Love on Lizard Island

Summary

Wow in the World – "Love on Lizard Island"

Date: February 2, 2026
Hosts: Mindy Thomas, Guy Raz
Special Guests/Characters: Dennis, Grandma G Force, Thomas Fingerling

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Episode Overview

This episode takes listeners on a hilarious and heartwarming journey to "Lizard Island," exploring the surprisingly complex topic of animal love—specifically the romantic lives of shingleback lizards. Structured as a reality TV show watch party, Mindy, Guy Raz, Dennis, and Grandma G Force blend zany antics with science, addressing what researchers know (and don’t know) about lizard love, animal bonding, and why some creatures mate for life. Underneath the laughs, the episode raises important questions about animal emotion, conservation, and the biases in which animals get more scientific attention than others.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Viewing Party & The Lizard Island Craze (04:34-09:10)

• The group gathers for Dennis's much-anticipated "Lizard Island" season finale viewing party.
• Humorous squabbles ensue—Dennis obsesses over his "family heirloom tomatoes," Mindy dazzles in a full lizard costume, and snack etiquette creates chaos.
  • Memorable Quote:
    • Mindy (08:03): “Finally, someone who appreciates good television. Come on in.”
    • Dennis (06:22): “Heirloom tomatoes, Guy. Open pollinated, non-hybrid heirloom tomatoes. They’re sweet and delicious and not very pest resistant, which is why they… They’re rotting and covered in flies.”

2. Reality TV vs. Documentaries: Can We Learn from Lizards? (09:10-10:59)

• Mindy makes the case for reality TV as educational, especially since "Lizard Island" is based on real scientific research into lizard relationships.
• Guy Raz is skeptical, but Mindy brightly insists, “The whole show is actually based on scientific research. It’s having real world impacts.” (10:06)
• The importance of understanding lizard love: With 1 in 5 lizard species threatened with extinction, studying their social and mating behaviors could help protect them.
  • Notable Quote:
    • Mindy (10:31): “If we don’t understand how and why lizards fall in love and make more lizards, well, these threatened species may not be around for very much longer.”

3. Do Animals Really Mate for Life? (12:32-13:14)

• The show reveals that Sunny and Ned, the shingleback lizard stars, have been partners for 27 years.
• The group ponders: Is lifelong animal pairing common? Mindy explains it's not, especially in mammals—only about 5% of mammal species mate for life.
  • Mindy (13:07): “Turns out that only 5% of mammals stick with their partners for life. At least that's what scientists have estimated.”

4. The Accidental Discovery of Lizard Love (14:01-15:31)

• The origins of the scientific discovery: Biologist Michael Bull was studying ticks on shingleback lizards, not lizard love. Over many years, he observed the same pairs reuniting each spring—uncovering evidence of lifelong partnerships.
  • Grandma G Force (14:50): “After several years and thousands of lizard measurements, Dr. Bull noticed... the same male and female shingleback lizards would somehow find each other and pair up.”
  • Mindy (14:01): “The only reason scientists even know about their relationship is because they accidentally stumbled on it while researching something completely different.”

5. Science Biases: Cute vs. Scaly (16:46-17:18)

• Mindy sheds light on "charismatic animal bias" in research: Scientists are generally more likely to study animals that are cute and cuddly rather than the scaly and slimy.
  • Mindy (17:03): "In a lot of animal research, we’re more likely to research animals that are cute and cuddly than scaly and slimy."
• This means we know much less about the social and emotional lives of reptiles.

6. Do Reptiles Have Emotions? (17:31-20:12)

• A flashback dramatizes the true story of lizard mourning: After a lizard named Dominique is run over, her partner Trevor stands by her for days—evidence some scientists cite as possible proof of mourning.
  • Guy Raz (18:47): “Wait a minute, Mindy. This looks an awful lot like mourning. You know, feeling sad when someone close to you dies.”
  • Mindy (18:55): "Scientists point to instances like this to suggest that lizards might just have real-life emotions."
• The group is surprised that complex emotions might be present in reptiles—not just mammals or birds.

7. Lizard Romance: Fact or TV Fiction? (19:21-20:17)

• Scenes show Ned displaying chivalry by catching and gifting food to Sunny—a real-life observation by researchers.
  • Mindy (19:57): “Yes, these are actual observations that real researchers have made about lizards in the wild.”
• Guy reflects: “So it turns out that reptiles might have more human-like social lives than we first thought.” (20:06)

8. Conservation Connection: Why Lizard Love Research Matters (20:33-20:55)

• Understanding reptile social structures and bonding behaviors helps scientists develop better conservation strategies.
  • Mindy (20:39): “The more we can understand about how reptiles interact with each other and fall in love...the better job we can do at protecting and conserving them.”

9. Finale Fun: The 28th Year Decision (20:57-21:38)

• As the party awaits the season's big reveal—with appropriate melodrama—Sunny chooses Ned for a record-breaking 28th year.
  • Grandma G Force (21:16): “Sunny says yes.”
  • Dennis (21:17): “Yes! 28 times yes. I knew she'd pick him. They’re just perfect for each other.”
• Mindy teases Guy Raz that he’s now a true “lizard head” (the term for show's biggest fans).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Turns out that only 5% of mammals stick with their partners for life.”
  — Mindy Thomas (13:07)

• “In a lot of animal research, we’re more likely to research animals that are cute and cuddly than scaly and slimy.”
  — Mindy Thomas (17:03)

• “Scientists point to instances like this to suggest that lizards might just have real life emotions.”
  — Mindy Thomas (18:55)

• “So it turns out that reptiles might have more human-like social lives than we first thought.”
  — Guy Raz (20:06)

• “The more we can understand about how reptiles interact with each other and fall in love... the better job we can do at protecting and conserving them.”
  — Mindy Thomas (20:39)

• “Sunny says yes.”
  — Grandma G Force (21:16)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:34 – The Lizard Island viewing party begins; Dennis’s quirky home tour
• 09:10 – Mindy advocates for reality TV as science communication
• 10:31 – Importance of understanding lizard love for conservation
• 13:07 – Only 5% of mammals mate for life
• 14:01 – Origin of shingleback lizard research
• 17:03 – The science bias toward “cute” animals
• 18:55 – Lizard mourning: real emotion?
• 19:57 – Real research behind lizard romance
• 20:39 – How lizard social science can help conservation
• 21:16 – The season finale decision: “Sunny says yes”

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Summary

"Love on Lizard Island" balances silly, character-driven fun with real scientific insight, making complex animal behavior both entertaining and accessible. The episode explores shingleback lizards’ unique lifelong bonds, challenging assumptions about which animals can feel love or mourn. Through flashbacks and playful debate, the hosts show how sometimes scientific discoveries happen by accident, how bias in study animals can leave gaps in our knowledge, and why every creature’s story is worth telling. In the end, listeners are left with a renewed sense of wonder, a few laughs, and a deeper curiosity about the natural world—and maybe, just maybe, a fresh appreciation for reality TV and reptiles.

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For more wow-worthy science and fun, find the World Organization of Wowzers at tinkercast.com and check out weekly episodes of Wow in the World!

Transcript

[Mindy Thomas]

Grown ups, this message is for you.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, grown ups, it's Guy Raz and Mindy here.

[Mindy Thomas]

And before we jump into today's adventure, we want to share something important with you. Something we've never asked in our entire nine years of making this show.

[Guy Raz]

That's right. For nine years, WOW in the world has been free for every family, every teacher, every curious kid, and every grownup who listens.

[Mindy Thomas]

And we've been able to keep it going through partnerships, sponsors, distributors, and honestly, a whole lot of scrappy ingenuity.

[Guy Raz]

But the truth is, the media industry has changed a lot since we launched this show in 2017, and it's becoming a lot harder to financially sustain a show like WOW in the world without additional help.

[Mindy Thomas]

And that's because every episode, you hear every silly character voice, every story twist, every science deep dive. It's all handcrafted by an entire team of real humans.

[Guy Raz]

Writers, producers, editors, composers, researchers, science experts.

[Mindy Thomas]

And one lady who keeps exploding beakers in the studio.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy.

[Dennis]

What? Science is messy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Every single episode starts with us searching far and wide for real scientific discoveries, sometimes buried in complex scientific journals.

[Mindy Thomas]

And then we translate that science into an adventure story that kids and grownups can enjoy together.

[Guy Raz]

After that, we send it to science experts for fact checking so you know what you're hearing is accurate, trustworthy, and full of integrity.

[Mindy Thomas]

And then we record all the voices from Guy to me to Grandma, GeForce to Dennis.

[Dennis]

You're welcome, everyone.

[Mindy Thomas]

Dennis.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, sorry. And finally, our team adds original music, sound design, editing, mixing and mastering until the world of the story comes to life inside your ears.

[Mindy Thomas]

No AI, no shortcuts, just real humans making something to spark your curiosity and imagination.

[Guy Raz]

And we do it because we believe science can inspire kids and grownups to do great things.

[Mindy Thomas]

Especially now, when the world is full of confusing information. Real fact based science is more important than ever.

[Guy Raz]

And here's the hard part we want to share with you. To keep doing this, to keep making the show at the level of quality you expect and should get, we need your help.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's right. For the first time ever, we are asking our listeners you to help support this show.

[Guy Raz]

If your family values what we create.

[Mindy Thomas]

If you've laughed or learned something new.

[Guy Raz]

If the show has inspired curiosity in.

[Mindy Thomas]

Your home or just saved your sanity on a long road trip, we're asking.

[Guy Raz]

You to consider making a contribution.

[Mindy Thomas]

And any amount truly helps. Big, small, medium.

[Guy Raz]

Ish.

[Mindy Thomas]

Extra large, Astronomically huge. Mindy, I'm being inclusive.

[Guy Raz]

Anyway, your support goes directly to paying our team, the people who research, write, produce, fact check, compose and build this world every week.

[Mindy Thomas]

It keeps the show sustainable so we can keep making it.

[Guy Raz]

And it helps us keep wow in the world free for everyone who needs it.

[Mindy Thomas]

So, grown ups, if you have the means to help support our show, you.

[Guy Raz]

Can visit tinkercast.comsupport where you can pick from a handful of fun things we've curated as thank you gifts for your support.

[Mindy Thomas]

And there's some good things on there.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

So Again, just visit tinkercast.com support to help us keep the show going. We'll also drop the links in the podcast show notes.

[Guy Raz]

So from the bottom of our hearts.

[Mindy Thomas]

And the tops of our brains, thank you.

[Guy Raz]

Now onto the show.

[Grandma G Force]

Proceeded. 3, 2, 1. Decision.

[Guy Raz]

Get ready for an adventure of magnificent proportion.

[Dennis]

I don't know what you've been told.

[Grandma G Force]

We're in a golden age.

[Guy Raz]

So many discoveries that are jumping off the page.

[Dennis]

All right, I've got myself snacks ready. Let's get some music pumping here. Too much pumping. Too much pumping. Ah, that's better. And let's see. Maybe I'll light a scented candle or two. What do we got here? Baked beans and bacon?

[Mindy Thomas]

No.

[Dennis]

What's this one? The wind? Ew, that makes no sense. How about mother's purse?

[Grandma G Force]

Perfect.

[Dennis]

Oh, someone's here. Oh, boy. This is gonna be the best Lizard island season finale viewing party I've ever thrown. Guy Raz, welcome.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, Dennis. I'm here for the viewing party.

[Mindy Thomas]

Great.

[Dennis]

Come on in. Thank you for coming.

[Guy Raz]

Sorry, am I early?

[Dennis]

No, I mean, kind of. I put an early arrival time on your invitation because we're best friends.

[Guy Raz]

Right. Well, I brought some snacks.

[Dennis]

Oh, snacks. Whatcha bring, Whatcha bring? Whatcha bring?

[Guy Raz]

Whatcha bring?

[Dennis]

Oh, vegetables.

[Guy Raz]

It's actually crudite. It's French.

[Dennis]

Oh, like French fries?

[Guy Raz]

No, rats.

[Dennis]

Well, hand it here and I'll just. There we go.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, did you just throw my snacks in the trash?

[Dennis]

What? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Yes, yes, I did. Anyway, let me give you the tour of my home, Guy Raz. Over there we have the living room. That's where we'll be watching the Lizard island season finale. Over there is mother's room. We're not allowed in there. And where we're standing now is the kitchen where I cook and keep my collection of family heirloom tomatoes.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Dennis]

Heirloom tomatoes, Guy. Open pollinated non hybrid heirloom tomatoes. They're sweet and delicious and not very pest resistant, which is why they. They're rotting and covered in flies. And these heirloom Tomatoes are family heirloom tomatoes passed down from my great, great, great uncle Dennis, who.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh.

[Dennis]

Hold that thought. Coming.

[Grandma G Force]

Hello there, young man. Is your mommy home?

[Dennis]

Tommy? No, this is my viewing party, not mother's.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, okay.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, sorry we're late. The traffic was terrible.

[Dennis]

Yeah, Grandma GeForce, you live like three houses over. There's no traffic.

[Grandma G Force]

We're talking about Internet tr. The wifi we steal from you is terrible.

[Dennis]

Oh, well, welcome to my home. Please, make yourself comfortable.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, well, well, well. Would you get a load of this place, Fingerling?

[Grandma G Force]

Yeah, this place is real nice. Oh, and look, free snacks.

[Guy Raz]

No.

[Dennis]

Stop eating my family heirloom tomatoes. You're gonna be haunted by my great, great, great uncle Dennis.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, whoops.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, let me try one. Give her here, boy.

[Dennis]

No. If you want vegetables, there's crudite in the trash.

[Grandma G Force]

Tomatoes aren't vegetables. They're fruits.

[Dennis]

Not according to the United States government, Tommy.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, boy.

[Dennis]

Okay, don't eat any more of my tomatoes.

[Mindy Thomas]

Don't tell me what to do.

[Dennis]

Mindy, you're dressed like a lizard. Cool.

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh, yeah, I wasn't going to not dress up for the Lizard island season finale.

[Dennis]

Finally, someone who appreciates good television. Come on in.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thank you.

[Dennis]

Oh, careful.

[Mindy Thomas]

Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle. The gentle material.

[Dennis]

Hey, I said quit eating those.

[Mindy Thomas]

We're not.

[Dennis]

Yes, you are.

[Mindy Thomas]

Dennis, where's the TV remote?

[Dennis]

Oh, it's under the blue coffee table in the basket of mother's knitting needles.

[Guy Raz]

Thanks.

[Dennis]

Got it.

[Grandma G Force]

Hello. Hey, this one tastes like stale popcorn.

[Dennis]

Faker legs. Stop that. These are family heirlooms and they are not for eating.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, come on. Fruit.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, Mindy, nice costume.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, thanks, guy. Raz, I made it myself.

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh. And why exactly are you dressed up like a giant lizard?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, because we're about to watch the season finale of Lizard Island.

[Guy Raz]

Lizard island, huh? What is that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, Raz, it's only the most watched reality show on TV about lizards falling in love with each other. Does this mean you haven't been watching it?

[Guy Raz]

Not really, Mindy. I've been watching this documentary series on the German expressionist movement of the 1930s. It's actually super interesting.

[Dennis]

No, it's not.

[Grandma G Force]

Previously on Lizard Island.

[Dennis]

Hurry, everyone. It's starting. It's starting. What's dining Lizard Island?

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Dennis]

Everyone just sit down. I'm gonna go get some popcorn.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, mine with extra butter, please.

[Grandma G Force]

And tomatoes.

[Dennis]

Tommy, no.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, Mindy, my show may come across as boring to some people, but it's very informative. I've learned A lot from that show.

[Mindy Thomas]

And I've learned a lot from my show too.

[Guy Raz]

From Lizard Island?

[Dennis]

Uh huh.

[Guy Raz]

But it's a reality show about lizards, Mindy. What could you possibly learn from that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, well, first of all, Guy Raz, reality TV is just as valid of an art form as any documentary series that you might be watching.

[Guy Raz]

Well, I.

[Mindy Thomas]

And I will have you know that the whole show is actually based on scientific research. It's having real world impacts.

[Guy Raz]

Really? How?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, this whole show is about lizards falling in love, right?

[Guy Raz]

I guess. I mean, I've never seen the show before.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, well, it is. It's about lizards falling in love.

[Guy Raz]

Well, how is watching a show about lizards falling in love having a real world impact?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, I'm so glad you asked, because one in five lizard species are currently threatened by extinction. And if we don't understand how and why lizards fall in love and make more lizards, well, these threatened species may not be around for very much longer.

[Guy Raz]

I don't know, Mindy. I'm not even sure lizards have the ability to fall in love.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, that's because you haven't seen the show, Guy Raz. If you'd seen Sunny and Ned, you would get it.

[Guy Raz]

Sunny and Ned?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah. They're the two main lizards on the show. They live in Melbourne, Australia, and they're about to find out if Sunny is going to pick Ned to be her partner for the 28th season in a row.

[Dennis]

28Th season? Okay, I'm back. Did I miss anything?

[Grandma G Force]

And tonight, it all comes. It all comes down to this. Will our two lizard lovers leave the island together? Will true love conquer all? Will Sunny pick Ned Scales and all?

[Dennis]

This is so exciting. Mind if I just squeeze in here? Just give me a little space.

[Mindy Thomas]

Dennis, there's a perfectly good armchair over there. Why don't you go sit on that?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. Between Mindy's lizard costume and Go Grandma G Force laying on it horizontally, I don't think there's enough room for all of us on this couch.

[Dennis]

Ah, but I want to talk about the show with you, the two biggest Lizard island fans at this party.

[Guy Raz]

Two biggest fans? Dennis, I hadn't even heard about this show until about 10 minutes ago.

[Dennis]

Okay, fine. Tommy, you want to talk about the show?

[Grandma G Force]

No, I want to chitchat.

[Dennis]

Oh, okay.

[Grandma G Force]

Mr. Rousey, I really love what you've done with your house here.

[Dennis]

Tommy, this is my house.

[Mindy Thomas]

I liked it better when it was made out of gingerbread.

[Dennis]

You two are a huge distraction. Oh, here we go. Everyone shush.

[Grandma G Force]

In Melbourne, Australia, our lizard lovers Join for their final date.

[Guy Raz]

So if this is the end of the 27th season. Mindy, are you telling me that these lizards have been together for 27 years?

[Dennis]

Yes.

[Mindy Thomas]

Isn't it the cutest thing ever?

[Guy Raz]

Well, that. That's one way of putting it.

[Dennis]

Well, how else would you put it?

[Guy Raz]

Another word I'd use is unusual.

[Mindy Thomas]

Unusual? What do you mean?

[Guy Raz]

Well, don't most animals in the animal kingdom have multiple partners through their life?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, particularly with mammals.

[Guy Raz]

Really?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, they tried Mammal Island a few years ago and it did not work out.

[Dennis]

Yeah, it was a big thumbs down from Dennis.

[Mindy Thomas]

Turns out that only 5% of mammals stick with their partners for life. At least that's what scientists have estimated.

[Guy Raz]

Which I guess wouldn't really work with the show's one true love for life.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exactly. See, now you're getting it.

[Dennis]

Yeah, Guy Raz, now you're getting it. You're gonna be a real lizard head in no time.

[Guy Raz]

Lizard head?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah, that's what the fans of the show are called. There's a lot of us.

[Guy Raz]

Well, after 27 seasons, that's not surprising.

[Mindy Thomas]

I know.

[Guy Raz]

So, Mindy, if this show has been around for 27 seasons, does that mean that mating for life is a lot more common amongst reptiles and lizards?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, that's the problem, Guy Raz. See, there hasn't been a lot of research done on lizard love.

[Guy Raz]

Huh?

[Mindy Thomas]

In fact, the only reason they even know about the mating habits of shingleback lizards.

[Dennis]

That's what Sunny and Ned are. They're shingleback lizards?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. The only reason scientists even know about their relationship is because they accidentally stumbled on it while researching something completely different.

[Guy Raz]

Really? How did that happen?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, if I know this show, which I do, they're probably about to explain all of it in a flashback scene right about now.

[Grandma G Force]

It all started for our two little love lizards back in 1982. Hair was teased, shoulders were padded, and one reptilian biologist by the name of Michael Bull was looking. Looking for ticks.

[Guy Raz]

Ticks? As in those tiny parasites that get into your skin and suck your blood?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, those ticks.

[Guy Raz]

Why would anyone be looking for them?

[Dennis]

Guys, they're getting to that part.

[Grandma G Force]

You see, at first, Dr. Bull was interested in studying the different species of ticks that lived on shingleback lizards. To study these ticks, he would capture shingleback lizards, mark them, take, take various measurements, then release them. Huh. Sounds boring.

[Dennis]

Tommy. Shh.

[Grandma G Force]

But after several years and thousands of lizard measurements, Dr. Bull noticed something interesting. Oh, I'm listening. He noticed that each year in the springtime the same male and female shingleback lizards would somehow find each other and pair up.

[Guy Raz]

Wow.

[Grandma G Force]

This happened year after year with lizard pair after lizard pair, including our very own Sunny and Ned.

[Dennis]

I love this show.

[Grandma G Force]

For 27 seasons now, we've watched Sunny and Ned pair up every single spring. But the question remains. Will their love continue, or will this year be the end of their relationship? Find out after these messages. Tired of eating?

[Dennis]

Okay, I'm gonna go get more snacks. Does anybody want anything?

[Grandma G Force]

I'll take a glass of milk.

[Dennis]

Gross, but okay.

[Mindy Thomas]

And I'll take another one of them heirloom tomatoes.

[Dennis]

No, Grandma G Force. No more eating my family heirlooms.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well.

[Guy Raz]

Huh.

[Dennis]

Mindy?

[Grandma G Force]

Guy?

[Dennis]

Anything?

[Guy Raz]

Uh, no, thanks, Dennis. I'm good. Me, too.

[Dennis]

Okay, be right back.

[Guy Raz]

So, Mindy, in that flashback, it looked like those shingleback lizards keep the same partners for long periods of time.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, Guy Raz, it sounds like you might be getting into lizard island now.

[Guy Raz]

Well, I'm just interested in its scientific applications.

[Mindy Thomas]

Sure you are. Your secret's safe with me.

[Guy Raz]

It's true.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, anywho, as for the love lives of lizards, there hasn't been a whole lot of research into it because of something called bias.

[Grandma G Force]

Huh.

[Guy Raz]

You mean when someone favors one thing over another?

[Mindy Thomas]

Exactly. In a lot of animal research, we're more likely to research animals that are cute and cuddly than scaly and slimy.

[Guy Raz]

So you're saying that there's a lot more research done into animals like bears and cats than snakes and lizards?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, which is why we don't know much about how lizards feel or love or.

[Dennis]

Ah.

[Grandma G Force]

Welcome back to the season finale of Lizard Eye.

[Dennis]

Here's your milk, Tommy.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, I don't want it anymore.

[Guy Raz]

Ah. So wait a minute, Mindy. You really think that these lizards are able to feel emotions like love?

[Mindy Thomas]

I mean, maybe. Like any good citizen scientists. I'm just going off my observations, Guy Raz. Okay, like this one moment I observed in season five, it. Oh, look. Looks like they're doing another flashback.

[Grandma G Force]

And who could could forget the tragic twist of fate from season five when past contestants Trevor and Dominique were crossing the road?

[Dennis]

Oh, I can't watch.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, man, this was brutal.

[Grandma G Force]

And Dominique was tragically run over by a truck. What in the World Wide Web?

[Dennis]

It's so sad.

[Guy Raz]

Wait a minute, Mindy. Did this really happen, or is this just one of those reality TV show set pieces to pull on my heartstrings?

[Mindy Thomas]

No, this really happened, Guy Raz, this is a real life scientific observation.

[Guy Raz]

And what does this have to do with lizard love.

[Mindy Thomas]

Again, Just keep watching.

[Grandma G Force]

In a heroic act of everlasting love, Trevor stood by Dominique for days, hoping that she might revive reverence.

[Guy Raz]

Wait a minute, Mindy. This looks an awful lot like mourning. You know, feeling sad when someone close to you dies.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's what I'm trying to say, Guy Raz. Scientists point to instances like this to suggest that lizards might just have real life emotions. Huh.

[Guy Raz]

I knew that some apes and even some birds mourned when someone from their social group passed away, but I never thought it was a thing with reptiles.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exactly. Lizards are a lot more emotional, emotionally complicated than we think.

[Guy Raz]

Really?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah. Check it out. They're doing another flashback.

[Grandma G Force]

The courtship of Sunny and Ned has been one for the ages. Who could forget this moment of chivalry when Ned not only caught dinner, but then proceeded to give the meal to Sonny in an act of true romance?

[Dennis]

Aww, that's cute.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, wait a minute. Is this real, though? Or is this one of those stunts that the producer set up?

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz, it's a reality TV show. Of course it's real.

[Guy Raz]

I mean.

[Mindy Thomas]

I know what you mean, Guy Raz. And yes, these are actual observations that real researchers have made about lizards in the wild.

[Guy Raz]

Wow. So it turns out that reptiles might have more human, like, social lives than we first thought.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, in those intricate social lives make for great tv.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, these are the most romantic lizards I have ever seen.

[Dennis]

It's so touching.

[Guy Raz]

You know what, Mindy? I think I'm starting to get into this show.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah, that's the spirit, Guy Raz. I knew we'd turn you into a lizard head.

[Guy Raz]

I wouldn't go that far. But I am interested in seeing how this show could have an impact on the real world.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, the thinking is that the more we can understand about how reptiles interact with each other and fall in love, right? The more we know about all that, the better job we can do at protecting and conserving them.

[Guy Raz]

I guess that makes sense. Oh. Oh.

[Dennis]

The final ceremony is happening.

[Grandma G Force]

Everyone be quiet. And so it's all come down to this. The burning question of the season. Sunny, will you pick Ned to be your partner for the 28th year in a row? Sunny says yes.

[Dennis]

Yes.

[Grandma G Force]

28 times. Yes. I knew she'd pick him. They're just perfect for each other.

[Guy Raz]

Well, I guess this show isn't so bad after all. Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

I knew you'd like it, Guy Razzie. And good news for you, because you've got. We got so many seasons that we can catch up on.

[Dennis]

Oh no.

[Mindy Thomas]

There's season one where Ned caught that fly. Or season four where they introduced a snake into the house. Or season six where Sunny told Ned the story. Wow in the World we'll be right back Grown ups. This message is for you. Hello, it's me, Karlie Q. From who When Wow Mystery Edition and I have big news to share. I've learned a lot on my time traveling adventures over the years, like what to pack when you're traveling to Victorian England or the must try foods when you're visiting the Viking age. Spoiler alert. The food is pretty good, but they don't have pie yet, which is a bummer. I can't wait to share my time travel tips and tricks with you all. You can listen to my new bite sized episodes in the who When Wow. Podcast feed starting next week. Looks like lunch break is over. Now let's get on with the show. Hey grown ups.

[Guy Raz]

It's Mindy and Guy Raz and we have an important message to share with you. For nine years, wow in the World has been free for every family, teacher, curious kid and grown up who listens.

[Mindy Thomas]

And we've kept it going through partnerships, sponsors, distributors, and honestly, a whole lot of scrappy ingenuity.

[Guy Raz]

But the truth is, the media industry has changed a lot since we launched this show in 2017, and it's becoming a lot harder to financially sustain a show like wow. In the World without additional help.

[Mindy Thomas]

And that's because every episode you hear is handcrafted by an entire team of real humans.

[Guy Raz]

So for the first time ever, we are asking our listeners you to support the show. If your family values what we create.

[Mindy Thomas]

If you've laughed or learned something new.

[Guy Raz]

Or if the show has inspired curiosity in your home, we're asking you to consider making a contribution.

[Mindy Thomas]

Your support goes directly to paying our team and keeps wow in the World free for everyone who listens to it.

[Guy Raz]

So grown ups, if you can just.

[Mindy Thomas]

Visit tinkercast.comsupport to see the thank you packages that we've put together for your support.

[Guy Raz]

Once again, you can visit tinkercast.com support and we'll put all this information in the podcast. Show Notes.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thanks for helping to power the wow at Tinkercast. And now let's get on with the show. That's it. Back to the show. Hi, thanks for calling wow in the World. After the beep, get ready to record.

[Listener]

Hello, I'm Van from Northwest Arkansas and I am 7 years old. My wow in the World is that an armadillo can hold its breath underwater for Six minutes. Say hi to Grandma to you Force and Thomas Fingerling. Sup and Dun Dun Dun. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name is Miles and I'm from Columbus, Ohio. And my wow in the world is that a permeate python once exploded after it tried eating an alligator.

[Grandma G Force]

Hello.

[Listener]

My name is Oliver and I'm from Raleigh, North Carolina. And my wow in the world is that jellyfish lived before the dinosaurs. I'm Nora and I live in St. Paul. And my love is that bats can hang upside down without using any muscles in their feet. Say hi to Grandma G Force. Oh, yeah, I'm sprinkling. Gnarly and Richie.

[Mindy Thomas]

Bye.

[Listener]

I love your show. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name is Charlotte and I'm from Salt Lake City. And my wow in the world is that black holes are strong enough to suck in light. Say hi to Steve the Sight Cat for me. I'm Indian Guy Raz. My name is Logan from Indianapolis. My wow is that some cats are allergic to people. Say hi to Mindy, Guy Raz Bennett. Hi, Thomas Fingerling, Grandma G Force.

[Dennis]

Booyah.

[Listener]

And Dun Dun Dabbins. I am Static Man.

[Dennis]

I am Static Man.

[Listener]

My name is Joseph and I live in Knoxville, Tennessee. And my wow in the world is that fire salamanders can shoot poison out of two glands on their head. My name is Anna. I am nine years old and from Goldsboro, North Carolina. And my wow is Giraffe's tongue is a dark color to prevent sunburn because they spend most of their time in the sun. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name is Glynn and I live in Boston, Massachusetts. My wow is that frogfishes catch their prey in 6 milliseconds. Isn't that bonker balls? Say hi to Dennis, Grandma G Force.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, snap.

[Listener]

Thomas Fingerling and Reggie for me.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, that's cool, dude.

[Listener]

Bye.

[Mindy Thomas]

End of messages.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

Original sound design and music editing is done by Tyler Thole with help from our supervising producer, Jed Anderson. You can also hear Jed Anderson in the voices of Dennis, Thomas, Fingerling, Reggie and many of you. The other silly characters you hear on.

[Guy Raz]

Our show, 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.

[Guy Raz]

Find [e-mail] Special thanks to 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 Thomas]

To keep the wows rolling, visit [e-mail] where you can become an official member of the World Organization of wowzers. Learn about upcoming events, shop our wow Shop, find our New York Times best selling books, and learn about all of our other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast Grownups.

[Guy Raz]

You can follow wow. In the World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter owintheworld and our email address is hellotinkercast.com and if you're a kid with.

[Mindy Thomas]

A big WOW to share with us, call us at 1-888-7www. 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 time, keep on wowing.

[Grandma G Force]

Wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

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