WeWow on the Weekend

Summary

Wow in the World – WeWow on the Weekend (May 31, 2026)

Episode Summary

This weekend’s "WeWow on the Weekend" is a whimsical, hands-on, and laughter-filled episode hosted by Dennis (and Reggie, the giant pigeon), taking listeners behind-the-scenes of Tinkercast, connecting with fans, and relistening to a classic "Wow in the World" episode. The main theme centers on curiosity, crafting, and a journey through science storytelling—highlighted by a trip to an animal retirement village and the story of Lonesome George, the legendary Galápagos tortoise known for his extraordinary longevity.

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Main Segments & Discussion Points

1. Opening Chit-chat and Crafternoon (02:34–06:46)

Key Points:

• Dennis opens the show, chatting about weekend routines and breakfast mishaps, humorously lamenting his broken “#1 Dennis” mug.
• Crafting Segment: Dennis and Reggie attempt to make a new mug out of chewed chewing gum, brainstorming various flavors (peppermint, spearmint, etc.) and joking about selling their creations on the fictional website "Getsea.”
• The crafting goes awry as the mug gets stuck to Dennis’s hair, leading to a comedic moment and the classic “peanut butter removes gum” home remedy.

Notable Quote:

"It's not gross, Reggie. It's ceramics. Yeah, our breath is gonna smell so good. All right, and my new mug will probably smell good, too." — Dennis (04:53)

Memorable Moment:

• The “gum mug” fiasco culminates in Dennis declaring he’ll wear it as a fashionable “fascinator” for now. (06: 46)

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2. Inside Tinkercast Studios: Relistening to “Long Live Lonesome George” (06:47–28:53)

a. Setting Off for the Animal Retirement Village (07:57–15:42)

Key Points:

• Mindy and Guy Raz join the story, preparing for a flight adventure to Florida to visit Reggie’s parents at their retirement home.
• Silly travel details emerge: Mindy’s bag is soaked with salsa, Guy Raz shows off a high-tech suitcase, and Reggie’s parents insist he fly with humans due to ‘reckless birds’ in the jet stream.
• Boarding comedy ensues with Mindy trying to use a salsa-coated library card as her ID.

Notable Quote:

“Why do you have a tote bag full of salsa?” — Guy Raz (09:32)

“Because I’m only going away for the weekend, Guy. Raz, it’s not like I’m gonna need a whole suitcase full of salsa. This is all the salsa I’ll need.” — Mindy Thomas (09:37)

b. Meeting the Residents and Introduction to Lonesome George (15:43–22:00)

Key Points:

• The retirement village is depicted as a haven for elderly animals: lizards, birds, marsupials, a 400-year-old Greenland shark, and the star, Ming the 507-year-old clam.
• Mindy introduces George, the Galápagos tortoise, noting their species’ incredible longevity; George would be 110 years old.

Notable Quote:

“I had no idea Lonesome George had all of those secrets just tucked away in his genome.” — Mindy Thomas (28:05)

c. The Life and Science of Lonesome George (22:00–28:00)

Key Points:

• George, the last Pinta Island Galápagos tortoise, is commemorated at a “Celebration of Life” event after his passing in 2012.
• A scientist explains to the attendees (and listeners) the fascinating results of sequencing George’s genome, highlighting:
  • A special mutation in the IGF1R gene, linked to longevity.
  • Extra copies of DNA repair genes and a super-charged immune system (12x more genes linked to immune defense compared to humans).
  • The importance of genetics in animal (and possibly human) longevity, sparking wonder and continued curiosity.

Notable Quotes:

"According to this letter, the researchers found that George had a mutation in one of his genes called IGF1R, a gene that is typically related to aging and long life." — Flight Attendant/Nurse (24:36)

“So this means that not only was his DNA just crazy good at fixing itself, but his immune system was also kicking some serious toot, keeping out all those nasty infections and diseases.” — Mindy Thomas (27:02)

Memorable Moment:

• The group humorously admires Reggie’s new sweater, knit by his parents, as they try to choose which retirement activity to try next (a game of bridge with lemurs or water aerobics with otters). (28:20–29:12)

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3. Closing and Listener Engagement (29:12–end)

Key Points:

• Dennis recaps the episode’s “wow” moments and thanks listeners, encouraging kids to send in their questions via the “Wee Wow” hotline.
• An extended, energetic shout-out segment thanks supporting families across the country for powering the show.

Notable Quote:

"If you have a question for me, call and leave me a message at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend." — Dennis (29:31)

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Highlighted Scientific Insights

• Longevity in Galápagos Tortoises: Lonesome George’s exceptional age was likely due to gene mutations (IGF1R), enhanced DNA repair processes, and robust immune systems—real-life scientific findings presented in a fun, accessible way.
• Genomes as Life’s Instruction Manual: The episode explains that each living thing has a unique genome containing instructions that control how it grows, changes, and endures life’s challenges.
• Mutations and Adaptation: Mutations may sometimes result in beneficial traits like longevity or disease resistance.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes With Timestamps

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Moment | |-----------|-------------------|--------------| | 04:53 | Dennis | “It’s not gross, Reggie. It’s ceramics. Yeah, our breath is gonna smell so good.”| | 09:37 | Mindy Thomas | “Because I’m only going away for the weekend, Guy. Raz, it’s not like I’m gonna need a whole suitcase full of salsa.”| | 15:42 | Mindy Thomas | “…There’s this one Greenland shark, Gary, who’s celebrating his 400th birthday this year.”| | 24:36 | Flight Attendant/Nurse | “Researchers found that George had a mutation in one of his genes called IGF1R, a gene that is typically related to aging and long life.”| | 27:02 | Mindy Thomas | “So this means that not only was his DNA just crazy good at fixing itself, but his immune system was also kicking some serious toot…”| | 28:05 | Mindy Thomas | “I had no idea Lonesome George had all of those secrets just tucked away in his genome.”|

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Takeaways for Listeners

• Family-friendly science content can be hilarious, heartwarming, and deeply informative.
• Lonesome George’s story is a springboard: genetic science isn’t just for textbooks—it helps solve real mysteries!
• Listeners are encouraged to keep asking questions, tinkering, and exploring, always on the lookout for the next “Wow.”

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Final Thoughts

With quirky humor, improv storytelling, and bursts of real scientific facts, this episode beautifully blends fun and learning. Whether it’s a gum mug gone wrong or the genetics of long-lived tortoises, “WeWow on the Weekend” is an energetic celebration of the wonders in our world, inspiring both giggles and curiosity.

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For fan participation or to submit questions, call the Wee Wow hotline at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW.

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Transcript

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, Wowzer fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show, do you want to play along with the new season of two what's in a people who wow edition right from home? Well, just ask Alexa. That's right, Reg. Alexa actually knows who we are. Seriously, just ask Alexa. Alexa, play me a two what's in a wow episode from the wow in the world podcast on Amazon Music. And Alexa will bring our next guest right here to your own gingerbread mansion. Well, no, Reg, not literally. I just mean that Alexa brings the episode right to your earballs. Anyhoo, so the next time you're ready to play our getting to know you game show, give it a try. And now a quick ad break, and then we'll get on with the show. Who's that walking through the woods? Wyatt Yoshi. Here to explore a world of curious creatures with you. Discovered a creature you haven't seen before. Why don't you get Yoshi to see what it tastes like? Hmm. Soapy. No wonder this creature blows giant bubbles so big they can carry you. You can even jump from one bubble to another and reach new areas. There are plenty more surprises to discover, too. Bowser Jr. What are you doing out here? You can jump into a adventure with Yoshi and the mysterious book. Available now only on Nintendo Switch 2. Game rated E for everyone.

[Narrator/Announcer]

What exactly do you learn at a school for royal magic, Sophia?

[Mindy Thomas]

I can't wait to find out. Join. Sophia. Welcome to Charmswell.

[Dennis]

Don't just stand there. We've got spells to learn.

[Mindy Thomas]

In her most magical adventure ever, my emulate's giving me new powers. Blue Maggo. It's a good thing I'm at a school for royal magic, Sophia. The first royal magic now available on Disney Junior and DIS. Learn more at disneyplus.com what's On We

[Dennis]

Wow on the weekend. We wow on the weekend. We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Talking, laughing, me and Reggie singing, laughing. And then we. Oh, wait, no, I said laughing twice. Whatever. We wow on the weekend. Yeah, we wow on the weekend.

[Mindy Thomas]

Clap clap.

[Dennis]

We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Hello and welcome to We Wow on the Weekend. I'm your host, Dennis, and that's Reggie the giant pigeon. This is the show where we chit chat and answer questions from our fans and listen to Tinkercast podcasts. I love the weekend, don't you, Reggie? Yeah. Cause I can really take my time and enjoy my breakfast. Oh, today's breakfast is buttery toast with Extra butter. And a cup of tea and. Whoa. Oh, no. I spilled my tea and broke my mug. It slipped right out of my buttery toast fingers. Yeah, I know. That was my favorite mug. It said number One Dennis on it, and now it's all broken. My poor mug. I'll never find another one like it. Reggie, that's a great idea. We can make another mug, and you know what that means. That's right. It's time for a crafternoon. Pancakes are for eating and rivers are for rafting. And Broadway is for my one man show. But afternoons are for crafting Crafternoon. Today on Crafternoons, I will be making a new number one Dennis mug. Okay, so what are mugs made out of, Reggie Clay? Well, I don't have any clay. Do you? Hmm. What do we have that's like clay? Oh, how about this big pack of chewing gum? Perfect. What flavor do you want? We have peppermint, spearmint, cool mint, ice mint, fresh mint, extreme mint, or pineapple. Okay, here you go. Now, we're gonna need a lot of chewing gum. So just give each piece a few chews just like this, and then spread it out on the table.

[Mindy Thomas]

What?

[Dennis]

It's not gross, Reggie. It's ceramics. Yeah, our breath is gonna smell so good. All right, and my new mug will probably smell good, too. Yeah. Maybe we should sell these gum chunks and flavored mugs on Getsea. Getsea. Reggie Getsee. It's a website where you can get stuff, you know, stuff that people make and then sell. Like crocheted jigsaw puzzles. Right. Or hand carved T shirts that say things like, I'm in my dumpster diving era. Okay, I think we have enough gum now. Now we just have to sculpt this gum into a mug shape, and then I'll roll this part into a handle and just stick it on there like that. Ta da. A brand new mug. That was so easy. And now whenever I need a hot cup of joe in the morning, I'll grab my new mug and. And. Oh, no, it stuck to the table. Come on, mug, get unstuck. Come on, come on, come on, come on.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ow.

[Dennis]

Oh, no. Oh, no. It stuck to my head and my hair. Ew. What do we do, Reggie? Peanut butter? Really? That gets gum mugs out of hair? Okay, after the show, we're gonna go find some peanut butter. Well, I'm just gonna leave the mug in my hair for now. Yeah, it's like a fascinator. Very fashionable. Okay, next up is a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Ahem.

[Dennis]

Inside Tinkercast Studios. This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows. And today we're listening to wow in the World, Season 3, Episode 7 called Long Live Lonesome George. This is the one where you and Mindy and Guy go to visit your parents, isn't it? I love you. Yeah. That one time I met them, they made me cookies and taught me how to play mahjong. Okay, here we go. And play

[Mindy Thomas]

wee. Wow. We'll be right back, grown ups. This message is for you. That's it. Now back to the show.

[Dennis]

What in the world?

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

Flight QR43 to Philadelphia has been delayed by 8. Passengers wishing to board this flight may continue to wait at gate 20. Gate 20.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, Reg, I'm just picking up some snacks for the flight. You want some cool refreshing mints already? Cool enough, huh? Yeah. You've made that? You got the tickets? Okay, well, come in here so you can see what snack options they have. Look, they've got a share the air section now. Perfect for small enclosed spaces, huh? Let's see what we got here. We've got egg and mayo sandwiches, tuna fish salad, kimchi.

[Dennis]

Oh, yes, kimchi.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, hey, Guy. Raz, you made it.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, sorry I'm late, guys. I got held up at the airport security line. I had to get my shoes scanned and then my jacket scanned and then my elbow patches scanned.

[Dennis]

What?

[Guy Raz]

But I made it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yep. And what is that you're dragging behind you?

[Dennis]

Oh.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, this whole thing. This is actually really cool, Mindy, check it out. It's my new carry on luggage, okay? It's made out of a Kevlar fabric with reinforced zippers. And check this out.

[Mindy Thomas]

The flight's about to take self.

[Guy Raz]

Self deploying handles with custom latex grips. Isn't it amazing?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, I mean, amazing's kind of a strong word for a suitcase, but.

[Guy Raz]

Where's your luggage, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, it's right here. I've been holding it the whole time.

[Dennis]

Oh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, see?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, is that a neenah toten bag?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, you know it is. Never go on a trip without.

[Guy Raz]

Ah, it's soaking wet.

[Mindy Thomas]

I know. It's all the salsa.

[Guy Raz]

Why do you have a tote bag full of salsa?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, because I'm only going away for the weekend, Guy. Raz, it's not like I'm gonna need a whole suitcase full of salsa. This is all the salsa I'll need.

[Guy Raz]

No, no, no, Mindy.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

Why do you need flight W0W12? Florida is now Boarding. Will all passengers boarding this flight please make their way to gate 23.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, that's this guy. Raz. Come on, Red, let's go. Whoa, wait up for me. Mindy. Who made it?

[Guy Raz]

You know, Mindy, I never asked. Why are we taking a plane down to Florida? I mean, wouldn't it make a lot more sense for us to just hop on Reggie and then away we go?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, yes and no.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, did he have another Taekwondo accident? No, because if I've told him once, I've told him a thousand times, when performing the downward roundhouse kick, you've gotta keep your back straight. Otherwise he's gonna keep on hyperextending his tail feathers.

[Mindy Thomas]

No, no, no. Reggie's tail feathers are just fine. Uh, it's his parents.

[Guy Raz]

His parents?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. Um, so you know how we're going down to Florida to visit Reggie's parents in their newfangled retirement village?

[Guy Raz]

Uh, yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, just before we left, they sent him this message. Hey, Reg, can I borrow your phone for a sec? Oh. Ooh, nice throw. Okay, now where is that message? Here it is.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, check it out, Mindy. These are just a bunch of claw prints.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, right, I keep forgetting you can't read. Pigeon scratch. No worries. I'll translate. It says, ahem, our dearest Reginald.

[Guy Raz]

Reginald.

[Mindy Thomas]

I know, right? Our dearest Reginald. We can't wait to see you when you come down and visit us in the Sunshine State next week. However, we'd feel more comfortable if you were to take a plane down. We know you're a responsible flyer, but we worry about all of the other less responsible birds that fly in the jet stream. It would make us all feel much more comfortable knowing that you are safe, lots of love, blah, blah, blah. Your one and only. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Just pretty much goes on like that for a while.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, so we're taking a plane down to Florida.

[Mindy Thomas]

I guess we are.

[Guy Raz]

Right. Okay, got it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, so now that we've got that out of the way, here we are. Gate 23. Oh, hello.

[Dennis]

Hello.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

Boarding passes and IDs, please.

[Dennis]

Ooh, an organ donor. Why, bless your beak, sir.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

Go right ahead.

[Guy Raz]

Here you go.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

And thank you, Mr. Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, hang on. Sorry, I wasn't prepared. I know it's in here somewhere. No, that's our receipt. Oh, here it is.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

Thank you. Oh, ma', am, this is a library card covered in the salsa.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes, but it has my photo on it right there.

[Dennis]

Oh, yes.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

Sorry. Just couldn't recognize you with you pulling your nose up like that in the picture.

[Mindy Thomas]

I Know, I get that all the time.

[Dennis]

All right, straight on through.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

Enjoy the flight.

[Mindy Thomas]

Florida, here we come.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Hello, folks, from up on the flight deck. The seatbelt sign has now been turned off. You are free to move about the cabin.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Mindy? Yeah.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, everyone on this plane is looking at you. What on earth is so funny?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, man, you gotta check this out, Guy Raz. It's this hilarious movie where this guy has to reach under his seat. Get this, he has to put on this bright yellow vest and an oxygen mask, and then.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, are you sure you weren't just watching the safety video?

[Mindy Thomas]

What? No, I was. I was totally watching the safety video.

[Guy Raz]

Where did Reggie go?

[Mindy Thomas]

I don't know. The last time I saw him, he was in the cockpit.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, how cool. Is he getting a little tour of the plane?

[Mindy Thomas]

Nah, he was teaching a couple of new pilots how to fly. Aha.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

We will now begin in service of our lunch menu. We are offering two options. A Pop Tart with a slice of aged American cheese or a hearty homestyle lasagna made entirely of peanut brittle.

[Mindy Thomas]

La la.

[Guy Raz]

What kind of airline is this?

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz, you have no idea how pumped I am that we get to go down to Florida to visit Reggie's parents in their retirement village. The last time I was there, oh, man, that place was full of so many interesting characters, I didn't think I was ever gonna leave.

[Guy Raz]

You know, Mindy, now that I think about it, I've never been to an animal retirement home before.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, you are going to love it, Guy Raz. There are lizards and birds and marsupials all living together in beautiful harmony, playing bridge and sucking on butterscotch.

[Guy Raz]

Wow, that sounds great.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah, and there are some residents that I can't wait to catch up with. There's this one Greenland shark, Gary, who's celebrating his 400th birthday this year.

[Dennis]

400?

[Guy Raz]

Wow, that's a lot of candles to stick on a crab cake.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, that's nothing, Guy Raz. The village's oldest resident is this Quahog clam named Ming. Last time I saw him, in 2007, he was about to turn 500. Seven years old? Whoa.

[Guy Raz]

You mean Ming was born in Carrie the One Two, 1499?

[Mindy Thomas]

You know it. Pretty bonker balls, huh?

[Guy Raz]

That's older than the United States, Mindy. That's older than Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's older than shrimp in my pocket. Uh, but there's one creature down there that I'm really pumped to visit again.

[Guy Raz]

Who's that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, so his name is George.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

George.

[Mindy Thomas]

George. The Galapagos tortoise.

[Guy Raz]

Ah, I've heard about Galapagos tortoises before.

[Dennis]

They're huge.

[Guy Raz]

They, the biggest ones can grow up to six feet long and can weigh up to 900 pounds.

[Mindy Thomas]

And most importantly, they are the longest living species of tortoise on the planet.

[Guy Raz]

Which would explain why George is in the retirement village.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exact oritos. Guy Raz. For the last 40 years, George has just been chilling out in the Florida sun, training for triathlons, playing shuffleboards, you know, things that tortoises do.

[Guy Raz]

40 years, Mindy? I thought most tortoises don't live past 30 years. And you're telling me that George has been retired for 40 years?

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh huh.

[Guy Raz]

Well, how old is he then?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, let me see here. So the last time I saw him, seven years ago, and he was, he would be 110 years old. And I'm pretty sure he's gonna be celebrating his birthday while we're down there. So excited, I got him the perfect present.

[Guy Raz]

Wow. Where did you get him?

[Mindy Thomas]

I think it's in my overhead luggage. Hang on a second. Oh, sorry, sorry. Excuse me. I'm just gonna squeeze by you, okay? All right. Open the hatch of this. Sorry. Oh. Ow, ow, ow, ow.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, Mindy, what is that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, it's a prickly bear, Guy Raz.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Ow.

[Guy Raz]

Why in do you have a prickly pear cactus in your overhead baggage?

[Mindy Thomas]

Just told you, it's George's birthday. Turns out prickly pear is his favorite tortoise food.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Greetings again from the flight deck. The fasten seat belt sign has been turned on. Please return to your seats as we are about to begin our descent into Florida.

[Dennis]

Excuse me, ma', am, I'm gonna have

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

to have you take your seat.

[Mindy Thomas]

It's not a problem. Just need to put this back in the overhead.

[Dennis]

Can I help you with that cactus?

[Mindy Thomas]

Suit yourself. Catch. Ow. Thanks.

[Dennis]

Madam, please don't throw cactuses at people. We shouldn't have to say that.

[Narrator/Announcer]

We are beginning our final approach. Flight attendants, please cross check and prepare for arrival.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thank you very much. I can't forget your tip. Let me see here. Oh, how about this? In a pinch, when making a sandwich and you're out of cheese, just use a yellow, post it instead.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

I already knew that one.

[Mindy Thomas]

Have a nice day. Well, Reggie, Guy Raz, here we are. Final sunset retirement farm.

[Guy Raz]

Man, oh man. This place is really nice, Mindy. Nicely paved roads, golf buggies to get around. They even have a koi pond.

[Mindy Thomas]

Actually, that's just a swimming pool. For Mr. And Mrs. Yakimoto. Hello, Mr. And Mrs. Yakamoto. It's me, Mindy. I'm back. Anywho, we should probably sign in at the front office so that Reggie can see his parents. How you doing with those bags, Reg?

[Guy Raz]

Hey, I think that's where we go check in over there, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

What makes you think that?

[Guy Raz]

Well, the giant flashing neon sign above the door that says check in here.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah. Gracia. Rent. Rent. Rent. Rent. Rent. Rent. Rin.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

Hello there. Welcome to Final Sunset Retirement Farm. Are you visiting family pets?

[Mindy Thomas]

Family? Well, not my family exactly, more like. Well, my pigeon's family. Though we are kind of close. I think they would consider me family. Do you think that they would consider me family?

[Guy Raz]

Well, we're here to see two elderly pigeons. Mr. And Mrs. Mr. And Mrs. You know what, Mindy? I don't think I know Reggie's last name.

[Mindy Thomas]

Huh? You know, me neither. Hey, Reggie, what's your parents last name?

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

Oh, of course. Mr. And Mrs. You must be Reginald.

[Mindy Thomas]

Reginald.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

They will be very happy to see you again. Please follow me.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, Reg, we're just gonna, you know, take a little look around. We'll catch up with you later, okay? Oh, and Say hi to Mr. And Mrs. Coo for us, okay? Okay, Guy Raz. Got some free time on our hands. What do you wanna do first? We can play some bingo. Maybe try one of those sit and be fit exercise classes, Polish off some dentures, eh?

[Guy Raz]

Well, actually, I was thinking maybe we should try and track down that Galapagos tortoise you were talking about on the plane. I mean, you could give him his birth and maybe he could tell us some stories. You know, being 110 years old and all. I bet he has some great ones.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's a great idea, Guy Raz. Wait till he tells you about the time he met Merrill. Sheep. Hi. Excuse me, nurse. Nurse. Would you be able to tell me where I can find Lonesome George? Oh, they call him Lonesome George Guy Raz because he was the last Galapagos tortoise on the Pinta island in the Caribbean. But he's actually a real party animal.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

Oh, I'm sorry. Did you not hear? Lonesome George passed away in 2012.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, no.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, no. He was so young.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

She does know he was over a hundred years old, right?

[Mindy Thomas]

He had so much left to give.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, she'll be okay.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

But you two did come on the perfect day.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, why is that?

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

There is a Celebration of Life ceremony for him today in the cafeteria. We do it each year on his birthday today, he would have been 110 years old.

[Mindy Thomas]

Only the good diang.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you, nurse. We'll be sure to be there.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

Enjoy it. And if you see a loose tail lying somewhere around here, let me know. I have an iguana. Who could have sworn she left it in here.

[Guy Raz]

Well, definitely keep an eye out. Hey, hey, did you hear that, Mindy? They're having a Celebration of Life party for George in the mess hall today. Should we go check it out?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, yeah. Maybe someone over there will want this prickly pear.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Lovely. I just want to thank everyone for coming to the annual Celebration of Life ceremony for our beloved friend, Lonesome George. Today, he would have been 110 years old. We don't know this for certain as he was very lonesome and very private about his age. But I do have something very special I would like to share with you. Today we received a letter from a group of scientists who said they have sequenced Lonesome George's genome to try and understand how our friend came to live such a long, long life.

[Mindy Thomas]

Whoa.

[Guy Raz]

That's incredible, mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

I know. 32 animals in this room and nobody thought to put out any food?

[Guy Raz]

No, not that, Mindy. The fact that these scientists sequenced Lonesome George's genome in order to try and understand how he lived such a long life.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah, that is pretty incredible because the genome is like the instruction manual of life.

[Guy Raz]

That's right. The instruction manual that each living organism has inside of them that tells them how to grow and develop.

[Mindy Thomas]

Right. And so when they say that they were able to sequence Lonesome George's genome, that means that they were able to basically, basically translate that biological instruction manual into something that we can understand.

[Narrator/Announcer]

These scientists compared George's genome to the lifespans of other mammals, fish, birds, amphibians and reptiles to try and determine what differences there might be. And to read the result of that study, we have one of George's oldest and closest friends, Michael.

[Dennis]

George.

[Guy Raz]

Michael.

[Mindy Thomas]

No, no, no, no, no. George and Michael.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

Thank you. It is such an honor to speak here today. You know, it's not surprising that George lived to such a ripe old age. You see, according to this letter, the researchers found that George had a mutation in one of his genes called IGF1R, a gene that is typically related to aging and long life.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait, one GF one? Are you kidding me? That's the license plate number on my motor pickle.

[Guy Raz]

A mutation? Mindy, do you know what this means?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, I know that a mutation is when a gene in the body doesn't behave the way that it does in everyone else.

[Guy Raz]

That's right. And so if there was a mutation in a gene that controls aging and

[Mindy Thomas]

long life, then that would explain how he was able to live for such a long time, even though still think he died too young.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

And in addition to possessing this long life gene, these researchers have also discovered that George and Galapagos tortoises like him have extra copies of genes that help repair DNA. Yes, Yes, I know. It's incredible. I'm flipping out. I'm so excited.

[Mindy Thomas]

And DNA are the small microscopic molecules that form the itsy bitsy strands that make up our genome.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. And a lot of the challenges that comes with old age, like getting hurt or getting sick more easily. Well, that happens in part because the older we get, the more the DNA inside of our body becomes more damaged.

[Mindy Thomas]

So if George was better at repairing that DNA in his own body, then

[Guy Raz]

it would make sense as to why he was able to live so long.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

Also. Also, these researchers found that George had 12 times as many genes related to the immune system than most mammals. And that is, including us humans, the

[Guy Raz]

immune system, Mindy, I think he's talking about the part of the body that fights off infections and keeps our bodies safe.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, and he just said that lonesome George had 12 times as many genes to do with the immune system that we do.

[Flight Attendant/Nurse]

Yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

So this means that not only was his DNA just crazy good at fixing itself, but his immune system was also kicking some serious toot, keeping out all those nasty infections and diseases.

[Guy Raz]

It does seem that way, Mindy.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Thank you, Michael, for that beautiful reading. I. I understand these researchers will continue to study George's genome. And apparently next they will be trying to unlock the mystery of why George was so big. It seems that even George is still teaching us so much about life. Thank you all for coming today. I. I must ask that we now make our way out of the cafeteria as Babs and the rest of the canaries. Yes. Hello there. They have this room reserved for Tai chi this afternoon.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you. Wow, Mindy, what a beautiful service.

[Mindy Thomas]

I had no idea Lonesome George had all of those secrets just tucked away in his genome.

[Guy Raz]

Right.

[Mindy Thomas]

Anywho, we should probably go find Reginald. He's probably just about ready to. What in the.

[Guy Raz]

Reggie, look at you. What a great sweater.

[Dennis]

Aw.

[Mindy Thomas]

And it even has your name embroidered across the front of it.

[Guy Raz]

Did your mom knit that for you?

[Mindy Thomas]

He said that his dad knitted this sweater. These were knitted by his mom.

[Guy Raz]

Matching sweaters that say Mindy and Guy Raz. Yep, that's what I thought. Thanks, Reggie.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, here come the canaries.

[Guy Raz]

I guess we should probably get out of here, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, so what do you two want to do next? We could play a game of bridge with the lemurs. Maybe maybe do some water aerobics with the otters. That would be nice. Oh, wait, wait. How about.

[Dennis]

Wow, that was so cool. I can't believe Lonesome George had a mutation in his DNA and that's why he lives so long. Also, your parents retirement village sounds cute. Okay, should we go get this gum mug out of my hair? Alright, let's wrap up the show first.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Ahem.

[Dennis]

Thanks to all you listeners out there for tuning in to WEE WOW on the weekend. If you have a question for me, call and leave me a message at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW. That's 1-888-7-WWOW. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Okay, let's go. So your sharp peanut butter will get the gum out of my hair. Can I add jelly too? And some bread? Because I want to make a peanut butter and jelly and Dennis sandwich. Ooh, and maybe we should add bananas or potato chips or bacon or honey. Or.

[Guy Raz]

Before we get into the credits for today's episode, we want to give some special shout outs and say a huge thank you to some of the wowzers whose families are powering the WOW this year.

[Mindy Thomas]

We broke the names up into two batches and here is our second batch of names. We are so grateful for your support.

[Guy Raz]

Dikayla from California. Avani and Avir also from California. Martin and Matias from Utah. Penny, James and Anna. Louise from North Carolina. Lenox and Langston from Arkansas.

[Mindy Thomas]

Fiona, Bram and Callum from Wisconsin. Samuel and Victoria from Louisiana. Erin and Eden from California. Milos from California. Jonah and Elijah from New Jersey.

[Guy Raz]

Nya, Nuran, Sumitra and Bivash from New York. Noah, Hudson and Ella from Pennsylvania. Evan and Emma from North Carolina. Wesley from Virginia. Ashcon and Kayvon from New Mexico.

[Mindy Thomas]

Lily and James from Georgia. Beckett, Harper, Tim and Annie from Texas. Josiah, Elijah and Dad from Texas. Ellie and Daniel from Michigan. Alex and Eli from Colorado.

[Guy Raz]

Ethan and Eli from Wisconsin. Kira and Corinne from Illinois. Jack and Nick from Florida. Odin, Lyra and Newton from California. Stella and Molly from Illinois.

[Mindy Thomas]

Carolyn and Theo from Missouri. Owen and Riley from Canada. Clark and Finley from Virginia. Ani and Nia from Massachusetts. Orly and Beckon from California.

[Guy Raz]

Theo and Mira from Virginia. Sebastian and Oliver from Michigan. Charlotte and Dean from New York. Campbell from Massachusetts.

[Mindy Thomas]

Nate and Sophie from Hawaii. Wevy and a belated Happy Birthday to Sanderling from Gill and Ranger.

[Guy Raz]

From the bottom of our hearts and

[Mindy Thomas]

the tops of our brains, thank you.

[Dennis]

Thanks for joining us for this edition of We Wow. Our show is written by Ruth Morrison and Jed Anderson. The role of Baby Dennis is played by Jed Anderson. Well then, who plays the role of Big Dennis? Never you mind. Tee hee. Original sound design and production is done by Tyler Thole with contributions from Jed Anderson and Henry Moskal. Original music for Wewow is composed and performed by Tyler Thole. Special thanks to Jessica Bode, Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall, Kenny Curtis, Kristin Yang, Meredith Helpern, Ranzer Thuy Mac, Jodi Nussbaum, Ali Paxima, Guy Ra, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Mindy Thomas, Anna Zagorski, and all of the other tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ. Be sure to visit tinkercast.com where you can become an official member of the World Organization of Wowzers. Learn about upcoming events, shop our wow Shop, find our best selling books and learn about all the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast. Thanks again for thinking, tinkering, experimenting and exploring with me this week. Be sure to check out episodes of wow in the world on Mondays 2 what's in a wow On Fridays and We Wow on the Weekend with Dennis on the weekends. And remember who Wows I wow. Oh Baby Dennis. We wow all right. We wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.