A Podcast Turducken: With Wow in the World, Terrestrials and Circle Round (11/17/25)

Summary

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.

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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.

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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.

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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]

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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]

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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.

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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.

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Transcript

[Guy Raz]

Grown Ups Wondery subscribers can listen to wow. In the World early and ad free right now. Join Wondery in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey Wowzer fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show, I gotta let you know that this November is about to get a lot more wow. Join us each week for the rest of the month for special episodes of wow in the World. This week, grab a plate and join us for a slice of Turducken with a special new episode featuring our friends at Circle Round and Terrestrials on Radiolab for kids. And don't miss when Elmo from Sesame street stops by. Wow. In the World to make us all belly laugh on November 24th. Oh, but that's not all, Reg. On December 1st, we are sharing our 250th episode of WOW. In the World with all of you. We think this one is going to be music to your ears. Literally. Did I mention it's a musical? And if you're a member of the world organization of wowzers. Oh boy, do I have a surprise for you. You can listen to our 250th episode early with me and other members from around the world on Saturday, November 22nd at 7pm Eastern. That's right. We are throwing another listening party. Join us as we dance along to our new songs, react to the episode with other members in the chat and more grown ups. If you want your Wowzer to join this MEG Members Only listening party, you can sign up to become a member [e-mail] wow. Already a member. Well, you can find the link and password to join the event when you sign [e-mail] wow. That's it. It's gonna be a November to remember. But for now, let's get on with the show.

[Guy Raz]

Proceeded. 3, 2, 1. Mission. The bubble form of mixture of magnificent proportion. I don't know what you've been told. We're in a golden age. So many discoveries that are jumping off the page while in the world. Wow.

[Lulu Miller]

Hous.

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz, it's time. My favorite day of the whole year.

[Guy Raz]

Your birthday?

[Mindy Thomas]

No, the other one.

[Guy Raz]

My birthday?

[Mindy Thomas]

No, the other one. Uh, it's Turducken Day.

[Guy Raz]

I'm sorry, Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

It's a day where we all sit around a big table with family and friends and give thanks for the turkeys and the ducks and the chickens in our lives. You know, Turducken Day.

[Guy Raz]

A day to give thanks. Wait, Mindy, it's not Turducken Day. It's.

[Mindy Thomas]

I'm so excited. Guy Raz. We have been invited to a Turducken feast with two of our podcast friends.

[Guy Raz]

We have other friends besides Dennis and Reggie, Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

I'm talking about Lulu from Terrestrials and Rebecca from Circle Round. They want to spend Turducken Day with us.

[Guy Raz]

Ah, that's so nice. What can we bring?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, I said we'd bring the duck.

[Guy Raz]

The duck? Where are we going to find a duck at this hour, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, I already got one.

[Guy Raz]

What? Where?

[Mindy Thomas]

Reggie, go get the duck.

[Guy Raz]

It's a live duck.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, yeah, you don't want to be the guy who shows up for a Turducken Day feast with a dead duck, do ya?

[Guy Raz]

Well, no, that's not how.

[Mindy Thomas]

His name's Freddy. Say hi, Freddy.

[Guy Raz]

Freddy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now come hop on Reggie. He's gonna give us a ride over there. You're gonna want to hold on tight for this one, little duck. Hey, I'm on. Good cause. Here we go. Beautiful landing, Reg. Right, Freddy?

[Guy Raz]

Well, looks like we made it, Mindy. Look, the sign on the door says come on in.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, well, don't mind if we do. And I'm Lulu and I host Happy Turducky Day, everybody.

[Guy Raz]

Shh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Lulu and Alan are giving their Turducken.

[Rebecca Shear]

Day intro for the story Feast Terrestrials from radio land.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, sorry. Happy Turducken Day, everybody.

[Guy Raz]

Rebecca Shear.

[Rebecca Shear]

Hi, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hi, Guy. Come to the table and grab a mic.

[Guy Raz]

A mic.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, fancy.

[Rebecca Shear]

Here are your parts for the introduction.

[Guy Raz]

Sure. Thanks.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thank you, Tur.

[Lulu Miller]

Duck in. And 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. That's right, Terrestrials, Wow in the World.

[Rebecca Shear]

And Circle Round have teamed up to.

[Guy Raz]

Bring you a story. Turducken.

[Lulu Miller]

A story about a turkey, a story about a duck, and a story about a chicken. Each show has brought a story about one of these birds to assemble into this Turducken. And before we get going on these riveting tales, should we just all go around and introduce ourselves?

[Rebecca Shear]

Yeah, good idea. Yeah, let's do it.

[Lulu Miller]

You wanna go first?

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay. Hi, I'm Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

And I'm Guy Raz. And together we bring you the wow in the World podcast, where we search, find, and share new scientific discoveries.

[Mindy Thomas]

Discoveries that make us say wow.

[Guy Raz]

Wow.

[Lulu Miller]

Wow. I'm so excited you're here. And next up from Circle Round, we have Rebecca.

[Rebecca Shear]

I'm Rebecca. And I host Circle Round, a weekly podcast that adapts Age old folktales into fun audio plays for modern kids and families.

[Lulu Miller]

And I am lul. I host terrestrials from Radiolab and we tell totally true stories about animals and sometimes break out into song.

[Mindy Thomas]

All right, so let's get this story tur ducking started. A turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken. Yeah, so I guess we probably need to start with the littlest bird first. Who's got the chicken?

[Lulu Miller]

Terrestrials does ba got. I am so excited to bring you this tale that will have you seeing the lowly chicken completely anew. Y' all ready?

[Mindy Thomas]

I'm ready.

[Rebecca Shear]

Oh yeah, totally ready.

[Guy Raz]

Let's do it.

[Lulu Miller]

Okay, so join me, if you will. On a very cold wintery day a few years ago in Germany.

[Sy Montgomery]

We'Re on.

[Lulu Miller]

A little farm with a little flock of chickens and one normal sized farmer named Gerald.

[Guy Raz]

Guten tag.

[Lulu Miller]

And in that flock is a very handsome rooster named Horst and a bunch of female chickens, including one lovely little red hen named Inga. Beautiful red little Inga, who Horst had taken under his wing.

[Rebecca Shear]

Literally.

[Lulu Miller]

They spent a lot of time together, wing to wing.

[Guy Raz]

Inga and horse sitting at a tree. B E C K I N G.

[Lulu Miller]

But one day, farmer Girald, well, he needed to earn some money. So he looked into the flock.

[Guy Raz]

Which bird shall I take?

[Lulu Miller]

And scooped up Inga.

[Guy Raz]

Come here, little one.

[Lulu Miller]

And put her in the car with him to drive over three miles away past dark forests and snow and busy streets to sell her to Gelheunerbreiter, which is German for the chicken rooster, to become a nugget. Or according to our fact checker, possibly a filet. Anyway, it seemed like her fate was seared. I mean sealed.

[Guy Raz]

Farewell, Inga.

[Lulu Miller]

Gerald drove home to his little farm with one less chicken. The months went by, the snow fell, and then one morning, Girald woke up. Imagine him trudging out through the snow to the chicken coop where he saw Inga. He knew it was her because of the name tag still on her ankle. And there she was, reunited with handsome Horst.

[Guy Raz]

Mil standen de harze berg, which is German for my hair stood up on end.

[Lulu Miller]

My hair stood on end too, when I heard about this runaway chicken who made it miles and miles home through obstacles and darkness and who knows what else. Because I figured she must have been the luckiest chicken in the world who accidentally made it all the way back home. Because, you know, chickens, not famous for their intelligence.

[Sy Montgomery]

We do know that birds are fantastic with directions.

[Lulu Miller]

Well, birds, sure, but chickens?

[Sy Montgomery]

Exceptional.

[Lulu Miller]

Can you please introduce yourself? Person suddenly correcting Me?

[Sy Montgomery]

Well, my name is Sy Montgomery, and I wrote what Chicken Knows.

[Lulu Miller]

And Sai says the chicken knows a whole lot more than we give it credit for.

[Sy Montgomery]

I have kept chickens for a couple of decades. They have taught me so much. The fact that we think that they're stupid seems awfully unfair to me.

[Lulu Miller]

I mean, really, though. Sigh. Like I've seen chickens pecking at their own bum.

[Sy Montgomery]

Well, chickens have different kinds of intelligences, but we sometimes don't know how to appreciate it.

[Lulu Miller]

Sai suspects Inga's journey was anything but dumb luck. And to explain, she says we should all just imagine the story back at the beginning. Right back at the nugget factory. Somehow Inga got out of the stall. And then, most likely, she ran.

[Guy Raz]

Chicken, chicken, chicken. Run.

[Sy Montgomery]

As fast as she could out of.

[Lulu Miller]

The town center and toward the woods. Can they go fast?

[Sy Montgomery]

Actually, chickens can go nine miles an hour.

[Lulu Miller]

No side note, I love running, and the best I can do is six miles an hour.

[Guy Raz]

Chicken, chicken, chicken, run.

[Sy Montgomery]

As soon as she felt she was out of sight, she probably then hid.

[Guy Raz]

Chicken, chicken, chicken. Hide.

[Lulu Miller]

Maybe under a bush or a pile of leaves in the wintery forest.

[Sy Montgomery]

This is what I would do if someone was trying to cook and eat meat.

[Lulu Miller]

But all around her, new threats loomed in the darkness.

[Sy Montgomery]

Raccoons, skunks, foxes, hawks.

[Guy Raz]

Chicken. Hide, hide.

[Sy Montgomery]

And I might have even waited out the night.

[Guy Raz]

Chicken.

[Lulu Miller]

Sleep, sleep.

[Sy Montgomery]

To just get rested and think about, what am I going to do next?

[Lulu Miller]

Sai thinks that Inga likely used her sharp listening skills to eavesdrop on the conversations around her.

[Sy Montgomery]

Squirrels, chipmunks, and birds help warn each other of approaching predators. They speak each other's language.

[Guy Raz]

Wow.

[Lulu Miller]

Like she would have recognized that little chattering alarm sound from the squirrels on her farm.

[Sy Montgomery]

She probably would have.

[Rebecca Shear]

Yeah.

[Sy Montgomery]

And then maybe she hid under a.

[Lulu Miller]

Bush until the coast was clear. Until all the chattering stopped.

[Guy Raz]

Wow.

[Lulu Miller]

But how would she know where to go? How would she have found her way home?

[Sy Montgomery]

Many birds have something called magnetite to detect the magnetism of the earth the same way that a compass does.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Sy Montgomery]

And they have excellent memories for things like directions.

[Guy Raz]

Really?

[Sy Montgomery]

So if she could see out of.

[Lulu Miller]

The car back when Girald drove her toward the chicken roaster, she may have.

[Sy Montgomery]

Been memorizing all those landmarks as she went. Plus, they can see polarized light.

[Rebecca Shear]

What does that look like?

[Sy Montgomery]

It may look like stripes that indicate direction.

[Lulu Miller]

Almost like arrows.

[Sy Montgomery]

Yes.

[Lulu Miller]

Wow.

[Sy Montgomery]

All bird eyes are exceptional. And she was highly motivated.

[Rebecca Shear]

What?

[Lulu Miller]

What do you mean?

[Sy Montgomery]

If she went home, she was gonna see her boyfriend.

[Guy Raz]

Clark.

[Lulu Miller]

Clark. But Does a little chicken brain experience something like a bond?

[Sy Montgomery]

Oh, they absolutely do. I've seen in my own chickens, at night, they want to sleep next to their best friends.

[Lulu Miller]

Huh. And like that, I saw Inga's journey totally anew. It wasn't dumb luck that let her get over three miles through the dark and cold forest, past hungry foxes and speeding cars, but her own instincts, her own memories, her own very special chicken intelligence that helped her find her way. I mean, back to her flock.

[Sy Montgomery]

I love this story.

[Lulu Miller]

And so too, it seems, did Farmer Girald, because he has vowed to never take Inga back to the chicken roaster and instead let her live out her life peacefully with handsome Horst together raising their baby chicks.

[Guy Raz]

Wow.

[Lulu Miller]

Did we just make wow in the world? Wow, you totally did.

[Guy Raz]

Yes.

[Lulu Miller]

And circle round. Were you in fact circled round while listening?

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh.

[Lulu Miller]

Podcast dreams achieved.

[Rebecca Shear]

All right, so next is duck. Who's got the duck?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, we've got a duck.

[Mindy Thomas]

What? His name's Freddy.

[Lulu Miller]

Wait, I didn't expect that.

[Guy Raz]

You were.

[Rebecca Shear]

Oh, hi, Fred.

[Mindy Thomas]

He says hi back. Oh, and Lulu, he says he likes your voice.

[Lulu Miller]

Oh, thank you. I'm quackered. I'm flattered. Okay, but wait, when you said you were bringing the duck, I didn't know you were actually bringing an actual duck.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, I couldn't just leave him home. Not on ter Duckin day.

[Lulu Miller]

Oh, right, yeah, yeah.

[Guy Raz]

Okay.

[Lulu Miller]

That would just be.

[Mindy Thomas]

But what we brought is more than just a duck.

[Lulu Miller]

It is?

[Guy Raz]

It is?

[Mindy Thomas]

It is. What we brought to this turducken feast is a whole quackin mystery.

[Rebecca Shear]

A mystery? I thought you were going to be bringing a duck. Related story.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, well, it is a duck story. Sort of.

[Lulu Miller]

What do you mean, sort of?

[Mindy Thomas]

It's a quack.

[Guy Raz]

A quack. A quack. Stop saying quack.

[Mindy Thomas]

You know, maybe we should just get into the story. You ready, Guy Raz?

[Guy Raz]

Yes, I'll ever be.

[Mindy Thomas]

Our story begins way back in.

[Guy Raz]

In 1964, two researchers on board a US Navy research vessel were listening for whale songs in the middle of the Arctic Ocean when suddenly they heard something a little strange.

[Lulu Miller]

Whoa.

[Guy Raz]

Did you hear that, Captain?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, I did hear that. There it is again.

[Guy Raz]

What could it be?

[Mindy Thomas]

I don't know, but it sure sounded like a duck.

[Guy Raz]

A duck. There it is again.

[Mindy Thomas]

The researchers decided to call this strange sound the bioduck signature, because, well, it sounded just like a duck.

[Guy Raz]

A duck in the middle of the Arctic Ocean?

[Mindy Thomas]

No way. It couldn't be.

[Guy Raz]

Nobody knew what this sound was or.

[Mindy Thomas]

Where it was coming from.

[Guy Raz]

It wasn't until 2013 when researchers from the Woods Hole Institution decided to lead an expedition out to the Arctic.

[Mindy Thomas]

It was time to get to the bottom of this 50 year old mystery once and for all.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you. Thank you everyone, for joining us on this expedition to find out what exactly is making those quacking sounds once and for all.

[Mindy Thomas]

As of this moment, we have one prime suspect.

[Guy Raz]

Oh yeah?

[Lulu Miller]

Who?

[Mindy Thomas]

It's this guy.

[Guy Raz]

A whale? Not just any whale. This is an Arctic minke whale.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

[Lulu Miller]

So what made the researchers think that this Arctic minke whale was the duck? I mean, the quacking culprit?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, you see, whales make all sorts of noises to communicate over long distances.

[Guy Raz]

They're called whale songs. And sometimes they can sound pretty strange.

[Rebecca Shear]

As strange as a duck's quack?

[Guy Raz]

Sometimes.

[Mindy Thomas]

So to find out if these whales were making the quacking sound, they did something that all of us are very familiar with.

[Lulu Miller]

What did they do?

[Mindy Thomas]

They mic'd em up.

[Rebecca Shear]

They gave the whales microphones. Yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

Just like us here at this turducken feast. Is this thing on Mindy?

[Lulu Miller]

And how did they get these whales in front of a microphone? I mean, the last time I checked, whales don't know how to use a podcast studio.

[Guy Raz]

They did it with a very special piece of scientific equipment.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, everyone stand back. What I hold here in my hand is a very special piece of scientific equipment.

[Guy Raz]

What is that thing?

[Mindy Thomas]

This, my fellow scientist, is a digital recording acoustic tag.

[Guy Raz]

A what?

[Mindy Thomas]

Otherwise known as a D tag. It's like a waterproof microphone, GPS tracking system and motion sensor all rolled into one. And we're going to use it to spy on these whales underwater.

[Guy Raz]

We can do that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. Here, take a closer look.

[Guy Raz]

Let's see here. This part must be the hydrophone.

[Mindy Thomas]

The only kind of microphone you can use underwater.

[Guy Raz]

But how are minke whales supposed to use underwater microphones?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, that's easy. We're gonna stick them right onto the whales.

[Guy Raz]

Okay.

[Mindy Thomas]

And then we're gonna go away, let them do their thing, and then listen back to the recording to hear what sounds they've been making while we've been gone. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

[Lulu Miller]

These scientists are gonna stick the device to the whale? How are they gonna do that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Two words for you, Lulu. Suction cups.

[Lulu Miller]

Suction cups?

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh huh.

[Guy Raz]

Sort of like those phone holders for your car that stick to the windshield.

[Rebecca Shear]

So you don't have to fiddle with your phone to play music or podcasts or whatnot.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly.

[Mindy Thomas]

So each of these suction cups has a hydrophone attached and after a couple of days each, they just fall off. The whales don't even realize they were there in the first place.

[Lulu Miller]

And then how do they find the hydrophones again after they fall off?

[Mindy Thomas]

Three more words for you. Global Positioning Systems.

[Rebecca Shear]

Ah, gps.

[Guy Raz]

That's right. The hydrophone floats to the surface and then the scientists find it by tracking its GPS location.

[Rebecca Shear]

Genius.

[Mindy Thomas]

So can we get back to the story now? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, totally.

[Lulu Miller]

Sure, yeah.

[Guy Raz]

Of course it took a few, but eventually our researchers found two perfect quacking candidates for this very special recording session.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, now that we have them in our sights, let's hop in our dingies and head out to the whales. Got everything we need?

[Guy Raz]

Let's see here. Hydrophone recording devices.

[Ruffed Grouse (character)]

Check.

[Guy Raz]

Suction cups for sticking. Check. And a couple of very long poles. Check, check and check.

[Rebecca Shear]

Uh, very long poles, Surely not fishing poles, right?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, no, these are just poles to help the researchers put the microphones on the whales.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, in order to not disturb the whales, they can't get too close. So these poles help them attach the microphones from a distance.

[Mindy Thomas]

And all they have to do is wait for the whales to pop up to the surface.

[Lulu Miller]

I see one.

[Guy Raz]

Look, it's a minke whale reaching to the surface.

[Mindy Thomas]

Quick, get the pole. Ready?

[Guy Raz]

Got it. Pole is ready. Mike is attached.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, here it comes. Ready? Ready.

[Guy Raz]

Now.

[Mindy Thomas]

There we go.

[Guy Raz]

Ha ha.

[Mindy Thomas]

Got it. Now keep swimming, little buddy. And quack till your heart's content.

[Guy Raz]

Woo hoo.

[Rebecca Shear]

So what happened next?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, they waited and waited and waited. I can't take this anymore. I'm so bored from waiting.

[Guy Raz]

Is that what I think it is?

[Mindy Thomas]

A signal from the D tag.

[Guy Raz]

Quick, let's get out all those Ds.

[Mindy Thomas]

The researchers then went out to retrieve their recordings from the ocean surface. And when they got them back, they found a very familiar sound waiting for them.

[Lulu Miller]

So it was the minke whale. I knew it.

[Rebecca Shear]

But wait, couldn't it just have been another marine animal that made that quacking sound?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, that is a possibility. But when the scientists lined up the times for when all of the quacks.

[Guy Raz]

Occurred, there were no other marine animals anywhere near the whales. So the scientists concluded that it had to be the minke whales making that quacking sound. Huh.

[Lulu Miller]

So mystery solved, I guess.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, half solved. You see, scientists still don't know why these animals are making those noises. But there are a few theories. Think, think, think, think. Why would these whales be making these noises?

[Guy Raz]

Maybe they're talking to each other. Some whale songs can be heard. Hundreds, sometimes even Thousands of miles away.

[Mindy Thomas]

But what would they even be talking about?

[Guy Raz]

I have some theories.

[Mindy Thomas]

Chalkboard's all yours, buddy.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, theory number one. Mating calls. Ah.

[Mindy Thomas]

Trying to serenade the other minke. Wh. Showing off? Looking for love?

[Guy Raz]

It's possible.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, theory number two.

[Guy Raz]

Theory number two. Navigation. Ah.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, it is pretty dark down there in those icy waters. Probably hard for these whales to keep track of each other when they can hardly see what's in front of them.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, maybe these quacks are a way for these whales to let other whales know they're still close.

[Mindy Thomas]

Like a whale version of that Marco Polo game we play at the pool.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. And theory number three. Migration.

[Mindy Thomas]

Migration. Explain.

[Guy Raz]

Well, research shows that these sounds become more common in the winter, which is.

[Mindy Thomas]

Also when these whales head up north to warmer waters. That could be it, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Could be. We'll have to do some more investigating to know for sure.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, I guess it's true what they say. A marine biologist's work is never done.

[Guy Raz]

But for now, let's close the chapter on the mysterious case of the ocean quacking.

[Mindy Thomas]

Another scientific mystery. Science solved the end. And that's our duck. Not really a duck, but actually a whale story. Do you think it's gonna fit inside your chicken, Lulu?

[Lulu Miller]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Quick, give me that chicken you shared earlier.

[Lulu Miller]

Well, it was actually just more of a concept than.

[Mindy Thomas]

Come here, little chicken story.

[Lulu Miller]

Oh, boy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Let me just. There we go. All right, we got the ducking. Now we just need the tur. Who's got the tur? Turkey, Anyone?

[Rebecca Shear]

I guess that's where I come in.

[Lulu Miller]

Ooh, I can't wait. The final course in our story feast, the grand finale, the centerpiece, the Turkey.

[Rebecca Shear]

Yes. Circle Round has a fascinating indigenous folktale about how the turkey got its gobble.

[Lulu Miller]

Which you will hear right after the short break.

[Guy Raz]

Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow in the world. We'll be right back, grown ups. This message is for you. Hey, grownups. Mindy here from wow in the World, the number one podcast for curious kids and their grownups. That's you. And we are so excited to bring the wows of the world to your home with our brand new wow in the World stem toys from Wondery Kids and Themes and Cosmos Channel your inner astronomer with our wow in the World telescope. Or zoom in on the tiny wows of nature with our wow in the World microscope and biology kit. You can even tinker like real scientists with our 100 experiments. That wow kit and with every wow in the World stem toy, you unlock access to exclusive audio content from me and my buddy Guy Raz. There are so many ways to wow. So whether you're shopping for a kid who loves science or one who doesn't just yet, our wow in the World stem toys are the perfect gift for your curious kids grownups. Visit tinkercast.com toys to shop the wow. Now that's it. Back to the show wow in the World.

[Lulu Miller]

We are back with our Turducken episode podcast crossover special between Terrestrials, Wow the.

[Rebecca Shear]

World and Circle Round.

[Lulu Miller]

That's right, a three part kid podcast extravaganza bringing you a three part meal, a three part story Tur Duck and a story about a turkey, a duck and a chicken. We heard the chicken story. We heard the duck story. It is time, at long last, for the Turkey Story, which will be brought to you by our friends at Circle Round who tell folk tales. Over to you, host of Circle Round, the lovely Rebecca.

[Rebecca Shear]

Now, everybody knows that turkeys gobble. But have you ever wondered how that gobble came about? According to legend, it all began long, long ago. Back in the earliest of times when animals ruled the world. In those long ago days, the turkey, with its large plump body, tiny bald head and wide rounded tail, didn't make any sound like the other animals. In those days. Turkey could talk, but he couldn't hoot like owl or trill like Red winged Blackbird, or sing like wood thrush. So naturally, he envied them all. But the bird he envied most was Grouse. Because Grouse, that reddish grayish chicken like bird, could drum. Not with an actual drum, of course. Those had yet to be invented. Instead, Grouse would climb up onto a fallen log and beat his wings in the air, flapping faster and faster and faster until he produced this amazing buzzing, thumping drumming sound. Turkey loved hearing Grouse drum. So one day he made a decision.

[Ruffed Grouse (character)]

I shall have Grouse teach me how to drum. My wings are way bigger than his, so I could do some serious thumping and bumping. Then I shall make the coolest, grooviest, most special sound of all.

[Rebecca Shear]

The next morning, Turkey found Grouse in a clearing, pecking tender young shooting for breakfast.

[Ruffed Grouse (character)]

Hiya, Grouse. I need you to do me a favor.

[Rebecca Shear]

Grouse swallowed a mouthful and smiled.

[Lulu Miller]

What kind of favor do you need, Turkey? I'm always happy to help out a fellow bird.

[Mindy Thomas]

Gr Right.

[Ruffed Grouse (character)]

Because I need you to teach me how to drum.

[Lulu Miller]

Teach you how to drum?

[Rebecca Shear]

Grouse cocked his crested head.

[Lulu Miller]

Why would you want me to teach you how to drum.

[Ruffed Grouse (character)]

Because it's a cool sound, a groovy sound. And in case you haven't noticed, I don't make any sound at all. Just like the narrator said, Owl can hoot and Red Winged Blackbird can trill and. I'm sorry, what was the other one again?

[Rebecca Shear]

Wood Thrush can sing, right?

[Ruffed Grouse (character)]

Wood Thrush can sing. But me, I can't do anything. I want my own sound. I want to be special.

[Lulu Miller]

But you are special, Turkey. You may not make your own sound, but look at your feathers. They're gorgeous. Rich brown, jet black, gleaming bronze, copper and green. My feathers are just reddish grayish. Talk about blah.

[Rebecca Shear]

Turkey looked at Grouse's plumage. It was kind of blah. And now that Grouse mentioned it, Turkey's feathers were pretty spectacular.

[Ruffed Grouse (character)]

I tell you what, Grouse, if you teach me how to drum, I'll give you some of my feathers.

[Lulu Miller]

It's a deal.

[Rebecca Shear]

Turkey plucked out a bunch of jet black feathers. Grouse excitedly took the plumage and arranged it around his neck in a collar like ruff. And fun fact, he's been known as Ruffed Grouse ever since. Wow.

[Lulu Miller]

Thank you, Turkey. Now let's get started. Watch and learn.

[Rebecca Shear]

Ruffed Grouse nimbly hopped onto a fallen log. Then he lifted his head, stretched his body tall and began to beat his wings. He beat them faster and faster until a buzzing, thumping drumming filled the forest. Then he stopped.

[Lulu Miller]

See what I did there? The upstroke and the downstroke. Now hop on up here and let it rip.

[Rebecca Shear]

Turkey scrambled onto the log and tried to beat his wings. But he was far bulkier and plumper than Ruffed Grouse was. And the bright red waddle on his neck wiggled back and forth as he wobbled to and fro.

[Ruffed Grouse (character)]

How do you flap your wings without falling?

[Lulu Miller]

It's easy for me. Maybe because I'm smaller. Try spreading your legs more and flap harder.

[Rebecca Shear]

Turkey tried following Grouse's instructions, But balancing his big, bulky body was a challenge.

[Lulu Miller]

I don't know, Turkey. Maybe you just weren't meant to drum. Maybe you should appreciate your natural gifts, what you've already got.

[Mindy Thomas]

No way.

[Rebecca Shear]

Struggling and scrambling to stay perched on the log, Turkey teetered and let out a gurgle. Then he tottered and let out a gurgle.

[Lulu Miller]

Gargle.

[Rebecca Shear]

Then, just before he tumbled to the ground, he threw back his head, opened his beak and let out a gobble. Then another, and another. And another. And all this time later, Turkey is gobbling. Still, he had always wanted to make his own sound. After all. And though it isn't quite as pleasant as owl's hoot, or red winged blackbird's.

[Mindy Thomas]

Trill.

[Rebecca Shear]

Or wood thrush's song, or ruffed grouse's drumming, that gurgling, gargling gobble definitely sets Turkey apart and makes him nothing short of special.

[Mindy Thomas]

Woo hoo.

[Guy Raz]

Yes. Let's go.

[Lulu Miller]

What a great tale.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow. Thanks Rebecca.

[Lulu Miller]

Hey, I feel like we should Cheers.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, oh yeah.

[Guy Raz]

Cheers. Cheers.

[Lulu Miller]

We hope wherever you are, whoever you are, that you have a wonderful holiday season.

[Mindy Thomas]

And thank you for joining us for our Turducken Day Story Feast.

[Guy Raz]

We are all so grateful for your support which allows us to make these shows for you.

[Rebecca Shear]

We hope you'll subscribe to our friends podcasts you've heard from wow in the World, Circle Round and Terrestrials.

[Lulu Miller]

Thank you guys so much for joining. This was so much fun.

[Guy Raz]

Wow.

[Rebecca Shear]

That was a blast.

[Guy Raz]

Yay. We did it.

[Mindy Thomas]

We made a turducken. Pass the potatoes. I'm starving.

[Lulu Miller]

Happy Turducken Day.

[Mindy Thomas]

Grown Ups. If you like WOW in the World, you can listen early and ad free right now on Wondery.

[Guy Raz]

Join Wondery in the Wondery app or on Wondery Kids plus on Apple Podcasts prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Mindy Thomas]

And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] hey wowzers. Just want to throw a special thanks to our podcast friends Lulu Miller, Rebecca Shear and their teams for joining together with us to create the first ever podcast Turducken Feast. And if you're still hungry for more, you can find lots more terrestrials from Radiolab for Kids and circle round wherever you get your your podcasts. Thanks for listening to this episode of wow in the World. If you're a kid with a big wow to share with us, call our WOW hotline at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW for a chance to be featured at the end of the show or an upcoming episode of two. What's in a wow?

[Guy Raz]

And while you're at it, why don't you head over to Apple Podcasts and tell us what wows you about our show by leaving a review. You just might hear your reviewsy read by Dennis on wewow on the weekend.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh and don't forget to Visit [e-mail] and become a member of the World Organization of Wowzers. With that you'll get year round mailings, weekly activities, birthday cards and more on.

[Guy Raz]

Tinkercast.com you can also shop our wow shop, get tickets for upcoming live events find our books and learn about all the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast.

[Mindy Thomas]

Once again, that's Tinkercast.com wow in the.

[Guy Raz]

World is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kelken with contributions from Me Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

Original sound design and music editing is done by our senior Production Director, Jed Anderson. You can also hear Jed Anderson in the voices of Dennis, Thomas, Fingerling, Reggie and many of the other silly characters you hear on our show.

[Guy Raz]

Jessica Boddy keeps our facts straight as our fact checker and Meredith Halpern Ranzer powers the wow at Tinkercast.

[Mindy Thomas]

Our theme song was composed and performed by three time Grammy nominees the Pop Ups. Find them at thepopups.com Special thanks to.

[Guy Raz]

Our team including Kit Ballenger, Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall, Kenny Curtis, Kristin Yang, Thuy Mak, Erica Medina, Henry Moskal, Jody Nesbal, Ali Paxsima, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Tyler Thol, Anna Zagorski, and all of the other tinkerers at Tinkercast hq.

[Mindy Thomas]

Grown Ups. You can follow wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter owintheworld and our email address is hellonkercast.com thanks for listening.

[Guy Raz]

Find episodes of wow in the World every Monday, two what's in a wow every Friday and wee wow on the weekends with Dennis every Saturday and Sunday right here in the wow in the World podcast feed. Until then, keep on wowing.

[Mindy Thomas]

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