Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Some Body To Love (2/7/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: Episode Summary – “Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Some Body To Love” (February 7, 2025)

Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Release Date: February 7, 2025
Podcast: Wow in the World by Tinkercast | Wondery

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Introduction to the Episode

In this episode of "Wow in the World," hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz dive into an engaging and educational segment titled "Two Whats?! And A Wow!" centered around fascinating facts about the human body. The episode combines humor, interactive elements, and scientific insights to captivate both kids and their grown-up listeners.

The Scientific Game Show: Two Whats?! And A Wow!

[03:32] The segment kicks off with Dennis introducing the second favorite game show, "Two Whats?! And A Wow!" where Mindy and Guy serve as hosts. The game is designed to challenge listeners to distinguish between true scientific "wows" and made-up "whats" related to the human body.

Mindy Thomas initiates the game by explaining, "We're going to present you with three scientific statements about the human body. But only one of those statements will be a true wow. The other two, just a couple of made up whats."

The Challenge: Identifying the True Wow

[04:10] The first challenge presents listeners with three statements:

• Option A: The skull is the largest, heaviest bone in the human body.
• Option B: The blood in your body makes up half of your body weight.
• Option C: You are actually taller when you wake up than right before you sleep.

Listeners are encouraged to think critically and "spell it out with your arms and legs, YMCA style" once they decide on their answer.

[05:03] After a brief pause, the hosts reveal the correct answer.

Revealing the Winning Wow

[06:25] Clara from Philadelphia calls in to share her answer: "C, you're taller when you wake up than right before you sleep." Her correct guess earns her the title of winning wowzer.

Guy Raz elaborates, "While the difference in height may vary, most people are actually a teeny tiny bit taller when they first wake up in the morning."

[06:52] Mindy Thomas explains the science behind the phenomenon: "This is because gravity squishes down the cartilage in parts of our bodies, such as our spine and knees, making us a bit shorter. After a day of sitting, standing, and moving around, when you go to bed, this cartilage decompresses and spreads back out, getting us back to our original height."

[07:16] Extending the explanation, Guy adds, "In fact, astronauts returning from outer space are sometimes up to an inch or two taller than when they departed from Earth. But thanks to gravity, when they come back down to Earth, they eventually get back to their original heights."

Debunking the Other Options

[07:33] The hosts address the other two options for those who might have chosen incorrectly.

• Option A: The claim that the skull is the largest, heaviest bone is incorrect. Guy Raz states, "While the skull needs to be strong to protect the brain, it is actually made up of 22 different bones. The femur, the bone in your upper leg, is the strongest, heaviest single bone in your body."

• Option B: The assertion that blood makes up half of your body weight is also false. Mindy Thomas clarifies, "Blood in your body does not make up half your body weight. It really only makes up about 10% of it. The rest comes from bones, organs, muscles, tissue, and other parts that allow you to function."

Prizes and Fun Rewards

[08:32] The winning contestant, Clara, is awarded a unique prize: an "invisible belly button." Guy Raz humorously describes it, "This invisible belly button is just like your regular belly button, only it's invisible and actually works. When you press it, use it to turn on the TV, power the lights, or speed Darth the car."

Mindy Thomas adds with a laugh, "I see. Well, that's about all the time we have for today."

The Final Scientific Challenge

[09:16] Before wrapping up, Mindy and Guy present a creative challenge to their listeners:

• Operation Extra. Extra Wowzers: Listeners are encouraged to "invent an extra body part for the human body." Ideas can range from an extra hand or a backward-facing eye to more imaginative creations like a trunk or a functioning invisible belly button.

Mindy Thomas suggests, "You can design your invention on paper or create a 3D model using objects from around your home. Get creative with it and share your inventions with us and grownups."

Participants are invited to upload their photos and videos to [e-mail] and share their creations for a chance to be featured in future episodes.

Upcoming Releases and Closing Remarks

[09:54] The hosts promote their upcoming book, "The How and The Wow of the Human Body," available for pre-order starting March 2nd across various bookstores, including signed editions at Barnes and Noble.

[10:16] As the episode concludes, Mindy encourages listeners to "keep on wowing" while providing information on how to become members of the World Organization of Wowzers. Membership perks include autographed pictures, exclusive T-shirts, magnifying goggles, and special activities for each episode.

Notable Quotes

• Mindy Thomas: "You're taller when you wake up than right before you sleep."
• Guy Raz: "The femur is the strongest, heaviest single bone in your body."
• Clara (Contestant): "I'm taller when I first wake up than in the evening."

Behind the Scenes

The episode credits highlight the creative team behind the show, including writers Anna Zagorski, Darnell Walker, Heba Guta, and audio producer Jessica Boddy. Special thanks are given to Anya Grundmann and the team at NPR. The theme song was crafted by The Pop Ups, a three-time Grammy-nominated all-ages music group.

Connect and Engage

Listeners are encouraged to stay connected through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram under the handle @owintheworld. For those with big wows to share, there's an invitation to contribute ideas for future episodes via [e-mail] or by calling 1-888-7-WOW-WOW.

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This episode of "Wow in the World" effectively blends entertainment with education, providing young listeners and their families with memorable facts and interactive challenges that foster curiosity and creativity about the human body.

Transcript

[Dennis]

Hello, Wowzers. It's me, Dennis. And before we start the show, I wanted to invite you to a special spectacular, super secret event. Okay, fine, Reggie. Maybe it isn't a super secret anymore, but can I get a drum roll anyway?

[Mindy]

Thank you.

[Dennis]

Ahem. Introducing the Make It Wow. Listening party. That's right. On Saturday, February15 at 7:00pm Eastern, I will be hosting the second ever members only live listening party. And this time we'll be listening to the never heard before recorded performance of the Make It Wow. Live show in New York City from last November. Isn't that cool? Yes, Reggie. All of our members will be there and we can all chat together as we listen to it. It'll be like reviewsies, but in real. If you want to join the party grown ups, you can sign up to become a member of the world organization of Wowzers. Today. Just visit Tinkercast.com membership. That's Tinkercast.com membership. Every membership helps support our podcasts and Tinkercast mission to spread wow to families and teachers around the world. That's right, Reggie. Our members also get birthday cards from Mindy and Guy, quarterly mailings from you, Reggie, and so much more members. We'll see you there on Saturday, February 15th. Just go to tinkercast.comevents to get the secret password to join my live stream at 7pm Eastern. That's it. Now let's get back to my show. I mean our show. I mean the show.

[Mindy]

Hey, Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, hey, Guy. Raz. Sorry, I can't look up from my hands right now.

[Mindy]

Is everything okay?

[Guy Raz]

Well, better than okay, now that you're here. Quick, I need you to watch my toes.

[Mindy]

You want me to wash your toes?

[Dennis]

What?

[Guy Raz]

No, I said watch my toes.

[Mindy]

Oh, good, that's a little less odd. Why?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I'm conducting important research.

[Mindy]

Uh, how exactly?

[Guy Raz]

Okay, so I heard that human finger fingernails grow faster than toenails, so I'm doing a little research on my own toenails to see for myself.

[Mindy]

Oh, you're watching your nails grow. Why didn't you just say so? The great toe and fingernail race is my favorite sport.

[Guy Raz]

Right. I'd say it was a real nail biter, but that's against the rules. Sorry.

[Mindy]

Wait a second, Mindy, look at the time. We've got a game show to do.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, right. Cue the Ferris wheel, cotton the candy, and count the bones in your body in 206, 205, 200.

[Mindy]

Indy, the game show.

[Dennis]

Three, two, one. And now for everyone's second favorite game show after Shaking it and yet not breaking it. It's two once and a row.

[Mindy]

With.

[Dennis]

Your hosts, Mindy and Guy Ra.

[Mindy]

And a wow.

[Guy Raz]

Welcome back, Wowzers. It's time for another jaw dropping round of two what's and a wow.

[Mindy]

The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what. The category for today is the human body. Mindy, why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game works?

[Guy Raz]

You know it. Wowzers. We are going to present you with three scientific statements about the human body. But only one of those statements will be a true wow. The other two, just a couple of made up what?

[Mindy]

Okay, let's get started. Which of the following statements about the human body is a true scientific wow? Is it A, the skull is the largest, heaviest bone in the human body?

[Guy Raz]

Or is it B, the blood in your body makes up half of your body weight?

[Mindy]

Or is it C, you are actually taller when you wake up than right before you sleep.

[Guy Raz]

When you think you know the answer, spell it out with your arms and legs, YMCA style.

[Mindy]

We're gonna take a quick break to give you a chance to use your brain. And when we come back, we'll find out if your wow is the winning wow.

[Guy Raz]

Two once in a while. We'll be right back. Grown ups, this message is for you. That's it. Now back to the show. Okay, Wowzers, let's get back to the heart of the matter. It's time to reveal the winning wow. But before we do, let's do a quick review.

[Mindy]

We gave you three statements about the human body and challenged you to find the one true wow. Was it A, the skull is the largest, heaviest bone in the human body.

[Guy Raz]

Or was it B, the blood in your body makes up half your body weight.

[Mindy]

Or was it C, you are taller when you wake up than right before you go to sleep.

[Guy Raz]

Joining us by phone with the answer to today's question is Clara from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Clara, what's the wow? My name is Clara, I'm from Philadelphia and my wow in the world is that you're taller when you first wake up than in the evening.

[Dennis]

Winner.

[Guy Raz]

Winner. Vitamins and minerals for dinner.

[Mindy]

Clara, you are correct. Wowzers. If you guessed C that you're taller when you wake up than right before you sleep, you found the winning wow. Congratulations, wowzers.

[Guy Raz]

While the difference in height may vary, most people are actually a teeny tiny bit taller when they first wake up in the morning.

[Mindy]

This phenomenon is because gravity squishes down the cartilage in parts of our bodies, such as our spine and knees, making us a bit shorter. After a day of sitting, standing and.

[Guy Raz]

Moving around, when you go to bed, this cartilage has a chance to decompress and spread back out, getting us back to our original height.

[Mindy]

In fact, astronauts returning from outer space are sometimes up to an inch or two taller than when they departed from Earth.

[Guy Raz]

But thanks to gravity, when they come back down to Earth, they eventually get back to their original heights.

[Mindy]

As for the other options, if you picked A or B, you weren't too far off. If you chose option A, the skull is the largest, heaviest bone in the human body, you were clearly still using your noggin.

[Guy Raz]

While the skull does need to be nice and strong to protect that brain of yours, it is actually made up of 22 different bones.

[Mindy]

Your femur, the bone in your upper leg is the strongest, heaviest single bone in your body.

[Guy Raz]

And if you chose B, the blood in your body does not make up half your body weight. It really only makes up about 10% of it.

[Mindy]

The rest of the weight comes from other body parts like bones, organs, muscles, tissue, and so many others that allow you to function. Well.

[Guy Raz]

Guy Raz, why don't you tell our winning wowzers what they Mindy Today, all.

[Mindy]

Of our contestants will be taking home their very own invisible belly button. Wait, what?

[Guy Raz]

This invisible belly button is just like your regular belly button, only it's invisible and it actually works. When you press it, use it to.

[Mindy]

Turn on the tv, power the lights, or speed Darth the car. Mindy, what is this?

[Guy Raz]

Sorry, Slim Pickens in the prize closet today.

[Mindy]

I see. Well, that's about all the time we have for today. But before we go, we have one last scientific challenge for you.

[Guy Raz]

We call it Operation Extra. Extra Wowzers.

[Mindy]

We challenge you to invent an extra body part for the human body.

[Guy Raz]

If you've ever wished for an extra hand, an eye in the back of your head, a trunk like an elephant, or even a functioning belly button, now is the time to develop a model of what that extra body part might be and how it could help a human out.

[Mindy]

You can design your invention on paper or create a 3D model using objects from around your home.

[Guy Raz]

Get creative with it and share your inventions with us and grownups.

[Mindy]

You can upload photos and videos to [e-mail] share and for more WOW facts.

[Guy Raz]

On the human body, be sure to pre order our new book coming out March 2nd. It's called the how and the wow of the Human Body. It's available for pre order wherever books are sold and signed editions at Barnes and Noble.

[Mindy]

And until then, keep on wowing two.

[Dennis]

W2W s and a wow.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy]

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

[Guy Raz]

And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail].

[Mindy]

2 what's and a wow was produced by Mindy Thomas and me, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Our writers team is made up of Anna Zagorski, Darnell Walker and Heba Guta.

[Mindy]

Jason Rabinowitz adds the Wows as our audio producer Jessica Boddy keeps our facts straight. Jacob Stein rounds out our creative team and Meredith Halperanzer powers the wow at Tinkercast.

[Guy Raz]

Special thanks to Anya Grundmann and the team at NPR.

[Mindy]

Our theme song was written and composed by the pop up. For more on their three time Grammy nominated all ages music, find them at.

[Guy Raz]

Thepopups.Com also two what's in a wow is now a book. Find the two what's in a wow? Think and Tinker Playbook wherever books are sold or visit tinkercast.com shop for more info.

[Mindy]

And if you'd like to become a member of the World Organization of wowzers, where you can get an autographed picture of me and Mindy, an exclusive T shirt, magnifying goggles, special activities for each episode, and much more, visit tinkercast.com to find out how.

[Guy Raz]

And for more up to date news, you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram owintheworld. Our email address is helloowintheworld.com finally, if.

[Mindy]

You'Re a kid with a big wow to share, it could be used on an upcoming episode of 2 what's and a wow. Call us at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW.

[Guy Raz]

Thanks again for listening. Now go forth and find your wow. Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.