Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Making Mountains (6/13/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: Episode Summary – "Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Making Mountains" (June 13, 2025)

Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Guest: Reggie
Format: Interactive Game Show

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz dive into the fascinating world of mountains through their interactive game segment, "Two What's?! And a Wow!" This scientific game show challenges contestants to distinguish between true scientific "wows" and fabricated "whats" related to mountain formation and geology. The episode is both educational and entertaining, making complex scientific concepts accessible to kids and their grown-ups.

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Two What's?! And a Wow! – The Game Show

Format Overview:

• Rounds: Three rounds focusing on mountain-related scientific statements.
• Objective: Identify the true "wow" among three statements; incorrect guesses lead to fun physical challenges.
• Participation: Live callers share their answers and insights.

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Round 1: Mount Everest in the Ocean

Statements Presented:

1. A: Mount Everest is actually shrinking.
2. B: Mount Everest can fit inside the ocean.
3. C: Many people no longer use Sherpas to help them climb Mount Everest. They now just call an Uber.

Contestant: Anai from California

Winning Wow:

• Statement B: "Mount Everest can fit inside the ocean." [06:20]

Notable Quote:

• Mindy Thomas: "Winner, winner, wet rocks for dinner." [06:23]

Scientific Explanation: Guy Raz elaborates, "The Marianas Trench in the Pacific Ocean is the deepest point on Earth. It's about 11 kilometers or 6.8 miles deep. And even though Mount Everest is the highest mountain above sea level, it could fit into the Marianas Trench with more than a mile to spare." [07:01]

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Round 2: Formation of Mountains

Statements Presented:

1. A: Mountains are formed when two geological plates crash against each other.
2. B: Mountains can also be the result of a bad skin rash on Earth's crust.
3. C: Mountains are formed by earthquakes almost instantly.

Contestant: Lane from Colorado

Winning Wow:

• Statement A: "Mountains are formed when two geological plates crash against each other." [08:05]

Notable Quote:

• Mindy Thomas: "Winner, winner, Earth crust for dinner." [08:16]

Scientific Explanation: Mindy adds, "Lane calls them pressure plates, but the Earth's crust is actually made up of tectonic plates. And sometimes they press against each other so hard that rocks burst through the Earth's surface." [08:31] Guy Raz further explains, "Tectonic activity is the main way that mountains are formed. But lava from volcanoes and erosion from wind and water can actually help build mountains over long periods of time, too." [08:44]

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Round 3: The Youth of Mount Everest

Statements Presented:

1. A: Mount Everest is part of the world's oldest mountain range.
2. B: Snow never falls on mountain range Kilimanjaro.
3. C: Mount Everest is actually a young mountain.

Contestant: Gabriel from California

Winning Wow:

• Statement C: "Mount Everest is actually a young mountain." [15:10]

Notable Quote:

• Mindy Thomas: "Winner, winner, tectonic plates for dinner." [15:20]

Scientific Explanation: Guy Raz states, "The more they push against each other, the more the mountain gets squeezed up through the earth's crust." [15:38] Mindy reinforces, "Mount Everest could be considered a young mountain and may not be done growing." [15:32]

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Scientific Insights and Discussions

Throughout the game, Mindy and Guy incorporate valuable scientific insights:

1. Plate Tectonics and Mountain Formation:

   • The collision of tectonic plates leads to the uplift of mountain ranges.
   • Continual tectonic activity contributes to the ongoing growth of mountains like Everest.

2. Geological Processes:

   • Volcanic Activity: Lava flows from volcanoes add layers to mountains, contributing to their height and structure over time.
   • Erosion: Wind and water wear down and shape mountains, influencing their appearance and longevity.

3. Mount Everest’s Unique Position:

   • While Everest is the highest mountain above sea level, its potential to "fit" into the Marianas Trench highlights the vastness of Earth's geological features.
   • Everest’s classification as a "young" mountain underscores the dynamic nature of Earth's surface.

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Fun and Engagement

The interactive nature of the game show not only educates but also entertains:

• Physical Challenges: Incorrect answers prompt playful tasks such as "stop, drop, and take a bubble bath with some rocks" or "make a mountain out of a molehill," fostering a fun learning environment.

• Prizes: Winners receive imaginative prizes like an "invisible dinette set of tectonic plates," adding a whimsical element to the scientific discussions.

Notable Moments:

• The playful banter between Mindy and Grandma GeForce adds a humorous touch, enhancing the show's appeal to both kids and adults.
• The creative way of explaining complex concepts through games and relatable challenges makes the science content memorable.

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Conclusion and Engagement

As the episode wraps up, Mindy and Guy encourage listeners to continue exploring scientific wonders:

• Membership Invitation: "Become a member of the World Organization of Wowzers and unlock hundreds of activities." [16:50]

• Educational Resources: Teachers are invited to join "TinkerClass," a free project-based learning program, fostering educational growth beyond the podcast.

Final Encouragement:

• "Until then, keep on wowing." – Guy Raz [19:53]

The episode effectively combines education with entertainment, making learning about mountains and geology an exciting adventure for young listeners and their families.

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Highlights and Notable Quotes

• On Mount Everest Fitting in the Ocean:

  • "Mount Everest can fit inside the ocean." – Anai [06:20]

• On Tectonic Plates Forming Mountains:

  • "Mountains are formed when two geological plates crash against each other." – Mindy Thomas [07:24]

• On Mount Everest Being a Young Mountain:

  • "Mount Everest is actually a young mountain because the tectonic plates are still pushing it upward." – Gabriel [15:10]

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Key Takeaways

• Understanding Plate Tectonics: The primary force behind mountain formation is the collision and movement of tectonic plates, leading to the creation and uplift of mountain ranges.

• Dynamic Earth: Mountains are not static; they continue to evolve through geological processes such as volcanic activity and erosion.

• Educational Fun: Integrating games and interactive segments can effectively convey complex scientific concepts to younger audiences.

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This episode of "Two What's?! And a Wow! - Making Mountains" successfully demystifies the science behind mountain formation, making geology both accessible and fun. Through engaging gameplay and insightful discussions, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz inspire curiosity and a sense of wonder about the natural world.

Transcript

[Guy Raz]

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.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, Wowzer fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show.

[Grandma GeForce]

Hold on, Mandy. I got something I want to say on the microphone.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait. Grandma GeForce.

[Grandma GeForce]

Grandma GeForce is on the tube.

[Mindy Thomas]

You're on the what?

[Grandma GeForce]

The tube.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Huh?

[Grandma GeForce]

The tube, Mandy. Up there in the clouds where the videos live.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, you mean YouTube.

[Grandma GeForce]

That's what I've been saying. Mandy. Me and Thomas Fingerling been reacting to stuff and listening to your little podcast.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, well, that's great. I mean, I've been on YouTube also.

[Grandma GeForce]

Oh, well. Well, you think you're better than me?

[Mindy Thomas]

Have you seen the one where I tested how many rubber bands it takes to make a watermelon explode?

[Grandma GeForce]

No.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, well, guess.

[Grandma GeForce]

Okay, let me guess. Two rubber bands and you just tie it around the watermelon real tight.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, no. It takes a lot more than two rubber bands. Grandma GeForce.

[Grandma GeForce]

Ah, chicken slippers.

[Mindy Thomas]

Anyhoo, we've got some super fun new content on our YouTube channel featuring some of your favorite characters from WoW in the world. Join me in the laboratory of bad Ideas for Science Experiments or Grandma G Force and Thomas Fingerling for some funny reactions. Oh, and don't forget Dennis for some music videos from wewow on the weekend. Grown ups subscribe to our channel for weekly content and watch [e-mail] YouTube that's tinkercast.com YouTube.

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[Guy Raz]

And now for everyone's second favorite game show after blaming that terrible smell on the family dog, it's two what's and the wow.

[Reggie]

With your hosts, Mindy and Guy rats. Two watts. Two watts. Two watts. 2 watts. 2 what? 2 what's and a wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hello and welcome to two what's and a wow.

[Reggie]

2 what's a wow.

[Guy Raz]

The scientific game show that separates the Wows from the what's and the category or theme for today is. Mountains. Mindy, why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game works?

[Mindy Thomas]

You know it, Guy Raz. Wowzers. In each of our three rounds today, Guy Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about mountains. But. And this is a big but, only one of those statements will be a true wow. The other two, just a couple of made up whats.

[Guy Raz]

Now, in each round, if you guess correctly, congratulations, you win a point.

[Mindy Thomas]

But if you guess incorrectly, you must stop, drop and do a ridonkulous physical challenge.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, everyone ready to get this show going?

[Mindy Thomas]

Great. Then let's get to it.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, round one. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, Mount Everest is actually shrinking?

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it B, Mount Everest can fit inside the ocean?

[Guy Raz]

Or is it C? Many people no longer use Sherpas to help them climb Mount Everest. They now just call an Uber.

[Mindy Thomas]

When you think you have the correct answer, shout Yoda lay hoo me. Hey Reg, let's get a little thinkin music up here.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

And to do just that. Hi, it's Anai from California. Anai, tell us, what's the winning wow?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Hi, my name is Anai. My wow in the world is that Mount Everest can fit inside the ocean.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, winner, wet rocks for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you, Anai. Contestants, if you guess the answer B that Mount Everest can fit inside the ocean, well, congratulations. You found the winning wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

At least the the tip of Mount Everest would probably stick out of most Places in the ocean. But not the Marianas Trench.

[Guy Raz]

That's right. The Marianas Trench in the Pacific Ocean is the deepest point on Earth. It's about 11 kilometers or 6.8 miles deep. And even though Mount Everest is the highest mountain above sea level, it could fit into the Marianas Trench with more than a mile to six.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and take a bubble bath with some rocks.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, round two. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, mountains are formed when two geological plates crash against each other?

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it B, Mountains can also be the result of a bad skin rash on Earth's crust.

[Guy Raz]

Or is it sea? Mountains are formed by earthquakes almost instantly.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hmm, Lots to think about here. When you think you have the correct answer, go tell it on the mountain.

[Guy Raz]

And time is up. And joining us by phone, it's Lane from Colorado with our winning wow.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My wow in the world is that when two pressure plates accidentally bump into each other, they push up, forming mountains.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, winner, Earth crust for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you, Lane. Wowzers. If you guessed a theater, mountains are formed when two geological plates crash against each other. Well, congratulations. You found the winning wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Lane calls them pressure plates, but the Earth's crust is actually made up of tectonic plates. And sometimes they press against each other so hard that rocks burst through the Earth's surface.

[Guy Raz]

That's right. Tectonic activity is the main way that mountains are formed. But. But lava from volcanoes and erosion from wind and water can actually help build mountains over long periods of time, too.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and make a mountain out of a molehill. And now it's time to take a moment to thank our sponsors. Today's show is brought to you in part by Mountain Earrings, the latest fashion trend that comes to you from some of the Earth's most outstanding natural wonders. Tired of boring jewelry that doesn't stand out? Then mountaineerings are for you. Forget hoops or studs. These earrings are a rock solid way to elevate your fashion game. Just hook a little piece of the Rockies in your lobe and you'll really make a spin.

[Guy Raz]

All right, thank you, Mountain Earrings. Why don't we take a quick break and hear some other important messages for grownups.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Two once in a while. We'll be right back.

[Guy Raz]

Grown Ups.

[Thomas Fingerling]

This message is for you.

[Sponsor]

Today's episode is presented by Samsung. Hey, grownups, if you've been looking for the right smartwatch to get your kids connected. Look no further at Samsung Galaxy Watch for Kids. It gives your child the right tools to safely learn, play and explore the Wows in their world and gives you the tools to set boundaries and monitor their activity. It's the perfect balance of independence for kids and peace of mind for parents. Your kid can call and text right from their wrist, but you choose who they can connect with. It can also share your child's location with you and even establish safe zones with alerts if they venture outside of them. We are so excited about the Samsung Galaxy Watch for Kids here at Tinkercast that we teamed up with them to make one of our first apps ever. That's right. Wow in the World. Fans can now play a new round of two what's in a wow every day on their wrist with the two what's and a WoW game for WatchOS. Guess the real WoW from the made up what's to earn prizes, unlock badges and enjoy special seasonal games. And they can take Guy, Mindy and Reggie on all of their adventures with the wow in the World Watch face. See the wow wow Crew come to life with motion activated animation that mirrors the watch's motion. Choose from an outer space theme or seasonal scenes, tap to uncover hidden surprises and pick a background color to really personalize it. Kids can find these awesome wow in the World features and tons more age appropriate content on Google Play. And when playtime is over, you can always put the watch in do not Disturb mode. Let your kids keep the Wows rolling wherever they go with the Samsung Galaxy Watch for kids. Get Galaxy Watch 7 on t mobile now. Kid ready with a new paired line. Visit t mobile.com to order yours today. Parent and child must have a Samsung account and Google account with family link requires initial pairing with a compatible Samsung smartphone and qualifying wireless plan with LTE service activated. Please check with your carrier for more information. Trusted contact applies to compatible apps. It does not restrict communication through third party or other communication apps. Emergency services and contacts remain accessible. Location sharing is dependent on network connectivity and device being recently active, supervised Google account required. Kids can still access limited features like calling and texting emergency contacts hey grown ups. Looking for the perfect story to accompany you on your summer adventures? Well, look no further than Audible. Audible has thousands of titles to choose from, so unleash your adventurous side and try something new like hotly anticipated new releases or must listen best sellers that you haven't explored yet. There's an adventure out there that will captivate you. Here at Tinkercast. We love audio storytelling on Audible because you can enjoy the story while having an adventure of your own. You can listen to Audible titles while out for a walk, on a road trip, or even on an airplane. So wherever you find your thrills, you can always keep a few more in your back pocket. Start your adventure today. Sign up for a free 30 day trial at audible.com wow. And dive into a world of new thrills. Audible knows there's no greater thrill out there than yours. That's audible.com wow.

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[Thomas Fingerling]

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[Elio]

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[Mindy Thomas]

Yes, it's really happening.

[Elio]

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[Mindy Thomas]

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[Grandma GeForce]

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[Thomas Fingerling]

Please, These are the lava tunnels. Gordon.

[Mindy Thomas]

I am not fireproof.

[Elio]

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[Thomas Fingerling]

That's it. Now back to the show.

[Guy Raz]

Welcome back to 2 what's and a wow.

[Reggie]

2 what's and a wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Scientific game show that separates the Wows from the what.

[Guy Raz]

And now we're on to our final round of questions. Round three. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, Mount Everest is part of the world's oldest mountain range?

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it B, snow never falls on mountain range Kilimanjaro.

[Guy Raz]

Or is it C, Mount Everest is actually a young mountain.

[Mindy Thomas]

Take a second to think this over and when you think you have the correct answer, find a grown up and make them your personal Sherpa.

[Guy Raz]

And time is up. And joining us by phone with the answer, it's Gabriel from California. Gabriel, please tell us the winning wow.

[Thomas Fingerling]

My wow is that. Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world is still considered a young mountain because the tectonic plates are still pushing it upward.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, winner, tectonic plates for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

That's right, Gabriel. Wowzers. If you guessed, see that Mount Everest is actually a young mountain. You found the winning wow. Congratulations.

[Mindy Thomas]

It's true. Mount Everest could be considered a young mountain and may not be done growing.

[Guy Raz]

And it's all about those tectonic plates. The more they push against each other, the more mountain gets squeezed up through the earth's crust.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop and push your way out of the ground.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, Mindy, what was that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, Guy Raz, that sound can mean only one thing.

[Guy Raz]

There was an avalanche in the parking lot.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, probably. But that sound means it's time for today's winning wowzers prize. All of our contestants today will receive their very own invisible dinette set of tectonic plates. You can't really eat dinner off of them, but they're real sturdy. Reggie, cue the prize cannon.

[Reggie]

Fire away.

[Mindy Thomas]

Look at that guy, Raz. Those plates will never break unless you smash them against each other.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

And if you're a teacher out there listening, make sure you join tinkerclass. It's our free project based learning program. For more just visit Tinkercast.com membership that's Tinkercast.com membership to bring Tinkerclass into your classroom.

[Guy Raz]

And be sure to come back on Monday for a brand new episode of.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow and the World and again on Friday for a new episode of two what's in a wow? And don't forget we WOW on the weekend with Dennis.

[Guy Raz]

Until then, keep on wowing.

[Reggie]

Two what's two what? Two W two what? Two what's two watts? Two what And Wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Grown Ups. If you like WOW in the world, you can listen early and ad free right now on Wondery.

[Guy Raz]

Join Wondery in the Wondery app or on Wondery Kids plus on Apple Podcasts prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Mindy Thomas]

And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey. Thanks for playing along with our show. If you're a kid with a big wow. To share, call our wow. Hotline at 1-888-7-WWOW. And you just might be featured on an upcoming episode of two what's in a wow? Once again, that's 1-888-7-WOW. Wow.

[Guy Raz]

And to keep the wow rolling, visit [e-mail] there you can become a member of the World Organization of wowzers to get year round mailings and weekly activities. You can shop our wow. Shop, get tickets for upcoming live events, find our best selling books and learn all about our other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast Grown Ups.

[Mindy Thomas]

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter owintheworld and our email address is hellotinkercast.com 2 what's in a wow.

[Guy Raz]

Is executive produced by Meredith Halpern, Ranzer Mindy Thomas and me, Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

These episodes are written by our Tinkercast head writer Kenny Curtis and Anna Zagorski.

[Guy Raz]

Sound Production and design is by Marion Lozano and Henry Moskal with help from Jed Anderson and Tyler Thole.

[Mindy Thomas]

And special thanks to our Tinkercast team including Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall, Kristin Yang, Thuy Mack, Erika Medina, Jody Nussbaum, Ally Paxima, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa and all of the other Tinkerers at Tinkercast hq.

[Guy Raz]

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.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thepopups.Com thanks again for listening and for playing along with us. Meet us back here every Friday for more episodes of 2 what's in a wow? Saturday and Sunday for We wow on the Weekend with Dennis and Mondays for Wow in the World. It's all right here on the wow in the World podcast feed.

[Guy Raz]

Until then, keep on wowing.

[Reggie]

Wow in the World. Wow in the World. Wow in the World. Wow in the World.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.

[Sponsor]

Today's episode is presented by Samsung. Hey grown ups looking for a kid friendly smartwatch that's parent approved. Samsung Galaxy Watch for Kids lets you manage their contacts and see their locations and lets them call, text and play games like the two what's in a wow? Daily Game Show Apple get Galaxy Watch 7 on T mobile now. Kid ready with a new paired line. Visit t mobile.com to order yours today. Trusted contact applies to compatible apps. It does not restrict communication through third party or other communication apps. Emergency services and contacts remain accessible. Location sharing is dependent on network connectivity and device being recently active.