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.”

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.

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)

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)

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.

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.

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!

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.