WeWow on the Weekend

Summary

Wow in the World — WeWow on the Weekend (April 12, 2026)

Episode Overview

This playful, science-packed episode of "Wow in the World: WeWow on the Weekend" is hosted by Dennis (cha cha cha!) and Reggie the giant pigeon. The main theme revolves around the surprising benefits of boredom—specifically, how being bored can actually help boost creativity and problem-solving. Through silly skits, musical interludes, reading fan reviews, and a behind-the-scenes relisten to a "Wow in the World" episode, Mindy, Guy Raz, Dennis, and Reggie encourage kids and families to embrace boredom as a spark for imagination.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Celebrating Earth Day

• [00:00-00:43] Mindy and Guy Raz greet listeners with Earth Day wishes, encouraging gratitude and care for the planet.
  • Mindy: “Don’t forget to show your gratitude to the earth today. It does a pretty good job of taking care of all of us, so let's all remember to take care of it too.” (00:33)

2. WeWow Weekend Kick-off & Listener Interaction

• [00:50-06:39] Dennis and Reggie start the weekend with song, silliness, and their signature “Reading Reviewsies” segment:
  • Listener "Dial Seven" says: “I like beans. Beans are cool.” (02:54)
    • Dennis: “Beans are cool. And they're the musical fruit.” (03:09)
  • Tegan B. requests more pigeon content, prompting an impromptu “Pigeon Talk” musical skit.
  • A review with a garbled username leads to a playful attempt to "wake up" the reviewer with loud music. Dennis jokes about needing five stars for “more star power.” (06:39)

3. Behind the Scenes: Revisiting 'Wow in the World'

• [06:39-29:29] Dennis introduces an episode for relisten, “Bored Out of Your Bonker Balls: Why having nothing to do can be good for you.”

• Guy Raz and Mindy's Storyline:

  • The Gag: Guy Raz tries to order “BTN” with his maple-syrup-covered credit card, courtesy of Mindy (09:08-10:26)
    • Guy: “Mindy, what is my credit card doing covered in maple syrup?” (10:21)
    • Mindy: “Technically it's maple flavored syrup. Way stickier than the real stuff.” (10:26)
  • The BTN—Not What It Seems: BTN is revealed as the “Boring Television Network,” featuring events like the Paint Drying World Championships and Grass Growing competitions.
    • Monotone British announcers deliver comically dull sports news ([11:25] “The Flighting Flompers flump the Southwell Swanblers…”)
    • Mindy is incredulous, Guy Raz is delighted.

• Transition to Science:

  • Guy Raz: “Mindy, it turns out that being bored can actually be really good for you.” (13:44)
  • Research is mentioned showing boredom boosts creative problem-solving.

4. Visit to The Institute of Boredom

• [18:34-21:17] Mindy and Guy Raz arrive at the fictional Institute of Boredom (gray, enormous, and truly “boring”).
  • Highlights include the “front yawn,” regional varsity board game signups, and a PowerPoint presentation on… PowerPoint presentations.
• Institute Receptionist: “Can I uninterest you in some of the activities we have going on today?” (19:30)

5. Science of Boredom and Creativity

• [21:58-26:53]
  • The lecture references a real-life study by Sandy Mann and Rebecca Cadman at the University of Lancashire (22:39).
  • The Experiments:
    • Participants do a boring task: copying phone numbers from a phone book (23:35).
    • Afterward, they take a creativity test: “List different uses for a cup.” (24:02)
    • Results show bored participants come up with more creative answers—introducing the concept of “divergent thinking.”
      • Mindy: “I was always told I was a very divergent thinker!” (24:55)
    • A second group reads the phone book (even more boring). This group scores highest on creativity tests (26:12-26:27).
    • Guy Raz: “The more bored you are, the more creative your ideas become.” (26:42)

6. Why Does Boredom Drive Creativity?

• [27:17-28:11]
  • Mindy wonders: why does boredom boost creative thinking?
  • Guy Raz: “It’s something known as passive boredom. When we get bored, we start to daydream, and that lets our minds open to creative thinking and ideas.” (27:44-28:11)

7. Playful Wrap-Up

• [28:23-29:29]
  • Mindy shares she was “President of Imaginationland” in third grade (28:23).
  • After so much talk about boredom and imagination, the hosts decide to watch the Paint Drying World Championship—treating it as creative fuel.
  • There's a humorous tangent about the "La Boars" paint drying team and star player “Labore James.” (28:58)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dennis (on musical reviews): “We wow on the weekend, cause this is what we do on the weekend.” (01:18)
• On Pigeons: “Reggie, you don’t talk about pigeons either. Well, fine, then let’s try a new segment called Pigeon talk.” (04:03)
• On boredom and creativity:
  • Guy Raz: “Recent research has shown that boredom can be really useful when it comes to creative problem solving.” (13:59)
  • Guy Raz: “When most of us get bored, we start to daydream, and that allows our minds to open up to creative thinking and ideas.” (28:01)
  • Mindy: “All those days I spent bumming around the house, bored out of my bonker balls, I was actually filling up my brain tank with creative juices!” (27:21)
• On divergent thinking:
  • Mindy: “Divergent thinking, Guy Raz! … That’s why I have so many crazy inventions.” (24:45-25:01)
• Comic relief:
  • Mindy: “What's next? The Grass Growing World Championships.” (16:52)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:00-00:43 — Earth Day greetings and environmental mindfulness.
• 01:01-06:39 — Musical intro, “Reading Reviewsies” fun, and pigeon banter.
• 06:39-07:50 — Setup for the behind-the-scenes relisten (“Inside Tinkercast Studios”).
• 09:08-13:01 — “Boring Television Network”: paint drying, monotone announcers, and why boredom matters.
• 19:02-21:17 — Arrival and orientation at the Institute of Boredom.
• 22:39-26:53 — BORING studies explained: science behind boredom and creativity.
• 27:17-28:11 — Why does being bored help us get creative?
• 28:23-29:29 — Imaginationland, creative fuel, closing out the relisten.
• 29:31-End — Dennis’ sleepy wrap-up, “nap over” with Reggie, and credits.

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Summary Tone & Format

The tone throughout is energetic, irreverent, and packed with wordplay, fun musical numbers, and creative banter between the hosts and their fictional friends. Kid-friendly humor meets genuinely curious science, making both facts and fun memorable.

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In Short

This episode joyfully argues that boredom is not just OK but necessary for creativity. Through playful storytelling, silly detours, and a real psychological study, Mindy, Guy Raz, Dennis, and Reggie prove to kids that “downtime” can power up their imaginations—and give them permission to let their minds wander now and then. Perfect for families eager to turn “I’m bored!” into “Wow!”

Transcript

[Guy Raz]

Hey, Wowzer, fams Guy, Raz and Mindy here. And before we start the show, happy

[Mindy Thomas]

Earth day to you.

[Guy Raz]

Happy Earth day to you. Happy Earth Day, dear Wowzers.

[Mindy Thomas]

Happy Earth day to you.

[Guy Raz]

If you're looking for ways to celebrate our earth today and every day, visit tinkercast.comearth to find activities, episodes and videos that bring the wows of the world right to you.

[Mindy Thomas]

And while you're at it, don't forget to show your gratitude to the earth today. It does a pretty good job of taking care of all of us, so let's all remember to take care of it too.

[Guy Raz]

That's it. Now let's get back to the show.

[Dennis]

Ah ah ah ah ah ah. We wow on the weekend. We wow on the weekend. We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend.

[Reggie]

Talk.

[Dennis]

Me and Reggie singing, laughing, and then we. Oh, wait, no, I said laughing twice. Ah, whatever. We wow on the weekend. Yeah, we wow on the weekend.

[Reggie]

Clap clap.

[Dennis]

We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Hello and welcome to Wii Wow on the Weekend. I'm your host, Dennis Cha cha cha. And this is my co host, Reggie the giant pigeon. Scooby dee dook ye. This is the show where we chit chat, skit skat, Kit Kat knickknack. Reggie.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Dennis]

I was just trying something. Well, you know I love musicals. I just thought I'd bring some razzle dazzle to the show. Courtney, how dare you.

[Reggie]

It's not fair. I was born for the stage.

[Dennis]

What's that, Reggie? I'm being dramatic.

[Reggie]

Aw, thank you.

[Dennis]

That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me. Okay, let's get into our first segment. Reading reviewsies. I'm reading reviewsies for me and for you. Z's. We've got us some doozies, so let's read reviews. Z's. This is the part where people write us comments on Apple podcasts or Spotify or whatever, and I print a bunch out and I read them aloud. This first reviewsy comes from username. Username. Dial seven now. Reggie, the username is dial seven. Reggie, stop it. Stop dialing seven on the phone. It's just a name, okay? And the number of stars they give us is five.

[Reggie]

Yay. Five stars.

[Dennis]

And the title says beans. Huh? And the message says I like beans. Beans are cool. Okay, well, dial seven. I agree. Beans are cool. And they're the musical fruit.

[Reggie]

What do you mean?

[Dennis]

They're not a fruit Legume. Beans can't be the musical legume Reggie, it ruins the rhyme. The rhyme, Reggie, the rhyme. The one that goes Beans, beans, the magical fruit. The more you eat, the more you toot. The more you toot, the better you feel. So eat your beans for every meal. And I do not a day goes by that I don't have a side of beans with my meals. Yes, especially with my morning porridge. What's a bowl of porridge without beans? Oop, sorry. I had a lot of porridge this morning for breakfast. Oop, sorry, sorry, sorry. Next reviewsy. This next reviewsy comes from username Tegan B. The title says the best.

[Reggie]

Hooray, we're the best.

[Dennis]

And the number of stars is five.

[Reggie]

Yay.

[Dennis]

We're the best again. And the message says, I think this podcast is great, but you never talk about pigeons. Besides, Reggie, frowny face, emojis. Thumbs down emojis, Feather emojis. Well, I'm sorry, Tegan B. Reggie's the only pigeon I know on a first name basis. Don't you dare agree with Tegan Bee. Reggie, you don't talk about pigeons either. Well, fine, then let's try a new segment called Pigeon talk. Talking bout pigeons and singing bout pigeons

[Reggie]

and thinking bout pigeons.

[Dennis]

It's pigeon talk. All right, hit it. Reggie. Yeah. Your cousin Curly. Oh, your cousin Shirley. Oh, wow. Iridescent neck plumage. Cool. And then what? She was pigeonholed and pigeon toed. So that's why they call them pigeon peas.

[Reggie]

Wow.

[Dennis]

Well, there you go, Tegan Bee. Hope that satisfies your craving for pigeon talk.

[Reggie]

Next reviewsy.

[Dennis]

This next reviewsy is from username GG U T Y J G T. Uh, Reggie, how do you pronounce this? Do you think they maybe fell asleep on their keyboard when writing their username? Okay, well, anyway, this review is titled ffccv. Uh, oh no. Maybe they did fall asleep. Reggie, we gotta wake em up with loud noises, obviously. Go see what's in my musical instrument pile over there. No, not that. It's not loud enough. No, louder, Reggie. This has to get all the way through the Internet.

[Reggie]

Oh, a cowbell.

[Dennis]

Perfect. And I'll switch to the drum setting on my keyboard. Okay, ready? Go.

[Reggie]

Wake up.

[Dennis]

Wake up, wake up, wake up. Okay, let's see if it worked.

[Reggie]

It did.

[Dennis]

The message says I love wee. Wow. On the weekend. And it says you can have 1 million stars.

[Reggie]

Wow. Yay. We did it.

[Dennis]

Okay, that's enough reviewsies for now. Thanks for all your reviewsies, listeners. Keep em coming. If you leave a comment on Apple podcasts or Spotify, I just might read it on WeWow on the weekend. Five stars or more, please. Big Oz, Reggie. The more stars we have, the more star power we have. Get it? Whatever. Next up is a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios. Ahem. Inside Tinkercast Studios. This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows. And today we're listening to wow. In the World, Season 3, Episode 11 called Bored out of youf Bonker Balls. Why having nothing to do can be good for you, huh? I don't know, Reggie. This one sounds kind of boring. Well, should we skip it and do something else instead? I don't know. We could bang that cowbell some more. And I think there's a gong around here somewhere.

[Mindy Thomas]

What?

[Dennis]

That would not be boring. Oh, annoying. Yeah, probably. Okay, fine. We'll do the non annoying thing and play the episode this time. Okay, here we go.

[Reggie]

And play Wee.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow will be right back. Grown ups, this message is for you. Hey, Wowzer fams. Mindy and Guy Raz here. And before we start the show, did you hear that? We are on YouTube.

[Guy Raz]

That's right, Mindy. Wowzer fams. You can find full episodes of wow in the World and more of your favorite Tinkercast podcasts on our YouTube channel, WowTube.

[Mindy Thomas]

Plus, on WowTube, you can also watch me explode some watermelons and test out Bonkerball's experiments in the laboratory of bad ideas.

[Guy Raz]

Or you can dance along with Dennis for music videos featuring music from wewow on the weekend.

[Mindy Thomas]

There is so much in store made just for you on WowTube. Visit Tinkercast.com YouTube to watch. Now that's Tinkercast.com YouTube. That's it. Now back to the show.

[Reggie]

What in the world?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, okay, let's see here. 555-555-5554. Hello?

[Mindy Thomas]

Hello?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, hi. Yeah, I wanted to purchase the BTN package, please. Oh, yeah, sure. I've got my credit card right here. Why is it so sticky? Ugh. Is this maple syrup? Mindy? Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm still here. So sorry. So the name on the card is Guy Razzy? Mindy. No, no, sorry. The name on the card isn't Mindy. It's Guy Razzy. I mean, Guy Raz. The name on the card is Guy Raz. Oh, okay. Okay, great. Thanks so much.

[Mindy Thomas]

Gotta say, Guy Raz, it's a little rude for you to be on the phone when I burst through your door uninvited.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, what are you doing here?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, I heard you loudly sighing from next door, and I thought you might have found the sea monkeys I left in your toilet.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Nothing. Just don't flush.

[Guy Raz]

No, no, Mindy, I wasn't trying to be rude. I was on the phone trying to order a subscription to the btn, and then I found this.

[Mindy Thomas]

Mmm, yum.

[Guy Raz]

What? Mindy, what is my credit card doing covered in maple syrup?

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, well, technically it's maple flavored syrup. Way stickier than the real stuff. So what did you need my pancake syrup applicator for?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, this is my credit card. It's not a pancake syrup applicator.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hmm, that's funny. Cause it sure looks like one with all that maple flavored syrup dripping off of it.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, this is my credit card, and I was using it to buy a subscription to the btn.

[Mindy Thomas]

The btn? Oh, the Bears and Teddy Network. Oh, man, I love that one. They have this one show on there called Bear Devil where these bears, they just.

[Guy Raz]

No, no, Mindy, I'm not talking about the Bears and Teddy Network. I'm talking about the Boring television network.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, the boring television network.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah, it's got all the classics. Check it out. It should be connected right now. Great. Here we go.

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

And now, here is the news, delivered to you as always by a British man in a monotone voice. Hello, I'm Nigel Britwizzle, and here are today's sports headlines. In Newcastle, the Flighting Flompers flump. The Southwell Swanblers 32 farthing to 21 blongers.

[Mindy Thomas]

It's so boring.

[Reggie]

Make it. Make it stop. Make it stop.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, and then there's the music channel.

[Institute Announcer]

Coming up later on Billboard Music, a bass guitarist practicing scales for seven hours. But first, an interview with minimalist ambient musician Tired sloth.

[Reggie]

Woo hoo hoo.

[Guy Raz]

I'm so excited.

[Mindy Thomas]

Nope.

[Guy Raz]

Aww.

[Paint Drying Announcer]

Welcome back to the Paint Drying World Championships.

[Mindy Thomas]

Paint Drying World Championships?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah, keep it on this one, Mindy. This is the whole reason I bought the channel subscription in the first place.

[Mindy Thomas]

What is it?

[Guy Raz]

It's the world championship of paint drying. My favorite team is playing.

[Mindy Thomas]

Uh, your favorite paint drying team?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, the La Boars.

[Mindy Thomas]

The La Boars?

[Guy Raz]

Huh?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, you mean Boars like the pigs. I got it.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, they're going up against their arch

[Mindy Thomas]

rivals, the Kansas City Sleepers.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, they're the underdogs.

[Mindy Thomas]

I thought they were the sleepers.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Never mind.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, oh, wait, it's about to start.

[Paint Drying Announcer]

The team captains shake hands and return to their opposing sides of freshly painted arena. This promises to be the most exciting wall watching exhibition of the past decade.

[Mindy Thomas]

What in the wow are they doing?

[Guy Raz]

They're watching paint dry. The last team to fall asleep from boredom wins.

[Reggie]

Aha.

[Paint Drying Announcer]

And they're off. Look at that concentration. Back straight, eyes unblinking. Very, very strong start from the LA Boars.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait a minute, Guy. Raz, I don't get it. Why would anyone want to be bored?

[Guy Raz]

Well, Mindy, it turns out that being bored can actually be really good for you.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, like putting vegetables and brownies. Good for you. Because if that's the case, I think I'm gonna take a pass on the old paint drying World Championships.

[Guy Raz]

No, really, Mindy. Recent research has shown that boredom can be really useful when it comes to creative problem solving.

[Paint Drying Announcer]

And that signals the end of the first round.

[Dennis]

Don't go anywhere.

[Paint Drying Announcer]

We'll be right back after these messages.

[Institute Announcer]

Do you have an interest in the uninteresting? Are you curious about the incurious?

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Institute Announcer]

Then maybe you should come visit. Visit us at IB The Institute of Boredom.

[Mindy Thomas]

The Institute of Boredom?

[Dennis]

Shh.

[Institute Announcer]

Ever since inventing TV static in 1953, we've become the world leaders in boredom, apathy and monotonous research. So if you like watching paint dry, cheering a snail race, or staring at a pot of water slowly coming to a boil, visit us at our grand opening today from 11am to 4pm wow.

[Reggie]

Excuse me.

[Paint Drying Announcer]

And we're back once again at the World Championships of Paint Drying.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy. Mindy, did you hear that?

[Mindy Thomas]

What? Yeah, I had no idea the TV static was an American invention.

[Guy Raz]

No, Mindy. The opening day at IB The Evening Institute of Boredom.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah, it sounds, you know, sounds really boring.

[Guy Raz]

Oh no, Mindy, it's anything but you said. But the Institute of Boredom is the place that ran those studies I was telling you about earlier.

[Mindy Thomas]

You mean the ones that said that boredom could help with creative problem solving?

[Guy Raz]

The very same ones.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, okay. Well, what did they find?

[Guy Raz]

Well, why don't we find out? I mean, their opening day is today. I think we should still be able to make it there on time. Let me just check. Hey, Zoodle.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh boy.

[Guy Raz]

What time is it now?

[Mindy Thomas]

The time is currently 4:30. See Mindy, am Invienteon, Laos. Guy Raz, it's 1:30.

[Guy Raz]

How did you know?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, I mean, there's an actual clock on the wall behind you.

[Guy Raz]

Oh yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

You know what that means?

[Guy Raz]

Maybe it's time for me to dumb down my smart home.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes, but it also means that the grand opening is still going on. We could probably still check it out if we hurry.

[Guy Raz]

I was just thinking the same thing, Mindy.

[Paint Drying Announcer]

Oh, and I believe I may have just witnessed one of the Kansas City sleepers blink. This does not bode well for them.

[Mindy Thomas]

Before we go, did you want to record the paint drying World Championship so you can watch it when we get back or.

[Guy Raz]

Nah, I should be fine. You know, these games usually run for, you know, three or four days.

[Mindy Thomas]

Three or four days, man. What's next? The Grass Growing World Championships.

[Paint Drying Announcer]

Up next, the Grass Growing World Championships as the Winnipeg wait lists take on the Toronto software updates.

[Dennis]

Oh.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, let's go.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yes. Reggie. Hey, Reg. Think you could drop us off at the new Institute of Boarding? Yeah, I think it's right by there.

[Guy Raz]

Right next to what, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, the dry cleaners. He's got some clothes to pick up.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, but Mindy, um, um, Reggie doesn't wear any clothing.

[Mindy Thomas]

I never said they were his clothes. Guy Raz. He's helping out Thomas Fingerling.

[Guy Raz]

Aw, what a stand up bird. Good for you, Reg.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, Come on, Guy Raz, hop on.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, I'm ready.

[Mindy Thomas]

Good, because here we.

[Guy Raz]

Think I'd be used to those landings by now.

[Mindy Thomas]

Thanks, Reg. Yep, the dry cleaners is just over there.

[Guy Raz]

All right, Mindy, I think the Institute of Boredom is just across the road over there. Let's just wait for this last car to pass and cross.

[Mindy Thomas]

Crossing, crossing, crossing, crossing. Hey, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah?

[Mindy Thomas]

Why did the Guy Raz cross the road?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

To get to the Institute of Boredom's grand opening. Look, there it is.

[Dennis]

Wow.

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

Wow.

[Guy Raz]

Mandy, get a load of this place. It's massive.

[Mindy Thomas]

And so boring.

[Guy Raz]

Impressively boring. Yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

Look at this place. No trees, no flourish. Just a nondescript gray rectangle concrete building. Oh, is that. Is that a sculpture of the institute's

[Guy Raz]

founder, Roger Bord O, inventor of TV static and purveyor of fine waiting rooms.

[Mindy Thomas]

Huh. Sounds like a real hoot. Well, come on, Guy Raz, let's go inside.

[Institute Receptionist]

Hello and welcome to the Institute of Boredom. Are you being helped at all?

[Guy Raz]

No, we just arrived. It's a lovely place you have here.

[Institute Receptionist]

Yeah, it's super boring. Can I uninterest you in some of the activities we have going on today?

[Guy Raz]

Sure.

[Mindy Thomas]

Super.

[Institute Receptionist]

Just over there by the front yawn.

[Guy Raz]

I'm sorry, did you say the front lawn?

[Institute Receptionist]

No, I said the front yawn. It's a concrete patch in the front of the library that's dedicated to yawning. It's super boring. Anywho, over by the front yawn, we have the sign up for our regional varsity board game team. Ooh, and over in the long winded movies with no robots or explosions building, we have a special PowerPoint presentation on PowerPoint presentations.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, oh, no thanks. I can't have PowerPoints after midday. They keep me up all night ruminating.

[Dennis]

Oh, wow, that's really boring.

[Institute Receptionist]

Well, then, in about three minutes, inside our state of the art homework memorial lecture hall, we have a speaker presenting on some of the scientific studies we're currently conducting here at the institute.

[Mindy Thomas]

We love scientific studies.

[Guy Raz]

Seriously, it seems like it's all we talk about sometimes.

[Institute Receptionist]

Well, then all you need to do is head down this beige hallway, take a left at the room where the grown ups are telling stories about how hard it was back when they were your age. And then it's the third door on the right.

[Guy Raz]

Great, thanks.

[Dennis]

No problem.

[Institute Receptionist]

Have an uneventful day.

[Guy Raz]

This is great, Mindy. Maybe they'll mention those studies that I was telling you about earlier.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, you mean the ones that said that boredom can actually help with creative problem solving? Yeah, I sure hope so. Otherwise, I'm just gonna hang out by that cheese board for the rest of the afternoon. Uh, oh, cheese board. I just got it.

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

So I said to Mabel, I said, back in my day, that would just cost us 20 shillings. Of course, we didn't have to worth 20 back then.

[Reggie]

Ah, right.

[Guy Raz]

This must be the room with the grandparents telling back when I was your age story. So we turn right and 1, 2, 3. Ah, here we are. The homework memorial lecture hall. It looks like it's about to start. Let's grab some chairs in the back.

[Mindy Thomas]

Roger that, buddy. Excuse me. Sorry, coming through. Just trying to grab a seat here.

[Reggie]

Hi.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, nice pencil case. I love the sparkles. Thank you. Sorry, just squeezing through. There we are.

[Guy Raz]

Shh.

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

Since the dawn of time, man has periodically become uninterested and disengaged with the world around him. But why is this? Well, we here at the institute of boredom are working around the clock to uncover exactly why this is and what potential benefits it might hold.

[Guy Raz]

Yes, I knew they'd cover this.

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

Over the past decade, we've conducted several experiments to answer these questions. And today? Today we'll be looking at one of our most recent studies, A study conducted by our colleagues over at the University of Lancashire in the United Kingdom, conducted by researchers Sandy Mann and Rebecca Cadman.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, this is it, Mindy. This is the study that I was telling you about.

[Mindy Thomas]

So what was it about?

[Guy Raz]

Well, the experiment took place over two separate experiments. And in the first experiment, a group

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

of participants were asked to complete an incredibly boring task.

[Reggie]

Ooh, ooh, I know, I know. Pick me.

[Mindy Thomas]

Pick me.

[Guy Raz]

I don't know if this is the kind of lecture where you can ask questions.

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

Uh, I'm sorry, is that. Is that a question?

[Mindy Thomas]

Um, yes. Sorry. Was it doing chores?

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Was it doing chores? You know, the incredibly boring task you just mentioned?

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

What? No.

[Mindy Thomas]

Was it waiting to see the doctor?

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

No, no, no, no. It was to.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait, no, nope, I got it. I got it. Was it when the Internet gets really slow and you can't download any more cat pictures?

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

No, it was copying out phone numbers from a phone book.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, yeah, I guess that is pretty boring.

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

In any case, as I was saying, these participants performed this boring task for 15 minutes before taking a creativity test.

[Mindy Thomas]

A creative creativity test.

[Guy Raz]

That's right, Mindy. The participants of this study, after writing out phone number after phone number after phone number, were asked to list off different uses for a cup.

[Mindy Thomas]

Different uses for a cup? Like the kind you drink out of?

[Guy Raz]

That's right. So, for example, you could use a cup for drinking.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah.

[Guy Raz]

But another person could say, you could wear it as a hat.

[Mindy Thomas]

Or another might say you would string two cups together and use them as a phone.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. Anyway, when they looked at the results of the group that had been performing the boring task beforehand, the researchers found that this boring group was able to come up with way more examples of things you could do with a cup than a different group that hadn't done boring stuff before.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, yes. So they were better at divergent thinking.

[Guy Raz]

Divergent what?

[Mindy Thomas]

Divergent thinking Guy Raz. It's the type of creative thinking you do when you're trying to come up with a bunch of ideas.

[Dennis]

Huh.

[Mindy Thomas]

I was always told I was a very divergent thinker. I think that's why I have so many crazy inventions.

[Guy Raz]

Right.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, that reminds me, I have to show you my new pancake syrup applicator when we get back.

[Guy Raz]

You already did, Mindy. That was my credit card.

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

But that was only part one of this two part experiment. So here comes part two.

[Guy Raz]

Part two.

[Reggie]

Oh.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, this is the best part. Okay. So in part two of the experiment, Mindy. The researchers created a third group to see what would happen if you got people really bored.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, man. More boring than writing out the entire phone book?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. And this third group's task was to simply read the phone book. That's it.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yikes. That's more boring than listening to someone tell you about the dream they had the night before?

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

After the first two groups completed their boring Tasks. They then, along with the control group, which, as we mentioned earlier, was the group that didn't do any boring tasks beforehand, all took the same divergent thinking test that was used in the first experiment, along with two more creative thinking tests just to make sure that the first time wasn't a fluke.

[Guy Raz]

And Mindy, guess what they found?

[Mindy Thomas]

What?

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

These researchers found that the the most

[Mindy Thomas]

bored group, the one that had only read the phone book, was able to

[Narrator/Institute Speaker]

score better than the group that performed no boring tasks, and the phone book copying group when it came to the creative test.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, now let me get this straight. The group of people who were the most bored out of anyone, performed better on the creativity test than anyone else?

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Which would suggest that the more bored

[Guy Raz]

you are, the more creative your ideas become.

[Dennis]

Huh.

[Guy Raz]

All right, well, I think we've got the facts we need from here. Let's get out of here. I don't want to miss any more of the world championships.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okey doke.

[Guy Raz]

Just try not to make a. Bye, everyone.

[Mindy Thomas]

Sorry, we have to go now. There's a show on TV we gotta watch.

[Guy Raz]

Try not to make a scene. Excuse us.

[Mindy Thomas]

Sorry, sorry. Excuse me. Sorry.

[Guy Raz]

Coming through. Excuse me.

[Mindy Thomas]

Sorry.

[Guy Raz]

I didn't want to jump on you.

[Dennis]

Phew.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, that could have gone better.

[Guy Raz]

You can say that again.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, that could have gone better.

[Guy Raz]

So what did you think of the talk, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, I would have rather been doing anything else, but I had no idea that all those days I spent just bumming around the house, bored out of my bonker balls, I was actually filling up my brain tank with creative juices.

[Guy Raz]

Right.

[Mindy Thomas]

But what I still can't figure out is why does being bored help me get my creativity on?

[Guy Raz]

Well, no one knows for sure, but those same researchers we just heard about, well, they think that it's something known as passive boredom.

[Mindy Thomas]

So, like the boredom that these people went through during the experiment that put their minds into like a daydreaming mode?

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. When most of us get bored, we start to daydream, and that allows our minds to open up to creative thinking and ideas.

[Dennis]

That's so.

[Guy Raz]

Wow. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, just ask any kid, Mindy. If you leave them alone for a long time, they'll come up with some pretty creative ways to keep themselves entertained.

[Mindy Thomas]

You don't have to tell me, Guy Raz. I was president of Imaginationland for the three whole years when I was in third grade. Okay, now let me just text Reggie here to see if he can come pick us up. After all this talk about boredom and Creativity. Think I will join you in watching that paint drying world championship guy, Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, really?

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

You know, I've been trying to think of a new design for the shrink wand and think the old imagination tank could use a little polishing.

[Guy Raz]

Fantastic. I'll get the kale chips ready.

[Mindy Thomas]

All right. So is there anything I need to know before we start watching?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I would say the first thing you have to know is that the La Boars star players is Labore James. Now, he's probably the greatest of all time. I mean, there's some debate over it. You know, players from the 70s and 80s, but I mean, I'm talking really good at watching paint. Dry acrylics and oils and water. Shrimp cocktail.

[Dennis]

What's going on?

[Reggie]

What?

[Dennis]

I didn't fall asleep. I was so listening to the episode. It was all about shrimp and how they like to get dressed up and go to fancy parties. Oh, yeah, that might have been a dream. I guess I did fall asleep. Well, what was the episode about? I'm up. I'm up. Yeah, good idea. We should wrap up the show so I can go take an afternoon nap. Yes, another one. Thanks to all you listeners out there for tuning in to Wee Wow 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. So, Reggie, what are you gonna do for the rest of the day? Sure, you can take a nap here. It'll be like a sleepover, but during the day. Oh, yeah, what would that be called? A nap over. Yeah, that's even better. Thanks for joining us for this edition of wewow. Our show is written by Ruth Morrison and Jed Anderson. The role of Baby Dennis. Dennis is played by Jed Anderson.

[Reggie]

Well, then, who plays the role of Big Dennis?

[Dennis]

Never your mind.

[Reggie]

Tee hee.

[Dennis]

Original sound design and production is done by Tyler Thole with contributions from Jed Anderson and Henry Moskal. Original music for wewow is composed and performed by Tyler Thole. Special thanks to Jessica Bode, Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall, Kenny Curtis, Kristin Yang, Meredith Helpern, Ranzer, Twee Mac, Jody Nussbaum, Ali Paxima, Guy Raz, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Mindy Thomas, Anna Zagorski, and all of the other tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ. Be sure to visit tinkercast.com where you can become an official member of the world Organization of Wowzers. Learn about upcoming events, shop our wow Shop, find our best selling books and learn about all the other amazing podcast from Tinkercast. Thanks again for thinking, tinkering, experimenting and exploring with me this week. Be sure to check out episodes of wow in The World on Mondays 2 what's in a wow on Fridays and we wow on the weekend with Dennis on the weekends. And remember who wows.

[Reggie]

I wow baby.

[Dennis]

Dennis We Wow.

[Reggie]

All right. Wow in the World was made by

[Mindy Thomas]

Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.