Become the Music: The Science Behind Brains and the Beat (250th Musical Episode)

Summary

Podcast Summary:

Wow in the World, Episode 250: "Become the Music – The Science Behind Brains and the Beat"
Release Date: December 1, 2025
Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz

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Episode Overview

This milestone 250th musical episode of "Wow in the World" dives into the science of how humans "become the music"—exploring the fascinating neuroscience that explains why music affects us so deeply. Mindy and Guy, with help from their energetic cast of characters, break down how our brains and bodies literally synchronize with music's beat, mood, and energy. Through catchy original songs, playful banter, and relatable stories, the episode blends fun and scientific discovery, shedding light on the neural resonance theory and the universal power of music.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to "Become the Music" Workshop

• Setup: The gang (Mindy, Guy, Dennis, Grandma G Force, Thomas Fingerling) heads to a mysterious music workshop promised by a "really cool instructor"—revealed to be Mindy herself.
  • [02:16] Mindy introduces the "Become the Music" workshop inspired by a study from Nature Reviews Neuroscience.
  • The group humorously questions what it means to "become the music."
• Memorable Quote:
  • Mindy: "We will explore how music on the outside connects with what's happening on our insides. It's time to become the music. And it's gonna be bonker balls." ([03:18])

2. How Music Affects Us Physically and Emotionally

• Biological Synchronization: Mindy introduces the core concept: when we listen to music, our brains and bodies naturally sync up with its rhythms, which can change our mood, focus, and even physical movements.
  • [06:08] Mindy: "Inside our bodies, inside our brains, our biological beats and rhythms synchronize with the music that we hear."
• Anecdotes: Each character shares a personal story showing how music changed their feelings or actions—whether calming (Guy's Baroque playlist), sentimental (Dennis's commercial), or energizing (Thomas's market dance).

3. Neural Resonance Theory Explained

• Scientific Breakdown:
  • [12:07] Mindy introduces "neural resonance theory" (NRT): When our brains’ natural rhythms line up with musical rhythms, it intensifies our experience of music.
  • Guy breaks down the terms:
    • Neural = brain and nerves
    • Resonance = synchronization or vibrating together
    • Theory = an idea tested by scientists
  • [13:02] Mindy: "So altogether, neural resonance theory is a term used to describe what happens when the natural rhythms of our brains sync or line up with the rhythms in music."
• Illustrative Analogy:
  • Mindy likens it to swinging on a swing set in sync with a friend: the more in sync, the higher you go.
  • Dennis gets creative: "It's like when a song walks into our brain, our brain says, oh, hello, song. May I have this dance?" ([14:06])

4. The Musical Roller Coaster: Dynamics of Musical Experience

• Musical Demonstration:
  • [14:50] Mindy leads a "music roller coaster" song, highlighting how changes in tempo, key, and volume affect emotions and physical urges in real-time.
  • Tempo: Slow tempos make us sleepy/calm, fast tempos energize us.
    • Mindy: "Tempo is music speed. When the tempo's very slow, my brain lines up with the beat and makes me want to go to sleep." ([15:45])
  • Major/Minor Keys: Major feels happy, minor feels sad.
    • Guy: "I love the major keys and happy harmonies. They make me smile when I sing to my flowers." ([16:50])
  • Dynamics: Volume changes shift our mood from calm to excited.
    • Mindy: "Dynamics can have a pretty big effect on how our bodies feel when we hear music." ([17:40])

5. Why Our Brains and Bodies Respond to Music

• Syncing Up:
  • [18:53] Mindy emphasizes how when our brains "dance" with music, our bodies often can't help but move, explaining spontaneous dancing, body movements, and shifts in energy.
  • Guy: "When our bodies start to react or move with music, it's because our brains have synced or lined up with it." ([19:26])
• Emotional Range:
  • Music’s ability to make us feel happy, sad, excited, or calm is rooted in this brain-music synchronization.
  • Dennis: "Maybe that's why we can't help but dance or cry or feel happy when our brain beats are dancing with the music we hear." ([19:37])

6. The Broader Importance of Music-Brain Science

• Real-World Applications:
  • [19:55] Mindy: This research could help develop tools for healing, learning music, and connecting people globally, regardless of language.
• Memorable Quote:
  • Mindy: "Most importantly, this discovery is helping to explain why music makes people dance and sing and why it has the power to connect people from different cultures around the world, even when they don't speak the same language." ([20:17])

7. Creating the "Most Danceable Song" with the Singama-Thing

• Experimentation:
  • [21:32] Mindy powers up her “singama-thing” invention to demonstrate how the elements identified by NRT make music irresistible.
  • Together, they build what they call “the scientifically most danceable song in the world,” combining agreed-upon beats, keys, rhythms, and dynamics.
  • The crew bursts into song and dance, mimicking the neural resonance effect live.
• Quote:
  • Mindy: "Now, what do you say we use this singama thing and what we've learned from the NRT study to create a song?" ([21:32])

8. Wrapping Up — We Became the Music

• Reflection:
  • The group reflects on how they felt changed, energized, or even a little dizzy ("I think I'm gonna barf!") after the musical experiment.
  • Grandma G Force sums it up: "We became the music." ([24:27])
  • Mindy: “We sure did. Class dismissed. Wow.” ([24:29])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mindy ([03:18]): "We will explore how music on the outside connects with what's happening on our insides. It's time to become the music. And it's gonna be bonker balls."
• Thomas Fingerling ([09:16]): “I felt those notes... in my nose, I felt them in my toes. I even felt them in every knuckle.”
• Guy Raz ([13:02]): "So altogether, neural resonance theory is a term used to describe what happens when the natural rhythms of our brains sync or line up with the rhythms in music."
• Dennis ([14:06]): "It's like when a song walks into our brain, our brain says, oh, hello, song. May I have this dance?"
• Mindy ([20:17]): "This discovery is helping to explain why music makes people dance and sing and why it has the power to connect people from different cultures around the world, even when they don't speak the same language."
• Grandma G Force ([24:27]): "We became the music."

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [02:16] – Introduction to "Become the Music" workshop
• [06:08] – Physical synchronization of brain and music
• [12:07] – Neural resonance theory explained
• [14:50] – "Music Roller Coaster" song demonstration
• [19:26] – Linking brain synchronization with movement
• [20:17] – Universal connection of music explained
• [21:32] – Building the “Most Danceable Song”
• [24:27] – Episode wrap-up and key reflection

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Tone & Style

The episode is lively, silly, and packed with memorable songs, over-the-top characters, and kid-friendly science explanations. The hosts and cast break down complex scientific ideas into catchy, understandable, and fun musical stories and conversations, all with a signature “Wow in the World” sense of curiosity and adventure.

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Summary Takeaway:
Through laughter and song, Mindy, Guy, and friends reveal how our brains become “dance partners” with music via neural resonance. The episode doesn’t just teach the neuroscience—listeners experience it, becoming a living example of how rhythm, melody, and harmony truly make us "become the music."

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 and Guy Raz here. And before we start the show, did you hear that? We are on YouTube.

[Guy Raz]

That's right, Mindy Wowzer fams. You can find full episodes of wow in the World and more of your favorite Tinkercast podcasts on our YouTube channel, WowTube.

[Mindy Thomas]

Plus on WowTube, you can also watch me explode some watermelons and test out Bonkerball's experiments in the laboratory of bad ideas.

[Guy Raz]

Or you can dance along with Dennis for music videos featuring music from WEW on the weekend.

[Mindy Thomas]

There is so much in store made just for you on WowTube. Visit Tinkercast.com YouTube to watch. Now that's Tinkercast.com YouTube.

[Dennis]

Proceeded. Three, two, one. 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. Oops, I slipped.

[Mindy Thomas]

I can't win no matter if I play.

[Grandma G Force]

Fingerling, quit dancing on me. You almost poke my face out.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, quit sticking your face in my dancing.

[Dennis]

Ugh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Quit fighting, you two. Don't make me turn this ice cream truck around.

[Guy Raz]

Maybe don't dance so hard, Mr. Fingerling.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Oh, I can't help it. Whenever I hear that song, my body just wants to move, you know?

[Dennis]

And when I hear that song, it makes me cry a little bit because I wish I had a penguin to slip on. Huh?

[Grandma G Force]

Quit getting your leaky face juice all over me, boy.

[Dennis]

Oh, sorry.

[Guy Raz]

So, Mindy, what is this thing we're going to again?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah. So it's this really cool workshop called Become the Music.

[Guy Raz]

Huh?

[Mindy Thomas]

And it's taught by this really cool instructor who has been working on it ever since she read this really cool new study in the scientific journal Nature Reviews Neuroscience. Also, did I mention how cool the instructor is?

[Guy Raz]

Uh, yeah, you did.

[Mindy Thomas]

Good. Because she's really cool.

[Dennis]

Oh, yeah, she sounds so cool.

[Mindy Thomas]

I know. And the study is all about how we humans physically become the music we listen to.

[Guy Raz]

Become the music we listen to. How could that be possible?

[Mindy Thomas]

I don't know. Here, take a look at this brochure on the workshop.

[Guy Raz]

Let's see here. Become the music. Think music is just something you hear. Well, think again, pal. Join me, a really cool instructor, as I take you into your brain, through your body and out your butt. Mindy, what Is this.

[Mindy Thomas]

It's science. Keep reading.

[Guy Raz]

Okay. We will explore how music on the outside connects with what's happening on our insides. It's time to become the music. And it's gonna be bonker balls.

[Dennis]

Oh, w. Yeah.

[Guy Raz]

I think I'm getting a clue as to who this super cool instructor is.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hmm, I wonder who it could be.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Are we going to dance class?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, looks like we're here.

[Dennis]

Good day, Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

We're right back home at the laboratory of bad ideas.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, like I said, we're here.

[Guy Raz]

Did you just drive us in a circle?

[Grandma G Force]

Is that why I'm doing.

[Mindy Thomas]

Sorry, no time for questions. We gotta get inside. We don't wanna be late for this really cool instructor who's waiting.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, come on, everyone out.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Okey doke.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, let me just put the code in for the laboratory of bad ideas.

[Dennis]

Oh, look, there's a new sign on the door. Become the music.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Neat.

[Guy Raz]

There we go.

[Dennis]

Why is it so dark in here?

[Grandma G Force]

I can't see nothing. Who unplugged my eyeballs?

[Guy Raz]

I think the lights are just off.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Oh, it sure is mysterious with no lights.

[Dennis]

I don't like it. Hello?

[Guy Raz]

Anyone home? We're here for the Become the Music workshop.

[Grandma G Force]

And I am here against my will.

[Guy Raz]

Hello, Mindy. What's going on here? Where are the lights? Mindy? Mindy.

[Dennis]

In the.

[Guy Raz]

Is that a stage?

[Dennis]

Oh, a baby grand piano.

[Mindy Thomas]

Welcome to Become the Music.

[Guy Raz]

I'm Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

A scientific sensory spectacular through song.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Yes. Begin.

[Grandma G Force]

I do not want to be here.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Chief Force. Quiet.

[Mindy Thomas]

Give it up for your super cool brain and body musical guide, Mindy.

[Dennis]

Thank you.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thank you, everyone.

[Dennis]

I know her. Hi, Mindy. It's me, Dennis. Look, Guy, it's Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

Yep, I see her, Dennis.

[Dennis]

We love you, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hello, everyone, and thank you all for coming out tonight. Mindy, it's 10:00am now, here at Become the Music, we're going to explore the ways in which we not only enjoy music, but how our bodies synchronize with the music that we hear.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Synchronize with. You mean lack of dancing?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes, but even deeper than dancing, because inside our bodies, inside our brains, our biological beats and rhythms synchronize with the music that we hear.

[Guy Raz]

Really?

[Dennis]

Really. What music can sync with our actual brain waves?

[Mindy Thomas]

That's right.

[Guy Raz]

So if music can affect our brain activity, is that how music can change the way we feel?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, that's a great question, young man.

[Guy Raz]

Young.

[Dennis]

Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

You know my name? I'm your best friend, Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah.

[Dennis]

And we want to know how body and brain Beats matching with music. Beats can change the way we feel.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, why don't I answer your question with a song?

[Guy Raz]

A song?

[Dennis]

Ooh. Wow.

[Grandma G Force]

Hush boy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Have you ever wondered why we feel music so deeply?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

When we hear a song, it can change. Change our mood so completely.

[Grandma G Force]

Well, I do not know what you're talking about.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, I think I do, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. One time I was at my local library reading a study I just found whatever about aeroponic gardening systems. I got so worked up I couldn't sit down.

[Dennis]

Aw.

[Mindy Thomas]

So what'd you do?

[Guy Raz]

I turned on my guy phone and played my favorite late 17th century Baroque bangers playlist.

[Dennis]

Right.

[Guy Raz]

It calmed me down.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Now this is fancy.

[Guy Raz]

Made me feel steady.

[Dennis]

Oh, wow.

[Guy Raz]

Its counterpoint and pulse gave me focus to finish reading the study.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow.

[Guy Raz]

Music can change the way we feel.

[Mindy Thomas]

It can change the way that we feel.

[Dennis]

Oh, me, me, me, me. I have won. I have won.

[Guy Raz]

What is it?

[Dennis]

Well, the other night I was watching a seven hour America's Funniest Home makeovers marathon.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Dennis]

When I saw a commercial that really changed me.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah?

[Dennis]

Yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

What happened?

[Dennis]

Well, I'll tell you. It was shot in black and white and had a sorrowful underscore that was filled with keyboards and a super duper sad, sad orchestra. It even had a mini harp. A mini harp? Mindy, my own heart burst into a thousand pieces.

[Mindy Thomas]

What was the commercial for, Dennis?

[Dennis]

Um, dog food.

[Grandma G Force]

That's weird.

[Dennis]

Music can change the way we feel.

[Mindy Thomas]

It can change the way that we feel.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Oh, I think I get it now.

[Grandma G Force]

No, you don't.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Yes, I do. Something like that just happened to me. I was walking through the farmer's market looking for fresh rutabagas, when I heard a most lovely sound coming from a group of musicians playing on a stage just past the tomato stand. I felt those notes, them lightning fast notes coming off of those stringed instruments. I felt them in my nose, I felt them in my toes. I even felt them in every knuckle. I couldn't help but jump up and start a dance to those sweet, sweet sounds. Okey doke.

[Dennis]

Do you ever wonder why the music we hear won't play opera, punk, rock, jazz or hip hop? We'll just sing different ways. Music can change the way we feel.

[Mindy Thomas]

It can change the way that we feel.

[Grandma G Force]

Well, music don't never move me.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, come on, grandma GeForce. I'm sure music has made you feel something before. No.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, what about that electronified guitar you're always carrying around?

[Grandma G Force]

You mean my 1978 limited edition graffiti yellow electric guitar with custom humbucker pickups. What about it?

[Thomas Fingerling]

I seen you strum that thing and get it real worked up. Here, why don't you strum a few chords for us and see what happens?

[Mindy Thomas]

Fine.

[Grandma G Force]

I'm feeling it. I'm feeling it.

[Dennis]

Ah, my ears. Do you ever wonder why the music we hear won't play? Classical, soul, barbershop moves us in different ways. Music can change the way we feel.

[Mindy Thomas]

It can change the way that we feel.

[Dennis]

Wow. I felt it. I felt the music change me.

[Guy Raz]

Really? How do you feel?

[Dennis]

I feel awe and curiosity.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Me too.

[Grandma G Force]

Not me. That song was a little repetitive if you ask me.

[Guy Raz]

Well, I'm feeling curious as well. I want to know more.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay. Well, thanks to a group of scientists at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, there is now a scientific theory for these feelings you were all experiencing during that song.

[Dennis]

There is.

[Mindy Thomas]

There is. It's something called neural resonance theory.

[Grandma G Force]

That is too many words I never not heard.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Yeah, say those words again, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Neural resonance theory, or NRT for short.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, I got this, Mindy. Okay, so neural just means anything having to do with your brain or nerves.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. Like the super fast electrical wires that send messages all over our bodies.

[Dennis]

Oh, yeah, messages are.

[Guy Raz]

And resonance means when two things line up or vibrate together.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. Like when Dennis and Reggie are both swinging on swings, and if they start pumping at just the right time, they can swing higher and higher together.

[Dennis]

Oh, that is a very good analogy.

[Guy Raz]

And a theory is an idea that scientists have tested over and over again to help explain how something in the world works.

[Mindy Thomas]

So altogether, neural resonance theory is a term used to describe what happens when the natural rhythms of our brains sync or line up with the rhythms in.

[Grandma G Force]

I do not know what that is.

[Guy Raz]

The rhythms in music. You know, like the beats and melodies and harmonies.

[Dennis]

Yeah, like this. Ahem. We're singing and clapping our hands and stomping our feet. All together, we're singing.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Okay, hold on just a minute. Mandy, are you saying that no one's ever studied music and its effects on the brain before?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, no. There have been studies, you see, for nrt. Scientists believe that people enjoy music because our brains enjoy guessing what comes next in a musical pattern.

[Dennis]

Oh.

[Guy Raz]

Like if a song goes, boom, boom, clap, boom, boom, clap, our brains think, oh, I know the next sound.

[Mindy Thomas]

Right. And then it happens, and it feels fun.

[Guy Raz]

Interesting.

[Dennis]

Oh, I get it. It's like when a song walks into our brain, our brain says, oh, hello, song. May I have this dance? And then the song is like, sure, Only if you could keep up. And then they dance and dance, and it looks good. And everyone else in the brain is like, wow, you are so in sync with each other. You two should go on the Dance Pants Evolution tour. What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, yeah, basically.

[Dennis]

Thank you.

[Grandma G Force]

But, Mandy, what happens in my brain after that?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Yeah, we want to know what's happening during the brain dance.

[Guy Raz]

That's a great question.

[Grandma G Force]

I know it is. Garage.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, I could tell you.

[Dennis]

Yes.

[Mindy Thomas]

Or I can sing it with you.

[Grandma G Force]

Not again.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now hold on tight, everyone, because we're about to take our bodies and brains on an emotional roller coaster ride through song. Music can have melody, and music can have harmony.

[Dennis]

Harmony.

[Mindy Thomas]

Music has a rhythm. Thanks, Reg. Tempo, dynamics. The list goes on. And when we hear music, our brains sync up to it, and we ride the music roller coaster.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Music roller coaster, eh?

[Mindy Thomas]

Exactoritos.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, Mindy, are those sound effects?

[Dennis]

Ha ha. I'm scared.

[Mindy Thomas]

Just listen.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, goody.

[Mindy Thomas]

Tempo is music speed. When the tempo's very slow, my brain lines up with the beat and makes me want to go to sleep.

[Dennis]

Mindy, I need a nap.

[Guy Raz]

It sounds like we're going a little faster. Mindy, what's happening?

[Grandma G Force]

I'll tell you what's happening.

[Mindy Thomas]

I like my tempos fast. Like, really, really fast. When I'm lifting or wrestling, I need my jams to slap, slap, slap, slaps.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Slaps, laps, lapse, whatever.

[Mindy Thomas]

Rolling, rolling up and down on the music roller coaster.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Okay, well, you took us on the tempo loop de doopty part of the music roller coaster. But what about how some notes feel sad and some notes feel happy?

[Guy Raz]

I think I can handle this one, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Take it away, Guy. Razzie.

[Guy Raz]

I love the major keys and happy harmonies. They make me smile when I sing to my flowers.

[Dennis]

Out of my way, Guy. But when minor chords begin, they wipe away that grin. Like the time I ate an orange that was too sour.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Dennis]

It was just too tar, Guy.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Okay, there, there now, feller.

[Mindy Thomas]

Rolling, rolling up and down on the music roller coaster.

[Grandma G Force]

How many words are left in this song? Mandy, my teeth are getting bored.

[Mindy Thomas]

Don't worry. This ride will be done soon. But I did want to talk about dynamics before we finish.

[Thomas Fingerling]

What in the world Wide web is a dynamic?

[Mindy Thomas]

It's basically just the volume of the song, how loud, or how soft it is. Dynamics can have a pretty big effect on how our bodies feel when we hear music.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Really? Like how when music's nice and quiet, it calms my knuckles down and lowers my blood pressure. So your dynamics are too loud, pigeon. Now quit your Hollering and it's making me all jumpy and jittery Rolling, rolling.

[Mindy Thomas]

Up and down on the music roller coaster Our brains sync up to what.

[Dennis]

We hear and can change our moods.

[Thomas Fingerling]

For how our bodies feel.

[Grandma G Force]

Blah, blah, blah.

[Dennis]

Blowing, rolling up and down on the.

[Mindy Thomas]

Music roller coaster Slow and fast Loving.

[Grandma G Force]

Soft puppy's head get me on my.

[Mindy Thomas]

Lipstick roller coaster.

[Grandma G Force]

That was incredible.

[Thomas Fingerling]

I think I'm in a barf.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, you'll be fine. Did you all notice how your brains were basically dancing with the song just now?

[Grandma G Force]

I noticed that it put me on an emotional runaway roller coaster.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, me too.

[Dennis]

Exactly.

[Mindy Thomas]

When this neural resonance, or the natural rhythm of our brains lines up with the rhythm of a song, it can do wild things inside our bodies, like.

[Guy Raz]

Make us feel different emotions. Happy, sad, excited, calm.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, when my brain started dancing with the song, my body couldn't help but join the party. I was wiggling all over the place.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes, and that's because this lining up of the rhythms also impacts the way we move when we hear music.

[Dennis]

Huh.

[Guy Raz]

So what this study is suggesting here, Mindy, is that when our bodies start to react or move with music, it's because our brains have synced or lined up with it.

[Dennis]

And maybe that's why we can't help but dance or cry or feel happy when our brain beats are dancing with the music we hear. Yes.

[Mindy Thomas]

You've got it, Dennis.

[Dennis]

Hooray.

[Grandma G Force]

Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes, Grandma G Force?

[Grandma G Force]

I have a question.

[Mindy Thomas]

Sure. Let's hear it.

[Grandma G Force]

Why should I care about none of this?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, well, this new discovery can have a big impact on people around the world. First off, it could maybe be used for coming up with tools to help people heal their brains and bodies when they're sick or feeling down.

[Guy Raz]

And I'm guessing they could also use this discovery to help people learn to keep a beat and sing on pitch when they're trying to learn music.

[Mindy Thomas]

For sure. But most importantly, this discovery is helping to explain why music makes people dance and sing and why it has the power to connect people from different cultures around the world, even when they don't speak the same language.

[Dennis]

Not to mention, this probably gives scientists the secret scoop on how to scientifically design music. Like? Like, I don't know. Like, if they wanted to make the scientifically most danceable song in the whole wide world.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, which reminds me, I've been wanting to dust off an old friend, and I think that right now might be the perfect time.

[Guy Raz]

Old friend?

[Grandma G Force]

I do not like old people. I only like the new ones. Oh.

[Dennis]

What is It. Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Anyone remember the cinema thing?

[Grandma G Force]

No.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, is that the old machine you invented years ago that turns speech into song? I thought it exploded or something.

[Dennis]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

No, it's still good. Mostly.

[Guy Raz]

Yikes.

[Mindy Thomas]

What do you say we power this puppy up and see if it still got its magic?

[Guy Raz]

Well, don't know if that's necessary, Mindy. I mean, I think you could just.

[Mindy Thomas]

Too late.

[Dennis]

Whoa.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yep. Still. Now, what do you say we use this singama thing and what we've learned from the NRT study to create a song?

[Guy Raz]

Okay, what do we do first?

[Mindy Thomas]

Let's start with a kick drum. And set the BPM to 125.

[Dennis]

Cool.

[Guy Raz]

Now snare.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Neat.

[Guy Raz]

A simple four, four beat. Yeah.

[Dennis]

Ooh, a synth riff in a serious minor key.

[Grandma G Force]

Guitar. Oh, nice sick syncopation.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

Let's go. Here's the verse. It's just. Okay, the good part's coming, so don't worry.

[Dennis]

Whoa.

[Mindy Thomas]

Good news. The verse is almost done. Here comes the quiet part of the.

[Guy Raz]

Scientifically most danceable song ever. The whole wide world. In the whole wide world. It kinda sounds like a bunch of other songs.

[Dennis]

In the whole wide world yeah, the whole wide world. Whoa whoa, whoa. Science and I made the best dance song so just dance along. Whoa whoa, whoa now is the time to sing the best part of the best dancing song. Here we go. The science of the most danceable song in the world A wide world the scientifically most danceable danceable song.

[Thomas Fingerling]

I'm sorry to have pain that songs do the suspense.

[Grandma G Force]

Mac. Kind of, Boris. But waitin for the chorus.

[Dennis]

Is it more satisfying? Drum break. My sound stop.

[Mindy Thomas]

Dennis.

[Dennis]

2, 3, 4. Whoa whoa whoa. Science and I made the best dance song so just dance along. Whoa whoa, whoa. Now is the time to sing the best part of the best dance. The scientifically most danceable song in the world A wide world Scientifically most danceable danceable song the scientifically most danceable song in the world of the wide world.

[Thomas Fingerling]

The scientifically most danceable song in the world A wide world. Oh, nevermind.

[Dennis]

Hey, what happened, boy?

[Grandma G Force]

We became the music.

[Mindy Thomas]

We sure did. Class dismissed. Wow.

[Dennis]

In the world.

[Mindy Thomas]

We'll be right back, grown ups. This message is for you. Hey, grown ups. It's Mindy and Guy Raz here from wow in the World.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy and I have some brand new wow in the World toys out in the world just in time for the holidays.

[Mindy Thomas]

Made for the kids who love sacks and for the ones who don't yet.

[Guy Raz]

From our 100 experiments that wow kit to the telescope and Astronomy kit. Our wow in the World toys help your Wowzer learn about their world through play.

[Mindy Thomas]

Plus, you can hear exclusive audio content from me and Guy Raz to help your Wowzer discover even more wows.

[Guy Raz]

Grown ups give the gift of wow and wonder this holiday season with our latest wow in the World tour designed with your curious wowzer in mind.

[Mindy Thomas]

You can shop our wow in the world [e-mail] toys that's tinkercast.com toys. That's it. Back to the show.

[Dennis]

Wow in the World.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hi, thanks for calling wow in the World. After the beep, get ready to record.

[Caller]

Hi, Mindy and guywise. My name is Han and I live in Toluco Lake, California. My wow in the world is that the big boy locomotive train weighs over £1 million. Isn't that buggable? Say hi to Reggie, Grandma GeForce.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, yeah.

[Caller]

Static man and dad.

[Dennis]

Yay. Bye.

[Caller]

Love your show. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. This is a Thar speaking from Sacramento, California. My wow in the world is that a silverback gorilla can lift almost 2,000 pounds. Say hi to Dennis.

[Dennis]

Hi.

[Caller]

And Thomas Fingerling for me.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Sup?

[Dennis]

Bye. Hi.

[Caller]

My name is Rogan and I live in Rowan. My wow in the world is that sometimes red foxes move into arctic box dens when they leave their. Say hi to grandma G Force and Dennis.

[Dennis]

Howdy.

[Caller]

Hi. My name is Audrey. I live in Greeley, Colorado, and my wow in the world is that lightning can be hotter than the surface of the sun. Say hi to slay cat and grandma D Force.

[Dennis]

Yay, Hot dog.

[Caller]

Bye. Hi, My name is Avery and I'm from Portland, Oregon. A wow in my world is that. A narwhal's horn is actually just an overgrown tooth. And it's really rare, but it can actually have two overgrown teeth. My name is Renea and I'm from Bellingham, Washington. My knowledge of the is that emperor penguins can hold their breaths for 20 minutes. Please say hi to to Reggie Damage E Force.

[Grandma G Force]

Yeah.

[Dennis]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Caller]

Dennis.

[Guy Raz]

Hi there.

[Caller]

And. Oh, and Dennis.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes.

[Caller]

Everyone knows how you're ecstatic, man and Bucky, I really like you. You're a good horse.

[Dennis]

Bye.

[Caller]

My name is Amel and I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. My wow in the world is axolotls can swim up to 10 miles an hour. Say hi to Reddy, Grandma Dforce.

[Dennis]

Oh.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh. Oh.

[Caller]

Dennis.

[Dennis]

Howdy.

[Caller]

AKA Static Men. I can prove it because of the episode. And say hi to all the axolotls and cats.

[Mindy Thomas]

Bye.

[Caller]

I'm Nadia and I'm Tessa. We are both 10 and we both live in Seattle. Our wow in the world is that orcas live in a matriarchal society and that orcas have regional accents. Say hi to Dennis. Huzzah Reggie, Grandma G. Ford Mooye and Thomas Fingerling. Bye.

[Mindy Thomas]

End of messages 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 list and ad free on Amazon Music.

[Mindy Thomas]

And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey hey wowzers. Before we roll the credits, I just want to give a big shout out to Tinkercast's own Tyler Thol. Tyler wrote and produced all of the songs that you heard on this very special musical episode of wow in the World. And especially thanks to Ryan Young for spicing things up with a little bit of fiddle. 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 2 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.

[Guy Raz]

On Tinkercast.com, you can also shop our WOW shop, get tickets for upgrade 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 Tyler Thole with help from our senior Production Director, Jed Anderson. You can also hear Jed Anderson in the voices of Dan, Dennis, Thomas, Fingerling, Reggie and many of the other silly characters you hear on our show.

[Guy Raz]

Jessica Bode 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.

[Guy Raz]

To our team, including Kit Ballenger, Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall, Kenny Curtis, Kristin Yang, Thuy, Matt Mack, Erika Medina, Henry Moskal, Jody Nussbaum, Ali Paxima, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, 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 hellotinkercast.com thanks for listening.

[Guy Raz]

Find episodes of wow in the World every Monday, two what's in a wow? Every Friday, and we 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.