It's All Bonobo to Me: How to Talk Like an Ape!

Summary

Wow in the World – "It's All Bonobo to Me: How to Talk Like an Ape!"

Date: April 27, 2026
Hosts: Mindy Thomas, Guy Raz, Reggie (“Reg”)

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Episode Overview

This episode takes listeners on a playful, science-filled adventure into the world of ape communication—specifically exploring whether bonobos (a close cousin of chimpanzees) have something approaching real language. Mindy Thomas introduces a new “language learning journey” based on the latest research, guiding Guy Raz (and the audience) to the rainforests of the Congo in search of true ape language and what scientists call “compositionality”—the ability to combine simple messages to make new ones.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Makes a Language?

• Animal Communication vs. Language:
  • Mindy and Guy set up the critical difference: while many animals use sounds to communicate (birds sing, whales call, frogs ribbit), language involves stringing words or sounds together to create new meanings—what scientists term “compositionality.”
  • [11:10] Mindy: “The difference between simple animal communication and language is the ability to string different words together to create new meaning.”
  • [12:12] Mindy: “And scientists actually have a word for this. It's called compositionality. And it's what separates normal animal communication from language.”

2. Mindy’s ‘Bonobo Language’ Quest

• New Language Learning App:
  • Mindy is studying “bonobo” via a fictional, pushy language-learning app with a penguin mascot named Uno. She introduces call phrases for things like “hello from far away,” “danger, incoming snake,” and “can I have some of those figs?” using comical shrieks and whoops.
  • [06:07] Mindy: “Bonobo.”
  • [06:15] Mindy demonstrates bonobo calls.

3. Real Research: Bonobo and Chimpanzee Language

• University of Zurich Study:
  • Mindy reveals researchers have identified that bonobos combine calls into new messages—evidence of compositionality.
  • Similar findings were established previously with chimpanzees, particularly research by Dr. Simon Townsend in Uganda.
• Townsend’s Study on Chimpanzees:
  • Chimpanzees combine calls for “hey, get over here” and “watch out, snake” to make something like “Hey, can you get over here and help me deal with this snake?”
  • [17:19] Guy Raz: “Sort of like how we would join ‘bad’ and ‘dancer’ together in our language to make ‘bad dancer.’”
  • [17:27] Mindy: “Exactly. Except these chimpanzees were combining calls for ‘hey, get over here’ and ‘watch out, snake’...”
  • Dr. Townsend's team found 15 such call pairings.
• Bonobo Language Discovery:
  • New research has identified about four significant call pairings in bonobo communication.
  • [20:36] Mindy: “Well, yeah, I mean, the researchers from Zurich were only able to identify about four call pairings that seemed significant.”

4. A Comical Congo Jungle Journey

• Travel by Giant Pigeon:
  • In classic Wow in the World style, Mindy and Guy travel to the Congo on “Reggie Airlines,” piloted by a giant pigeon, landing in the jungle to meet Mindy's bonobo friend.
  • Reggie’s “landing” involves crashing through Mindy’s living room wall.
  • [09:43] Guy Raz: “Mindy, did Reggie just smash through your living room wall?”
• Finding the Bonobo Buddy:
  • Mindy uses the “address” her bonobo friend texted (“the big green tree next to the large rock”) to locate him—hilarity ensues as the jungle is full of such landmarks.

5. Language App Shenanigans and Limited Vocabulary

• Pushy Mascot & Learning Limitations:
  • The Uno penguin repeatedly interrupts the adventure, demanding Mindy complete her lessons and threatening comical consequences (e.g., “or Uno will poopoo in your sock drawer”).
  • [18:32] Reg (as Uno): “Mindy, do your lesson or uno will poopoo in your sock drawer.”
• Practicing Bonobo:
  • Mindy finally gets to use her carefully rehearsed bonobo calls to “converse” with her friend—then sheepishly admits she only knows four phrases (because that’s all science has found so far).
  • [20:28] Mindy: “Well, that’s all the bonobo I know.”
  • [20:43] Guy Raz: “So you only know how to say four things in bonobo?”
  • [20:46] Mindy: “Yeah, but the researchers are hoping to add many more in the future.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [12:12] Mindy: “And scientists actually have a word for this. It's called compositionality. And it's what separates normal animal communication from language.”
• [17:27] Mindy: “[Chimpanzees] were combining calls for ‘hey, get over here’ and ‘watch out, snake’ to make something more along the lines of, ‘hey, can you get over here and help me deal with this snake?’”
• [18:32] Reg (as Uno): “Mindy, do your lesson or uno will poopoo in your sock drawer.”
• [20:28] Mindy: “Well, that’s all the bonobo I know.”
• [09:43] Guy Raz: “Mindy, did Reggie just smash through your living room wall?”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:00] Mindy introduces her new language-learning journey (bonobo language).
• [06:07] Mindy reveals she’s learning “Bonobo” and demonstrates the calls.
• [11:02] Discussion of difference between animal communication and language; compositionality explained.
• [12:32] Compositionality and its significance described.
• [16:08] Story of Dr. Townsend’s chimpanzee research.
• [17:27] Chimp “call pairings” explained.
• [18:19–18:32] Bonobo and chimp language research convergence.
• [19:17]–[20:36] Mindy attempts to communicate, admits limit of her bonobo vocabulary.

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Episode Tone and Style

• Humorous, imaginative, and energetic—classic “Wow in the World” blend of wacky adventure, silly sound effects, and accessible science explanations.
• Frequent callbacks to pop culture (language learning apps), running gags (“Reggie Airlines,” pushy app mascots), and zany situations (travel by pigeon).

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Summary

This episode takes listeners on a delightfully silly “cartoon for the ear” journey to discover if humans are really so different from our primate cousins when it comes to language. Through Mindy’s attempts to speak “Bonobo,” new science is explained simply and playfully: certain apes, it turns out, really do seem to combine “words” the way humans do, unlocking new insights into the origins of language itself. Kids (and grown-ups) will come away laughing—and maybe practicing their own bonobo shrieks!

Transcript

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, Wowzer, fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show, guess what? The brand new season of two what's in a People who Wow Edition begins this Friday.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Cue the confetti, Reg.

[Mindy Thomas]

In this Getting to Know youw game show, I'll be visited by some of the world's most fascinating people to get the wows and the what's of their lives. From cartoonist and graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier of the Smile series, to everyday extraordinary kids just like you. And that's not all. With this new season of two what's in a wow? There are now two ways to wow. What am I talking about? Well, first, you can listen to episodes right here in our wow. In the World podcast feed.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Or.

[Mindy Thomas]

And this is a big or. Yeah, you're right, Reg. That doesn't have the same ring to it. Okay, now where was I? Oh, yeah. As always, you can listen to new episodes in your favorite podcast player, or you can watch these episodes with your eyeballs on YouTube.

[Reg (Reggie)]

I know.

[Mindy Thomas]

I should comb my hair or something. We are so excited for you to listen and watch our new season of two once in a while, People who Wow Edition starting this Friday. So make sure you're subscribed to our podcast feed and our WowTube channel on YouTube so you don't miss out. That's two what's in a People who Wow Edition coming this Friday. But in the meantime, let's get back to the show. Hey, Grown Ups. Mindy here. And do I have a wow for you. What if I told you that the best kids math program is actually inspired by comic books and it's about monsters? It's called Beast Academy. And the little monsters, like Grog, do the kind of math that gives kids curious enough to stop and think and figure things out for themselves. For example, Krog asked his Beast Academy math club, if our school has more than 366 kids in it, is it guaranteed that two of them will have exactly the same birthday? He proved that the answer is yes. Through problem solving.

[Guy Raz]

Wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's Beast Academy. Where kids build problem solving skills through interesting problems and puzzles. It's from the folks at Art of Problem Solving, the same people who train math champions. Grown ups. Head to beastacademy.com and use code BEASTWOW for 10% off the online program. Oh, and tell Grog Mindy says hi.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Who's that walking through the woods?

[Reg (Reggie)]

Wyatt Yoshi.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Here to explore a world of curious creatures with you. Discovered a creature you haven't seen before. Why don't you get Yoshi to see what it tastes like. Hmm. Soapy. No wonder this creature blows giant bubbles so big they can carry you. You can even jump from one bubble to another and reach new areas. There are plenty more surprises to discover, too. Bowser Jr. What are you doing out here? You can jump into adventure with Yoshi and The Mysterious Book. May 21, only on Nintendo Switch 2. Game rated E for everyone.

[Mindy Thomas]

Proceeded 3, 2, 1.

[Reg (Reggie)]

The Buddies are an adventure of magnific. Prepare. I don't know what you've been told. We're in a golden age. So many discoveries that are jumping off the page.

[Mindy Thomas]

Houston,

[Listener Kids]

I think.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah, this one.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Congratulations, Mindy. You're on a five day language learning streak. Yes. How about another lesson with Uno?

[Mindy Thomas]

Why not? Ooh, that lesson's gonna have to wait for today. Someone's at the door.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Ah, no. Do your lessons or Uno will get sad. What? Coming.

[Guy Raz]

Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk.

[Mindy Thomas]

Opening the door.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Guy Razzie.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, Mindy.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Hey.

[Mindy Thomas]

What's going.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, not much. I was just wondering if you had any sugar I could borrow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, sorry, Guy Raz. I used up all my sugar last week when I was rebaking my gingerbread laundry room.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Uno is waiting.

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Bah.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Meeting. I'm lined with boner.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, do you want to get that? Mindy, it sounds like you're getting a bunch of messages on your phone.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Why aren't you doing your lessons, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

No, these aren't messages. This is a new language learning app I downloaded.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, you're learning another language?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah. I got this buddy who lives out in Congo in Africa, and I'm trying to learn his language so I can chat with him more easily.

[Guy Raz]

Wow, I love that idea, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, I know. Ah, but the only problem is this app is, like, super pushy.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Does Mindy not like Uno?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, wait, who's Uno?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, Uno's the language learning penguin.

[Guy Raz]

The what?

[Mindy Thomas]

He's like the mascot. Sort of harasses you into learning the language.

[Guy Raz]

That sounds horrible.

[Mindy Thomas]

Horribly effective. I can already say, like, five different phrases.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, and which language? Lingala?

[Mindy Thomas]

No.

[Guy Raz]

French?

[Mindy Thomas]

Nope.

[Guy Raz]

Swahili? Uh, wait, so your friend is from Congo, but he doesn't speak Lingala, French or Swahili? Nope. Well, then which language are you actually learning, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Bonobo.

[Guy Raz]

Bonobo? I don't think I've heard of that one before.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, it's a beautiful language.

[Guy Raz]

Really? Can I hear some of it?

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, well, you're putting me on the spot a little, but let's try this. This is how you say hello to someone who is far away from you in bonobo. Beautiful, isn't it?

[Guy Raz]

It's something.

[Mindy Thomas]

And this is how you say, danger. Incoming snake in bonobo.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Danger.

[Mindy Thomas]

And this is how you say, can I have some of those figs?

[Guy Raz]

Wait a minute. Mindy, is your friend who lives in Congo human?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes, of course he is not human, Guy Raz. What kind of human talks like that?

[Guy Raz]

Well then what in the.

[Reg (Reggie)]

He's an ape.

[Guy Raz]

An ape?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, an ape. Specifically, a bonobo ape.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, I thought you were learning an actual language, not just some ape shrieking sounds.

[Mindy Thomas]

It's not just a collection of shrieks, Guy Raz. It's a true blue bonafide classified verified certified language.

[Guy Raz]

It is? Yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

According to researchers at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, it is.

[Reg (Reggie)]

It's time for a lesson.

[Mindy Thomas]

And my language learning app. You know, I'm just gonna turn off the notifications, I think.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, you're saying real life scientists have discovered a new ape language?

[Mindy Thomas]

You know it, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, I'm confused.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, here. I think it's best if I show you. So what do you say we just head on over to Congo and. And see how far my bonobo language skills can get me?

[Guy Raz]

You want to travel to sub Saharan Africa now? I don't know, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

I mean, Guy Raz, don't you always say the best way to learn a new language is to dive in and just start speaking with the locals?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I guess that's true.

[Reg (Reggie)]

So come along.

[Mindy Thomas]

Maybe you'll pick up a little bonobo too, while you're at it. Well, anything for science.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, Anything for science, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Booyah. All right, let me just give Reggie a call here. Hey, Reg, what are you up to right now? Okay, well, that bird bat's gonna have to wait. Yeah, Guy Raz and I need a lift to Congo. Yeah, as in Africa? Uh huh. Okay, great.

[Reg (Reggie)]

See you soon.

[Mindy Thomas]

Reggie will be here to pick us up in a minute.

[Guy Raz]

So, Mindy, I don't understand. Don't almost all animals use some sort of sound to communicate with one another?

[Mindy Thomas]

I mean, yeah, birds use calls to attract mates. Whales use songs to navigate and find their way around. Even frogs use their ribbons to warn other frogs not to mess with them.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, so how come that language app of yours doesn't offer language learning courses in bird or whale or frog?

[Mindy Thomas]

Because there's a difference between plain old animal communication and language.

[Guy Raz]

You mean there's a difference between a bird song and the kind of shrieks that the bonobo makes.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Ooh, Reggie.

[Mindy Thomas]

That was quick.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, did Reggie just smash through your living room wall?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, yeah, how else was he gonna get inside? Have you seen his wingspan? Well, anywho, you ready to go, Reg? Great. All right. Come on, Guy Raz. Let's hop on Reggie. We got some bonobos to me here. I'll pull you up.

[Guy Raz]

All right.

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh, welcome to Reggie Airlines. The temperature outside is a balmy 76 degrees Fahrenheit. And this will be one non stop flight to the Congo basin taking anywhere from two minutes to 15 hours. And in case of emergency, remember to put your head between your legs and kiss your bottom goodbye.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Mindy. Okay, regular.

[Mindy Thomas]

I think we're ready.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, Mindy, shouldn't we take off from outside rather than from inside your living room?

[Mindy Thomas]

I mean, I don't see the point. We've already got a hole in the wall, I guess. Now hold on tight, cause here we go.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Ow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oops, sorry.

[Guy Raz]

So, Mindy, explain to me, what is the difference between animal communication and language?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, that's a good question, Guy Raz. So why don't I answer your question with another question?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, okay.

[Mindy Thomas]

Do you want chicken or fish for your in flight meal today, Mindy? Okay, fine. The difference between simple animal communication and language is the ability to string different words together to create new meaning.

[Guy Raz]

What do you mean?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, when an animal makes a sound, it typically means just one thing.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, right. Like an animal might have a warning call that means incoming leopard and then a completely different one that means incoming human.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exact oritos. But us humans, with our language, we're able to string words together in ways that combine their individual meanings into a whole new meaning.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Ha.

[Guy Raz]

Like if I said something like, I am a bad dancer. Well, that doesn't mean I'm saying I'm a bad person who also happens to dance instead. What I'm saying is I don't dance that well.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Exactly.

[Mindy Thomas]

Bad and dancer by themselves mean something individually, but when we put those words together, they mean something new. And scientists actually have a word for this. It's called compositionality. And it's what separates normal animal communication from language.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, so these scientists from the University of Zurich who have been studying these bonobos, they think that they've discovered them using compositionality. Like combining two different words to make something new.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, and it's not the first time scientists have discovered this in apes.

[Guy Raz]

Really? Yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

But I can't tell you about that right now.

[Guy Raz]

Why not?

[Reg (Reggie)]

Because we're here. Reggie, you can land.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now please prepare the cabin for landing. And you might want to hold on tight to something, Guy Raz. Looks like we're going to be landing somewhere in the dense rainforest.

[Guy Raz]

What does that mean?

[Mindy Thomas]

Just keep your mouth shut, Guy Raz. Keep the leaves out.

[Reg (Reggie)]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

And thank you for flying with us here at Reggie Airlines, the friendliest pigeon based airline in the world.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, my mouth is full of leaves.

[Mindy Thomas]

I told you you had to keep your mouth closed.

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thanks for the ride, Reg. I'll call you when we're ready to get picked up.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, is this rainforest we're standing in in the Congo?

[Mindy Thomas]

Bas sure is, Guy Raz. Right in the center of the whole African continent.

[Guy Raz]

Right, but where exactly in the Congo basin are we, huh?

[Mindy Thomas]

You know what, I'm not exactly sure.

[Guy Raz]

Well, if you don't know where we are, then how are we gonna find your bonobo friend, huh?

[Mindy Thomas]

Good question. Uh, oh, I know.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

I have his address.

[Guy Raz]

You have his address?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, he texted it to me a few months ago after talking on the phone. Let me just check our chat here. Okay, that's a photo of a fig. Nope, that's a photo of another bonobo. That's a photo of a stick. He loves sticks. Oh, here we go. His address is the big green tree next to the large rock.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, they're all big green trees.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, and there are a lot of large rocks around here too, huh?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, Guy Raz, guess we're gonna have to trust our guts on this one. And my gut is telling me it's this way.

[Guy Raz]

Are you sure, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes, of course. I'm not sure. Guy Raz.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Come on, follow me.

[Guy Raz]

So, Mindy, you said that this wasn't the first time that scientists have discovered an ape language.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah. Here, let me show you on my guy phone here. Um, opening the app.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Mindy, where have you been?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yikes.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Woo.

[Mindy Thomas]

Uno is really upset with me for not finishing that bonobo lesson earlier. Maybe just a quick lesson, Mindy. Wait, wait, wait. Okay, Other ape languages. Okay, so if you go out into the main menu here, you can see that the language courses are divided into human languages and ape languages. So if we go into the ape languages section here, we see that they offer courses in bonobo and chimpanzee. Ooh, exact oritos. Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

They offer a language learning course in chimpanzee.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, and it's based off of a scientific study by another scientist named Simon Townsend. And it's a really great story.

[Guy Raz]

Tell me more.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Okay,

[Mindy Thomas]

Once upon a time, Dr. Townsend and his team spent Years in the forests of Uganda, studying the chimpanzee in its natural habitat.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Dr. Townsend. Dr. Townsend.

[Dr. Townsend]

What is it, team?

[Reg (Reggie)]

Over there, sir. It's a chimpanzee.

[Dr. Townsend]

What? What are you waiting for? Get the tape recorder and microphone out immediately.

[Guy Raz]

Eh?

[Dr. Townsend]

Why? Why? To capture and catalog all the sounds the chimpanzees make. What do you think we're doing out here?

[Reg (Reggie)]

I thought we were camping and making s'.

[Dr. Townsend]

Mores. We're doing both.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Okay, let me get the microphone.

[Guy Raz]

Here we go.

[Reg (Reggie)]

And record.

[Mindy Thomas]

Over the course of the study, Dr. Townsend and his team recorded more than 330 hours of chimpanzee sounds as they went about their daily lives. Ooh.

[Dr. Townsend]

That was a new sound. Write that one down.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Yes, sir, Dr. Townsend, sir.

[Mindy Thomas]

After a while, Townsend noticed that some of these calls were joined together into pairs. Very interesting.

[Guy Raz]

Sort of like how we would join bad and dancer together in our language to make bad dancer.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exactly. Except these chimpanzees were combining calls for, hey, get over here and watch out, snake. To make something more along the lines of, hey, can you get over here and help me deal with this snake?

[Listener Kids]

Huh?

[Mindy Thomas]

And in the end, Dr. Townsend and his team of scientists were able to identify 15 individual call pairings.

[Dr. Townsend]

Whoa.

[Guy Raz]

So chimpanzees have their own language, too?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. Well, when Dr. Townsend's findings first came out in 2023, people thought he was bonkerballs. But now that these researchers from Zurich have found bonobos doing the same thing with their calls, seems a whole lot more likely that some ape species are actually developing languages.

[Guy Raz]

Because both the chimpanzees and the bonobos were using compositionality, where they used two different words to make a new word with a whole new meaning.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exact oritos.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Mindy, do your lesson or una will poopoo in your sock drawer.

[Guy Raz]

Ugh. Gross. Whoops.

[Mindy Thomas]

Sorry, Guy Raz. I really need to do this lesson for today.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Hey. Hey, Mindy. Uno Misty. Aw. Can you say hey, I'm over here.

[Guy Raz]

Oh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, I know this one.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, I really don't think we have time for this right now.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait, wait, wait. I know it. It's on the T of my tongue. It's Mindy.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Ah, that's it. It's. That is correct.

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz, did you hear that?

[Guy Raz]

I heard it, Mindy. It sounded like another bonobo responding to your call.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, okay, let me try it again. Uh,

[Guy Raz]

that's probably your bonobo friend calling back Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, this is so exciting. All right, follow me, Guy Raz. We've got a bonobo to meet. Run, run, run, run, run, run, run.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Come on, this way.

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

I'm right behind you.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Mindy, look.

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz. It's a big green tree.

[Guy Raz]

And there's a large rock.

[Mindy Thomas]

This must be my bonobo buddy's house. Guy Raz.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Mindy, look.

[Mindy Thomas]

Bonobo.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Hey buddy, it's me, your friend Mindy. Hi.

[Guy Raz]

So Mindy, you really think you're able to talk with this bonobo?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, I think so, Guy Raz. I mean, I have been putting in a whole lot of practice on that language learning app.

[Guy Raz]

Well, why don't you give it a try?

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay. Okay, I'm done.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, what?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, that's all the bonobo I know.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, that's all the bonobo you know. Uh huh. We came all this way for that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, yeah, I mean, the researchers from Zurich were only able to identify about four call pairings that seemed significant.

[Guy Raz]

So you only know how to say four things in bonobo?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, but the researchers are hoping to add many more in the future.

[Guy Raz]

But for now.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, for now I've exhausted all my bonobo.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Uh, Mindy, time for another lesson with Uno.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, another lesson. Kairoz, you should try it.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, fine, I'll go.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Ross. Uno, let's.

[Guy Raz]

Oh boy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, now in this game you have to match the bonobo's shriek with the picture that their shrieking is about.

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh.

[Mindy Thomas]

So what's tricky about this one is

[Reg (Reggie)]

wow in the world. We'll be right back. Grown ups, this message is for you.

[Judd Anderson]

Yellow Grown ups. Judd Anderson here from Tinkercast. I got a question for you. How does your household manage to keep track of everything? I mean, really, I want to know because after a day of producing another episode of wow in the world and keeping track of all. All the crazy characters, the voices, I then have to keep track of all the crazy characters at home. That is why I can't wait to get a Skylight calendar. It's an all in one digital smart calendar that syncs with Google calendar, Outlook and more. And it gives you and your kids the perfect customized view of everyone's events, chores, and to dos so that nothing slips through the cracks. Families are better when they're working together. Right now skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch calendars by going to myskylight.com, go to myskylight.com wowintheworld for $30 off your 15 inch calendar. That's my S K-Y-L-I G H T.com wowintheworld

[Reg (Reggie)]

that's it. Back to the show. Wow in the.

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Listener Kids]

Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name is ren and I'm 8 years old. I live in Chicago, Illinois, and my wow in the world is that to successfully cook an egg on the sidewalk, the sidewalk needs to be 158 degrees Fahrenheit or 70 degrees Celsius. Isn't that funker Bomb? Say hi to Grandma G Force. Yeah, Hot dog the sleigh cast. And tell Guy Roz that me and my mom listened to his show on npr. Bye. Hi, my name is Annalise and I live in Los Angeles, California, and I am 8 years old. And my wow in the world is that a tree could grow more than one type of fruit. Say hi to Thomas Fingerling, Grandma, of course.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, goody.

[Listener Kids]

That is my static man. Hi, I'm Cody and hi, I'm Tommy and we are from Charlotte, North Carolina, usa. In America, a chocolate bar named Chicken Dairy used to be sold.

[Listener Kid]

Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My Name's Ava. I'm 13 years old and I'm from Bowie, Maryland. My wow in the world is that dolphins can hold their breath underwater for eight to 10 minutes. Isn't that crazy? Say hi to Grandma G Force and veggie for me.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, fine.

[Listener Kid]

Bye.

[Listener Kids]

Hi, my name is William and I'm from Peru. And warm. Well, in my world is that when I was at Peru for the summer, I went to the Amazon rainforest and know that capybaras are really good at surviving in the Amazon rainforest. And they're nocturnal. Bye. Hi, Mindy and Guy Boss. My name is Amutila and I live in Naperville, Illinois. My wow is that when a dolphin sleeps, half of its brain stays awake. Isn't that bonkerballs? Say hello to Grandma D Force.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's nasty.

[Listener Kids]

Dennis.

[Reg (Reggie)]

Yay.

[Listener Kids]

And Thomas Finger. Fingerling for me.

[Dr. Townsend]

Oh, where you look at all that?

[Listener Kids]

Thank you. Bye. Hi, my name is Benny and I am from Schoharie, New York. My wow and my world is that cat can hear ultrasonic noises. Isn't that crazy? Goodbye.

[Mindy Thomas]

End of messages.

[Guy Raz]

Before we get into the credits for today's episode, we want to give some special shout outs and say a huge thank you to some of the wowzers whose families are powering the WOW this year.

[Mindy Thomas]

We broke the names up into two batches and here is our first batch of names. We are so grateful for your support.

[Guy Raz]

Owen and Aubrey from California, Saman and Ryan from California Oralene and Esther from New York Ella from Singapore Lacey elementary

[Mindy Thomas]

from North Carolina Teddy, Silas and Emmett from Arizona Jason from Texas Eli and Nolan from Texas Luke and Noel from

[Guy Raz]

North Carolina Elan from California Emmett and Adler from Kansas John, Katie, Ethan and Amelia from Pennsylvania Nejla and Yakub from Kuwait Evelyn, Ramona and Tabitha from Nevada

[Mindy Thomas]

John R from Wisconsin Emory and Ila from California Caroline from Massachusetts Ian and Declan from Washington Elena and Lucia from

[Guy Raz]

Maryland Parker from Texas Albert and Lulu from Brighton, England Hayden, Hazel and Allie from Pennsylvania Magnus from the District of Columbia William and Allie from Virginia Brendan,

[Mindy Thomas]

Jessica, David and Michael from Ohio Bailey, Macy and Hank from South Carolina James from Washington Peter, Teddy and Leo from Minnesota Paul from Rhode Island Nuri from

[Guy Raz]

Washington Violet and Will from California Audrey and Ethan from Virginia Alex H from Tennessee, James and Madison from Utah and

[Mindy Thomas]

Happy birthday to Otis from Minnesota from

[Guy Raz]

the bottom of our hearts and the

[Mindy Thomas]

top of our brains, thank you. 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. 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 on

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Guy Raz]

world is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalken with contributions from Me, Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Guy Raz]

Jessica 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]

our team including Kit Ballinger, Rebecca Caban Dr. Natasha Crandall, Kenny Curtis, Kristin Yang, Thuy Mack, Erica Medina, Henry Moskal, Jody Nussbaum, Ali Paxima, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Tyler Thol, Anna Zagorski, and all of the other tinkerers at Tinkercast hq Grown Ups.

[Mindy Thomas]

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.

[Reg (Reggie)]

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