WeWow on the Weekend (1/12/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: "WeWow on the Weekend" Episode Summary (January 12, 2025)

Released on January 12, 2025, "WeWow on the Weekend" is a playful and educational episode of the popular science podcast "Wow in the World," hosted by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz. This episode, produced by Tinkercast and Wondery, seamlessly blends humor with insightful discussions about everyday phenomena, making science accessible and engaging for kids and their grown-ups alike.

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1. Wee Wow on the Weekend Segment

Timestamp: [01:33] – [06:15]

Host: Dennis

The episode kicks off with the "Wee Wow on the Weekend" segment, hosted by Dennis. This segment is characterized by its lighthearted and humorous approach to weekend adventures. Dennis, alongside his co-host Reggie, engages in a playful dialogue filled with singing, laughter, and crafting mishaps.

Key Highlights:

• Crafting Catastrophe: Dennis discovers a box of popsicle sticks, leading to an impromptu crafting session aimed at building a scale model of the Eiffel Tower. The endeavor quickly spirals into chaos as Dennis struggles with excess glue, ultimately abandoning the project due to the mounting challenges.

  Notable Quote:

  Dennis: “We'll do a Crafternoon craft project with them. Pancakes are for eating and rivers are for rafting. And Broadway is for my one man show. But afternoon crafternoons after crafting. Crafternoon.”
  [02:38]

• Humorous Interactions: The segment showcases the dynamic between Dennis and Reggie, emphasizing the fun and unpredictability of their crafting adventures. Their banter adds a layer of entertainment, making scientific discussions more relatable and enjoyable.

• Transition to Core Content: As the crafting project hits a snag, Dennis decides to shift focus to the main podcast, setting the stage for the informative portion of the episode.

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2. Wow in the World Main Segment: Ducks and Bread

Timestamp: [06:15] – [09:56]

Hosts: Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas

The core of the episode centers on a conversation between Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas about the common practice of feeding ducks bread. This segment delves into the scientific implications of such actions, highlighting the importance of understanding wildlife nutrition.

Key Highlights:

• Observation of Ducks: Mindy shares her experience of feeding ducks at a pond, using stale bread as the primary food source. Her enthusiastic descriptions set the scene for a deeper exploration into the topic.

  Notable Quote:

  Mindy: “Sometimes they drop the bread because they don't have fingers.”
  [06:24]

• Expert Insight: Guy Raz introduces a critical perspective by referencing an article from Popular Science that discusses the detrimental effects of feeding ducks bread. He explains how bread lacks nutritional value and can lead to health issues in ducks.

  Notable Quote:

  Guy Raz: “The problem is that bread might fill the ducks up, but there is almost no nutritional value for them. In other words, it's like giving them junk food.”
  [07:13]

• Angel Wing Explained: The conversation progresses to the phenomenon of "angel wing," a condition caused by inadequate nutrition. Guy elaborates on how this condition affects ducks' ability to fly, forcing them to adapt to a life of walking or swimming, which can be detrimental to their survival.

  Notable Quote:

  Guy Raz: “Angel wing is a condition that develops in baby ducks when they don't get enough nutrition, and it can affect how much their wings grow. In fact, it can make it so the ducks can't fly...”
  [08:11]

• Alternatives to Bread: Addressing Mindy's concern about not knowing what else to feed the ducks, Guy suggests healthier alternatives such as kale, corn, and oats. Mindy's humorous reaction to carrying kale underscores the importance of making informed choices when interacting with wildlife.

  Notable Quote:

  Mindy: “Wait, is that kale?”
  [09:04]

  Guy Raz: “Yeah, I always carry a little kale around with me for munching.”
  [09:01]

• Practical Advice: Guy emphasizes that often the best action is to avoid feeding ducks altogether, allowing them to forage naturally and maintain their health. This advice is reinforced through the interactive and humorous exchanges between the hosts.

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3. Conclusion and Wrap-Up

Timestamp: [09:56] – [12:42]

As the episode draws to a close, Dennis and Mindy wrap up their segments with reflective and comedic remarks about their experiences.

Key Highlights:

• Recap and Personal Reflections: Dennis humorously admits to not fully grasping the episode's lesson initially, highlighting the episode's educational value delivered through entertainment.

  Notable Quote:

  Dennis: “We shouldn't feed ducks bread. Really? Oh, wow. I had no idea.”
  [10:43]

• Call to Action: The hosts encourage listeners to engage with the show by sharing their own crafting projects and questions, fostering a community of curious and active "Wowzers."

• Credits and Acknowledgments: The episode concludes with acknowledgments to the creative team behind the show, ensuring transparency and appreciation for the collaborative effort.

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Key Takeaways:

• Understanding Wildlife Nutrition: Feeding ducks bread is harmful as it provides no nutritional benefits and can lead to serious health issues like angel wing, impairing their ability to fly and thrive.

  Guy Raz: “We’re actually not helping the ducks. We’re actually harming them.”
  [07:02]

• Responsible Interaction with Nature: While the desire to feed and interact with wildlife is natural, it's crucial to choose appropriate foods or, better yet, observe animals in their natural habitat without interference.

• Engaging Science Through Humor: The episode effectively uses humor and relatable scenarios to convey important scientific information, making learning enjoyable for both children and adults.

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Final Thoughts: "WeWow on the Weekend" successfully merges entertainment with education, offering valuable insights into animal welfare while maintaining a lighthearted and engaging atmosphere. By addressing common misconceptions and providing practical advice, the episode empowers listeners to make informed decisions that positively impact the natural world around them.

For more episodes and to dive deeper into the wonders of science, technology, and innovation, tune in to "Wow in the World" every Monday, available for free on various platforms.

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. Hey Wowzer fams. It's Guy Raz here and before we start the show, have you watched wow in the world on YouTube? That's right. You can now watch some of your favorite tinkercast podcasts like 2 what's and a wow Flip and mosey. Who when wow and wow in the World. To start watching today head to Tinkercast.com YouTube that's Tinkercast.com YouTube. That's it. Now back to the show.

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[Dennis]

Wee 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, clap. We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Hello and welcome to Wee Wow on the Weeknd. I'm your host, Dennis. Alright. And don't forget, Reggie, we're here in mother's basement with another exciting, engrossing, enchanting episode of Wee Wow on the Weekend. Reggie, it is so enchanting. You're bored? How could you be bored? Well, should we play what's in the box? What do you mean? No, it is not a bad segment. Let's just do it real quick.

[Mindy]

Ahem.

[Dennis]

I found a box down here in the basement and now I'm gonna find out what's in the box. Alright, I'm gonna go into the crawlspace real quick. Okay, let's see. Okay. Got one. Uh oh. Hey Reggie, I'm a little stuck. I can't turn around. Just come over here and pull me up Please. Okay, got me. Now pull. Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on. Thank you. Okay, here we go. Ready? What's in this box? Oh, hey, a bunch of popsicle sticks. Wow, a lot of popsicle sticks. I think these were Mindy's. Yeah, from last summer when she tried to sell hot and spicy popsicles out of the ice cream truck. Right, and nobody wanted them except for Grandma G Force. And then the ice cream truck freezer broke, and then all the popsicles melted. And so she put all the spicy popsicle juice in her pool and tried to throw a rainbow pool. But when everyone jumped in, their eyes started burning. Yeah, and then her backyard got really sticky and full of bees. Anyway, she gave me all the popsicle sticks. What should we do with them? Reggie, you're a genius. We'll do a Crafternoon craft project with them. Pancakes are for eating and rivers are for rafting. And Broadway is for my one man show. But afternoon crafternoons after crafting. Crafternoon. Welcome everyone, to the Crafternoon segment. Today's crafternoon craft is something I like to call scale model of the Eiffel Tower made out of popsicle sticks. Reggie, No, I don't want to make a tiny little model of the Eiffel Tower. I want to make the actual size. Well, how big is the eiffel Tower? What, 330 meters? Or 1,083ft? Reggie, quit saying fun facts about the Eiffel Tower. We gotta get to work. This is gonna take all Crafternoon to build. Okay, got a popsicle stick here and some glue. Oops, too much glue. Popsicle sticks stuck to my fingers. Reggie, can you hand me a paper towel? Thank you. Just dab this up and. Oh, darn. Now I'm stuck to the paper towel. Reggie, what kind of glue is this? Ah, Marvin Stickenheimer's Ultra St. Mickey, you're not going anywhere. Glue Raj. Okay, fine. Let's skip Crafternoon and move on to the next Inside Tinkercast Studios. Inside Tinkercast Studios. No, I'm stuck to my keyboard. Reggie, it's not funny. Just put on the episode. Ah, no, not that one. Play the wow in the world from season one, episode 15 about ducks and bread.

[Mindy]

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

[Dennis]

Wow in the World.

[Mindy]

Hey, Guy. Raz, over here.

[Guy Raz]

What's going on?

[Mindy]

Oh, you know, just the usual. Hanging out by the pond. The ducks and I like to feed each other stale bread. Check this out. So first, they feed me a piece of stale bread. Come here. Come here. You dropped it. Sometimes they drop the bread because they don't have fingers.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy]

Come here. Come here.

[Dennis]

O.

[Mindy]

Okay, Jackie. Okay. And then I feed them a piece of stale bread.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, wait, there's that kid.

[Dennis]

Ducky.

[Guy Raz]

Ducky, stop.

[Dennis]

Guys.

[Mindy]

Rose, you just scared the ducks away.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, don't feed those ducks that bread.

[Mindy]

Oh, why do you want it? Cause just. We'll open your mop, I'll throw some in.

[Guy Raz]

No, no, Mindy, I'm not. I'm not hungry. I just don't want you to feed that bread to the ducks.

[Mindy]

Oh, okay. Well, I guess I could feed them something else I have in my pocket. Here, let me check. French fries. I got some spaghetti. Oh, hey, look, I found a little oyster.

[Guy Raz]

No, no, no, no, Mindy. In fact, I just read an article in Popular Science about why we shouldn' I never feed ducks. Stuff like that.

[Mindy]

But what's the point of having all this three year old bread if I can't feed it to the ducks? Come here, boy. Aw. See how much they love it?

[Guy Raz]

I know they love it, but when we feed ducks pieces of bread, we're actually not helping the ducks. We're actually harming them.

[Mindy]

Wait, what?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, the problem is that bread might fill the ducks up, but there is almost no nutritional value for them. In other words, it's like giving them junk food.

[Mindy]

Oh, well, no wonder they love me so much. Look at them all encroaching into my personal bubble space. Hi, duckies.

[Guy Raz]

I know, I know. But the problem is that if these ducks fill up on bread, they won't eat the stuff that's good for them. And it can cause ducks to develop something called angel wing.

[Mindy]

Hmm. Angel wing. That doesn't sound so bad.

[Guy Raz]

Well, it is, Mindy. Angel wing is a condition that develops in baby ducks when they don't get enough nutrition, and it can affect how much their wings grow. In fact, it can make it so the ducks can't fly, and then they'd.

[Mindy]

Have to walk or swim everywhere. That would be awful. So you're saying that we should never feed the ducks?

[Guy Raz]

Well, the good news is that if you feel like you really want to feed the ducks, there are some better alternatives.

[Mindy]

Like what?

[Guy Raz]

Well, here, I happen to have some in my pocket.

[Mindy]

Oh, no. Is that. Is that kale?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, I always carry a little kale around with me for munching.

[Mindy]

Wait, is that corn peeking out of your pocket, too?

[Guy Raz]

Yup. And I've got some oats, too. These are pretty Safe foods for ducks.

[Mindy]

Kay. People think I'm the weirdo. You want some kale?

[Guy Raz]

See that, Mindy? Yeah. All of these nutritious foods are a much healthier alternative for ducks. But usually when I visit this pond, or any pond, really, I actually avoid feeding the ducks. I just come to take it all in and enjoy a quiet afternoon.

[Mindy]

That was a duck.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy]

Kale makes him gassy.

[Dennis]

Uh huh.

[Guy Raz]

Mm.

[Dennis]

And then what? And then soak my hands in hoisin sauce. Okay, I'll try that. Thank you. Bye. Okay, what happened in the episode? I wasn't listening. We shouldn't feed ducks bread. Really? Oh, wow. I had no idea. Okay, well, let's wrap up the show and then go get unstuck from this keyboard. Ahem. Thank you everyone for listening to this episode of wewow 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, let's go upstairs. Do you think we even have any hoisin sauce left? Well, how about gochujang? That might work. How are we out of everything? Do we have any of that sesame dipping sauce for the grownups?

[Mindy]

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 on Apple Podcasts. Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Mindy]

And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey. Thanks for joining us for this edition of WEW on the weekend. Our show is written by Ruth Morrison and Jed Anderson. Original sound design and production is done by Henry Moskal and Marion Lozano with help from Jed Anderson and Tyler Thol. Original music for wewow on the Weeknd is composed and performed by Tyler Thol.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy]

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] share or call us at 1-888-7-WWOW.

[Guy Raz]

Our website is tinkercast.com there you can learn more about becoming an official member of 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 bestselling book series wow in the Wild.

[Mindy]

Thanks again for thinking, tinkering, 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 in the world wow in the world wow in the world wow in the world wow in the world wow in the world.

[Mindy]

The World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.