WeWow on the Weekend (1/5/25)

Summary

Wow in the World Episode Summary: "WeWow on the Weekend" (January 5, 2025)

In this engaging episode of Wow in the World titled "WeWow on the Weekend," hosts Dennis and Reggie take listeners on a delightful journey filled with humor, interactive segments, and intriguing scientific explanations. The episode seamlessly blends entertainment with education, making complex topics accessible and fun for both kids and their grown-up companions.

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I. Introduction to "WeWow on the Weekend"

The episode kicks off with Dennis energetically introducing the show, setting a relaxed and playful tone. He emphasizes the casual, weekend vibe as he and Reggie prepare to engage with their audience.

Notable Quote:

• Dennis [01:33]: “Wee wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Talking, laughing, me and Reggie.”

II. Guest Segment: Grandma GeForce

The highlight of the episode is the introduction of a special guest, Grandma GeForce. Dennis attempts to serenade her with a song, leading to humorous interactions that showcase Grandma GeForce's spirited personality.

Notable Quotes:

• Grandma GeForce [02:50]: “I don't know what that is.”
• Dennis [03:13]: “Welcome to We Wow on the weekend, Grandma GeForce.”
• Grandma GeForce [07:11]: “Can I go now?”

III. Q&A Segment

In the Q&A segment, listeners' questions are addressed with a blend of informative content and comedic exchanges. Grandma GeForce's candid and witty responses add a unique flavor to the discussion.

Notable Interactions:

• Question from Miles [04:17]: “Where does water come from?”

  Dennis [04:24]: “Where does water come from? Good question, Miles. Now, the answer is a little complicated...”
  Grandma GeForce [04:33]: “Everybody knows water comes from the sink.”

• Question from Kate [05:00]: “Why is tree bark brown?”

  Dennis [05:08]: “Why is tree bark brown? Good question, Grandma G. Force. Do you know?”
  Grandma GeForce [05:15]: “Well, Kate, first of all, I don't know why anything is anything.”

• Question from Kenley Hymer [06:07]: “Have you ever petted display cats? If you have, which one's your favorite?”

  Dennis [06:21]: “Good question. And yes, Mindy always asks me to watch her sleigh cats. My favorite is Ms. Dixon.”

Grandma GeForce further embellishes the segment with anecdotes about her pets, adding depth and humor.

IV. Inside Tinkercast Studios: Revisiting "Your Shoelaces on GeForce"

Dennis transitions into the "Inside Tinkercast Studios" segment, where he and Reggie discuss a previous episode titled "Your Shoelaces on GeForce." This segment serves as a bridge to the main scientific discussion of the episode.

Notable Quotes:

• Dennis [07:28]: “Inside Tinkercast Studios. This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows.”
• Reggie [07:36]: “No, I don't think it's about Granny G's shoelaces.”

V. The Science of Shoelaces and G Force

The core of the episode delves into the intriguing question of why shoelaces often come undone. Guy Raz provides a comprehensive explanation, incorporating insights from mechanical engineers at UC Berkeley who studied the phenomenon.

Key Points:

1. Research on Shoelace Untying:

   • Mechanical engineers used high-speed cameras to observe shoelace movements during running.
   • They discovered that the force exerted each time a foot strikes the ground is over seven times the force of gravity, known as G force.

2. Understanding G Force:

   • Guy Raz illustrates G force by simulating a roller coaster ride, explaining how acceleration affects perception.
   • The analogy helps listeners grasp how repeated forces loosen shoelace knots over time.

3. Gravity’s Role:

   • The discussion extends to gravity, explaining its universal presence and its measurable effect on objects.
   • Comparisons are made between Earth's gravity and that of other celestial bodies, such as the Moon and Jupiter.

Notable Quotes:

• Guy Raz [12:00]: “Well, because every time the runner's foot hit the ground, it created such a powerful force. A force greater than seven times the force of gravity.”
• Reggie [13:00]: “Welcome to the G4 Super Extreme accelerator Extreme.”
• Guy Raz [15:04]: “That is why our shoelaces become undone, because they are constantly being rattled and loosened...”

The hosts employ playful banter to make the scientific concepts relatable, ensuring that listeners remain engaged while absorbing the information.

VI. Conclusion and Closing Remarks

As the episode wraps up, Dennis and Reggie invite listeners to participate by submitting their questions and sharing their projects. They provide contact information and promote upcoming content, fostering a sense of community among their audience.

Notable Closing Quotes:

• Dennis [20:48]: “Join Wondery in the Wondery app or on Wondery Kids plus on Apple Podcasts.”
• Guy Raz [21:35]: “Our website is tinkercast.com where you can learn more about becoming an official member of the World Organization of Wowzers.”

The episode concludes with heartfelt thanks to the production team and a reminder of the show's mission to inspire curiosity and exploration.

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Final Thoughts:

"WeWow on the Weekend" masterfully balances entertainment with educational content. Through lively interactions with Grandma GeForce and a captivating exploration of the science behind everyday phenomena like shoelace untying, Dennis and Reggie exemplify the podcast's commitment to making science accessible and fun. Notable quotes sprinkled throughout the episode not only highlight key moments but also enhance the overall engaging narrative.

Listeners who missed this episode can look forward to more exciting content every Monday, continuing the tradition of sparking curiosity and wonder in both kids and their grown-ups.

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.

[Mindy]

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, fun and funny minigames 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.

[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. Begin. Greetings and salutations, devoted listeners. It is I, Dennis, your humble host, your master of ceremonies, your commander of commemoration, Reggie. I was just trying something. Sheesh. Okay, fine. Take two. Ahem. Welcome to Wee Wow on the Weekend with me, Dennis and Reggie. We're here in my basement doing weekend stuff like hanging out in our pajamas even though it's well past noon. And today we've got a very special.

[Grandma GeForce]

Oh, are you gonna introduce me or not?

[Dennis]

Grandma GeForce. I was just getting to you. I was going to introduce you with a song.

[Grandma GeForce]

Oh, well, that sounds nice. Do it.

[Dennis]

Okay. Guest segment. The segment with a guest. A guest comes on the show and just like the title suggests, we bring them out.

[Grandma GeForce]

No, that's enough singing, boy. We're all very impressed.

[Dennis]

All right, all right, all right. Welcome to We Wow. On the weekend, Grandma GeForce.

[Grandma GeForce]

I don't know what that is.

[Dennis]

Oh, well, it's a very, very cool new show. That's very cool. Where Reggie and I hang out on the weekend.

[Grandma GeForce]

Okay.

[Dennis]

And we talk about our favorite tinkercast shows and interview celebrities like your. And we. Oh, right. Thanks, Reggie. And we answer questions from our adoring listeners.

[Grandma GeForce]

Okay, I want to do that.

[Dennis]

What?

[Grandma GeForce]

I want to answer questions. Hit me.

[Dennis]

Oh, okay. And now it's suddenly time for the Q and A segment. The Q and A segment.

[Grandma GeForce]

Boy, don't you never stop saying.

[Dennis]

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.

[Grandma GeForce]

Is that you?

[Dennis]

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.

[Reggie]

Hi, Dennis, my name is Miles, and.

[Grandma GeForce]

My question is, where does water come from?

[Dennis]

Where does water come from? Good question, Miles. Now, the answer is a little complicated. Firstly, the water cycle can be.

[Grandma GeForce]

Get out of here. It's not complicated. Everybody knows water comes from the sink.

[Dennis]

Oh, well, I suppose that's true, but.

[Grandma GeForce]

And the toilet and the hose and those overpriced plastic bottles and the sprinklers. When it's hot out, sometimes I drink out of.

[Dennis]

Huh? That's.

[Grandma GeForce]

Next question.

[Dennis]

Hi, Dennis.

[Reggie]

My name is Kate, and I'm from Virginia Beach, Virginia. My question is, why is tree bark brown?

[Dennis]

Why is tree bark brown? Good question, Grandma G. Force. Do you know?

[Grandma GeForce]

Well, Kate, first of all, I don't know why anything is anything.

[Dennis]

That's very true.

[Grandma GeForce]

Why are oranges orange? Why are trucks loud? Why are always frogs looking at me weird?

[Dennis]

Oh, my.

[Grandma GeForce]

Also, tree bark ain't always brown.

[Dennis]

It ain't? I mean, it isn't?

[Guy Raz]

No.

[Grandma GeForce]

You got a tree in your backyard, that's why. I seen it with my own eyes.

[Dennis]

Oh, yeah, my birch tree. Good snooping, Granny G. And in the.

[Grandma GeForce]

Park, there's a bunch of trees with green bark.

[Dennis]

What? Green bark?

[Grandma GeForce]

You heard me.

[Dennis]

Oh, you mean they're covered in moss so they look green?

[Grandma GeForce]

Yeah, that's what I said. Green bark.

[Dennis]

Right. Okay. Thanks for calling, Kate. Next question.

[Grandma GeForce]

Hi, I'm Kenley Hymer from Fayetteville, Arkansas.

[Reggie]

And my question for you, Dennis, is have you ever petted display cats? If you have, which one's your favorite?

[Dennis]

Good question. And yes, Mindy always asks me to watch her sleigh cats. My favorite is Ms. Dixon. Grandma GeForce, do you have a favorite sleigh cat?

[Grandma GeForce]

No, those cats don't get along with my cats.

[Dennis]

You have cats?

[Grandma GeForce]

Yeah, Mr. Fluffypants is my cat.

[Dennis]

Oh, cute.

[Grandma GeForce]

And of course there's Mr. Colonel Toots Thunderpaw. He's my cat and my landlord.

[Dennis]

Oh, that's interesting. Can I meet Colonel Toots Thunderpaw?

[Grandma GeForce]

No.

[Dennis]

Alright, well, thanks for your calls everyone. If you've got a question for me, call and leave me a message. The number is 1-888-7-WOW. Wow. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Okay, that takes care of that.

[Grandma GeForce]

Can I go now?

[Dennis]

Yes, you can go.

[Grandma GeForce]

And you're gonna put my check in the mail.

[Dennis]

What? No. Grandma GeForce. There's no money.

[Grandma GeForce]

What? No money? That's it. I want my money back. No. I should have never.

[Dennis]

I think that went pretty well. And now it's time for inside Tinkercast Studios. Inside Tinkercast Studios. This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows. Today we're revisiting a story from wow in the World. Season one called your shoelaces on GeForce. Yes, Reggie, that's why we had Grandma GeForce on today. No, I don't think it's about Granny G's shoelaces. Well, I think it's about everyone's shoelaces. Yes, even your shoelaces. I mean, that is when you wear shoes. Oh, you're right. This is a shoe focused weekend. Seriously, I think this makes us sneaker influencers now. Should we change this show to be all about sneakers? We could name it like we sneak on the weekend. Oh no, you're right. That sounds like another snooping podcast idea. Okay, let's listen to your shoelaces on JForce. Here we go and play WOW in the world.

[Reggie]

We'll be right back.

[Dennis]

Grown ups.

[Reggie]

This message is for you. That's it, back to the show.

[Dennis]

What in the world? 2, 3, 4.

[Reggie]

Uh, Guy Raz, why are you running in place?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, hey Mindy, I'm just going for a jog here. Just trying out my new running shoes.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I can see that. It looks like you got yourself a pair of those five toed deals. Kind of make your feet look like foot fingers. Why don't you just stick with regular shoes?

[Guy Raz]

You know, Mindy, I was wearing regular running shoes but my shoelaces kept getting untied and I would have to stop and tie my laces again. So you know, I thought, well, I could just slip into these shoes with.

[Reggie]

No laces or lifehack, you can just tie them tighter like everyone else. I'll even do it for you.

[Guy Raz]

Well, surprisingly, Mindy, over time, it doesn't matter how tight you tie those shoelaces, because if you run in them, they will eventually become undone, man.

[Reggie]

How does that happen?

[Guy Raz]

Well, Mindy, that was the very same question a team of mechanical engineers at the University of California in Berkeley asked. And they wanted to know why shoelaces become untied.

[Reggie]

Time out. So just to be clear, a mechanical engineer is the type of engineer that works with machines, not the type that operates a train, right?

[Guy Raz]

Yes, exactly. A mechanical engineer is a scientist that works on designing and creating and operating and understanding how machines work.

[Reggie]

So how did these engineers even begin to investigate how our shoes come untied?

[Guy Raz]

Well, they started, Mindy, by asking one of their colleagues, who's also a mechanical engineer, to start running.

[Reggie]

Okay, so let me just make sure I've got this picture in my head. So their colleague is running in circles around the science lab, and the engineers are cheering her on and staring at her shoelaces.

[Guy Raz]

Well, basically, yeah. But they also used a high speed camera.

[Reggie]

High speed? Wait a minute. The camera was running too well. No, it was just taking pictures.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, except this was a special camera, Mindy. The kind of camera that takes more than 250 photos every second.

[Reggie]

You're telling me that there's a camera that could take that many photos every second?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. So every second I speak is like 250 photos?

[Reggie]

Man, that's a lot of pictures. I mean, just think about it. If you printed out every single one of those one second photos, you could fill an entire swimming pool with your own selfies.

[Guy Raz]

Well, possibly even more photos than that, Mindy. But the good news is these were digital photographs. So they just live on a computer. And by taking so many photos, the engineers were able to watch every single movement of the other engineer's feet and shoelaces as she ran.

[Reggie]

Sounds riveting. So what happened?

[Guy Raz]

Well, over time, they started to see in these photos that the knots on her laces were slowly getting looser.

[Reggie]

But why?

[Guy Raz]

Well, because every time the runner's foot hit the ground, it created such a powerful force. A force greater than seven times the force of gravity.

[Reggie]

Oh, time out, guy. Raz, let's imagine this in slow motion. Okay, that's enough. Nobody's got time to wait for that other shoe to drop. Sigiraz, you were saying something about force of gravity seven times?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, it's a concept called G force.

[Reggie]

That'S my grandma's wrestling name.

[Grandma GeForce]

Go ahead, give me your best shot.

[Reggie]

Adventures for breakfast?

[Grandma GeForce]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Different G force. So can you explain?

[Guy Raz]

Well, would you be willing to come with me for a ride on a roller coaster?

[Reggie]

Would I. Where did this roller coaster come from?

[Guy Raz]

Okay, are you ready?

[Dennis]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

But do I have to wear this seatbelt?

[Dennis]

Welcome to the G4 Super Extreme accelerator Extreme. Please keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times, and thank you for choosing G4.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, you buckled in.

[Reggie]

It's a little late to ask me that question.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, so right now, Mindy, as this roller coaster starts going up, it's not that fast, right? But do you feel this ride getting a little faster and faster? And we're going to go down this giant. And here comes the loop, Mindy. This is where you're going to feel the G force.

[Dennis]

I feel good. Back to my. I can't move my head.

[Guy Raz]

This is G force, Mindy. It's the feeling that there's a weight pressing against our bodies, and it's caused by the acceleration of the ride. The faster it goes into these. Into these loops, the more we have the perception or the feeling like we're being held.

[Reggie]

I think I'm understanding. G force. Guy Raz, about to come out of my.

[Dennis]

Thank you for riding the G4 Super Extreme. Please take your personal belongings and all bodily fluids with you as you'll even have a great rest of your day.

[Guy Raz]

Are you okay, Mindy?

[Reggie]

Yeah, I'm good now, Guy Raz, you can have your tissue back. Anywho, that was a wild ride. And I don't know about you, Guy Raz, but somehow I felt heavier while we were on it.

[Guy Raz]

Well, that's the power of G forces, Mindy. Did you notice the force was so powerful that you couldn't even move your head?

[Reggie]

Yeah. And that's just because all of a sudden we started to speed up when we were going around the curve.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, that's the basic principle. And so what we just experienced on that roller coaster, well, that's kind of like what our shoelaces go through every time we walk or run.

[Reggie]

Man, those poor little shoelaces.

[Guy Raz]

And, Mindy, what we just felt was actually less intense than what our shoelaces go through.

[Reggie]

So you're saying our shoes are taking on a wild roller coaster ride every time we walk?

[Guy Raz]

Yup. And that force starts to loosen the knots in our shoes.

[Reggie]

And what does that have to do with gravity?

[Guy Raz]

Well, G force and gravity aren't actually the same thing. To you, me, and pretty much everything Else, they feel the same. So using what we know about gravity can actually help us understand what our shoelaces go through.

[Reggie]

How so?

[Guy Raz]

Well, Mindy, gravity is an invisible force all around us here on planet Earth. And it's why we don't just float up into space. And it's why when you throw a ball up into the air, it falls back down.

[Reggie]

But do all of the other planets also have gravity?

[Guy Raz]

Yes. In fact, gravity exists everywhere in our universe because without it, everything would just fly apart.

[Reggie]

Well, how does gravity work here on Earth?

[Guy Raz]

Well, the basic way to measure it is in meters. So, for example, if you throw something up in the air, eventually it will fall back to Earth at a rate of about 9.8 meters per second. Per second.

[Reggie]

9.8 meters. So let's see. That's just like a little bit shorter than a school bus, right?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, exactly. So the gravitational force on Earth is so powerful that when you throw something up into the air, it races back down to the ground at a length of almost one entire school bus per second per second.

[Reggie]

Uh, Guy Raz, why do you keep saying per second twice? I got it the first time.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, well, what I mean by that, Mindy, is that let's say you jumped out of an airplane, flying high up in the sky.

[Reggie]

Been there, done that.

[Guy Raz]

Well, as you fell, you would speed up, and each second that passed, you'd speed up by 9.8 more meters per second until you reached what's called terminal velocity. And that's basically the fastest speed a falling human would reach.

[Reggie]

And how fast is that?

[Guy Raz]

Well, eventually, a human jumping out of an airplane without a parachute will reach a terminal velocity speed of about 50,000 3 meters per second.

[Reggie]

So that's really fast.

[Guy Raz]

I know, right? It's about as fast as the fastest roller coaster in America, Mindy.

[Reggie]

So what is the fastest roller coaster in America?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I looked it up, and it's called Kingda Ka, and that's a roller coaster in New Jersey.

[Reggie]

Are we riding it right now?

[Guy Raz]

We just got off a roller coaster. And you kind of, you know, let's.

[Reggie]

Not talk about it. So what's gravity like on other bikes?

[Guy Raz]

Well, on large planets like Jupiter, gravity is much stronger than it is here on Earth. And on smaller planets like Mercury, it's much weaker. And while we humans haven't, of course, been to another planet in person to test gravity out, we have been able to test gravity on the Moon. And on the moon, things fall at a much slower rate than they do here on Earth.

[Reggie]

Is that why things look like they float on the moon.

[Guy Raz]

Yes, exactly. Because on the moon, it takes a lot longer for things to come back down to the ground. And you can actually see videos of this on the Internet, Mindy. Videos of astronauts bouncing up and down on the moon. Almost. Almost like a.

[Reggie]

Like in a moon bounce or a bouncy castle.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly.

[Reggie]

Okay, so you're saying that every time we run, it's like the force of gravity on Earth, but seven times that force.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, Basically, it's kind of like walking with six Mindys stacked on top of you. So seven Mindys stacked up, but just one pair of shoes.

[Reggie]

Hmm. My shoes. My shoes, my shoes, my shoes. That's some powerful G forces hitting those shoelaces.

[Guy Raz]

And Mindy, that is why our shoelaces become undone, because they are constantly being rattled and loosened and eventually, in what. What seems like a flash, the knot just opens up and the laces get untied. And we now know that thanks to the incredible research by those mechanical engineers at UC Berkeley.

[Reggie]

Well, I guess I'm just gonna have to super glue my laces down if I want to defy gravity.

[Guy Raz]

Here we go.

[Reggie]

Ready?

[Guy Raz]

It doesn't actually work that way that there is no defying gravity. And besides, you're gonna mess up your.

[Reggie]

These are your foot finger shoes, Guy. Raz. I'm off to the races.

[Dennis]

Here I go. Yay. I wanna go ride the G4. Super extreme accelerator extreme. Let's go right now. Get your shoes on. I'll wrap this up. Thanks, everyone for listening to this episode of We Wow on the Weekend. Be sure to give our phone line to ask me, Dennis, a question. The number is 1-888-7-WOW. WOW. That's 1-888-7-NWOW WOW. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Okay, are you ready? Great. Let's go, Reggie. Ew. No. I'm sure they already cleaned up Mindy's vomit from the roller coaster. Because it was years and years that Mindy and Guy went on that roller coaster.

[Reggie]

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.

[Reggie]

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

[Guy Raz]

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

[Reggie]

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.

[Reggie]

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.

[Dennis]

Wows We Wow Wow in the World Wow in the World Wow in the World Wow in the World Wow in the World.

[Grandma GeForce]

Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.