Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Give Me Some Space! (11/7/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Give Me Some Space!

Podcast: Wow in the World | Tinkercast | Wondery
Episode Date: November 7, 2025
Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Theme: Space – Separating fact from fiction in a fun science game show

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Episode Overview

This lively, science-packed episode of Two Whats?! And A Wow! centers on space trivia, challenging listeners (aka "Wowzers") to distinguish fascinating truths from silly fakes. Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz lead three interactive rounds of “what’s the real WOW?” about space—trees and stars, shrinking planets, astronaut snacks, and more—peppered with jokes, playful energy, and audience participation. The result is a charming, information-rich experience for kids and grown-ups alike.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Game & Space Theme

• The episode kicks off with Mindy and Guy introducing “Two Whats?! And A Wow!”—a game format where three statements are posed per round, but only one is the true “WOW!”
• Stakes: Correct answers earn points; incorrect answers require “ridonkulous” physical challenges (e.g., acting like a tree).

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2. Round 1: Trees, Catapults, and Pluto

Question: Which of the following is a true scientific "wow"?

• A: There are more trees on Earth than stars in our solar system
• B: If you launch yourself at the moon with a giant catapult, you'll land among the stars
• C: It takes roughly 50 years to travel from Earth to Pluto

Revealed Answer:

• A is correct! (04:02)

  “Our planet has more trees compared to stars in the solar system.” — Louie from Arizona [04:02]

Discussion:

• Mindy and Guy clarify that while the night sky is full of stars, the solar system actually has only one star—the Sun.

  "There's only one star in our solar system and that star of course is the sun, but earth has over three trillion trees!" — Mindy Thomas [04:43]

• Surprising stat: Over 3 trillion trees on Earth (about 400 per person).

Physical Challenge for Wrong Answers:

• “You must stop, drop, and do your best tree impression.” — Mindy Thomas [04:57]

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3. Round 2: Shrinking, Jumping Cows, and Astronauts

Question: Which of the following is a true scientific "wow"?

• A: Astronauts are shorter in space
• B: The cow who jumped over the moon won a NASA award in 1983
• C: The planet Mercury is slowly shrinking over time

Revealed Answer:

• C is correct! (06:03)

  “My wow in the world is that Mercury is slowly shrinking over time.” — Presley from Florida [06:03]

Discussion:

• Scientific explanation: Mercury’s molten core is cooling, causing the planet to shrink (“lost about 8.6 miles from its diameter”).

  “This planet is literally taking up less space.” — Guy Raz [06:41]

Physical Challenge for Wrong Answers:

• “Stop, drop, and roll to the nearest bathroom!” — Mindy Thomas [06:56]

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4. Round 3: M&Ms in Space, Moonwalking, and Parmesan Smells

Question: Which of these is the true "wow"?

• A: M&Ms have been on all space shuttle missions since 1981
• B: Walking nonstop to the moon would take 20 years
• C: Astronauts report the moon smells like parmesan

Revealed Answer:

• A is correct! (08:00)

  “M&Ms were on all space shuttle missions after 1981. Astronauts gobbled them up like Pac-Man as they floated in the craft!” — Charlie from New Hampshire [08:00]

Discussion:

• Over 130 space shuttle missions included M&Ms, sometimes customized for astronauts.

  “Some of these M&Ms were actually personalized for the astronauts themselves.” — Mindy Thomas [08:38] “Personalized candies! ... Wendy and some guy named Ross. Close enough.” — Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz [08:58]

Physical Challenge for Wrong Answers:

• “Stop, drop, and sing your favorite song backwards.” — Mindy Thomas [09:06]

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5. BONUS ROUND: The Bonker Balls Question—What Is a Sponge City?

Question: What makes a sponge city a "sponge city"?

• A: A pineapple under the sea
• B: Enough bacteria in a sponge to infect a city
• C: Using natural materials to absorb and store rainwater

Revealed Answer:

• C is correct! (12:05)

  “Sponge cities use materials found in nature to mimic or copy the natural world. Materials that can absorb rain and water just like a sponge.” — Reggie [12:05] “The goal is to prevent floods where natural water-absorbing materials have been destroyed to build buildings, homes and roads.” — Guy Raz [12:26]

Prize for Winners:

• Miss Fortune Cookies. Example fortune:

  “You are destined to have a popcorn kernel stuck in the back of your teeth this week. Oh, that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.” — Mindy Thomas [13:01]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mindy’s humor on the sun:

  “Of course [the star] is named Dennis! Dennis, stop messing with the cue cards!” — Mindy Thomas [04:35]

• Guy Raz closes the shrinking-planet round:

  “So in other words, this planet is literally taking up less space.” — Guy Raz [06:41]

• Personalized M&Ms:

  “Wendy and some guy named Ross. Close enough.” — Mindy Thomas [08:58]

• Physical challenge instructions (recurring):

  “Stop, drop, and do a ridonkulous physical challenge.” — Guy Raz [02:43]

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Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Event | |----------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:03 | Game introduction and rules | | 02:54 | Round One – Trees vs. Stars question | | 04:02 | Winning answer revealed (more trees than stars) | | 05:06 | Round Two – Mercury, moon cows, and astronauts | | 06:03 | Winning answer revealed (Mercury shrinking) | | 07:12 | Round Three – M&Ms, moonwalking, cheese moon | | 08:00 | Winning answer revealed (M&Ms in space) | | 11:11 | Bonus Round – Sponge City explained | | 12:05 | Winning answer revealed (nature-inspired flood prevention) | | 13:01 | Prize segment – Miss Fortune Cookies |

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Tone & Style

• The hosts maintain a pun-filled, high-energy, and joking tone throughout.
• They encourage fun learning, curiosity, and participation—making science feel exciting and accessible.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode of Wow in the World: Two Whats?! And A Wow! delivers fact-filled, interactive science fun about space, blending real science (“Mercury is shrinking!” “More trees than stars in the solar system!”) with kid-friendly jokes, memorable challenges, and audience engagement. It’s an entertaining and educational adventure for curious minds, leaving everyone with a resounding “WOW!”

Transcript

[Mindy Thomas]

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 hey grown ups mindy and.

[Guy Raz]

Guy raz here and before we start the show happy national stem day watch out guy raz mindy we think that every day should be national stem day so we are bringing the wows of stem home to you that's right mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

And i have some brand new wow in the world toys out in the world just in time for the holidays.

[Guy Raz]

Made for the kids who love science and for the ones who don't yet.

[Mindy Thomas]

From our one hundred experiments that wowkit to the telescope and astronomy kit our wow in the world toys help your wowzer learn about their world through play.

[Guy Raz]

Plus you can hear exclusive audio content from me and guy raz to help your wowzer discover even more wows grown.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ups help make every day feel like stem day at your home with our wow in the world toys designed with your wowzer in mind you can shop.

[Guy Raz]

Our wow in the world toys at tinkercast dot com toys that's tinkercast dot com toys oh hey guy raz can you hand me some toys oh sure here you go thank you i'm gonna throw them in the confetti cannon and.

[Mindy Thomas]

See what happens oh no and now for everyone's second favorite game show after the lice is right it's to what's and the wow with your hosts mindy.

[Guy Raz]

And guy rats two what's two what's two what two what's two what two what's and a what hello and welcome back to two what's in a wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Two what's in a wow the scientific game show that separates the what wowzz from the what's and the category for today is space mindy why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game.

[Guy Raz]

Works you know it wowzers in each of our three rounds today guy raz and i will present you with three scientific statements about space but man this is a big but only one of those statements will be a true wow the other two just a couple of made up one now in each round.

[Mindy Thomas]

If you guess correctly congratulations you win.

[Guy Raz]

A point but if you guess incorrectly you must stop drop and do a ridonkulous physical challenge okay everyone ready to.

[Mindy Thomas]

Start the game then let's do it round one which of the following statements is a true scientific wow is it a there are more trees on earth than stars in our solar system or.

[Guy Raz]

Is it b if you shoot for the moon by launching yourself in a giant catapult you'll land among the stars.

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it c it takes roughly fifty years to travel from earth to.

[Guy Raz]

Pluto when you think you have the correct answer count your fingers with your toes thinking music please.

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Guy Raz]

And to do just that joining us by phone it's louie from arizona louie from arizona please reveal the winning wow.

[Contestants (Louie, Presley, Charlie, Reggie)]

Hi my name is lily and my wow in the world is our planet has more trees compared to stars in the solar system winner winner tree bark.

[Mindy Thomas]

For dinner thank you louie contestants if you guessed the answer a that there are more trees on earth than stars in our solar system well congratulations you found the winning wow while you might.

[Guy Raz]

See a lot of stars stars in the night sky those are from our milky way galaxy there's only one star in our solar system and that star.

[Mindy Thomas]

Of course is named dennis dennis stop.

[Guy Raz]

Messing with the cue cards.

[Mindy Thomas]

That star of course is the sun it's the only star in our solar system but earth has over three trillion trees that's over four hundred trees for every person.

[Guy Raz]

Now if you did not get that answer correct you must stop drop and do your best tree impression.

[Mindy Thomas]

All right time for round two which of the following statements is a true scientific wow is it a astronauts are shorter in.

[Guy Raz]

Space or is it b the cow who jumped over the moon received an honorary award from nasa in nineteen eighty.

[Mindy Thomas]

Three or is it c the planet mercury is slowly shrinking over time when.

[Guy Raz]

You think you have the correct answer say your guess without opening your mouth hey reggie can we get some thinking music please.

[Mindy Thomas]

And time is up to reveal the winning wow it's presley from.

[Guy Raz]

Florida presley tell us what's the winning.

[Contestants (Louie, Presley, Charlie, Reggie)]

Wow hi mindy guy raz my wow in the world is that mercury is slowly shrinking over time winner winner planet.

[Mindy Thomas]

Mercury for dinner thank you presley contestants if you guessed the answer see that mercury is slowly shrinking over time well congratulations you found the winning wow mercury formed about four four and a half billion years ago and since then mercury's molten hot core has been cooling down so much so that the planet has lost about eight point six miles from.

[Guy Raz]

Its diameter so in other words this planet is literally taking up less space now if you did not get that answer correct you must stop drop and roll to the next nearest bathroom and.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now for the final round round three which of the following statements is a true scientific wow is it a m and ms have been on all space shuttle missions since nineteen eighty one or.

[Guy Raz]

Is it b if you were to walk the distance to the moon nonstop twenty four seven it would take you approximately twenty years or is it c.

[Mindy Thomas]

The moon isn't made of cheese but astronauts report that it actually smells like parmesan.

[Guy Raz]

Hey reggie cue the thinking music and now to reveal that winning wow please welcome biphone charlie from new hampshire charlie tell us what's the winning wow.

[Contestants (Louie, Presley, Charlie, Reggie)]

Hi mindy and guy raz my name is charlie am i wow that mms were on all space shuttle missions after nineteen eighty one astronauts gobbled them up like pac man as they floated in the craft winner winner mms for dinner.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thank you charlie contestants if you guessed the the answer a that m and ms have been on all space shuttle missions since nineteen eighty one well congratulations you've found the winning wow that's right.

[Guy Raz]

Guy raz m and ms actually joined nasa's astronauts in over one hundred thirty space shuttle missions in fact some of.

[Mindy Thomas]

These m and ms were actually personalized for the astronauts themselves and speaking of.

[Guy Raz]

Personalized candies i have a little surprise for you let me just get it out of my adventure toolkit here here we go ta da look thomas fingerling made us personalized candy oh wow that's.

[Mindy Thomas]

So nice let's see what they say wendy and some guy named ross close.

[Guy Raz]

Enough now if you did not get that answer correct you must stop drop and see sing your favorite song backwards.

[Mindy Thomas]

And now let's take a moment to thank our sponsors today's two what's in.

[Guy Raz]

A wow is brought to you by flamin hot cheerios the world's first spicy cereal add a kick to your morning with a pipin hot bowl of cereal today not an actual product all right.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well let's take a quick break and hear some other important messages for grownups.

[Guy Raz]

Two what's in a wow we'll be right back grown ups this message is for you hey grownups mindy here from wow in the world the number one podcast for curious kids and their grownups that's you and we are so excited to bring the wows of the world to your home with our brand new wow in the world stem toys from wondery kids and themes and cosmos channel your inner astronomer with our wow in the world telescope kit or zoom in on the tiny wows of nature with our wow in the world microscope and biology kit you can even tinker like real scientists with our one hundred experiments that wow kit and with every wow in the world stem toy you unlock access to exclusive audio content from me and my buddy guy raz there are so many ways to wow so whether you're shopping for a kid who loves science or one who doesn't just yet our wow in the world stem toys are the perfect gift for your curious kids grownups visit tinkercast dot com toys to shop the wow now that's it now back to the show.

[Mindy Thomas]

Welcome back to two what's and a wow two.

[Guy Raz]

What'S and a wow the scientific game show that separates the wows from the what what what was that oh guy raz that sound can mean only one.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thing you illegally parked your ice cream.

[Guy Raz]

Truck again i did but that is the sound of the bonker balls bonus round if you listen to our wow in the world episode titled sponge city you'll know the answer to this one and if not go back and give it a listen it's a fun one.

[Mindy Thomas]

And the bonkerball's bonus question for today is what makes a sponge city a.

[Guy Raz]

Sponge city is it a a pineapple.

[Mindy Thomas]

Under the sea or is it b enough bacteria in a single sponge to infect the entire city with germs or.

[Guy Raz]

Is it c using materials found in nature to turn a city into a big spirit sponge that can absorb rain and water and even save it for.

[Mindy Thomas]

Later and joining us with today's answer.

[Guy Raz]

It'S reggie reggie tell us what's the winning wow and the answer is c sponge cities use materials found in nature to mimic or copy the natural world.

[Mindy Thomas]

Materials that can absorb rain and water just like a sponge the goal of.

[Guy Raz]

Making sponge cities is to prevent floods where much of the natural water and water absorbing materials have been destroyed to build buildings homes and roads well congratulations.

[Mindy Thomas]

To all of our winning wowzers mindy.

[Guy Raz]

What'S today's prize guy raz today's winning wowzers will all be receiving their very own miss fortune cookie cookies here try.

[Mindy Thomas]

One guy raz well my misfortune cookie says what does it say you are destined to have a popcorn kernel stuck in the back of your teeth this.

[Guy Raz]

Week oh that's just the way the cookie crumbles okay reg cue the prize cannon oh no sorry no.

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Guy Raz]

Any teachers in our listening audience consider joining tinkerclass our free brand new learning platform that helps get kids wild about science just visit tinkercast dot com membership that's tinkercast dot com membership and be sure to come back on monday for a brand new episode of wow in the world this weekend for some wee wow in the weeknd with dennis and.

[Mindy Thomas]

Again on friday for a new episode of two what's and a wow until.

[Guy Raz]

Then keep on wowing two what's two what two what's two two what two what's and a wow grown ups if you like wow in the world you can listen early and ad free right.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now on wondry join wondery in the wondery app or on wondery kids on apple podcasts prime members can listen ad free on amazon music and before you.

[Guy Raz]

Go tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey at wondery dot com survey.

[Mindy Thomas]

Two what's and a wow is executive produced by meredith halpern ranzer mindy thomas and me guy raz our.

[Guy Raz]

Writers are ruth morrison and anna zagorski with collaboration from our head writer kenny.

[Mindy Thomas]

Curtis sound production and design is by marian lozano with help from jett anderson.

[Guy Raz]

And tyler thol special thanks to rebecca caban doctor natasha crandall lizzie froehlich kristin yang thuy mac erica medina henry moskal jody nussbaum ali paxima linda rothenberg steph sosa joanna weber anna zagorski and all of the other tinkerers at tinkercast hq.

[Mindy Thomas]

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 thepopups dot com.

[Guy Raz]

And to keep the wow rolling after you finish this episode you can visit us at tinkercast dot com there you can become a member of the world organization of wowzers to get year round mailings and weekly activities shop our wow shop get tickets for upcoming events find our best selling books and learn all about the other amazing podcasts from tinkercast.

[Mindy Thomas]

Grown ups you can follow us on facebook instagram and twitter owintheworld and our email address is helloinkercast dot com finally.

[Guy Raz]

If you're a kid with a big wow to share it could be used on an upcoming episode of two what's in a wow call us at one eight eight eight seven wow wow thanks.

[Mindy Thomas]

Again for listening and playing along meet us back here next friday or every monday for wow in the world.

[Guy Raz]

Wow in the world wow in the world was made by tinkercast and sent to you by wondery.