What determines how Tall you'll be?

Summary

Summary of "Who Smarted?" Episode: What Determines How Tall You'll Be?
Release Date: January 13, 2025
Host/Author: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media

---

Introduction

In the episode titled "What Determines How Tall You'll Be?" from the educational podcast "Who Smarted?", host Atomic Entertainment delves into the fascinating science behind human growth and height determination. Aimed at engaging young minds, the episode combines humor, interactive segments, and informative discussions to explore the biological, genetic, and environmental factors that influence how tall an individual becomes.

---

1. The Journey of Growth: From Childhood to Adolescence

The episode kicks off with a relatable scenario highlighting the dramatic changes children experience as they grow. The narrator humorously compares growth spurts to a fireworks show, emphasizing the sudden and significant changes that occur during puberty.

• Notable Quote:
  "There's a good chance next year you'll be taller than you are now. And the year after, you'll be taller still. Then, just like a fireworks show, there'll be a grand finale where your body will suddenly grow a lot by as much as 4 inches a year."
  (Timestamp: 02:02)

This analogy sets the stage for understanding the non-linear nature of growth, where periods of rapid increase are interspersed with slower phases.

---

2. Decoding the Brain: The Pituitary Gland's Role in Growth

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to explaining the critical role of the pituitary gland in regulating growth. Through a playful dialogue between the narrator and a character named Pitts (representing the pituitary gland), listeners gain insight into how this small gland exerts substantial influence over the body's growth processes.

• Notable Quote:
  "This pea-sized gland you're somehow talking to has a big impact on you since I'm the one who controls your growth."
  (Timestamp: 07:36)

Pitts elaborates on how growth hormones are produced during sleep, facilitating the growth of bones, muscles, and other vital organs. The discussion also touches upon how the cessation of growth occurs when the body reaches reproductive maturity, signaling that further significant height increases are no longer necessary.

---

3. Predicting Your Future Height: The Mid-Parental Method

Listeners are introduced to the Mid-Parental Method as a straightforward technique to estimate their eventual height based on their parents' heights. The narrator guides them through the calculation, making the process interactive and easy to follow.

• Notable Quote:
  "Find out your mom and your dad's heights, add them up, and then divide by two. It's okay to have someone help you with the math. Now, if you're a boy, add 2.5 inches or 6.5 centimeters. If you're a girl, subtract 2.5 inches."
  (Timestamp: 11:27)

However, the episode also discusses the limitations of this method, acknowledging a potential variance of "give or take 4 inches," which underscores the complexity of predicting height solely based on parental measurements.

---

4. Genetics and Environment: The Dual Determinants of Height

The conversation shifts to the intricate interplay between genetics and environmental factors in determining an individual's height. Pitts explains that while genetics account for approximately 80% of height variation through over 500 related genes, the remaining 20% is influenced by external elements.

• Notable Quote:
  "There are more than 500 genes related to height. But they're only about 80% responsible for your growth. The other 20% is stuff around you, smarty pants."
  (Timestamp: 12:37)

Environmental factors mentioned include nutrition, vitamins, sleep, disease, medicine, and overall health. The episode emphasizes how advancements in nutrition and medical care have contributed to the gradual increase in average heights over the past century.

---

5. Daily Fluctuations: Why You Might Be Slightly Shorter by Evening

In an intriguing segment, Pitts reveals a lesser-known aspect of human physiology: the daily fluctuation in height due to spinal compression. As the day progresses, the spine experiences compression from activities like walking and running, resulting in a temporary decrease in height.

• Notable Quote:
  "You might find you're actually shorter in the evening. Not by much, but by a fraction of an inch."
  (Timestamp: 13:43)

This fact not only adds an interesting twist to the discussion but also reinforces the idea that height is not a static attribute but can vary throughout the day.

---

Conclusion

The episode wraps up by reinforcing the multifaceted nature of height determination, combining biological processes, genetic inheritance, and environmental influences. Through engaging storytelling and interactive elements, "Who Smarted?" effectively educates its young audience on the science of growth, leaving listeners with a deeper understanding of their own development and the factors that shape it.

---

Additional Highlights:

• Interactive Quizzes: Throughout the episode, listeners are prompted with multiple-choice questions to test their knowledge, making the learning experience more engaging.

• Humorous Dialogue: The playful banter between the narrator and Pitts adds a fun element, ensuring that educational content remains entertaining.

• Real-Life Applications: Practical advice, such as the Mid-Parental Method, allows listeners to apply the information personally, fostering a more profound connection to the material.

---

Credits:
Human Growth was written by Dave Beaudry and voiced by Lou Wiseman, Gia Davis, Dr. Martha Anthony Adam, Tex Davis, Brandon Bayless, and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design were handled by Josh Hahn at Relic Room Studios. The associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Suarez with lyrics by Adam Tex Davis. "Who Smarted?" is created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert, presented by Atomic Entertainment.

---

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and educational elements presented in the episode, providing a clear and informative overview for those who haven't listened to the podcast.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Parents, let's be real. The post holiday sugar crash is no joke. Christmas cookies had my family's kids bouncing off the walls one moment, crashing the next. We needed a reset. But finding healthy snacks kids love, that is a struggle. So I shared one of my favorite new who Smarted sponsors. Thrive Market. Thrive's Healthy Swap scanner is a lifesaver. Just scan. Scan the package of your kid's favorite snacks like sugary cookies or salty chips, and the scanner suggests cleaner, healthier options instantly. Now, instead of sugar bombs, my extended family is loving simple mills crackers, chomps, beef sticks, and lesser evil popcorn. The kids are thrilled and the adults love that they're off the sugar roller coaster. Whether it's low sugar, organic snacks for lunchboxes, or after school bites, Thrive has us covered. Plus, everything gets delivered right to your door. That is why I am so happy that Thrive sponsors who Smarted, helping us keep making the show that you love. Ready to reset with healthy snacks? Go to thrivemarket.com smarted for 30% off and a free sixty dollar gift. That's thrivemarket.com smarted Psst. Hey, smarty pants. As you can hear, I'm enjoying one of my favorite summertime activities, watching fireworks. Think back to the first time you ever saw fireworks. Was it at a fireworks display with a lot of people? I'm guessing you could barely see the fireworks over the heads of the people around you. Daddy, Daddy, I can't see. Pick me up, please. Whoa. And if it wasn't fireworks, I bet there were other times when you were little and had trouble seeing in a crowd. Maybe at a concert, at an amusement park, or at the movies. Daddy, Daddy, I can't see. Switch seats with me, please.

[Pitts]

Please.

[Narrator]

But as you get older, you may have noticed it's becoming easier to see things. In fact, you might already be at a stage where you don't need an adult to help you anymore. Cool. There's a good chance next year you'll be taller than you are now. And the year after, you'll be taller still. Then, just like a fireworks show, there'll be a grand finale where your body will suddenly grow a lot by as much as 4 inches a year.

[Pitts]

Whoa.

[Narrator]

I can reach the high shelf. And then the show's over. Without a warning, your body stops growing. Five, 10, 15 years later, your height hasn't changed at all. So tell me, smarty pants, why does this happen? Why don't you keep growing forever? And is there a way to figure out now just how tall you'll become? It's time for another whiff of science, on who smarted?

[Pitts]

Who's smarted?

[Narrator]

Who's smarted? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun. But who's smarted? Hey, smartypants, think about your favorite shirt from two years ago. What color was it? Did it have a cartoon character or superhero? Or a heart or an animal or the sun on it? Did it say something funny? Why did you like it? Now, smartypants, tell me this. Where's that shirt today? Chances are you don't wear it anymore. Maybe you donated it. Maybe it's in storage or on your younger brother or sister. Wherever it is, it's probably too small for you now. That's because you're going through an incredible part of your life. You're growing. Practically everything about you is getting bigger. Your bones, your muscles, your heart and lungs, even your brain. But this growing doesn't happen at a steady pace. Sometimes you become larger, faster, in moments called growth spurts. Smartypants, can you guess when you grow the most? Is it A, when you were a baby, B, during your first few years of school, or C, during puberty, when your body goes through many changes at once? If you guessed C, you're close. Much growth happens during puberty, but you grow more as a baby. In fact, you grew about 10 inches or 25 centimeters during your first year of life. Imagine growing like that every year. You'd end up as tall as a giraffe. Whoa. I could see over my house. Obviously, that doesn't happen, but why? Come, let's take a tour inside your brain. This is your brain, and it's divided into many different parts. The largest does most of your thinking and action. Smarty pants, what's that part of the brain called? Is it A, the cerebellum, B, the cerebrum, or C, the thinky doy squishy thing? If you think the answer is B, the cerebr, then you're being very cerebral.

[Pitts]

Heh, heh, heh.

[Narrator]

In other words, you're right. I'm also thinking. It fails any sort of logic for you to even be here. How did you get so small? How did you get inside their brain? How am I even speaking to you? Your mouth isn't part of your brain.

[Pitts]

Duh.

[Narrator]

Uh, yeah. We're going to ignore the cerebrum today. Meanwhile, the cerebellum is in the back of the brain, controlling things like movement, balance, and muscle coordination. Attention. Stand up straight. Don't fall down. Now march left Right, left, right, left, right, left, right. Keep it moving, soldiers. Then there's the brain stem, which handles involuntary muscles. The ones that move without you even thinking about them. It operates body parts like the lungs, the heart and stomach. Everybody breathe and breathe and breathe and breathe. Okay, hearts beat and beat and beat and beat. Now stomach. Digest, digest, digest, digest. There's just one problem, smarty pants. None of these parts control your growth.

[Pitts]

Duh. I could have told you that.

[Narrator]

Excuse me, who are you?

[Pitts]

Patoy.

[Narrator]

Did you just spit at me?

[Pitts]

Nah. Yeah. Ask me my name. To which I say ptooey.

[Narrator]

You just spat at me again.

[Pitts]

Did not. That's my name, Patooy. Last name's Terry.

[Narrator]

Um, am I missing something here?

[Pitts]

Ptooey, Terry. Ptooey Terry.

[Narrator]

Ah, p'tooi Terry. As in the pituitary gland located at the base of your brain.

[Pitts]

Hello. Someone's using their brain now.

[Narrator]

Sorry, I can be a little slow. Blame my cerebrum.

[Pitts]

That's it.

[Narrator]

Just throw me right under the bus.

[Pitts]

They call me Pits. I'm kind of a big deal around here.

[Narrator]

Really? You're only about the size of a pea.

[Pitts]

Yeah, well this pea sized gland you're somehow talking to has a big impact on you since I'm the one who controls your growth. Wow.

[Narrator]

You are important. And kinda annoying.

[Pitts]

You ain't seen nothing. I also cause puberty. Hey, smarty pants. I'm gonna drive your parents craz.

[Narrator]

Tell me, Pitts, why do people stop growing?

[Pitts]

Cause I said so, that's why.

[Narrator]

Care to elaborate?

[Pitts]

Fine. Think about making a pizza.

[Narrator]

Ooh, I love pizza.

[Pitts]

I can tell. You got sauce on your shirt.

[Narrator]

Whoops.

[Pitts]

Anyway, you got your cheese crust, sauce, and maybe some pepperoni. But these ingredients ain't gotta taste good unless you cook'em so into the oven they go. A little while later, you got yourself a fully formatted pizza. It's the same with your body. Your body develops as it grows. Any idea when you do your most growing?

[Narrator]

What do you think, smarty pants? Do you grow while you're eating, while you're at school, or while you're sleeping? The answer is while you're sleeping.

[Pitts]

Yep. And I make that happen by producing growth hormones, which are basically chemicals. After a certain amount of time, you got yourself a fully formed adult person. Biologically speaking, nature says you don't need to grow anymore. So with the help of your thyroid and reproductive glands, I shut things down.

[Narrator]

But when exactly does nature say growing can stop?

[Pitts]

Oh wow. You're gonna make me tell the whole story, huh? Fine. During your Middle school and high school years, you go through something called puberty, which, like I said, I'm in charge of. It's kinda like the grand finale of a fireworks show. Lots of explosions and.

[Narrator]

Actually, we already did the fireworks comparison.

[Pitts]

Fine. So, you know, a ton of growing happens. Lots of crazy emotions and attitudes too. And your reproductive systems rev up. At this point, nature says if your body can reproduce, AKA Maker babies, there's no point in you growing anymore. You've reached your peak, so to speak.

[Narrator]

Except your mind keeps growing, of course.

[Pitts]

Yeah, yeah. If you use your brain, it keeps learning. Duh. Everybody knows that. I'm just saying, when puberty ends, your body's growing winds down until it stops completely. For girls, this happens around age 14 or 15. For boys, around 16. You know what part of your body stops growing first, smarty pants?

[Narrator]

Is it A, A, your brain, B, your heart, C, your muscles, or D, your bones?

[Pitts]

Pfft, that's easy. It's D, your bones. When we glands shut down growth, the reproductive ones in both boys and girls produce a lot more estrogen, which is one of those chemicals called hormones. This large amount of estrogen causes the ends of the bones to fuse or close, making the bones unable to grow anymore. Once that happens, you stop getting taller.

[Narrator]

Gotcha. I get why we stop getting taller, but why aren't humans as tall as, say, an elephant? Why do most people end up between five and six feet taller? One and a half to two meters.

[Pitts]

It's evolution, baby. The human race developed over millions of years and it evolved to this height. Since it's best for your inner organs to grow and operate. If you grow way too big or stay way too small, you could start to have problems like poor blood circulation and bone disease. Hey, smarty pants, wanna how tall you're gonna be?

[Narrator]

You mean there's a way to find out before puberty?

[Pitts]

Trust me, trusty, I know.

[Narrator]

And so will you smartypants. Right after this quick break. Now back to who smarted. So, smarty Pits, I'm still inside your brain talking with your pituitary gland.

[Pitts]

Call me Pits.

[Narrator]

Sorry, Pitts. Pits basically controls your growth. And according to Pitts, there's a way to figure out how tall you'll be.

[Pitts]

That's right. There's something called the mid parental method which a lot of people use. Smarty pants, this is how you do it. Find out your mom and your dad's heights, add them up, and then divide by two. It's okay to have someone help you with the math. Now, if you're a boy, add 2.5 inches or 6.5 centimeters. If you're a girl, subtract 2.5 inches. Your answer will be your future height. Give or give or take 4 inches.

[Narrator]

What was that? Did you just mumble give or take 4 inches?

[Pitts]

Did I? Yeah.

[Narrator]

That's a big difference. Maybe this mid parental method isn't very accurate.

[Pitts]

Fine. Even though the mid parental method is a good guess, there are other factors that make predicting height difficult. For the most part, your height does depend on your family history. You know about those microscopic parts of the cells that basically tell your body how to make you well, you smarty pants.

[Narrator]

Do you know? Is it A, neurons, B, follic, C jeans, or D sweatpants?

[Pitts]

Aw man, you don't even have to ask. They know it's C jeans. But what they might not know is that there's more than 500 genes related to height. But they're only about 80% responsible for your growth. The other 20% is stuff around you, smarty pants.

[Narrator]

Can you guess which outside factors could impact your height? Go ahead, shout out your answers.

[Pitts]

Uh huh. I'm hearing foods, vitamins, sleep, disease, medicine, weight. All good answers. Thanks to better nutrition and medicine, most people today are taller than those born over a century ago. But there's one factor impacting height. And it doesn't have to do with growth at all. Really?

[Narrator]

What's that?

[Pitts]

Okay, try this out sometime. Measure yourself carefully in the morning. Then measure yourself again right before bedtime. You might find you're actually shorter in the evening. Not by much, but by a fraction of an inch.

[Narrator]

Smarty pants. Any guesses why it's all that walking.

[Pitts]

Running and thumping around you do your spine moving your bones closer together and making you a teeny tiny bit shorter. Of course, it's just temporary. When you rest again, I return you to your height or make you grow more. Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta plan that puberty party. It's gonna be crazy, huh?

[Narrator]

A super duper double special shout out to Asher and Ethan in Louisville, Kentucky. Hey, we're so glad you love the show. And I personally love the video you made for me in your amazing homemade who Smarted shirts. Thanks for being such smarty shirts. This episode Human Growth was written by Dave Beaudry and voiced by Lou Wiseman, Gia Davis, Dr. Martha Anthony Adam, Tex Davis, Brandon Bayless and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn. Who Smarted Is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room studios. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis. Who's Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.