Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Tentacular Spectacular! (7/25/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Tentacular Spectacular!
Release Date: July 25, 2025
Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Produced by: Tinkercast | Wondery

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Introduction

In the episode titled "Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Tentacular Spectacular!", hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz dive into the fascinating world of tentacled creatures through an engaging scientific game show format. This episode is part of the popular children's science podcast Wow in the World, which aims to inspire curiosity and wonder about science, technology, and innovation among both kids and their grown-up companions.

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Setting the Stage

The episode kicks off with a playful exchange between Mindy and Reggie, introducing the World Organization of Wowzers. Mindy humorously discusses receiving a "pigeon dropping"—a quirky nod to membership postcards—setting a light-hearted tone for the show.

Mindy Thomas [00:40]:
"Reggie, come on. It's me, Mindy."

This segment serves as a whimsical introduction, encouraging listeners to join the World Organization of Wowzers to receive exclusive perks like birthday cards, online activities, and a special welcome kit.

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Transition to the Game Show

After a brief sponsorship break, the hosts transition into the main segment of the episode—a scientific game show aptly named "Two Whats?! And A Wow!". The stage is humorously transformed by Dennis, who introduces octopus costumes and a giant fish tank, emphasizing the tentacle theme of the episode.

Dennis [03:58]:
"Exciting and brilliant ones. Here, put these on."

Mindy humorously questions the sudden change, leading to a comical exchange about the accuracy of octopus anatomy.

---

Round 1: Exploring Tentacles

The first round focuses on debunking myths and uncovering truths about tentacles. Contestants are presented with three statements, only one of which is scientifically accurate.

Round One Question [06:00]:
"Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
A. Tentacles are only found in invertebrates.
B. Cuttlefish use their tentacles to taste their food.
C. Colossal squid have hooks on the ends of their tentacles."

Jacob, a contestant, correctly identifies statement C as the true wow.

Reggie [07:54]:
"My wow is that Colossal squids have hooks on the end of their tentacles."

Mindy elaborates on this fascinating fact:

Mindy Thomas [08:16]:
"Colossal squids have not won not two, but 25 hooks on their tentacles. Some of these hooks can even rotate."

This revelation highlights the incredible adaptations of colossal squids for survival in deep-sea environments.

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Round 2: The Mysteries of Jellyfish

The second round delves into the enigmatic world of jellyfish, presenting another set of statements for the contestants to evaluate.

Round Two Question [08:50]:
"Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
A. Sea slugs can eat fish eight times larger than themselves whole.
B. Jellyfish don't have hearts.
C. A young sea anemone is called a squishlet."

Reagan, another contestant, selects statement B as the correct wow.

Reggie [09:44]:
"My wow in the world is that jellyfish don't have hearts."

Mindy provides an insightful explanation:

Mindy Thomas [10:02]:
"Jellyfish do not have hearts, brains or most of the other organs that we have. In fact, most jellyfish bodies are about 95% water."

This segment underscores the simplicity and resilience of jellyfish physiology.

---

Round 3: Snails and Their Surprising Teeth

The final round shifts focus to snails, uncovering the surprising details of their anatomy.

Round Three Question [10:50]:
"Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow?
A. Nautiluses can survive up to three days on land.
B. Abalone communicate by blowing bubbles.
C. Snails have between one and 2,000 teeth."

Caroline, the final contestant, correctly identifies statement C.

Reggie [16:03]:
"My wow is that snails have between 1,000 and 12,000 tiny teeth on their tongue called radula."

Mindy elaborates on this remarkable feature:

Mindy Thomas [16:27]:
"A snail's radula is a flexible band of thousands of microscopic teeth. That's how they eat large pieces of food. Well, large to them, like a leaf or a blade of grass. Their teeth scrape or rasp their food, breaking it down into particles that they can digest."

This explanation highlights the intricate mechanisms snails use for feeding and survival.

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Bonus Round: The Opposite Day Conundrum

In a humorous twist, the episode introduces a bonus round that plays with the concept of Opposite Day.

Dennis [17:19]:
"This question is, is today Opposite Day?"

An amusing back-and-forth ensues between Mindy and Guy about the nature of Opposite Day, ultimately deciding to wrap up the show.

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Scientific Challenge: Tentacraft

Before concluding, the hosts present a hands-on scientific challenge called Tentacraft, encouraging listeners to create their own tentacles using construction or crepe paper.

Mindy Thomas [17:57]:
"For this challenge, we want you to cut up strips of construction paper... Your very own tentacles."

Listeners are invited to share photos or videos of their creations, fostering creativity and engagement with the episode's theme.

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Conclusion

The episode wraps up with acknowledgments and reminders for listeners to join the World Organization of Wowzers for exclusive content. Mindy and Guy sign off with a cheerful encouragement to "keep on wowing," leaving listeners inspired by the wonders of tentacled creatures.

Guy Raz [19:47]:
"Meet us back here on Monday for Wow in the World."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Mindy Thomas [00:40]:
  "Reggie, come on. It's me, Mindy."

• Dennis [03:58]:
  "Exciting and brilliant ones. Here, put these on."

• Mindy Thomas [08:16]:
  "Colossal squids have not won not two, but 25 hooks on their tentacles. Some of these hooks can even rotate."

• Mindy Thomas [10:02]:
  "Jellyfish do not have hearts, brains or most of the other organs that we have. In fact, most jellyfish bodies are about 95% water."

• Mindy Thomas [16:27]:
  "A snail's radula is a flexible band of thousands of microscopic teeth. That's how they eat large pieces of food."

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Final Thoughts

"Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Tentacular Spectacular!" is a captivating episode that combines humor, interactive games, and intriguing scientific facts to educate and entertain its young audience. By focusing on the diverse world of tentacled animals, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz foster a sense of wonder and curiosity, embodying the essence of the Wow in the World podcast.

Listeners are encouraged to engage further by participating in challenges, joining the World Organization of Wowzers, and staying tuned for more exciting episodes that celebrate the marvels of science and nature.

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. Oh, hey, Reg. What's that? A new pigeon dropping? Isn't that the postcard you send out to members of the World Organization of Wowzers every quarter? Can I see it? What? You need to see if I'm a member of the WOW first. But Red, come on. It's me, Mindy.

[Reggie]

Huh?

[Mindy Thomas]

You're not seeing a Mindy on the list. Okay, Try Mandy. I think Thomas Fingerling signed me up. Yes. Can I get my pigeon dropping now?

[Dennis]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

I gotta wait for it in the mail, but it's right there. Okay, fine. Guess I'll go wait out by the mailbox. In the meantime, to get the next quarterly mailing from Reggie Grownups, you can sign your Wowzer up to be a member of the World Organization of wowzers by Sunday, July 27. It's so top secret, I haven't even seen it yet. Now where'd I put my mailbox? Grownups, when you sign your Wowzer up to be a member of the World Organization of Wowzers, you also get birthday cards in the mail from me and Guy Raz, access to over a thousand online activities inspired by our podcast, and a welcome kit from me and Guy Raz, including our autographs and a special T shirt. Plus, you get to help support all the work that goes into powering the wow at Tinkercast Grown Ups. Visit Tinkercast.com membership to sign up today. That's Tinkercast.com membership. That's it. And now let's get back to the show.

[Sponsor]

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[Mindy Thomas]

Wow. Check it out, Guy Raz. We've got a packed house.

[Guy Raz]

I've never seen the audience so excited. We're just doing a regular show tonight, right?

[Mindy Thomas]

I mean, as far as I know.

[Dennis]

Hey, Mindy. Guy.

[Reggie]

Oh, hey, Dennis.

[Dennis]

Listen, I've made some changes to the show.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, what kind of changes?

[Dennis]

Exciting and brilliant ones. Here, put these on.

[Mindy Thomas]

What, in the octopus costumes?

[Dennis]

Yes, octopus costumes.

[Mindy Thomas]

Why?

[Dennis]

Because I told you, I changed the show.

[Sponsor]

Dennis.

[Reggie]

Dennis.

[Dennis]

Oh, and you'll also be swimming in a giant fish tank on the stage.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, what?

[Dennis]

You are scuba certified, right?

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, yeah, but.

[Dennis]

And also. Also, the name of the show is now Octopia, the Tentacular Spectac Spectacular. Here's the sheet music for the songs you'll need to learn dance choreography. Run through is in five minutes. And your aerial wire training will be taking place in.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, wait a minute, Dennis. I think I see what happened here. What tonight's show is all about. Animals with tentacles, right?

[Dennis]

And octopuses are famous for their eight tentacles.

[Guy Raz]

Well, octopuses actually have 8, 10 arms, which are different from tentacles. Dennis.

[Dennis]

I see.

[Mindy Thomas]

Sorry, Dennis.

[Dennis]

Oh, it's okay. You two can just pay me back for the costumes whenever you get a minute.

[Guy Raz]

But we don't have time for.

[Dennis]

I said whenever you get a minute. Okay, people, let's get started. You there, Gummy the worms. And you, Pine the apples. And Reggie Magic the markers. We're on in three, two, one.

[Sponsor]

And now for everyone's favorite game show.

[Guy Raz]

It's two Once and a one.

[Dennis]

With your hosts, Mindy and Guy Raz. Two Wh. Two watts. Two watts. Two Wh. Two Wh. Two watts. Two Wha.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hello, hello, and welcome back to two what's in a wow?

[Dennis]

Two Whats in a wow.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

You know it. Wowzers. In each of our three rounds today, Guy Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about animals with tentacles. 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 wow.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Guy Raz]

Okay, everyone ready to start the game?

[Mindy Thomas]

Then let's do it.

[Guy Raz]

Round one. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, tentacles are only found in invertebrates?

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it B, cuttlefish use their tentacles to taste their food?

[Guy Raz]

Or is it C. Colossal squid have hooks on the ends of their tentacles.

[Mindy Thomas]

When you think you have the correct answer, write it in ketchup. Hey Reg, cue the thinking music.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

And now here's Jacob calling in with the answer. Jacob, tell us what's the winning wow?

[Reggie]

Hi My wow is that Colossal squids have hooks on the end of their tentacles.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, winner, hooks for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you, Jacob. Contestants, if you guess the answer C that Colossal squid have hooks on the ends of their tentacles. Well, congratulations, you found the winning wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Colossal squids have not won not two, but 25 hooks on their tentacles. Some of these hooks can even rotate.

[Guy Raz]

They also have non rotating hooks and serrated suckers on their eight arms. Scientists believe that this helps them fight off predator sperm whales.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get the answer correct, you must stop, drop and release the mighty Klacken.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, time for round two. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A. Sea slugs can eat fish eight times larger than themselves whole?

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it B, jellyfish don't have hearts.

[Guy Raz]

Or is it C? A young sea anemone is called a squishlet.

[Mindy Thomas]

When you think you have the correct answer, sing it in your fanciest opera voice. Reggie, cue the thinking music.

[Guy Raz]

And time is up. Joining us now by phone, it's Reagan from Texas. Reagan, please tell us the winning wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hi.

[Reggie]

My wow in the world is that jellyfish don't have hearts.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, winner, jelly for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

That's right, Regan. Wowzers. If you guessed B that jellyfish don't have hearts, well you found the winning wow. Congratulations.

[Mindy Thomas]

Jellyfish do not have hearts, brains or most of the other organs that we have. In fact, most jellyfish bodies are about 95% water.

[Guy Raz]

Jellyfish don't even have blood, so there would be nothing for a heart to pump. Their skin is so thin they can absorb oxygen right through it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get the answer correct, you must stop, drop and swim across the Pacific Ocean.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, time for round three. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A? Nautiluses can survive up to three days on land.

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it B? Abalone communicate by blowing bubbles?

[Guy Raz]

Or is it C? Snails have between one and 2,000 teeth.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, before we reveal the winning wow, let's take a moment to thank our sponsors. Today's show is brought to you in part by the upcoming film Diary of a Star Nosed Mole coming to theaters. The story of a girl and her tentacles. Are those tentacles on your face? She was the only mammal at Teen Tentacle Academy and never felt felt like she fit in. You don't fit in. But she was about to learn how to face her fears with a face full of tentacles. And the winner of the underwater smelling contest is. Star Nosed mole. And that she could be the star of her own story. I think I'm falling in love with you star nosed mole.

[Reggie]

Wait.

[Mindy Thomas]

Don't eat me this summer. Don't miss Diary of a Star Nosed Mole. You crying guy.

[Dennis]

Raz.

[Guy Raz]

No, no. I just had something in my nose. I mean my eye.

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh huh.

[Guy Raz]

Why don't we take a quick break and hear a message for Grownups.

[Dennis]

Two.

[Reggie]

Once in a while. We'll be right back. Grown ups, this message is for you.

[Sponsor]

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[Reggie]

That'S it. Now back to the show.

[Guy Raz]

Welcome back to two what's and a wow.

[Dennis]

Two what's and a wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Guy Raz]

Now, before the break, we left you with a dangling question for round three.

[Mindy Thomas]

And that question was, which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A? Nautiluses can survive up to three days on land?

[Guy Raz]

Or is it B, abalone blow bubbles to communicate?

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it C, snails have between one and 2,000 teeth.

[Guy Raz]

And joining us by phone to reveal the winning answer, it's Caroline from California. Caroline, what's the wow?

[Reggie]

My wow is that snails have between 1,000 and 12,000 tiny teeth on their tongue called radula.

[Dennis]

Winner, winner.

[Mindy Thomas]

Snail slime for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you, Caroline. Contestants, if you guessed the answer C that snails have between one and 2,000 teeth, well, congratulations. You found the winning wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

A snail's radula is a flexible band of thousands of microscopic teeth.

[Guy Raz]

That's how they eat large pieces of food. Well, large to them, like a leaf or a blade of grass. Their teeth scrape or rasp their food, breaking it down into particles that they can digest.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get the answer correct, you must stop, drop and run around as fast as you can.

[Guy Raz]

What was that?

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Guy Raz]

You forgot to return your library book. And now we're all going to book jail.

[Reggie]

I know.

[Mindy Thomas]

It's the sound of today's Bonker Balls bonus round. And the question for this round is, is today Opposite Day?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, no, no, no, no. I am not answering this question again. Because if I say yes, then it becomes Opposite Day. But if I say no, then you'll say that means yes, because it's Opposite Day. And if I try to say no, it's not, you'll say, yes, it is. And if I say yes, it is, you'll say no, it's not, which means.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes, it is, which means Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Yes.

[Mindy Thomas]

Mindy, calm down. It's not not opposite day, which means it is. You know, on the other hand, maybe we should just wrap up the show.

[Guy Raz]

Good idea. Well, wowzers, that's about all the time we have for today.

[Mindy Thomas]

But before we go, we have a little scientific challenge for you. We call it Tentacraft.

[Guy Raz]

For this challenge, we want you to cut up strips of construction paper. Newspaper or crepe paper. The longer the better. Staple or glue them together at one end and voila. Your very own tentacles.

[Mindy Thomas]

You can use them to touch things from a distance, capture your prey, or sting your predators.

[Guy Raz]

Ah, you don't say Wowzers.

[Mindy Thomas]

Don't forget to take a photo or video of your tentacles and their prey. Grown ups. You can upload pictures and videos to [e-mail] share and be sure to come.

[Guy Raz]

Back on Monday for a brand new episode of wow and the World and again on Friday for a new episode of 2 what's and a wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Until then, keep on wowing.

[Dennis]

2 what's 2 what? 2 what's 2 what? 2 WHAT? 2 what's and a wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Grownups. 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].

[Guy Raz]

Survey 2 what's in a wow is executive produced by Meredith Halpern, Ranzer, Mindy Thomas and me, Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

Our writers are Ruth Morrison and Anna Zagorski.

[Guy Raz]

Sound, production and design is by Marian Lozano with help from Jett Anderson and Tyler Thole.

[Mindy Thomas]

Special thanks to Steph Sosa, Henry Moskal, Rebecca Gabon, Sana, Ella Mohammed, 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 to keep the wows rolling. Visit us at tinkercast.com where you can become an official member of the World Organization of wowzers. Find our two what's in a wow Think and Tinker Playbook and learn about all of our other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast Grown Ups.

[Guy Raz]

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at the end. 2 what's and a wow and our email address is helloinkercast.com finally, if you're.

[Mindy Thomas]

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 and playing along. Meet us back here on Monday for Wow in the World.

[Dennis]

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

[Reggie]

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