Wow in the World: Two Whats?! And A Wow! – We Didn’t Start the Fire!

Podcast: Wow in the World
Episode: Two Whats?! And A Wow! – We Didn’t Start the Fire!
Date: March 6, 2026
Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz
Theme: Fun fire facts, quirky science, and wow-worthy science game show for kids and families.

Episode Overview

This episode of "Two Whats?! And A Wow!" dives into curious and surprising science facts all about fire. Hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz lead a whimsical science game show, challenging listeners to home in on which of three fire-related statements in each round is a true "wow"—while the other two are just made-up “whats.” Special kid guests help reveal the answers, and each round is packed with laughter, friendly challenges, and memorable scientific facts. A Bonkerballs Bonus Round covers the science experiment Biosphere 2.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

How the Game Works

• Three rounds of fire-science trivia
• For each round: 3 statements → Only one is true (“wow”), the other two are funny fabrications
• If you guess wrong, you must do a silly physical challenge

Round 1: Forest Fire Facts

Choices:

• A) There’s a type of lizard in South America that can spit fire
• B) Forest fires travel faster uphill than downhill
• C) Dennis once auditioned for the role of "Fire" in the band Earth, Wind

Winning Wow:
B) Forest fires travel faster uphill than downhill

• Quote:
  • “Forest fires tend to spread in the same direction as the wind, which usually is uphill.” – Guy Raz (03:28)
  • “When smoke and heat rise uphill, it makes the area of the Slope much more likely to catch fire.” – Mindy Thomas (03:49)
• Physical Challenge for wrong answers: Stop, drop, and jump up and down in slow motion

Timestamps: 02:05 – 04:05

Round 2: Unusual Ways to Make Fire

Choices:

• A) The first recorded fire extinguisher was patented in the 1500s
• B) Before the birthday tradition of lighting candles on a cake, people used to decorate their cakes with used cotton swabs
• C) Camel poop is used to make fire

Winning Wow:
C) Camel poop is used to make fire

• Quotes:
  • “Because camels like to eat lots of vegetables, they have a pretty good amount of cellulose in their dung, making their poops extra flammable.” – Mindy Thomas (05:28)
  • “Some believe that camel dung could potentially be an alternative fuel source, reducing our coal usage and helping our planet.” – Guy Raz (05:38)
  • Mindy delivers a playful line: “Or to put it another way, this poop is on fire.” (05:48)
• Physical Challenge: Stop, drop, and do your best impression of a ketchup bottle

Timestamps: 04:05 – 06:05

Round 3: The Science of Extinguishing Fire

Choices:

• A) Fire can be put out by sound
• B) Grandma G-Force wears flame-retardant underpants because her toots are so flammable
• C) You can start a fire using only water

Winning Wow:
A) Fire can be put out by sound

• Insight:
  • Two engineering students created an “acoustic fire extinguisher” using sound waves to push oxygen away from the source of a flame
  • “Fire can actually be put out by sound, but it has to be a very specific type of sound.” – Mindy Thomas (07:21)
  • “Fire needs oxygen in order to burn, so without oxygen, the fire won't burn.” – Mindy Thomas (07:45)
• Physical Challenge: Stop, drop, and touch your toes with your elbows

Timestamps: 06:05 – 08:02

Bonkerballs Bonus Round: Biosphere 2

• Question: What happened to the researchers inside Biosphere 2 two months into the experiment?
  • A) Ran out of toilet paper
  • B) Bacteria got into the crop soil, starving the researchers of both food and oxygen
  • C) A leak in the ceiling ruined the entire experiment
• Winning Wow:
  • B) “Somehow bacteria found its way into Biosphere 2, wreaking havoc on the researchers’ crops. This not only meant the researchers food supplies were diminished, but the bacteria also sucked up all the oxygen from the surrounding air.” – Mindy Thomas (12:04)
• Timestamps: 10:43 – 12:22

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Or to put it another way, this poop is on fire.” – Mindy Thomas (05:48)
• “Fire can actually be put out by sound, but it has to be a very specific type of sound.” – Mindy Thomas (07:21)
• “Forest fires tend to spread in the same direction as the wind, which usually is uphill.” – Guy Raz (03:28)

Prize & Wrap-up

• Prizes for winners: Their “very own banana clothes” (with Guy Raz quickly clarifying, “I think you mean banana peels,” and reminders to compost) (12:28)
• Encouragement for teachers: Try Tinkerclass, a new learning platform to get kids excited about science (13:09)
• Reminder: Keep wowing and come back for more episodes throughout the week!

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Game Introduction: 01:14 – 02:05
• Round 1 (Forest Fires): 02:05 – 04:05
• Round 2 (Camel Poop): 04:05 – 06:05
• Round 3 (Sound Puts Out Fire): 06:05 – 08:02
• Bonkerballs Bonus (Biosphere 2): 10:43 – 12:22
• Prize Announcement: 12:28
• Wrap-up, Membership, and Teacher Shoutouts: 13:09 – End

Summary

This episode delivers fire science facts in classic Wow in the World style—upbeat, goofy, and packed with educational tidbits. Mindy and Guy’s chemistry keeps things playful, and the kids’ participation adds energy. Listeners come away learning about how forest fires spread, the surprising uses of camel poop, and futuristic fire-fighting technology—plus a real-life experiment in self-contained survival. Jokes, sound effects, and quirky challenges make science accessible and fun for the whole family.