Two Whats?! And A Wow! - The Hole Nine Yards

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Wow in the World – Two Whats?! And A Wow! - The Hole Nine Yards

Air Date: March 27, 2026
Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz

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Episode Overview

This episode of Two Whats?! And A Wow! brings a playful, interactive approach to learning about black holes—a truly "wow-worthy" subject in space science. Mindy, Guy Raz, and their sidekick Reggie guide young listeners through three lively rounds of their signature game show, separating fact from fiction while peppering in fun facts (and silly challenges) about the universe’s greatest cosmic mysteries.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Game Show Structure: How "Two Whats?! And A Wow!" Works

• Format: In each round, the hosts present three science statements about black holes. Only one ("the Wow") is true; the others ("the Whats") are fictitious.
• Audience Interaction: Contestants (kids calling in) select what they think is the true "Wow," with correct guesses rewarded, and incorrect guesses resulting in fun, themed challenges.
• Theme: All three rounds in this episode focus on black holes—what they are, their strange properties, and amazing discoveries about them.

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Round 1: Black Holes and Gravity

Timestamp: 03:19–05:23

• Question: Which statement is the true "Wow"?
  • A) Black holes stay perfectly still in space
  • B) Black hole’s gravity is so strong it can warp space and time
  • C) Black holes can even be found on white gym socks
• Answer & Explainer:
  • "My wow is that black hole's gravity is so strong that it can warp space and time." – Cole [04:23]
    • Fact: Black holes have extremely strong gravity, capable of warping both space and time (a phenomenon called time dilation).
    • Visual: Guy Raz uses the analogy of things “stretching like spaghetti or squishing like pancakes” due to gravity. [05:04]
• Physical Challenge for Incorrect Guess:
  • Listeners are told to “try to run in extreme gravity.” [05:23]

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Round 2: The Size and Density of Black Holes

Timestamp: 05:32–07:32

• Question: Which statement is scientifically accurate?
  • A) Some black holes are actually blue
  • B) Black holes are also called cosmic toilets
  • C) The smallest black hole is as small as an atom and weighs as much as a mountain
• Answer & Explainer:
  • "My wow in the world is that the smallest black hole is as small as an atom and weighs as much as a mountain." – Jessie [06:32]
    • Fact: Some black holes are microscopic (atom-sized) but incredibly dense, with the mass of a mountain squeezed into minuscule space.
    • Educational Insight: Mindy explains “density”—huge mass packed into a tiny volume. [07:01]
• Physical Challenge for Incorrect Guess:
  • Squeeze all your mass into the size of an atom. [07:32]

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Round 3: Imaging a Black Hole

Timestamp: 07:42–09:51

• Question: Which statement is the real "Wow"?
  • A) Scientists used eight telescopes to take the first picture of a black hole
  • B) The closest black hole to Earth is about 400 light years away
  • C) Objects sucked into black holes come out of other black holes elsewhere
• Answer & Explainer:
  • "Scientists use eight telescopes working together around the world to take a first picture of a black hole." – Oliver [08:49]
    • Fact: The Event Horizon Telescope, a network of eight telescopes worldwide, generated the first ever image of a black hole in 2019. [09:16]
    • Science Note: We can’t see black holes directly; scientists use radio waves and combine global data to assemble images.
• Physical Challenge for Incorrect Guess:
  • Wiggle like a radio wave. [09:51]

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Bonus Round: The Artemis Moon Base

Timestamp: 14:11–15:29

• Question: Why will the Artemis Base Camp be at the moon’s south pole?
  • A) It’s where astronauts can find moon water
  • B) It’s less crowded
  • C) No one on Earth can snoop
• Answer:
  • "Winner, moon water for dinner. And the answer is A. The Artemis camp will be located on the lunar south pole...offering easy access to frozen water. Moon water." – Mindy [15:05]
  • Fact: Sunlight for power, shadow for water ice—making the lunar south pole a strategic spot for future moon missions.

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Memorable Quotes & Fun Moments

• April Fools' Prank:

  • “Introducing the state of the art, never before seen, heard, or wanted jar of farts.” – Mindy [00:12]
  • “April Fools, Guy Razzie.” – Mindy [00:58]
  • Sets a light and silly tone for the episode.

• Gravity Humor:

  • “Winner, winner, gravity for dinner.” – Mindy [04:31]
  • “Try to run in extreme gravity.” – Mindy [05:23]

• Kids as Science Contestants:

  • Each round features a real kid’s voice sharing the answer, making the show inclusive and interactive.

• Physical Challenges:

  • Playful prompts for listeners who guess incorrectly, like “wiggle like a radio wave” [09:51] and “squeeze all your mass into the size of an atom” [07:32] add humor and engagement.

• Black Hole Spaghetti Factory Ad Parody:

  • “Here at the Black Hole Spaghetti Factory, we believe that anything can be spaghetti...when you’re here, you’re spaghetti.” [10:00]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:19] Round 1: Black Holes Warp Space and Time
• [05:32] Round 2: Atom-Sized, Mountain-Mass Black Holes
• [07:42] Round 3: Event Horizon Telescope and First Picture
• [14:11] Bonus Round: Artemis Base Camp and Moon Water
• [00:12] April Fools’ Joke (Jar of Farts)
• [10:00] Black Hole Spaghetti Factory (Ad Parody)

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Tone & Style

• The episode is upbeat, kid-friendly, and packed with jokes, playful challenges, and sound effects. Mindy and Guy Raz maintain an enthusiastic, conversational delivery aimed at sparking curiosity and laughter in kids and families.

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Conclusion

Two Whats?! And A Wow! succeeds in making complex space science topics accessible and engaging for young listeners. By combining interactive gameplay, real kids’ voices, and memorable facts about black holes, Mindy and Guy Raz create an experience where learning feels like play—and every scientific "wow" is celebrated with energy and fun.

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“Until then, keep on wowing!” – Mindy Thomas [17:02]

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Transcript

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, Wowzer fams Mindy and Guy Razzie here. And before we start the show, we have a little announcement for you.

[Guy Raz]

We just got a brand new item in stock at our shop.

[Mindy Thomas]

Introducing the state of the art, never before seen, heard or wanted jar of farts.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Do you or a loved one enjoy the smell of a fresh toot?

[Bongo]

No.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, then you're not gonna like this. Each wow in the World Zara Farts features the latest vacuum sealing technology to preserve the tooth's original odor so your nose will be so full of sulfur the second your sniffer gets a whiff of it.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, this is gross. No one's gonna wanna buy this.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's exactly what market research said. But I think.

[Guy Raz]

Wait a minute. What's Today's date? It's April 1, isn't it?

[Mindy Thomas]

April Fools. Guy Razzie.

[Guy Raz]

So we're not selling jars? Of course.

[Mindy Thomas]

Of course not. But we do have some stem toys that toot.

[Guy Raz]

Toot Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Like our wow in the World High flying air rocket. It's got a toot nozzle for when you wanna let her rip. And our wow in the World Amazing human body kit comes with a toot whistle too. And not to toot our own horn here, but we've got lots of stem toys that will wow the kids in your life who love science and the ones who don't yet grownups.

[Guy Raz]

Visit Tinkercast.com to shop the wow. Now that's Tinkercast.com shop. Now back to the show. And now for everyone's second favorite game show after Milky Way All Stars.

[Reggie]

It's two what's and the wow. With your hosts, Mindy and guy rats. 2 what's 2? What? 2 what's 2 what's 2 what's 2What's 2 what's and a wow?

[Mindy Thomas]

Hello and welcome to 2 what's in a wow.

[Reggie]

2 what's in a wow.

[Guy Raz]

The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what's and the category or three theme for today is Black Holes. 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 black holes. But.

[Announcer]

And this is a big but.

[Mindy Thomas]

Only one of those statements will be a true wow. The other two, just a couple of made up whats.

[Guy Raz]

Amy Trout. If you guess correctly, well, congratulations, you win a point.

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Reggie]

Woo hoo.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, everyone, ready to start the game?

[Mindy Thomas]

Great. Then let's do it.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, round one. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, Black holes stay perfectly still in space.

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it B? A black hole's gravity is so strong that it can warp space and time.

[Guy Raz]

Or is it C? Black holes can even be found on white gym socks.

[Mindy Thomas]

When you think you have the correct answer, yell it into the void of space.

[Reggie]

Hey, psst.

[Mindy Thomas]

Reggie, cue the thinking music.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Contestants (Cole, Jessie, Oliver)]

My wow is that black hole's gravity is so strong that it can warp space and time.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, winner, gravity for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you, Cole. Contestants, if you guessed the answer A, that a black hole's gravity is so strong, strong it can warp space and time. Well, congratulations. You found the winning wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Black holes are objects in space with extremely strong gravity. This means that anything near a black hole will be sucked into its center. Even light, which is basically the fastest thing in the universe, can't escape a black hole.

[Guy Raz]

Black holes can create curved fields of gravity and things around it can stretch like spaghetti or squish like pancakes. Even space itself. Time also ticks slower around a black hole, which is called time dilation.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop, and try to run in extreme gravity.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, time for round two. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, some black holes are actually blue?

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it B? Black holes are also called cosmic toilets.

[Guy Raz]

Or is it C, the smallest black hole is as small as an atom and weighs as much as a mountain.

[Mindy Thomas]

When you think you have the correct answer, yell, my brain is super massive. Hey, Reggie, cue the thinking music.

[Guy Raz]

And time is up. And joining us by phone, it's Jessie from California. Jessie, please reveal the winning wow.

[Contestants (Cole, Jessie, Oliver)]

Hi, Mindy Guy. Raz. My name is Jesse, and my wow in the world is that the smallest black hole is as small as an atom and weighs as much as a mountain.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, Winner, atoms for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

That's right, Jessie Wowzers. If you guessed C, that the smallest black hole is as small as an atom and weighs as much as a mountain, you found the winning wow. Congratulations.

[Mindy Thomas]

The reason that black holes have such strong gravity is because they are incredibly dense. This means that black holes have a huge amount of mass or stuff packed into a pretty small amount of space.

[Guy Raz]

Scientists believe that the smallest kinds of black holes are the Size of a single atom. So small they're microscopic. But because they're so dense, these atom sized black holes weigh as much as a mountain.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop and squeeze all your mass into the size of an atom.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, time for round three. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, scientists used eight telescopes around the world to take the first picture of a black hole?

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it B, the closest black hole to earth is about 400 light years away.

[Guy Raz]

Or is it C, objects that are sucked into black holes come out of other black holes somewhere else in the universe.

[Mindy Thomas]

When you think you have the correct answer, scream holy black, holy. I'm on a rollie thinking Music, please.

[Guy Raz]

And time is up. And joining us by phone, it's Oliver from Kansas to reveal the winning wow. Oliver, give us the answer.

[Contestants (Cole, Jessie, Oliver)]

Hi Mindy and Guy Raz. My wow in the world is that scientists use eight telescopes working together around the world to take a first picture of a black hole.

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, winner, telescopes for dinner.

[Guy Raz]

That's right, Oliver. Wowzers. If you guessed a that scientists used eight telescopes around the world to take the first picture of a black hole, well, congratulations. You found the winning wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

We can't actually see black holes because no light can escape from them. But we can send radio waves into space to gather information about them.

[Guy Raz]

Scientists from NASA worked for over 10 years on creating the Event Horizon Telescope, which is a network of eight radio telescopes around the world. These telescopes gathered images of which were pieced together and fed into a computer program. And in 2019, we got to see the first ever picture of a black hole.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop and wiggle like a radio wave. And now it's time to take a moment to thank our sponsors. Today's show is brought to you in part by the Black Hole Spaghetti Factory. Here at the Black Hole Spaghetti Factory, we believe that anything can be spaghetti. Try our comet Carbonara or our planet Puttanesca. And if you finish a spaghettified neutron star in under an hour, it's free. The Black Hole Spaghetti Factory. When you're here, you're spaghetti.

[Guy Raz]

All right, thank you, Black Hole Spaghetti Factory. Now let's take a quick break and hear some other Important Messages for Grown

[Announcer]

Ups 2 what's in a while A. Be right back. Grown Ups, this message is for you.

[Bongo]

You're listening, Bongo in the big two in the morning on kwow. Hey Bongo, guess what time it is. Looks to be about 7:40am no. It's time for Big Teeth's big favorite.

[Reggie]

Big favorite? Oh yeah.

[Bongo]

The part of the show we and you Big Toot. Hit us with your favorite new song. What you got for us today? Alright, today's big favorite is a song from a new artist called wow in the World. Well, what's the song? It's called the scientifically most danceable song in the whole wide world. Wow, that's a. A big title. Yeah. Let me spin you up a clip.

[Reggie]

A Wide World, the scientifically most danceable danceable song.

[Bongo]

Whoa too. That was totally rockin'. Where can we listen to the rest of the song? Anywhere you get your tunes, Bongo. They're out on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you like to spin your tracks. Well, thanks for tuning in to Big Two's big favorite here on Bongo in the Big two in the morning on kwow. Bye bye now. Later.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey Wowzer fams. Mindy here and before we start the show. Oh, sorry about that. I forgot to put it on silent. Hey, wait a second. It's an email from us. Check it out, Reg. Let's see here. It says we've got episode recommendations, free STEM activities to try out at home. The latest news about what's happening at Tinkercast. Pretty bonker balls, huh? Here, I'll help you sign up. So you and the grown ups will just go to tinkercast.com and put in your first and last names and email address. Wait, Reggie, I just realized I don't know your last name. Really? Is that with a silent G or a silent Q?

[Reggie]

Huh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Who knew? Let's see here. Oh, and you're not a robot, right? Sorry, just had to double check. Ok, you are all signed up grown ups. You can sign up for our Tinkercats newsletter too. It's full of ideas on how to get some extra wow to your family's life. Visit tinkercast.comemail to sign up today. That's tinkercast.comemail. that's it. And now let's get on with the show.

[Announcer]

That's it. Now back to the show.

[Guy Raz]

Welcome back to Two what's and a wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Guy Raz]

What was that?

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Guy Raz]

You're about to play laser tag.

[Bongo]

Nope.

[Mindy Thomas]

It's time for today's Bonkerballs bonus round. If you listen to our wow in the World episode titled Rocket Dream An Artemis Adventure, you'll know the answer to this one. And the Bunkerball's Bonus question is the Artemis Base camp will be located on the southernmost point of the moon. But why is it A, it's where astronauts can find moon water.

[Guy Raz]

Or is it B, it's not as crowded as the rest of the moon.

[Mindy Thomas]

Or is it C, no one from Earth can look up and see and snoop on you. And joining us with today's answer, it's Reggie. Reggie, tell us what's the winning wow.

[Announcer]

Winner?

[Mindy Thomas]

Winner, moon water for dinner. And the answer is a. The Artemis camp will be located on the lunar south pole near the dark side of the moon. This area provides enough sunlight to power the base while providing enough darkness near the dark side of the moon, offering easy access to frozen water. Moon water.

[Guy Raz]

Well, congratulations to all of our winning wowzers. Mindy, what's today's prize?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, Guy Raz, today's winning wowzers will all be receiving their very own space junk short stack from the intergalactic House of Pancakes.

[Guy Raz]

Wow, Mindy, that actually sounds. Sounds like a pretty great prize. Do they have blueberries?

[Mindy Thomas]

No, but they do explode.

[Bongo]

What?

[Reggie]

Cue the prize cannon.

[Mindy Thomas]

Fire away.

[Reggie]

Ah, my ears

[Mindy Thomas]

experience black hole detonation like never before. Beat them up before they're crushed out of existence. And don't forget the syrup.

[Guy Raz]

No more restaurant chains for you, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Aw, man, I was just about to franchise.

[Guy Raz]

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 of activities.

[Mindy Thomas]

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.com membership that's Tinkercast.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 weekend with Dennis.

[Guy Raz]

And again on Friday for a new episode of two what's and a wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Until then, keep on wowing.

[Reggie]

Two what's two what's up? Two W's two W. Two what? Two what? Two W and a Whoa.

[Guy Raz]

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 with collaboration from our head writer, Kenny Curtis.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

Special thanks to Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall, Lizzie Froehlich, Kristin Yang, Thuy 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.

[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 [e-mail] and

[Mindy Thomas]

to keep the WOW rolling After you finish this episode you can Visit [e-mail] 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 Ups.

[Guy Raz]

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and twitter @wowintheworld and our email address is [e-mail] finally, if you're a kid

[Mindy Thomas]

with a big wow to share, it could be used on an upcoming episode of 2 what's in a wow? Call us at 1-8887-WOW. Wow.

[Guy Raz]

Thanks again for listening and playing along. Meet us back here next Friday or every Monday for Wow in the World.

[Reggie]

Wow in the World wow in the World Wow in the World Wow in the World Wow in the World Wow

[Announcer]

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