← Wow in the World
Wow in the World ·Oct 3, 2026 ·18 min

WeWow on the Weekend: Sound Effects, Compliments, and Dinosaur Backbones! (Encore)

Evaluation and Summary

6.3/10

WeWow on the Weekend is a variety show format episode hosted by Dennis and Reggie that combines three distinct segments. The first part features Dennis being surprised by Reggie with voice-changing sound effects, establishing a playful, interactive tone. The second segment has Dennis asking questions he wants answered, inviting listener participation and engagement. The third and main segment is an encore presentation of a fan-favorite episode from the original Wow in the World catalog: "Dinosaurs' Puzzling Backbones" (originally aired June 15, 2017). This dinosaur-focused segment explores how giant sauropods were able to support their massive body weight, framed as a scientific curiosity that combines "big ideas, bigger laughs." The episode is positioned as family-friendly content designed for car rides, breakfast tables, and weekend mornings. The hosts emphasize listener involvement through questions, reviews, and a call-in line (1-888-7WOW-WOW). The episode also promotes the World Organization of Wowzers (W.O.W.) membership program, which offers quarterly mailings, birthday cards, digital activities, and exclusive events. The show notes describe the content as "bonkerballs" (their signature playful energy), emphasizing humor alongside educational value. The dinosaur backbone segment is highlighted as "equal parts wild, important, and totally fascinating," suggesting it balances entertainment with genuine scientific curiosity. As an encore episode, this is a repackaged piece of content rather than original material, though it's framed as a "fan-favorite" worth revisiting. The overall positioning targets families seeking lighthearted, science-adjacent entertainment with strong host chemistry and interactive elements.

Verdict: A well-produced family variety show with solid host chemistry and genuine science content, though the encore format and light substance limit its impact.

Kids & Family rubric

  • Age-appropriate and engaging 4/5 20%

    Designed explicitly for families with playful voice effects, humor, and dinosaur content that appeals to kids; hosts' chemistry and 'bonkerballs' energy suggest strong engagement potential.

  • Educational or emotional value 3/5 20%

    Dinosaur backbone segment offers genuine scientific curiosity about how sauropods supported their weight, but show notes don't detail specific learning outcomes or emotional resonance.

  • Trustworthy guidance 4/5 15%

    Comes from award-winning Wow in the World team with established credibility; science-focused content and emphasis on curiosity suggests sound, age-appropriate messaging.

  • Substance 3/5 15%

    Mix of voice effects, Q&A, and an encore dinosaur episode provides varied content, but the repackaged nature and variety-show format mean less depth than original material.

  • Delivers on its title 4/5 15%

    Title promises sound effects, compliments, and dinosaur backbones; show notes confirm all three elements are present in the episode structure.

  • Value for time 3/5 15%

    18-minute length is reasonable for a weekend variety show, though pacing and tightness cannot be fully assessed from show notes alone.

How we score Kids & Family

Worth it if you're a Wow in the World fan seeking lighthearted family entertainment or want to introduce kids to science through playful, accessible hosts.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.

Show notes

What do special effects, compliments, and dinosaur backbones have in common? This episode of WeWow, the bonkerballs variety show for kids and families from the creators of Wow in the World, has all of that and more. Dennis and Reggie are back with another weekend full of laughs, listener love, and a spine-tingling encore episode that'll have the whole family talking all over again. Whether you're a longtime Wowzer or just tuning in, WeWow on the Weekend is the kind of family variety podcast that makes every car ride, breakfast table, and slow Saturday morning a little more wow-worthy. This week, Reggie surprises Dennis with some voice-changing effects, and Dennis asks the questions that he wants answered! And if that's not enough, WeWow on the Weekend wraps up with a fan-favorite encore of "Dinosaurs’ Puzzling Backbones" from Wow in the World—an episode about the strength of dinosaurs' backbones, packed with big ideas, bigger laughs, and the kind of curiosity that makes the whole family lean in. "Dinosaurs’ Puzzling Backbones" originally aired on June 15th, 2017, and explores how giant dinosaurs like sauropods were able to carry all of their body weight around! Dennis and Reggie revisit all the wow-worthy moments and bring their signature bonkerballs energy to a topic that's equal parts wild, important, and totally fascinating. WeWow on the Weekend is part of the Tinkercast family of podcasts, created by the award-winning team behind the #1 science podcast for kids and families, Wow in the World. Every weekend, Dennis and his co-host Reggie answer listener questions, respond to fan reviews, play games, and celebrate the best moments from across the Tinkercast universe. It's a talk, talk, talk show unlike any other — and it's always better when YOU'RE part of it. Want to hear your name on WeWow? Send Dennis a question or leave a podcast review for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also leave a message for Dennis at 1-888-7WOW-WOW! Grownups, want to keep the Wow going? Join the World Organization of Wowzers (W.O.W.) at tinkercast.com/joinwewow and your Wowzers will receive quarterly mailings, birthday cards, a welcome kit with a t-shirt, autographed photo of Mindy & Guy Raz, access to 1,000+ digital activities, and exclusive access to members-only events! This episode of WeWow is the perfect family variety podcast for Wowzers of all ages, full of voice changers, questions, and backbones that will blow your socks off. Originally aired 10/21/23. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

More from Wow in the World

This is an encore episode of 'Two Whats?! And A Wow!', a game-show format segment from Wow in the World featuring hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz. The episode centers on spiders, using the show's signature gameplay structure where listeners distinguish facts from fiction about arachnids. The format involves presenting…

Worth it if you want a quick, fun family activity that makes spider facts playful and engaging for kids aged 5–10 without requiring deep scientific understanding.

This is a members-only bonus episode of Wow in the World, presented as a monthly meeting of the fictional "World Organization of Wowzers" (W.O.W.), presided over by the show's host Dennis. The episode is framed as an exclusive gathering for paid subscribers to the Tinkercast platform. According to the show notes, the…

Worth it if you're already a paid Tinkercast/W.O.W. member who enjoys the show's playful host-driven humor and doesn't mind very short bonus episodes.

Sponsored

Wow in the World presents a camping adventure narrative framed around the scientific mystery of earthquake lights. The episode follows hosts Mindy and Guy Raz as they encounter a glowing orb during a South Carolina wilderness camping trip, initially presented as potentially supernatural before being explained through…

Worth it if you have kids aged 6–12 who enjoy mystery narratives, camping adventures, and learning how science explains seemingly supernatural phenomena.

WeWow on the Weekend is a variety show for kids and families hosted by Dennis and Reggie, featuring a mix of segments designed to entertain and engage listeners. This particular episode is an encore presentation that combines new material with a rebroadcast of a popular past episode. The new content includes segments…

Worth it if you're a longtime Wowzer fan looking for casual weekend entertainment or want to introduce kids to the Tinkercast brand with low-pressure, humor-forward content.

Two Whats?! And A Wow! presents an encore episode focused on skeletons and bones, hosted by Guy Raz and Mindy. The episode promises "fascinating facts about the amazing materials that hold up our bodies" delivered through gameplay, storytelling, and contributions from curious kids. The show notes emphasize a…

Worth it if you have kids aged 5–10 who enjoy learning through humor and want a quick, engaging introduction to how bones work.

Wow in the World presents a creative episode blending storytelling, science, and humor around the real-world development of cyborg cockroaches for search-and-rescue applications. The episode frames the content as a movie-theater adventure where hosts Mindy and Guy Raz, alongside characters Dennis, Reggie, Gramma…

Worth it if you have kids aged 7–12 who enjoy science, animals, technology, or stories that blend imagination with real-world discovery.

/10