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Hey, Wowzer fans, Mindy here.
And before we start the show, I gotta 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!
It's Wee Wow Week.
Hello and welcome to Wee Wow.
I'm Guy Raz.
And I'm Cornelia Von Lederhosen.
Nice to meet you.
Uh, Mindy?
Mindy?
Who's that?
Uh, I know that it's you in a cowboy hat and a fake mustache.
What?
This is always how I dress.
Yes, I do.
I just got to town on this here pigeon.
Have you heard about them golden teeth that went missing?
Let's talk about where they might be.
You look like you might have a clue.
Mindy, are you suggesting that I took the teeth?
No way, stranger.
But if you did take them...
Where would you hide them?
Nowhere, because I didn't take them.
Just kidding, Guy Raz.
It's me, Mindy.
I just thought that maybe I could get some extra info if I assumed the identity of a totally average, unremarkable person.
So the identity you picked was Cornelia von Lederhosen, the pigeon-riding cowgirl?
Yep.
Now let's make up one for you, Guy Raz.
How about, uh, Rye Gauze, the...
Rampoline inspector.
Here, put on these silly sunglasses.
Perfect.
Mindy.
Cornelia.
Cornelia, I don't think these disguises are going to fool anybody.
Hey, Mindy, do you have any snacks?
I'm all out of snacks.
Wait, you're not Mindy.
Where's Mindy?
Dennis, it's... Fine, I admit it.
I took them.
You did?
Yes.
I took all of Guy Raz's snacks.
You what?
They weren't even that good.
It was just a bunch of freeze-dried okra and barley chips.
Dennis?
Wait.
Who are you?
How do you know my name?
Way to blow your cover, Rygazi.
Well, it's very nice to meet you, Rygazi.
Well, Wowzers, the mystery is not solved yet.
Go to Tinkercast.com slash WeWow to learn how to create your own fake identity.
And send photos and videos to us at Tinkercast.com slash share.
And send snacks and flavored water to me at my mother's house.
Dennis!
And now, here's Who in Wow Mystery Edition.
The disappearing crew of the Mary Celeste.
Reggie, if you please.
Okay.
It's me, Carly Quinn, with another unbelievable and yes, I do mean that episode of our super secret podcast that you're totally not about to listen to.
We got courtroom drama, pirates, and even some explosions.
You're going to have to hear it to believe it.
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, been compiled.
Some important details have slipped away in our spectacular shared existence.
Big decision on my mind.
Last week, I had started a month-long fitness challenge led by my coworker, Desiree.
I'd been excited about the idea of it because it ends in a 5K race.
But in reality, it's not as much fun as I thought.
Don't get me wrong, I love moving.
But when it's exercise, it becomes extra sweaty.
And it often involves doing the same thing over and over again, which I find tedious.
So much running.
So much pedaling.
My legs are sore.
You know, if I could just sit down for a second.
Oh, hey, darling.
And as usual, I wasn't even here for five minutes before getting a visit from my upstairs co-worker, Louis.
I know how much you love wasting company time with idle chit-chat, but I'm actually here only to use the printer.
The one upstairs was broken again.
Believe I'm actually saying this, but I'm glad you're here, Lewis.
You are?
Yes, I am.
You see, okay, I have a favor to ask.
Ooh, do tell.
You sit near Desiree upstairs, right?
She sits near me.
Right.
Anyway, could you tell her that I'm gonna have to bow out of her fitness challenge?
Oh, what's wrong?
Is all that exercise too much for you?
No.
I love exercise, but all these Practice runs and training routines are so repetitive.
If I go on one more training run for the 5K next week, I'm afraid my brain is going to leak out of my ears.
Gross.
Unless you would like to train for me.
That's even more gross.
Oh, come on.
You could do all the practice runs so I can just show up on race day.
I don't think it works like that, Carly.
I'll print out a certificate and everything.
I do love certificates.
I just need someone to be my proxy.
Besides, I bet this would be a great way for you to stay in shape.
Actually, no.
I don't need a fitness challenge.
I've got a pedal town machine at home.
Only the latest model, obviously.
It also makes smoothies.
It makes smoothies?
Of course it does.
Okay, so you'll tell her?
Sure.
Next time I see Desiree, I'll tell her you're chickening out of the challenge.
Those were not the words I used!
Enjoy your morning, Carly the chicken, you.
I'm not a chicken.
I can run all day, every day.
With Louis gone, it was finally time to get down to work.
And I only had to catalog 12 different random historical events before finally finally, a new time-sealed file.
Event, December 1872.
Mary Celeste.
Missing crew.
Mary Celeste?
Missing crew?
I pulled out my AI device HDAD. and typed in the keywords right away.
But, as usual, it looked like it was going to be a while before I had any more information.
But luckily, my rat friend Nibbles came by to keep me company.
I was still feeling a little stiff from all that running and bike riding, so we passed the time by doing some stretches together.
Wow, Nibs, for a rodent, that is a surprisingly impressive downward dog.
And before I knew it, and H-Dad and took off for the elevator.
Dessert training is permitted only with manager approval.
Enjoy your meal.
Hi, Odie.
Hello, basement companion.
You have another mystery?
Sure do.
I've got nothing on this one except the keywords from the file.
December 1872, Mary Celeste, missing crew.
Have you ever heard of it?
I believe I have.
So what's the story?
Who was this Mary Celeste woman, and why was she missing her whole friend group?
Mary Celeste wasn't a person.
She was a ship.
Her whole crew disappeared, and no one knows what happened to them.
Ooh, a nautical nistery.
Excuse me?
Oh, I just turned mystery into nistery so that it sounds... Never mind.
After the crew went missing, another ship found the empty Celeste out at sea and sailed her back to port.
What?
That must have been a weird ride.
Indeed.
However, with the time seal on the file, the earliest I can send you back to is the day the ships arrived back at shore to the port city of Gibraltar.
You know where that is?
H-Dad?
Gibraltar, a city located on the southern tip of Spain, overlooking the narrow entrance into the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.
Map emoji.
Sailboat emoji.
Good.
Now you remember your time travel rules, huh?
No changing anything in the past.
No funny business.
And remember too that the elevator will translate all language and alter your clothing into something more appropriate for the time.
Yes, hashtag fashion.
Right.
Okay, I think you're ready to go.
But just remember, basement companion, the half-sowed sale catches no wind.
Huh?
Okay, here you go.
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 yet.
From our 100 experiments, that Wow kit to the telescope and astronomy kit.
Our Wow in the World toys help your Wowzer learn about their world through play.
Play?
You can hear exclusive audio content from me and Guy Raz to help your wowzer discover even more wows.
Grownups.
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.
You know, I don't think I'll ever get used to that.
Oh, all right.
Wow, we're here.
This is the port city of Gibraltar, 1872.
Ah, smells delicious.
Oh, hey, Nibs.
There's a real fishy smell in the air and tons of crates coming on and off, all the huge wooden ships all around.
And, oh, Nibbles, look.
There's the Mary Celeste pulling into port right now.
You know it's that one because it says so on the side.
Yeah yeah, because i can read, of course i.
The ship was magnificent, a hundred feet long, with dozens of sails, and it was trailing behind another ship, the de gratia.
In just a few minutes, both of them had pulled into port.
Nibbles, that ship in front, the de gratia.
They must be the ones who found the mary celeste out at sea.
Well, what do you wait?
Let's go talk to the crew.
One of the crew members was tying the ship into place at the dock.
Excuse me, could you tell me what happened with the Mary Celeste?
Was there a storm out there?
A whirlpool?
A giant squid?
What are you supposed to be, some curious little street urchin?
Why, yes.
Yes, I am a very curious street urchin.
And I've heard some rumors about this ship and I'm desperate to know what happened.
Especially if a sea monster was involved.
If only we knew.
Mary Celeste was a ghost ship when we found her.
Ghost?
Sorry, did you say a ghost?
She was seaworthy.
Everything on board in good working order.
But not a single crew member anywhere to be found.
So what did you do?
What could we do?
We put a few men aboard and sailed her back here.
We're going to claim her as salvage.
In fact, our captain and some of the crew are off to the courts now. to make that claim as we speak.
Oh, can I come too?
The court is no place for a street urchin.
They'd never allow you in.
Best be off.
He walked up the gangway back on board the Dei Gratia.
Nibbles, what is all this talk about salvage?
H-Dad with the answer.
Salvage.
The process of rescuing a damaged or abandoned ship from out at So that's why the Dei Gratia ship brought the Celeste ship back here.
They're hoping to make some money.
Ship emoji.
Money eyes emoji.
I know we said I'm not allowed in court, but that's the only way we're going to get more info on this mystery.
Nothing is going to stop this detective slash street urchin from following the clues.
No way!
Unless we see a place that sells pie.
Well, obviously.
But no, we're going to that courthouse.
Come on, let's go.
Nibbles hopped on my shoulder and we made our way to the courthouse.
I really need to get more exercise.
Wait, Nibbles, get out of my hair.
Luckily, it was just a short walk away.
The courthouse was a big stately building with guards out front.
Too many for us to sneak past.
But before I could stop her... I'll run around back and see if I can find a way in.
Nibbles, wait, wait, wait.
Nibbles disappeared behind the building.
I tried to look inconspicuous while I waited.
I'm just a street urchin hanging around.
Ah, thank you.
Thank you so much.
I'll be here all week.
After a few minutes I looked up and saw the DeGratia crew down the street heading for the courthouse.
And just then... Okay, I found a way in.
Follow me.
Nibbles led me around the side of the building to an open back door.
We passed through a mudroom and some side offices, snuck past a guard who was half asleep...
Okay, all the way asleep.
And then we pushed through another door and suddenly found ourselves in the back corner of a grand courtroom.
Order, order, order.
A judge sat at the front while the Dei Gratia crew stood off to one side.
And on the other side, a tall man wearing a wig and a long black robe.
The court calls the Advocate General for the Queen.
Mayor Office of Admiralty.
What a title.
Frederick Sully Flood.
Whoa, wait.
What a name.
That's the guy in the wig in the robe.
As Advocate General, I am here to investigate what happened to the Mary Celeste and determine if these claims of salvage are legitimate.
Legitimate?
Would Captain David Morehouse of the Dei Gratia please step forward?
I'm here.
I'm Captain Morehouse.
Ooh, the captain.
Hey, listen.
I bet somewhere in this here and we're going to learn what happened.
Captain Morehouse.
We understand the Mary Celeste was in good working order when you found her, other than the missing crew.
Were there any other clues to their whereabouts?
Not many, sir.
There was a bit more water down in the hold than one would expect.
Hmm.
The hold?
The hold is the bottom of the ship, where they store all of the cargo.
Thanks, H-Dad.
You're welcome.
And there was also a disassembled pump down there.
Other than that, the only other clue was a missing lifeboat.
Leading you to what conclusion?
Ooh!
It's not exactly clear.
The captain of the Mary Celeste was Benjamin Briggs, a very well-experienced sailor.
He would not have had his crew abandon ship unless it was a very dangerous circumstance.
But the ship seemed in mostly fine condition when we found it.
So is it possible, then, that your entire story is a lie?
Uh-oh!
Order, order, order.
This courtroom's getting spicy.
It's just like the Judge Julie show.
Only with wigs.
Well, Judge Julie wears a wig.
What?
No.
There's no way her hair's real.
So poofy and beautiful.
Well, maybe she has a stylist who styles her hair poofy.
Hey, you.
Uh-oh.
A guard had found us.
We've been spotted.
You're not allowed in here.
Get out, you riffraff.
Get out!
Nibbles hurried to safety, but the guard escorted me out to the street.
Don't come back.
Oof, my butt.
And stay out.
Oh, man.
Now we're not going to get to see the end of the hearing.
Rats.
You rang?
Oh, there you are, Nibbles.
What do you think?
Is this Captain Guy on the up and up?
Is he lying?
Or is that wig-wearing lawyer just a little too wound up?
Nope.
I think the captain's lying, but it seems clear there's more going on here.
I'm not sure what to do next, though.
I strongly suggest, uh, oh, I don't know, a snack break?
Nice try.
I know it'd be easier to just go and eat some delicious local dessert and trust me, I am tempted to, but I want to figure this out.
We've still got some time before the end of our lunch break, and I am not giving up on this.
So then what's the plan, detective?
You got any bright ideas?
Actually...
I think I do.
Nibbles followed me as we snuck back in through the side door, passed through the mudroom again and the guard who was somehow still sleeping.
Wait, do you even have toes?
Technically, they're not toes, but they're more, you know, claws.
That is some impressively loud snoring.
Shh.
You might want to get that checked out.
But we stopped just outside the courtroom.
I could really use a pedicure.
At a rack of wigs and robes.
Here we go.
Oh, no.
You're not really going to wear that, are you?
Oh, you better believe I'm about to wear this robe and this wig.
And I'm going to make it look good.
Meh.
You know Judge Julie.
But you make it work.
Tunk, tunk.
In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups.
With my wig and robe disguise in place and nibbles tucked away and concealed, I marched right back into that courtroom like I totally owned the place.
Oh, hello.
You must be that new prosecutor we were told you expect.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes, I am.
Please, continue.
I just want to have a listen to the law.
We were just discussing some various unlikely theories for what might have happened to the Mary Celeste.
This is my courtroom, Mr. Solly Flood.
I'll be the one to determine what's unlikely.
Right-o, Mr. Judge.
Man, honorable person?
Yes, thank you.
I see from the cargo list that the Celeste was transporting a large amount of alcohol.
Perhaps some small explosion of fumes scared them into abandoning ship.
What do you think, Captain Morehouse?
That could be it.
Fumes?
Smelly stuff.
Like dangerous gas.
Like, you know, when I have some bad lasagna.
Silent but deadly.
I beg your pardon?
Sir!
Fumes.
Yes.
Please continue.
There's also always the possibility of mutiny.
When the crew of a ship rebels against the captain.
Or pirates.
Those are the people who... I know where a pirate is.
How nice for you.
Your qualifications are obviously exceptional.
Not to interrupt, but why aren't you all discussing sea monsters here?
Couldn't giant squids or a kraken be a possibility?
Um... Hey.
That guard caught us again.
That's it.
Our cover is blown.
We've been made.
Scatter.
Run.
Same thing.
As we ran out, the guard yanked off my robe and wig and chased us back out to the street.
I do feel lighter without the robe and the wig.
I will not say it again.
Stay out.
Oh, same spot.
Brutal.
Well, it was a nice shot at least.
Plus, I looked pretty good in that robe, right?
Like I said, you made it work.
H-Dad on the street.
Analysis complete.
Wow.
H-Dad, I sort of forgot you were even still working on this.
Two recent theories may explain what happened to the Mary Celeste.
Theory one.
In 2002, a documentarian discovered that on its previous voyage, the ship had transported a large amount of coal.
Coal?
Coal.
You know, the dusty black stuff that... Even thinking about it...
Makes me sneeze.
Gesundheit.
Thank you.
Coal dust could have caused the ship's pumps to malfunction, leading the crew to think the ship had taken on much more water than it actually had, which could explain why they abandoned ship.
Just like Captain Morehouse suggested.
Theory two.
In 2006, a London chemist conducted an experiment with an explosion of alcohol vapors.
He built a scale model of the Mary Celeste and then used butane gas an explosion in the home.
Whoa, like a real explosion with flames and fire and stuff?
Despite a large blast, there was no fire damage.
The chemist noted that quote.
There was a spectacular wave of flames, but no soot was left behind and there was no burning or scorching end quote.
If I was on a boat and heard a huge blast down below, to abandon ship, huh?
And it would also explain why there wasn't any evidence of the explosion.
Flame emoji, fireball emoji.
So basically, something scared the crew into abandoning ship.
We just don't know exactly what.
And I'm not ruling out the sea monster either.
OK, seriously?
Incoming message from plot headquarters.
Lunch time is ending.
Make sure your lunch boxes are locked and in the upright position.
All right, guess it's time to head back.
Let's go.
Oh, come on, Nibbles.
We raced back to the elevator and moments later... Seriously, kick it off.
Can't be late.
Can't be late.
We didn't get any pie.
This is not fair.
You promised pie.
Hello, basement companion.
How was Gibraltar?
It was pretty exhilarating.
We listened in on a maritime courtroom hearing, and we got kicked out.
Twice.
And the Mary Celeste?
Well, there was a missing lifeboat, so now we know that something probably scared the crew into abandoning ship.
But since the lifeboat was never found, we don't know what.
It might have been a faulty pump, or rough weather, or even an explosion of alcohol vapors.
Or, you know, a sea monster.
I'm leaning toward a giant squid myself, but I haven't ruled out a kraken.
Of course.
It's funny.
There were multiple times today where it would have been easier to just give up.
Because at pretty much every step of the journey, there was something thrown in our way.
But each time, I decided to keep on going.
And I'm so glad I did.
Oh, really?
Yeah.
It's a good thing I didn't abandon ship.
It's almost like... The half-sold sail catches the...
It's almost like that's what you meant with your riddle.
A sail that's not finished isn't going to catch any wind, which means it's not going to go anywhere.
The trick is that, whatever it is that you're doing, you've got to keep at it in order to get results.
And?
And it feels good when you do.
Not just good.
Great.
It really does, doesn't it?
Well, I hope you continue having such a nice day, basement companion.
As I walked back to my desk, I heard a familiar clanking sound from the stairs.
Don't mind me.
Just here to use the printer again.
Hello, Louis.
I'm sure they'll fix the broken printer in a few weeks.
Or, you know, years.
You know, once again, I am actually glad you're here.
It turns out I have changed my mind about Desiree's fitness challenge.
Oh, have you?
I have.
So I need you to go back up there and tell her I am back in.
No stand-ins.
All me.
Well, actually, I never told her you were out because I forgot.
So I'll just not say anything at all.
Perfect.
I guess I am going to get back to practicing for the 5K next week.
You sure you don't want in?
No, thanks.
I'm all exercised out.
I'm getting in so many extra steps coming down here to use the printer.
But good luck at that 5K.
After Louis left, I filed the Mary Celeste event and got down to work.
I'm still kind of dreading all the practice runs I have coming up, but boy am I glad I didn't quit the fitness challenge.
I may not win the 5K or even finish it, to be honest, but as long as I try it, I'm going to be happy.
And no matter what, you know I'm going to be back here next week investigating another mystery.
Until then, this is Carly Q signing off.
And remember, you never heard this.
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-Day, powering off.
