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People of the universe.
Pop in your headphones if there's anyone close by, so they don't hear all our juicy secrets.
Today's mystery is hot literally, but it's not just about fire.
It's about determination, fighting for answers and mysterious heat waves.
I'm carly q, and this is who when.
Wow mystery edition.
Our past is vast and wild.
Many things have brought us to this day.
As history has been compiled, Some important details have slipped away In our spectacular shared existence.
We consider it our business To recognize a few folks you may not know.
History will never be the same.
Good morning, Greg.
As you know, I work at Butthead as a junior temporal analyst during business hours.
The casserole that you brought for the potluck was scrumptious with a capital umptious.
But I spend my lunch breaks doing my real work.
You'll be willing to share the recipe with me via email.
Investigating history's mysteries, to bring my findings to you through this super important and extremely top secret podcast.
We just had a long holiday weekend, so I was refreshed and ready to get back to work.
Then... Hey, Carly Q!
Here we go again.
You-know-who came down to the basement to visit.
What's happening, Lewis?
I have a project for you.
Ooh, does this project involve pie?
No.
Balloon animals?
I am great at making balloon animals.
Um, weird flex, but no.
Butthead wants us all to move our file cabinets.
Do what now?
The company has been trying to cut down on using paper.
Saving the planet and all that.
And there's no need for these file cabinets full of paper anymore.
It's nice to work for such an Earth-friendly company.
Right.
So anyway, you need to move that big gray monstrosity upstairs by the end of the day.
But this thing is huge.
And probably really heavy, too.
Wait, I'm supposed to get this up all those stairs by myself?
Yes.
The movers can't come down and help me?
They're actually afraid of stairs.
What kind of movers are afraid of stairs?
The kind with an agency contract and a lot of very nearsighted employees.
Oh.
Well, can you help me, Lewis?
Me?
Ha ha ha!
You heard the part where it's big and heavy, right?
Yeah.
Yeah, I did.
That's why I need your help.
Don't be silly, Corley Q. I mean, look at these stairs.
Yeesh.
Well, good luck.
Oh, mumblebrust.
I had no idea how I was supposed to get that filing cabinet up 17 steps, but I couldn't stress over it.
A time-sealed file had just arrived.
Time-sealed event.
Let's see what it is.
Event.
Sicily, Italy.
January, 2004.
Multiple fires.
Italy, the birthplace of the legendary pasta pie, or as some people call it, lasagna.
I grabbed my H-Dad device and entered my clues.
Sicily, Italy, January, 2004, and multiple fires.
Analyzing.
Analyzing.
Attention, Buckhead employees.
What is a printer's least favorite kind of sandwich?
Paper Jam!
That's a pretty good joke.
This is your friendly reminder that all file cabinets must be removed from your offices today.
You're welcome for helping you save the planet.
Oh gosh, isn't there another way to save the planet?
Analysis complete!
It is with 95643 accuracy that the time sealed event is The Unexplained Fires of Sicily Italy, 2003 and 2004.
Both 2003 and 2004?
The first instance happened in December of 2003, and the remainder occurred in 2004.
Oh, and to give you extra time for file cabinet removal, we're starting lunch now.
Now?
But I just got here.
All right, fine.
An early morning trip to the time travel elevator was in my future.
Nibbles, you there?
Future.
You feel like taking a trip to Italy?
Get it.
Hop in the backpack.
I don't care that it's morning.
We're going to find some pasta and maybe some pizza and maybe some chicken parm and maybe some lasagna and maybe some cacio e pepe and maybe some arantini and maybe some tiramisu and maybe some affogato.
Oh, dear.
My favorite person who spends all day near an elevator.
True.
This job has its ups and downs.
I was... Wait, did you just make a joke?
What joke?
Never mind.
Obviously you need to borrow the time elevator again.
Where slash when are you headed today?
Sicily, Italy.
Apparently there were some fires there in 2003 and 2004 that no one can explain.
I was a firefighter once.
You were?
I was.
I could carry the ladder and the fire hose at the same time.
You are so strong.
Question, will you help me carry my file cabinet up the stairs?
That was a long time ago.
I only carry files now.
No cabinets.
But I don't know how I'm supposed to get that big old thing up all those stairs, Odie.
Well, sometimes the questions are complicated, but the answers are simple.
I am going to record that sound one of these days since nobody else seems to hear it.
What sound?
Exactly!
Okay, time to go.
You know the rules by now, but I'll repeat them just in case.
When you go to the past, you may observe and ask questions, but do not meddle, understand?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
When you arrive back in time, a card reader will remain where you came in.
Use your key card and the elevator will reappear.
You can also use it to fast forward to other time periods on the file.
But you must be back here before the end of your lunch break, which is very early today, no?
Yes.
And since you're going to Italia, I'll activate the interpreter protocol.
You'll be able to speak to and understand everyone there.
Ready?
Ready.
So this is Sicily, Italy.
Can you smell the food, Nibbles?
Oh, yeah!
Also the sea!
And freshly grounded coffee!
And the new car smell of a sparkling new Vespa scooter!
Wow, rats really do have a strong sense of smell.
Yep, but mostly for food.
Are we sure we want to solve this mystery instead of just going on a tasting tour?
Ha ha!
Nibbles, you're hilarious.
That wasn't a joke.
Everything here is so colorful, and the weather is so lovely.
There are an awful lot of people walking around, even though it's winter.
Yes, this way for those escaping the fires.
Your hotel is right here.
Looks like we're in the right place.
They must have evacuated the village where the unexplained fires happened.
Oh, heads up, someone's coming.
I'll be in the backpack if you need me.
Or if there are snacks.
Scusi, signora.
Could you be the investigator from the National Research Council sent about the fires in our village?
Yes, I could be.
Sure.
I'm the mayor of Caneto di Caronia and it's been a long week.
Several days ago we got a series of very puzzling electrical bursts that caused nine houses to catch fire.
Nine?
That is so many!
Yes.
No one was harmed, thank goodness.
Oh, here comes Sofia.
She'll tell you what happened in her house.
Buongiorno, Sofia.
Did you see an electrical burst?
Ma si.
My television exploded.
And it was not even on at the time.
That's unbelievable.
Indeed.
Other people said that air-conditioned units and other electronics burst into flames as well.
None of those were plugged in.
So I'm guessing it didn't happen because of an electrical power surge.
People are getting nervous.
Some are saying it was UFOs.
What was that?
UFOs?
Aliens?
I happen to think that people have watched one too many movies.
That's why I call your office.
So maybe we could get a scientific approach.
Right, yes.
Science, of course.
I think the next step should be to check out your village and see what I can discover.
With science.
Good idea.
Staying in a hotel is nice, but we're all very anxious to get back to our homes in Caneto di Caronia.
Of course you are.
Grazie.
Ciao.
Ciao.
Did someone say ciao?
No, they said ciao, not ciao.
But they also mentioned aliens, Nibbles.
This could be it.
And I also heard them say something about science.
Of course.
Remember?
And facts.
Absolutely.
Following facts is what we do.
Now we just take the elevator back to the town of Caneto de Carodia.
Whoa, it's like a ghost town in here.
Oh, right.
Ghosts can also be behind this.
Good theory, Nibs.
No, I just mean there's no more people here, so it feels very empty.
Maybe we should investigate one of the houses that caught fire.
There might be some clues we're looking for there.
Good plan, Nibs.
Also food.
This might be my big chance to finally prove the existence of aliens.
Why would an alien start a fire?
I'd bet my favorite scrunchie that these aliens are made out of electricity.
The blue scrunchie?
No, the yellow one.
Blue was my favorite last week.
But okay, I'm thinking that if the aliens don't know how much power they have, they could have touched things and accidentally blown them up.
Oh, there's one of the houses.
Huh.
This house looks perfectly normal, except for a small section that looks a little black and sooty.
Let's go inside.
Nibbles, can you climb through that window and unlock the door?
Wow, you're good.
Thank you.
Now to find some cheese.
Uh...
Watch out for all the plastic and glass on the floor.
What do you think did this?
I bet this is the house where the television exploded.
Why do you say that?
Because I think this square plastic lump is what's left of the TV.
Whoa.
Okay, so what is the evidence telling us?
It looks like the television was plugged in when it exploded and probably started the fire.
How do you know that?
My sister lives in an alley behind Engine Company 166 in Staten Island.
But the mayor said there were other electronics that weren't plugged in when they caught fire.
How do you explain that?
Shh, someone's outside.
Looks like we're not the only ones investigating.
So you are ruling out anything extraterrestrial?
Not completely. a telecom lady and a guy in a lab coat walking around outside.
Did they say... Extraterrestrials!
They must have found proof.
Let's go!
Where?
We've got to follow them and find out what else they know.
Andiamo, nibs!
What does that mean?
It means let's go!
Hey!
How come you know Italian all of a sudden?
Don't worry about it.
Let's hide in those bushes so we can hear what they say.
Uh, hello there!
Why are you spying on us?
We were just trying to find out what you know about the fires.
I mean, how did they start without an explanation?
You're scientists, right?
We are.
And there's always an explanation.
Yes, exactly.
So, what do you think?
My theory is that the fires were caused by a geomagnetic abnormality.
And my theory is that the fires were caused by an extraterrestrial atmospheric oddity.
So we are closing the case with a suggestion that an abnormal presence in the electrical field caused it.
Wait, so you're saying that it could have been something that happens naturally, or it could be something like aliens?
Basically, yes.
We know the fires were the result of a surge in the electrical field, but we can't say for sure what caused it.
Well, that's unhelpful.
These people are supposed to be experts.
You'd think they'd try a little harder to find out what actually happened here.
Did your mouse just...
Say something to me?
Of course not.
First of all, she's a rat, not a mouse, and she was talking to me.
How European of you.
I don't know what that means, but what we're getting at here is that there's always an answer.
Maybe if we work together, we can find it.
We did work together.
And we found a way to compromise.
But we need an explanation, right?
What we need is a panini and maybe some gelato.
See, it's almost time for lunch.
Lunch?
Oh, no!
Five minutes until your lunch break is finished.
Finito.
We gotta go, but, uh, keep thinking, guys.
The answers are always there.
Joe.
Why does everyone keep talking about Joe?
He's hungry.
Oh, no, Nibbles.
You're right.
I could go You gotta tell me where the place is.
I am hungry.
My family's been dying in there for generations.
Great show.
I can't believe we were in Italy and we didn't eat anything.
Welcome back, basement companion.
Did you find out what started all those fires?
Not really.
The investigators looked at all the evidence and decided that it could have been anything from a natural occurrence to aliens.
That sounds frustrating.
Very.
But also, it might help you with your file cabinet problem.
Oh, really?
Well, you feel the investigators weren't trying hard enough to find the right answer.
And I'm doing the same thing.
There's always an answer, and I just need to find it.
Exactly.
Sometimes the questions are complicated, but the answers are simple.
Especially if you break the problem down.
That's right.
Best of luck with your file cabinets.
Thanks, Odie.
She's gone.
She's gone.
All right, break the problem down.
There was no way I'd be able to carry the file cabinet upstairs with everything in it.
That's it.
I've got it.
So my first step was to empty out the papers and put them into boxes light enough for me to carry.
And then I removed all the drawers.
Done.
Done.
Oh, Carly Q. I'm coming up, Louis.
And I was headed back down to see how you're doing.
But it looks like you've got everything handled.
Well, with all the pieces separated from each other, they're light enough for me to carry up the stairs, especially when I'm singing about it.
Well, carry on.
Once I got the file cabinet frame, the drawers and the boxes of paper upstairs, I reassembled everything just in time for the movers to take it away.
Thanks, Carly.
Thanks, guys.
Today's adventure taught me one very important lesson.
There may not be proof that aliens are out there, but there isn't proof that they aren't either.
So yours truly is going to keep looking.
And I'm going to do it step by step.
I can't wait to see what I learn during my next super secret adventure.
But until then, I'm Carly Q signing off from this super secret podcast.
Arrivederci!
H-Dev, initiating end credits mode.
Who Went Wow Mystery Edition is an original Tinkercast production with help from Gen Z Media.
Handshake emoji, high five emoji.
For Tinkercast, the executive producers are Guy Raz, Mindy Thomas, and Meredith Halpern-Ranzer.
The shows are written by Aaron Weissman, Danielle Nicky, Tom Van Kalken, Kenny Curtis and Mindy Thomas.
Carly Shiraki is a producing consultant.
Big shout-outs to Jed Anderson, Steph Sosa, Henry Moskal, Jessica Bode, Natasha Crandall, Rebecca Caban, Sona Ali-Mohamed, Anna Daniker, Anna Zagorski and the rest of the team at Tinkercast.
Megaphone emoji, applause emoji.
Who Went Well's theme song was composed and performed by The Pop-Ups.
For more information on their three-time Grammy-nominated all-ages music, find them at thepopupscom.
Producers for Gen Z Media are David Kreisman, Ben Strauss, Chris Terry, Claire McClanahan and Amy Cervini at gzmshowscom.
Sound design and editing is by Chris Terry and Oded Lev Ari.
Voice editing by Yoni Reckham.
Headphones emoji, microphone emoji, thumbs up emoji.
Original music was created by Jennifer Rohkamp, and voice direction is handled by David Kreisman.
Our main cast features Carly Shiraki as Carly Q, Brandon Salerno as Lewis, Melissa Vandershiff as Nibbles the Rat, Kenny Curtis as H-Dad and Angela Desai as Odie.
Want to explore Who Went Wow's mysteries even further?
You can find free activities and resources to extend the wow at whowentwow.com.
And if you have a time-sealed mystery you want Carly Q to explore, email us at hello at tinkercastcom.
H-Dad, powering off.
Who, When, Why was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery?
Shh, it's starting.
GCM shows imagination amplified.
