Wow in the World – WeWow on the Weekend (Nov 29, 2025)
Podcast: Wow in the World
Hosts: Mindy Thomas, Guy Raz
Special Segments Host: Dennis (President of the World Organization of Wowzers)
Characters/Guests: Reggie the Pigeon, Baby Dennis, Elmo (from Sesame Street)
Episode Theme: Fun with science, listener participation, and an engaging "rewatch" of a classic Wow in the World adventure at the Great Barrier Reef.
Episode Overview
This "WeWow on the Weekend" episode blends giggle-worthy listener interaction with a deep-dive (literally!) relisten to the original Wow in the World episode "Save Our Reef." Host Dennis and his sidekick Reggie the Pigeon answer reviews, share a wow fact from Elmo, and then revisit an ocean-packed story where Mindy and Guy Raz confront the wonders and worries of the Great Barrier Reef. Energetic, silly, and sneakily packed with science, this weekend show is a celebration of curiosity and eco-adventure for kids (and their grownups).
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Guinness World Record Attempt: Most Wow Facts Shared!
[00:12 - 01:53]
- Mindy Thomas urges listeners to participate in the show's attempt to set a Guinness World Record for most submissions to a fact hotline.
- Elmo from Sesame Street drops in with a "wow":
"Did you know that little babies can laugh before they can talk? ... Elmo hopes that his well in the world made you happy too. Bye bye. Elmo loves you." (Elmo, 01:21)
2. Listener Reviews Segment ("Reading Reviewsies")
[04:03 - 07:03]
-
Dennis and Reggie read and respond to Apple Podcast and Spotify reviews.
- Tupelo Love: Awards Dennis "first place" and "money emojis," and claims to sing the theme song in pigeon.
- jgggghuyg: Points out a continuity goof in a past Snoop and Seek Robot episode.
- BME2: Asks why Dennis' voice sounds like Baby Dennis—revealed to be a ventriloquist dummy.
-
Classic Dennis humor:
"Because baby Dennis is a ventriloquist dummy, right? I control him and I talk for him." (Dennis, 06:11)
3. "Inside Tinkercast Studios": Relistening to "Save Our Reef"
[07:56 - 33:05]
a. Setting off for the Great Barrier Reef
- Mindy and Guy Raz prepare for a research vacation to the Great Barrier Reef, bantering about their conflicting schedules—Mindy's is full of adventure, Guy Raz wants "rest and research" (10:03–11:19).
- Mindy reads off a comically long list written on toilet paper.
"It contains over 100 species of jellyfish, 1625 types of fish, 133 varieties of sharks and rays, and more than 30 species of whales and dolphins. Wow." (Guy Raz, 10:51)
b. Learning about the Reef
- Reggie acts as pilot; the crew arrives at the vast, colorful reef—"the only living organism visible from space" (14:13).
- Mindy and Guy pack into a "deluxe two-person underwater ocean floor observatory" by unshrinking a toy submarine (16:15).
c. Coral Bleaching Explained
- The crew spots "white tree things"—bleached coral.
- Coral bleaching: Caused by stressors like warming oceans, pollution, too much sunlight.
- The relationship between coral and its colorful symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) is essential. When temperatures rise, the algae "pack their bags," leaving the coral colorless and vulnerable (17:26–20:29).
"When the temperature gets so unbearable, the zooxanthellae end up packing their bags and leaving the coral, taking all of their colors with them." (Guy Raz, 20:15)
d. Meet the "Coral Killer" – Crown of Thorns Starfish
Underwater Movie Theater Scene:
- Mindy and Guy visit an underwater drive-in to watch "The Coral Killer" (21:55).
- Discover that the "monster" is real: the Crown of Thorns Starfish, a voracious predator that eats coral (24:01).
- Population booms in starfish linked to climate changes and events like El Niño (25:12–25:49).
- Each starfish can lay up to 65 million eggs (!).
"These purplish blue starfish can grow as long as a medium sized dog...they’ll eat just about any coral you put in front of them." (Mindy Thomas, 24:01–24:31)
e. Tech to the Rescue: "COTZBot" the Starfish Slayer
- Mindy introduces the COTZBot—an underwater robot built by Queensland researchers to identify and inject starfish with sodium bisulfite (cow bile), saving the reef (27:14–28:41).
- The COTZBot learns to recognize starfish better with each encounter—robot learning in action.
"We're injecting starfish with salty cow bile using a drone, all in an effort to save the reef?" (Guy Raz, 28:51)
f. Nature's Bodyguard: The Giant Triton Sea Snail
- Nature helps, too: The giant Triton sea snail (up to 1.5 feet long) eats Crown of Thorns but only about one starfish a week (29:19–31:06).
- Even the smell of the Triton snail scares starfish away and disrupts their breeding.
"Just the smell of the Triton in the water near the starfish is enough to send the starfish running." (Guy Raz, 31:17)
4. Light-Hearted Wrap-Up and Science Snack Talk
[33:05 - End]
- Dennis and Reggie chat about what made them hungriest: the underwater theater snacks or imagining Triton snails at work.
- "We should go make pancakes in the shape of starfish ... starry, starry brunch!" (Dennis, 33:20)
- Encouragement to send in questions for next weekend's show.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Laughter:
"Did you know that little babies can laugh before they can talk?"
– Elmo [01:21] -
On Coral Biodiversity:
"The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet."
– Guy Raz [10:51] -
On Coral-Algae Partnership:
"The zooxanthellae turns sunlight into food for the coral, and the coral gives the algae a cozy place to live."
– Guy Raz [19:08] -
On Robotic Solutions:
"It's mind bogglingly cool, Mindy. But you know that these robots aren't the only ones bringing the fight to the starfish."
– Guy Raz [29:04] -
On Natural Predators:
"Just the smell of the Triton in the water near the starfish is enough to send the starfish running."
– Guy Raz [31:17] -
On Listener Involvement:
"If you leave a comment on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, I just might read it on We Wow on the Weekend."
– Dennis [07:03]
Timestamps of Important Segments
- Guinness attempt/Elmo’s Wow: 00:12–01:53
- Reading reviews: 04:03–07:03
- Start of “Save Our Reef” relisten: 07:56
- Coral bleaching explained: 17:26–20:29
- Underwater theater—Crown of Thorns starfish: 21:55–25:12
- COTZBot—robotic starfish remover: 27:14–28:41
- Giant Triton sea snail introduced: 29:19–31:06
- Star-shaped brunch—wrap-up: 33:05–34:22
Conclusion
This episode of WeWow on the Weekend is a whirlwind of science and silliness. Kids and adults get to laugh, learn, and (maybe) get hungry for a pancake shaped like a starfish—all while understanding why the Great Barrier Reef matters and how technology and nature are working together to save it. Listener messages and favorite moments make for an inclusive, "galaxy full of stars" kind of weekend.
For more amazing science stories and to get involved, call the Wow Fact hotline at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW!