Loading summary
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 Grown Ups. Mindy here. And did you hear that we have a brand new book coming out? That's right. Dinosaurs Are Wow. A Roaring Thunder, a prehistoric wonder. And it's coming to a bookshelf near you on October 28th. And to celebrate, I'm throwing a little vertical Prehistoric pre order party for wowzer fans like you. Together we'll read from the new book, play some games and answer some fan questions live. So what are you waiting for, Grown ups to get an invite to our Prehistoric Pre Order party? Just pre order your copy of Dinosaurs Are Wow. At your favorite book retailer. Then visit Tinkercast.com dinosaur to upload a copy of your receipt and sign up for the event. We can't wait to see you there once again. Visit tinkercast.com, to learn more. 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 fun, 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 dot com, promo code wow.
Dennis
Ah ah ah. We wow on the weekend. We wow on the weekend. We 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. Uh, whatever. We wow on the weekend. Yeah, we wow on the weekend. Wee wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Hello and welcome to Wee Wow on the Weekend. I'm your host, Dennis, and that's my Co host Reggie the giant pigeon. What? What do you mean you don't want to be a giant? You are giant. Fine, we can try something else. And this is my co host, Reggie, the large pigeon. You don't like it? Okay, how about Reggie the oversized pigeon? Reggie the enormous pigeon. Reggie the extremely fussy pigeon who is kind of getting on my nerves right now. This is the show that we always record from my mother's basement. What? Record somewhere else, Reggie. No, we can't record upstairs. Mother has book club today outside next to my prize winning azaleas. No, they're very sensitive and can't be disturbed by recording equipment. Besides, I like the basement. It's got a squishy old couch and it's where I keep my keyboard. Keyboard? Yeah. Hey Reggie, you want to answer some questions with a Q and a segment? Hooray. Let's do it. Ahem, the Q and A segment. Alright, let's just get the old answering machine pulled up here. Okay, here we go. Hi, you've reached Dennis from Wewow on the weekend. That's me. Do you have a question? Well, I do too. Lots of them. And who's going to answer all my questions?
Mindy Thomas
You?
Dennis
Probably not, but I guess I can answer yours. Leave me a message.
Listener/Caller
Hey, Dennis, my question is, why are you the one put in charge of doing all the questions? But I love this podcast and I love you as a character and I want to know why you were put in charge of all these.
Dennis
Well, first of all, thank you. And second of all, I'm not in charge of all the questions. The Wowzers are in charge of all the questions, Reggie. No, I don't ask the questions, I give the answers. Because, Reggie, I have lots of good answers and I'm very generous and I give them away for free. Next answer. I mean, next question.
Listener/Caller
Hi, Dennis, I'm a piece of rice from the rice pot.
Dennis
What?
Listener/Caller
My question is, how is rice cooked? Thank you, bye.
Dennis
Well, piece of rice from the rice pot. I would think that a piece of rice from the rice pot would be the ultimate authority on how rice is cooked. Oh, good point, Reggie. Maybe this piece of rice only knows how rice is grown and harvested and dried and packaged and put into a pot. Okay, so if I remember correctly, rice is cooked by reading the instructions on the package, then throwing the package away, then forgetting the instructions and having to dig the package out of the trash again. Yes it is, Reggie. Next question.
Listener/Caller
Hello, my name is Steven. I am 12 years old and I live in New York.
Dennis
Hi, Steve.
Listener/Caller
My question is for you do you play with toys still?
Dennis
Do I play with toys? You bet I do. My favorite toy is the coffee grinder. Reggie, the coffee grinder is so a toy. It's plastic and has buttons and dials, and you put coffee beans in it, and it goes. It's the best. Oh, and the ice cube maker on the fridge. I love that toy.
Guy Raz
A.
Dennis
And all the sleigh cat toys. Yeah, there's one with, like, squeakers in them and little balls with dinglies in them and strings and lasers I can chase. What do you mean? These are all terrible toys. Well, I don't know what the good toys are. Steve didn't say if he plays with toys still.
Listener/Caller
I do like Rubik's cubes, puzzle games, and sometimes even Lego and stuff.
Dennis
Oh, yeah, those are good toys. Next question.
Listener/Caller
Hi, Dennis. Hi, Reggie. I am Sophia from Texas.
Dennis
Ooh, Texas.
Listener/Caller
If you sweat in a sweater, does that make you the sweater?
Dennis
Oh, good question. And the answer is no. If you sweat in a sweater that makes you sweaty but also fashionable. Oh, Reggie, is it possible to dress up as a sweater for Halloween? Because that would definitely make you the sweater. Yeah, probably not. Thanks for your calls, everyone. If you've got a question for me, call and leave me a message. The number is 1-888-7-WOW. Wow. I just might answer your question on WEE on the weekend. Okay, that takes care of that. All right, next up is a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios. Inside Tinkercast Studios. This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows. And today we're listening to wow in the World, season one, episode 18, called Cocoa for cocoa. Oh, Reggie. Yeah. Now I want hot cocoa. Yeah. With whipped cream. Yeah. And sprinkles. Reggie, I know the episode's not about hot cocoa. I just want some. Well, this episode is less about chocolate and more about where chocolate comes from. Exactly. Ah, Reggie. Shh, shh. No spoilers. Let's just play the episode. Okay, here we go. And play.
Mindy Thomas
Wee. Wow. We'll 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 lotta 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.
Dennis
Wow in the World.
Guy Raz
Come on, just a little bit.
Mindy Thomas
Roz, what are you doing over here? It sounds like you're going anyway. Do you need some help?
Guy Raz
Yeah, can you. Can you sit on the suitcase so I can zip it shut?
Mindy Thomas
Yeah. Here we go. One, two, three, and. Okay, so the bad news is I broke it. The good news is there's no good news. So what'd you pack a suitcase for anyway?
Guy Raz
Nothing. Nothing, really. Just a quick scientific trip, that's all, huh? Yeah.
Mindy Thomas
Just a quick little scientific trip, huh?
Guy Raz
Yes, bubba.
Mindy Thomas
To where?
Guy Raz
Oh, nowhere, really. I'm not really sure you'd be interested in it. It's kind of.
Mindy Thomas
Oh, no, Guy Raz, the fact that you're not telling me suggests that it might actually be really interesting. Only you don't want me to know.
Guy Raz
Well, it's nothing. Nothing, Mindy.
Mindy Thomas
Okay, so let me see here. You're packing a bag. You say that you're leaving for a scientific trip. You're wearing dark sunglasses, a white linen suit, a brand new straw fedora, and you want me to believe it's not interesting?
Guy Raz
Well, okay, if you must know, I'm going on a scientific trip to study the Theobroma cacao plant.
Listener/Caller
Oh.
Mindy Thomas
Well, why didn't you just say so in the first place?
Guy Raz
I told you it wasn't that interesting. Okay, bye.
Mindy Thomas
Bye. Bring me back a souvenir. Okay, let's.
Sponsor/Announcer
Here.
Mindy Thomas
Theobroma angus defolium. No, it's not it. Theobroma bicolor. New. Oh, here it is. Theobroma cacao. Okay, got it. Theobroma cacao. The taxonomic classification for the plant also called the cacao tree, which is a small evergreen tree native to the tropical regions of Central and South America, which produces a fruit whose seeds are used to make cocoa mass cocoa powder and chocolate. Wait a minute. Guy Raz, you're going to a chocolate forest?
Dennis
Hold up.
Mindy Thomas
I'm coming with you.
Guy Raz
Slow down. Slow down. Oh. Oh. Hey, Mindy. Why are you panting?
Mindy Thomas
You didn't tell me that you were going to a chocolate forest. Well, I'm coming with you, but no buts. There is no way that you are going to the Candy Land without me. But I know you're trying to pull a fast one on me, but it's not gonna work this time, Mindy.
Guy Raz
I'm not going to Candyland. I'm just going to investigate a scientific.
Mindy Thomas
Well, it sounds like you've got the golden ticket. And me and Reggie here want a piece of the action. Well, Reggie, get your flight goggles on, you batty old pigeon. You're flying us to South America.
Guy Raz
Mindy, I'm not so sure this is a good idea. I mean, remember the last time you had access to unlimited chocolate?
Mindy Thomas
Remember? It felt like it was just yesterday. Why don't we take one more?
Guy Raz
Oh.
Mindy Thomas
Whoa.
Listener/Caller
Mm, mm, mm.
Mindy Thomas
Oh, hey, girl.
Guy Raz
Mindy. Mindy, what happened?
Mindy Thomas
Okay, I got your point, but that was the old me. This is the new me. The nume promises to limit my chocolate consumption to under £25 in a sitting.
Guy Raz
Okay, but just so you know, this is a scientific field investigation. This is serious stuff.
Mindy Thomas
Guy Raz, I understand. I agree completely. There is nothing more serious than the science of stuffing your face full of chocolate ice cream topped with hot fudge sauce, topped with chocolate sprinkles, topped with cocoa puffs, topped with a hot choco taco.
Guy Raz
Oh, boy, this is not gonna end well.
Mindy Thomas
This. This is going to be an epic scientific expedition. Well, Guy Raz, Saddle up, Reggie. Next stop, South America. Wait a minute. Where in South America are we going?
Guy Raz
Well, most cacao in the world is grown in the Ivory coast in West Africa. But I thought we'd head to the birthplace of the cocoa tree. To Colombia? Yes.
Mindy Thomas
I've always wanted to visit Colombia. Colombia? Guy Raz is the country in South America that's right on the equator. It's the halfway point on Earth.
Guy Raz
Yes, exactly. It's there. We should find plenty of examples of the theobroma cacao tree.
Mindy Thomas
Oh, man, I am so excited. Reggie, fire it up. Guy Raz, hold on for your life and get ready, because here we.
Guy Raz
Go, man. Mindy. Mindy, over here. Guy Raz, you okay?
Mindy Thomas
Yeah, I just gotta teach Reggie how to land.
Guy Raz
Well, at least he still allows free baggage. I mean, all the other birds are even charging for carry on now.
Mindy Thomas
Yeah, I heard that one bird even charges money just to let you sit next to your friend.
Guy Raz
Yeah, well, at least we've landed safely. More or less. Hey, Mindy, look.
Dennis
Look over there.
Mindy Thomas
Over where?
Guy Raz
What? The chocolate forest, where we're surrounded by cacao trees.
Mindy Thomas
This is the chocolate forest, Guy Raz. Well, Where's Count Chocula? Where are the M and M guys? Where's Willy Wonka? Where's the Nesquik bunny?
Listener/Caller
Yoo hoo.
Mindy Thomas
I don't even see Kathy, and I know she loves chocolate.
Guy Raz
I think Kathy was retired in 2010.
Mindy Thomas
Well, my point is that I'm not seeing any chocolate. Well, I see trees with little orange footballs growing out of them.
Guy Raz
These are them, Mindy.
Mindy Thomas
The what?
Guy Raz
The cacao fruits.
Mindy Thomas
Fruits, man. I'm going home, Reggie.
Guy Raz
But these are the chocolate trees. Those cocoa fruits are where chocolate comes from.
Mindy Thomas
Wait a minute. The chocolate is hidden inside these fruits? Well, it's like the best Easter egg hunt of all time. Hold on to your Swiss chard, Guy Raz. I'm going in.
Guy Raz
No, no, no, wait, wait. Mindy.
Listener/Caller
Got it.
Mindy Thomas
Okay, here goes nothing. Mmm. This tastes kind of like a sweet lime. Guy Raz. I thought you said this was chocolate.
Guy Raz
Mindy, I tried to tell you. This is definitely not what you were expecting.
Mindy Thomas
You can say that again.
Guy Raz
This is not what you were expecting.
Mindy Thomas
Hold on. We just spit out these giant seeds.
Guy Raz
Mindy. Mindy. That's what we're here for.
Mindy Thomas
You said we were coming here for chocolate, and all I'm tasting is a slightly sweet and sour lime thing with a bunch of annoying seeds inside of it.
Guy Raz
Well, that's just it, Mindy. Those seeds you're spitting out, that's where the chocolate comes from.
Mindy Thomas
Wait, wait, these things. Hang on a second. Disgusting.
Guy Raz
A little bitter, right?
Mindy Thomas
A little.
Guy Raz
Well, these seeds are better known as cocoa beans.
Mindy Thomas
Well, I'm not tasting any cocoa. All I taste is gross.
Guy Raz
I know. Weird, right?
Mindy Thomas
You can say that again.
Guy Raz
I know weird.
Mindy Thomas
Nope, you don't really need to say it again.
Guy Raz
Oh, sorry. Well, as I was about to say, you have to dry these seeds and then roast them and then grind them up into a paste, and that's what produces cocoa.
Mindy Thomas
Oh, so that's how it works. Okay, so then what happens?
Guy Raz
Well, what you get is a paste that still needs other ingredients to make it taste like the chocolate you and I love to eat. So, ingredients like sugar and milk and cocoa butter, which is a type of fat that you get from roasting and grinding down the cocoa beans.
Mindy Thomas
Well, now that we have the recipe, let's make ourselves some chocolate. Well, wait a minute. You said the purpose of this field trip was for a scientific investigation.
Guy Raz
Oh, it is, Mindy, and it has to do with memory.
Mindy Thomas
Wait, I forgot what you just said.
Guy Raz
It has to do with memory.
Mindy Thomas
Wait, I just forgot again. Uh, you were saying, Mindy, as we.
Guy Raz
Humans grow older, our memories become less reliable. We tend to forget things like where we left our keys or the names of the people we meet.
Mindy Thomas
Or that time I forgot to tell you that, memmit. Our neighborhood skunk was using your toilet, and you walked in and freaked out.
Dennis
Yeah.
Guy Raz
So you get the picture here, right?
Mindy Thomas
Yeah. We humans, especially as we get older, have a harder time remembering all of the little details in our lives. But what I want to know is what any of this has to do with chocolate? And why did we have to come all the way to Colombia to investigate?
Guy Raz
Well, Mindy, what if I told you that a naturally occurring chemical in chocolate can actually help improve your memory?
Mindy Thomas
What? I knew it. I knew it all along. Boys, bring in the Butterfinger.
Guy Raz
Oh, Mindy.
Mindy Thomas
All right, move forward a little. All right, now back it up. Back it up a little further. Yep, they're right there. Right there. Stop. Stop.
Guy Raz
Mindy, where. Where did this chocolate delivery truck come from? And who are these guys?
Mindy Thomas
Oh, this is my chocolate posse. I like to keep him close by, especially for occasions like this.
Guy Raz
Well. Well, that type of chocolate won't actually do much good. And besides all that sugar, you know.
Mindy Thomas
Yeah, yeah, not good for you. I know, Guy Raz, but you said chocolate could actually improve my memory, and I just remembered that I traveled with a truckload of chocolate bars.
Guy Raz
Well, it is true that some types of chocolate will help with memory, but it has to have high levels of that natural chemical I mentioned.
Mindy Thomas
Well, I'm pretty sure these chocolate bars are chock full of chemicals.
Guy Raz
Well, you get it.
Mindy Thomas
Chock full of chemicals.
Guy Raz
Well, but not the right chemicals. The ones I'm talking about are called flavonoids. And it's a chemical that is found naturally in the cocoa bean. So generally in things like cocoa nibs, which are crushed and roasted pieces of cocoa beans, and also in things like dark chocolate.
Mindy Thomas
Okay, so how does it help your memory?
Guy Raz
Well, a team of scientists from the University of l' Aquila in Italy studied the effects of flavonoids on memory, and they found that if you regularly eat or drink dark chocolate drinks, they can actually help older people, especially grandparents, with their memories.
Mindy Thomas
Wow. So how does that work?
Guy Raz
Well, flavonoids that are concentrated in. In some types of dark chocolate. So chocolate that isn't mixed with too much stuff like sugar and milk can actually cause more blood in your body to go to your brain.
Mindy Thomas
And more blood to your brain means more oxygen to your brain, too.
Guy Raz
Exactly. And flavonoids are found in several other foods, like blueberries. And parsley and black tea. And of course, chocolate. And so the scientists in Italy found that eating lots of flavonoids can boost the blood to a part of the brain called the dentate gyrus. It's in the hippocampus, which is hidden deep inside our brains.
Mindy Thomas
And what's so important about the dentate gyrus?
Guy Raz
Well, it's thought to be the part of the brain that creates memories.
Mindy Thomas
Okay, got it. But you'd need a lot of flavonoids to get it all to work, right?
Guy Raz
Yes, precisely.
Mindy Thomas
That's what I thought you said. Time for some chocolate indulgence.
Guy Raz
Yeah, but the average chocolate bar won't do the trick. Here, here, try this. Try some of these cacao nibs. They're pretty crunchy. And good for you too.
Mindy Thomas
Hand them over. Here. These taste like rocks.
Guy Raz
Well, I didn't say they taste like chocolate.
Mindy Thomas
All right, enough of these nibs. Hey, Reggie, strap your goggles on. Next stop, Hershey, Pennsylvania. I'm gonna get me some flavonoids.
Guy Raz
Oh boy, here we go again.
Mindy Thomas
Ah.
Dennis
Reggie. Oh no. What do you mean, why am I yelling? Identate gyrus. Reggie, it's in peril. Yes, we have to go find some flavonoids right now. What do you mean? There are all kinds of flavonoids. Well, get them all. This is serious then. Yeah, we'll make like a flavonoid pie. Or flavonoid casserole. Fine. Or a flavonoid salad. Whatever. Alright, we need to wrap up the show. I forgot that too. Okay, real quick before I forget again. Thanks for listening to Wee Wow on the weekend. If you have a question for me, call and leave me a message at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW. That's 1-888-7-WWOW. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Okay, should we do the goodbye song now? Oh, no. What if I forgot? Okay, I think I remember. I think I remember. That's the end of the show. I need to go protect my dentate gyrus. But I'll do another show tomorrow. But for now, that's the end of the show.
Mindy Thomas
Eh?
Guy Raz
Eh.
Dennis
Bye.
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 filling out a short survey at wondery.com survey.
This episode combines the playful curiosity of the "WeWow on the Weekend" format—hosted by Dennis and his pigeon sidekick Reggie—with a science-filled revisit of "Wow in the World" Season 1, Episode 18: "Cocoa for Cocoa," featuring Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz. The show is packed with quirky listener questions, a comical journey to the origins of chocolate, and fun scientific insights about memory and the surprising brain benefits of dark chocolate.
WeWow on the Weekend delivers a delightful science adventure blending Dennis and Reggie's absurd humor with insightful, kid-friendly science as Mindy and Guy Raz trace the path from cacao fruit to chocolate bar—and explain why dark chocolate might be a treat for your brain. With listener questions ranging from sweaters to rice and an imaginary chocolate field trip, it’s all about curiosity, comedy, and saying “WOW!” to the wonders of the world.