Two Whats?! And A Wow! People Who Wow Edition – Hank Green – Guess the True Facts about this Science Communicator, YouTuber, Author, and Comedian!

Is this one of nature’s best Halloween costumes? In this spooky episode of Wow in the World, Mindy and Guy Raz embark on a creepy, crawly adventure to uncover the secrets of a newly discovered Amazonian spider species with a seriously spooky superpower! When Guy Raz’s peaceful evening of reading is interrupted by a group of candy-loving chaotic teenagers, he’ll do just about anything to escape the Halloween-like madness... Could pretending to be a dead, fungus-infected spider be the secret to a quiet night? From mysterious rainforest discoveries to hilarious costume chaos, this adventure is packed with spine-chilling science, hilarious hijinks, and a mind-blowing discovery about the amazing ways animals evolve to survive. By connecting laughter to learning, this episode shows how nature can be spookier, and WAY stranger than (science) fiction! Dressed in disguises and demanding “Shenandies or Candies,” Mindy, Dennis, Thomas Fingerling and Gramma G-Force introduce Guy to the bizarre traditions of the “Night of the Living Candy.” When Guy isn’t in the mood for trick-or-treaters, Mindy comes up with a truly wild idea: transform him into a spider that looks like it’s been infected by a deadly zombie fungus! But this isn’t just any creepy-crawly creature. It’s Taczanowskia waska, a newly discovered spider species from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador, that has an extraordinary evolutionary trick up its eight sleeves! Along the way, you’ll discover how scientists identify and name new species, and how an unexpected rainforest encounter led to an incredible spider discovery. You’ll also learn about Cordyceps, a real-life fungus famous for infecting insects and other arthropods, growing strange structures from their bodies, and releasing tiny reproductive particles called spores! But here’s the real WOW: unlike a spider that has actually been infected by the fungus, Taczanowskia waska has horn-like extensions that resemble the fungus’s growths, making the spider look like something straight out of a zombie movie! Could this eerie disguise help the spider avoid predators? Get ready for a whirlwind adventure filled with zombie-fungus spiders, rainforest mysteries, and a costume that Guy Raz will never forget! This is the Who, What, When, Where, Why, How, and WOW in the World of Taczanowskia waska, zombie fungi, and the extraordinary power of evolution, brought to life with humor, creepy-crawly science, and a whole lot of WOW! ✨ Don’t miss the chance to explore even further with Wow in the World: Grownups can visit tinkercast.com/joinwitw to join the World Organization of Wowzers (WOW) and unlock exclusive activities, birthday cards, quarterly mailings, first dibs at events, and a welcome kit with an autographed photo of Mindy & Guy Raz! Plus, Grownups help support our podcast and our mission to create content and experiences that connect laughter to learning, curiosity to innovation and kids to the WOWs in their world! This episode of Wow in the World is a perfect blend of comedy, storytelling, creepy-crawly biology, and evolutionary science, inviting kids and families to discover why one bizarre spider looks like it’s been taken over by zombie fungus—all while laughing, learning, and wowing together. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do chewing gum, Reviewsies, and everlasting storms have in common? This episode of WeWow, the bonkerballs variety show for kids and families from the creators of Wow in the World, has all of that and more. Dennis and Reggie are back with another weekend full of laughs, listener love, and a stormy encore episode that'll have the whole family talking all over again. Whether you're a longtime Wowzer or just tuning in, WeWow on the Weekend is the kind of family variety podcast that makes every car ride, breakfast table, and slow Sunday morning a little more wow-worthy. This week, Dennis and Reggie discuss chewing gum, and read some Reviewsies with Baby Dennis! And if that's not enough, WeWow on the Weekend wraps up with a fan-favorite encore of "The Curious Case of the Everlasting Storm" from Wow in the World—an episode about the mysterious and electrifying Catatumbo Bay Lighting Storm in Venezuela, packed with big ideas, bigger laughs, and the kind of curiosity that makes the whole family lean in. "The Curious Case of the Everlasting Storm" originally aired on July 23rd, 2018, and explores how lightning and thunder occur... and what makes Catatumbo Bay the "most electrifying plave on Earth!" Dennis and Reggie revisit all the wow-worthy moments and bring their signature bonkerballs energy to a topic that's equal parts wild, important, and totally fascinating. WeWow on the Weekend is part of the Tinkercast family of podcasts, created by the award-winning team behind the #1 science podcast for kids and families, Wow in the World. Every weekend, Dennis and his co-host Reggie answer listener questions, respond to fan reviews, play games, and celebrate the best moments from across the Tinkercast universe. It's a talk, talk, talk show unlike any other — and it's always better when YOU'RE part of it. Want to hear your name on WeWow? Send Dennis a question or leave a podcast review for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also leave a message for Dennis at 1-888-7WOW-WOW! Grownups, want to keep the Wow going? Join the World Organization of Wowzers (W.O.W.) at tinkercast.com/joinwewow and your Wowzers will receive quarterly mailings, birthday cards, a welcome kit with a t-shirt, autographed photo of Mindy & Guy Raz, access to 1,000+ digital activities, and exclusive access to members-only events! This episode of WeWow is the perfect family variety podcast for Wowzers of all ages, full of chewing gum, Reviewsies, and lightning storms that will blow your socks off. Originally aired 4/21/24. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do dodgeball, arts and crafts, and exploding ants have in common? This episode of WeWow, the bonkerballs variety show for kids and families from the creators of Wow in the World, has all of that and more. Dennis and Reggie are back with another weekend full of laughs, listener love, and an explosive encore episode that'll have the whole family talking all over again. Whether you're a longtime Wowzer or just tuning in, WeWow on the Weekend is the kind of family variety podcast that makes every car ride, breakfast table, and slow Saturday morning a little more wow-worthy. This week, Reggie shows off his dodgeball tournament medal, and Dennis makes his own during Crafternoon! And if that's not enough, WeWow on the Weekend wraps up with a fan-favorite encore of "Exploding Ants!" from Wow in the World—an episode about a new species of exploding ant that lives in the jungles of Borneo, packed with big ideas, bigger laughs, and the kind of curiosity that makes the whole family lean in. "Exploding Ants!" originally aired on July 16th, 2018, and explores why some ants in Southeast Asia... explode! Dennis and Reggie revisit all the wow-worthy moments and bring their signature bonkerballs energy to a topic that's equal parts wild, important, and totally fascinating. WeWow on the Weekend is part of the Tinkercast family of podcasts, created by the award-winning team behind the #1 science podcast for kids and families, Wow in the World. Every weekend, Dennis and his co-host Reggie answer listener questions, respond to fan reviews, play games, and celebrate the best moments from across the Tinkercast universe. It's a talk, talk, talk show unlike any other — and it's always better when YOU'RE part of it. Want to hear your name on WeWow? Send Dennis a question or leave a podcast review for a chance to be featured on the show! You can also leave a message for Dennis at 1-888-7WOW-WOW! Grownups, want to keep the Wow going? Join the World Organization of Wowzers (W.O.W.) at tinkercast.com/joinwewow and your Wowzers will receive quarterly mailings, birthday cards, a welcome kit with a t-shirt, autographed photo of Mindy & Guy Raz, access to 1,000+ digital activities, and exclusive access to members-only events! This episode of WeWow is the perfect family variety podcast for Wowzers of all ages, full of dodgeball medals, crafts, and exploding ants that will blow your socks off. Originally aired 4/20/24. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Two Whats?! And a Wow, brings you a seasonal favorite fruit: We’re all about pumpkins! Mindy & Guy will carve through things to separate the fall facts from the gourd goofiness. Visit https://bit.ly/3zfwJMc for more details. ✨ Don’t miss the chance to laugh together even more: Grownups can visit tinkercast.com/join-twaaw to join the World Organization of Wowzers (WOW) and unlock exclusive activities, birthday cards, quarterly mailings, first dibs at events, and a welcome kit with an autographed photo of Mindy & Guy Raz! Plus, Grownups help support our podcast and our mission to create content and experiences that connect laughter to learning, curiosity to innovation and kids to the WOWs in their world! This episode of Two Whats?! And A Wow! introduces kids and families to the wows of pumpkins through gameplay, storytelling, and contributions from other curious kids! Originally aired 8/2/24. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How does this little fish cause big problems for an ecosystem? In this ecology adventure about invasive species, freshwater ecosystems, animal behavior, and the surprising power of a pet goldfish, Mindy, Guy Raz, Dennis, Gramma G-Force, and Thomas Fingerling dive into a wild mystery: how could one tiny pet fish grow into a giant aquatic menace capable of disrupting an entire lake? Listen and discover what can happen when a goldfish is released into the wild—and why a pet that seems harmless at home can become a major problem in the wrong environment! This episode shows how every creature plays a role in an ecosystem—and how changing just one part of the system can have ripple effects throughout the whole environment. When Dennis leaves his beloved pet goldfish, Goldibob, with Gramma G-Force for the weekend, she decides Goldibob needs to get out of her fish bowl and experience the big, wide world. What starts as a trip to a nearby pond quickly turns into a full-blown ecological disaster—and a breaking news story! In this episode, kids and families will discover what an ecosystem is and how plants, animals, and their environment depend on one another. They’ll learn why goldfish released into lakes and ponds can grow much larger than they do in aquariums, stir up mud and sediment while feeding along the bottom, make water cloudy, eat tiny creatures like snails and zooplankton, and compete with native fish for food. They’ll also discover how scientists use controlled miniature ecosystems to investigate what happens when an invasive species enters a freshwater environment, and why releasing a pet into the wild can cause unexpected consequences! This is the Who, What, When, Where, Why, How, and WOW of goldfish, invasive species, freshwater ecosystems, food webs, animal behavior, and the surprising science of what happens when a pet fish goes wild! ✨ Don’t miss the chance to explore even further with Wow in the World: Grownups can visit tinkercast.com/join-twaaw to join the World Organization of Wowzers (WOW) and unlock exclusive activities, birthday cards, quarterly mailings, first dibs at events, and a welcome kit with an autographed photo of Mindy & Guy Raz! Plus, Grownups help support our podcast and our mission to create content and experiences that connect laughter to learning, curiosity to innovation and kids to the WOWs in their world! This episode of Wow in the World is a perfect blend of comedy, storytelling, ecology, biology, and environmental science, inviting kids and families to discover how one seemingly harmless pet can have a huge impact on the natural world—all while laughing, learning, and wowing together. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.