WeWow Creepy Crawly Week - Day 1: Bugs Are Gross! (10/27/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: WeWow Creepy Crawly Week – Day 1: Bugs Are Gross!

Podcast: Wow in the World
Episode Date: October 27, 2025
Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz
Episode Theme: Exploring the strange, gross, and fascinating world of insect science—especially the superpowers and defenses of cockroaches during “Creepy Crawly Week.”

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Episode Overview

The episode launches “Creepy Crawly Week” by diving into the world of bugs—why people find them gross, but also why they're totally wow-worthy. The main story centers around Mindy and Guy Raz attending an unusual karate class for cockroaches to learn about their wacky defenses against a truly creepy creature: the jewel wasp. Through playful storytelling, jokes, and a splash of outrageous adventure, listeners learn surprising cockroach facts and hear about a real scientific study of cockroach self-defense.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kicking off Creepy Crawly Week (01:01–04:37)

• Dennis and Reggie Introduction: Dennis reluctantly agrees to host Creepy Crawly Week, only to discover he’s supposed to care for Mindy’s giant pet cockroach, Smokey McDougal.
• Set-Up for the Main Segment: To figure out how to handle a cockroach, Dennis and Reggie decide to listen to a Wow in the World episode about cockroaches.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “Ew, is that a gamungous cockroach? And I have to watch it all week?” — Reggie (03:05)
  • Memorable Moment: Dennis reads out Mindy’s rambling instructions that unexpectedly become a script of her actual side conversations.

2. Mindy and Guy Raz Suit up! (06:04–10:32)

• Cockroach Costumes and Karate Class Setup:
  • Mindy greets Guy Raz while wearing a cockroach suit and insists he wears one too.
  • Lots of playful banter about karate outfits vs. cockroach costumes.
  • Mindy says she signed them up for a karate class—except the sensei is an actual cockroach.
• Fun Cockroach Facts:
  • A cockroach can survive a week without its head because it breathes through holes in its body.
    • Notable Quote:
      • “Hey, Guy Raz, did you know that a cockroach can live for a whole week without its head?” — Mindy (12:05)
  • Cockroaches can hold their breath for 40 minutes.
  • Baby cockroaches run as fast as grown-ups.
  • Cockroaches have 18 knees (6 legs × 3 joints).
  • Some cultures eat cockroaches!
  • Memorable Moment: Mindy rattles off fact after fact while they walk to the karate class, building over-the-top enthusiasm (12:01–13:08).

3. Kickin' Cockroach Karate Class (14:04–22:09)

The Jewel Wasp Menace (16:17–17:21)

• Explaining the Jewel Wasp Attack:
  • Jewel wasps sting cockroaches in the abdomen, then the brain, injecting venom that turns cockroaches into “zombies” for baby wasp food.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “The wasp grabs the zombie cockroach by the antennas, drags it into a hole like a dog on a leash, and there the wasp lays an egg on the cockroach...” — Mindy (16:57)
• Why Cockroach Self-Defense Matters:
  • Introduction of Dr. Kenneth Catania’s scientific study at Vanderbilt, where he observed cockroach defense moves in slow motion (17:34–18:19).

The 5-Step Cockroach Karate Defense (18:28–22:09)

• Instructional Routine, Karate-Style:

  1. Stilt Standing: As the wasp approaches, cockroach stands tall, twists body away, points antennae towards wasp, and lifts a leg.
  2. Karate Kick: With spiky back legs, kicks at the wasp’s head—sometimes for up to 3 minutes!
     • Notable Line:
       • “Deliver a hearty kick to the wasp’s head...keep on kicking for at least three minutes!” — Dennis as Karate Cockroach (20:03)
  3. Rake Off Wasp Guts: Clean off any “wasp debris” using other legs.
     • “I’m raking up these wasp guts off of me!” — Mindy (21:35)
  4. (Optional) Bite the Wasp: Cockroaches could bite wasps but class won’t do this for “peaceful, uninsured” reasons.
  5. Survive!: The goal: Outkick the wasp and escape alive.
  • Notable Statistic:
    • “...so fast that a wasp wouldn’t be able to escape if it tried. Well, I mean, at least 63% of the time, according to this new scientific research.” — Sensei Cockroach (20:49)

• Playful Elements:

  • Mindy signs the waiver using her “cockroach feet.”
  • The instructors are in costume and the setting is cheekily “unlicensed and unprofessional.”
  • The whole payday is in “certified and licensed counterfeit cash.”
  • Notable Joke:
    • Mindy: “Here’s $150 in cold hard certified and licensed counterfeit cash.” (22:22)

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Hey, Guy Raz, did you know that a cockroach can live for a whole week without its head?” — Mindy (12:05)
• “The wasp grabs the zombie cockroach by the antennas, drags it into a hole like a dog on a leash…” — Mindy (16:57)
• “...at least 63% of the time, according to this new scientific research.” — Sensei Cockroach (20:49)
• “I’m raking up these wasp guts off of me!” — Mindy (21:35)
• “Step five. You make it out alive. Class dismissed. That’ll be 75 bucks per cockroach plus tax.” — Sensei Cockroach (22:13)
• “Here's $150 in cold hard certified and licensed counterfeit cash.” — Mindy (22:22)

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Segment Timestamps

• 01:01–04:37 – Dennis and Reggie set up Creepy Crawly Week and discover the pet cockroach, Smokey McDougal.
• 06:04–13:13 – Mindy and Guy Raz prepare for cockroach karate (cockroach fun facts scattered throughout).
• 13:13–14:55 – Arrive at the “Kickin’ Cockroach Karate” studio; introduction to oddball karate class.
• 16:17–17:21 – Description of the jewel wasp’s “zombie” sting.
• 17:34–21:52 – Science behind cockroach kicks, slow-mo studies by Dr. Kenneth Catania, steps of cockroach defense.
• 22:13–22:44 – Class ends; Mindy “pays” with counterfeit cash.

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Overall Tone & Style

The episode is lighthearted, silly, and full of puns, jokes, and banter. Mindy and Guy Raz keep things wacky but informative, blending real science with outlandish, kid-friendly humor and role-play.

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Useful for Listeners Who Missed the Episode:

• You’ll learn about cockroach gross-out superpowers and how insects defend themselves against real science-fiction-like predators.
• There’s a mix of wild imagination (cockroach karate class) and real science (Dr. Catania’s research).
• Plenty of bug facts to make you say “wow”—and maybe go “ew” as well!

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Bottom Line:
This launch of Creepy Crawly Week uses storytelling, fun facts, and real science to show that bugs—even ones that seem gross—are fascinating, tough, and worth a closer look. Whether you love insects or get the creeps, you’ll come away with new respect—and maybe a few laughs.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Grown ups Wondery subscribers can listen to wow in the World early and ad free right now. Join Wondery in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Mindy]

Hey Wowzer fams. Mindy and Guy Raz here. And before we start the show, did you hear that? We are on YouTube.

[Narrator]

That's right, Mindy Wowzer Fams. You can find full episodes of wow in the World and more of your favorite Tinkercast podcasts on our YouTube channel, WowTube.

[Mindy]

Plus on WowTube, you can also watch me explode some watermelons and test out Bonkerball's experiments in the laboratory of bad ideas.

[Narrator]

Or you can dance along with Dennis for music videos featuring music from WEW on the weekend.

[Mindy]

There is so much in store made just for you on WowTube. Visit Tinkercast.com YouTube to watch. Now that's Tinkercast.com YouTube.

[Narrator]

Ew.

[Unknown Child or Narrator]

Slimy squiggly little icky buggies. Flies and beetles and ants are so yucky Nasty critters scurrying and squirming and wriggling and slithering and I'm gonna barf black. Creepy Crawly Week. Creepy Crawly Week. Things with wings and too many legs.

[Dennis]

Gross.

[Unknown Child or Narrator]

Creepy Crawly Week. Creepy Crawly Week. Crawly Week. Crawly Week. Craw.

[Dennis]

Greetings everyone and welcome to Creepy Crawly.

[Reggie]

Reggie, I don't want to say it. No, I don't want to say Creepy Crawly Week. Do I have to?

[Dennis]

Alright, fine. Welcome everyone to Creepy Crawly Week. Reggie, I know I asked to host all the Wee Wow theme weeks.

[Reggie]

Well, I thought I'd get to pick.

[Dennis]

All the themes and stuff. I don't know, stuff like Curly Fries week or Everyone Gives Dennis a dollar week.

[Reggie]

Well, I don't like creepy crawlies with.

[Dennis]

Their millions of legs and their oozing all over the place.

[Reggie]

Ew, what am I going to do? Can we just get Mindy to do Creepy Crawly Week?

[Dennis]

Oh, really? Mindy left us instructions on how to do Creepy Crawly Week.

[Reggie]

Well, that's fantastic.

[Dennis]

Give him here. Okay. It says.

[Mindy]

Ahem.

[Dennis]

Dear Dennis, thanks for looking after Smokey McDougal while I'm at an experimental cheese conference this week. What cheese conference? Smokey McDougal? I thought these were supposed to be instructions for the show. Reggie, what's she talking about? Oh, pet sitting instructions. Okay. Wait, what pet? Smokey McDougal? Well, where is little Smokey?

[Reggie]

Ew, is that a gamungous cockroach? And I have to watch it all week. Mindy, how am I supposed to do that?

[Dennis]

I'll write the letter.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Ahem.

[Dennis]

Smokey McDougall is so excited to be your friend. He's super nice and easy to care for. Here are some instructions on how to keep him happy and comfortable. Number one, his bedtime is. Oh, hi, Grandma GeForce.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Yeah.

[Dennis]

No, Mindy literally wrote, oh, hi, Grandma GeForce in this letter. No, look, she wrote down everything she was saying.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Everything?

[Dennis]

Yeah, right here it says, oh, hi, Grandma GeForce. Sure, I can help you fix your toilet. What's wrong with it? Is the bidet only working in reverse again? Oh, the engine you installed is malfunctioning. Well, that's no problem.

[Reggie]

Be right back.

[Dennis]

Dennis. I gotta go help Grandma GeForce chase her toilet down the highway. Talk to you later.

[Reggie]

Bye.

[Unknown Child or Narrator]

And that's it.

[Dennis]

I guess I'll get more instructions later. Okay, little Smokey McDougal, you need anything? Reggie?

[Reggie]

Ah, what am I going to do?

[Dennis]

Oh, good thinking. Maybe there's an episode of wow in the World that can help us figure out what we're supposed to do with this thing. Yes, Reggie, we. You're not leaving me alone with Smokey McDougal all week. Okay, let's see an episode about cockroaches. Cockroaches.

[Reggie]

Oh, here's one.

[Dennis]

Season three, episode two called Karate Kicking cockroach.

[Reggie]

Oh, cool.

[Dennis]

Karate. Okay, here we go.

[Guy Raz]

And play.

[Mindy]

Wee. Wow. Will be right back. Grown ups, this message is for you. Hey, grownups, what happens when you bring a great white shark and a baby octopus to your house? A whole lot of wow. Hey, it's me, Mindy from Wow in the World, the number one science podcast for curious kids and their grownups. And we are so excited to bring the wows of sharks and sea creatures to your home without having to turn your house into an aquarium. Our jumbo great white shark is 24 inches long and comes with an exclusive wow fact card. Our baby ocean animals are perfect for the little ones in your life. Featuring exclusive audio that will leave the whole family saying, aw, these wow. In the world toys make for fin tastic gifts for the kids in your life who love science and even the ones who don't. Yet grown ups visit Tinkercast.com Toys to shop the wow. Now that's Tinkercast.com Toys. That's it. Now back to the show.

[Reggie]

What in the world?

[Mindy]

La cucaracha, la cucaracha. Blah blah, bleep, bloop, blah blah blah. Oh, guy. Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, come on. We're gonna be late for our karate class.

[Mindy]

Um, Ow. Hang on. I just gotta put on my karate suit. Where did I put my karate suit? Oh, here it is. Okay, let me see here. Thorax, abdomen and head, walk into my full length mirror. Oh, yeah. How you like me now?

[Guy Raz]

What is taking you so long? If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times. Being early is on time. Being on time is late. Wah.

[Mindy]

Good morning, Guy Raz. Ready for our karate lesson?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, is that you?

[Mindy]

Oh, sorry. I guess I should take off my head.

[Narrator]

What?

[Guy Raz]

No, I was.

[Mindy]

That's better. I was starting to get sweaty in there.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, Mindy, why are you dressed up in a giant cockroach suit?

[Mindy]

Guy Raz, why would I not be dressed up in a giant cockroach suit?

[Guy Raz]

Uh, I don't know how I'm supposed to answer that question.

[Mindy]

Well, good news for you. I made two. Come on in and we'll get you all suited up.

[Guy Raz]

No, I'm.

[Mindy]

Come on, it'll only hurt a bit.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, did you forget about our karate class today?

[Mindy]

Um. Did you forget about our karate class today? Looks to me like you're still in your bathrobe.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, I'm wearing my karate gi. This is the traditional karate uniform that I had imported from Japan. Do you know how difficult to find one of these things with elbow patches?

[Mindy]

Oh.

[Dennis]

What?

[Mindy]

Well, I didn't sign us up for that kind of karate class.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, no, I have your email right here. Look, let me read it to you. It says, what's kicking, little chicken? We are Surprise. I've signed us up for karate lessons. Peace, love and pogo sticks. Your bffffffffffffff mindy.

[Narrator]

P.S.

[Guy Raz]

What do you call a pig that knows karate?

[Narrator]

Wait for it. A pork chop.

[Mindy]

Yeah, keep reading.

[Guy Raz]

That's. That's the end.

[Mindy]

You didn't read the fine print.

[Guy Raz]

The fine.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Ah.

[Mindy]

Here, put these glasses on. Your glasses so you can see it. Stay still. I'll help you. I got it.

[Guy Raz]

I got it.

[Mindy]

They.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, let's see here. Pss. The sensei of this class will be the karate Kickin cockroach.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

The Karate kickin cockroach.

[Mindy]

Now I just need you to squeeze yourself into this thorax and then put on this abdomen like a pair of pants.

[Narrator]

Mindy. Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

The last time you put me into an abdomen and thorax, I became the victim of an exploding ant.

[Mindy]

Well, I can assure you there will be no exploding ants this time, Guy Raz.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Phew.

[Mindy]

Only a bunch of ferocious wasps.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy]

This is not your run of the mill karate Class, Why can't we ever.

[Guy Raz]

Just do a run of the mill anything?

[Mindy]

And the final addition to your cockroach costume, the head. And still. I just need to adjust your antennas. Ow. Just stop wiggling. I'm trying to fix it. Oh, there we go. Hmm.

[Guy Raz]

This cockroach suit is pinching me.

[Mindy]

Okay, I can fix that. Just gonna give you a little shake here. Shake em up. Shake em up. Shake em up. Shake em up. Shake em up. Shake em up. Shake em up. Shake em up. Shake em. There, that should be all better. Whew.

[Guy Raz]

You know, I'm feeling surprisingly comfortable now. Almost cozy.

[Mindy]

Ah, cozy as a cockroach in a cupcake. Well, you ready to kick it like.

[Guy Raz]

A karate kickin cockroach? Actually, on second thought, no time for.

[Mindy]

Second thoughts, Guy Raz. A wise old owl once told me that being early is on time. And that being on time is late.

[Narrator]

Again.

[Guy Raz]

That wise old owl was me.

[Mindy]

After you. Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle. Opening the door.

[Guy Raz]

I really hope we don't run into any neighbors dressed like this.

[Dennis]

Morning, Guy. Morning, Mindy.

[Reggie]

Oh, no.

[Dennis]

What are you wearing? You can't go around like that. What will the neighbors think? I mean, what will I think?

[Sensei / Instructor]

I'll tell you what I think.

[Mindy]

Love you too, Dennis.

[Guy Raz]

Just keep walking. Just keep, keep walking. Mindy, did you tell Reggie when we needed him to pick us up?

[Mindy]

Oh, Reggie's in New York City's Central park at a family reunion.

[Guy Raz]

Man, with all the pigeons there, that must be a giant family reunion.

[Mindy]

Let's walk and talk, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Well, Mindy, we can't walk down the street dressed like giant cockroaches.

[Mindy]

Sure we can. Look out, world, here we come. Well, looks like we're cleared for takeoff.

[Guy Raz]

How do I let her rope me into these things?

[Mindy]

Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle. Okay, we've been walking a while now. Thought we'd be there. This place was only like two and a half centimeters from us on the map.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, when are we gonna get to this karate studio?

[Mindy]

Hey, Guy Raz, did you know that a cockroach can live for a whole week without its head?

[Narrator]

Huh?

[Mindy]

Yeah. It's because they don't need their heads or mouths to breathe. Instead, they breathe through these tiny little holes in their bodies.

[Narrator]

Huh?

[Guy Raz]

So then what causes them to eventually die?

[Mindy]

Thirst. They die of thirst. You see, cockroaches need their mouths to drink water, and bodies without mouth holes can't get any.

[Guy Raz]

Ooh, yeah.

[Mindy]

Hey, Guy Raz, did you know that A one day old baby cockroach the size of a spider speck of dust can run as fast as its parents, which is three miles an hour, really.

[Guy Raz]

On those tiny legs.

[Mindy]

Speaking of legs, did you know that cockroaches have 18 knees?

[Narrator]

Huh? Six legs, three joins on each leg.

[Mindy]

Hey, guy. Ross. Did you know that a cockroach can hold its breath for 40 minutes? Did you know that ancient cockroaches were living at the same time as dinosaurs? Did you know that in some parts of the of the world you can buy deep fried cockroaches on a stick and eat them as a snack?

[Narrator]

What?

[Mindy]

Did you know that the human head weighs eight pounds?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, where's this all going?

[Mindy]

We're here.

[Guy Raz]

I will not take one more step in this hot and steamy cockroach suit.

[Narrator]

Wait, did you say we're here?

[Mindy]

Well, if standing in front of a storefront with a sign that says Kickin Cockroach Karate means we're here, then I'm pretty sure this is the place.

[Guy Raz]

Karate.

[Mindy]

Karate.

[Guy Raz]

Kara karate. Mindy, I know Webster's dictionary, but I'm pretty sure that karate is not spelled. Carrotay.

[Mindy]

C A R, R, O, T, T A Y, Carrotay. Hmm. Well, that just must mean that this is an unaccredited karate school.

[Guy Raz]

Well, it is taught by a cockroach.

[Mindy]

You know it. Come on, let's go inside.

[Guy Raz]

Deep breaths, deep breaths.

[Mindy]

Um, hello, Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

Where is everyone?

[Mindy]

Greetings.

[Wasp Lady / Instructor]

Greetings, my cockroach friends. I see we have our first students.

[Mindy]

Yeah, you know, we're just a couple of real cockroaches hoping to learn some karate.

[Wasp Lady / Instructor]

Well, you've come to the right place. In this class, you will be instructed by an unlicensed and unprofessional cockroach.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, wait, did she just say and.

[Wasp Lady / Instructor]

It all happens in our state of the art facility.

[Mindy]

Sounds good to me.

[Wasp Lady / Instructor]

Before we start the class, I'll just need you to sign a few forms.

[Guy Raz]

Let me see these forms. This class may result in wasp stings, zombification, diarrhea.

[Mindy]

Mmm. Well, sign me up. Mindy, where do you want my autograph? Right here. And here.

[Wasp Lady / Instructor]

And over here and here and here and here.

[Mindy]

I'm sorry, I just can't use a pen to sign when all I got are these cockroach feet for hands.

[Wasp Lady / Instructor]

Allow me to sign for you.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, do you think this is a good idea?

[Mindy]

Yes, of course I don't think this is a good idea. Guy Raz.

[Wasp Lady / Instructor]

There we go. All signed. Now, before I introduce you to your sensei, I'm going to have you watch a brief video.

[Mindy]

Ooh, a brief video.

[Guy Raz]

Ooh la la.

[Dennis]

Are you a cockroach?

[Narrator]

No.

[Mindy]

Yes.

[Dennis]

Are you a cockroach?

[Sensei / Instructor]

Sick and tired of being stung by jewel wasps, zombified, and then fed to little wasp babies.

[Mindy]

What? Yes. If one more jewel wasp tries to turn me into a zombie, I'm gonna. I'm gonna. I'm probably not gonna do anything because I will be baby wasp food at that point.

[Reggie]

Then you've come to the right place.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Here at Kickin Cockroach Karate, we make a sandwich out of the latest scientific research and awesome moves. Moves that'll help you break your brains free from the clutches of the evil jewel wasp.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, are you sure this is a karate class? I mean, zombies, wasps, Scientific research.

[Mindy]

Oh, yeah. So when a jewel wasp finds a cockroach, it'll swoop in and sting the cockroach in two places. One sting in its lower abdomen to paralyze or basically freeze its front legs. And one sting to its brain.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy]

And with that sting guy Raz comes an injection of poisonous venom. A venomous sting that turns that cockroach into a zombie, basically.

[Guy Raz]

And once that happens, the wasp is able to control the cockroach.

[Mindy]

Oh, yeah. And at that point, the wasp grabs the zombie cockroach by the antennas, drags it into a hole like a dog on a leash, and there the wasp lays an egg on the cockroach. When that egg hatches, the larvae burrows its way down into the cockroach. And when it's done, it pops back out of the cockroach as a full grown wasp.

[Reggie]

Ta da.

[Sensei / Instructor]

But scientific research has shown us cockroaches, that there is a better way. And that's what we're gonna learn today in Kickin Cockroach karate.

[Guy Raz]

Scientific research?

[Mindy]

Oh, yeah. So I was just reading this amazing new study conducted by a scientist named Dr. Kenneth Catania. He's a biologist at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

[Guy Raz]

And what was the study?

[Mindy]

Well, Dr. Catania wanted to see up close what, if anything, cockroaches do when faced with a zombifying jewel wasp.

[Guy Raz]

And how did he do the experiment?

[Mindy]

Well, he took some jewel wasps and some cockroaches and he put them together in this fancy, clear, scientific shoebox, basically. And then he took a bunch of high speed video. Once he captured all the video, he watched, it played back in slow mo.

[Guy Raz]

And what did he discover?

[Mindy]

He discovered. Discovered that.

[Sensei / Instructor]

The Kicking Karate cockroach is in the house.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, something tells me he's not A real cockroach.

[Mindy]

What? Just because he can talk and wear gym socks and has a price tag stuck to his head? Is that a costume?

[Guy Raz]

Among other things, yes.

[Sensei / Instructor]

In this class, we are going to learn the fine art of karate kicking. Hiya.

[Dennis]

Our way to freedom. Can I get an oh, yeah? Oh, no.

[Mindy]

Oh, yeah.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Nice. Step one. Stilt standing. As the wasp approaches. As the wasp approaches.

[Dennis]

Sharon.

[Sensei / Instructor]

I mean, come on. The wasp approaches.

[Wasp Lady / Instructor]

I'm a wasp and I want to sting your brains.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Oh, Sharon, you're an amazing wasp.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, isn't that wasp the same person who.

[Mindy]

She's a real wasp. Just go with it.

[Sensei / Instructor]

As the wasp approaches, you rise up, turn your body away from the wasp, but your antennae towards the wasp. Lift up one of your hind legs and let the wasp know that you mean business.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, there are no wasps in this class. There are no other students. How much did you pay for this lesson?

[Mindy]

This is the best part.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Step 2. With your body positioned away from the wasp, wait for the wasp to approach. Sharon, Approach. And just as it gets ready to.

[Dennis]

Attack, use your spiky barbed wire like back legs to deliver a hearty kick.

[Reggie]

To the wasp's head.

[Dennis]

Keep on kicking for at least three minutes.

[Guy Raz]

Please don't kick that wasp. That wasp is a person in a wasp suit. I can tell by her shoes.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Of course I'm not gonna kick this wasp. We here at kicking cockroach karate practice, peaceful alternatives to working out our differences. Namaste.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, okay. So why are we here again?

[Mindy]

I got this guy, Raz. Um, excuse me. Excuse me, Mr. Sensei?

[Sensei / Instructor]

Sup, my young padawan?

[Mindy]

Um, why would the wasp just hang around while you kicked it in the head for three minutes? I mean, I would just get up and fly away, but, you know, that's just me, so.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Oh, my young protege, after this class, your cockroach kicks will be so fast, so ferocious, so fast that a wasp wouldn't be able to escape it if it tried. Well, I mean, at least 63% of the time, according to this new scientific research.

[Guy Raz]

OK, well, then step three.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Step three. At this point, of course, you're gonna have wasp guts stuck all to the spines of your roachy little legs. Now, what you're gonna do is you're gonna use the spines of your other legs, the ones that don't have guts on them, to rake them free of wasp debris. Do you get it? I'm making it rhyme so it helps your brain.

[Mindy]

I'm raking up these wasp guts off of me.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy.

[Mindy]

What?

[Sensei / Instructor]

Step four. Once you've finished raking that wasp off your legs. You're gonna hold the wasp away from you in a stiff arm stance and take a big bite out of its abdomen.

[Narrator]

What?

[Sensei / Instructor]

Which we're not gonna do in this class as we are uninsured and peace loving citizens of the insect community. Seriously? I wouldn't hurt a fly. You can ask Sharon. She will attest. Sharon. Right. But never bite.

[Wasp Lady / Instructor]

Phew.

[Mindy]

Okay, so what's step five? The fifth and final step.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Step five? Step five. You make it out alive. Class dismissed. That'll be 75 bucks per cockroach plus tax.

[Guy Raz]

75?

[Mindy]

I got this guy, Raz. Let's see here. 75 plus 75. Here's $150 in cold hard certified and licensed counterfeit cash.

[Sensei / Instructor]

Awesome. Counterfeit. Fit for a counter.

[Mindy]

See you at the next intrusion.

[Narrator]

The what?

[Mindy]

An intrusion is what you call a group of cockroaches.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, all right. So I'm confused. Did we earn a black belt or what?

[Reggie]

Hey, stop those cockroaches.

[Dennis]

Counterfeit means fake.

[Reggie]

I didn't know that. I bet you're not even real cockroaches.

[Mindy]

We gotta run cockroach style. Scurry, scurry, Scurry, Scurry. Scurry. Scurry, Scurry, Scurry, Scurry. Grown Ups. If you like wow in the World, you can listen early and ad free right now on Wondery.

[Narrator]

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

[Mindy]

And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] hey everyone. Thank you so much for hanging out with us this week on wow in the World.

[Narrator]

And to keep the wow rolling, check out this week's scientific conversation starters at our website, wowintheworld.com and grown ups.

[Mindy]

There you can find more info on how your kids can become members of the world organization of Wowzers.

[Narrator]

Shop.

[Mindy]

Our wow Shop upload photos and and videos to us and check dates for our upcoming live events. That's wowintheworld.com Our show is produced by Jed Anderson who provides the bells, whistles and silly characters. Say hello Jed Yellow. Our show is written by me, Guy Raz and Thomas Van Kalken who also provides silly characters. The role of Sharon the wasp lady was played by Dr. Jessica Russo. Ravand. Thanks Jesse.

[Narrator]

Thanks also to Jessica Boddy, Casey Koefer, Rebecca Caban, Kit Ballenger and Alex Curley. Meredith halpernranzer powers the wow at Tinkercast.

[Mindy]

Our theme song was composed and performed by the Pop Ups. For more info on their two time Grammy nominated all ages music, find them at thepopups.com and grown ups.

[Narrator]

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

[Mindy]

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 the show.

[Narrator]

Also, if you haven't already done so, please subscribe to wow in the World on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mindy]

Yeah, leave us a few stars, a review, or just tell a friend about the show.

[Narrator]

Thanks again for listening and a subscribe until next time.

[Guy Raz]

Keep on wowing.

[Mindy]

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