Hey, Wowzer fans, Mindy here. And before we start the show, I've got a question for you. Are you ready to make it? Okay, here's the deal. My buddy Carly Q and I are hitting the road to make it wow with you in the D.C. area. That's right. We'll be making it wow in Bethesda, Maryland on Saturday, March 29th. Make It Wow is a live bonker balls competition game show where real kids are the star of the show.
Two teams of Wowzers will turn their wildest and weirdest ideas into jaw-dropping inventions live on stage. Tickets? are on sale now. Grownups visit Tinkercast.com slash events to get your ticket today. That's Tinkercast.com slash events. We count. wait to make it wow with you this spring, but until then, let's get on with the show. Hello and welcome to WeWow. A hands-on...
crash course in Fun Fun 101 for science seekers and inventoritos everywhere. I'm Mindy. And I'm Guy Raz. And it happens to be my grandma G-Force's So this week is birthday week. Yeah, but by the way, how old is GeForce 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 super center.
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, 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... 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 cinnamon-y 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. And now, to get you in the sleuthing mood. we've got an episode of Who Win Wow Mystery Edition.
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 F... I'm Carly Q, and this is Who, When, Wow Mystery Edition. has been compiled some important details have slipped away 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. Ooh, I love those shoes, Chris. These are slippers. I don't buy these. OK. 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.
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. 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. Because that means it's time to sneak into buttheads one of a kind. time-traveling elevator to go back in time and investigate what's being hidden from this file. Unfortunately, Oh my goodness, it's only 9.30. Do you have to wait until lunchtime to use the elevator? 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.
I got it! I decided to search on the computer for some bright and cheery artwork I could frame and display. I need decorations! 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, Nibbles?
Ooh, good. I'd like your opinion on which art we should order for the basic... My little rat friend, Nibbles, and I searched... Okay, let's... And searched... Uh, Art Carney, Art Lakey, Art Garfunkel, Art... bell oh he sounds neat aha wall decoration art and then we saw 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. I bet you can guess who that is. Yep, it's Lewis.
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, Carla 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. Well, 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, uh, 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 you 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, it 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... Some people count to 10 when they get angry. I count prime numbers. You should try. Three. Very soothing. 29.
Saved by the bell. I was getting so frustrated, I could have counted 215,485,863. I pulled my handheld AI assistant, H-Dad, out of my drawer to see if he could figure out what the new clues mean. I plugged in my clues, 13 pieces of art, Boston, 1990. While H. Dad did his thing, I collected nibbles. We're going to the park. And my backpack. And the elevator. And made my way to the time-traveling elevator. We're in the bus.
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? 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...
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 wait, 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 keycard 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. The 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.
The Gardner Museum was absolutely beautiful. I don't know much about architecture, but the building looked like a white brick palace with huge windows and tall chimneys on the roof. When was this museum built, H-Dad? A whole house just for their own art? It sure is crowded out here. I guess stolen art is a big deal. So, 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.
Thirteen 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.
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. Shnibbles! 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 outta here! Next, in the short gallery, five Degas 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 there! Where'd you go? You were scoping out the dumpsters, weren't you? Nibbles
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. 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.
81 minutes. 81 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... 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 art thieves Miles Conner or Brian Michael McDevitt. Ah, the plot thickens. Let's go pay a visit to these art-stealing people. Miles Conner 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?
Not really. A reward of $10 million was offered for information leading to the recovery of the 13 pieces of stolen art. $10 million? Three million dollars 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 US Attorney's Office. The video footage released today shows an unidentified man exiting an automobile 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 you. 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 Abbath. Rick Abbath. Abath. Abath. Abath. Abath. How do you pronounce that, Carly? Excuse me.
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 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. Oh, come on. Well, they are right behind us. You know, I never did get high.
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? Ooh, 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. Huh, 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. Maybe someday. Oh, that 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.
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... 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, Louis, 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 seal. Until then, I'm Carly Q signing off from your favorite podcast that doesn't exist. Everybody keeps getting something in their eye after I give them a piece of art. 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. Ad free right now on Wondery Plus. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts. Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey at Wondery.com slash survey.
initiating end credits mode. Who and 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 Calkin, Kenny Curtis, and Mindy Thomas. Carly Shiraki is a producing consultant. Big shout-outs to Jed Anderson, Steph Sosa, Henry Moskell, Jessica Bode, Natasha Crandall.
Rebecca Kaban, Sana 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 thepopups.com. Producers for Gen Z Media are David Kreisman, Ben Strauss, Chris Terry.
Claire McClanahan and Amy Cervini at gzmshows.com. 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 Rokamp, and voice direction is handled by David Kreisman. Our main cast features Carly Shiraki as Carly Q, Brandon Salerno as Louis, Melissa Vandershift as Nibbles the Rat,
Kenny Curtis as HDAD, 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 tinkercast.com. HDAD, powering off.