Sponge City (4/28/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: Episode Summary – "Sponge City" (April 28, 2025)

Welcome to a deep dive into the "Sponge City" episode of Wow in the World, the beloved science podcast for kids and their grown-ups hosted by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz. In this episode, the hosts explore the pressing issue of urban flooding, its causes, and innovative solutions to transform cities into more resilient, water-absorbing environments. Packed with engaging discussions, expert insights, and a touch of humor, this episode is both informative and entertaining for listeners of all ages.

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1. The Flooding Crisis in Houston

Heavy Rainfall and Rising Waters

The episode opens with the hosts addressing a severe weather event affecting Houston. Mindy Thomas sets the scene:

“It's been raining for seven straight days. The whole city is gonna flood if this doesn't stop soon.” (02:34)

Guy Raz underscores the gravity of the situation:

“It's a record-breaking cloudburst. Just buckets and buckets of rain out there.” (02:38)

The continuous downpour has overwhelmed Houston’s infrastructure, leading to widespread flooding and transforming the city into an unintended water park.

Impact of Over-Paving and Urban Development

Dennis and Mindy delve into the root causes of the flooding:

“When buildings and parking lots replace forests and wetlands, there's nowhere left for the rainwater to go.” (07:19)

Mindy poses a critical question:

“Why is all of this flooding happening? Does it have anything to do with the fact that all of the forests and rivers in this city have been bulldozed and replaced by concrete?” (07:19)

Guy adds:

“In highly developed cities like ours, space has to be made for buildings and parking lots by removing natural landscapes.” (07:40)

This segment emphasizes how urbanization, characterized by extensive paving and removal of natural water-absorbing environments, exacerbates flooding during heavy rains.

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2. Introducing the Concept of "Sponge City"

Brainstorming Solutions

As the floodwaters continue to rise, the hosts and their animated characters brainstorm potential solutions. The idea of turning the city into a "Sponge City" emerges through a series of creative but initially impractical suggestions:

Mindy humorously suggests elevating all city structures:

“Take everything off the ground, including the ground, and then elevate it.” (10:37)

Dennis critiques the idea:

“Terrible idea. Costly and impossible to implement on a large scale.” (11:07)

Undeterred, Mindy continues:

“We embrace the flooding and turn the whole city into a giant water park.” (11:17)

This lighthearted exchange paves the way for more grounded and feasible concepts, leading to the collaborative idea of "Sponge City."

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3. Defining "Sponge City"

A Natural Solution to Urban Flooding

Mindy introduces the "Sponge City" concept as a way to integrate natural elements into urban environments to absorb and manage rainwater:

“Imagine our city like a giant sponge. Just like a sponge soaks up water when you spill it, our sponge city will soak up rainwater when it rains.” (13:07)

Dennis expresses enthusiasm:

“Sponge City. I like the sound of that. Wow.” (16:08)

Implementation Strategies

The hosts outline specific strategies to achieve a Sponge City:

• Green Roofs and Facades: Installing vegetation on rooftops and building exteriors to absorb rainwater.

  “We'll place natural sponge-like materials on roofs, the outer walls of buildings, and other places where we can add big areas of plants with absorbent soil layers underneath.” (15:17)

• Absorbent Soil Layers: Incorporating layers of soil that can effectively capture and retain water.

• Expanded Green Spaces: Creating more parks and gardens that can function as natural water reservoirs.

Mindy elaborates:

“Green roofs, green facades, and other garden-like areas can act like shallow drains to capture rain and stormwater runoff.” (15:32)

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4. Real-World Applications and Expert Insights

Origins of the Sponge City Concept

Gail Richards Simmons provides historical context, highlighting that the Sponge City idea originated in China:

“It was actually an idea first introduced in China about 20 years ago by a landscape architect named Yu Kongjian.” (16:46)

Since its inception, China has been a pioneer in integrating sponge city principles into major urban centers, demonstrating the effectiveness of these strategies in mitigating flood risks.

Benefits of Sponge Cities

Mindy and Dennis discuss the multifaceted advantages of adopting Sponge City principles:

“Adding large areas of natural plants and absorbent soil to places where we wouldn't normally do that can prevent flooding.” (15:41)

Dennis concurs:

“And these natural sponge-like areas could collect water before it moves to the streets where it could become polluted.” (15:52)

The conversation emphasizes that Sponge Cities not only manage excess water but also enhance urban biodiversity, reduce pollution, and mitigate the urban heat island effect.

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5. Moving Forward: Actionable Steps

Community Involvement and Personal Action

The hosts encourage listeners to participate in transforming their cities into Sponge Cities through simple, actionable steps:

• Tree Planting and Gardening Programs: Dennis proposes researching local initiatives to increase green spaces.

  “I'll start researching some local tree planting and gardening programs to increase green spaces that can absorb water.” (18:34)

• Rainwater Harvesting: Guy Raz suggests collecting rainwater for personal use.

  “I'll start collecting rainwater in barrels and reusing that water in your gardens.” (19:07)

• Promotion of Green Infrastructure: The community can advocate for and support the development of green roofs, permeable pavements, and other sustainable infrastructures.

Embracing the Sponge City Mindset

The episode wraps up with a call to action, inspiring listeners to adopt the Sponge City ethos in their daily lives and urban planning endeavors. The integration of natural elements into urban settings is portrayed as a transformative approach to making cities more resilient against climate-induced challenges.

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6. Engaging with the Audience

Messages from Kids

Adding a heartwarming touch, the episode features messages from young listeners who share their own "wows in the world," connecting the scientific discussion to the curiosity and creativity of children.

“My wow in the world is that spaghetti got its name from the Italian word spago, meaning cord, string, or twine.” – Fiona, 13, Detroit, MI (20:21)

These interactions reinforce the podcast’s mission to inspire hope and agency in young minds by making complex topics accessible and engaging.

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Conclusion

The "Sponge City" episode of Wow in the World masterfully blends humor, storytelling, and scientific exploration to address a critical environmental issue. Through lively discussions and collaborative problem-solving, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz illuminate how integrating natural elements into urban infrastructure can mitigate flooding and create more sustainable cities. This episode not only educates but also empowers listeners to envision and participate in building resilient urban environments.

Stay tuned for more exciting explorations and "wows" in future episodes of Wow in the World!

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Timestamps

• 02:34
• 02:38
• 07:19
• 07:40
• 10:37
• 11:07
• 11:17
• 13:07
• 15:17
• 15:32
• 16:08
• 16:46
• 15:41
• 15:52
• 18:34
• 19:07
• 20:21

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This summary is crafted to provide a comprehensive overview of the "Sponge City" episode, highlighting key discussions, insights, and memorable moments to ensure both new and returning listeners capture the essence of the episode.

Transcript

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey Wowzer fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show, I got some big news for you. Seattle. It's time to make it wow. That's right. This June, me and my friends Carlie Q, Dennis, Grandma GeForce and Thomas Fingerling are headed to Seattle for our live Bonkerballs competition game show where kids turn their wildest and weirdest ideas into jaw dropping inventions. Live on stage. Tickets are on sale now. Visit tinkercast.comevents to get your tickets to make it wow near you once again, that's tinkercast.com events. We can't wait to see you soon. But for now let's get back to the show.

[Guy Raz]

Proceeded. Three, two, one mission. Get ready for an adventure of navig magnificent proportion.

[Dennis]

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

[Guy Raz]

Houston.

[Dennis]

Wow. It is really coming down out there.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, that's a whole lot of cloud juice.

[Dennis]

It's been raining for seven straight days. The whole city is gonna flood if this doesn't stop soon.

[Mindy Thomas]

I wonder how many clouds you'd have to squeeze to flood the whole city.

[Dennis]

Let me turn on the TV news and find out if there's any end in sight.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Good afternoon and thanks for joining us at wow News. I'm Gail Richards Simmons and I'm late for dinner. Bob.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

That joke never gets old.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, fine.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

I'm Bob Rel and tonight's top story. Wow. In the water.

[Guy Raz]

It's a real gully washer out there, folks.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

That's right, Bob. For a seventh straight day in a row, the rain is coming down and there is no end in sight.

[Dennis]

No end in sight. There's no place for the water to run off to.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, sure there is. It could just run off into the storm drains and the pipes under the city.

[Dennis]

Well, normally that would be the case, but not with this much rain.

[Guy Raz]

That's right. It's a record breaking cloudburst. Just buckets and buckets of rain out there.

[Mindy Thomas]

Not just rainwater. It's raining cats and dogs out there.

[Dennis]

Well, that's a great expression, but in an actual fact. What in the. What is going on? This is just too much for our city's drains and pipes to handle.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Let's go live to our storm team reporter, Penny Presley, standing out in the rain without an umbrel.

[Penny Presley]

Thank you, Gayle. As you can see, I am being absolutely drenched in a substance some would call water.

[Mindy Thomas]

What others call it.

[Penny Presley]

And now everyone's wondering, where did this so called water come from?

[Dennis]

What?

[Penny Presley]

Experts say it came from clouds in the sky.

[Dennis]

Well, we know that water comes from clouds. How is this even news?

[Penny Presley]

Regardless of where the rain came from, the water has flooded the city, turning it into a water park of epic proportions. Also, my shirt's all wet.

[Mindy Thomas]

You think she'd at least wear a raincoat or something?

[Penny Presley]

However, one brave citizen decided to come out today, despite these torrential downpours and the warnings to stay indoors.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, no.

[Dennis]

I don't understand. Who would ever want to go out in this weather?

[Penny Presley]

Her name is Gertle Greenpeace, and she's here.

[Grandma G Force]

The name is G Force.

[Dennis]

What?

[Grandma G Force]

I said G Force.

[Penny Presley]

That's your name?

[Grandma G Force]

That's your question.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's Grandma G Force.

[Dennis]

Hi, Mandy on the news.

[Grandma G Force]

I'm on the news, guy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Raz, she's famous.

[Penny Presley]

Grandma G Force, what brought you out into this devastating storm today?

[Grandma G Force]

My legs.

[Penny Presley]

Uh, yes, yes, but why did your legs bring you out here? We've been cautioning people to stay indoors at all costs.

[Grandma G Force]

Yeah, I'm never not gonna listen to that.

[Penny Presley]

I see. Well, it looks as though you came prepared. As we can all see, you are wearing your swimsuit.

[Dennis]

What? Oh, boy.

[Grandma G Force]

This ain't no swimsuit.

[Mindy Thomas]

Here we go.

[Grandma G Force]

This here is a hot pepper wrestling unitard.

[Penny Presley]

All right, then.

[Grandma G Force]

I was just on my way to little buff Bunny's big gym over there, trying to get my workout on so I can wrestle some hot peppers.

[Penny Presley]

Ah, yes, Lil Buff Bunny's big gym. The gym so big that five acres of natural forest were taken down and paved over to make room.

[Grandma G Force]

You talking to me?

[Penny Presley]

No, I was. I was talking to the viewers.

[Grandma G Force]

Where?

[Penny Presley]

The viewers at home watching us on tv.

[Grandma G Force]

What tv? I can't see it through the camera.

[Mindy Thomas]

How developers had to cut down over five acres of trees just to build little Buff Bunny's big gym. That's like four football fields worth of forest.

[Dennis]

Yeah, and in front of that, they tore down another four acres to build the parking lot. And next to the parking lot, the city built the world's largest parking lot. The size of 500 football fields.

[Grandma G Force]

Ah.

[Mindy Thomas]

And let's not forget all the forests that had to be cut down in order to build the spin zone last year. And the river that had to be paved over in order to build the parking lot for the spin zone.

[Dennis]

So many trees plowed and paved over to create parking lots. And the parking lots for the parking lots.

[Mindy Thomas]

Flooded parking lots now.

[Dennis]

Yeah, the city's been so paved over by concrete, there's nowhere left for all of this rain to run off to.

[Penny Presley]

Everyone's mind is, where did the pennies come from?

[Grandma G Force]

So I dive into the fountain at the mall, and then I take all the pennies and I sh. Into my unitard like so. And that's how I get my lumps.

[Penny Presley]

Ha. Lumpy handfuls of pennies in your bathing suit.

[Grandma G Force]

It's a unitard.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Uh, Penny Presley, can we get back to focusing on the rain and flooding for this news report, please?

[Guy Raz]

I agree. I do not want to hear any more about lumpy bathing suits.

[Grandma G Force]

Well, huh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Nothing like live local news.

[Dennis]

This is a disaster.

[Mindy Thomas]

I'll say. Grandma G Force should never have agreed to speak on camera.

[Dennis]

No, I mean the incessant rain, the flooding. It's a disaster, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, right, the flooding. So why is it happening, Guy Raz? I mean, does all of this flooding have anything to do with the fact that all of the forests and rivers in this city have been bulldozed and replaced by concrete?

[Dennis]

Well, that's a great question, Mindy. See, in highly developed cities like ours.

[Mindy Thomas]

Cities with lots of big buildings and even bigger parking lots.

[Dennis]

Exactly. Yes. In order to build these parking lots and buildings, space has to be made for them. And that space can only be created by removing nature and essentially paving over it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, so paving. Kind of like how the space where little Buffbunny's big gym used to be a lush forest.

[Dennis]

Right? A lush water absorbing forest.

[Mindy Thomas]

Or how the world's largest parking lot used to be a river bank.

[Dennis]

Right, A river bank for rainwater to run off to.

[Mindy Thomas]

Paving over a river bank to build a parking lot.

[Dennis]

And when this happens over and over again, all over a city, suddenly we're left with two potentially big problems and plenty of parking. And the first problem is that all of that concrete and asphalt actually makes a city hotter.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, by absorbing and trapping the heat from the sun, which causes temperatures to rise.

[Dennis]

And when this happens, cities essentially turn into urban heat islands.

[Mindy Thomas]

But then it rains and everything cools off again.

[Dennis]

Well, it might, but all of that cool, refreshing rain that has to go somewhere once it hits the ground.

[Mindy Thomas]

And that's why we have storm drains and pipes to carry the water out to nearby rivers, lakes, or the ocean.

[Dennis]

Right, but when there's too much rain for the drains to handle, or when the nearby rivers and lakes have been paved over and turned into parking lots.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, there's nowhere left for the rainwater to go.

[Dennis]

And that's when we get the flooding that we're experiencing right now.

[Penny Presley]

As you can See here, folks, the flooding is now up to my waist.

[Guy Raz]

Chief Horse.

[Grandma G Force]

Ah, hush.

[Dennis]

Fl. Todd is fingerling.

[Guy Raz]

Chief Horse, what are you doing out here? Can't you see it's flooding?

[Grandma G Force]

Can't you see that I'm on tv? Fingerling.

[Guy Raz]

Ooh, live tv, eh?

[Penny Presley]

Joining us now, a gentleman in a very strange boat.

[Guy Raz]

Well, technically, it's a bathtub, but I'm using it as a boat to come and rescue G Force over here. G Force, get in the tub.

[Grandma G Force]

No.

[Guy Raz]

Well, then I'll put you in the tub. Come here.

[Grandma G Force]

Hey.

[Dennis]

Ow.

[Mindy Thomas]

I told you not my girl.

[Grandma G Force]

Lanes, you're spilling all my panties.

[Guy Raz]

And I told you to stay out of that moll's fountain. Those pennies are for the wishes, and.

[Grandma G Force]

I'm wishing for money.

[Guy Raz]

That ain't your money.

[Dennis]

This is a disaster.

[Grandma G Force]

Oh, me honey bunny?

[Mindy Thomas]

The flooding rain or grandma G Force and Thomas Fingerling fighting on live tv?

[Dennis]

Both.

[Guy Raz]

Now get in here.

[Grandma G Force]

Don't tell me what to do.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, well, let's solve one problem at a time. And the easiest problem here to solve is reversing the effects of paving over all the trees and wetlands in our city.

[Dennis]

Okay, well, let's get to work. Give me your best idea.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, let's say we take everything off the ground, including the ground, and then we elevate it. You know, put it up on stilts or something. The buildings, the houses, the parking lots, all of it. We raise it all up to a level where the flooding can't reach it.

[Dennis]

Okay. Terrible idea. Costly and impossible to implement on a large scale. What else have you got?

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, let's see here.

[Penny Presley]

Oh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay. We embrace the flooding and turn the whole city into a giant water park. The roads become water coasters and the parking lots become boat docks.

[Dennis]

Completely unfeasible. Never gonna work. Next.

[Mindy Thomas]

All right, all right, I got this. I got this. Okay, what if we gave every citizen really big straw, and then on the count of three, we get everyone in the city to come outside and suck the water away?

[Dennis]

Great idea for poisoning everyone. Awful idea for rainwater mitigation. Mindy, can't you think of any good ideas?

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh, nope.

[Guy Raz]

Citizens are concerned what can be done to save our city from flooding.

[Penny Presley]

That's right, Bob. What or who will save us from these flooding waters now and in the future?

[Dennis]

Dennis.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Never fear. I'll save you. Citizens.

[Guy Raz]

Ooh, look at that.

[Penny Presley]

This Justin, our local supervillain, Static man appears to have arrived on the scene.

[Thomas Fingerling]

No, I'm not Static Man. I'm Super Sponge Man.

[Dennis]

Super Sponge Man. Did any of Our friends heed the warning to stay inside and avoid the floods today.

[Penny Presley]

And as Super Sponge man, you will.

[Thomas Fingerling]

I will save the city. Floods and rain don't stand a chance against Spongemans.

[Penny Presley]

Fascinating. How exactly do you plan to save the city? What do you mean?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Isn't it obvious?

[Dennis]

No.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, I'll suck up the water with my sponge powers. See, I got sponges all over my cape. And a little sponge strapped to my forehead here. And another sponge glued to my butt.

[Mindy Thomas]

And.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Sponge.

[Dennis]

Super sponge. Bam. This is re. Genius. Wait, what?

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, you go first.

[Dennis]

No, no, you go first.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, what if sponges were the answer to all of the problems we've created for ourselves?

[Dennis]

Go on.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, see, we humans have created this mess by paving over nature to build parking lots and buildings, right?

[Dennis]

Yes, because with nothing but asphalt and concrete as far as the eye can see, there's nothing left to absorb the water.

[Mindy Thomas]

Unless we add sponges.

[Dennis]

Mindy, are you suggesting we.

[Mindy Thomas]

Kyraz, I am suggesting that we turn our city into Sponge City.

[Dennis]

Sponge City. Mindy, we're never gonna be able to find enough sponges to soak up all the excess rainwater.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yupping.

[Dennis]

And besides, we'd have to cut down even more forests just to be able to build factories to manufacture that many sponges.

[Mindy Thomas]

No, no, no, you don't understand.

[Dennis]

And on top of that, sponges, especially synthetic. Synthetic ones can be bad for the environment because they're not biodegradable and can contribute to plastic pollution when we throw them away. And on top of that, Raz, I'm.

[Mindy Thomas]

Not talking about sponges made in factories. I'm talking about nature's natural sponges.

[Dennis]

I'm sorry, I haven't heard of that brand.

[Mindy Thomas]

It's not a brand, Guy Raz, it's nature.

[Dennis]

I'm not sure I understand.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, you said it yourself before, dense cities were paved over, replacing trees and wetlands with concrete buildings. Rainwater was able to run back into the earth. Okay, so imagine our city like a giant sponge. And just like a sponge soaks up water when you spill it, our sponge city will soak up rainwater when it rains. And that would prevent flooding.

[Dennis]

But what will we use for the sponges?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, in Sponge City, we'll place natural sponge like materials on roofs, the outer walls of buildings, and other places where we can add big areas of plants with absorbent soil layers underneath.

[Dennis]

So essentially adding large areas of natural plants and absorbent soil to places where we wouldn't normally do that.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exactly. I'm talking green roofs, green facades, and other garden like areas that can act like shallow drains to capture rain and stormwater runoff.

[Grandma G Force]

Ah.

[Dennis]

And these natural sponge like areas could collect water before it moves to the streets where it could become polluted.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes, and doing this would keep it from reaching our drinking water sources and other bodies of water like rivers and streams and lakes.

[Dennis]

Sponge City. I like the sound of that. Wow. I mean, Dennis, Super Sponge man could really be onto something here.

[Thomas Fingerling]

And as the mayor of Sponge City, I vow to use my super snoop, I mean, super sponging powers to make this city softer, more absorbent, and more dumb. I need a third thing.

[Penny Presley]

Spongier.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Yeah, spongier.

[Penny Presley]

And there you have it, folks. Could the future of flood mitigation be found in sponges? Back to you, Bob and Gail.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Sponge City. You know, Bob, while I'd like to give Super Sponge man all the credit for coming up with this concept, it was actually an idea first introduced in China some 20, 20 years ago by a landscape architect named Yu Kongjian.

[Guy Raz]

That's right, Gail. And since then, he has led the movement in implementing areas of spongy vegetation in the dense concrete jungles of major cities all over China and soon the world.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

For wow. News, I'm Gail Richard Simmons.

[Guy Raz]

And I'm not Bob. What? Gail, it's a little joke.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Well, it's not a joke if it's not funny, Bob.

[Guy Raz]

That's it for the weather report. Stay tuned for our next story. How a raccoon became best friends with a squirrel.

[Dennis]

Wow. Mindy, in the age of technology that we're living in, it's wild to think that something as simple as adding natural soils and plants and other absorbent, spongy materials to our cities could be the answer to our flooding problems.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, if only we could get the rest of our city. No, the rest of the world on board.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Did you see me? I mean, did you see that sponge wielding superhero on tv?

[Grandma G Force]

That superhero would be me.

[Dennis]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

No.

[Guy Raz]

Granny G. All that rain is making me have to go potty. Mind if I use your lavatory, Mandy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, sure, Thomas Fingerling. It's right over there. Thank you.

[Dennis]

So, what do you say we all be Sponge City superheroes and make plans to help our city to be the spongiest it can be?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Sorry, Guy. There can only be one super Sponge man, and it's not you.

[Dennis]

And it's obviously not you either, Dennis.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Oh, Guy. I beg your pardon.

[Mindy Thomas]

I love this idea. Turning ourselves into a pack of flood fighting superheroes. I'll go get my sponge cake. I mean, my sponge cape and a sponge cake just in case. I get hungry. Saving the city from floods.

[Dennis]

Great. And I'll start researching some local tree planting and gardening programs to increase green spaces that can absorb water.

[Guy Raz]

And I'll start collecting rain water in barrels and reusing that water in your gardens, Guy Razzie.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, great idea, Thomas Fingerling. If everyone did that, we could reduce the load on our stormwater drains and pipes.

[Thomas Fingerling]

And I'll see if I can arrange a meet and greet with the mayor of this sponge City, Super Sponge man himself.

[Dennis]

We don't even need Super Sponge Man Dennis. What?

[Thomas Fingerling]

What are you even talking about? Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, we got this, Dennis.

[Grandma G Force]

No, I don't got this. I'm just gonna sit here and count the coins I sponged off of the mall Fountain Force.

[Dennis]

Grandma G Force.

[Grandma G Force]

Okay, fine, I'll help.

[Dennis]

Yay. Yay.

[Mindy Thomas]

Sponge City, here we come.

[Reggie]

Wow in the World.

[Mindy Thomas]

We'll be right back.

[Reggie]

Grown ups, this message is for you.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's it. Back to the show.

[Dennis]

Wow in the World.

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Reggie]

My name is Fiona. I'm 13, I'm from Detroit, Michigan. And my wow in the world is that spaghetti got its name from the Italian word spago, meaning cord, string, or twine. Spaghetti is my favorite food. Say hi to Reggie, Dennis, Grandma G Force, and Thomas Fingerling.

[Guy Raz]

Ooh, where you doing all that?

[Reggie]

Hi, Mindy and Guy Ross. My name is Octavia. I'm seven years old and I live in Brooklyn, New York. In my wilderness world, is that raspberries are actually part of the Rose family. They hide a Grandma G Force shy.

[Dennis]

What?

[Reggie]

Reggie and Thomas Fingerling, Queens. I love your show.

[Mindy Thomas]

Bye.

[Reggie]

Hello, Minnie and Guy Raz. My name is Alton and I live in Manchester, Connecticut. And my wow in the world is that Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. Isn't that crazy? Say hi to Dennis for me.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Cool.

[Reggie]

Hi, my name is Esme and I live in West Seattle. My law in the world is that butterflies can taste with their feet. Hi, my name is Rita and I'm from Apopka, Florida. My wow is that there's a spring in Florida that in the winter, over 700 manatees visit to stay warm. BS. Say hi to Reggie and Grandma G Force for me. Bye. Hi, my name is Daniel and I live in the Nassau, Bahamas. My wow in the world is that before alarm clocks, people would pay someone to knock on their window and wake them up. They were called Knocker Uppers. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name is Oona and I live in Dahatchee, California. My WOW in the world is that squirrels brains grow 15% larger in the fall to help them remember where they buried their nuts. Isn't that wild? Love the show. Say hi to Reggie for me. Hi my name Guy Rats. My name is Charlie and my why in the world is that a dime has 118 ridges and everyone you had to do my riddle. What do you call a volcano that explodes? Grass? A mountain?

[Mindy Thomas]

End of Messages Grown Ups if you like WOW in the World you can listen early and ad free right now on Wondery.

[Dennis]

Join Wondery in the Wondery app or on Wondery Kids plus on Apple Podcasts prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Mindy Thomas]

And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail].

[Dennis]

Wow in the world is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalkin with help from Me Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

Original sound design and music editing is done by our senior Production Director Jed Anderson and Audio Producer Tyler Thull. You can also hear Jed Anderson in the voices of Dennis, Thomas, Fingerling, Reggie and many of the other silly characters that you here on our show. And Lizzie Froehlich can also be heard as some of the silly characters on our show.

[Dennis]

Jessica Bode keeps our facts straight as our fact checker and Meredith Halpert Ranzer powers the WOW at Tinkercast.

[Mindy Thomas]

Our theme song was composed and performed by three time Grammy nominees the Pop Ups.

[Gail Richards Simmons]

Find them at thepopups.com Special thanks to.

[Dennis]

Kit Ballinger, Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall, Kenny Curtis, Kristin Yang, Twee Mac, Erica Medina, Henry Moskal, Jodi Nussbaum, Ali Paxima, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Joanna Weber, Anna Sikorski and all of the other tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ.

[Mindy Thomas]

And to keep the wow rolling after you've finished this episode, visit [e-mail] There you can become a member of the World Organization of wowzers to get year round mailings and weekly activities. Shop our wow Shop, get tickets for upcoming events, find our best selling books and learn about some of the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast grownups.

[Dennis]

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

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[Dennis]

Thanks again for listening. We're here every Monday, or you can check out two what's in a wow? Every Friday right here in the wow in the World podcast feed.

[Mindy Thomas]

And don't forget, we wow on the weekend with Dennis. Saturday and Sunday.

[Guy Raz]

Keep on wowing.

[Dennis]

Wow in the world. Wow in the world. Wow in the world wow in the world wow in the world wow in.

[Reggie]

The World was made by Tinkercast and.

[Mindy Thomas]

Sent to you by Wondery.