G-Rex (10/13/25)

Summary

Wow in the World - "G-Rex" (10/13/25)

Podcast by Tinkercast | Wondery
Air Date: October 13, 2025
Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz

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Episode Overview

This episode, titled "G-Rex," explores one of the greatest mysteries of dinosaur anatomy: Why did the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex have such tiny, seemingly useless arms? Using their signature blend of science and outrageous humor, Mindy and Guy dig into the latest paleontological hypothesis, invite memorable characters (like Grandma G Force) into an epic eating contest, and encourage kids to ask big, imaginative questions about science.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene: "Wake Up and Wow" Show-within-a-show

• The episode is structured as part local TV-show spoof, with recurring characters like Bob, Gail Richards Simmons, Dennis (and his ventriloquist dummy, Baby Dennis), and the ever-feisty Grandma G Force.
• Provides the framework for both the T. rex discussion and the hilarious "hot pepper eating contest" subplot.

The T. rex Mystery Introduced

• The hosts launch into the main scientific mystery: Why did T. rexes, enormous predatory dinosaurs, have such small arms?
• The arms were described as being only about "three feet long"—big for a sandwich, small for a giant predator.
  • (07:41) Bob: “The T Rex was real big. Massive, over 40ft long and 13ft tall.”
  • (07:50) Bob: “But with arms no longer than a three foot long sub sandwich.”
  • (08:09) Guy Raz: “Makes you wonder why the T Rex had such tiny arms on such an enormous body.”

How Small Were the Arms, Really?

• The comparison is made to a 6-foot-tall human with 5-inch arms.
  • (08:30) Mindy Thomas: “A towering beast, 45ft long with a five foot head ... and then these teeny tiny baby arms measuring in at only 3ft each.”
  • (08:30) Guy Raz: “...like if me, a six foot tall human, had five inch arms like the one on Dennis’s ventriloquist dummy.”

Introducing the Science

• The team shares that scientists have wondered about T. rex’s arms since their first fossil discoveries in the early 1900s.
• They highlight a new hypothesis from Dr. Kevin Padian, a paleontologist at the University of California, Berkeley.

Shifting the Question

• Dr. Padian’s key insight: Maybe we shouldn’t ask “Why were T. rex's arms so small?” but instead, “How did having tiny arms help T. rex survive?”
  • (11:37) Mindy Thomas: "Instead of asking why the arms of the T. Rex were so small, maybe we should be asking how having those tiny arms helped the T. Rex to survive, huh?"

The Hypothesis Explained

• T. rex may have had small arms to avoid injury during "feeding frenzies" with other T. rexes.
  • When many huge predators are eating together, having large, exposed arms could mean getting bitten and losing a limb.
  • Small, tucked-away arms are less likely to be bitten off or injured.
  • (19:03) Guy Raz: “Maybe they were meant to have short arms to stay safe during a feeding frenzy. You know, with all those gnashing teeth and snapping jaw.”
  • (20:08) Mindy Thomas: “If the T. Rex did this, it would surely have its arms bitten off by the other hungry T. Rexes. This could lead to massive bleeding, infection, even death.”

The Science Behind the Hypothesis

• The group discusses the difficulty of proving this theory, given the age of the fossils.
• Dr. Padian hopes museums can examine T. rex fossils for bite marks, focusing on whether their heads (not arms) show evidence of injury.
  • (27:32) Guy Raz: “Dr. Padian is hoping we could get closer to the answer by asking museums to examine the T Rex fossils in their collections and specifically to look for any bite marks.”

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Humorous Subplots and Memorable Moments

Grandma G Force’s Hot Pepper (“Hot Chicken”) Eating Contest

• Grandma G Force prepares for an on-air contest with wild dogs to see who can eat spicy chicken the fastest.
• To protect her arms (inspired by the T. rex lesson!), Grandma G Force disguises them with squeaky "baby arms" taken from the Baby Dennis dummy.
  • (23:08) Guy Raz: “We ripped the tiny arms off baby Dennis.”
  • (23:17) Mindy Thomas: “Get them, dummy decoy arms taped to my unitard here.”

The Science Parodied

• The parallel between the T. rex avoiding injury in pack feeding and Grandma G Force avoiding getting her arms bitten by wild dogs is played for laughs and insight.
  • (24:22) Grandma G Force: “Maybe you should be asking how these little baby arms are gonna keep Grandma G Force alive during the battle, Bob. Maybe keeping my real arms out of the fight will keep them dogs from gnawing them up.”

“Wake Up and Wow” Meltdown

• Dennis’s wild “what can I do with my arms” segment, leading to chaos in the studio and multiple firings, exemplifies the show’s slapstick energy.
  • (13:28) Jerry: “When I heard you mention those tiny T. Rex arms, I got to thinking all about things that I can do with my arms that a T. Rex can’t. ... Number one, slap myself in the face.”
  • (13:47) Dennis: "Ow."

Laugh-Out-Loud Quotes

• (11:00) Grandma G Force (teasing Fingerling's confusion): “No, Fingerling, that’s a proctologist.”
• (18:09) Grandma G Force: “Well, how do they know they’re not eating their own arms off?”
• (25:31) Grandma G Force: “Come here, hot chicken. We’re gonna eat you all in life.”

Final Science Takeaways

• Scientific investigation is ongoing: it’s tough to know for sure why T. rex had such short arms after 66 million years, but new ways of looking at evidence could help.
  • (27:39) Mindy Thomas: “…it might not be enough for the whole truth, but it could tell us if we're asking the right questions.”
• Encourages listeners (kids!) to keep asking imaginative questions and value hypotheses, even if final answers are elusive.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• (07:41) Bob: “The T Rex was real big. Massive, over 40ft long and 13ft tall.”
• (08:09) Guy Raz: “Makes you wonder why the T Rex had such tiny arms on such an enormous body.”
• (11:37) Mindy Thomas: “Maybe we should be asking how having those tiny arms helped the T. Rex to survive, huh?”
• (19:03) Guy Raz: “Maybe they were meant to have short arms to stay safe during a feeding frenzy...”
• (20:08) Mindy Thomas: “If the T. Rex did this, it would surely have its arms bitten off by the other hungry T. Rexes..."
• (23:08) Guy Raz: “We ripped the tiny arms off baby Dennis.”
• (24:22) Grandma G Force: “Maybe you should be asking how these little baby arms are gonna keep Grandma G Force alive during the battle, Bob.”
• (27:32) Guy Raz: “Dr. Padian is hoping that we could get closer to the answer by asking museums to examine the T Rex fossils in their collections and specifically to look for any bite marks.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:28: Start of "Wake Up and Wow" mock TV show structure
• 06:42: Introduction of the T. rex and the “tiny arms” question
• 10:04: Cutting to Dennis's segment, cliffhanger before the hypothesis
• 11:37: Dr. Padian's hypothesis—are we asking the wrong question?
• 19:03: Hypothesis that small arms protected T. rex during feeding frenzies
• 23:08: Squeaky baby arms taped to Grandma G Force's costume
• 24:22: Brilliant lesson—sometimes survival means staying out of danger
• 27:32: Scientific method: examining fossils for bite marks
• End: Show wrap-up, listener “Wow in the World” voicemails

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Conclusion

This episode artfully uses humor and zany scenarios to unravel a real paleontological mystery, illustrating how scientific questions can be reshaped to unlock new ideas. The packaging of science within wild character comedy keeps listeners engaged while driving home the importance of inquiry, creativity, and testing new scientific hypotheses.

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Best for: Kids (and their grown-ups!) who love dinosaurs, whacky comedy, and science mysteries.

Main Message: Sometimes survival isn't about strength, but about adapting in surprising ways. And it always pays to keep asking questions—even the silly (or squeaky) ones!

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 wowhouser fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show, it's almost Halloween and to celebrate with all of Boo. I mean you, we've put together some of our favorite spooky episodes of wow in the World and Halloween experiments and crafts all in one place. So you can make your Halloween extra WOW from home. Plus, if you want to dress up like someone from the wow crew this year, you can find Halloween costume ideas from your fellow wowzers there too. We can't wait to see what costumes you come up with this year. Oh, and just a tip for how to make your Mindy costume more realistic, add some leftover Mac and cheese to your jacket pocket. For activities, episodes, videos and more wows, visit Tinkercast.com Halloween that's Tinkercast.com Halloween that's it. And now let's get back to the show.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

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[Bob]

Proceed in three, two, one.

[Listener Callers]

Get ready for an adventure of math.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Magnificent proportion.

[Dennis]

I don't know what you've been told. We're in a golden age. So many discoveries that are jumping off the page. Houston.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Hello, hello, and welcome to Wake up and wow.

[Bob]

I'm Gayle Richards Simmons, and I am late for breakfast.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Bob, we talked about this. The jokes.

[Bob]

Oh, right, Sorry. I'm Bob Ralph Nader. And on today's show, T. Rexes. What's up with those little baby arms? One paleontologist is on the prowl to find out.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

And we'll also meet a short and spicy grandma who will compete in an epic hot pepper eating contest against a pack of wild dogs.

[Bob]

That's right. She'll be spilling the spicy beans on her competitive eating secrets.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Ooh, I can feel the heat.

[Bob]

Also coming up this morning are Wake up and wow. Spy, Witness Snoop. Dennis will be bringing us the local scoop.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Dennis will be joined by his ventriloquist dummy, Baby Dennis.

[Guy Raz]

Bob, did you write this?

[Bob]

No, I didn't.

[Guy Raz]

I told you no jokes.

[Bob]

Okay, Gail, this isn't one of my jokes.

[Fingerling]

Hold on.

[Bob]

Who changed the script?

[Dennis]

I did. Baby Dennis needs an intro. Yeah, Baby Dennis needs an intro.

[Bob]

Dennis, cut to commercial. Dennis, we've been over this. You are not bringing that ventriloquist dummy on set.

[Dennis]

Oh, come on.

[Jerry]

Give the people what they want, Jerry.

[Dennis]

Yeah, give the people what they want, Jerry.

[Jerry]

Grandma G Force. I'm looking for Grandma G Force. It's time to put her mic on now.

[Grandma G Force]

What's he talking about?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, it's almost time for you to go on. Grandma G Force on what?

[Dennis]

Wake up and wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Your favorite morning news and lifestyle show.

[Grandma G Force]

Well. Huh?

[Fingerling]

Stop wiggling around, GeForce. I'm trying to finish getting your makeup on. I gotta de. Accentuate these jowls.

[Dennis]

Excuse me, Grandma G Force.

[Guy Raz]

Excuse me, Producer, we found her. Grandma GeForce's is over here.

[Jerry]

Oh, there you are. Okay, Grandma GeForce, time to get your mic up here. Mind if I just clip this to Your unitard?

[Grandma G Force]

Yep, I do.

[Bob]

Super duper. I'll just. Oh, wait.

[Dennis]

What?

[Grandma G Force]

I said I do mind. This is my lucky unitard.

[Dennis]

Oh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, I'm sorry. Maybe I can help. I'm her granddaughter.

[Jerry]

Oh, really?

[Grandma G Force]

Don't believe her. She's just always saying that.

[Mindy Thomas]

Grandma G Force. He's just trying to get you ready to go live for your TV segment.

[Grandma G Force]

Well, when's it gonna be?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, just hang on. There's a TV over there. Let me see where they are on the broadcast right now.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Our top story this morning is all about a prehistoric dinosaur known as the T Rex.

[Bob]

Hey, Gale, what do you call a big pile of dinosaurs?

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Bob, no jokes.

[Bob]

A Tyrannosaurus wreck.

[Dennis]

Good one, Bob. Yeah, Bob Baby. Dennis. Love it.

[Bob]

Dennis, get that creepy doll out of the studio.

[Dennis]

Ha ha. Can't catch me, Jerry.

[Bob]

Um, now, while scientists haven't solved every mystery about the dinosaurs, there's a lot.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

We do know about the T. Re fact that it lived in North America and ultimately died out 66 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period.

[Bob]

We also know that the T Rex was big, don't we, Gale?

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Really, Bob? Now how big was he? No more jokes, Bob.

[Fingerling]

Oh, fine, Gale.

[Bob]

The T Rex was real big. Massive, over 40ft long and 13ft tall.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Ooh, that's tall.

[Bob]

But with arms no longer than a three foot long sub sandwich.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Well, Bob, that's big for a sandwich.

[Bob]

I suppose you're right. But it's small for arms in this case.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

More right here on Wake up and wow. When we come back after the break.

[Dennis]

Introducing. Oh, wow.

[Guy Raz]

Makes you wonder why the T Rex had such tiny arms on such an enormous body.

[Grandma G Force]

I know.

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz. Just picture it. A towering beast, 45ft long with a five foot head as big as Grandma. G Force. Oh, and then these teeny tiny baby arms measuring in at only 3ft each.

[Fingerling]

Wow.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, that would be like if me, a six foot tall human, had five inch arms like the one on Dennis. Ventriloquist dummy.

[Dennis]

I know, dummy. I am, baby.

[Fingerling]

Be quiet, baby. The show's coming back on.

[Bob]

Welcome back to Wake up and wow. We're talking this morning all about.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

The question this hour is why? Why did the T Rex have such weak and puny little arms?

[Bob]

Well, Gail, scientists have been asking this question ever since the very first T Rex fossils were discovered back in 1900. The dinosaur hunter named Barnum Brown found those teeny weeny little arms and wondered the same thing.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

But now a paleontologist from the University of California, Berkeley, has come up with a Hypothesis that could hold the answer.

[Bob]

But before we get to that, our local spy witness, Snoop Dennis, will bring us today's neighborhood diary entry. It's all coming up right after the break. Dennis, you're on in five.

[Dennis]

Oh, that's me.

[Jerry]

Mindy, look after baby Dennis for me while I do my segment here.

[Dennis]

Ow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Why do you even have a ventriloquist dummy, Dennis?

[Dennis]

Great question. Ask baby Dennis.

[Mindy Thomas]

Get off of me.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, I can't believe they cut to Dennis right as they were getting to the meat of this T. Rex story.

[Mindy Thomas]

I know they love a cliffhanger here, but actually, Guy Raz, I think I can fill you in on that hypothesis. Or as I like to call it, a hypothesis guess, since a hypothesis is an educated guess.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah, I suppose.

[Grandma G Force]

Well, if you ever need an uneducated guess, Fingerling here's full of them. Aren't you, Fingerling?

[Fingerling]

Chief Force, Keep still, would you? I'm trying to powder your giant forehead before you go on the tv.

[Guy Raz]

So, about this hypothesis. There's a paleontologist who thinks they might know why the T. Rex had such tiny arms.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, sort of. You see, his name is Dr. Kevin Padian, and he's a paleontologist from the University of California, Berkeley.

[Guy Raz]

Oh.

[Fingerling]

Oh, yeah, I need to see a paleontologist about some issues I've been having in my lower digestive system.

[Dennis]

What?

[Grandma G Force]

No, Fingerling, that's a proctologist.

[Fingerling]

Oh, well, what are you talking about?

[Guy Raz]

A paleontologist is a scientist who studies the history of life on Earth through fossils or bones left behind from once living things.

[Fingerling]

Oh, so a paleontologist can't help me with my gassy, bloated, farty mouth? Okay, okay.

[Mindy Thomas]

Anywho, this paleontologist, Dr. Kevin Padian, thinks that maybe we've been asking the wrong question the whole time.

[Guy Raz]

Really?

[Grandma G Force]

I knew it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, instead of asking why the arms of the T. Rex were so small, maybe we should be asking how having those tiny arms helped the T. Rex to survive, huh?

[Fingerling]

Okay, let's just get these stuck on right about here.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, what? Where you're sticking them fake eyebrows, Fingerling, making me look like I got a mustache.

[Fingerling]

That mustache was there when I got here.

[Guy Raz]

So, Mindy, now that we know the question, we should be asking what benefits came from the tiny arms of the T. Rex? Can we get to the hypothesis or educated guess from Dr. Padian?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah, actually, I think I might have. The journal, right?

[Grandma G Force]

It's right here, boy. In the scientific journal Acta Paleontologica Polonica.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, where'd you get that?

[Grandma G Force]

Well, I've just been using it as a booster in this here makeup chair.

[Fingerling]

Just give it here G force. Oh, this is a pretty thick book of science.

[Guy Raz]

Let me see that.

[Grandma G Force]

Well, now, what am I gonna sit on to boost me up?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, here, why don't you sit on Dennis? Ventriloquist dummy.

[Fingerling]

You want her to sit on a baby?

[Dennis]

Sure.

[Grandma G Force]

Well, okay. Just stick it right there under my rump.

[Mindy Thomas]

All right.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, well, well.

[Fingerling]

Oh, the Snoopin feller ain't gonna like that.

[Guy Raz]

Speaking of Dennis, look, he's live on the show.

[Bob]

Oh, my.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Oh, that's so juicy. What other neighborhood gossip do you have for us this morning, Dennis?

[Jerry]

Oh, Gail, enough about the neighborhood. I actually want to talk to you about that T. Rex you mentioned earlier.

[Bob]

Oh, well, okay.

[Jerry]

When I heard you mention those tiny T. Rex arms, I got to thinking all about things that I can do with my arms that a T. Rex can't. Oh, and I made a list. Number one, slap myself in the face.

[Bob]

Oh, but why would you.

[Dennis]

Ow.

[Fingerling]

Oh.

[Jerry]

Oh, that hurt. Yeah, but the T. Rex couldn't do it because it can't reach its face with those little stubbers for arms.

[Bob]

Uh, Jerry, this is getting weird. Can we cut to commercial?

[Dennis]

Mm.

[Jerry]

Number two, take off my shirt.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Oh, goodness, no, no, Dennis, please keep your shirt on.

[Jerry]

You see, the T. Rex arms were.

[Dennis]

Once again too short to stretch forward to get its shirt off.

[Grandma G Force]

Like.

[Dennis]

I'm stuck. No, no, please.

[Bob]

Now, just give him a moment, Gayle. You can do it, Dennis. I give up.

[Jerry]

Moving on to number three. Pick up this news desk we're sitting at.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, no.

[Jerry]

Now, could the T. Rex do this?

[Fingerling]

No, you're breaking it.

[Dennis]

You see, the T. Rex couldn't do.

[Jerry]

Any of this because it's ours. We're little nubbins.

[Fingerling]

Wake up.

[Guy Raz]

And wow.

[Bob]

Is currently experiencing technical difficulties. But don't worry, we'll return in just a moment.

[Grandma G Force]

Wow. Oh, nice.

[Guy Raz]

What just happened?

[Mindy Thomas]

This is the best show ever.

[Bob]

That's it, Dennis. You're fired. And you'll never work in showbiz ever again.

[Jerry]

Oh, yeah, right, Jerry.

[Dennis]

That's what you said the last three.

[Jerry]

Times you fired me.

[Dennis]

See you all Monday.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, no. That boy forgot his baby dummy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, he'll be back. I'm sure.

[Guy Raz]

But before Dennis got kicked off the air, he made some pretty great points about the T. Rex.

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh, you sure about that guy, Raz?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. I mean, what Dennis did out there was ridiculous, but when you think about it, so were the arms of the T. Rex.

[Mindy Thomas]

What do you mean?

[Guy Raz]

Okay, so the T Rex's arms were not all that functional.

[Mindy Thomas]

Right, right.

[Guy Raz]

I mean, they weren't long enough to touch and reach its mouth or stretch very far outward or upward.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah, and its giant head and ne stuck so far out in front that it couldn't even get close enough to anything to pick it up.

[Guy Raz]

So when it came to attacking its prey, those arms must have been pretty worthless.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, worthless, huh? Well, there you go, Fingerling. There's something you got in common with that T. Rex.

[Fingerling]

What? Worthless. You call this contouring on your cheeks worthless?

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, snap. I'm beautiful.

[Fingerling]

Darn right.

[Jerry]

Okay, grammar Z Force, you are on in five boxes. Bob and Gail are just gonna ask you a couple of questions and then we're gonna let some wild dog Zeus in the studio and watch you fight over a pile of hot spicy chicken.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Jerry]

Don't worry, folks, this just showbiz.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah, and they fired Dennis for lifting the news desk in the air.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait a minute. Actually, I just realized something.

[Grandma G Force]

Well, there goes our light bulb.

[Fingerling]

That is very strange.

[Mindy Thomas]

So just like Grandma G Force and a pack of wild dogs fighting over a pile of hot chicken, T. Rexes, who also hunted in packs, did the same with the fresh meat of their prey.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, let me just imagine this scene for a moment. So we've got a ferocious pack of wild Tyrannosaurus rexes with enormous heads and massive jaws full of razor sharp teeth.

[Fingerling]

Heavens.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah, I see it. And now the pack of Tyrannosaurus rexes have surrounded a fallen Triceratops that at this point is looking a lot like fresh lunch.

[Fingerling]

Oh, no.

[Mindy Thomas]

And as they go in for the attack, their watering mouths are snapping open and shut and their teeth are gnashing and crashing against any meat they can sink them into.

[Fingerling]

Quick, someone changed the channel. Phew.

[Grandma G Force]

Well, now, that's one way to lose a lamb.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Grandma G Force]

Well, how do they know they're not eating their own arms off?

[Fingerling]

Or each other's arms off?

[Guy Raz]

Well, that's simple. Their arms are simply too short to. Wait a minute.

[Grandma G Force]

There goes that light bulb again.

[Fingerling]

Yeah, I don't like it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Go on, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Is it possible that the T Rex's tiny arms actually helped it to survive an eating frenzy with a pack of other T. Rexes?

[Mindy Thomas]

What do you mean?

[Guy Raz]

Well, because its arms were so tiny, maybe they couldn't be ripped off by other hungry dinosaurs.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, thinking like a paleontologist, guy Raz.

[Fingerling]

What? Mr. Razzi is thinking like a fart. Doctor.

[Grandma G Force]

No, Fingerling, for the last time, that's a Proctologist. He's talking about a paleontologist.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, no, no. Just hear me out, okay? I mean, why would the T. Rex have arms that were basically worthless? I mean, they couldn't even use their arms to catch their prey. But maybe they were meant to have short arms to stay safe during a feeding frenzy. You know, with all those gnashing teeth and snapping jaw.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, well, well, okay, I like where.

[Mindy Thomas]

You'Re going with this. Go on, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

So just imagine if the T. Rex had arms that fit the size of its body. In the middle of a feeding frenzy, its arms and claws would be in there trying to pull the meat apart.

[Grandma G Force]

Well, wait till you get a load of meat. Fatten them dogs for that hot chicken.

[Fingerling]

Uh, but G Force, you got normal sized arms.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. I mean, if you put your hands and arms into the mix, Grandma G Force, there's no telling what those dogs could do to them.

[Mindy Thomas]

No, Guy Raz is right, Grandma G Force. If the T. Rex did this, it would surely have its arms bitten off by the other hungry T. Rexes. I mean, this could lead to massive bleeding, infection. Infection, even death.

[Dennis]

What?

[Grandma G Force]

With a big whoop.

[Fingerling]

Big whoop. Mandy's got a point. G Force, if you go out there and get your arms chewed off by those hot chickens.

[Mindy Thomas]

Dogs? What dogs? Wild dogs. The hot chickens are what they're eating.

[Fingerling]

Yeah, that's what I said. If you go out there and get your creaky old arms chewed off, you'll have nothing left to whack me over the head with when you see that I shaved off your. Your eyebrows.

[Guy Raz]

You what?

[Dennis]

Shh. Let the man speak.

[Grandma G Force]

No.

[Fingerling]

G Force, listen to me. The only way I'm gonna let my best old bag of a friend out there with those wild chicken dogs is if you cut off your arms first and leave them here with me so the dogs can't eat them.

[Dennis]

What? Aww.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, Fingerling.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, that sounds like a really bad.

[Mindy Thomas]

Idea, but Fingerling's right, Guy Raz. There is no way that Grandma G Force can just go out there on Wake up and wow. To demonstrate how she fights wild dogs for hot chicken with a set of full sized arms. Have you not learned anything from the T. Rex?

[Guy Raz]

We are not cutting off Grandma G Force's arms, Mindy. That's where I draw the line.

[Jerry]

Okay, Grandma G Force, two minutes of show time. Anything you need before you go on?

[Grandma G Force]

Yeah, I'm gonna need some duct tape.

[Jerry]

Oh, sure. Here you go.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait, what?

[Grandma G Force]

Now where's that baby Dennis dummy doll?

[Guy Raz]

Um, you're still sitting on it.

[Fingerling]

What do you want the doll for?

[Grandma G Force]

If I'm gonna go out there and face them wild dogs, I'm gonna need.

[Mindy Thomas]

To hide my real arms.

[Fingerling]

Oh, I catch ya.

[Bob]

Okay, we're going live in 3, 2, 1.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Welcome back to Wake up and wow. I'm Gayle Richard Simmon.

[Bob]

Our next guest is a pro wrestling spicy pepper eating world champion who's ready to take her leotard to new heights. What you're about to see may be disturbing.

[Jerry]

Okay, Ms. DeForest, you're going on in one minute.

[Grandma G Force]

Mandy, you got them, baby dummy dollar for me yet?

[Mindy Thomas]

Almost, Grandma G Force. Hey, Guy Raz. How about I hold one end of the baby Dennis, ventriloquist dummy, and you hold the other and we pull them off at the same time.

[Guy Raz]

Got it. On the count of three.

[Mindy Thomas]

One, two, three.

[Dennis]

Yes.

[Mindy Thomas]

We did it, Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

We ripped the tiny arms off baby Dennis.

[Mindy Thomas]

Great teamwork, buddy.

[Dennis]

And look, they squeak.

[Fingerling]

Oh, that's pretty cute.

[Mindy Thomas]

Get them, dummy decoy arms taped to my unitard here.

[Grandma G Force]

I gotta fool them dogs.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, taping, taping, taping.

[Fingerling]

And one staple for good luck.

[Grandma G Force]

I'm ready for battle.

[Jerry]

All right, Ms. Geek Force, it's time. You're on.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

And it's now time to welcome for the first time, time to the Wake up and Wild studio's Grandma G Force.

[Bob]

So, Grandma G Force, tell us, what is the secret to going tooth to tooth with wild dogs in a hot chicken eating competition?

[Grandma G Force]

Well, first and foremost, it's all in the arms, boy.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Oh, and mind if I squeeze your muscles there? Just a. Ho ho. Wow, they squeak.

[Bob]

Oh, that's cute.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Didn't expect that one, Bob Certainly not.

[Bob]

Hey, Grandma GeForce, why do you have such cute, squeaky little arms? Seems a little bit odd.

[Grandma G Force]

Well, maybe you're asking the wrong question, Bob. Oh, maybe you should be asking how these little baby arms are gonna keep Grandma G Force alive during the battle, Bob. Oh, maybe keeping my real arms out of the fight will keep them dogs from gnawing them up.

[Bob]

Bob, you keep saying my name and it scares me. And I love it.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Well, Grandma G Force, to demonstrate how you do it, we brought in the spiciest hot chicken in town.

[Bob]

We sure did. Cue the chicken. And let's bring out those wild dogs.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Well, they do look hungry.

[Bob]

They sure do. Are you ready, Grandma G Force?

[Mindy Thomas]

Ready.

[Fingerling]

Okay then.

[Bob]

On your mark, get set. Eat that pile of hot chicken.

[Grandma G Force]

Come here, hot chicken. We're gonna eat you all in life.

[Dennis]

Oh.

[Bob]

Oh my.

[Guy Raz]

Look at her go. Mindy.

[Fingerling]

Oh, goodness gracious.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, she's really got her head in the game. But look, Guy Raz, those little baby dummy arms that we taped to her unitard, they're not long enough to get into the paths of any of those hungry dog mouths.

[Dennis]

It's working.

[Guy Raz]

Wow, she is really going at it. I didn't know she could eat that fast.

[Fingerling]

Careful, DeForest, don't eat the dogs.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, that's spicy.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

And there you have it, folks. It looks like we have a winner.

[Bob]

Grandma G Force looks to have eaten the vast majority of the hot chicken.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

And the wild dogs are cowering in a puddle of their own fear.

[Grandma G Force]

I'm the best at this.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Thanks for joining us folks, for this morning's edition of Wake up and wait. Wow. I'm Gayle Richard Simmons.

[Bob]

And I'm Bob Ralph Nader. Be sure to join us tomorrow as we share the top 10 ways to use a hot dog bun around the house.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Until next time, have a wow turful day. Oh, Jerry, can we change that line? It does not roll off the tongue.

[Bob]

And we're clear.

[Guy Raz]

Great job, Grandma G Force.

[Mindy Thomas]

That was amazing, Grandma G Force.

[Grandma G Force]

Now who's taking me to breakfast? I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.

[Fingerling]

Well, first we gotta get those baby arms back on Dennis. Little dummy doll.

[Grandma G Force]

Well, you have to fight me Ferdin first. Put em up Fingerling.

[Fingerling]

Ah, Chief Force with it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Let's go, Guy Raz. Time for us to get out of here.

[Guy Raz]

You know, Mindy, I know we now have a hypothesis that the the T Rex's small arms helped it to survive feeding frenzies. But how will we ever know for sure?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, we might not, Guy Raz. I mean, it's pretty tough for even the best scientists to prove a hypothesis after 66 million years.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, it's amazing that we're still able to learn anything new about dinosaurs after that much time.

[Mindy Thomas]

But Dr. Padian is hoping that we could get closer to the answer by asking museums to examine the T Rex fossils in their collections and specifically to look for any bite marks.

[Guy Raz]

And if they find bite marks on the heads rather than the tiny arms, then maybe there could be some truth to this hypothesis.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, I mean, it might not be enough for the whole truth, but it could tell us if we're asking the right questions. And it could definitely show that it's time to start looking at the the function of the T Rex and its tiny arms in a whole new way.

[Dennis]

Mindy. Guy, I accidentally left Baby Dennis behind in the studio.

[Jerry]

Do you know where he is? Did you Bring him with you.

[Grandma G Force]

It's Baby G Force now.

[Dennis]

Ah, G Force. No.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, yeah.

[Fingerling]

Don't worry, feller. I know a good proctologist that'll get them back together in no time.

[Dennis]

Oh, baby Dennis. That's why. Wow in the World.

[Grandma G Force]

We'll be right back.

[Dennis]

Grown ups.

[Mindy Thomas]

This message is for you.

[Dennis]

That's it.

[Mindy Thomas]

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.

[Listener Callers]

Hi, my name is Cormac. I'm from Monmouth, Oregon. And my wow in the world is that the Greenland shark can live for over 500 years. Say hi to Dennis. Hi there, Reggie, Bucky and the sleigh cat for me.

[Guy Raz]

Bye.

[Listener Callers]

Hi Mazeen, Guy Raz. My name is Ian. And I'm Claire. And our wow is. Oh, and we live in Lake Forest Park, Washington. And our wow is that some sand dunes make mysterious noises like whistling, singing and the croaking of a frog. Say hi to the sleigh cats, Thomas Fingerling.

[Grandma G Force]

What?

[Listener Callers]

Dennis.

[Jerry]

Howdy.

[Listener Callers]

And Reggie and Baby D. Hi, Mindy and Guy Love. My name is Scarlet and I'm five years old. And my name is Logan and I'm seven years old. We live in Utah. My wow in the world is that starfish don't have brains. And my wow is that jellyfish don't have brains or bones or hearts. Isn't that funker balls? And also, hey Reggie, I have a question for you. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name is Elena. I'm 8 years old and I'm from Edmonton, Alberta. My wow in the world is that scientists have figured out how to unboil an egg. And say hi to Dennis and Reggie for me.

[Fingerling]

Hi there.

[Listener Callers]

Hi Mindy and Guy Raz. My name is Mason and I live in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My wow in the world is it is impossible to tickle yourself. Isn't that awesome? Bye. Oh, and also say hi to the rest of the Bonkerballs group for me.

[Jerry]

Well, I mean, that goes without saying.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

End of messages.

[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] survey.

[Guy Raz]

Wow in the World is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Calkin with help from me, Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

Original sound design and music editing is done by our senior producer, Jed Anderson and Tyler Thol. 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 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 to.

[Guy Raz]

The rest of our team of tinkerers including including Anna Zagorski, Rebecca Kaban, Kit Ballinger and Henry Moskal.

[Mindy Thomas]

To keep the Wows rolling, Visit [e-mail] There you can learn more about becoming an official member of the World Organization of wowzers, learn more about upcoming events, shop our shop and pick up a copy of our new number one New York Times best selling book the how and wow of the Human Body Grown Ups.

[Guy Raz]

You can follow wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter owintheworld and our email address is hellonkercast.com and if.

[Mindy Thomas]

You'Re a kid with a big wow to share with us, call us at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW for a chance to be featured at the end of our show or an upcoming episode of 2 what's and a wow.

[Guy Raz]

Thanks again for listening and until next time, be fun.

[Dennis]

Wowing wow in the World was made.

[Grandma G Force]

By Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.