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Hey, Wowzer fans, Mindy here.
And before we start the show, I got to let you know that this November, with a special new episode featuring our friends at Circle Round and Terrestrials on Radiolab for Kids,
And don't miss when Elmo from Sesame Street stops by Wow in the World to make us all belly laugh on November 24th.
Oh, but that's not all, Reg.
On December 1st, we are sharing our 250th episode of Wow in the World with all of you.
We think this one is going to be music to your ears.
Literally.
Did I mention it's a musical?
And if you're a member of the World Organization of Wowzers...
Oh boy, do I have a surprise for you.
You can listen to our 250th episode early with me and other members from around the world on Saturday, November 22nd, at 7 pm.
Eastern.
That's right, we are throwing another listening party.
Join us as we dance along to our new songs.
React to the episode with other members in the chat and more.
Grownups.
If you want your wowzer to join this members-only listening party, you can sign up to become a member today at Tinkercastcom.
Slash wow.
Already a member?
Well, you can find the link and password to join the event when you sign in at Tinkercastcom.
Slash wow.
That's it.
It's going to be a November to remember.
But for now, let's get on with the show.
Woo!
Hello and welcome to WeWow!
A hands-on crash course in Fun Fun 101 for science seekers and adventuritos everywhere.
I'm Mindy.
And I'm Guy Raz.
And it happens to be my grandma G-Force's birthday.
So this week is birthday week.
Yeah, but by the way, how old is G-Force turning this year?
Well, so here's the thing.
She says that she's 104, but I think she just tells everyone that to get the centenary and discount at the Super Senior Supercenter.
Okay, well, do you have any birthday surprises planned for her?
Oh, you know it, Guy Raz.
I got her a very special present.
What is it?
A brand new set of golden teeth.
Whoa, new teeth?
Fake teeth.
You mean dentures?
Yeah, and that's not all.
I programmed them to chew at different speeds for different foods.
And since these teeth are technically blue teeth, I added a speaker so that they play her favorite songs.
Here, you want to see?
Do I want to?
How could I pass up a chance to see the world's first pair of luxury smart teeth.
Okay, so I locked them in this safe in my living room so I wouldn't lose them or blow them up by accident.
That's a surprisingly good call.
Okay, let me just get the door open here.
And... The safe is empty!
Where did the fake golden teeth go?
They were right here!
Uh, is it Is it possible you misplaced them?
No way, Guy Raz.
I know I locked them in here, and I'm the only one who knows the code.
Hang on.
There's a smear of something inside the safe.
It smells like applesauce.
Oh, that's more than applesauce, Guy Raz.
That is a clue.
Look, there's a sweet cinnamony fingerprint.
Mindy, I think birthday week may have just become mystery week.
Whoa.
All right, everyone.
If you're listening to this, we are going to need your help solving this case.
Just go to Tinkercast.com slash WeWow to find instructions for your own fingerprint activity.
And please send us pictures, videos and grainy out-of-focus security footage to Tinkercastcom.
Slash share.
We will get those fake teeth back.
And now, to get you in the sleuthing mood, we've got an episode of Who Win?
Wow!
Mystery Edition.
Hello, hello, and welcome back to the podcast that doesn't exist.
Buckle up everybody, because today we've got an episode full of stolen artwork, a 10 million reward and
I even get chased by the FBI.
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 experience.
That's what I said.
Hi there, Stone.
As you know, dear listeners, I work at Butthead as a junior temporal analyst during business hours.
Oh, I love those shoes, Chris.
These are slippers.
I have bunions.
Okay.
But I spend my lunch breaks doing my real work.
Morning, Ruby.
Hi, Jade.
Investigating history's mysteries to bring my findings to you through this wow-inducing podcast.
Take care of those bunions.
Am I right?
Have a great day, everybody.
Bye.
As I walked down the stairs into the basement today, I felt like there was something missing.
But I just couldn't put my finger on it.
My job as a junior temporal analyst is to catalog random historical events that come to me in thumb drive audio files dropped down a tube.
All right, down the tube come the files.
And nothing makes me happier than when the historical event is time sealed.
Yes, I am so happy.
Time sealed event.
That makes me happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.
Yes.
Event.
13 pieces of art.
Boston.
1990.
Wicked.
Because that means it's time to sneak into Butthead's one-of-a-kind time-traveling elevator to go back in time and investigate what's being hidden from this file.
It's happening.
Unfortunately... Oh, no.
Oh, my goodness.
It's only 9.30.
Do you have to wait until lunchtime to use the elevator?
All right.
That's fine.
Since my clues had to do with art...
It got me thinking about the basement and how there wasn't really anything beautiful and joyful down there.
You know, there is really nothing beautiful or joyful down here.
I got it.
I decided to search on the computer for some bright and cheery artwork I could frame and display.
I need decorations.
One single hang-in-there kitty cat poster tacked up to the wall just wasn't enough.
Plus, Nibbles hates cats, and I'm obviously more of a rat person myself.
Where are you?
Good.
I'd like your opinion on which art we should order for the basement.
My little rat friend, Nibbles, and I searched and searched.
Uh, Art Carney, Art Blakey, Art Garfunkel, Art Bell.
Oh, he sounds neat.
Aha!
Wall decoration art.
And then we saw it.
It's perfect.
The cutest, most jolly picture of a fluffy mouse wearing a sunflower as a hat.
And this piece of artwork was called Sunflower Squeaks.
Perfect name for such an excellent art piece.
Hey there, Carly Q. I bet you can guess who that is.
Yep, it's Louis, my least favorite fizzy water drinker at Butthead.
Nibbles tends to scurry under my desk when he shows up.
What do you want, Louis?
What do you have that I'd want, Carly Q?
Well, I'm sharing those fizzy waters in the fridge, aren't I?
These fizzy waters are company property, Carly.
The Bureau gets them for everyone.
Whoop.
He had me there.
Thanks for visiting.
But, you know, I'm actually kind of busy down here, so... Busy?
Huh.
Those pictures on your screen don't look like the memo I asked you to write for the temporal coffee clatch next week.
Well, that's because I don't know what a... a coffee... catch... what?
Coffee clatch.
With a K. Two Ks, actually.
It's a social gathering with coffee.
With a C. Why didn't you just say that?
Because I have culture.
Unlike those pictures you're looking at.
You're not buying art, are you?
If you must know, I am making a list of pictures for management to buy so I can liven up this basement.
Don't you think it could use some charm?
You're joking, right?
Did you miss the budget email that management sent a few days ago?
No, I did not miss the email.
I read every budget email, top to bottom, forwards and backwards.
Sometimes I even print them out when the printer is working.
Well...
I didn't say that art is on the list of important purchases.
Are you trying to tell me art isn't important?
I never said those words, Carly Q. But you should go ahead and ask management what they think.
Just make sure I'm there to see their faces when you beg for money for... art.
See you, Carly Q. And get me that memo ASAP.
That means as soon as possible.
Three.
Five.
Seven.
Eleven.
Some people count to ten when they get angry.
Seventeen.
I count prime numbers.
You should try.
Three.
Very soothing.
Twenty-nine.
Attention butt-head employees.
Due to budgetary cuts, today's lunch break will be 47.4 seconds shorter than usual.
Enjoy!
Phew.
Saved by the bell.
I was getting so frustrated, I could have counted to 15,485,863.
I pulled my handheld AI assistant Hdad, out of my drawer to see if he could figure out what the new clues mean.
Hdad, how are you?
I plugged in my clues, 13 pieces of art, Boston, 1990.
While Hdad did his thing, I collected nibbles.
We're going to the park.
And my backpack.
And made my way to the time-traveling elevator.
We're going to Boston.
That's not bad, right?
That's good.
Guess who?
Surprise, surprise.
It's my basement companion.
Hello there, Odie.
How are you on this beautiful day?
Is it beautiful?
I only see this elevator.
Well, I thought about that.
And I wanted to make you something to show you how much I appreciate you letting me use the time-traveling elevator all the time.
So I made this picture for you.
Oh my goodness.
It's a yellow ball with sticks in it on top of a person standing on a green carpet.
No, it's you.
On a grassy hill.
With sun rays beaming on your face.
And you're smiling.
You do know how to smile, right?
This.
This is Odie.
Are you crying that?
The time-sealed event referenced is the Isabella Stewart Gardner art heist.
Art heist?
People steal art?
How disrespectful.
Affirmative.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner art heist is the biggest unsolved art heist in history.
Have you heard of this, Odie?
I have.
Apparently, they never put new art in the places on the walls where this stolen art stood.
There are empty frames throughout the museum.
Wow.
They must think art is really important.
Unlike the bosses at Butthead.
What?
They don't like art?
They think it's too expensive.
But that room needs something.
Am I supposed to look at dark, drab walls all day, every day, for the rest of my life?
Oh, basement companion.
It's not what you look at that matters.
It's what you see.
Exactly.
What I see is ugly walls and...
Where are those chimes coming from?
Let's get moving, basement companion.
47 seconds less for your lunch break.
You know the rules.
When you go to the past, you can't change or stop anything, so don't try.
You may observe and ask questions, but do not meddle.
Understand?
Understood.
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.
Got it.
I'll drop you off two days after the art heist.
Ready?
Ready.
Here we go.
Oh, and I don't cry.
Those were allergies.
Yes.
So you survive!
Hey, grown-ups.
It's Mindy and Guy Raz here from Wow in the World.
Mindy and I have some brand new Wow in the World toys out in the world just in time for the holidays.
Made for the kids who love science and for the ones who don't.
From our 100 experiments, that wow kit to the telescope and astronomy kit.
Our wow in the world toys help your wowser learn about their world through play.
What? can hear exclusive audio content from me and Guy Raz to help your wowzer discover even more wows grown-ups give the gift of wow and wonder this holiday season with our latest wow in the world toys designed with your curious wowzer in mind you can shop our wow in the world toys at tinkercast.com slash toys that's tinkercast.com slash toys elevator dropped us off in the alley next to the isabella stewart gardner museum right in the heart of boston massachusetts there's not much to see in this alley but garbage let's go get a better look at the museum nibs i'll go with you but i might come back and have at these dumpsters boston always did have top-notch trash whoa look at the museum the gardner museum was absolutely beautiful i don't know much about architecture but the building looked like a white brick with huge windows and tall chimneys on the roof.
When was this museum built, H-Dad?
Isabella Stewart Gardner and her husband Jack started to consider building a museum to house Isabella's large art collection in 1896.
Construction began in 1899.
A whole house just for their own art?
It sure is crowded out here.
I guess stolen art is a big deal.
What's the plan?
Should we sneak in a side window or find a crack in the foundation to shimmy through?
Nibbles, you know I am not a rat, right?
Well, nobody's perfect.
That woman looks like she is coming right towards us.
Quick, hop in my backpack, Nibbles.
Ooh, you let your old gym socks in here.
Oh, thank goodness.
I've been waiting and waiting.
Are you the FBI agent sent to investigate the art heist?
Please say yes.
I can't possibly go on like this.
Ah, yes.
Yes, that's me.
FBI.
Federal... B.I.
Fabulous.
I'm the curator of the Isabella.
I am special agent... Custard.
Custard?
Like a pie?
Custard like pie, yes.
Okay.
Let's get to it.
We don't have a moment to spare.
Welcome. to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
The museum looked like someone's house.
Someone's big house.
So many paintings and sculptures.
With colorful wallpaper and comfortable chairs.
More than 7,500 works of art, 1,500 rare books, and 7,000 historical objects.
13 less than there were last week.
If you had to guess what happened here, what would you say?
I don't have to guess too hard.
We have motion detectors.
The whole thing took exactly 81 minutes.
Hmm.
Well, let's retrace the steps of the thieves.
Good idea.
Follow me, please.
This is the side entrance of the Isabella.
It's locked and monitored by our security guards.
Monitored by guards?
How did the thieves get in?
Were they wearing police uniforms or something?
Why, yes.
Yes, they were.
Oh.
You're good at this.
It is a gift.
It is also a curse.
Do you have cameras?
Not inside?
Why not?
Why would we record what you can experience with your own eyes?
Huh, this is the dutch room.
The pilferers cut rembrandt's paintings called christ in the storm of the sea of galilee and a lady and gentleman in black from their frames.
A lady and gentleman wearing black were cut.
I am not prepared for violence, so when you say cut, you mean that the thieves cut the painting named A Lady and Gentleman in Black out of their frames when they stole them.
Yes.
Oh, never mind.
Can you imagine the audacity?
In this room they removed two paintings an ancient Chinese bronze beaker and one of Rembrandt's self-portrait etchings.
Do I smell pie?
I'm out of here.
Next, in the short gallery, Five dagar drawings and a bronze eagle finial were taken.
What's a finial?
A finial is an ornament at the top and or corner of an object.
Who is that?
Oh, this is just my device that gives me information.
It's like a computer.
But computers are huge.
How could you be holding one in your hand?
Uh, you know, top secret FBI stuff.
You actually never saw this.
Um, okay...
Back to business.
Is that all the pieces that were stolen?
Almost.
Manet's painting called Chez Tortoni was taken from the Blue Room as well.
Thirteen priceless works of art in all.
How do you plan to track them down?
I need you to leave.
Excuse me?
Please.
To solve this case, I need to fully become one with the space.
Yes, that is true.
I need to be left alone.
Okay...
But I will return soon.
Thank you.
I wasn't sure she was actually going to leave.
So, what do you think happened, Nibbles?
Nibbles?
Nibbles?
Where are you?
I'm back!
Where'd you go?
You were scoping out the dumpsters, weren't you?
No!
How could you... Although that is a very good idea.
Nibbles guards.
Rick abbott was working during that night.
Apparently, he submitted his resignation not long before the heist.
Hmm, so one of the security guards was already planning on quitting his job.
So we need to find out if rick was the security guard that opened the side door for the thieves.
The curator was right, you are pretty good at this, thank you, because apparently he was the security guard that opened the side door.
He actually went against museum rules and let the thieves into the museum.
Well, but the thieves were disguised as police officers.
Yeah, you gotta respect the badge, I guess.
Even if it's plastic.
He let them in.
They tied him and the other security guard up, and then they spent more than an hour robbing the joint.
Eighty-one minutes.
Eighty-one minutes.
Something seems fishy about this.
I feel like there's more to it.
Maybe it was aliens dressed like police.
An extraterrestrial art heist.
Do aliens even like art?
I don't know, but remember...
Even when you don't think it could be aliens, it could be aliens.
You will never give up on aliens, will you?
Cosmically speaking, no.
Of course not.
H-Dad, what info do you have on the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum security guards?
Analyzing.
Rick Abbott has never been removed from the suspect list, but he was never formally charged either.
Ugh, that stinks.
Does the FBI have any other theories?
Another theory is that the art was stolen by known artists Miles Connor or Brian Michael McDevitt?
Ah, the plot thickens.
Let's go pay a visit to these art-stealing people.
Miles Connor was in prison during the heist and the FBI could never build a case against Brian Michael McDevitt.
Ugh, another dead end.
The final FBI theory is that the mob is responsible.
The mob?
An organized crime secret society that operates outside the law but works hard to be accepted in the neighborhoods and cities where they live.
He's right!
The art world often is connected to organized crime.
How do you know?
I have friends.
I know people.
Well, not people.
Friends.
But you get the idea.
Not really.
A reward of 10 million was offered for information leading to the recovery of the 13 pieces of stolen art.
$10 million?
Dollar sign emoji.
Bag of money emoji.
$10 million is a lot of money.
I think that shows how important art is.
I could buy a thousand dumpsters full of the world's best trash.
And maybe one of those fidget spinners.
I love those.
And I'd buy my own time-traveling elevator so I could go wherever I want, whenever I want.
That's it?
Maybe a fidget spinner too.
They are fun.
I know, right?
Receiving file.
Hold for recording from August 2015.
Statement from the U.S.
Attorney's Office.
The video footage released today shows an unidentified man and then being allowed inside the museum, against museum policy, by a security guard 24 hours before the heist occurred.
Wait, does that solve the case?
The images of the car and man are of very low resolution.
The FBI is asking for the public's help in identifying him.
Wow, that means someone unidentified went into the museum the day before the heist.
This is a huge piece of the puzzle.
We should go talk to Rick Abbott.
Agent Custard?
Uh, yes, that's me.
Well, see that gentleman over there with the coffee?
That's Special Agent Powell from the FBI.
He has a badge and everything.
So, who are you again?
Lunch break is over.
You'll have to excuse me.
Get back here, imposter!
Someone stop her!
Oh, nibbles!
Here comes the FBI!
Hurry!
Let's get to the card reader!
There it is.
Ooh, come on.
Well, they are right behind us.
You know, it never did get hard.
Quick, quick, quick, quick, quick.
The whole Jackson Pollock thing.
Come on.
I did that way before him with a packet of mustard and ketchup on a Saturday.
Ooh.
Too close.
Whoa.
What happened, basement companion?
Nothing I can't handle.
And then I saw it.
Odie, you put the picture I drew of you up on your wall.
Oh, did I?
I love that.
No one has ever drawn a picture of me before.
It deserves to be displayed.
I was blushing.
Aw, shucks.
So, did you learn anything important about the mystery?
Oh, lots.
There's still an active list of suspects, including a museum security guard who was on duty that night.
And now there's a surveillance video showing an unidentified person being let into the place the night before the crime was committed.
That could be a new lead.
You sound like a real gumshoe.
Sorry, I was in a lot of alleys and I don't know what I stepped in.
No, no.
Gumshoe?
Means detective.
You sound like a real detective.
Oh, well, in that case, thank you.
So the paintings are still missing, huh?
Yeah, the FBI is still looking for them 30 years later.
And there's a $10 million reward.
Oh, if I had that kind of money, I could finally go on the world elevator tour.
A vacation visiting all of the world's most glorious elevators.
Eh, maybe someday.
Sounds fun.
I also learned that it's not just art created by professionals that matters.
Whether it was made by professional artists or amateurs like me, all art is important and for everyone to enjoy.
I completely agree.
Enjoy the rest of your day, basement companion.
And enjoy your new art.
It really does look like me.
Except I'm smiling.
I realized this week that who stole the Isabella Stewart Gardner art isn't as important as the fact that it was created in the first place.
And someone thought it was important enough to put it in a museum.
Hey!
Carly Q!
Or should I say, Picasso.
The wall is almost fully covered with drawings.
Are you spending precious company time coloring?
It's our lunch break, Louis.
And I'm making my own artwork to brighten up the place.
Let me see that.
Hey, that's not done!
What even is it?
It's a bottle of fizzy water.
Your favorite.
I was drawing it for you.
For me?
You give me a hard time, Lewis, but I think we could be good friends.
Maybe.
Maybe?
I might not be able to get management to spend money on professional art, but I can use my own art to make this place a little brighter.
And make people a little happier.
I am so excited to see what I'll learn on my next time-stealed adventure.
Until then, I'm Carly Q signing off from your favorite podcast that doesn't exist.
Hey, maybe you could make some artwork of your own.
You could even draw me.
And nibbles.
And a couple of aliens.
Send it in.
Okay, bye.
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 Louis.
Melissa Vanderschiff 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-Den, powering off.
