Wow in the World: Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Wow Around the World (April 11, 2025)
In the April 11, 2025 episode of "Wow in the World", hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz bring listeners an exhilarating blend of science, fun, and interactive gameplay through their engaging segment, "Two Whats?! And A Wow!" This episode, themed around global landmarks, offers a deep dive into fascinating facts, captivating stories, and playful competition that delights both kids and their grown-up companions.
1. Exciting Announcement: Live Bonkerballs Competition in Seattle
The episode kicks off with Mindy Thomas sharing thrilling news about an upcoming live event in Seattle. She announces that she and her friends—Carlie Q, Dennis, Grandma GeForce, and Thomas Fingerling—are participating in the Bonkerballs competition game show. This live event invites kids to transform their wildest ideas into astonishing inventions on stage.
Mindy Thomas [00:00]: "Seattle. It's time to make it wow. That's right. This June, me and my friends Carlie Q, Dennis, Grandma GeForce and Thomas Fingerling are headed to Seattle for our live Bonkerballs competition game show where kids turn their wildest and weirdest ideas into jaw-dropping inventions live on stage."
Tickets become available on April 7th for members of the World Organization of Wowzers, with general sales commencing on April 11th. Mindy's enthusiastic invitation underscores the event's appeal to creativity and innovation, setting an inspiring tone for the episode.
2. Main Segment: 2What's – Testing Landmark Knowledge
The heart of the episode centers around "2What's", a scientific game show designed to distinguish between fascinating truths ("wows") and fabricated facts ("whats") about famous landmarks worldwide. Grandma GeForce serves as the co-host, guiding young contestants through three riveting rounds.
a. Round One: The Great Wall of China
The first round challenges listeners with three statements about the Great Wall of China:
- A: The Great Wall of China was made of stone, bricks, wood, and sticky rice.
- B: The Taj Mahal is taller than the Empire State Building.
- C: The Sydney Opera House is home to the world's only all-wombat orchestra.
Grandma GeForce [05:40]: "When you think you have the correct answer, yell out the capital of every country in the world."
Contestant Mia from Texas correctly identifies statement A as the true "wow," revealing a surprising fact about the Great Wall's construction. She explains:
Mindy Thomas [06:44]: "Building the Great Wall of China was one of the largest construction projects in human history... a surprising ingredient was sticky rice."
This revelation highlights the ancient ingenuity in using sticky rice mixed with lime to create a stronger, more water-resistant mortar.
b. Round Two: The Eiffel Tower's Seasonal Growth
The second round features statements about the Eiffel Tower:
- A: The insides of the pyramids of Giza are covered.
- B: The Eiffel Tower grows 15 centimeters in the summer.
- C: The Leaning Tower of Pisa is made out of pizza.
Grandma GeForce [08:21]: "And time is up. And joining us by phone to reveal the winning wow, it's Glenn from Texas."
Contestant Glenn from Texas correctly selects B, discovering that the Eiffel Tower undergoes thermal expansion, growing taller during the summer months due to the heat affecting its iron structure.
Mindy Thomas [09:11]: "The Eiffel Tower... when it gets hot in the summer, that iron increases volume... the Eiffel Tower grows about 15 centimeters."
This fact not only astonishes listeners but also serves as an excellent example of how temperature can impact architectural structures.
c. Round Three: The Statue of Liberty's Original Color
The final round presents statements about the Statue of Liberty:
- A: The Statue of Liberty was originally brown.
- B: Touching the Hollywood sign will magically turn you into a movie star.
- C: Machu Picchu was built with the same kind of sticky rice mortar as the Great Wall of China.
Grandma GeForce [10:54]: "My wow in the world is that the Statue of Liberty was originally copper brown."
Contestant Ethan from North correctly identifies statement A, unveiling that the statue's original copper color has transformed over time due to oxidation.
Mindy Thomas [11:12]: "When the statue was first unveiled all the way back in 1886, it was that same copper brown color... by 1906, the statue's metal exterior had become its now signature green."
This transformation emphasizes the natural chemical processes affecting large metal structures exposed to the elements.
3. Bonkerballs Bonus Round: Smart Glove Technology
After the main rounds, the episode transitions to a bonus challenge linked to their previous episode, "The Handshake Shack." The hosts delve into hand tracking technology utilized in smart gloves.
Grandma GeForce [14:25]: "What's another function that this smart glove technology is being used for?"
Listeners are presented with three options, and the correct answer—A: Interpreting sign language and reading it aloud through a computer—is revealed by Mindy Thomas.
Mindy Thomas [15:02]: "The smart gloves, developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia are using the technology to help translate sign language into spoken words in real time."
This segment not only educates listeners about cutting-edge technology but also showcases its real-world applications in enhancing communication for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
4. Engaging Interludes and Interactive Elements
Throughout the episode, Mindy and Grandma GeForce infuse humor and interactive prompts, encouraging listeners to participate actively via phone-ins, foreign language cheers, and playful physical challenges for incorrect answers. These elements foster a lively and inclusive atmosphere, making scientific learning both entertaining and memorable.
For instance, after each correct answer, Grandma GeForce humorously remarks:
Grandma GeForce [06:31]: "That's right, Mia. Contestants, if you guessed the answer A... you've found the winning wow."
Conversely, incorrect guesses lead to amusing physical tasks, adding a dynamic and engaging dimension to the show.
5. Conclusion and Community Engagement
As the episode wraps up, Mindy and Grandma GeForce extend invitations to listeners to join the World Organization of Wowzers and explore various educational activities. They also highlight Tinkercast's STEM toys available at Walmart, designed to inspire future scientists.
Mindy Thomas [13:12]: "And now you can find our toys at select Walmart locations near you and online@walmart.com."
The hosts emphasize the importance of community and continuous learning, encouraging both kids and grown-ups to stay curious and engaged with the world around them.
"Two Whats?! And A Wow! - Wow Around the World" successfully combines education with entertainment, leveraging interactive gameplay to illuminate remarkable scientific facts about global landmarks. Through playful challenges and insightful discussions, Mindy Thomas and Grandma GeForce inspire young minds to explore, question, and marvel at the wonders of our world.