Wow in the World: "Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Hit The Big Time" (Released May 23, 2025)

Hosted by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, "Wow in the World" brings the latest in science, technology, and innovation to kids and their grown-ups. In the episode titled "Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Hit The Big Time," the hosts dive into an engaging and educational game show segment that challenges listeners to distinguish between fascinating scientific facts and playful fabrications.

Planet Wow Geocaching Eco-Adventure

The episode kicks off with Mindy and Guy introducing an exciting summer initiative:

Mindy Thomas [00:08]:
"We've teamed up with our friends at Geocaching HQ, the Aspen Institute, and the Nature Conservancy to create Planet Wow, an epic geocaching eco-adventure that shares the wows of places on our Earth and encourages curious kids like you to become the next generation of climate crusaders."

Listeners are encouraged to embark on eco-adventures by finding Planet Wow geocaches, which include special trading cards. Those who participate can share their discoveries for a chance to be featured in future episodes.

"Two Whats?! And A Wow!" Game Show

The heart of the episode is the interactive game show segment, "Two Whats?! And A Wow!" Here, Mindy and Guy Raz present scientific statements, and contestants must identify the true "wow" amidst two "whats"—facts and fictions.

Understanding the Game

Mindy Thomas [05:31]:
"Two what's and a wow."
Guy Raz [05:34]:
"Two what's and a wow. The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what."
Mindy Thomas [05:57]:
"In each of our three rounds today, Guy, Raz, and I will present you with three scientific statements about things that are larger than life. But only one of those statements will be a true wow. The other two, just a couple of Made up what?"

Correct answers earn points, while incorrect guesses lead to humorous physical challenges, adding a playful twist to learning.

Round One: Majestic Mars

Guy Raz [06:38]:
"Round one. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, Titan is the largest moon in the solar system? Or is it B, there's a volcano on Mars that's bigger than Mount Everest? Or is it C, the largest kind of star is called a mega nebula."
Mindy Thomas [07:31]:
"And to do just that, it's Ricky from Colorado. Ricky from Colorado, tell us, what's the winning wow?"

Winner: Ricky correctly identifies Option B as the true wow, revealing:

Mindy Thomas [08:06]:
"Mount Everest is about 29,000ft at its highest point. But the Mars volcano called Olympus Mons is over 72,000ft tall."
Guy Raz [08:30]:
"It's also about 374 miles wide, nearly the size of the state of Arizona. It's not just the biggest volcano on Mars, it's the biggest in the whole solar system."

This segment highlights the awe-inspiring scale of Olympus Mons compared to Earth's tallest peak.

Round Two: Snowy Giants

Guy Raz [08:57]:
"Round two. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, the world's largest block of cheese weighed over 80,000 pounds. Or is it B, the world's largest snowman was 122ft and 1 inch tall? Or is it C, the world's largest chair is a 41-foot recliner in Utah."

Mindy Thomas [09:39]:
"My wow in the world is that the world's largest snowman was 122ft and 1 inch tall. That's so big. Winner, winner, snow for dinner."

Guy Raz [09:52]:
"If you guessed B, that the world's largest snowman was 122ft and 1 inch tall, well, congratulations. You found the winning wow."

Mindy Thomas [10:05]:
"The largest snow person in the world was a snow woman named Olympia. It took residents of Bethel, Maine, and its surrounding towns a whole month to build her."
Guy Raz [10:16]:
"Olympia was made with 13 million pounds of snow. She had spruce trees for arms, truck tires for buttons, and skis for eyelashes. When she was finished, she was only a few feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty."

This round showcases the remarkable effort and scale involved in creating the world's largest snowwoman.

Round Three: Prehistoric Turtles

Guy Raz [13:14]:
"Before the break, we left you with a dangling question for round three. And that question was which of the following statements is a True scientific wow. Is it A, woolly mammoths were larger than blue whales? Or is it B, the biggest dinosaur was the Magnapalia. Or is it C. Before humans existed, turtles were bigger than cars."

Mindy Thomas [13:47]:
"My wow in the world is that before humans existed, turtles were bigger than cars. Winner, winner, turtlenecks for dinner."

Guy Raz [13:56]:
"If you guessed C, that before humans existed, turtles were bigger than cars, well, congratulations. You found the winning wow."

Mindy Thomas [14:08]:
"Many scientists think that turtles first evolved in the Triassic period, about 230 million years ago. And back then, many species were ginormous. The largest species of prehistoric sea turtle that we know of was about 15ft long."
Guy Raz [14:27]:
"Turtles aren't the only animals with giant ancestors. There are extinct species of 10-foot-long sloths, birds with a 23-foot-long wingspan, and even 43-foot-long snakes."

This final round delves into the fascinating world of prehistoric fauna, emphasizing the impressive sizes of ancient turtles and other creatures.

Bonuses and Challenges

Throughout the game show, incorrect answers lead to amusing physical challenges, such as:

Mindy Thomas [08:39]:
"Stop, drop and climb an invisible space volcano."

Mindy Thomas [10:42]:
"Stop, drop, and roll yourself into a giant snowball."

These light-hearted penalties keep the atmosphere fun and engaging for young listeners.

Prizes and Interactive Challenges

Mindy Thomas [15:19]:
"Today's winning wowzers will all receive their very own invisible yelly climby spray car."

Additionally, the hosts introduce a creative scientific challenge:

Mindy Thomas [15:43]:
"But before we go, we have a little scientific challenge for you. We call it Operation Make It Big. For this challenge, we want you to pick something small and think about what it would be like if it was 20 times bigger. How would it be different? How would the world be different? Then draw a picture of yourself standing next to your giant snail, your giant crayon, or your giant bag of extra spicy chips."

Listeners are encouraged to share their creations by sending photos or videos to be featured in future episodes.

Conclusion

"Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Hit The Big Time" successfully blends education with entertainment, challenging young minds to discern scientific truths while celebrating the wonders of our world and beyond. By incorporating interactive elements and creative challenges, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz ensure that learning remains a captivating adventure for all listeners.

Notable Quotes:

• Mindy Thomas [00:29]:
  "Planet Wow is an epic geocaching eco-adventure that shares the wows of places on our Earth and encourages curious kids like you to become the next generation of climate crusaders."

• Guy Raz [08:30]:
  "It's not just the biggest volcano on Mars, it's the biggest in the whole solar system."

• Mindy Thomas [10:05]:
  "Olympia was made with 13 million pounds of snow. She had spruce trees for arms, truck tires for buttons, and skis for eyelashes."

• Mindy Thomas [15:43]:
  "Operation Make It Big... pick something small and think about what it would be like if it was 20 times bigger."

Join the Adventure:

To become part of the "Wowzer" community, participate in the Planet Wow geocaching adventure, engage with the "Two Whats?! And A Wow!" game show, and take on the "Operation Make It Big" challenge. Share your experiences and creations to inspire others and potentially be featured in upcoming episodes.

For more information and to access printable trading cards, visit Tinkercast.com Planetwow.

Produced by Tinkercast and distributed by Wondery, "Wow in the World" continues to ignite curiosity and wonder in young minds worldwide.