Podcast Summary: Wow in the World – WeWow on the Weekend (11/9/25)

Host: Tinkercast | Wondery
Date: November 9, 2025
Episode: WeWow on the Weekend (11/9/25)

Episode Overview

This special weekend edition of Wow in the World—hosted by Dennis (with co-host Reggie)—delivers a lively blend of giggles, listener reviews, imaginative segments, and a relisten to a past Wow in the World story. The episode centers on the mysteries of the Ice Age, the science of climate change, human adaptation, and an exploration of a fascinating archaeological discovery in Turkey. The show maintains its trademark mix of silliness, fun science, and interactive kid-focused energy.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Listener Interaction and Review Readings (03:20 – 07:07)

• Dennis introduces the “Reading Reviewsies” segment, highlighting listener comments from Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• Memorable listener reviews include creative emojis, requests for more themed episodes (like puppies and trains), and fun facts ("some trains levitate with magnets").
• Dennis comedically reacts to typos, requests, and ratings, sparking laughter and banter with Reggie.

Quote:
“You can leave whatever number of stars you want as Long as it's five or more.” – Dennis (06:02)

2. Inside Tinkercast Studios: Revisiting the Ice Age (07:07 – 22:46)

A relisten to Wow in the World, Season 1, Episode 10: Comets, Ice Age, and Human Civilization hosted by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz. This segment is packed with fun, facts, and adventure:

a. Time Traveling to the Ice Age (07:36 – 13:16)

• Mindy and Guy use a time machine to “travel” to the end of the Pleistocene Epoch (a.k.a. the Ice Age).
• Descriptions of a frozen Boston from 20,000 years ago, bringing history to life through vivid imagination and playful dialogue.

Quote:
“No Boston, no Red Sox, no Dunkin Donuts. ...and all I see is ice.” – Mindy (11:39)

b. Why Did the Ice Age Get Even Colder? (13:16 – 16:18)

• Guy explains the Younger Dryas, a period when the Earth suddenly cooled again after warming.
• Theories for this cooling include a sudden release of cold lake water disrupting Atlantic ocean currents and an alternative hypothesis of a comet impact.

Explained Simply:
“All that cold water... made it so that no warm water could make its way up to parts of North America.” – Mindy (15:52)

c. The Gobekli Tepe Mystery & Comet Theory (16:18 – 20:03)

• Discussing the ancient site of Gobekli Tepe in Turkey, and how carvings there could represent constellations or even a record of a comet impact.
• The theory: an ancient civilization might have witnessed a comet strike and immortalized it in stone.

Quote:
“These engineers from the University of Edinburgh believe that the animals in the carving actually represent a series of constellations.” – Guy Raz (18:51)

d. Human Survival and the Rise of Farming (20:03 – 22:45)

• Describes how early humans endured cold conditions—using animal skins, living in caves, and gradually becoming farmers after the Ice Age ended.
• The connection between warming climates and the “Neolithic Revolution,” when humans learned to plant and harvest crops.

Playful Moment:
“And by this time next year, I will have grown my very first donut tree... a chocolate glazed donut tree that blooms with lots of sprinkles in the springtime.” – Mindy (22:20)

3. Dennis’ Commentary & Wrap-up (22:55 – 24:06)

• Dennis relates the science back to his own experience growing prize-winning azaleas and banana peppers.
• Encourages listeners to interact, call in, and perhaps share their gardening successes (or, as a joke, odd plants like “judgmental looking ferns”).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [03:20] Dennis:
  “Welcome to Rating Reviewsies, the segment where I print out a bunch of comments people write... and I read them aloud.”
• [11:39] Mindy:
  “No Boston, no Red Sox, no Dunkin Donuts. ...and all I see is ice.”
• [15:52] Mindy:
  “All of that cold water... made it so that no warm water could make its way up to parts of North America.”
• [18:51] Guy Raz:
  “These engineers... believe that the animals in the carving actually represent a series of constellations.”
• [22:20] Mindy:
  “By this time next year, I will have grown my very first donut tree... a chocolate glazed donut tree that blooms with lots of sprinkles in the springtime.”
• [24:06] Dennis:
  “Do you think there’s a prize for the most judgmental looking fern? Because I have this fern named Sarah...”

Important Timestamps

• 03:20 – Start of Reviews segment
• 07:07 – “Inside Tinkercast Studios” introduction
• 07:36 – Time travel to the Ice Age begins (Mindy & Guy)
• 11:39 – Arriving in the Ice Age Boston
• 13:16 – Younger Dryas explanation
• 16:18 – The comet/impact theory and Gobekli Tepe
• 20:03 – How humans survived and adapted; the beginnings of farming
• 22:20 – The "donut tree" joke
• 22:55 – Dennis’ gardening wrap-up

Episode Tone & Style

• Energetic, kid-appropriate humor
• Heavy use of playful banter, silly jokes, and interactive moments
• Science is presented through jokes, imaginary scenarios, and relatable references ("donut trees," "judgmental ferns")

Summary for New Listeners

This episode of WeWow on the Weekend is a science-rich, joyfully silly exploration of climate change, adaptation, and ancient mysteries—framed with playful host antics, audience shoutouts, and imaginative time travel. Perfect for curious kids and their grown-ups, the episode brings to life the story of Earth’s transformations in a way that’s memorable and fun.

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