WeWow on the Weekend (1/19/25)

Summary

Wow in the World - Episode: WeWow on the Weekend (January 19, 2025)
Hosted by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz | Produced by Tinkercast | Wondery

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz delve into fascinating scientific inquiries, interact with their listeners through a lively Q&A segment, and explore the intriguing mechanics of human movement. The episode is structured to captivate both kids and their grown-ups, embodying the show's mission to inspire wonder and curiosity about the world around us.

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Listener Q&A

1. Who Invented the Sandwich?
Listener: Greta from New York City
Timestamp: [05:48]

Greta poses a classic question about the origins of one of our favorite foods: "Who invented the sandwich?" Mindy and Guy navigate this culinary curiosity with humor and creativity.

• Eric's Playful Answer:
  "I invented a sandwich. I call it the Dennis Witch. First, I start with two slices of cinnamon raisin bread, toasted..." ([05:53] - [06:10])

  Eric invents a whimsical sandwich recipe, showcasing inventive thinking and adding a light-hearted twist to the discussion.

2. Why Do We Have Dreams?
Listener: Jack from Boulder, Colorado
Timestamp: [06:40]

Jack inquires about the mysterious world of dreams: "Why do we have dreams?"

• Eric's Insightful Speculation:
  "I think it's so that we can have something to do when we're asleep. Because, Reggie, when I'm asleep, I'm bored. And dreams keep it interesting." ([06:48])

  He humorously explains dreams as a natural entertainment system for our minds, sharing a funny dream anecdote involving pogo sticks and talking dogs to illustrate his point.

3. Favorite 'Wow in the World' Episodes
Listener: Eric from Hinsdale, Illinois
Timestamp: [08:03]

Eric asks about the hosts' favorite episodes: "What's your favorite wow in the world episode?"

• Mindy's and Eric's Humorous Exchange:
  "My favorite wow in the world episode is any episode with me in it." ([08:10])

  This playful banter highlights the hosts' camaraderie and adds a personal touch to the episode, making listeners feel more connected.

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Main Discussion: The Science of Human Movement

The heart of the episode explores the biomechanics of human walking, answering why humans land on their heels instead of their toes—a trait common in most four-legged animals.

1. The Usain Bolt vs. Rabbit Race Scenario
Timestamp: [10:01] - [12:24]

Guy Raz sets up an imaginative scenario comparing the speed of Usain Bolt, the fastest human, to that of a rabbit.

• Guy Raz's Hypothetical Question:
  "Would Usain Bolt or a rabbit win a race, and why?" ([11:31])

• Mindy's Confident Bet:
  "I have a feeling I'll be need when Usain Bolt leaves that rabbit in the dust." ([11:47])

This playful setup serves as a springboard to delve into the evolutionary and physiological reasons behind human gait.

2. Understanding Heel vs. Toe Landing
Timestamp: [13:04] - [18:03]

Mindy and Guy Raz explore anthropologist James Weber's research from the University of Arizona on human and animal locomotion.

• Key Insights:

  • Animal Locomotion:
    "Almost all animals, when they walk or run, they land on their toes. It makes their legs longer." ([15:44])

  • Human Evolution:
    "In humans, landing on our heels actually makes our legs longer than if we were to land on our toes. It's a trick of evolution." ([16:37])

  • Energy Efficiency:
    "Landing on our heels conserves energy because it allows us to use our bodies more efficiently." ([17:00])

• Interactive Demonstration:
  Guy asks Mindy to walk heel-to-toe vs. toe-first, illustrating the energy and balance differences between the two methods.

  "Landing on the floor first slows us humans down because of how hard the front part of our foot has to work to push our bodies forward." ([17:01])

• Mindy's Realization:
  "Unlike cats, or dogs or even rabbits, we're much better off landing on our heels when we walk because that's what gives us length, efficiency, and stability." ([16:37])

This segment effectively combines storytelling, scientific explanation, and practical demonstration to elucidate why human walking differs from most animals—a result of millions of years of evolutionary adaptation for optimal efficiency and stability.

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Inside Tinkercast Studios

Revisiting Classic Episodes
Timestamp: [08:10] - [09:51]

Mindy introduces the segment "Inside Tinkercast Studios," where she revisits episodes from the first season of Wow in the World.

• Featured Story:
  "The Great Human vs. Rabbit Race" ([09:51])

  This reflection not only provides nostalgia for long-time listeners but also reinforces the show's commitment to exploring scientific concepts through engaging storytelling.

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Conclusion

The episode wraps up with a lively exchange between the hosts, maintaining the show's signature blend of humor and education. They encourage listeners to engage further by submitting questions and participating in interactive segments, fostering a community of curious minds eager to explore the wonders of the world.

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Notable Quotes

• Eric on Dreams:
  "I think it's so that we can have something to do when we're asleep. Because, Reggie, when I'm asleep, I'm bored." ([06:48])

• Guy Raz on Animal vs. Human Locomotion:
  "Landing on our heels actually makes our legs longer than if we were to land on our toes." ([16:37])

• Mindy on Human Efficiency:
  "Unlike cats, or dogs or even rabbits, we're much better off landing on our heels when we walk because that's what gives us length, efficiency and stability." ([16:37])

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Final Thoughts

This episode of Wow in the World masterfully blends scientific inquiry with entertaining dialogue, making complex topics accessible and enjoyable for listeners of all ages. Through engaging questions, thoughtful discussions, and interactive segments, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz exemplify what makes this podcast a beloved resource for fostering curiosity and wonder in families worldwide.

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For more episodes and to join the wonder-filled journey, visit tinkercast.com or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.

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.

[Mindy]

Hey Wowzer Fams Mindy here and before we start the show, is your family homeschooling this year? You may have heard about our project based learning tool tinkerclass which helps K5 students build 21st century skills like critical thinking, collaboration and creative innovation. Over 3,000 teachers are using Tinkerclass in their classrooms and now we want to bring Tinkerclass to a homeroom near you. With Tinkerclass at home you get access to all of our podcast based projects or as we like to call them podjects. Plus over a thousand online activities, experiments, crafts, recipes, worksheets and more. Want to learn more about how you can bring the WOW into your homeschool curriculum this year? Visit tinkercast.com that's tinkercast.com homeschool that's it. And now let's get back to the show.

[Reggie]

Hey grown ups. Give your loved ones the gift of family gaming fun with the Nintendo Switch System. The home of Mario and friends. Compete for first place in thrilling high speed races in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Or try your luck on action packed game boards and enjoy the fun and funny mini games of Super Mario Party Jamboree. And those looking for a wonder filled adventure can join Mario, Peach, Toad and friends as they explore the whimsical flower kingdom in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. No matter how you like to play, there's fun for the whole family on Nintendo Switch. Go to Nintendo.com to learn more and browse the full lineup of Nintendo Switch systems. Additional accessories may be required for multiplayer mode game systems and some accessories sold separately. Games rated E for Everyone hey grown.

[Dennis]

Ups, are you looking for ways to enrich your child's homeschool curriculum? IXL is an online learning platform that offers practice and math, English, language arts, science and social studies. It's trusted by 15 million students worldwide and is backed by over 75 scientific research studies. IXL encourages students to be curious and empowers them to choose how to learn through games, videos and more make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and WOW in the world. Listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com wow. Visit ixl.com wow to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.

[Eric]

Ahem. 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 twice. Whatever. We wow on the weekend. Yeah, we wow on the weekend. Clap, clap. We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Hello and welcome to We Wow on the Weekend. I'm your host, Dennis, and today we've got a very special.

[Guy Raz]

What the.

[Eric]

Reggie, quit making a nest out of my clean laundry because I just folded that. Fine, Mother just folded that. As I was saying, today is a very special day because I came up with a new segment for the show I'm gonna call what's in this Box? I found a box down here in the basement, and now I'm gonna find out what's in the box. Okay, so in this segment, I'm gonna go over there into the crawlspace and dig out a random box from storage. Then I'm gonna open it up and we'll see what's in it. Doesn't this sound like fun? Yes, it does, Reggie. Okay, you stay here. I'm gonna go into the crawl space. I just gotta duck under this wooden beam. Ow. Okay, I'm in. I'm just gonna grab a box here. Okay, I got one. Okay, got a box. Now let's open it and find out what's in it. Ready? What's in this box? It's a dozen cans of baked beans. What for? Oh, right. I bet Mother put these in here in case the power went out or in the event of an alien invasion. Or maybe she. She found a coupon for baked beans. Wow. Okay. Thanks for playing. What's in the Box, everyone? Good idea. Let's answer some questions from my devoted listeners in the Q and A segment. The Q and A segment. All right, 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 gonna answer all my questions? You? Probably not, but I guess I can answer yours. Leave me a message.

[Mindy]

I'm Greta from New York City, and my question is, who invented the sandwich?

[Eric]

Wow, that's a great question. Question, Greta. I don't know who invented the sandwich, but I invented a sandwich. I call it the Dennis Witch. First, I start with two slices of cinnamon raisin bread, toasted. Then I add lettuce, avocado, and a slice of Swiss cheese. Now, the holes in the Swiss cheese kind of freak me out, so I fill them in with olive slices. But the olive slices also have holes in them. So I fill those holes with ketchup. Lastly, I add a handful of potato chips, close it up and. Hello, Dennis Witch. I know, we really gotta do a cooking segment soon. Next question.

[Reggie]

Hi, Dennis.

[Mindy]

My name is Jack and I live in Boulder, Colorado. My question for you today is why do we have dreams?

[Eric]

Bye. Whoa, Jack. Why do we have dreams? That's deep. Now, obviously I'm not sure why we have dreams, but I think it's so that we can have something to do when we're asleep. Because, Reggie, when I'm asleep, I'm bored. And dreams keep it interesting. Although it would be nice if we got to pick what our dreams are, because I would not choose to do half the things I dream about. Like this one time I dreamed that I was on pogo stick, which is already way too much work, even for dream Dennis. But the pogo stick broke, so obviously I had to go buy a new one. But the store that sold them in the mall was closed. And the mall wasn't even the mall anymore. It was my middle school cafeteria. And we had to put all the lunch trays away. And I'm like, I can't put trays away. This cafeteria is full of dogs. So then I started to name the dogs. The first one was named Tricia. The second one I named Reggie. Wake up. How could you fall asleep while I'm talking about being asleep? What do you mean? Dreams are more fun to have than listen to. Oh, whatever. Next question.

[Mindy]

Hi Dennis, it's me, Eric from Hinsdale, Illinois. I want to know what's your favorite wow in the world episode? Bye.

[Eric]

Oh, Eric, great question. My favorite wow in the world episode is any episode with me in it. Exactly. Like Dennis and Reggie's Wild Ride. Or the Snoop and Seek Robot One. Or the Rise and Fall of Static maa. I mean, am I in that one? I don't know if I'm in that one. It's a good episode though. Oh, good idea, Reggie. We should get to today's episode. Thanks for your calls, everyone. If you've got a question for me, call and leave me a message. The number is 1-8887-WOW. Wow. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Okay, that's takes care of that. Alright, 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 this weekend we're revisiting episodes from the very first season of wow in the World. Today we're doing a story from episode four called the Great Human vs. Rabbit Race. Only just a moment ago, Eric asked me what my favorite episode of wow in the World is. And while my favorite is me, my other favorite are these episodes from season one. I know, Reggie. It's like I forgot all about them and now they're like new episodes except they're old. Right, let's play the episode. Okay, here we go. And play.

[Mindy]

Wee. Wow. We'll be right back, grown ups. This message is for you. That's it. Now back to the show.

[Eric]

What in the world?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, do you know the name of the fastest human on earth?

[Mindy]

Of course I do, Guy Raz. It's for.

[Guy Raz]

Can I give you a hint?

[Mindy]

No, I just. It's on the tip of my face.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, it's okay.

[Mindy]

Just a little hint. Okay, just one tiny hint, but that's it.

[Guy Raz]

His name rhymes with Rhymes.

[Mindy]

Rhymes. Lee and rhyme.

[Guy Raz]

Volt. Usain Volt. I think you mean Usain Bolt.

[Mindy]

Nope, I'm talking about Usain Volt. He's the guy that races to my house every time the electricity goes out.

[Eric]

Why?

[Mindy]

Do you know him too?

[Guy Raz]

Well? I'm actually referring to Usain Bolt, the fastest human on earth. You know, the guy who ran the hundred meter dash in 9.58 seconds and the 200 meter dash in 19.19 seconds faster than any other human in recorded history.

[Mindy]

Yeah, but can he do a one headed cartwheel? Uh, Guy Raz, I know who you're talking about. Why didn't you just say that in the first place?

[Guy Raz]

Well, Mindy, say Usain Bolt decided to have a race against, let's say, a rabbit. Right. And let's say that if you predicted or correctly guessed the winner of the race, you got a giant ice cream sundae with caramel sauce and four cherries. Would you make that bet, Guy Raz?

[Mindy]

I would ra Usain Bolt and that rabbit if it meant getting to that ice cream sundae first. So take that as a big yes, I would make that bet.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, Mindy. So the big question of course is who would win that race? Usain Bolt, the fastest human ever to walk planet earth, the man who won eight Olympic gold medals, or the teeny tiny itsy bitsy little rabbit?

[Mindy]

Well, I may just bust out my own personalized ice cream shovel, Guy Raz. Because I have a feeling I'll be need when Usain Bolt leaves that rabbit in the dust.

[Guy Raz]

So you're betting on Usain Bolt, the fastest human ever to run on planet.

[Mindy]

Earth, beating the rabbit 100%.

[Guy Raz]

Well, what if I told you, Mindy, that you might have to give that ice cream sundae to the rabbit?

[Mindy]

You'd never. Uh, well, Guy Raz, Usain Bolt has way longer legs than any rabbit. How could I possibly lose this bet?

[Guy Raz]

Because, mind, between a rabbit and Usain Bolt, the fastest human to ever run on Earth, the rabbit would actually beat Usain Bolt so bad, it would probably have enough time to make a carrot casserole and do the dishes by the time Usain Bolt had completed the race.

[Mindy]

Wow, that's impressive. I had no idea that rabbits knew how to cook.

[Guy Raz]

They don't. I was just trying to illustrate how much faster a rabbit runs than a human.

[Mindy]

Oh, got it. Okay, so now that we've got that, why exactly are we talking about carrot casserole and Usain Bolt? Where is this going? Guy Raz?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot why I'm telling you this story, Mindy. Well, one of the advantages most four legged creatures have is that they walk or run in a very particular way.

[Mindy]

And what way is that?

[Guy Raz]

Well, Mindy, almost all animals, when they walk or run, they land on their toes. And that is very different from us humans. Here, here's. Let me show you.

[Mindy]

Aw, are we going on a hike?

[Guy Raz]

Okay, so stand up.

[Mindy]

Okay, I'm coming. Hold on. I've been sitting in this laundry basket for an hour and I just gotta stretch it out.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, and let's just walk. Walk down the hall. Are you ready, Mindy?

[Mindy]

Yep, I'm ready. Let's do it, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Okay.

[Mindy]

Left, left, right, left, right.

[Guy Raz]

See how our heel touches the ground before our toes do?

[Mindy]

Oh, yeah, I get it. There it goes again. My heel touches the ground as my other foot starts to lift off and swing forward. And then the next thing I know. Guy Raz. I could do this all day.

[Eric]

I'm walking, walking like the wind.

[Guy Raz]

But, but, but.

[Mindy]

Watch out. Me?

[Guy Raz]

You want to hit the drum set? I sit up at the end of the hallway. Uh, are you okay?

[Mindy]

Yeah, never been better.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, where were we?

[Mindy]

Ooh, I believe we were at left, right, left, right.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah. Well, you might be wondering why we humans, when we walk, why we land on our heels rather than our toes like most other animals.

[Mindy]

Guy Raz, are you trying to get me to ask why we land on our heels rather than our toes like other animals?

[Guy Raz]

Uh, yeah. And in fact, an anthropologist by the name of James Weber from the University of Arizona Was wondering the same thing. Because, Mindy, he likes to run, and he uses those barefoot running shoes when he goes out for his morning jog.

[Mindy]

Oh, I've seen those. They make your toes look like foot fingers and your feet look like leg hands.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, yeah, sort of. Anyway, he noticed that when he runs in those shoes, he tends to land on his toes. But when he walks in those very same shoes, he tends to land on his heels. And, Mindy, this didn't seem to make sense to Dr. Weber, because one of the reasons animals land on their toes first rather than their heels is because it actually extends or stretches the length of their foot. In other words, it makes their legs longer.

[Mindy]

Yeah, but, Guy Raz, wouldn't it also make our legs longer? I mean, my toes are pretty far away.

[Eric]

Hey. Hello down there.

[Guy Raz]

Well, Mindy, you would think so, but actually, in humans, it has the opposite effect. What James Webber discovered is that when we humans land on our heels, it actually makes our legs longer than if we were to land on our toes. It's a trick of evolution, because a long, long, long time ago, our human ancestors probably stood on their toes. But over time, their bodies evolved or changed. And eventually, over millions of years, their feet got smaller and their heels dropped to the ground. So by the time we humans, or Homo sapiens, appeared here on Earth, our bodies were designed to allow for our heels to touch the ground before our toes do.

[Eric]

Wow.

[Mindy]

So how is he able to investigate this?

[Guy Raz]

Well, Mindy, this at the University of Arizona, asked two groups of humans to help him with his experiment. And with the first group, he asked them to walk normally.

[Mindy]

Okay, and so what did he do with the second group?

[Guy Raz]

With the second group, he asked them to walk on their toes. And guess what?

[Mindy]

What?

[Guy Raz]

He found that when humans land on their toes first, they use a lot more energy than if they land on their heels. And landing on our toes actually slows us humans down because of how hard the front part of our foot has to work to push our bodies forward. Here, let's try this. But this time, please watch out for the drums. Okay.

[Mindy]

Not making any promises.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, you ready?

[Mindy]

Yep.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, let's go.

[Mindy]

All right, here goes nothing. Toes out. Landing on the floor first. Left, right, left. I'm losing my balance.

[Eric]

I'm losing it. And.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, Mindy?

[Eric]

I'm okay.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, are you sure?

[Eric]

Ugh.

[Mindy]

Never been better.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, okay. Okay, great. Well, now you understand why it makes sense that we humans land on our heels rather than our toes.

[Mindy]

Yeah. After all that, it's obvious to me that unlike cats, or dogs or even rabbits. We're much better off landing on our heels when we walk because that's what gives us length, efficiency and stability.

[Guy Raz]

And that seems to be James Webber's conclusion as well.

[Mindy]

Now let's walk heel to toe to the ice cream truck and get that giant sundae. You owe me.

[Eric]

Reggie. We should have a race like that. Rabbit and Usain Bolt. Nuh. I would win. No, me. Fine. You're on. Let me just wrap this up and then we're going outside and having a race. Thanks everyone for listening to this episode of We Wow on the Weekend. Be sure to give our phone lines a call and ask me, Dennis, a question. The number is 1-888-7-WOW WOW. That's 1-888-7-WWOW WOW. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the Weekend. Okay, you ready? Great. Let's go. Reggie. No way. You are going down. I am so fast. Yeah. Huh. One time mother timed me and I was like. And then she was all like, whoa. And I was all like, I know. And she was all like.

[Mindy]

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]

And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] thanks for joining us for this edition of We Wow 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 Thull. Original music for We Wow on the Weeknd is composed and performed by Tyler Thull.

[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 Wow.

[Eric]

In the world wow in the world wow in the world wow in the world wow in the world wow in.

[Mindy]

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