Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Squash The Competition

Summary

Wow in the World: Two Whats?! And a Wow! - Squash The Competition

Released: November 28, 2025 | Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz
Main Theme:
This energetic science game show episode is all about pumpkins! Mindy and Guy lead young listeners through three silly and surprising rounds about the colorful, hefty, and peculiar world of pumpkins, combining fun facts with playful physical challenges. Sprinkle in a “Bonkerballs Bonus” round, some listener participation, and plenty of jokes, and it's a pumpkin-packed science adventure.

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Episode Breakdown

1. Introduction and Guinness World Record Attempt

[00:00–02:21]

• Mindy announces their quest to set a Guinness World Record for "most submissions to a fact hotline."
  • Listeners are encouraged to call in their 'wow' facts to 1-888-7WOWWOW.
• Elmo from Sesame Street leaves a cheery 'wow' fact:

  “Did you know that little babies can laugh before they can talk? Yeah, that means baby Elmo was giggling before he could say mama and daddy!” — Elmo [01:29]

• Mindy encourages listeners to share their own wows.

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2. Game Show Start: “Two Whats?! And A Wow!”

[02:21–05:50]

Overview

• Game Format: Three rounds. In each, Guy and Mindy present three statements about pumpkins—only one is the true scientific “wow.” If listeners guess wrong, silly challenges await.

“The scientific game show that separates the wows from the whats!” — Guy Raz [02:56]

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Round 1: Pumpkin Colors

[03:51–05:50]

Question: Which statement is a true scientific wow?

• A. Pumpkins can be other colors besides orange.
• B. Pumpkin leaves are poisonous to humans.
• C. Pumpkins are just orange watermelons.

Winning Wow:

• Listener MJ from Virginia reveals the correct answer:

  “My wow in the world is that pumpkins can be different colors from just orange!” — MJ [04:43]

Insight:

• Mindy explains there are hundreds of varieties in shades like yellow, white, black, green, and even bluish-gray (e.g., Blue Moon, Baby Boo, Warty Goblin).

Memorable Moment:
Losers must “stop, drop and roll around in a pumpkin patch.” [05:37]

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Round 2: Pumpkin Size

[05:50–07:49]

Question: Which is the true wow?

• A. The world’s heaviest pumpkin weighed as much as a large walrus.
• B. The world’s largest pumpkin was 50 feet wide.
• C. The world’s smelliest pumpkin was grown by a farmer named PJ McPumpkinstank.

Winning Wow:

• Laurel and Juniper from Singapore call in with the answer:

  “The heaviest pumpkin ever grown weighed as much as a large walrus!” — Laurel & Juniper [06:49]

Insight:

• Guy reveals: The heaviest recorded pumpkin was 2,749 pounds and “about as heavy as a Pacific walrus,” taking 184 days to grow. [07:28]

Memorable Challenge:
Incorrect guesses must “waddle in the ocean.” [07:40]

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Round 3: Pumpkin Boats

[07:49–09:55]

Question: Which is true?

• A. There’s a type of pumpkin whose seeds grow on the outside.
• B. Wearing a pumpkin on your head is as protective as a hard hat.
• C. A farmer once paddled down a river in an 817-pound hollowed out pumpkin.

Winning Wow:

• Benjamin from Colorado calls it:

  “A farmer from Massachusetts once paddled down a river in an 817-pound hollowed out pumpkin!” — Benjamin [08:50]

Insight:

• Mindy adds: In 2015, Todd Sandstrom paddled 7 miles in an 817-pound pumpkin, and broke his record the following year with a 1,000+ pound vessel. Pumpkin regattas are now a real (if wobbly) sport in the U.S. [09:14–09:35]

Silly Challenge:
Losers “row, row, row a giant pumpkin.” [09:55]

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3. Bonkerballs Bonus Round: Baby Shark Surprise

[12:06–13:42]

“If you listened to our ‘Baby Shark Case’ episode, you’ll know this one!” — Mindy [12:12]

Bonus Question:
What gave away that a baby shark recorded off Southern California wasn’t a normal shark?

• A. The shark was completely white.
• B. The shark had a pacifier in its mouth.
• C. It was half the size of a normal adult shark.

Correct Answer:
A. The shark was completely white—covered in an embryonic layer that provides newborn sharks their nutrients.

“Scientists believe that this is because it was still covered in an embryonic layer, something that gives newborn baby sharks their nutrients.” — Guy Raz [13:34]

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4. Prize Announcement and Closing

[13:42–14:53]

• Prize: Winners “receive their very own bucket of pumpkin guts!” (Guy objects to the prize's appeal.)
• Mindy triggers the “prize cannon”:

  “All right everyone, grab a bucket from under your seat and let’s see you grab some guts.” — Reggie [14:09]

• Mindy and Guy invite listeners to join the World Organization of Wowzers and Tinkerclass for more science adventures.

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Notable Quotes

• Mindy Thomas:

  “Winner winner, colors for dinner!” [05:01]
  "You must stop, drop and waddle in the ocean." [07:40]

• Guy Raz:

  "These giant pumpkins are great at floating, but unstable and hard to paddle—which makes them pretty entertaining to watch.” [09:35]

• Reggie:

  “Cue the thinking music.” [04:14, throughout the episode]

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Key Timestamps

• 01:29 – Elmo’s baby laughter fact
• 02:56 – Guy introduces the science game show basics
• 04:43 – Listener MJ shares the Round 1 winning wow
• 06:49 – Laurel & Juniper reveal Round 2’s winning wow
• 08:50 – Benjamin calls in the Round 3 winning wow
• 13:21 – Reggie announces the winning answer in the bonus round

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Episode Tone & Style

• Fun, silly, and interactive
• Science seamlessly integrated into the jokes and challenges
• Designed for kids but witty and enjoyable for all ages
• Ample opportunities for audience participation with listener call-ins and playful challenges

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Summary

This “Two Whats?! And A Wow!” episode brings bubbly science games and wild facts about pumpkins, encouraging kids to stay curious and have fun learning. If you want laughter, learning, and maybe a little rolling in the pumpkin patch, this one’s for you!

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.

[Mindy Thomas]

Apple podcasts hey wowzer fams mindy here and before we start the show did you know that you could be part of our attempt to set a guinness world record that's right reg we are attempting to be the record title holder for the most submissions to a fact hotline and it's all thanks to you wowzers so many of you have already called to share your wows with us and since we started our wow hotline back in twenty seventeen we've received calls from over fourteen thousand wowzers and now we're just a few thousand callers away from reaching our goal so we need your help wowzers to be part of our guinness world record attempt ask your grownups to call us at one eight eight eight seven wow wow so so that you can share a wow fact with us if you're looking for some inspiration we asked our special guest this week elmo to share his wow here take a listen hi thanks for calling wow in the world after the beep get ready to record hi mindy hi.

[Reggie]

Guy raz elmo is calling all the way from sesame street to share a special wow in the world about laughter did you know that little babies can laugh before they can talk yeah that means baby elmo was giggling before he could say mama and daddy you know laughing makes elmo really happy and elmo hopes that his well in the world made you happy too bye bye elmo.

[Mindy Thomas]

Loves you end of messages thanks for sharing your wow elmo to join elmo and to be part of our guinness world record attempt just ask your grownups to give us a call at at one eight eight eight seven wow wow and share your wow fact with us once again that's one eight eight eight seven wow wow that's it and now let's get back to the show.

[Guy Raz]

And now for everyone's second favorite game show after apples versus oranges it's two what's.

[Reggie]

With your hosts mindy and guy ra two what's two what two what's two what two what's two what two what's.

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Guy Raz]

What'S in a wow the scientific game show that separates the wows from the whats and the category or theme for today is pumpkins mindy why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game.

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Guy Raz]

Made up now in each round if you guess correctly congratulations you win a.

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Guy Raz]

Okay everyone ready to start the.

[Mindy Thomas]

Game great then let's do it okay.

[Guy Raz]

Round one which of the following statements is a true scientific wow is it a pumpkins can be other colors besides.

[Mindy Thomas]

Orange or is it b pumpkin leaves are poisonous to humans or is it.

[Guy Raz]

C see pumpkins are actually just orange.

[Mindy Thomas]

Watermelons when you think you have the answer yell pumpkins spice up your life hey reggie cue the thinking music.

[Reggie]

And.

[Guy Raz]

Time is up let's now reveal the.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winning wow and to do just that it's mj from virginia mj tell us what's the winning wow hi mindy and everyone my wow in the world is that pumpkins can be different colors from just orange winner winner colors for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you mj contestants if you guessed the answer a that pumpkins can be other colors besides orange well congratulations you found the winning wow there are hundreds.

[Mindy Thomas]

Of pumpkin varieties and thousands over the course of history they come in all sorts of shades of orange as well as yellow white black green and even.

[Guy Raz]

Bluish gray pumpkin varieties have all kinds of unusual names like blue moon or baby boo warty goblin mister wrinkles and.

[Mindy Thomas]

Long island cheese now if you did not get that answer correct you must stop drop and roll around in a pumpkin patch.

[Guy Raz]

Okay round two which of the following statements is a true scientific wow is it a the world's heaviest pumpkin weighed as much as a large.

[Mindy Thomas]

Walrus or is it b the world's largest pumpkin was fifty feet wide or.

[Guy Raz]

Is it c the world's smelliest pumpkin was grow by a farmer named pj mcpumpkinstank when you think you have the.

[Mindy Thomas]

Correct answer yell good gourds hey reggie can we get some thinking music please.

[Guy Raz]

And time is up and joining us by phone it's laurel and juniper from singapore laurel and juniper please reveal the.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winning wow hi mindy and guy ross my wow in the world is that the heaviest pumpkin ever grown weigh as much as a large walrus winner winner pumpkins for dinner that's right laurel and.

[Guy Raz]

Juniper wowzers if you guessed a that the world's heaviest pumpkin weighed as much as a large walrus congratulations you found.

[Mindy Thomas]

The winning wow because of their larger than average cells and high water content pumpkins can grow really really big and the heaviest pumpkin to date was about twenty one feet in diameter this pumpkin.

[Guy Raz]

Took one hundred eighty four days to grow and weighed in at two thousand seven hundred forty nine pounds about the weight of a pistol walrus now if.

[Mindy Thomas]

You did not get that answer correct you must stop drop and waddle in the ocean.

[Guy Raz]

Okay time for round three which of the following statements is a true scientific wow is it a there's a type of pumpkin whose seeds grow on the outside or is it b.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wearing a pumpkin on your head protects you as much as wearing a hard.

[Guy Raz]

Hat or is it c a farmer once paddled down a river in an eight hundred seventeen pound hollowed out pumpkin.

[Mindy Thomas]

When you think you have the correct answer write it in whipped cream thinking.

[Reggie]

Music.

[Guy Raz]

And time is up and joining us by phone it's benjamin from colorado benjamin please reveal the winning wow hi.

[Mindy Thomas]

Mindy and guy raz my wow a farmer from massachusetts once paddled down a river in an eight hundred seventeen pound hollowed out pumpkin winner winner pumpkin votes.

[Guy Raz]

For dinner that's right benjamin if you guessed c that a farmer once paddled down a river in an eight pound hollowed out pumpkin congratulations you found the.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winning wow in twenty fifteen a farmer named todd sandstrom paddled seven miles down the taunton river in a giant hollowed out pumpkin weighing eight hundred seventeen pounds the next year he beat his record by paddling eight miles down the river in a pumpkin that weighed over one.

[Guy Raz]

Thousand pounds and he's not the only one to have captained a pumpkin boat these giant pumpkins are great at floating but unstable and hard to paddle which makes them pretty entertaining to watch in fact pumpkin regattas are held around the united states every year now if you.

[Mindy Thomas]

Did not get that answer correct you must stop drop and row row row a giant pumpkin and now it's time to take a moment to thank our sponsors today's show is brought to you by pumpkin spice get into that autumnal spirit with thousands of seasonal products pumpkin spice candles pumpkin spice toothpaste pumpkin spice instant mashed potatoes pumpkin spice foot cream pumpkin spice motor oil and more contains no actual pumpkin do not put pumpkin spice motor oil in your car or.

[Guy Raz]

It will explode okay thank you pumpkin spice everything now let's take a quick break and hear some other important messages for grownups.

[Reggie]

Two once in a while we'll be right back grown ups this.

[Mindy Thomas]

Message is for you hey grown ups it's mindy and guy raz here from.

[Guy Raz]

Wow in the world mindy and i have some brand new wow in the world toys out in the world just in time for the holidays made for.

[Mindy Thomas]

The kids who love science and for the ones who don't yet from our.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

You can hear exclusive audio content from me and guy raz to help your wowzer discover even more wows grownups give.

[Guy Raz]

The gift of wow and wonder this holiday season with our latest wow in the world toys designed with your curious wowzer in mind you can shop our.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow in the world toys at tinkercast dot com toys that's tinkercast dot com toys.

[Reggie]

That'S it now back to the show.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what.

[Guy Raz]

What was that.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh guy razzie that sound can mean.

[Guy Raz]

Only one thing the studio is haunted.

[Mindy Thomas]

Nope it's time for today's bonkerballs bonus round if you listen to our wow in the world episode titled baby shark case you'll know the answer to this one and if not go back and.

[Guy Raz]

Give it a listen and the bonkerballs bonus question is a bonus a baby shark at this time of year in this part of the world localized entirely off the coast of southern california that's.

[Mindy Thomas]

Right a local wildlife filmmaker and biologist believe that they have found the first ever video of a baby shark in the wild what gave it away that this wasn't just any other shark was.

[Guy Raz]

It a the shark was completely white.

[Mindy Thomas]

Or was it b the shark had a pacifier in its mouth or was.

[Guy Raz]

It c it was half the size of a normal adult shark.

[Mindy Thomas]

And here with the answer it's reggie if you guessed the answer a you are correct.

[Guy Raz]

The shark recorded by wildlife filmmaker carlos gauna and uc riverside biology student philip stearns in july twenty twenty three was completely white from nose to fin scientists.

[Mindy Thomas]

Believe that this is because it was still covered in an embryonic layer something that gives newborn baby sharks their nutrients.

[Guy Raz]

Well congratulations to all of our winning wowzers mindy what's today's prize oh guy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Raz today's winning mousers will all be receiving their very own bucket of pumpkin.

[Guy Raz]

Gods mindy that's a terrible prize oh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Reggie cue the prize cannon fire away all right everyone grab a bucket from.

[Reggie]

Under your seat and let's see you.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

Of activities and for 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.

[Guy Raz]

Weekend with dennis and again on friday for a new episode of two what's.

[Mindy Thomas]

And a wow until then keep on.

[Reggie]

Wow and wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Grownups if you like wow in the world you can listen early and ad free right now on.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

Tell us about your by filling out a short survey at wondery dot com survey.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

Are ruth morrison and anna zagorski with collaboration from our head writer kenny curtis.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

Tyler thull special thanks to rebecca caban doctor natasha crandall lizzie froehlich kristin yang twee 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 our.

[Guy Raz]

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 and.

[Mindy Thomas]

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 grown.

[Guy Raz]

Ups you can follow us on facebook instagram and twitter owintheworld and our email address is hello tinkercast finally if you're.

[Mindy Thomas]

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.

[Guy Raz]

Eight seven wow wow thanks again for listening and playing along meet us back here next friday for every monday for wow in the world wow in the.

[Reggie]

World wow in the world wow in the world wow in the world wow in the world wow in the world.

[Mindy Thomas]

Was made by tinkercast and sent to you by wondery.