Two Whats?! And A Wow! People Who Wow Edition – Author and Illustrator Raina Telgemeier

May 8, 2026

Raina Telgemeier, award-winning cartoonist and bestselling graphic novelist, shares playful stories from her shy childhood and how real life became comics. Short rounds mix true surprises and tall tales about monsters, costume-making, and her deep bass singing. Listeners are invited to play along, imagine, and try a quick four-panel comic challenge.

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ANECDOTE

Hiding Behind The Piano To Sing

Raina hid behind a piano to sing solo in sixth-grade choir because she was extremely shy.
She sang loudly from behind the piano, teacher praised her voice, and she later performed with the group with her face showing.

ANECDOTE

Monsters As A Childhood Explanation For Sickness

As a toddler Raina imagined tiny bat-winged creatures crawling into her mouth and causing sore throats.
She later learned those illnesses were strep throat, but the vivid childhood image stayed with her.

ANECDOTE

Callie Marin Was Inspired By Mom

Raina realized Callie Marin from Drama is based on her mom, not Raina herself.
Her mom built elaborate animated props, sewed costumes, directed Glee Club shows and later became an elementary school teacher.

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What does it take to become a New York Times bestselling author and graphic novelist, and can you guess which stories are true? In this gameshow podcast for kids, Mindy Thomas gets to know Raina Telgemeier, as she shares surprising facts and sneaky fibs about her life! This interactive interview podcast for kids invites listeners to play along, think critically, and discover what it really means to write and draw bestselling graphic novels for kids like Raina Telgemeier!

In this two-truths-and-a-lie podcast all about Raina Telgemeier and being a creator of graphic novels, families will hear unbelievable stories about the joys, the challenges, and the journeys of people who are doing amazing things in the world. But not everything you hear is true… Can you figure out which facts are real?

This episode blends gameplay with real conversation as Mindy and Raina Telgemeier share stories that are surprising, funny, and sometimes totally unbelievable. From childhood beliefs and going behind-the-scenes to hidden talents, listeners will explore how book author and graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier WOWs each and every day!

Along the way, kids and grownups will get to combine curiosity and play, discover the joy of human connection, and see how curiosity can lead to some of the coolest jobs! Designed for families to listen together, this episode encourages communication, imagination, and connection in a screen-free way.

Whether your Wowzer is curious about writing and illustrating books and graphic novels or loves solving a good mystery, this episode helps kids build confidence, ask better questions, and connect with the people around them. It’s all about learning through play, conversation, and curiosity.

✨ Don’t miss the chance to laugh together even more:

Grownups can visit https://bit.ly/4pU76WO 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!: People Who Wow Edition introduces kids and families to a best-selling author of graphic novels and books through gameplay, storytelling, and curiosity-driven conversation.

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