Wow in the World: "WeWow on the Weekend" (11/2/25)

Podcast: Wow in the World
Episode: WeWow on the Weekend (11/2/25)
Date: November 2, 2025
Hosts/Characters:

• Mindy Thomas
• Guy Raz
• Dennis (host of "Wee Wow on the Weekend")
• Reggie (Dennis's cohost)

Episode Overview

This episode of "WeWow on the Weekend" delivers a lively and fun blend of listener interactions and science storytelling. Hosted by Dennis and his cohost Reggie, the show initially features a "Reading Reviewsies" segment in which humorous and heartfelt listener reviews are shared and commented on. The core of the episode is a revisit to a classic "Wow in the World" segment entitled "Invasion of the Sea Pickles," where Mindy and Guy Raz embark on a wild, pun-filled adventure to uncover the mysteries of bioluminescent pyrosomes – aka sea pickles – that have begun invading Pacific Northwest coastlines.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Reading Listener Reviews (“Reading Reviewsies”) [02:06–05:17]

• Dennis reads aloud reviews from Apple Podcasts and Spotify, reacting playfully to comments and jokes sent in by fans.
• Listeners express their love for the show, request "Unicorn Week," and even point out Dennis’ mustache.
• Dennis laments over an impossible request: “How am I supposed to both keep up the good work and not be annoying? It’s impossible.” (Dennis, 03:50)
• Notable humor over Dennis trying (unsuccessfully) to recruit people (including Guy Raz and Mindy) for his neighborhood unicycle petition.
• Dennis encourages listeners to keep sending reviews: “If you leave a comment on Apple podcasts or Spotify, I just might read it on Wee Wow on the Weekend. Five stars, please.”

2. Inside Tinkercast Studios: “Invasion of the Sea Pickles” [05:17–19:38]

Introduction: A Fishy Lunch Turns Scientific [07:47–09:38]

• Mindy and Guy Raz are eating at a seafood restaurant. Mindy discovers her sandwich didn’t come with a pickle, and insists they go “catch some sea pickles”—kicking off the science adventure.
• Playful puns are exchanged:
  • "You gotta be squidding me." — Mindy [08:23]
  • "Put on your wet, you cuckoo old bird. Next stop, the southwest coast of Alaska." — Mindy [09:10]

Arriving at the Beach: Discovering Sea Pickles (Pyrosomes) [09:38–13:07]

• Mindy and Guy Raz find ‘sea pickles,’ learning that these glowing, jelly-like creatures are actually pyrosomes, not edible pickles.
• Guy Raz observes: “It’s a little bumpy, like a pickle, but it’s sort of fluffy and slimy... almost like it’s made out of jelly.” [12:02]
• Mindy introduces "pyrosomes" and explains their bioluminescent quality: “Some sea pickle pyrosomes are bioluminescent, which means they’re a living organism that produces light.” [12:33]
• A look through magnifying goggles reveals hundreds of tiny creatures (zooids) inside: “Those are zooids, Guy Raz... teeny, tiny little bioluminescent creatures that live inside the sea pickle.” [13:12]

Science Deep-Dive: How Pyrosomes Work [13:07–14:51]

• Zooids coordinate to swim, ‘talk’ through light, and filter-feed on plankton via water passing through the “pickle.”
• “Sea pickles, or pyrosomes, move slowly and effortlessly through the ocean by pushing water through their body, sort of like a tube.” — Mindy [14:24]
• Pyrosomes can grow up to “6 feet wide and 60 feet long.” — Mindy [13:47]

The Unexpected Invasion [15:14–18:40]

• Mindy unveils a “mystery” — there's a sudden invasion of pyrosomes on Pacific Northwest beaches.
• “There has been an invasion of pyrosomes.” — Mindy [16:11]
• Humor about panic:
  • “Prepare for an attack!” — Guy Raz [16:16]
  • “Pull yourself together, man.” — Mindy [16:18]
• Pyrosomes are clogging waterways and causing trouble for fishermen: “Some researchers… reeled their nets back in… shocked and surprised to see their nets filled with 60,000 sea pickles in five minutes.” — Mindy [17:11]
• The unusual influx may be due to rising water temperatures. Formerly rare, these “unicorns of the sea” are now widespread: “Up until now, these sea pickles... were known to marine biologists as the unicorns of the sea.” — Mindy [17:21]
• Scientists at the University of Oregon are studying the phenomenon.

Wrapping Up the Science Adventure [18:47–19:32]

• Guy Raz jokes: “We can take care of this problem by alerting the bigger fish that there’s a sea pickle buffet just waiting for them.” [18:47]
• Back to the restaurant for fish tacos—and more puns:
  • “Pretty sure you could get a sweet dill on one around here, Guy Raz.” — Mindy [19:32]
  • “I relish that idea.” — Guy Raz [19:36]

3. Dennis Reflects & Wraps Up [19:56–21:01]

• Dennis is inspired by the “cool and mysterious” sea pickles story and dreams of seeing them himself in Alaska.
• “Why are there so many sea pickles? And how do they get so big? And how does bioluminescence work?” — Dennis [19:56]
• Encourages kids to call with questions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dennis, on his signature quirk:
  “All I do is be annoying. It’s my thing, Reggie.” [03:50]
• Mindy, with contagious excitement:
  “We’re about to fill our bellies with science. And when I say bellies, I mean brains, because we can’t eat these pyrosomes.” [11:33]
• Guy Raz, marveling at sea pickles:
  “So much life inside this one little pickle.” [13:40]
• Mindy, on the scale of the invasion:
  “In fact, just a few months ago... their nets filled with 60,000 sea pickles in five minutes.” [17:14]
• On the rare becoming common:
  “Up until now, these sea pickles... were known to marine biologists as the unicorns of the sea.” — Mindy [17:21]
• Wrapping up, embracing word play:
  “I relish that idea.” — Guy Raz [19:36]
  “You almost stepped on some road dill.” — Mindy [19:42]

Important Timestamps

• 02:06 — "Reading Reviewsies" begins
• 05:17 — Revisit to “Invasion of the Sea Pickles” episode starts
• 09:38 — Mindy and Guy Raz arrive at the sea pickles beach
• 13:12 — Explanation of zooids and their glow
• 16:11 — The "invasion" is revealed
• 17:14 — 60,000 sea pickles in one net
• 18:47 — Potential causes and scientific investigation
• 19:56 — Dennis's wrap-up and reflections

Episode Tone and Takeaways

• Playful and pun-filled: The entire episode is filled with enthusiastic wordplay, jokes, and infectious curiosity that make science fun and accessible.
• Science as an adventure: Mindy and Guy Raz turn simple questions about missing pickles into a surprising exploration of marine biology and climate change.
• Agency and curiosity for kids: Listeners are encouraged to ponder mysteries, ask questions, and see science as something wondrous they can engage with.

Perfect for curious kids and families, this episode celebrates discovery, critical thinking, and the joy of asking “Wow!”