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Hey, parents lace up for adventure with Sneaks, the new animated movie that's made for sneakerheads of all ages. Sneaks follows a pair of one of a kind sneakers named Ty and Maxine, who get kidnapped by a shady collector. But even with the help of Ty's streetwise footwear friends, finding his soulmate will be no slam dunk. With an original soundtrack featuring Mustard and an all star cast that includes Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, Chloe Bailey, Swae Lee, Chris Paul and Laurence Fishburne. I can't wait to put on my best pair of sneakers and run to the theater to see this. It's not only gonna be fun for kids, but looks cool for grown ups too. Watch Sneaks exclusively in theaters April 18th.
Mindy Thomas
Hey wowzer fams. Mindy and Guy Raz here. And guess what?
Guy Raz
What's the good news, Mindy?
Mindy Thomas
Once Upon a Beat is back with brand new episodes.
Guy Raz
Oh, I love that podcast.
Mindy Thomas
Grown up. Steve, do you ever think some of those fairy tales and fables from back in the day are just a little bit dusty? Well, we here at Tinkercast have partnered with our friends at Wondery to bring your family new episodes of Once Upon a Beat.
Guy Raz
Once Upon a Beat remixes fairy tales and fables as old as time, giving them a fresh spin with some rhythm and rhyme.
Mindy Thomas
This podcast is hosted by the amazing DJ Fuch and features original hip hop songs from Grammy award winning artist secret agent 23 skidoo once upon a Beach.
Guy Raz
Once Upon a Beat is where hip hop and fairy tales meet and you can listen to new episodes right now.
Mindy Thomas
Follow Once Upon a Beat on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Once Upon a Beat early and ad free right now by joining Wondery in the Wondery app in Apple podcasts. That's it. And now let's get back to the show.
Dennis
Earth wake on Wee Wow. We need to help the earth cause it's super cool. Wow. Conservation and recycling too. Earth has plants and lakes and trees and pigeons and frogs and chimpanzees and lakes and lemurs and honeybees and snails and rocks and sugar peas and dogs and cats and fish and mangoes and dandelions and grapes. Reggie, why'd you turn off the drum machine? I'm almost finished. A 5, 6, 7, 8. Earth wee wee wow Earth we we wow. Gotta have the whole earth on Wee Wow Earth wee wee wow. Hello and welcome to another day of Wee Wow earthquake. I'm your host Dennis and this is Reggie, my co host. This is the week where we talk about being super cool to the earth and listen to eco friendly episodes of wow in the world. Now, as you know, I am the most environmentally conscious person in the entire neighborhood, Reggie. Yes, I am. Well, I'll have you know that I spent the entire day cleaning up our entire neighborhood. Yes, I did. I vacuumed the grass, dusted the bushes, and sprayed air freshener on all the air. Yes, Reggie, air freshener. I used my favorite scent, Bubblegum mountain mist. What did I pick up? Wayward garbage. Ew. Well, recycling is one thing, but I'm not touching other people's trash. Of course, Reggie. I clean up my trash. I would never leave trash lying around. Besides, I don't even make that much trash. I recycle everything. Yeah, I'll prove it. Here, listen to this episode of wow in the World. In it, I saved the neighborhood from single use plastics by becoming a human spider. It's wow in the world. Season 7, episode 17 called Spider Dennis to the rescue. What? What do you mean? That wasn't me, Mindy. Mindy's not Spider Dennis. I'm Spider Dennis. Spider Mindy? Reggie. No. I specifically remember swinging from rooftop to rooftop dressed as a spider, pooping out clear plastic rope, and then crashing into Guy Raz's microhow. Wait, now you're right. That was Mindy. Well, I'm sorry. I forgot. There are a lot of these episodes and I can't be expected to remember every single one of them. But it's okay, because now it'll be like I'm listening to it for the. I know. I'm so excited. Okay, here we go. And play.
Mindy Thomas
Wee Wow will be right back. Grown ups, this message is for you. That's it. Now back to the show.
Dennis
Wow.
Mindy Thomas
I can see the whole world from up here on the roof of my gingerbread mansion. Reg. I mean, just look. There's Guy Raz's micro house and Thomas Fingerling's knuckle hut over there. And is that Grandma G Force's pepper wrestling patch? Ah, those poor peppers. Oh yeah. And what? Oh, that over there is just Dennis industrial sized dumpster filled to the brim with single use plastic takeout containers that he's planning to throw away.
Dennis
Okay, Dumpster, this will be our little secret. Don't tell anyone about all this plastic waste I'm making. Especially Guy Raz or Mindy or Reggie or the children of the world. There we go. That takes care of that.
Mindy Thomas
I know. So wasteful. Well, anywho, I've got a solution that might put us stop to that problem. But first I need to get into this costume. Okay, regret the eyes and the abdomen. Now I just need the legs. Think you could give me a wing and help me attach them? Thanks, buddy. 1 leg, 2 legs, 3 legs, 4 legs, 5 legs, 6 legs, 7 legs, 8 legs and 1 more leg. Cause I just like to be a little extra. Hey, Reg, how do I look?
Guy Raz
Whoa. Reggie. Mindy, Is that you up there?
Mindy Thomas
Guy Razzie, why are you on the.
Guy Raz
Roof of your gingerbread mansion dressed up like a nine legged spider?
Dennis
I know.
Mindy Thomas
Why not?
Guy Raz
I mean, I mean, is there some kind of costume parade I'm not aware of or.
Mindy Thomas
Or am I just dressed up like this for science?
Guy Raz
Huh? Why would you be dressed up like a nine legged spider? For science.
Dennis
I'm a morning guy. Oh, morning spider. Mindy. Wow, you look terrifying. I like the extra leg.
Guy Raz
Mindy, why don't you come down here so you can explain what's going on?
Mindy Thomas
Oh, Happy two, Guy Raz. But I've got some work to do on my way down.
Guy Raz
What?
Mindy Thomas
Reggie, the spinnerets. Here, just attach them to my abdomen. Here. Thank you.
Dennis
Hey, spider. Mindy, what did Reggie put on you? It looks like six belly buttons.
Mindy Thomas
What?
Dennis
Dennis.
Guy Raz
Oh, I think I see it.
Dennis
Yeah. What?
Guy Raz
I don't think those are belly buttons, Dennis.
Dennis
Well, what are they?
Guy Raz
Those appear to be her spinnerets. They're what spiders use to spin silk threads. And what?
Dennis
They're Raisinets?
Guy Raz
No.
Mindy Thomas
Give me a countdown, Reg.
Guy Raz
What in the.
Mindy Thomas
Wow.
Dennis
Guy, did you see that spider? Mindy jumped off her roof and landed on my roof.
Guy Raz
Mindy.
Dennis
And she pooped out a clear plastic rope and made a bridge between our houses.
Guy Raz
A bridge?
Mindy Thomas
Hey, Guy Raz. Dennis, watch this.
Dennis
Okay. Go spider. Mindy, go.
Guy Raz
What is she doing? Is she leaping between her house and yours, Dennis?
Dennis
Yeah, and she's pooping out more of that strange plastic rope. Uh, it looks like she's making a net. No. No way. Spider Mindy is building a spider web. Hardcore. Parkour. Woohoo.
Guy Raz
What in the. Wow.
Dennis
Ah, spider. Mindy, do the little webby spiral in the middle. Gotcha. Dennis.
Mindy Thomas
Spiraling, spiraling.
Dennis
Oh, yeah, that's nice.
Mindy Thomas
Spiraling, spiraling.
Guy Raz
Mindy, Mindy, can you please come down from that web and explain to all of us what it is you're doing?
Mindy Thomas
All right.
Dennis
Oh, heaven. Mindy. Oh, that's not good. I'm okay. Yikes.
Guy Raz
My micro house. My beautiful sustainable micro house.
Mindy Thomas
Got a real mess in there to clean up. Guy Raz, what's all the ranking out here? I Can't hardly hear myself think about nothing.
Guy Raz
What?
Mindy Thomas
Grandma G Force hugs. Where's that nine legged tarantula token? Oh no. Grandma G Force, it's me.
Thomas Fingerling
What in the World Wide Web? Would you look at that? A web. That's some expert craftsmanship right there too. Looks to be made out of some kind of soy protein isolate.
Guy Raz
Wait, say that again. Thomas Fingerling.
Thomas Fingerling
Huh? I said what in the World Wide Web? It's kind of my catchphrase.
Guy Raz
No, no, not that part. The last part.
Thomas Fingerling
Oh, you mean it looks to be made out of some kind of soy protein isolate?
Guy Raz
Soy protein isolate.
Dennis
Aha. Yes.
Guy Raz
Now this is all starting to make sense.
Dennis
Yay.
Mindy Thomas
So does that mean that you're cool with me crashing through the window of your micro house, Guy Raz?
Guy Raz
No, it definitely does not mean that. But what it does mean is that I now understand what you were doing building that human sized spider web, Mindy.
Mindy Thomas
You do?
Guy Raz
Yes, yes. You were doing it for science.
Mindy Thomas
Make it stop.
Guy Raz
No, no, no. Groaning now, please allow me to explain.
Mindy Thomas
No.
Guy Raz
You see, spider silk is one of the strongest and most durable materials on earth.
Dennis
Oh, wow.
Mindy Thomas
Wow.
Guy Raz
And if we could super size a spider web to human size, it would be five times stronger than steel.
Mindy Thomas
Oh, snap. Guy Raz is right, everyone. A human sized spider web would be strong enough to trap a. You know what? Why tell you when I could just show you?
Dennis
What's she gonna do now?
Mindy Thomas
Okay, Dennis.
Dennis
Uh huh?
Mindy Thomas
Dennis.
Dennis
Yeah, what?
Mindy Thomas
Here are the keys to my ice cream truck. I need you to pull it around the. Okay.
Dennis
Aye, aye, Captain. I mean, Spidermindy.
Mindy Thomas
I mean Captain Spidermindy and Thomas Fingerling.
Thomas Fingerling
Present.
Mindy Thomas
Remember that time you threatened to blast Grandma G Force out of a cannon if she didn't quit eating your deodorant sticks?
Thomas Fingerling
Oh, yeah. Gotta keep my deodorant away from both G Force and my cat.
Guy Raz
What?
Mindy Thomas
Oh, you don't like the taste of mountain breeze, boy?
Guy Raz
Ugh.
Thomas Fingerling
So what, you want my deodorant too, Mandy?
Mindy Thomas
What? No, I want the cannon. Go get the cannon.
Thomas Fingerling
Oh. Gotcha. All right. Come on, G Force. I'm gonna need some muscle.
Mindy Thomas
Well, I guess.
Guy Raz
Mindy, does all of this spiderweb stuff have anything to do with that recent study that came out of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom?
Mindy Thomas
Oh, you mean the one published in the scientific journal Nature Communications?
Guy Raz
Yeah, that's the one.
Mindy Thomas
You know that study?
Guy Raz
Well, yeah, I was just reading about how these researchers used plant proteins to replic replicate or copy the silk that spiders create to spin their webs.
Mindy Thomas
Yes, Plant proteins. Specifically one called soy protein isolate, which is really just a fancy way of saying the protein taken out of soybeans. In fact, you'd find these in things like veggie burgers and fake meat.
Guy Raz
And from what I read in this study, it sounds like they researched how the molecules in spider silks are structured or arranged so they could do the same with these plant proteins.
Mindy Thomas
Exactly. Kind of like recreating a puzzle using different materials that could act the same way.
Guy Raz
Yes. So once this team of researchers unlocked the secret to how spider silks are formed.
Mindy Thomas
Kind of like getting a sneak peek at the picture on the puzzle box.
Guy Raz
Yeah. Once they did that, they had all the information they needed to essentially create spider silks of their own.
Mindy Thomas
Yes, but they did not create spider silks for spider webs. Instead, they created something that looked a little different. Something called a polymer film, which looks like a thin sheet of plastic, but it's not.
Guy Raz
Nope. It's 100% genuine vegan or plant based spider silk.
Mindy Thomas
Uh huh. But instead of looking like a spider web, it looks more like the plastic wrap that you use to wrap up your leftovers.
Dennis
Honk, honk. I'm back.
Mindy Thomas
Oh, hey, Dennis. You're just in time. And I'm a wood.
Thomas Fingerling
Hey, Mandy. We got the cannon you asked for.
Mindy Thomas
Uh, oh, thanks, Thomas Fingerling. You can leave it right there in front of my giant spider web.
Thomas Fingerling
Okey doke.
Guy Raz
So wait a minute. Is that what you've done here, Mindy? Did you create this spiderweb out of your own plant based vegan spider silk.
Mindy Thomas
Handcrafted by yours truly in my very own laboratory of bad ideas?
Guy Raz
Wow, that's incredible.
Mindy Thomas
Oh, and that's not even the most incredible part.
Guy Raz
It's not?
Mindy Thomas
No. Remember how we were saying how strong spider webs are?
Guy Raz
Yeah. And how if we were to supersize them to human size, kind of like you did here, it would be five times stronger than steel.
Mindy Thomas
Yep. Now is the time to test it out and see for ourselves.
Guy Raz
Uh, does this have anything to do with Dennis behind the wheel of your ice cream truck and Grandma G Force climbing into that cannon?
Thomas Fingerling
Ugh. GeForce, I don't think you're gonna fit.
Mindy Thomas
Give the old tush a punch. It has everything to do with that guy Raz. Dennis.
Dennis
Yep.
Mindy Thomas
I want you to back that tr. And when I say three, I want you to rev up the engine and gun it into my spider web. Okay?
Dennis
You got it, spider.
Guy Raz
Mindy, are you sure this is a good idea? Mindy?
Mindy Thomas
Yes, of course. I'm not sure this is a good idea, Guy Raz, but anything for science, right?
Guy Raz
There are exceptions to that rule.
Mindy Thomas
Okay, Dennis, get ready. Now slam on the gas.
Dennis
Ready?
Mindy Thomas
In three, two, one.
Dennis
Ah. Oops. Oops, oops, oops, oops, oops.
Mindy Thomas
Nope, that's Dennis.
Dennis
I got it, I got it.
Thomas Fingerling
Do you know how to drive?
Dennis
I know how to drive, Tommy. Come on, try it again, Dennis. I am trying it again, Minty. But this piece of junk won't. Oh, wait, that's the clutch. That's the brake. All right, I got it. Now I just need. Ow. Ha ha.
Mindy Thomas
Success. I knew it would work.
Guy Raz
You did?
Mindy Thomas
No, I had no idea. This was a really risky experiment. But look, it paid off. And now my human made spiderweb is holding both Dennis and my ice cream truck. Look how strong it is.
Dennis
Okay, I did it. I'm stuck now.
Guy Raz
You know, this is actually pretty incredible, Mindy. If scientists are able to create a material that's as strong and as durable as a spider silk, they could essentially use the same process to create materials that work the same way. Plastic.
Dennis
Does someone say plastic? Because I don't use plastic. I've never even heard of plastic before. In a sense, it sounds really bad for the environment to me.
Mindy Thomas
Yes, but they can make a plastic like material that doesn't harm the earth the same way real plastic does. Especially the plastics that we use once and then just throw away.
Dennis
What? Single use plastic? Oh, who would do such a thing? Not me, that's for sure. And I definitely wouldn't have a whole dumpster full, because that would just be awful.
Mindy Thomas
Is that Bar Never Stop talking?
Thomas Fingerling
Who said that? Was it a ghost?
Mindy Thomas
Ahem.
Thomas Fingerling
Oh yeah. G force is in the cannon. I forgot.
Guy Raz
I mean, just imagine with a discovery like this, we could be on our way to getting rid of those single use plastics altogether.
Mindy Thomas
Yeah, I mean, this. This plant based vegan spider silk is compostable, meaning that it can break down in a way that's helpful to the planet instead of hurtful.
Guy Raz
And creating it doesn't require anything from animals. Well, other than the inspiration behind it.
Dennis
Yay. Spiderman Day, Dennis.
Guy Raz
And it can be an environmentally good alternative to all the plastic we humans use and waste every single day.
Dennis
And it also makes a great spider web for holding your ice cream truck. And your friend Dennis.
Guy Raz
Are we ever gonna get him down from there?
Mindy Thomas
Huh? I don't know.
Thomas Fingerling
Well, maybe we could shoot him down with this here cannon.
Dennis
Oh, Tommy, no.
Thomas Fingerling
Well, we ought to test how strong that web is.
Guy Raz
Sorry, Thomas Fingerling, but we've already Proved just how strong the web is. I mean, look at Dennis and the ice cream truck just stuck up ins.
Dennis
Yeah, just look.
Mindy Thomas
So you're not gonna shoot me out of the cannon?
Guy Raz
No, I don't think we need to.
Mindy Thomas
Well, humph. But you know, Guy Raz, scientists do have to test their experiments more than once to make sure that their findings are consistent. Yeah, boy. Science.
Guy Raz
Mindy. You're gonna shoot your own grandmother out of a cannon into a giant spider?
Mindy Thomas
What? Of course I'm not going to do that, Guy Raz. Phew. Thomas Fingerling is.
Dennis
Fire in the hole. What? Oh, hey there, Granny G. Welcome to my web.
Mindy Thomas
Fingerling. You get me out of this thing. I'm stuck.
Thomas Fingerling
All right, all right, hold your horses. Let me just climb up here and I'll just, uh. Oh, well, now I'm stuck. Somebody want to give me a hand?
Mindy Thomas
He's looking at you, Guy Raz. Get in there and help him out. Me?
Guy Raz
Why do I have to do it? It's your web.
Mindy Thomas
Fine, I'll do it.
Dennis
Coming.
Thomas Fingerling
Hurry it up, young lady.
Guy Raz
You know, Reggie, that really is an impressive web she's woven. I mean, who knew that spider silk could inspire something strong enough to hold all of our friends in one ice cream truck?
Mindy Thomas
Guy Raz.
Guy Raz
Oh, no.
Mindy Thomas
I think I might be stuck. You think you could come and rescue us?
Dennis
Save me, Guy.
Guy Raz
All right, here I come. Climb. Climb. Oh, no.
Dennis
Oh, no.
Guy Raz
Oh, Guy, I think I must be stuck.
Thomas Fingerling
Oh, you think?
Dennis
Don't worry, everyone. I know what to do.
Thomas Fingerling
What?
Dennis
Just stay here forever. Together woven in an intricate tapestry of friendship and soy protein isolate.
Mindy Thomas
Oh, snap.
Dennis
Veggie.
Thomas Fingerling
Save me, pigeon.
Mindy Thomas
Grownups. If you like wow in the world. You can listen early and ad free right now on Wondery.
Guy Raz
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 your by filling out a short survey@wondery.com survey.
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 our senior producer, Jed Anderson and Tyler Thole. You can also hear Jed Anderson in the voices of Dennis Thomas, Fingerling, Reggie and many of the other silly characters you hear on our show.
Guy Raz
Jessica Bode keeps our facts straight as our fact checker and Meredith Halpern Ranzer powers the wow at Tinkercast.
Mindy Thomas
Our theme song was composed and performed by three time Grammy nominees. The pop ups. Find them@thepopups.com Special thanks to the rest.
Guy Raz
Of our team of tinkerers including Anna Sigorski, Rebecca Caban, Kit Ballinger and Henry Moskal.
Mindy Thomas
To keep the wows rolling, visit us@tinkercast.com There you can learn more about becoming an official member of the World Organization of wowzers, learn more about upcoming events, shop our shop and pick up a copy of our new number one New York Times best selling book the how and wow of the Human Body Grown Ups.
Guy Raz
You can follow wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter owintheworld and our email address is hello@tinkercast.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 an upcoming episode of 2 what's and a wow.
Guy Raz
Thanks again for listening and until next time, keep on wowing.
Mindy Thomas
Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
Episode: WeWow Earth Week - Day 4
Release Date: April 17, 2025
Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Produced by: Tinkercast | Wondery
In the fourth installment of "WeWow Earth Week," hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz delve into innovative solutions for environmental conservation, focusing particularly on the development of plant-based alternatives to traditional plastics. This episode seamlessly blends educational content with entertaining narratives, engaging both young listeners and their grown-up companions.
The episode kicks off with Dennis, the most environmentally conscious character in the neighborhood, and his co-host Reggie discussing the importance of conservation and recycling. Dennis proudly shares his efforts in cleaning up the neighborhood, emphasizing personal responsibility in waste management.
Notable Quote:
A humorous twist unfolds as Dennis mistakenly claims credit for an episode titled "Spider Dennis to the Rescue," where he supposedly saved the neighborhood from single-use plastics by becoming a human spider. This mix-up introduces the central theme of the episode—exploring sustainable alternatives to harmful plastics.
Notable Quote:
Mindy Thomas takes center stage as she transforms into a nine-legged spider to demonstrate the potential of creating human-sized spider webs using plant-based materials. Her elaborate costume and adventurous spirit symbolize the innovative approaches scientists are taking to address plastic pollution.
Notable Quote:
Guy Raz elucidates a groundbreaking study from the University of Cambridge, which explores the replication of spider silk using soy protein isolate—a plant-based protein extracted from soybeans. This research aims to create a biodegradable and sustainable alternative to conventional plastics.
Notable Quotes:
Mindy successfully constructs a human-sized spider web using the plant-based material, showcasing its impressive strength by attempting to immobilize Dennis and his ice cream truck. This practical demonstration underscores the viability of such materials in reducing plastic waste.
Notable Quote:
The hosts discuss the environmental benefits of using plant-based spider silk, highlighting its compostable nature and the elimination of reliance on animal-derived products. They envision a future where such innovations could significantly reduce the prevalence of single-use plastics, offering a sustainable alternative that aligns with ecological preservation.
Notable Quotes:
The episode concludes with a series of comedic mishaps as the strong spider web traps the hosts and Dennis, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of scientific experiments. Despite the chaos, the underlying message reinforces the importance of innovative thinking and perseverance in solving environmental challenges.
Notable Quote:
"WeWow Earth Week - Day 4" masterfully combines humor, storytelling, and scientific exploration to educate listeners about sustainable alternatives to plastics. Through engaging characters and relatable scenarios, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz inspire both kids and adults to think creatively about environmental conservation.
Final Takeaway: The episode emphasizes that with ingenuity and dedication, it's possible to develop eco-friendly materials that not only replace harmful plastics but also contribute positively to the planet's health. As Mindy aptly puts it, "Anything for science, right?" (16:41).
Credits:
Written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalken with contributions from Guy Raz. Sound design and music editing by Jed Anderson and Tyler Thole. Fact-checked by Jessica Bode and Meredith Halpern Ranzer. Special thanks to the team of tinkerers including Anna Sigorski, Rebecca Caban, Kit Ballinger, and Henry Moskal.
Keep on wowing and making the world a better place!