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)
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.
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.
Round 1: How Fast Do We Fall Asleep?
[03:52 – 06:00]
Statements:
- Humans sleep best during a full moon.
- The average person falls asleep in about 7 minutes. (Winner!)
- 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]
Round 2: The Science of Dreams
[06:00 – 08:00]
Statements:
- The average dream lasts 20 minutes. (Winner!)
- About a third of humans dream in black and white.
- 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]
Round 3: Sleeping Animals
[08:00 – 11:00]
Statements:
- Some birds sleep while flying. (Winner!)
- Large dogs have fewer dreams than small dogs.
- 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]
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]
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]
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
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.
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.
For more science adventures, visit tinkercast.com