How To Talk To A Cat (8/4/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: Episode Summary – "How To Talk To A Cat" (Released August 4, 2025)

Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz | Produced by Tinkercast | Wondery

---

Introduction

In the "How To Talk To A Cat" episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz explore the intriguing and often humorous challenges of communicating with our feline friends. The episode delves into scientific research on cat behavior, the effectiveness of different communication styles, and offers practical insights for cat owners seeking to bridge the communication gap with their pets.

---

Setting the Stage: The Communication Conundrum

The episode kicks off with a playful interaction between the hosts and their recurring characters, Dennis and Mindy's Cat. Dennis humorously asserts, “[09:17] Dennis: Stop saying study,” while Mindy's Cat laments, “[07:02] Mindy's Cat: I. I guess,” highlighting the frustrations many cat owners face when their pets seem indifferent to human attempts at communication.

---

The Science Behind Cat Communication

Guy Raz introduces the core scientific discussion by referencing a study from the Animal Cognition journal conducted by researchers at the University Paris Nanterre in France. He explains, “[08:14] Guy Raz: Yes, a scientific study,” setting the foundation for understanding how cats perceive human speech.

Study Overview

1. Objective:
   The study aimed to determine whether cats are more responsive to adult-directed speech or cat-directed speech (high-pitched, baby-like voices).

2. Methodology:

   • Participants: 16 cats residing in their natural home environments.
   • Scenarios: Three different voice recordings were played to the cats:
     • Scenario 1: A stranger calling the cat followed by the owner's voice.
     • Scenario 2: The owner speaking to the cat in a regular tone versus a cat-directed tone.
     • Scenario 3: A stranger using both adult and cat-directed speech.

3. Findings:

   • In Scenario 1, “[13:36] Dennis: Mr. Fluffy Pants, get out of my spaghetti, you cat,” Guy Raz observes, “[13:42] Guy Raz: they found that 10 of the 16 cats responded to the sound of their owner's voice.”
   • The cats exhibited subtle responses such as moving their ears and pupils enlarging when hearing their owner's voice but showed no reaction to a stranger's voice, regardless of the tone.
   • Scenario 2 reinforced that cats only responded to their owners when using cat-directed speech, while Scenario 3 revealed that strangers' attempts at cat-directed speech were ineffective.

---

Interpreting the Results: Are Cats "Broken"?

Dennis humorously interjects, “[09:17] Dennis: So how do we know anything about cats at all, then?” prompting a deeper analysis from Guy Raz. The conclusion drawn is that “[17:17] Guy Raz: The results of this study suggest that cats really do respond to human language, but perhaps only from humans they already know.”

Mindy's Cat defensively counters, “[09:38] Mindy's Cat: They're not broken, Dennis,” clarifying that cats are selective in their responsiveness, not defective.

---

Practical Applications: Enhancing Communication with Cats

Guy Raz offers practical advice based on the study’s findings:

• Use Cat-Directed Speech: Adopting a high-pitched, gentle tone akin to how we speak to babies can improve communication.
• Consistency is Key: Consistently using cat-directed speech can help cats recognize and respond to their names and commands over time.

He emphasizes, “[17:34] Dennis: But Mindy owns the sleigh cats, and they won't even look at her when she yells at them,” highlighting the importance of tone over volume.

---

Humorous Demonstrations and Real-Life Trials

The episode takes a comedic turn as Mindy's Cat attempts to apply the scientific method to communicate, resulting in playful chaos:

• Mindy's Cat enrolls the cats in "stunt cat school," leading to exaggerated scenarios like “[07:03] Dennis: Steve, Steve,” and the subsequent humorous failure of these attempts.
• A playful experiment with Dennis trying to corral the cats showcases the challenges of implementing scientific findings in everyday pet interactions.

---

Conclusion: Embracing the Unique Bond with Cats

Guy Raz wraps up the discussion by reiterating that understanding and respecting a cat's unique communication style can strengthen the human-feline bond. He notes, “[19:36] Mindy's Cat: So why do cats only seem to respond to their owners talking to them in a high pitched baby voice?” encouraging listeners to tailor their communication approaches based on scientific insights.

---

Notable Quotes

• Dennis on Cat Behavior:
  “[07:02] Dennis: I'm listening to you, Mindy. Dennis, I've been listening to you all morning and last night and yesterday afternoon.”

• Mindy's Cat on Communication Efforts:
  “[05:10] Dennis: Oh. Oh.”

• Guy Raz on Scientific Communication:
  “[08:05] Dennis: Everyone knows cats hate science.”
  “[08:07] Guy Raz: No, no, just hear me out for a sec."

• Hosts on Study Implications:
  “[17:30] Mindy's Cat: Well, like their owners,”
  “[17:34] Dennis: But Mindy owns the sleigh cats, and they won't even look at her when she yells at them.”

---

Final Thoughts

"How To Talk To A Cat" masterfully blends scientific research with entertaining dialogues, making complex studies accessible and engaging for both kids and their grown-ups. The episode not only sheds light on the nuanced ways cats perceive and respond to human speech but also encourages a compassionate and informed approach to animal communication.

For listeners eager to enhance their relationship with their feline companions, this episode offers both humor and valuable insights, ensuring that every "wow" moment is grounded in curiosity and understanding.

---

Stay Curious and Keep Wowing!

For more episodes and to dive deeper into the wonders of the world, visit Wow in the World and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @owintheworld.

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.

[Dennis]

Hello, Wowzers. It's me, Dennis. And Reggie's here too. Before we start the show, I want to hear from my devoted listeners with a quick little Q and A segment. The Q and A segment. Alright, let's just get the old answering machine pulled up here. Okay, Here we go. Hi, you've reached Dennis from WEW on the Weeknd. Leave me a message. Hi Dennis, it's me, Den Da Tist. Yeah, Dentist. Hi, Dentist. Reggie, shush. Dentist does not sound familiar. I have a question. What's a place on our planet that wows you? Ooh, great question, Dennis. I mean, Dentist. Let's see a place on our planet that wows me. Um. Oh, I know. Mr. Dentist, have you ever been to the Griffith Observatory? The Griffith Observatory, Reggie. It's in Los Angeles, California.

[Mindy]

And?

[Dennis]

And it's the ultimate snoop spot. You can snoop on the stars in Hollywood. No, Reggie, I'm not talking about celebrities. I'm talking about the stars and the planets in the sky. Yeah, at the Griffith Observatory there's like telescopes and stuff and you can snoop up into outer space. Oh, sorry, Wowzers. We want to hear about the places on our planet that wow you. Give us a call at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW and tell us where in the world you find wow. That's it. Now let's get back to the show. Bye.

[Narrator]

Hey grownups. If you've got Pokemon fans in your life, and maybe you even grew up as one yourself, check out the Pokemon Trading Card Game. It's a great way to experience the world of Pokemon. For enthusiasts of all ages, every card has an awesome illustration on it. With either a Pokemon trainer item or stadium. And with several different art styles and artists, you'll want to catch em all. See how your cards stack up against others in easy to learn Pokemon battles. Or just collect and trade them. There's no right or wrong way to enjoy the Pokemon Trading Card Game. And now you can collect the newest cards from the Black Bolt and White Flare expansion pack. For info on the latest expansions, game rules and more, visit tcg.pokemon.com hey Grown Ups. As your family gears up to go back to school, make sure that you're preparing both minds and bodies. Try Ollie, the number one kids supplement brand that makes your family's health and wellness a breeze. Ollie offers a range of vitamins and supplements for kids and adults. So you can trust them for your whole family's needs. Kids Multi Plus Probiotic is a tasty essential that kids love. And Kids Sleep offers gentle support to help them rest. And for the parents, Ollie has your back, too. Try multivitamins for immune support and more. And sleep gummies to help you get your best rest. [e-mail] or retailers nationwide. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or Prevent any disease.

[Dennis]

Proceeded. 3, 2, 1. Mission.

[Mindy]

The bubbles are an adventure of magnificent proportion.

[Dennis]

I don't know what you've been told, but we're in a golden age. So many discoveries that are jumping off the page while in the world.

[Mindy]

Houston.

[Mindy's Cat]

Okay, now, Debbie. Now Donna and Pam and Ms. Dixon. Hey, Carol. And Cheryl and Janice and Steve. Steve, where are you going? Hello, sleigh cats. Is anyone listening to me? Don't pretend you don't hear me. Look me in the eye when I'm talking to you cats. Janice, come here. We need to have a talk. I'm serious, Ms. Dixon. Don't you turn your butt up at me. And you, Steve, I know you can hear me. Why won't you cats acknowledge my existence?

[Dennis]

Oh. Oh.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, Mindy. What's going on? I could hear you from amongst a mile away. Ho, ho, there, kitties. I come in peace.

[Mindy's Cat]

Sorry, guy. Raz. Cats, off of you.

[Dennis]

Ooh.

[Mindy's Cat]

Pam and Ms. Dixon are filled with cattitude today. And Steve. Don't even get me started on Steve. Listen, if you slay cats, don't cooperate with me, we're never going to get to stunt cat school on time.

[Guy Raz]

Stunt cat school?

[Mindy's Cat]

Oh, yeah. I've enrolled all eight of my sleigh cats in stunt cat school so they can do all the stunts that would be too dangerous for me to try.

[Guy Raz]

Stunts like what?

[Mindy's Cat]

You know, stunts like shooting themselves out of cannons and dancing with wolves, throwing each other out the window, pulling baby teeth out with a jump rope tied to a Lamborghini. You know, stuff like that.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, right.

[Mindy's Cat]

But they just won't listen to me.

[Dennis]

I'm listening to you, Mindy. Dennis, I've been listening to you all morning and last night and yesterday afternoon.

[Guy Raz]

What, Dennis?

[Dennis]

Don't what, Dennis me. You're being very loud, and eavesdropping is my duty as the neighborhood snoop. And as someone who is all up in your business, my advice is to cut these cats loose and instead get yourself a pack of dogs.

[Mindy's Cat]

What?

[Guy Raz]

Dogs?

[Dennis]

Yes, dogs. You can train them to sit, stay, roll over, make coffee, play Cards, roast marshmallows, Fold fitted bed sheets, pay your bills. Huh? I saw it on the Internet, Tindis.

[Mindy's Cat]

You can't train dogs to roast marshmallows or pay your bills.

[Dennis]

Well, fine, but you can train them, and they can be your best friend and love you unconditionally.

[Mindy's Cat]

I. I guess.

[Dennis]

Try doing that with a cat and it'll just bite you and show you its butt and saunter away.

[Mindy's Cat]

That's not true. Watch this.

[Dennis]

Steve, Steve.

[Mindy's Cat]

Steve. Cat Stevens, you come here right now.

[Dennis]

See? He won't even acknowledge you when you call his name and he's showing you his butt.

[Mindy's Cat]

Steve, I want you to listen to me.

[Dennis]

This just proved my point. Cats are broken.

[Guy Raz]

Well, I wouldn't go that far.

[Mindy's Cat]

Maybe Dennis is right, guy. Raz, I can't even get a reaction out of these cats. It's like they won't even acknowledge that I'm here. Hey, you cats acknowledge me.

[Guy Raz]

Huh?

[Dennis]

Well, that does it, cats. Mindy is trading you all in for dogs. Okay, Mindy, let's herd them into the ice cream truck and get them out of here.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, wait, wait a second. Maybe you're just not talking to them the right way, Mindy.

[Mindy's Cat]

The right way?

[Dennis]

What way is that?

[Guy Raz]

The scientific way, guy.

[Dennis]

Everyone knows cats hate science.

[Guy Raz]

No, no, just hear me out for a sec. See, I just read this amazing study in the scientific journal Animal Cognition.

[Mindy's Cat]

Ooh, a scientific study?

[Guy Raz]

Yes, a scientific study.

[Dennis]

Stop saying study.

[Guy Raz]

Now, in this study, a group of scientists from the University Paris Nanterre in France wanted to find out if cats were more responsive to adult directed speech or cat directed speech.

[Dennis]

Huh, I don't know what any of that means.

[Mindy's Cat]

Yeah, me neither.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, well, cat directed speech is the kind of speech people use when they talk to cats in a high pitched, baby like voice.

[Dennis]

Oh, like how I sometimes talk to Reggie when I want him to do something for me. Reggie, not now.

[Mindy's Cat]

Wait. Cat directed speech or baby talk? Didn't we read a similar study a few years ago? A study on talking to dogs?

[Dennis]

Ooh, dogs.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, and there've been a number of studies on how dogs best respond to humans, but there haven't been as many on cats.

[Mindy's Cat]

Why is that?

[Dennis]

Because cats are broken and they don't like studies.

[Mindy's Cat]

Yeah, I can't see cats cooperating with a scientific study. Yeah, I can't even get them out the door for stunt cat training school. Yeah, they won't even let me put their little crash helmets on, much less listen to me.

[Dennis]

Yeah, you hear that, cats? You need to listen. They're not listening.

[Guy Raz]

Well, it is true that cats have been much more difficult for scientists to study than dogs.

[Dennis]

Because they're broken.

[Mindy's Cat]

They're not broken, Dennis.

[Guy Raz]

Well, they do tend to get stressed when put into a laboratory setting, which can make it really hard for scientists to study their behavior.

[Dennis]

And dogs are so easy to study that they'll type up their own behavior for you. What? It's true. You can also train them to use spreadsheets.

[Mindy's Cat]

No, you can't, Dennis.

[Dennis]

Yeah. Huh.

[Guy Raz]

And it's also incredibly difficult to get cats to sit still, which has made scanning their brain activity pretty much impossible.

[Mindy's Cat]

So how do we know anything about cats at all, then? I mean, how were these scientists in France able to study them?

[Guy Raz]

Well, for one, they decided to meet the cats where they are.

[Dennis]

Meet them where? On planet Cats.

[Mindy's Cat]

Cat Island?

[Dennis]

Catskills?

[Mindy's Cat]

Catman do. No.

[Guy Raz]

At their homes.

[Dennis]

Oh.

[Mindy's Cat]

So, Guy Raz, you mentioned that in this study, the scientists wanted to find out how cats best respond to human voices.

[Dennis]

Or if they're just broken and should all be traded in for dogs.

[Mindy's Cat]

Dennis, stop saying that cats are broken. They're not products on a shelf that you can just return if they don't listen to you.

[Guy Raz]

Well, like I said, it's possible that your stunt cats aren't listening to you because you're just not communicating with them in the right way.

[Mindy's Cat]

Ah, the scientific way.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. So, for this study, the scientists started with what they knew.

[Dennis]

Well, what did they knew?

[Guy Raz]

Well, they knew that people in modern Western cultures, people who live in North America, Europe, and Australia. Yeah. Well, they tend to talk to their pets the same way they talk to their babies or toddlers.

[Dennis]

Oh.

[Mindy's Cat]

So saying things like, who's a good boy? And yay, poo poo. You went poo poo.

[Dennis]

Huh? My mother always said stuff to me like, dennis, quit dragging your butt on the carpet and stay off the couch, and how is there so much hair everywhere?

[Guy Raz]

Uh, yeah, something like that.

[Mindy's Cat]

So, Guy Raz, that's how. That's how people talk to babies and toddlers. But that is not at all the way that adults talk to each other.

[Dennis]

And it's not the way you were talking to your sleigh cats either, Mindy. Huh? You were talking to them like people talk to people. Not the way people talk to babies.

[Guy Raz]

I would just like to point out that babies are people, too.

[Dennis]

That's not the point, Guy Raz.

[Mindy's Cat]

So you're saying that maybe if I talk to my sleigh cats the way people talk to babies, and they'd actually acknowledge my existence? Maybe Even listen and respond to me?

[Dennis]

Yes, that's what I'm saying. But I also doubt it would work.

[Guy Raz]

Well, that brings us to the experiment.

[Mindy's Cat]

Ooh, my favorite part.

[Guy Raz]

For this experiment, the researchers went to the homes of 16 different cats, and once they were there, they played recordings of different voices.

[Mindy's Cat]

Whose voices?

[Guy Raz]

Well, some of the recordings were of their owners voices, and others were the voices of female strangers.

[Dennis]

Oh, wow, that's so interesting.

[Guy Raz]

Well, that's not even the exciting part, Dennis.

[Dennis]

Oh, sorry. Please continue. Okay.

[Guy Raz]

Well, the scientists set up three different scenarios with these recordings. For the first scenario, they had the cats listen to a recording of a stranger calling them by name, Mr. Fluffy.

[Dennis]

Pants, get out of my spaghetti, you cat.

[Guy Raz]

And the stranger's voice was followed by their owner's voice calling them by name.

[Mindy's Cat]

Mr. Fluffy Pants, you. Get out of my spaghetti, you cat.

[Guy Raz]

And then they went back to the recording of the stranger's voice.

[Dennis]

Mr. Fluffy Pants, get out of my spaghetti, you cat.

[Mindy's Cat]

And what did they discover?

[Guy Raz]

Well, in this scenario, they found that 10 of the 16 cats responded to the sound of their owner's voice.

[Dennis]

Did they say what? What did the cats say? What? When they heard their owner calling their name?

[Guy Raz]

No, they're cats.

[Mindy's Cat]

Yeah, cats can't talk, Dennis.

[Dennis]

Oh. Then how did they respond?

[Guy Raz]

Well, the responses were subtle, but the researchers noticed that when these cats heard their owners call their name, they did things like move their ears toward the voice, and they started moving their bodies around, and their pupils got bigger.

[Mindy's Cat]

But what happened when they heard the stranger's voice?

[Dennis]

Yeah, what happened when they heard the stranger's voice?

[Guy Raz]

Well, nothing.

[Dennis]

Nothing?

[Guy Raz]

No, there was no real noticeable difference in their behavior.

[Mindy's Cat]

Okay, so in this first scenario, most of the cats responded to their owner's voice, but when they heard the stranger's voice, they didn't respond at all. Huh. So what happened in the second scenario?

[Dennis]

Yeah, guy, what about the second scenario?

[Guy Raz]

Well, for the second scenario, the researchers have the cats listen to recordings of their owners saying things directed at other humans.

[Mindy's Cat]

Fingerling, you get out of my spaghetti or I'm gonna throw you out the wind.

[Guy Raz]

And then they played a recording where the owner was clearly talking to the cat in that high pitch voice that they tend to use when talking only to their cat.

[Mindy's Cat]

Oh, Colonel Toots Thunderpaw, you get out of my spaghetti or I'm gonna snuggle your guts out. And then I'm gonna boop you on your little. But I will do it.

[Mindy]

I'm not joking.

[Dennis]

Wow. I didn't know Grandma G Force had a cat.

[Mindy's Cat]

Yeah, Colonel Toot's thunderpaws are landlord.

[Dennis]

Oh, right.

[Mindy's Cat]

And what about the third scenario, Guy Raz?

[Guy Raz]

Well, for the third scenario, the researchers played a recording of the stranger doing the same thing. First talking to other humans.

[Dennis]

Fingerling, get out of my strange spaghetti or I'll throw you out the window.

[Guy Raz]

And then they played a recording of the stranger talking directly to the cat.

[Dennis]

Oh, Colonel Toot. Thunderpaw, you get out of my spaghetti or I'm gonna snuggle your guts out. And then I'm gonna boop you on your little cat butt. That stranger's voice creeps me out.

[Mindy's Cat]

Yeah, I'm not buying what she's selling.

[Guy Raz]

Well, the point is, when the cats heard their owners talking in their cat directed voices, 10 out of the 16 cats. Just like in the first scenario.

[Mindy's Cat]

But what happened when they heard the strangers talking their cat or baby voices?

[Guy Raz]

Well, nothing.

[Dennis]

Nothing, nothing.

[Guy Raz]

It was almost as if no one was talking to the cat at all.

[Mindy's Cat]

Even after the stranger voice switched to baby cat talk?

[Guy Raz]

Even after the stranger voice switched. Switched to baby cat talk.

[Mindy's Cat]

Bonker balls.

[Dennis]

So what does any of this even mean? And when do we get to the part where the scientists prove that cats are broken?

[Guy Raz]

Well, the results of this study suggest that cats are not broken.

[Dennis]

So Mindy's broken, Dennis.

[Guy Raz]

No. No one is broken. The results of this study suggest that cats really do respond to human language, but perhaps only from humans they already know.

[Mindy's Cat]

Well, like their owners.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly.

[Dennis]

But Mindy owns the sleigh cats, and they won't even look at her when she yells at them.

[Mindy's Cat]

Yeah, they act like they can't even hear me.

[Guy Raz]

Well, like I said earlier, Mindy, maybe you're just not talking to them the right way.

[Mindy's Cat]

The scientific way.

[Dennis]

The baby way.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. The results of this study also suggest that cats can tell the difference between their owner talking to another human versus their owner talking directly to them in.

[Dennis]

The baby talk voice.

[Mindy's Cat]

Yes. Okay, I think I need to try this one more time. The scientific way. Hooray.

[Dennis]

But it's too bad your cats all ran away. Mindy. What? They left. They're probably scattered all over the neighborhood.

[Guy Raz]

Uh oh, this is not good.

[Mindy's Cat]

Okay, Dennis, you go corral all the time and bring them back home.

[Dennis]

Me? Why do I have to do it?

[Mindy's Cat]

Anything for science, Mindy.

[Dennis]

That trick only works with Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

What trick?

[Mindy's Cat]

Oh, never mind Guy Raz. But Dennis, just go find my cats.

[Dennis]

Okay, fine. Debbie, Donna?

[Mindy's Cat]

Pam?

[Dennis]

Ms. Dixon, where are you? Carol? Cheryl? Janice? Steve. Actually, Steve, you can stay wherever you are.

[Guy Raz]

Oh boy, he is never gonna Corral them. Talking to them like that.

[Mindy's Cat]

Talk like a baby. Dennis, remember your cat voice.

[Dennis]

Oh, right. Okay. Debbie, Donna, Pam, where are you little kitty witties?

[Guy Raz]

This could take a while, Ms. Dixon.

[Dennis]

Come to Dennis.

[Mindy's Cat]

So, Guy Raz, in that earlier study that we talked about a few years ago, you know, the one about talking to dogs?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah, I remember that one.

[Mindy's Cat]

So the researchers found that dogs generally respond to pretty much anyone who talks to them in a high pitched baby voice.

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh.

[Mindy's Cat]

So why do cats only seem to respond to their owners talking to them in a high pitched baby voice?

[Dennis]

Meow, meow, meow. Yes, I.

[Guy Raz]

Well, that's a good question. And the researchers believe it might have something to do with the fact that cats just aren't as exposed to as many people as dogs are.

[Mindy's Cat]

Oh, yeah, it's not like most people are walking their cats outside on a leash.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. So it's possible that if cats were to meet more people outside of their own homes, they might respond to more voices the way that dogs do.

[Dennis]

Okay, let's go. Okay, Mindy, I've got your cats in your pockets.

[Guy Raz]

Dennis.

[Dennis]

Yeah, there were seven of them, right?

[Mindy's Cat]

No, there were eight of them, Dennis.

[Dennis]

Oh, well, I have seven.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, wait, Mindy, is that one of your sleigh cats on the roof of your gingerbread mansion?

[Mindy's Cat]

Steve.

[Dennis]

Ah, right. I told Steve he could stay where he was.

[Guy Raz]

A cat named Steve.

[Mindy's Cat]

Steve, you get down here this instant. If I have to come up there and get you myself, you are going to lose all of your cat privileges. That means no more olives, no more driving the ice cream truck, no more video games, no more Steve. I'm going to count to three. One, two.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, remember, to get your cat to respond to you, you might want to try speaking to him in the scientific way.

[Dennis]

Yeah, the baby way.

[Mindy's Cat]

Oh, yeah. Okay, who's a good little sleigh cat? You are, Steve. Yes, you are, my little Steve. O, you little furry boop, snooted kitty. Witty cat. I could just eat you up and barf you out of my mouth, you fuzzy little fur ball baby.

[Dennis]

Mindy. Yikes. Look, Mindy, he's coming down like a stunt cat.

[Mindy's Cat]

Steve, I could just roll you up in a little ball and shove you in a cannon and blast you out until you hit the moon and come crashing down to Earth's atmosphere and land in the ocean and.

[Dennis]

All right, Mindy, he's climbing back up. I think your baby talk is freaking him out.

[Mindy's Cat]

Steve, you get back here this instant or I will find another cat to lead my sleigh do you hear me?

[Guy Raz]

We're gonna be here all day.

[Dennis]

Do less violent baby talk.

[Mindy's Cat]

I mean, come back down here you little boop snooted baby cat. I could just take your fuzzy little.

[Dennis]

Cat paws in the stage. No, come back. Wow. In the world.

[Mindy's Cat]

We'll be right back Grown ups. This message is for you.

[Narrator]

Hey grown ups. There's still plenty of time for some summer fun. Even if you're just headed to the store or the backyard, you can squeeze in a few more adventures by listening to them on Audible. Audible has an incredible selection of over 1 million audiobooks, podcasts and Audible originals all in one convenient app. You can explore best sellers and new releases or discover something totally new to you. Audible has titles from every genre under the sun, so you're sure to find something that speaks to you. At Tinkercast, we're all about finding out what wows us in the world. And while we're out exploring, geocaching and learning, we're also listening to exciting titles from Audible. We love that Audible's portable library can accompany us wherever we go, even if it's just our own backyard. There's more to imagine when you listen. Sign up for a free 30 day Audible trial and your first audiobook is free. Visit audible.com wow. Hey grown ups. Back to school might look a little different if you're a homeschool family, so let IXL help you craft the perfect homeschool curriculum for your kids. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into homeschooling and it's especially helpful this time of year. It offers interactive practice across math, language arts, science and social studies for every grade from Pre K through 12th. IXL adapts to your child's learning level and gives them the right challenge at the right time. At Tinkercast, we love when technology can assist in learning, so we really like that. IXL not only offers exercises and activities that adjust to kids learning levels, but also provides robust data and support tools for parents to make informed decisions, make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and WOW in the world. Listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com wow visit ixl.com wow to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price, parents discover a fun and easy to learn game that bridges generations. The Pokemon Company International brings the excitement of the Pokemon trading card game to families everywhere. The Black Bolt and White Flare expansion features stunning artwork of beloved Pokemon from the Unova region, making collecting a visual delight. Whether you're rekindling childhood memories or introducing your kids to a new passion, the Pokemon Trading Card Game offers endless entertainment. With various art styles and a diverse range of Pokemon to collect, there's something for everyone. Ready to start your family's Pokemon Trading Card game journey? Visit tcg.pokemon.com to learn more about the engaging and exciting world of Pokemon.

[Dennis]

That's it.

[Mindy's Cat]

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

[Mindy]

Hello, my name is Zoe and I live in Bend, Oregon. My wow in the world is that moose can run to 35 mph. Say hi to Reggie. Thomas Fingerlin.

[Dennis]

What?

[Mindy]

Mindy and Guy Watt. My name is Cooper. I live in Huntsville, Alabama. My wow in the world is that some butterflies and moths can mimic leaves. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name is Heidi and I live in British Columbia, Canada. And my wow in the world is that the oceans produce the majority of the oxygen on earth. And say hi to Dennis. Howdy, Reggie. Grandma G Force.

[Mindy's Cat]

Oh, snap.

[Mindy]

Thomas Fingerling, Stackman, Beyonce and the Slake.

[Dennis]

Bye.

[Mindy]

Love your show. Hi, my name is Chase and I live in Massachusetts. And my wow in the world is that there's an animal. There's only one insect in Antarctica called the Antarctic niche. And I can't believe that it can live on Antarctica without dying and thriving when it thrives. Hi, I'm. I'm nine years old from Orlando, Florida. My wounds in the world that dolphins don't drink water. They get it from the food they eat. Say hi to static man, AKA Dennis.

[Dennis]

What? No, I'm not static man. We just look alike and sound alike.

[Mindy]

Grandma G. Sports.

[Mindy's Cat]

Aw, isn't that nice?

[Mindy]

And Thomas Sangerling and Reggie. I'm Hayden. I'm 10 years old and from Toronto, Canada. My wow is that a black hole is not a hole. It's a dense object. Say hi to Stadler.

[Dennis]

Hi, Chandler.

[Mindy]

Dennis. Grandma G Force.

[Mindy's Cat]

What'd you say?

[Mindy]

Thomas Fingerling.

[Dennis]

Heavens.

[Mindy]

Bucky the horse. Reggie and Dennis's mom.

[Dennis]

Mother, come quick. Coming, Dennis.

[Mindy]

Bye. Hi, my name is. I live in Santa Rosa, California. And my wow is that the first oranges were from Southeast Asia and they actually weren't orange. They were green like a line. And that's my wow. But also, what's brown and sticky, Reggie? Can you guess, Dennis? Uh, a stick.

[Dennis]

Oh, I don't get it. Oh. Ow.

[Mindy]

Bye.

[Guy Raz]

End of messages.

[Mindy's Cat]

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 on Apple Podcasts. Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Mindy's Cat]

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 Kalken with help from Me Guy Raz.

[Mindy's Cat]

Original sound design and music editing is done by our supervising producer Jed Anderson and Tyler Thole. 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's Cat]

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]

Steph Sosa, Henry Moskal, Anna Dannecker, Rebecca Caban, Kit Ballinger, Sana Ali Muhammad, Anna Zagorski and all of the other tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ.

[Mindy's Cat]

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 about UP Events, Shop our Wow Shop, find our best selling books and learn about all of our other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast Grown Ups.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy's Cat]

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 in a wow?

[Guy Raz]

Thanks again for listening and until next.

[Mindy's Cat]

Time, keep on wowing.

[Dennis]

Wow in the World was made by.

[Mindy's Cat]

Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.