WeWow on the Weekend (10/19/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: WeWow on the Weekend (10/19/25)

Release Date: October 19, 2025
Hosts: Dennis, Post Officer Jen (Jellybird), Mindy Thomas, Guy Raz, Reggie
Podcast: Tinkercast | Wondery

---

Episode Overview

This playful weekend episode of Wow in the World centers on fun science talk with a focus on the mysteries of brain freeze! Host Dennis is joined by Post Officer Jen (aka Jellybird) for a quirky mail-themed segment before revisiting a classic "Wow in the World" episode (“Brain Freeze”) with Mindy and Guy. The episode blends educational science facts, relatable humor, behind-the-scenes moments, and tips for kids about mail delivery, brain freeze, and staying curious.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mail Carrier Guest Segment (03:23–08:45)

• Dennis introduces Post Officer Jen (Jellybird) in a humorous, slightly chaotic Q&A about the life of a mail carrier.
  • Multiple funny miscommunications about Jen’s name.
    • Dennis: “Jellybird is the cutest name I’ve ever heard.” (05:01)
• How mail is sorted and delivered:
  • Jen explains the sorting and loading process (“sort the mail…put it in the truck…deliver to addresses”). (05:58–06:25)
  • Description of the "arrow key": a special key mail carriers use to open mailboxes. (06:34–06:46)
• Clarification about emails: Dennis humorously asks if mail carriers carry emails in bags. Jen explains that traditional mail and email are separate. (07:24–07:30)
• What’s in the mail?
  • Jen describes the types of items (letters, postcards, packages) and emphasizes privacy laws (“There are rules…absolutely forbid me or anyone else from opening other people’s mail.”). (07:52–08:06)
  • Jen delivers Dennis’ mail live (08:11–08:35), including a funny catalog from “Super Villain Outfitters” and a static electricity bill.

2. Classic "Wow in the World" Moment: The Mystery of Brain Freeze (09:10–19:40)

• Dennis and Jen cue up and comment along with a previously released Wow in the World episode, “Brain Freeze.”

a. The Melting Gingerbread House (10:00–11:50)

• Mindy and Guy discuss the woes of living in a gingerbread house during summer (melting roof, edible doors, and the temptation to eat the house).
  • Mindy: “This chocolate door sure does look delicious. Maybe I’ll just take one little bite…” (11:19)

b. Making “Brown Cows” — the Scene of the Brain Freeze (12:17–13:44)

• They make a cold treat, “brown cows” (root beer floats with ice cream), and Guy gets a brain freeze after drinking too quickly.

  • Mindy: “You sucked up that entire bucket of brown cow so fast that you gave yourself brain freeze.” (13:45–14:25)

c. Science Behind Brain Freeze (14:25–15:12)

• Mindy explains the science:
  • Brain freeze (“sphenopalatine ganglion neuralgia”) is caused when something cold touches a nerve bundle (SPG) at the back of your palate.
  • Guy: “That’s a mouthful, literally.” (15:04)

d. Why Brain Freeze Happens (15:12–16:47)

• Brain’s dislike of sudden temperature changes, as explained by neuroscientist Dr. Duane Godwin:
  • Mindy: “The one thing our brains don’t like is when things change quickly, and that brain freeze is there to prevent it.” (15:45–16:06)
• No true “cure”—best advice is to eat cold foods slowly so your mouth can acclimate.

e. Tips to Avoid & Relieve Brain Freeze (16:47–18:27)

• Keep cold food in the front of your mouth.
• If you get brain freeze:
  • Trick: Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth and tilt your head back (not the “jelly bean in the belly button” joke!).
    • Mindy: “With your tongue on the roof of your mouth, say, ‘I’m a little teapot!’” (18:03–18:14)
  • The warmth helps nerves recover.

f. Why Scientists Study Brain Freeze (18:27–19:05)

• Research into brain freeze helps scientists understand and treat more serious headaches, like migraines.

  • Guy: “So understanding these SPG nerves could possibly help scientists figure out different ways of dealing with other kinds of headaches.” (18:57–19:05)

g. Quirky Aftermath & Wrap Up (19:26–19:55)

• Mindy tries to enlist Guy to help rebuild her gingerbread house, while Guy tries to avoid any more sweet construction gigs.

3. Back to the Mailroom & Ice Cream Outing (20:01–20:37)

• Dennis and Jen share their snack cravings after the episode—both want ice cream, but debate the merits of popsicles with gumball eyes.
  • Dennis: “I want one of those popsicles with the gumball eyes.” (20:21)
  • Jen: “Ooh, those things freak me out.” (20:23)
  • Dennis is inspired to freeze everything before eating it—“I learned from Wow in the World that if you…”

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dennis, on interviewing Post Officer Jen:
  • “Jellybird is the cutest name I’ve ever heard.” (05:01)
  • “Do you also deliver all the emails?” (07:24)
• Guy Raz, on the summer heat:
  • “I’m sweating like Richard Simmons to the oldies.” (10:16)
• Mindy Thomas, on gingerbread house woes:
  • “This chocolate door sure does look delicious. Maybe I’ll just take one little bite.” (11:19)
• Mindy, explaining brain freeze:
  • “That bundle of nerves called the sphenopalatine ganglion, or as some scientists just call it, the spg.” (15:06)
• Practical brain freeze remedy:
  • Mindy: “If you feel a brain freeze coming on, tilt your head back and press your tongue to the roof of your mouth for ten seconds.” (17:53)
  • “With your tongue on the roof of your mouth, say ‘I’m a little teapot!’” (18:03)
• Connection to migraine research:
  • “Those SPG nerves…are also responsible for migraines and cluster headaches, which can be super painful and last way longer than your typical ice cream headache.” (18:46)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:23 – Start of the main show, Dennis intro and mail carrier guest
• 04:47 – Post Officer Jen (Jellybird) enters interview
• 05:58–06:25 – Description of mail carrier job
• 06:34 – Explanation of the “arrow key” for mailboxes
• 07:24 – Dennis asks about emails
• 08:11–08:35 – Dennis receives (and laughs about) his mail
• 09:10 – “Inside Tinkercast Studios” segment—setup for replaying “Brain Freeze”
• 10:00 – “Brain Freeze” episode begins
• 13:45 – Guy gets brain freeze from the brown cow
• 14:25 – Explanation of brain freeze science
• 15:45 – Brain’s response to fast temperature changes explained
• 16:19 – Dr. Vertrees’ advice on avoiding brain freeze
• 17:53 – Remedy for brain freeze described
• 18:46 – Brain freeze’s connection to migraines and research
• 20:01 – Post-listen chat: craving ice cream and wrap-up

---

Summary

This episode offers a lively mashup of silly interviews, fascinating science facts, and genuine curiosity. Listeners learn all about the job of mail carriers (and why they don’t deliver your emails!), and then dive into a classic Wow in the World segment all about brain freeze—what causes it, how to avoid it, and what scientists can learn from it. The episode is packed with memorable lines, playful tone, and practical wisdom, leaving listeners hungry for both knowledge and ice cream.

Perfect for: Kids, families, and the naturally curious who love their science with a big serving of laughter.

---

Transcript

[Guy Raz]

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 Thomas]

Hey wowhouser fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show, it's almost Halloween and to celebrate with all of Boo. I mean you, we've put together some of our favorite spooky episodes of wow in the World and Halloween experiments and crafts all in one place. So you can make your Halloween extra WOW from home. Plus, if you want to dress up like someone from the wow crew this year, you can find Halloween costume ideas from your fellow wowzers there too. We can't wait to see what costumes you come up with this year. Oh, and just a tip for how to make your Mindy costume more realistic, add some leftover Mac and cheese to your jacket pocket. For activities, episodes, videos and more wows, visit Tinkercast.com Halloween that's Tinkercast.com Halloween that's it. And now let's get back to the show.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Hey Grown Ups. If you are listening to wow in the World, you're probably already a fan of blending science, technology, engineering, art and math with fun. And if you're looking for another great screen free way for your kids to learn and play, check out Kiwico. Kiwico delivers monthly crates with exciting STEAM projects for kids of all ages. Each crate highlights new fundamental skills for kids to learn while they play. Subscription crates are split up by age and interest area, but you can also shop all of the awesome crafts and experiments that Kiwico has to offer a la carte. It can be hard to find a creative gift to keep your children engaged, challenged and off their screens, but Kiwico has you covered and best of all, you get to play and learn right along with them. Tinker Create and Innovate with Kiwico get up to 50% off your first crate at kiwico.com promo code wow. That's up to 50% off your first Crate at K I W I C O.com promo code wow. Hey grown ups. Halloween is quickly approaching, but one thing that shouldn't scare you is finding additional resources for homeschooling this fall season. Get flexible personalized help with homeschooling from ixl. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into homeschooling. IXL offers interactive practice in math, language arts, science and social studies for every grade from Pre K through 12. It keeps kids motivated and gives you the data and support to guide their learning with confidence. At Tinkercast, we love when kids are really engaged with what they're learning. It's what we're all about. So we like that. IXL offers awards, challenges and little moments of celebration for kids to keep learning fun, make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and wow in the World. Listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com wow visit ixl.com wow to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.

[Dennis]

We wow on the weekend. Wee wow on the weekend. Wee wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Talking, laughing. Me and Reggie singing, laughing. And then we. Oh, wait, no, I said laughing twice. Whatever. We wow on the weekend. Yeah. We wow on the weekend. Laugh, laugh. We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Hello and welcome to. Welcome to Wee Wow on the Weekend. I'm your host, Dennis, and that's my co host, Reggie. We're here in my mother's basement with an incredibly special guest.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Hello.

[Dennis]

No, quiet. Not yet. I need to play the guest segment song.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Oh, sorry.

[Dennis]

Okay. Guest segment. The segment with the guest. A guest comes on the show and just like the title suggests, we bring them out and then we.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop.

[Dennis]

Um, is everything all right?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Yeah, just that the song is long and kind of awful and it's making me a little nauseous.

[Dennis]

Oh, right.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah.

[Dennis]

Anyway, my guest today is the all important, all knowing, all delivering post office mail carrier. Welcome, post officer.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

My name's Jen.

[Dennis]

I'm sorry, did you say your name is Jared?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

No, my name is Jen.

[Dennis]

Chad.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Jen. My name is Jen. As in Jennifer.

[Dennis]

No, your name is Jellybird.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Can you not hear very well?

[Dennis]

Jellybird is the cutest name I've ever heard.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Wonderful. I'm thrilled for you.

[Dennis]

Welcome, Post officer Jellybird. Hooray.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Thank you. Hey, Reggie.

[Dennis]

Wait, you two know each other?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Yeah, I'm a mail carrier. I know everyone.

[Dennis]

Oh, wow.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Hey, Reg, we still on for Thursday night? Nice.

[Dennis]

Hey, what's on Thursday night?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Oh, we play cards.

[Dennis]

Oh, really? Just the two of you?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Oh, no, there's. There's a few other guys.

[Dennis]

I know a guy. Guy Raz.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Actually, I shouldn't have said guys. I meant people. There are a few other people who play with us.

[Dennis]

Oh.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

But also Guy Raz.

[Dennis]

Aw. I want to play.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

You can come if you want.

[Dennis]

What game do you play?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Euchre.

[Dennis]

Oh, no. Ew. I want to play pinochle.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

No.

[Dennis]

Fine. Never Mind? I don't want to come.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Alrighty.

[Dennis]

So Post Officer Jellybird, please tell us about what it's like to deliver the mail.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Well, the first thing you gotta do is sort the mail.

[Dennis]

Oh, hear that, Reggie? She sorts it. And then what?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Then I put it all in my truck.

[Dennis]

Ah, what truck? Can I drive your truck?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

No.

[Dennis]

Can I pretend to drive your truck?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Negative.

[Dennis]

Can I sit in the passenger seat? Uh, can I look at your truck while you drive it?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes.

[Dennis]

Hooray. Okay, what happens after the truck is all loaded with mail?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Then I deliver them to the corresponding addresses.

[Guy Raz]

Wow.

[Dennis]

Corresponding. You're so well spoken.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Thank you.

[Dennis]

And I notice you have a key on a long chain. What's that about?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Uh, yeah, this is called an arrow key because it's kind of arrow shaped.

[Dennis]

Oh, yeah, I see.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

And I use this key to open up the mailboxes.

[Dennis]

Wait, all of them?

[Guy Raz]

Yep.

[Dennis]

That's the most amazing key I've ever seen. A key that can open anything in the world?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Well, not anything.

[Dennis]

Can it open a house with 15 locks on the door?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

No.

[Dennis]

Can it open a treasure chest full of jewels?

[Guy Raz]

No.

[Dennis]

Can it open a spaceship and then turn on the spaceship and you can fly around?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

No, just the mailboxes.

[Dennis]

Wow. Just mailboxes. Okay, next question. Post Officer Jellybird. Alrighty, we are now in the dinner. Do you also deliver all the emails?

[Mindy Thomas]

What?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

No.

[Dennis]

You don't carry them around in your email bag and put them in everyone's computers?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

I do not.

[Dennis]

Ah, well, that's a little disappointing. Okay, next question.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

This is a weird interview.

[Dennis]

Post Officer Jellybird. The question on everyone's mind is, what's in the mail?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Well, there's letters, postcards, the odd parcel, packages.

[Dennis]

Right, right, right, right, right, right, right. But what's in everyone's mail? What are people writing to each other?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Well, I can't go around reading other people's mail. Uh huh. There are rules about that.

[Dennis]

Yeah, laws. Oh, for sure, for sure.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Ordinances, various regulations that absolutely forbid me or anyone else from opening other people's mail.

[Dennis]

Ah, right. Not open it, but you can look at the outside of it.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Exactly. And I do have some of yours here if you want to take a look. See?

[Dennis]

Oh, my mail delivered live on the show. This is so exciting.

[Guy Raz]

Exciting?

[Dennis]

What'd I get? What'd I get?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Okay, you got a catalog from a clothing store called Super Villain Outfitters.

[Dennis]

Oh, that's an old subscription.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

And a static electricity bill.

[Dennis]

Must be the wrong.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

And the rest are letters addressed to someone named Staticy.

[Dennis]

Okay, thank you so much. Post Officer Jellybird, this has been a terrific interview, but I believe that's all the time we have for today. Yes, it is. Reggie.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Is he always like this?

[Dennis]

Rajay, I am not always nervous and sweaty. I'm just excited to move on to the next segment is all.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

So that's the end.

[Dennis]

The guest segment is over. But next is a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios. Inside Tinkercast Studios.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Do you want me to stay?

[Sponsor Announcer]

Yes.

[Dennis]

Oh, this is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows. And today, today we're listening to wow in the World, Season 1, Episode 17 called Brain Freeze.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

This sounds interesting.

[Dennis]

I know. It's an episode where it's so hot out that Mindy's gingerbread house caves in.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

I remember that her gingerbread mailbox melted too. I had to put her mail next to a puddle of icing.

[Dennis]

Oh, that's some good behind the scenes information.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Behind the scenes of what?

[Dennis]

Never you mind. Post Officer Jellybird, would you like to do the honors of pressing play?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

All righty. And here we go.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wee wow will be right back. Grown ups, this message is for you. That's it. Now back to the show.

[Dennis]

What in the world?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, the dog days of summer have officially arrived.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yep, hotter than a jalapenos armpit out here, Guy.

[Guy Raz]

Raz, I'm sweating like Richard Simmons to the oldies.

[Mindy Thomas]

I'm sweating like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Know what I mean?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Well.

[Guy Raz]

Oh yeah, I get it. Because the cat doesn't want its tail to eat.

[Mindy Thomas]

No, it's not as funny when you have to explain it.

[Guy Raz]

So what are we gonna do about the roof of your house, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, I don't know. I mean, this happens every summer. The roof just sort of melts and then caves in.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, but it does look great during the month of December.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, but this time it's gonna take us until at least December to rebuild it.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, us?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, you don't expect me to rebuild a life size gingerbread house all by myself, do you? Uh, who's gonna help keep me from eating all the candy?

[Guy Raz]

No, no. I was the one who advised you against living in a human sized gingerbread house to begin with. And I was the one who took you to the emergency room after you got sick from eating your own front door.

[Mindy Thomas]

This chocolate door sure does look delicious. Maybe I'll just take one little bite. Okay, it was. Maybe I'll just take one more. Oh, hey, Guy.

[Dennis]

Raz.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy what happened? Where is your front door? Is that the doorknob sticking out of your mouth? Mindy, that door was over a hundred pounds of chocolate, and you ate it all. Oh, boy. Come on, we're going to the doctor.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, so I did eat my entire chocolate door, but I learned my lesson.

[Guy Raz]

Well, that's good.

[Mindy Thomas]

And now I only eat the butterscotch windows.

[Guy Raz]

We are not rebuilding that gingerbread house, Mindy. I mean, it's. It's too hot outside. And, hey, by the way, do you have anything cold and refreshing that we can take from the freezer?

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, yeah, we can bake some brown cows.

[Guy Raz]

Some what?

[Mindy Thomas]

But we gotta move fast before the kitchen caves in. Here, quick, put on this helmet.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, this is a walnut shell tied to a shoelace.

[Mindy Thomas]

It'll adjust to fit your tiny head. Come on, let's go.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, this doesn't feel safe.

[Mindy Thomas]

Quick, hand me the vanilla ice cream. But I want chocolate. Whatever. Just scoop it into this bucket.

[Guy Raz]

Okay. Like this? Yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now dump in these 45 bottles of root beer.

[Dennis]

Are you sure these are the right measurements?

[Mindy Thomas]

Measurements, measurements. Quick, grab a couple of straws.

[Dennis]

I can't find the straws.

[Mindy Thomas]

Cindy, grab those pool noodles over there. We don't have time to wait, Mindy.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

We.

[Dennis]

We have to get out of here.

[Guy Raz]

It's. It's about to crash in on us.

[Mindy Thomas]

Whoa. Come on, let's go.

[Guy Raz]

That was a close call.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, I'm gonna miss that gingerbread house. But with a little spit and elbow grease, it'll be good as new before you know it. Actually, better than new. It'll be a gingerbread mansion. Phew.

[Guy Raz]

I'm so hot and thirsty. Can I take a sip of this? By the way, what is this?

[Mindy Thomas]

It's a brown cow, Guy Raz. Ice cream and root beer.

[Guy Raz]

Well.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Oh, no.

[Guy Raz]

Normally, I would not drink something like this. Too much sugar and lots of fruit, food coloring. But I'm just so hot. And why is it in the bucket?

[Mindy Thomas]

I like things over the top.

[Guy Raz]

Ha ha. Never would have guessed.

[Mindy Thomas]

Here, take this pool noodle and suck it up like a straw. Ooh, looks like someone's got a case of the ol. Sphenopalatine ganglion neuralgia. Mega brain freeze guy. Raz, you sucked up that entire bucket of brown cow so fast that you gave yourself brain freeze.

[Dennis]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

You know, brain freeze. That quick, intense headache you get when you guzzle down something cold too fast.

[Guy Raz]

Ah, but what just happened?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, funny you should ask, because I was actually just reading about this and. Okay, so according to Dr. Stephanie Vertrees, a headache specialist and a professor at the Texas A and M College of Medicine Research. Brain freeze is what happens when cold food touches a bundle of nerves in the back of your palate or, you know, the roof of your mouth.

[Guy Raz]

Well, this must have been something different, because it felt more like a quick, sharp headache.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, that's because that bundle of nerves called the sphenopalatine ganglion.

[Guy Raz]

That's a mouthful, literally.

[Mindy Thomas]

So the sphenopalatine ganglion, or as some scientists just call it, the spg.

[Guy Raz]

That's better.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. So the SPG nerves are so super sensitive to cold foods, and when the cold food caves in on them, they freak out and tell the brain it's headache time.

[Guy Raz]

But why?

[Mindy Thomas]

You mean why can't the brain just deal?

[Guy Raz]

Well, yeah. I mean, it's hot outside, and I just wanted to drink something cold and delicious as fast as I could to cool off.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, there's another neuroscientist, the kind of scientist that studies the nervous system. So, like the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerve cells. His name is Dr. Duane Godwin.

[Guy Raz]

And does. Does he have the answer?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, he says that the one thing our brains don't like is when things change quickly. And that brain freeze is there to prevent it. To be like, whoa, whoa, whoa, buddy, hold it right there. What are you doing? It tends to happen when the weather in your body are super hot and the food touching the roof of your mouth is super cold.

[Guy Raz]

Well, is there a cure for brain freeze?

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, so so far, there's no cure for brain freeze. And since they come and go lickety split and aren't really dangerous for us, it's easier to just avoid them altogether.

[Guy Raz]

So how do you do that?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, Dr. Vertrees has some good advice that might come in handy the next time you decide to inhale a bucket of root beer and ice cream.

[Guy Raz]

Interesting. And what did she say?

[Mindy Thomas]

So she says that if you want to avoid brain freeze, to just chill out and eat cold food slowly, that way your mouth can warm up your food and not freak out the SPG nerves in the back of your palate.

[Guy Raz]

This would have been some helpful information before I sucked down that brown cow. Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, Guy Raz, technically, your brain freeze was your body telling you to slam on the brakes and slow it down while you were slurping that brown cow up as fast as you could, but you just weren't listening.

[Dennis]

Huh.

[Guy Raz]

Interesting. So, Mindy, you mentioned that those nerves are located in the back of the roof of our mouths. And that's right where the ice cream was hitting it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, so Dr. Vertrees also says that it's safer to keep the food in the front of your mouth, because when you hit those nerves further back, they trigger the brain freeze bonanza.

[Guy Raz]

But what if you get really hot and really excited and give yourself brain freeze anyway?

[Mindy Thomas]

Like if you see a milkshake or an ice cream float and your brain just freezes and you forget everything I just told you?

[Guy Raz]

Well, not necessarily.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, look, I know how much you love your kombucha almond milkshake, so I do know of one good trick.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah? Well, what is it? I'll do anything to keep that from happening again.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, so if you feel a brain freeze coming on.

[Guy Raz]

Yes?

[Mindy Thomas]

Just put a jelly bean in your bowl. Belly button.

[Dennis]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, wait. Wrong remedy. If you feel a brain freeze coming on, tilt your head back and press your tongue to the roof of your mouth for ten seconds.

[Guy Raz]

Okay.

[Mindy Thomas]

And with your tongue on the roof of your mouth, say, I'm a little teapot.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Trust me.

[Guy Raz]

I'm a little teapot.

[Mindy Thomas]

Nice.

[Guy Raz]

I'm a little teapot.

[Mindy Thomas]

You're a little teapot.

[Guy Raz]

Are you sure this was.

[Mindy Thomas]

The heat from your tongue will warm up the sinuses behind your nose and then warm up the SPGs that cause the brain freeze to happen in the first place.

[Guy Raz]

So, Mindy, if brain freeze is so harmless and quick to go away on its own, why do these scientists even bother to study it?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, it turns out that understanding how brain freeze works can also help scientists to understand how some other more serious headaches work and can be treated.

[Guy Raz]

Like migraine headaches.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. So those SPG nerves that we've been talking about are also responsible for migraines and cluster headaches, which can be super painful and last way longer than your typical ice cream headache.

[Guy Raz]

Wow. So understanding these SPG nerves could possibly help scientists figure out different ways of dealing with other kinds of headaches.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, exactly. And in fact, according to Dr. Vertrees, some people will purposely give themselves brain freeze in an effort to break their migraine headaches.

[Guy Raz]

And that works?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, she says it can actually work, but not always.

[Guy Raz]

For everyone, the body and the brain do hold many mysteries.

[Mindy Thomas]

They sure do. Little teapot?

[Guy Raz]

No.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, so now that you're all cooled off, are you ready to start helping me rebuild my gingerbread house?

[Guy Raz]

No way, Mindy. No way.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, well, then I'll just have to move in on your fancy new couch.

[Guy Raz]

Pass me the gumdrop and frosting.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, so I'm thinking we start with a wraparound peppermint porch and a chocolate pond and a sugarless gum diving board off the roof. And I want five stories and a gumdrop dorm.

[Dennis]

Wow. That was so cool. What did you think, Post Officer Jellybird?

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Yeah, that was pretty good. Kind of made me want a soft serve or maybe an Italian ice.

[Dennis]

Me too. We should go get ice cream.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

I'm game.

[Dennis]

Hooray. Ice cream.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Are you just gonna leave all the mics?

[Dennis]

Yeah, it's kind of a bit we do.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Oh, okay.

[Dennis]

What kind of ice cream do you want, Post Officer Jellybird? I want one of those popsicles with the gumball eyes.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Ooh, those things freak me out.

[Dennis]

I also want a frozen candy bar.

[Post Officer Jen (Jellybird)]

Is that ice cream?

[Dennis]

No. But now I want to freeze everything before I eat it. Reggie, I am not going to get brain freeze. I learned from wow in the World that if you.

[Mindy Thomas]

Grown ups, 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 yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey thanks for joining us for this edition of Wewow on the weekend. Our show is written by Ruth Morrison and Jed Anderson. Original sound design and production is done by Henry Moskal and Merrit Lozano with help from Jed Anderson and Tyler Thole. Original music for We Wow on the Weekend is composed and performed by Tyler Thole.

[Guy Raz]

Special thanks to Steph Sosa, Rebecca Caban and all of the other Tinkerers at Tinkercast hq.

[Mindy Thomas]

There's still time to share your wee wow crafternoon challenges with us grown ups. You can upload pictures and videos of your projects to [e-mail] or call us at 1-888-7-WOW WOW.

[Guy Raz]

Our website is tinkercast.com there you can learn more about becoming an official member of the World Organization of wowzers, learn about upcoming events, shop our shop and pick up a copy of the latest edition of our number one New York Times best selling book series wow in the Wild.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thanks again for thinking tinkering except experimenting and exploring with us this week. Meet us back here on Monday for Wow in the World and remember who wows We Wow.

[Dennis]

Wow wow wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

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