice actors bringing to life the main character and other people of the time. Episodes mention U.S. slavery, the mistreatment of Black and native peoples, the "Trail of Tears," and one episode includes talk of guns, shooting people, and recreates a shootout. Biographies describe the historical context around each character in lively and accurate ways; but in one episode, Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu's contribution to the Manhattan Project made it possible to drop nuclear bombs on Japan. It's explained that she helped end WWII by solving a problem no one else could solve; however, no mention is made of the devastation to Japan.
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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
- Average Run Time: 25 minutes
- Website: https://tinkercast.com/shows/who-when-wow
- Host: Rebecca Sheir
- Publishers: 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: June 10, 2022
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