Wow in the World: WeWow on the Weekend (10/4/25)

Podcast: Wow in the World
Hosts: Mindy Thomas, Guy Raz, Dennis, Reggie the Giant Pigeon
Date: October 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of WeWow on the Weekend is a playful, science-filled bonus from Mindy, Guy Raz, Dennis, Reggie, and Goldie Bob the Goldfish. The main focus centers on asteroids, especially the challenges of stopping one that's headed toward Earth—tying into science news, musical theater, and the surprising realities of planetary defense. The episode also features audience interactions, lighthearted reviews, a new segment on rating video games, and much laughter and inventive storytelling.

Notable Segments & Timestamps

1. Gigantic Book Announcement (00:12–01:34)

   • Mindy and Guy introduce their new book, Dinosaurs Are Wow, featuring a T. Rex named Steve who enthusiastically gives “two very sharp claws up” (01:03).

2. Weekend Hijinks with Dennis and Reggie (02:15–07:24)

   • Dennis and Reggie host, react to Goldie Bob’s wild “submarine” adventure, and read listener reviews.
   • Memorable quote: "What do you call a submarine that goes in the air instead of the water?" (04:04)

3. Listener Reviews & New Segments (05:15–07:24)

   • Dennis tries out a “Rating Video Games” segment.
   • A listener asks "Why is the sky blue?" leading to Dennis’s silly, roundabout answer:

     “The answer to ‘why the sky is blue’ is nobody knows. It's a scientific mystery. Okay, okay, okay. It's not a scientific mystery. I just don't know the answer.” (06:12)

4. Inside Tinkercast Studios: Asteroid Adventure (07:24–31:03)

   • Main science story: Mindy and Guy Raz discuss and dramatize efforts to stop an asteroid from hitting Earth, inspired by Armageddon: The Musical.
   • Key science concept: NASA's actual planetary defense strategies vs. Hollywood’s dramatic "blow it up" solution.

Deep Dive: Main Science Story

Asteroids, NASA, and “Armageddon the Musical”

Starts around 09:08

• The Scene: Mindy and Guy are at a musical parodying the movie Armageddon. They learn from the program that NASA's real Planetary Defense Coordination Office helped consult for the storyline.

  “It says right here, Mindy, that a special branch of NASA called Planetary Defense Coordination were actually brought on board to help write this musical.” – Guy Raz (12:25)

• Asteroid Defense Reality Check

  • Blowing up an asteroid (like in the movie) would not work in real life, because gravitational forces make the pieces reassemble.
  • Mindy brings up a scientific study by Charles L. Murr (Johns Hopkins University) that used computer models to show this.

    “Smashing apart an asteroid that's heading towards Earth is about as pointless as a pigeon in pajamas.” – Mindy (13:41)

• The Simulation (Field Trip in the Wow Machine!)

  • Mindy and Guy scale up their Wow Machine to match the simulation—making it massive to collide with a simulated asteroid.
  • They "smash" the asteroid... only to discover:

    “It looks as though all of those smaller pieces of asteroid are heading back towards the core of the asteroid.” – Guy Raz (23:57)

  • Key Lesson: The asteroid's core gravitationally pulls the fragments back together.

    “Like Humpty Dumpty putting himself back together again. [...] This is all because of the gravitational pull.” – Mindy (24:17)

• What's NASA’s Real Solution?

  • The team reviews NASA’s Planetary Defense Playbook and chooses the “gravity tractor beam” approach.
  • A massive, nearby spacecraft could slowly tug the dangerous asteroid away from Earth using gravity.

    “It says here that if you can get a large enough object next to the asteroid, the object's gravitational field should be able to pull the asteroid towards it and over time change its path.” – Guy Raz (26:35)

  • They use the expando pump to make the Wow Machine even bigger, pull the asteroid safely off course, and fast-forward their mission.

• Final Act:

  • Mindy and Guy (and Reggie) accidentally land the Wow Machine on stage at the theater during the musical’s grand finale, seamlessly blending into the show.

    “Just smile and wave. Just smile and wave.” – Mindy (30:47)

Fun & Memorable Moments

• Animated Banter: Dennis’s humorous exchanges with Reggie, including dramatic readings, silly reviews, and repeated avoidance of a game of truth or dare.
• Inventive Gadgets: Mindy’s “expando pump” and the wow machine’s wild, ever-changing features (“It’s leaking mayonnaise and smells like a combo of baby powder and hot dog water.” – Mindy, 15:00).
• Running Theater Gags:

  “You landed us right in the middle of the stage during the final number.” – Guy Raz (30:32)
  “Everyone thinks it’s part of the show.” – Mindy (30:42)

Key Quotes

• “Smashing apart an asteroid that's heading towards Earth is about as pointless as a pigeon in pajamas.” – Mindy (13:41)
• “I came here to show you about a scientific study.” – Mindy (19:58)
• “It looks as though all those smaller pieces of asteroid are heading back toward the core… like Humpty Dumpty putting himself back together again.” – Guy Raz and Mindy (24:07–24:17)
• “If only we had a large enough object. Ah.” – Guy Raz (27:17)
• “The expando pump! Mindy, that’s brilliant!” – Guy Raz (27:28)

Science Takeaways

• Blowing up asteroids probably won’t save us: Gravity can pull fragments back together, making Hollywood’s favorite solution ineffective.
• Gravity tractors are promising: The most effective way may be using a spacecraft’s own gravity to change an asteroid’s path over time.
• Planetary defense is real: NASA scientists actually devise these plans and monitor near-Earth objects regularly.

Wrap-Up & Listener Interaction

• Dennis wraps up the show, celebrates Goldie Bob’s latest “super snooping” adventure, and encourages listeners to call in with their own questions. (31:39–32:32)
• The episode ends with a playful “goodbye song,” maintaining the fun, silly, interactive tone while reinforcing curiosity about science and space.

Recommended for…

• Kids (and grown-ups) who love science, jokes, imaginative adventures, and learning how science is both weird and wonderful!
• Anyone curious about the real ways scientists protect Earth from space rocks—this episode breaks it down in a hands-on, funny, and easy-to-grasp way.

Listener Tip:
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