Wow in the World: A Podcast Turducken!

Episode Title: A Podcast Turducken: With Wow in the World, Terrestrials, and Circle Round
Release Date: November 17, 2025
Host(s): Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz (Wow in the World), Lulu Miller (Terrestrials), Rebecca Sheir (Circle Round)
Theme: A family-friendly, science-packed podcast feast, featuring a collaborative storytelling episode where three of the biggest kids' podcasts join forces for a Thanksgiving “Turducken”—each contributing a story about either a chicken, duck, or turkey, combining science, folklore, and fun.

Episode Overview

This special episode is a "Podcast Turducken"—a three-part, collaborative feast of stories from Wow in the World, Terrestrials (Radiolab for Kids), and Circle Round. Each show presents a story themed on a different bird (chicken, duck, and turkey), training listeners to listen closely, think curiously, and appreciate the wonders of both science and storytelling. Along the way, the hosts share laughs, fascinating facts, and “wow” moments sure to delight the entire family.

Key Segments & Discussions

1. Setting the “Turducken” Table

Begins at [02:36]

• Mindy Thomas announces her excitement for “Turducken Day,” a fun twist on Thanksgiving, where friends gather with chicken, duck, and turkey tales.
• The hosts from each podcast join the feast: Mindy & Guy (Wow), Lulu Miller (Terrestrials), and Rebecca Sheir (Circle Round).
• They introduce themselves and their shows, setting a lively, welcoming tone.
• Quote:
  • “For a very special Thanksgiving edition, we are teaming up with some of the biggest names in the kid podcast universe for a kids podcast crossover special.” — Lulu Miller [04:55]

2. The Chicken Story: “The Incredible Journey of Inga”

Begins at [06:28] – Brought by Terrestrials

• Narrated by Lulu Miller, with guest animal expert Sy Montgomery.
• The story follows Inga, a red hen from a German farm, who gets sold for food but miraculously escapes—navigating over three miles through forests and snow to return home.
• Presented as a science-mystery: Was Inga just lucky, or do chickens possess hidden intelligence and navigational skills?
• Key Insights:
  • Chickens can run up to 9 mph and use cunning and observation to survive.
  • Birds (including chickens!) may use magnetite to sense Earth’s magnetic field, helping with navigation.
  • Chickens are capable of forming bonds and remembering friends.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Birds are fantastic with directions… Chickens? Exceptional.” — Sy Montgomery [08:58]
  • “We think that they're stupid seems awfully unfair to me.” — Sy Montgomery [09:12]
  • “Sai suspects Inga's journey was anything but dumb luck… but her own very special chicken intelligence that helped her find her way… back to her flock.” — Lulu Miller [12:32]

3. The Duck Story: “The Mystery of the Arctic Quack”

Begins at [14:54] – Brought by Wow in the World

• Narrated in classic Mindy & Guy style with improvisation and humor.
• The duo tells the tale of a strange “bioduck” sound recorded in the Arctic Ocean—a sonic mystery that baffled scientists for fifty years.
• Science Detective Work:
  • The sound, first heard by researchers in 1964, was dubbed “bioduck” due to its quacking resemblance.
  • In 2013, scientists solve the mystery by attaching “D-tags” (digital acoustic tags) with suction cups to minke whales.
  • They discover that the sounds are produced by minke whales—not ducks—and speculate on the purpose: mating calls, navigation in dark waters, or migration cues.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “What I hold here in my hand is a very special piece of scientific equipment… a digital recording acoustic tag… we're going to use it to spy on these whales underwater.” — Mindy Thomas [17:44]
  • "Maybe these quacks are a way for these whales to let other whales know they're still close. Like a whale version of that Marco Polo game we play at the pool.” — Guy Raz [23:07]

4. The Turkey Story: “How the Turkey Got Its Gobble”

Begins at [26:32] – Brought by Circle Round

• Rebecca Sheir narrates a Native folktale with scripted dialogue and sound effects.
• The story explains why turkeys gobble: Once, turkey could only talk—he envied other birds for their unique sounds, especially Grouse’s drumming.
• Turkey trades some of his splendid feathers to Grouse for a drumming lesson, but his big, bulky body makes drumming impossible.
• In the chaos, Turkey accidentally invents the gobble—a unique sound all his own, gaining self-acceptance and learning that being different is special.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Maybe you should appreciate your natural gifts, what you've already got.” — Grouse [31:47]
  • “And though it isn't quite as pleasant as owl's hoot… that gurgling, gargling gobble definitely sets Turkey apart and makes him nothing short of special.” — Rebecca Sheir [33:09]

5. Wrap Up & Reflections

Begins at [33:37]

• The hosts rejoice in completing their podcast Turducken, reflect on the joys of collaboration, and thank their listeners for supporting their shows.
• Quote:
  • “We hope wherever you are, whoever you are, that you have a wonderful holiday season.” — Lulu Miller [33:48]
  • “We are all so grateful for your support which allows us to make these shows for you.” — Guy Raz [33:57]

Memorable Moments

• Silliness and On-the-Nose Puns: The hosts frequently break into jokes about “stuffing” stories or “serving up” scientific fun, keeping the episode laugh-out-loud funny and conversational.
• Host Chemistry: Bouncing between Mindy and Guy’s zany energy, Lulu’s curiosity, and Rebecca’s warmth and theatrical flair, the hosts create a dynamic, welcoming roundtable atmosphere.
• Science is Storytelling: Across all three segments, kids learn how science and storytelling help explain the wonders around us—whether it’s animal intelligence, the mysteries of whale sounds, or mythic origins of natural phenomena.

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• “For a very special Thanksgiving edition, we are teaming up with some of the biggest names in the kid podcast universe for a kids podcast crossover special.”
  — Lulu Miller [04:55]

• “Birds are fantastic with directions… Chickens? Exceptional.”
  — Sy Montgomery [08:58]

• “What I hold here in my hand is a very special piece of scientific equipment… a digital recording acoustic tag… we're going to use it to spy on these whales underwater.”
  — Mindy Thomas [17:44]

• "Maybe these quacks are a way for these whales to let other whales know they're still close. Like a whale version of that Marco Polo game we play at the pool.”
  — Guy Raz [23:07]

• “Maybe you should appreciate your natural gifts, what you've already got.”
  — Grouse [31:47]

• “And though it isn't quite as pleasant as owl's hoot… that gurgling, gargling gobble definitely sets Turkey apart and makes him nothing short of special.”
  — Rebecca Sheir [33:09]

Segment Timestamps

• Introduction & Setup: [02:36]
• Chicken Story (Inga): [06:28]
• Duck Story (Minke Whale Quack): [14:54]
• Turkey Story (Folktale): [26:32]
• Final Reflections & Goodbyes: [33:37]

Tone and Language

The episode is lively, fun, and brimming with puns, curiosity, and celebration of science and stories. The hosts maintain a conversational, sometimes silly, always enthusiastic delivery—making complex ideas approachable for kids and grown-ups alike.

Summary Takeaway

“A Podcast Turducken” is a perfect blend of science, folklore, and storytelling—a feast for curious listeners of all ages. With imaginative tales about chickens navigating home, whales that “quack,” and turkeys who learn to appreciate their uniqueness, this special episode celebrates both the diversity of the animal kingdom and the magic of collaborative learning. The warmth and humor of the hosts, and the seamless weaving of facts and fun, make this a “wow” episode to remember.