Wow in the World: Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Food Fight
Podcast: Wow in the World (Tinkercast | Wondery)
Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz
Date: November 14, 2025
Episode Theme: A Food-Themed Science Game Show for Kids and Families
Episode Overview
In this lively episode of Two Whats?! And A Wow!, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz challenge their audience with food-themed scientific facts, but with a twist: only one statement in each round is a “Wow” (true), while the other two are clever fabrications (“Whats”). The show combines playful science learning with humor, interactive listener participation, and creative physical challenges.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Pre-Show Preshow Shenanigans (02:04–03:37)
- Tomatoes for Everyone: Guy Raz surprises everyone with tomatoes from his garden.
- Dennis’ Pre-Show Comedy: Dennis attempts stand-up, but the jokes land flat, prompting audience reactions (“Who gave the audience fresh produce?” — Dennis, 03:06).
Game Show Setup & Rules (03:40–05:06)
- How It Works: Each round, Mindy and Guy present three food science statements. Only one is true—the “Wow.” Audience or contestant has to guess which is real.
- Correct = 1 point
- Incorrect = Silly physical challenge
Notable Quote:
“The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what’s.” — Guy Raz (04:10)
Game Rounds
Round 1 – Sweet Survival
Question: Which is the real Wow?
A) Only chicken eggs are edible
B) Passion fruit isn’t actually a fruit
C) Before sugar was available in Europe, parsnips were used to sweeten jam
Listener Reveal: Mary and Maggie from Oklahoma (06:10)
Winning Wow: C) Parsnips were used to sweeten jam!
- Insight: Before refined sugar, parsnips’ natural sugars made them a popular sweetener in medieval Europe ([06:41]).
- Physical Challenge for Incorrect Guesses: Do the can-can ([07:07]).
Notable Exchange:
Mindy: “Winner, winner, parsnip jam for dinner!” (06:22)
Round 2 – Berry Surprises
Question: Which is true?
A) Bananas and avocados are berries
B) Swiss cheese always has same number of holes
C) Sweet potatoes and yams are the same food
Listener Reveal: Adelie and Hayden (08:11)
Winning Wow: A) Bananas and avocados are berries!
- Insight: Botanically, if a fruit develops from a flower ovary and contains seeds and pulp, it's a berry. Pumpkins, cucumbers, zucchinis—also berries! ([08:36]).
- Common “berries” like strawberries and raspberries don’t qualify botanically ([08:50]).
- Physical Challenge for Incorrect Answers: Roll around in an invisible vat of grape jelly ([09:00]).
Notable Quote:
Guy Raz: “There are other fruits we often think of as berries that aren’t technically true berries at all.” (08:50)
Round 3 – Out of This World Foods
Question: Which is a real scientific Wow?
A) Food in submarines needs special packaging because of deep-sea pressure
B) Potatoes can grow on Mars
C) Astronauts’ most-eaten food in space is Wonder Bread
Listener Reveal: Max from California (12:35)
Winning Wow: B) Potatoes can grow on Mars!
- Insight: Martian soil lacks nutrients, but researchers at the International Potato Center simulated Mars conditions with fertilizer and water to successfully grow potatoes ([13:06]).
- Physical Challenge for Incorrect Answers: Roll like a loose tater tot ([13:35]).
Notable Quote:
Mindy: “The soil on Mars isn’t great for farming... So if humans were to go to Mars, growing food would be a huge challenge.” ([13:06])
Bonus Round (Bonker Ball)
Classic Riddle: “What’s black and white and red all over?”
- Guy Raz guesses “newspaper” ([14:06]); Mindy’s punchline: “A panda wearing lipstick.” ([14:14])
Notable Moment:
Mindy: “Actually, the answer I was looking for is a panda wearing lipstick!” (14:14)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Winner, winner, banana berries for dinner.” – Mindy Thomas (08:22)
- “Winner, winner, space taters for dinner.” – Mindy Thomas (12:53)
- “If you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and roll around like a loose tater tot.” – Mindy Thomas (13:35)
Important Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:04 | Episode officially begins with tomatoes and Dennis’ comedy | | 03:40 | Show introduction and rules explained | | 05:06 | Round 1: Parsnips as sweetener | | 07:15 | Round 2: Berries redefined | | 09:10 | Round 3: Potatoes on Mars | | 13:48 | Bonus Round joke (“Bonker Ball”) | | 14:30 | Prize reveal (invisible orange recreation sphere) | | 14:54 | Scientific challenge for listeners |
Listener Participation & Challenges
- Physical Challenges: E.g., “Can-can” dance, roll in jelly, roll like a tater tot if you guess wrong.
- Home Challenge: Try a food you’ve never had before, describe its flavor and texture, and share photos/videos online ([15:04]).
Episode Wrap-Up
- Prizes: Winners get an “invisible orange recreation sphere” (spoiler: it’s a basketball, 14:41).
- Encouragement: Mindy and Guy invite everyone back for more games and challenges in future episodes.
- Listener Engagement: Kids can submit their own science facts at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW.
Final Note
Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Food Fight is a hilarious, fast-paced podcast episode that turns food science into a wacky, interactive quiz, punctuated by laughter, groan-worthy puns, and listener call-ins. The hosts keep the energy high and the scientific curiosity higher—perfect for curious kids and their grown-ups!