Two Whats?! And A Wow! - You Snooze… You Win!

Summary

Wow in the World Presents: Two Whats?! And A Wow! - "You Snooze… You Win!"

Date: December 19, 2025
Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz
Theme: The Science of Sleep (Family-Friendly Science Game Show)

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Episode Overview

This week’s “Two Whats?! And A Wow!” dives into the fascinating world of sleep. Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz bring listeners through a playful, science-packed game show, challenging listeners to separate weird sleep myths from wow-worthy sleep facts. With fun physical challenges for incorrect guesses, plenty of playful banter, and kid call-ins to announce the answers, the show keeps kids and their grown-ups laughing and learning about the wondrous science of snoozing.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Game Structure

• The show features three rounds of scientific sleep questions.
• Each round includes:
  • Three statements about sleep.
  • Only one “Wow”—the true fact—per round.
  • Kids are encouraged to participate by shouting out their answers and, if wrong, by completing a goofy physical challenge.

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Round 1: How Fast Do We Fall Asleep?

[03:52 – 06:00]

Statements:

1. Humans sleep best during a full moon.
2. The average person falls asleep in about 7 minutes. (Winner!)
3. We go through 6 different stages of sleep every night.

Wow Answer:

• “The average person falls asleep in about seven minutes.”
• Caller Seven from Alaska shares:
  • “Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My wow in the world is that the average person falls asleep in seven minutes.” [04:58]
• Explanation: This transition period is called sleep latency and is considered a “creative sweet spot” where the brain might spark new ideas.
• Memorable Moment:
  • Mindy (jokingly): “Winner, winner clocks for dinner.” [05:09]
• Physical Challenge (for wrong answers):
  • “Stop, drop and sleepwalk around the room.” [05:51]

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Round 2: The Science of Dreams

[06:00 – 08:00]

Statements:

1. The average dream lasts 20 minutes. (Winner!)
2. About a third of humans dream in black and white.
3. We mostly dream about people we’ve never met.

Wow Answer:

• “The average dream lasts about 20 minutes.”
• Caller Jack from Colorado reveals:
  • “My wow in the world today is that the average dream lasts about 20 minutes.” [07:00]
  • Mindy: “Winner, winner dreamsicles for dinner.” [07:07]
• Explanation:
  • Sleep occurs in cycles (about 90 minutes each). Most dreaming, lasting ~20 minutes, happens during the rapid eye movement (REM) phase. Some dreams can go for an hour!
  • Guy Raz: “[REM sleep] is called that because our eyes move around under our eyelids.” [07:38]
• Physical Challenge:
  • “Act out that dream where you accidentally wore your pajamas to school!” [07:49]

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Round 3: Sleeping Animals

[08:00 – 11:00]

Statements:

1. Some birds sleep while flying. (Winner!)
2. Large dogs have fewer dreams than small dogs.
3. Sharks never sleep.

Wow Answer:

• “Some birds sleep while flying.”
• Caller Riley from Georgia explains:
  • “Hi, my name is Riley. My wow is that some birds sleep while flying.” [10:10]
• Explanation:
  • Frigate birds can sleep in the air while flying over oceans for months. They nap for about 10 seconds at a time, totaling roughly 45 minutes a day—often with one side of their brain awake for safety.
  • Guy Raz: “They take 10-second naps while flying... and they'll often sleep with one side of their brain still awake.” [10:47]
  • Mindy: “Winner, winner, night owls for dinner.” [10:17]
• Physical Challenge:
  • “Stop, drop, and do a barrel roll.” [11:00]

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Bonkerballs Bonus Round

[11:17 – 12:25]

• Silly rapid-fire: “What came first, the pigeon or the egg?”
• Mindy: “You say potato, I say potahto.” [12:11]
• Prize for winners: A “gumball getter” (aka a quarter).
  • Guy Raz: “Oh, you mean a quarter.” [12:09]
  • Mindy: “Make it rain gumball getters for everyone!” [12:18]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dreaming After Cheese:

  • Dennis: “Last night I dreamed we were water skiing down a river made of salsa verde and we were being chased by robot chinchillas. What do you think it means?” [01:30]
  • Reggie: “You need to stop eating cheese before bed.”

• Hosts’ Banter:

  • Guy Raz: “Could we start the show now?”
  • Dennis: “Do you need some cheese?” [02:05]

• Creative Transition:

  • Mindy: “You know the old saying, early to bed to eat all the cheese. This rhyme brought to you by the Dairy Board of Trustees.” [01:42]

• Encouraging Exploration:

  • Mindy: “When you write your dreams down, you can have a record of them forever.” [12:50]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:52] – Start of Round 1
• [05:09] – Explanation of Sleep Latency
• [06:00] – Start of Round 2
• [07:00] – Dream Duration Wow
• [08:00] – Start of Round 3
• [10:10] – Birds Sleeping in Flight Wow
• [11:17] – Bonkerballs Bonus Round
• [12:38] – Operation Dream Diary Challenge

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Operation Dream Diary: Family Science Challenge

[12:29 – 13:10]

• Mindy and Guy encourage listeners to keep a “dream diary” by keeping paper and crayons by the bed, writing or drawing their dreams as soon as they wake up.
• “We forget 90% of our dreams within the first 20 minutes of waking up.”
• Submit your dream drawings/stories at tinkercast.com/share.

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Closing Notes

• Theme/Tone: Fun, whimsical, brimming with science facts and playful antics—a perfect introduction to sleep science for families.
• Call to Action: Tune in Mondays for “Wow in the World” and Fridays for more “Two Whats?! And A Wow!”
• Overall Message: Sleep isn’t just rest—it’s packed with fascinating science, surprises, and, of course, lots of WOWs.

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For more science adventures, visit tinkercast.com

Transcript

[A]

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.

[B]

Hey, Wowzer fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show, I gotta cross a few items off my holiday to do list. Okay, let's see here. Deck the gingerbread halls.

[C]

Check.

[B]

Plant candy canes in Guy Raz's micro garden.

[C]

Check.

[B]

Turn Guy Raz's micro house into a snow globe.

[C]

Almost. Check.

[B]

We're doing that one tomorrow, Reg. And last but not least, go holiday shopping. That's right, Reg. We still have a little bit more time to get the wow delivered. Grown Ups, if you want to add some awe and wonder this holiday season, check out our new wow in the World stem toys. Whether your Wowzer is zooming in on cells with our microscope and biology kit or zooming in on stars with our telescope and astronomy kit, there is so much wow in the world that you can discover right at home. Grown Ups, you can shop the wow now for kids in your life who love science and the ones who don't yet, just visit Amazon.com wow. That's it. And now let's get back to the show.

[D]

Hey, Reggie, guess what? You were in my dream last night.

[C]

Yeah?

[D]

Last night I dreamed we were water skiing down a river made of salsa verde and we were being chased by robot chinchillas. What do you think it means? What? What do you mean I need to stop eating cheese before bed. Oh, and I suppose next you'll tell me I need to stop eating cheese in bed. Reggie, it's perfectly fine to eat cheese in bed. You know the old saying, early to bed to eat all the cheese. This rhyme brought to you by the Dairy Board of Trustees.

[A]

Uh, Dennis.

[D]

Oh, hi, Guy Raz. What can I do for you? Do you need some cheese?

[A]

Um, could we start the show now?

[D]

Oh, right.

[C]

Ahem. You there.

[D]

Stop the watches. And you tumble the weeds. And Reggie, slide the whistles. We're on in three, two, one.

[A]

And now for everyone's favorite game show, it's two once and a Whoa.

[C]

With your hosts, Mindy and guy R. 2 what's 2? What? 2 what's 2? What's 2? W 2 what's and a wow.

[B]

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

[C]

2 what's and wow.

[A]

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

[B]

You know it. Wowzers. In each of our three rounds today, Guy Raz and I will present you with three scientific statements about sleep. But this is a big but. Only one of those statements will be a true wow. The other two, just a couple of made up.

[C]

What?

[A]

In each round, if you guess correctly, congratulations, you win a point.

[B]

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

[C]

Shh.

[A]

Okay, everyone ready to start the game?

[B]

Great. Let's get to it.

[A]

All right, round one. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, humans sleep best during a full moon?

[B]

Or is it B, the average person falls asleep in about 7 minutes?

[A]

Or is it C? We go through 6 different stages of sleep every night.

[B]

And when you think you have the correct answer, scream, hey, where are my fuzzy slippers?

[C]

Psst.

[B]

Reggie, cue the thinking.

[A]

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

[B]

And to do just that, it's seven from Alaska. Seven from Alaska. Tell us, what's the wow?

[E]

Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name is Seven and my wow in the world is that the average person falls asleep in seven minutes.

[B]

Winner. Winner clocks for dinner.

[A]

Thank you. Seven contestants. If you guess the answer B that the average person falls asleep in about seven minutes, well, congratulations. You found the winning wow.

[B]

When it's time for bed, you don't fall asleep this time. Second, your head hits the pillow. It takes about seven minutes for your brain and body to transition from being awake to conking out.

[A]

The amount of time it takes you to fall asleep is called sleep latency. It's believed to be a creative sweet spot or a moment when your brain might experience a spark of creativity.

[B]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop and sleepwalk around the room.

[A]

Okay, round two. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, the average dream lasts 20 minutes?

[B]

Or is it B? About a third of humans dream in black and white.

[A]

Or is it C? We mostly dream about people we have never met.

[B]

When you think you have the correct answer, scream, I need a midnight snack. Hey, Reg. Thinking music, please.

[A]

And time is up. Joining us by phone, it's Jack from Colorado. Jack, please reveal the winning wow. Hello.

[E]

My wow in the world today is that the average dream lasts about 20 minutes.

[C]

Wow.

[E]

Isn't that fascinating?

[C]

Winner, winner.

[B]

Dreamsicles for dinner.

[A]

That's right, Jack. Wowzers. If you guessed A that the average dream lasts 20 minutes, you found the winning wow. Congratulations.

[B]

When we sleep, we go through cycles which last about 90 minutes each. Our dreams happen in the last part of the cycle and the average dream is about 20 minutes long. But some can last up to a whole hour.

[A]

The part of the sleep cycle when dreams happen is known as rapid eye movement or REM sleep. It's called that because our eyes move around under our eyelids.

[B]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop and act out that dream where you accidentally wore your pajamas to school.

[A]

Okay, round three. Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow? Is it A, some birds sleep while flying?

[B]

Or is it B, Large dogs have fewer dreams than small dogs.

[A]

Or is it C, Sharks never sleep.

[B]

Before we reveal the winning wow, let's take a moment to thank our sponsors. Today's show is brought to you by. Nap time. Just a 20 minute nap in the middle of the day can help you feel refreshed and recharged. It's quick, effective and absolutely free. Let's hear from some satisfied customers. There you have it, folks. Nap time. It's bedtime in the daytime.

[A]

All right, thank you. Nap time. Now let's take a quick break and hear some other important messages for grownups.

[F]

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

[C]

That's it.

[F]

Now back to the show.

[A]

Welcome back to two what's and a wow.

[C]

Two what's and a wow.

[B]

The scientific game show that separates the wows. From the what's.

[A]

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

[B]

And that question was which of the following statements is is a true scientific wow? Is it A, some birds sleep while flying?

[A]

Or was it B, large dogs have shorter dreams than small dogs.

[B]

Or is it C, sharks never sleep.

[A]

And joining us by phone to reveal the answer, it's Riley from Georgia. Riley, tell us the wow.

[E]

Hi, my name is Riley. My wow is that Some birds sleep while flying.

[B]

Winner, winner, night owls for dinner.

[A]

Thank you, Riley. Contestants, if you guessed the answer A, that some birds sleep while flying, well, congratulations, you found the winning wow.

[B]

Sea birds, called frigate birds travel long distances over the ocean and can stay in the air for up to two months. And because they can't swim, they can't land in the water to take a snooze.

[A]

So Instead they take 10 second naps while flying, giving them about 45 minutes of sleep per day. And they'll often sleep with one side of their brain still awake.

[B]

Now, if you did not get that answer correct, you must stop, drop and do a barrel roll. What was that that sound can mean only one thing.

[A]

Mercury is in retrograde.

[C]

Nope.

[B]

It's time for today's Bonkerballs bonus round. And the question for this round is, what came first first? The pigeon or the egg?

[A]

Don't you mean the chicken or the egg?

[B]

Yeah, that's what I said.

[A]

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

[B]

Guy Raz Today's winning wowzers will all receive their very own gumball getter.

[A]

Gumball getter?

[B]

Yeah, like, you know when there's a gumball machine and you really want a gumball?

[A]

Well, I actually prefer naturally sweetened agar agar jelly myself.

[B]

Let so you open your wallet and you pull out one of these shiny little beauties and you shove it into the machine and you get a gumball.

[A]

Oh, you mean a quarter.

[B]

You say potato, I say potahto. Hey, Reg, cue the prize cannon.

[C]

Fire away. Hooray.

[B]

Make it rain gumball getters for everyone.

[A]

Well, that's all the time we have for today.

[B]

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

[A]

We forget 90% of our dreams within the first 20 minutes of waking up. But when you write your dreams down, you can have a record of them forever.

[B]

For this, we challenge you to put a piece of paper, a pencil, and some crayons next to your bed before going to sleep. Then, when you wake up in the morning, write or draw the dream you just had.

[A]

Remember to record your dream the moment you wake up so you can capture as much as possible.

[B]

Don't forget to take a photo or video. Grown Ups. You can upload pictures and videos to [e-mail] share and be sure to come.

[A]

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

[B]

Until then, keep on wowing.

[C]

2 what's 2 what's 2 Whats?

[B]

Grown Ups. If you like wow in the World, you can listen early and ad free right now on Wonder.

[A]

Join Wondery in the Wondery app or on Wondery Kids plus on Apple Podcasts prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[B]

And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey@wondery.

[A]

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

[B]

Our writers are Ruth Morrison and Anna Zagorski.

[A]

Sound, production and design is by Marian Lozano with help from our supervising producer, Jed Anderson.

[B]

Special thanks to Steph Sosa, Henry Moskville, Rebecca Caban, Sana, Ella Mohammad and all of the other Tinkerers at Tinkercast hq.

[A]

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.

[B]

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 wow Think and Tinker Playbook and learn about all of our other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast Grown Ups.

[A]

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @2whats and a wow and our email address is hello inkercast.com finally.

[B]

If you're a kid with a big wow to share, it could be used on an upcoming episode of 2 what's in a wow? Call us at 1-888-7-WOW. Wow.

[A]

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

[C]

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

[F]

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