Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Choco Challenge (9/5/25)

Summary

Wow in the World - Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Choco Challenge

Release Date: September 5, 2025
Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz
Theme: Chocolate Science & Surprising Facts

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Episode Overview

This lively episode of "Two Whats?! And A Wow!" centers around the delicious world of chocolate. Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz challenge their young audience to distinguish surprising truths from silly fictions in a special chocolate-themed edition of their signature science game show. Through three fun rounds, they drop fascinating chocolate facts, silly jokes, and memorable physical challenges, all while keeping their trademark kid-friendly, humorous tone.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Game Show Format Introduction (01:55)

• Contest Structure:
  • Each round, Mindy and Guy present three statements about chocolate.
  • Only one is a true "Wow" fact; the other two are made-up "Whats."
  • Correct guesses earn points; wrong guesses result in a funny physical challenge.

"You know it, Wowzers. In each of our three rounds today...only one of those statements will be a true wow. The other two, just a couple of made up what?"
— Mindy Thomas (02:12)

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Round One: Dark Chocolate & Heart Health (02:51 - 04:44)

• Choices:
  • A) Dark chocolate can prevent heart attacks.
  • B) One serving of milk chocolate contains your daily protein.
  • C) Eating 10 pounds of white chocolate gives you X-ray vision.
• Winner:
  • Nico from New York confirms choice A is the true wow.

"Scientists say that chocolate is good for your health because they say that dark chocolate can help prevent heart attacks."
— Nico, Contestant (03:53)

• Science Behind the Wow:
  • Dark chocolate has cocoa solids rich in flavanols, which lower heart disease risk, prevent blood clots, and lower cholesterol.

"Research suggests that the flavanols in dark chocolate can help lower your risk of heart disease, prevent blood clots, and lower cholesterol—all of which reduce the risk of having a heart attack."
— Guy Raz (04:32)

• Physical Challenge (for wrong guess):
  • Stop, drop, and drink a spinach smoothie!

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Round Two: The Legendary “Chicken Dinner” Bar (05:00 - 06:57)

• Choices:
  • A) "Chicken Dinner" is the name of a famous chocolate bar.
  • B) Hershey was run only by women.
  • C) Cocoa is not related to chocolate.
• Winner:
  • Cody and Tommy from North Carolina verify A is the true wow.

"In America, a chocolate bar named Chicken Dairy used to be sold."
— Cody & Tommy, Contestants (05:52)

• Backstory:
  • The “Chicken Dinner” bar was created in 1923, containing no chicken, but chocolate and nuts.
  • Famous for chicken-themed marketing; sold for 5 cents.
  • Discontinued in the 1960s.

"They even put a picture of a chicken on the label and bought billboards and created a fleet of trucks that were made to look like chickens...they really went hog wild or chicken crazy on these ones."
— Mindy Thomas (06:23)

• Physical Challenge (for wrong guess):

  • Eat a chocolate-covered chicken nugget.

• Fun Fact Segment:

  • International Chocolate Day is September 13th (Milton Hershey's birthday).

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Round Three: The World's Largest Chocolate Bar (08:06 - 10:13)

• Choices:
  • A) Chocolate lava cake was made with real lava.
  • B) Scotland has a castle made of chocolate.
  • C) The world's largest chocolate bar weighed about 12,770 pounds.
• Winner:
  • Yenny from Illinois confirms C is the scientific wow.

"Hi. My wow in the world is that the world's largest chocolate bar was created in 2011 and weighed 12,770 pounds."
— Yenny, Contestant (09:16)

• Fun Details:
  • Weighed over 6 tons, measured ~13 ft per side.
  • Took over 50 people 10 hours to pour, 3 days to cool.
  • Bar broke apart with axes so people could eat it.

"The world's largest chocolate bar by weight was over 6 tons of solid milk chocolate...It took over 50 people 10 hours to pour liquid chocolate into a mold and then three days for the chocolate bar to cool. And the finished bar had to be chopped up with axes so people could eat it."
— Guy Raz (09:45 - 09:58)

• Physical Challenge (for wrong guess):
  • Dip yourself in chocolate (silly, not literal!).

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Mindy’s Celebration Slogans:

  • "Winner, winner, dark chocolate for dinner." (04:04)
  • "Winner, winner, chocolate chicken for dinner." (06:02)
  • "Winner, winner, colossal candy bars for dinner." (09:27)

• Physical Challenges:

  • Humorous and over-the-top dares like "Drink a spinach smoothie," "Eat a chocolate covered chicken nugget," and "Dip yourself in chocolate," keep the energy goofy and interactive.

• Grand Prize:

  • "All of our winning wowzers will all receive their very own lifetime supply of Malted Milk balls. Reggie, cue the prize cannon. Malted Milk Balls for you. And for you. Watch out. Don’t let them hit you in the face."
    — Mindy Thomas (10:30)

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Key Segment Timestamps

• [01:55] — Game show rules and chocolate theme reveal
• [02:51] — Round one: Chocolate & health
• [04:44] — Flavanols in dark chocolate explained
• [05:00] — Round two: The "Chicken Dinner" bar
• [06:23] — Marketing behind the Chicken Dinner bar
• [08:06] — Round three: Largest chocolate bar
• [09:45] — The making of the colossal chocolate bar
• [10:30] — Prize announcement: Malted Milk Balls

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Episode Wrap-Up

The Choco Challenge episode delivers kid-centric, science-backed wow moments about chocolate, follows a fast-moving and interactive game show format, and fills the show with silly humor, memorable challenges, and fascinating food facts. Mindy and Guy blend fun and learning, ensuring every listener leaves with both a smile and a surprising new fact to share.

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Want to play along or submit your own Wow? Visit Tinkercast.com or call their hotline. New "Wow in the World" every Monday, and more "Two Whats?! And A Wow!" every Friday!

Signature sign-off:

"Until then, keep on wowing."
— Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz

Transcript

[Guy Raz]

Grown Ups Wondery subscribers can listen to wow in the World early and ad free right now. Join Wondery in the Wondery App or Wondery Kids plus on Apple Podcasts.

[IXL Sponsor]

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[Announcer]

And now for everyone's second favorite game show after screaming for ice cream, it's 2 what's and the why wow. With your hosts, Mindy and Guy Rats. 2 watts. 2 watts. 2 watts.

[Mindy Thomas]

Two what's.

[Announcer]

2 what's and a wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hello and welcome to 2 what's in a wow.

[Announcer]

2 what's in a wow.

[Guy Raz]

This scientific game show that separates the Wows from the what's and the category or theme for today is Chocolate. Mindy, why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game works?

[Mindy Thomas]

You know it. Wowzers. In each of our three rounds today, Guy, Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about chocolate. But and this is a big but. Only one of those statements will be a true wow. The other two, just a couple of made up what?

[Guy Raz]

In each round, if you guess correctly, well congratulations, you win a point.

[Mindy Thomas]

But if you guess incorrectly, you must stop, drop and do a ridonkulous physical challenge.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, everyone ready to start the game?

[Sponsor Voice]

Great.

[Mindy Thomas]

Then let's do it.

[Guy Raz]

Round one. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A? Dark chocolate can prevent heart attacks or is it B?

[Mindy Thomas]

One serving of milk chocolate contains your daily recommended amount of protein.

[Guy Raz]

Or is it c? Eating 10 pounds of white chocolate will give you X ray vision.

[Mindy Thomas]

When you think you have the correct answer, shout I'm cuckoo for cacao nibs. Thinking music.

[Guy Raz]

And time is up. Now, let's now reveal the winning wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

And to do just that, it's Meeko from New York. Nico from New York. Tell us, what's that wow.

[Contestants]

Scientists say that chocolate is good for your health because they say that dark chocolate can help prevent heart attacks.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, winner, dark chocolate for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you, Nico. Contestants, if you guessed the answer A, that dark chocolate can prevent heart attacks, well, congratulations. You found the winning wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Dark chocolate has more cocoa solids than milk chocolate, and cocoa solids are high in a chemical called flavanols. Those flavanols can do some amazing things for your body.

[Guy Raz]

Research suggests that the flavanols in dark chocolate can help lower your risk of heart disease, prevent blood clots, and lower cholesterol, all of which reduce the risk of having a heart attack.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and drink a spinach smoothie.

[Guy Raz]

That actually sounds pretty good, Mindy. You know, maybe add some seaweed and some chia seeds, and we're getting a.

[Mindy Thomas]

Little off topic there, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, round two. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, chicken dinner? Is the name of a famous chocolate.

[Mindy Thomas]

Bar, or is it B, the name Hershey comes from the fact that the company was run only by women, or.

[Guy Raz]

Is it C, cocoa is not related to chocolate.

[Mindy Thomas]

When you think you have the correct answer, yell, I eat chocolate for breakfast.

[Guy Raz]

And time is up. And joining us by phone, it's Cody and Tommy from North Carolina. Tommy, Cody, please reveal the winning wow.

[Contestants]

Hi, I'm Cody and hi, I'm Tommy. In America, a chocolate bar named Chicken Dairy used to be sold.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, winner, chocolate chicken for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

It's true. In 1923, the Sperry candy Company created a candy bar that became one of the most popular treats in America. And no, it didn't contain any actual chicken. It was mostly just chocolate and nuts. But they really leaned into the whole.

[Mindy Thomas]

Chicken branding and they called it chicken dinner. They even put a picture picture of a chicken on the label and bought billboards and created a fleet of trucks that were each made to look like chickens. They really went hog wild or chicken crazy on these ones. These trucks drove all over the country and sold the Candy Bar at 5 cents apiece.

[Guy Raz]

Five cents went a lot further back then, but chicken dinner candy bars were pretty popular for a long time. They didn't stop making them until the 1960s, almost 40 years later.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you Must stop, drop and eat a chocolate covered chicken nugget. And now it's time to take a moment to thank our sponsors. Today's show is brought to you by. International Chocolate Day. September 13th celebrates the birthday of Milton Hershey, founder of Hershey's Chocolate. I'll be celebrating the sweetest day of the year with my own cocoa carnival. And all are welcome. Ride the log flume on a river of chocolate. Try our famous chocolate covered chocolate on a stick and step right up to dunk Guy Raz into a vat of chocolate syrup.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, what?

[Mindy Thomas]

Happy International Chocolate Day to one and all.

[Guy Raz]

Why don't we talk about that while we hear some other important messages for grownups?

[Sponsor Voice]

Two what's in a while. We'll be right back. Grown ups. This message is for you. That's it. Now back to the show.

[Guy Raz]

Welcome back to 2 what's and a wow.

[Announcer]

2 what's and a wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

The scientific game show that separates the wows from the whats.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, time for round three. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it a chocolate lava cake was originally made with real lava?

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it B, Scotland has a castle made of chocolate?

[Guy Raz]

Or is it C? The world's largest chocolate bar weighed about 12,770 pounds.

[Mindy Thomas]

When you think you have the correct answer, shout.

[Sponsor Voice]

I'm chock full of woes.

[Guy Raz]

And time is up. And joining us by phone, it's Yenny from Illinois. Yenny, please reveal the winning wow.

[Contestants]

Hi. My wow in the world is that the world's largest chocolate bar was created in 2011 and weighed 12,770 pounds.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, winner, colossal candy bars for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

That's right, Yenny Wowzers. If you guessed C that the world's largest chocolate bar weighed about 12,770 pounds, well, congratulations. You found the winning wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

The world's largest chocolate bar by weight was over 6 tons of solid milk chocolate. It measured 4 meters long and 4 meters wide. That's a little over 13ft on each side.

[Guy Raz]

It took over 50 people 10 hours to pour liquid chocolate into a mold and then three days for the chocolate bar to cool. And the finished bar had to be chopped up with axes so people could eat it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop and dip yourself in chocolate.

[Guy Raz]

What was that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, Guy Raz, that sound can mean only one thing.

[Guy Raz]

It's a full moon tonight.

[Mindy Thomas]

Nope. That sound means it's. It is time for today's winning wowzers prize. And today all of our winning wowzers will all receive their very own lifetime supply of Malted Milk balls. Reggie, cue the prize cannon. Malted Milk Balls for you. And for you. Watch out. Don't let them hit you in the face.

[Guy Raz]

Well, that's about all the time we have for today, but if you want to keep the fun going then become a member of the World Organization of wowzers and unlock hundreds of activities.

[Mindy Thomas]

And if you're a teacher out there listening, make sure you join tinkerclass. It's our free project based learning program. For more just visit Tinkercast.com membership that's Tinkercast.com membership to bring Tinkerclass into your classroom.

[Guy Raz]

And be sure to come back on Monday for a brand new episode of.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow in the World and again on Friday for a new episode of two what's in a wow? And don't forget we wow on the weekend with Dennis.

[Guy Raz]

Until then, keep on wowing.

[Announcer]

Two what two W2W2W2W2W and wow and.

[Mindy Thomas]

Grown ups. If you like wow in the world you can listen early and ad free right now on Wondery.

[Guy Raz]

Join Wondery in the Wondery app or on Wondery Kids plus on Apple Podcasts prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Mindy Thomas]

And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey. Thanks for playing along with our show. If you're a kid with a big wow to share, call our wow hotline at 1-888-7-WOW wow. And you just might be featured on an upcoming episode of 2 what's in a wow? Once again, that's 1-888-7-WOW.

[Guy Raz]

And to keep the wow rolling, visit [e-mail] There you can become a member of the World Organization of wowzers. To get year round mailings and weekly activities. You can shop our wow shop, get tickets for upcoming live events, find our best selling books and learn all about our other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast Grown Ups.

[Mindy Thomas]

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter owintheworld and our email address is hellotinkercast.com 2 what's in a wow.

[Guy Raz]

Is executive produced by Meredith Halpern, Ranzer, Mindy Thomas and me, Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

These episodes are written by our Tinkercast Head Writer Kenny Curtis and Anna Zagorski.

[Guy Raz]

Sound production and design is by Marion Lozano and Henry Moskal with help from Jed Anderson and Tyler Thole and special.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thanks to our Tinkercast team including Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall, Kristin Yang, Thuy Mak, Erica Medina Jodi Nussbaum, Ali Paxima, Linda Rothenberg, Sara, Steph Sosa, and all of the other tinkerers at Tinkercast hq.

[Guy Raz]

Our theme song was written and composed by the Pop Ups. For more on their three time Grammy nominated all ages music, find them at.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thepopups.Com thanks again for listening and for playing along with us. Meet us back here every Friday for more episodes of 2 what's in a wow. Saturday and Sunday for Wewow, on the weekends with Dennis and Movie Mondays for wow in the World. It's all right here on the wow in the World podcast feed.

[Guy Raz]

Until then, keep on wowing.

[Announcer]

Wow in the World. Wow in the World. Wow in the World. Wow in the World.

[Sponsor Voice]

Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.