Wow in the World: Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Fruit Truths! (August 8, 2025) Summary

Wow in the World, the premier science podcast for kids and their grown-ups, hosted by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, delivered an engaging episode titled "Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Fruit Truths!" Released on August 8, 2025, this episode centered around a fun and educational game show segment that delved into fascinating scientific facts about fruits.

Introduction to the Episode

The episode kicked off with Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz extending warm wishes to their young listeners, the "Wowzers," celebrating the start of a new school year. While the beginning briefly touched upon some back-to-school promotions and products, the main highlight of the episode was the interactive game segment designed to entertain and educate.

Main Segment: Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Fruit Truths!

Two Whats?! And A Wow! is a scientific game show segment where Mindy and Guy present listeners with three statements per round related to a specific theme—in this case, fruits. Among these statements, only one is a true "wow" (a verified scientific fact), while the other two are fabricated "whats" (false statements). Contestants earn points by correctly identifying the wow, with fun consequences for incorrect guesses.

How the Game Works

Mindy Thomas explained the rules succinctly:

"Wowzers. In each of our three rounds today, Guy Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about fruity food. But... only one of those statements is a true wow. The other two, just a couple of made up what now?"
— [04:14]

Participants must decide which statement is factual. Correct answers earn points, while incorrect ones lead to playful physical challenges, adding a layer of fun and excitement to the learning process.

Round 1: Apples in the Rose Family

Statements Presented: A. Apples are part of the rose family.
B. Apple trees do not have leaves.
C. Apples are actually vegetables.

Correct Wow: Statement A – "Apples are part of the rose family."

Contestant Highlight: Simon from New York correctly identified statement A as the wow:

"It's Simon from New York. Simon, tell us what's the winning wow? Hi, Mindy. And I'm Oz. My name is Solomon. And my wow is that the apple tree is a member of the rose family."
— [05:43]

Scientific Insight: The hosts elaborated that the rose family, scientifically known as Rosaceae, includes not only apples but also peaches, pears, and raspberries. They highlighted the edible nature of rose hips, the fruit of the rose plant, which are rich in vitamins and commonly used in jams, jellies, and teas.

"The rose family is called rosacea, and it also includes peaches, pears, and raspberries... It's also an excellent source of vitamin."
— [06:21]

Quote: Mindy Thomas emphasized the interconnectedness of fruits within the rose family:

"The rose family is called rosacea, and it also includes peaches, pears, and raspberries."
— [06:21]

Round 2: Jackfruit – The Giant of Fruits

Statements Presented: A. The jackfruit is the best biggest tree fruit in the world.
B. Yams are similar to yellies and both are great on toast.
C. A yam is another name for jackfruit. They are the same thing.

Correct Wow: Statement A – "The jackfruit is the biggest tree fruit in the world."

Contestant Highlight: Tilly from Texas nailed the correct answer:

"My name is Tilly and my wow is jackfruit. It's the biggest fruit in the world and it can weigh up to 125 pounds."
— [07:47]

Scientific Insight: The jackfruit, a member of the fig or mulberry family, holds the title of the largest tree fruit, with some specimens weighing up to 120 pounds. Native to tropical regions like India, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Australia, jackfruit trees thrive in rainforest environments.

"The jackfruit is actually a species of tree in the fig or mulberry family and it is the largest tree fruit in the world, with some fruits weighing up to 120 that's like the size of a full grownup."
— [08:10]

Quote: Guy Raz highlighted the impressive size of the jackfruit:

"With some fruits weighing up to 120 that's like the size of a full grownup."
— [08:10]

Round 3: Coconuts – More Than Just a Fruit

Statements Presented: A. Strawberries do not have seeds.
B. Coconuts are both a fruit and a nut.
C. Pumpkins are not berries.

Correct Wow: Statement B – "Coconuts are both a fruit and a nut."

Contestant Highlight: Arcelo and Sebastian from Colorado successfully identified statement B:

"All wow in the world is that coconuts are finally a fruit and a nut and a seed."
— [11:32]

Scientific Insight: Coconuts are classified botanically as drupes, specifically a type known as a drupe that can be considered both a fruit and a nut. This dual classification stems from the coconut's structure, which includes a seed within a hard shell, typical of nuts, and the outer layers characteristic of fruits.

"The botanical classification of coconut is actually a drupe, which is a kind of fruit, but certain types of drupes and nuts. Coconuts can be classified as tree nuts, which is a nut or fruit that grows from a tree."
— [12:05]

Quote: Mindy Thomas succinctly summarized the complexity of coconut classification:

"See, it all depends on how you classify it. The botanical classification of coconut is actually a drupe, which is a kind of fruit, but certain types of drupes and nuts. Coconuts can be classified as tree nuts, which is a nut or fruit that grows from a tree."
— [12:19]

Conclusion and Wrap-Up

The episode concluded with Mindy and Guy rewarding their correct contestants and providing humorous consequences for incorrect answers, fostering a lively and interactive atmosphere. They emphasized the importance of understanding the scientific classifications and fun facts about everyday fruits, encouraging listeners to stay curious and engaged with the natural world.

Key Takeaways

• Scientific Classifications: Understanding how fruits like apples, jackfruits, and coconuts are classified enhances appreciation for their biological diversity.

• Interactive Learning: Engaging formats like game shows can make learning science fun and memorable for both kids and grown-ups.

• Fun Facts: Discovering surprising facts, such as the jackfruit's immense size or the coconut's dual classification, can spark curiosity and further exploration into botanical science.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "Wowzers. In each of our three rounds today, Guy Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about fruity food. But... only one of those statements is a true wow. The other two, just a couple of made up what now?"
  — Mindy Thomas [04:14]

• "The rose family is called rosacea, and it also includes peaches, pears, and raspberries."
  — Mindy Thomas [06:21]

• "With some fruits weighing up to 120 that's like the size of a full grownup."
  — Guy Raz [08:10]

• "See, it all depends on how you classify it. The botanical classification of coconut is actually a drupe, which is a kind of fruit, but certain types of drupes and nuts. Coconuts can be classified as tree nuts, which is a nut or fruit that grows from a tree."
  — Mindy Thomas [12:19]

This episode of Wow in the World effectively blended entertainment with education, offering listeners insightful and surprising information about fruits through an engaging game format. Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz succeeded in making complex scientific classifications accessible and fun, embodying the podcast's mission to inspire wonder and curiosity in both children and their grown-ups.