Wow in the World – Two Whats?! And A Wow! – "Koala or Nothing"

Podcast: Wow in the World
Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz
Air Date: January 23, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Two Whats?! And A Wow!—a playful science game show for kids and families—dives into the world of koalas! Mindy and Guy Raz guide listeners through quirky, fascinating, and sometimes gross facts about these famous Australian marsupials using a "two whats and a wow" format. Each round presents three statements about koalas, and listeners must identify the one true "wow" fact. The show is full of laughs, fun sound effects, and energetic encouragement to think, question, and say "wow!"

Key Segments and Insights

How the Game Works (01:43–02:36)

• Each round features three statements about koalas: only one is true (the "wow"), while the other two are made up ("whats").
• If listeners guess correctly, they win a point; if not, they must perform a silly physical challenge.

Round One: Koala Thumbs (02:36–04:32)

• The Statements:
  1. Koalas are the only bears native to Australia.
  2. Koalas drink a cup of eucalyptus tea every morning.
  3. Koalas have two opposable thumbs on each hand.
• Winning Wow: "Koalas have two opposable thumbs on each hand."
• Listener Guest: Jack from North Carolina shares the correct answer.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jack: “My wow is that koalas have two opposable thumbs.” (03:26)
  • Mindy: "Winner, winner. Two thumbs up for dinner." (03:47)
• Fun Science Fact:
  • Human thumbs are opposable, enabling us to grip things.
  • Koalas have not just one, but two opposable thumbs per hand, as well as an opposable digit on their feet, for superior tree-climbing skills (04:14).

Round Two: Koala Babies' Diet (04:40–06:27)

• The Statements:
  1. Most koalas live to be 80 years old.
  2. Baby koalas eat their mom’s poop.
  3. Koalas live in groups called cutie pods.
• Winning Wow: "Baby koalas eat their mom’s poop."
• Listener Guest: Maya from Washington reveals the answer.
• Notable Quote:
  • Maya: “My wow in the world is that baby koalas eat their mom’s poop.” (05:34)
  • Mindy: “Winner, winner, poop for dinner. That’s gross.” (05:49)
• Fun Science Fact:
  • Joeys transition from milk to solid food by eating a special soft kind of feces called “pap,” which is full of the gut bacteria needed to digest eucalyptus leaves (06:15).

Round Three: Koala Joey Size (06:37–08:35)

• The Statements:
  1. Koalas have retractable tails.
  2. Koalas’ favorite cupcake flavor is funfetti.
  3. When baby koalas are born, they're the size of a jelly bean.
• Winning Wow: "When baby koalas are born, they're the size of a jelly bean."
• Listener Guest: Andrew from Texas shares the answer.
• Notable Quote:
  • Andrew: "My wow is that when baby koalas are born they are the size of a jelly bean." (07:33)
  • Mindy: "Winner, winner, jelly beanie babies for dinner." (07:48)
• Fun Science Fact:
  • Newborn koalas (joeys) are only about 2 cm long, blind, furless, and earless, and must crawl to the mother’s pouch to continue developing (07:59).

Educational Bonus Segment: Great Salt Lake (10:17–11:48)

• Bonkerballs Bonus Round Question:
  “What’s the main reason the Great Salt Lake is shrinking?”
  1. Climate change
  2. People using too much water on crops and gardens (CORRECT)
  3. Dennis got really, really thirsty one day
• Answer Explanation:
  Although droughts contribute, the primary cause is unsustainable local water usage (11:21).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Physical Challenges:

  • “If you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and climb a eucalyptus tree.” (04:32)
  • “Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and run the whole length of Australia.” (06:27)
  • “Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and crawl around like a baby koala.” (08:35)

• Humorous Interludes:

  • Mindy (mock advertisement): “Today’s show is brought to you in part by Sleeping All Day. Do you like to sleep? So do koalas. They spend up to 22 hours a day conked out in the trees. And so can you…” (08:35)
  • Prize Moment:
    • Mindy: "Today's winning wowzers will all receive their very own lifetime supply of eggs. Reggie, cue the prize cannon." (11:54)
    • Guy Raz: "Oh, no." (12:05)
    • (Eggs break as they're fired; audience laughter)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [01:43] Introduction of Koala theme and game rules
• [02:36] Round 1: Koala Thumbs
• [04:40] Round 2: Joeys' Diet
• [06:37] Round 3: Koala Joey Size
• [10:17] Bonkerballs Bonus Round – Great Salt Lake shrinking question
• [11:54] Prize: Lifetime supply of eggs and comic mishap
• [12:31] How to participate, upcoming episodes, and sign-off

Episode Tone and Style

The hosts maintain a lively, humorous, and sometimes delightfully “bonkerballs” tone throughout the episode, peppering in puns, silly jokes, and playful banter—making science accessible and memorable for kids and adults alike.

Summary

This “Koala or Nothing” episode packs in surprising koala facts—like their double thumbs, unusual dietary transitions, and tiny jelly bean-sized newborns—while engaging listeners through a fun, interactive game show format. Each true “wow” is explained with kid-friendly science, encouraging curiosity and learning with plenty of giggles along the way. The bonus round shifts gears with an environmental message about water conservation and the Great Salt Lake, modeling critical thinking about the natural world beyond just cute animals.

Final Message:
As always, Mindy and Guy Raz encourage everyone to “keep on wowing” and stay curious about the wild wonders of the world.