WeWow on the Weekend (3/15/25)

Summary

Wow in the World Podcast: "WeWow on the Weekend" (March 15, 2025)

Hosts: Dennis and Reggie the Giant Pigeon

---

Introduction and Upcoming Events

The episode kicks off with Dennis and his co-host, Reggie the Giant Pigeon, enthusiastically welcoming listeners to "WeWow on the Weekend." Before delving into the main content, Mindy Thomas briefly shares exciting news about an upcoming live event:

• Upcoming Event Announcement:

  Timestamp [00:00]
  Mindy: “My buddy Carlie Q and I are hitting the road to make it wow with you in the DC area. We'll be making it wow in Bethesda, Maryland on Saturday, March 29th. 'Make it Wow' is a live Bonkerballs competition game show where real little kids are the star of the show.”

Mindy encourages listeners to purchase tickets through Tinkercast’s events page, setting a vibrant and engaging tone for the episode.

---

Musical Intro and Show Segments

Dennis introduces the show's theme with a playful chant emphasizing the joy and fun of weekend activities:

• Opening Chant:

  Timestamp [01:07]
  Dennis: “We wow on the weekend. We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend.”

Reggie joins in, adding humorous repetitions that establish the show's lighthearted and entertaining atmosphere.

---

Segment 1: Reading Review

In the first segment, Dennis and Reggie interact with listener reviews, showcasing their dynamic chemistry and humor.

1. Review from CrazyHorse34:

   Timestamp [03:00]
   Dennis: “Crazy Horse34 says, '5 million stars. It's so good. But, Dennis, Reggie is way better than you, and you talk way too much.'”

   Dennis humorously defends himself, acknowledging the feedback while maintaining the show's conversational flow.

2. Review from Jammy (Salem):

   Timestamp [04:30]
   Salem (Username Jammy): “Hi, Dennis, my name is Salem. I have about 48 squishmallows. Do you have any?”

   Reggie: “I love squishmallows.”

   Dennis engages with Salem’s enthusiasm, adding playful banter about naming and enjoying squishmallows, highlighting the show's connection with its young audience.

3. Review from fhjgfgc (Shortened to fh):

   Timestamp [06:00]
   Dennis: “Fhjgfgc asks, 'I love Baby Dennis. Can Baby Dennis ride a horse?'”

   The segment introduces "Baby Dennis," a playful character, leading to humorous interactions and imaginative scenarios involving toy horses and basement adventures.

---

Segment 2: Inside Tinkercast Studios

This segment features Dennis and Reggie exploring a specific topic from the "Wow in the World" series, delving into scientific discussions with a comedic twist.

• Topic: Operation Earth – How to Be Cool to a Planet that's Hot

  Timestamp [08:00]
  Dennis: “Today we're listening to season two, episode 18 of 'Wow in the World' called 'Operation Earth. How to Be Cool to a Planet that's Hot.'”

As they listen, Dennis and Reggie engage in a scripted dialogue with Mindy and Guy Raz, exploring the science behind climate change and greenhouse gases through humor and creative storytelling.

1. Discussion on Greenhouse Gases:

   Timestamp [13:00] - [18:00]
   Guy Raz: “Gases like carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere, and over time, they heat up the Earth.”
   Mindy: “And just like your greenhouse, the heat gets locked in.”

   The hosts humorously anthropomorphize environmental concepts, making complex topics accessible and entertaining for young listeners.

2. Time Travel Adventure:

   Timestamp [19:00] - [31:00]
   Dennis and Reggie narrate a fictional adventure where Mindy and Guy Raz use a time machine to travel back 50 million years to understand Earth's climate changes. This imaginative segment combines education with storytelling, emphasizing the importance of understanding natural climate processes and human impacts.

   • Key Moments:

     • Encounter with Ancient Creatures:
       Timestamp [22:35]
       Mindy: “What are these animals eating?”
       Guy Raz: “They're licking the candy cane keychain.”

     • Consulting an Expert (Reggie):
       Timestamp [24:40]
       Mindy: “How did ancient Earth get so hot without humans?”
       Reggie: “Natural causes like volcanoes increased carbon dioxide.”

   Through these interactions, the segment highlights scientific principles such as carbon dioxide cycles, natural cooling processes, and the role of human activities in current climate change.

---

Segment 3: Future Insights and Climate Heroes

Returning from the time-travel adventure, Mindy shares insights from the year 2100, inspiring listeners with visions of future innovations aimed at combating climate change.

• Futuristic Energy Solutions:

  Timestamp [31:50]
  Mindy: “I met an old man and an old woman who invented a new way to create energy without adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.”

  This optimistic portrayal encourages young listeners to think creatively about sustainable solutions and their potential role in shaping the future.

• Inspiration to Act:

  Timestamp [33:00]
  Dennis: “If we create a new energy source, we could be the climate heroes.”

  The hosts motivate their audience to engage in environmentally friendly actions, reinforcing the episode's educational message with empowering calls to action.

---

Conclusion and Call to Action

As the episode wraps up, Dennis and Reggie reiterate the importance of taking care of the planet and invite listeners to participate in positive environmental change.

• Final Thoughts:

  Timestamp [34:00]
  Dennis: “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.”

• Outro and Promotions:

  Timestamp [34:07]
  Mindy: “Grown-ups. If you like 'Wow in the World,' you can listen early and ad-free right now on Wondery.”

  The episode concludes with promotional information about accessing the podcast through various platforms, encouraging ongoing engagement and support.

---

Notable Quotes

• On Climate Metaphors:

  Timestamp [28:20]
  Dennis: “It's like we put the global warming turtle on a rocket-powered skateboard.”

• Encouraging Sustainable Actions:

  Timestamp [29:02]
  Mindy: “Take that, warming turtle.”

• Humorous Take on Future Innovations:

  Timestamp [32:15]
  Guy Raz: “The future has cat skateboards.”

---

Key Takeaways

• Engaging Science Education: The episode masterfully blends humor, storytelling, and scientific facts to educate young listeners about climate change and environmental stewardship.

• Interactive and Relatable Content: Through interactive segments like Reading Review and imaginative adventures, Dennis and Reggie create an engaging and relatable narrative that resonates with both kids and their grown-up companions.

• Empowerment and Inspiration: By portraying future innovations and encouraging proactive behavior, the hosts inspire listeners to take part in creating a sustainable future.

---

"WeWow on the Weekend" successfully delivers a rich and engaging exploration of environmental science, wrapped in entertaining and imaginative storytelling. The episode not only informs but also empowers its audience to contribute positively to the world, embodying the essence of giving kids hope and agency while making everyone say "WOW!"

Transcript

[Mindy]

Hey, Wowzer fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show, I've got a question for you. Are you ready to make It Wow? Okay, here's the deal. My buddy Carlie Q and I are hitting the road to make it wow with you in the DC area. That's right, we'll be making it wow in Bethesda, Maryland on Saturday, March 29th. Make it wow is a live Bonkerballs competition game show where real little kids are the star of the show. Two teams of Wowzers will turn their wildest and weirdest ideas into jaw dropping inventions live on stage. Tickets are on sale now. Grown ups visit Tinkercast.com events to get your ticket today. That's Tinkercast.com events. We can't wait to make it wow with you this spring. But until then, let's get on with the show.

[Dennis]

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. Talking, laughing, 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.

[Mindy]

Laugh, laugh.

[Dennis]

We 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, and that's my co host, Reggie the giant pigeon. This is the show where we hang out and chit chat and listen to episodes of Tinkercast podcasts. And today we're gonna wait. Hey, Reggie, what you got over there? A box. Well, what's in it? Yes, I can see it's the exact size and shape and smell of a donut box. And that it says Donna's Donuts on it. Well, it's a box, Reggie. And if we have a box, we need to sing the song. Reggie brought a box down here to the basement. And now we're gonna find out what's in the box. Okay, Reggie, what's in this box? Yay. Donuts. What a surprise. Hang on. Where are the sprinkles? Reggie, did you peck all the sprinkles off? Well, then I'm gonna lick all the icing off. Reggie, quit pecking holes in the donuts. They're only supposed to have one. Oh, yeah? Well then I'm gonna suck all the jelly out of the jelly donuts with a straw. Yeah. Huh. Gimme that. Thanks for bringing in donuts, Reggie. Okay, let's get into our first segment. Reading Review. I'm making reviews for me and for you. Z's we Got some Bluefields for lovely loversies. This is the part where people write us comments on Apple podcasts or Spotify or whatever, and I print out a bunch and I read them aloud. This first reviewsy comes to us from username Crazy Horse34. The title says, read my review, Dennis. Okay, okay, I'm doing it. Gee, and the message says, 5 million stars. It's so good. But, Dennis, Reggie is way better than you, and you talk way too much. What? I do not talk way too much. I the opposite of talk way too much. Okay, yes, mother does call me a chatterbox. And yes, Guy Raz said I need to practice active listening. Right? And Grandma G Force keeps telling me to cap my yap, whatever that means. Okay, Crazy Horse 34 may have a point. Reggie might be better than me, and maybe I talk way too much, but this is a talk show, and talking way too much is the only way it gets made. So let's get to makin next reviewz. This next reviewsy comes to us from username Jammy. The title reads To Dennis, and the message says, hi, Dennis, my name is salem. I am 12 years old. I would like to hear your opinion on squishmallows. You too, Reggie. Do you like them? I have about 48 squishmallows. Do you have any? And if so, what are their names? Oh, boy. Thanks, Selim. I love squishmallows. And I didn't know anyone else name their Squishmallows. I thought I was the only one who did that. Oh, well, I don't know how many I have. Lots, I suppose. How many squishmallows come in a bag of Squishmallows? Well, whatever. What I do is take a little squishmallow out of the bag and say, hi there, little Squishmallow. I'm gonna name you Gooey Looey. Then I put little Gooey Looey on a stick and hold it over a campfire until it's nice and toasty. Marshmallows. Reggie, that doesn't make any sense. No, Squishmallows don't marsh. They squish. Anyway, when Gooey Louie is all toasty woasty, I squish it between two pieces of graham cracker with some chocol. Yeah, it's called the squishmallow, Sammy S'mores. Stop making up random words, Reggie. Whatever. Next reviewsy. This last reviewsy comes to us from username fhjgfgc. Um, I think someone's typing fingers got away from them. Or maybe they were doing a little finger break dance on the keyboard. Let's just shorten this username to fh. Ahem. The title reads Baby Dennis, and the message says, I love Baby Dennis. Also, can Baby Dennis ride a horse? Well, fh, I don't think Baby Dennis can ride a horse because Reggie, Baby Dennis lives in this little box here under the desk. Where would he even keep a horse? Hi, Big Dennis. Hi, Big Reggie. Oh, hi, Baby Dennis. Guess what? Baby Dennis does know how to ride a horse. What? How? You don't even have a horse. Baby Dennis has a pony party. Ride him. Cowboy plushie. Toy stick horse. See, I have Buttercup Thunder. Oh, wow. Buttercup Thunder. Red pink tennis. Quit riding your cute little toy horsey around the basement. You're making a mess. Yee haw. Get along, Little big guys. No, I will not get along. Take Buttercup Thunder outside, please. Up the stairs. Great. Now there's little horse droppings all over the basement floor. What are these? Chocolate chips? Thanks for all your reviewsies, listeners. Keep em coming. Remember, if you write us a reviewsie on Apple podcasts, I might just read it on WeWow on the weekend and rate us five stars or more. Please, Moms, you still can't rate more than five stars. You know, they really need to make that a feature for extra good shows like this one. Yeah, and hearts and smiley faces. And little tiny Dennis emojis. And Reggie emojis. Reg Mojis. Okay, next up is a segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios. Inside Tinkercast Studios. This is the part where we listen to an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast podcasts. And today we're listening to season two, episode 18 of wow in the World called Operation Earth. How to Be Cool to a Planet that's Hot. Well, that's easy. We know how to be cool. Right, Reggie? Exactly. You wear the biggest sunglasses you can find. Right. And a wide brim hat. Well, let's see if Mindy and Guy Raz share our impeccable fashion sense. Okay, here we go. And play. Wee wow.

[Mindy]

Will be right back. Grownups, this message is for you. That's it. Now back to the show.

[Dennis]

La la la la la.

[Guy Raz]

Nothing like a juice. Juicy red tomato right off the vine.

[Mindy]

It's coming.

[Guy Raz]

Time machine. What in the.

[Dennis]

Oh, no.

[Mindy]

Hey, Guy Raz. Thought I'd find you in your greenhouse today.

[Dennis]

Whoa.

[Mindy]

Look at those tiny little tomatoes you grew. They look like little clown noses.

[Guy Raz]

You almost crushed my entire greenhouse with that giant hunk of junk.

[Mindy]

What gives oh, well, I thought I smelled some fresh tomatoes over here, and.

[Guy Raz]

They are prize winning tomatoes. Would you like to try one? Fresh off the vine is the best way to taste a tomato.

[Mindy]

No thanks, Guy Raz. I am so super full. I just got back from the year 1910 and.

[Guy Raz]

1910?

[Mindy]

Oh, yeah, I was having lunch with my old friend Marie Curie, and we were just having the best little chit chat about radioactive elements.

[Guy Raz]

You mean the Marie Curie? The only person in history to have won the Nobel Prize for physics and for chemistry?

[Mindy]

Yep. Good old Marie. You should see the way she lights up when she talks about radiation.

[Guy Raz]

Wow, that must have been a fascinating conversation.

[Mindy]

Yeah, but. Oh, man, it is so hot in here. Is it just me or is it the Pepper X pie I ate for dessert?

[Dennis]

Whew.

[Guy Raz]

Well, I guess my greenhouse might be a little warm for us. But it's perfect for my tomatoes. Mindy.

[Mindy]

I don't know, they look pretty red to me. Maybe they've got sunburned.

[Guy Raz]

Well, this time of year, the sunlight isn't strong enough to make the air outside warm. But when the sun comes through the glass in my greenhouse, it heats up the plants and the soil, which is why it's warm in here.

[Mindy]

The soil? Wait a minute. The dirt is warm, too. Let me just see. Ooh, nice.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. Who knew warm dirt could feel so good, right?

[Mindy]

Yeah. Do you mind if I just.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, Mindy. Mindy, what are you.

[Mindy]

I'm just gonna plant myself right here and.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, are you burying yourself in my dirt?

[Mindy]

It's fine, Guy Raz. I'm absorbing my nitrogen, my potassium, my magnesium, my iron.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, you're in dirt.

[Mindy]

I mean, why take vitamins when you could just suck em up through the dirt?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I suppose you want me to water you too, or maybe give you some plant food. I even have some grade A cow manure if you want that too.

[Mindy]

What? No way, Guy Raz. That would be redonkulous. I'm already full grown.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, right.

[Mindy]

But it is warm and toasty in here. If only there was a way we could trap all of this heat in.

[Guy Raz]

Well, the glass sides of the greenhouse keep the heat from getting out as well.

[Mindy]

Um, hang on a second. Let me just get out of this dirt here. Walk over to the window. Are these glass?

[Guy Raz]

Yes, and please don't knock so hard. You're gonna break. You're gonna break it. Anyway, like I was saying, Mindy, these glass windows double as the walls of the greenhouse, and they keep the plants warm without having to use any extra Energy.

[Mindy]

Oh, so you mean like, all the extra energy you would have to use if you had, say, electric heat lamps or a furnace or something to keep things warm.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly.

[Mindy]

And so the way this greenhouse works is actually pretty good for the environment.

[Guy Raz]

Right? Because even though I have a greenhouse, I'm not creating any greenhouse gases.

[Mindy]

Oh, I could fill your greenhouse with gases, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Excuse me, Mindy, that's not what I meant by greenhouse gases.

[Mindy]

Don't worry about it, Guy Raz. The plants will clear the air.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, we'll get back to greenhouse gases in just a minute, but first, I have to tell you about this incredible scientific study I was just reading about.

[Mindy]

Oh, you know, I love a good scientific study, Guy Raz. But first, can we get out of here? It's so crazy hot, even my sweat is starting to sweat.

[Guy Raz]

Well, if you think it's warm in here right now, Mindy, just you wait until the end of the century.

[Mindy]

Wait until the end of the century? That's the year 2100. I don't have that kind of time to wait.

[Guy Raz]

Well, I know you've got a busy schedule, Mindy, but I think you need to hear me out. This is important.

[Mindy]

Okay, well, this is gonna take a while. You mind if I get back in the dirt? Well, dig, Dick, dig. Cover. Cover, cover, cover, cover.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, can you please stop planting yourself in my flower beds?

[Mindy]

Well, if you don't want me to lay down in them and cover myself up with the dirt, then stop calling them flower beds.

[Dennis]

What?

[Mindy]

Huh?

[Guy Raz]

Well, okay, okay, fine. That's a fair point.

[Mindy]

So back to this scientific study you were about to tell me about.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, right. Well, these researchers from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom have just discovered that by the year 2100, the average temperature on planet Earth might be.

[Mindy]

What?

[Guy Raz]

Drumroll, please. As hot as what? As hot as it was.

[Dennis]

As hot as it was what?

[Guy Raz]

As hot as it was 50 million years ago. Mindy. Mindy, did you just hear what I said?

[Mindy]

Yeah, I heard you, Guy Raz. You said that by the year 2100, the Earth might be as hot as it was 50 million years ago.

[Guy Raz]

Yes, that's exactly what I said. Isn't that wild?

[Mindy]

I don't know. I mean, I guess that depends on how hot it was 50 million years ago.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, right. That is a good point. Well, 50 million years ago, the Earth was about 86 degrees Fahrenheit. On average?

[Mindy]

On average.

[Guy Raz]

So.

[Mindy]

Meaning that it was hotter on some days and colder on others?

[Guy Raz]

That's right. And for comparison, In July of 2017, the Earth's average temperature was 62 degrees Fahrenheit.

[Mindy]

Whoa. And July is one of the hottest months of the year in some places.

[Guy Raz]

That's right. And while 86 degrees Fahrenheit might not sound too scorching hot, well, 50 million years ago, it was hot enough that crocodiles were swimming in the Arctic. And there were palm trees in Alaska. What?

[Mindy]

That's hotter than a Carolina Reaper mixed with a ghost pepper mixed with a Pepper X mixed with a peppermint.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it, I get it.

[Mindy]

But you said that the year 2100 might be as hot, so why isn't it for sure?

[Guy Raz]

Well, it all comes back to those greenhouse gases we were talking about before you filled my greenhouse with your other kind of gases.

[Mindy]

I said, excuse me.

[Guy Raz]

Well, that's true, you did. But there's no excuse for the amount of greenhouse gases being put into Earth's atmosphere.

[Mindy]

Yeah, I know all about greenhouse gases. They're created when we drive our cars and heat our houses, and every time a cow chews. Oh, cow say, excuse me. That's good enough. Sorry, Guy Raz, where were we?

[Guy Raz]

Gases like carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere, and over time, they heat up the Earth.

[Mindy]

Oh, and these gases do that by forming a see through wall around the Earth. Kind of like the glass walls in your greenhouse.

[Guy Raz]

Yes, and just like with my greenhouse, the sun shines through those gases onto the Earth and heats us up.

[Mindy]

And just like your greenhouse here, the heat gets locked in.

[Guy Raz]

That's right. All those greenhouse gases act like those glass panels in my greenhouse, keeping all of the heat close to the Earth.

[Mindy]

Wow, we really gave that metaphor a workout.

[Guy Raz]

And in fact, Mindy, the greenhouse gases are turning our Earth into. Into a real greenhouse. And if we don't take care of this, things could really start to warm up over the next 80 years.

[Mindy]

Ugh. So we need to do something about it before it's too late.

[Guy Raz]

That's right.

[Mindy]

I'm on it.

[Guy Raz]

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

[Mindy]

Why butterflies aren't made with real butter.

[Guy Raz]

That's not what I was thinking.

[Mindy]

Me neither. I was thinking that it's time to get myself out of this dirt bed and back into the time machine. Guy Raz, it's time for us to go back 50 million years ago.

[Guy Raz]

That's a great idea, Mindy. Because if the temperature of the Earth 50 million years ago is similar to what it will be like in the future, well, then we kind of need to experience it.

[Mindy]

The key to the future is in the past, Guy Raz. Huh?

[Guy Raz]

That's a very wise thing to say, Mindy.

[Mindy]

No, literally, the key that makes a time machine go to the future is lost in the past. See, I accidentally left it in the Eocene epic the last time we were there. Uh, remember when we went to visit those tiny little horse ancestors of ours?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, of course I remember. But you can't go leaving the time machine keys 50 million years in the past.

[Mindy]

Don't worry, Guy Raz. I didn't lose the key to the past. So we can still go back in time and find the key to the future. Phew.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, well, I guess let's go.

[Mindy]

Sounds good. Time machine's parked right outside, so come on. We're going to be late.

[Guy Raz]

Late? Considering we're already 50 million years late, I think it's gonna be okay.

[Mindy]

Get on in here. Scoot over. Come on, scoot over, scoot over.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, so present day minus 50 million years. 50 million years. Looks like that'll take us back to the late Eocene epic.

[Mindy]

Yes.

[Guy Raz]

No pit stops. No bathroom breaks.

[Mindy]

No bathroom breaks there. No bathroom breaks. Guy Raz, you're gonna be sorry about.

[Dennis]

Whoo.

[Mindy]

Made it, man. All right, let me just open the hatch here. Whoa. Whoa. Man. Forgot how crazy hot it is back then. Or back now. 50 million years ago.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. Yeah, it's really hot here. It's as hot as the hottest days back in our neighborhood. 50 million years in the future. And judging by our coordinates here, we're probably somewhere around Iowa in North America.

[Mindy]

Iowa? Man, feels pretty hot for Iowa this time of year. Yeah, but don't worry, Guy Raz. I brought along some brand new ice helmets that I invented just for an occasion like this. Let me just open my adventure toolbox. Why are there snakes in here? Get out of here, snakes. All right.

[Dennis]

Oop.

[Mindy]

Here they are. Still icy cold. Here, try this baby on for size.

[Guy Raz]

I hope I don't get a brain freeze.

[Mindy]

Guy Raz, we've been through this. Brain freeze comes from eating or drinking cold stuff too fast. You can't get it from wearing an ice helmet.

[Guy Raz]

I know. I was just trying to make a joke. Oh, forget it. Anyway, let me see your mirror. I want to make sure I've got this thing on straight.

[Mindy]

Oh, yeah. Here you go. Looks good, right?

[Guy Raz]

Not bad, but it is a little wet and heavy, but it's definitely cooling me off under these hot temperatures.

[Mindy]

Okay, before we do anything else, we need to find the time machine key to the future. Okay.

[Guy Raz]

I cannot believe you lost it Now.

[Mindy]

I'm pretty sure. We were in this field when we saw the mini horse ancestor. Huh? This has gotta be the same area where I lost it.

[Guy Raz]

This field goes on for miles, Mindy. I mean, we could be walking all day. By the way, what does the key look like?

[Mindy]

Well, the key just looks like a key, but the keychain is one of those three foot long candy canes.

[Guy Raz]

How did you not notice a three foot long candy cane dropped out of your pocket?

[Mindy]

I don't know. I think I must have lost it when I was looking for my magnifying goggles.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, oh, hey, look over there, Mindy. I think I see a group of ancient horse ancestors from the genus Hyracotherium.

[Mindy]

Genus? Genus. Genius. I got it. Genus. Genus is the group of species that they're part of.

[Guy Raz]

You sound like a genus genius, Mindy.

[Mindy]

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that one. Mindy, at Bandit.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy]

Hey, do these look like the same ones we saw the last time we were here?

[Guy Raz]

I think that's them. Yes.

[Mindy]

Aw, they're so cute, these little doggy sized pocket horses. Guy Raz, can we keep one? Wait, it looks like they're snacking on something.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, this is a great chance to find out just what these animals are eating. Hey look. Come on, let's walk over.

[Mindy]

Oh my turtle and taco shell. Are they eating the key?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, they're all licking the candy cane keychain. Mindy, they're about to eat our keys to the future.

[Mindy]

Stay calm, Guy Raz, I'll handle this. Well, howdy there, little critters. I'm sorry to say this, but we're gonna need this here key you're fixin to eat.

[Guy Raz]

Why are you talking like a cowboy, Mindy?

[Mindy]

Well, because I'm talking to some horses here, partner. Yep, that's it. Spit it out. Put it right there. All right. Yee haw little horse doggies. Now run away.

[Guy Raz]

Wow, that worked. And they even left your key.

[Mindy]

Well, thank you kindly, partner.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, Mindy, you can speak normally now.

[Mindy]

Yeah, that was exhausting.

[Guy Raz]

Will this. The heat is exhausting me, even with the ice helmet on.

[Mindy]

Oh, yeah. So about that. I had a thought.

[Guy Raz]

Yes?

[Mindy]

How did ancient Earth get so hot? I mean, I'm looking around and there aren't any humans yet. I don't see any of these animals driving cars or heating houses or building things.

[Guy Raz]

That is an excellent question, Mindy. Because I know that there was naturally more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere millions of years ago, but I'm not really sure why. So maybe, maybe we should Consult an expert.

[Mindy]

An expert? Reggie.

[Guy Raz]

Reggie?

[Mindy]

Yeah, he's taking a college class on environmental science.

[Guy Raz]

Wow. Between Taekwondo and selling shoes at Foot Locker, Reggie never ceases to amaze me. I guess no one should call him a bird brain.

[Mindy]

Why not? Birds have amazing brains. Okay, I'm gonna give him a call. Hey, Reg. Yeah, it's Mindy. Guy Raz is here too. What? Yeah, I think we should be back in time for dinner. Yeah, except for the fact that we are 50 million years in the past, and it's really hot here. The reason we're calling is because we need your environmental expertise. Okay, so what we want to know is how the Earth got so hot 50 million years ago. So if there were no humans around, do all that stuff that junks it up, putting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Oh. Huh. Well, thanks, Reg. See ya in 50 million years.

[Guy Raz]

So what'd he say?

[Mindy]

Okay, so Reggie says the reason there used to be so much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is because of natural causes. Natural events like volcanoes.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, that makes sense, because I know that there used to be a lot more volcanoes when the Earth was first formed. And I bet those volcanoes release carbon dioxide when they erupt.

[Mindy]

You got it. Must be a real bird brain, too, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Thanks.

[Mindy]

And Reggie also said that our Earth cooled down from natural causes as well.

[Guy Raz]

Natural causes, huh? Well, what were they?

[Mindy]

So, apparently, over millions and millions of years, giant rocks on Earth naturally started to break down into tiny pieces.

[Guy Raz]

Go on.

[Mindy]

And those tiny pieces of rock became dirt.

[Guy Raz]

Like the dirt in my garden?

[Mindy]

Yep. And so this dirt started to suck up or absorb a lot of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

[Guy Raz]

Okay.

[Mindy]

And that process started to remove the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and as a result, the Earth cooled down.

[Guy Raz]

Of course, now it's starting to make sense. So more dirt means more plants could grow. And plants breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen.

[Mindy]

You got it, Guy Raz. So all of these different natural things happening are why the Earth has heated up and cooled down so many times over millions and millions of years. And I read that our sun in the present day is hotter than it was millions of years ago.

[Guy Raz]

Well, here we are millions of years ago, and it feels pretty hot to me.

[Mindy]

The air is hot because of the extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but the sun itself is kind of like a light bulb.

[Guy Raz]

How so?

[Mindy]

Well, you know how a light bulb is cool when you first turn it on?

[Guy Raz]

Yes.

[Mindy]

But if you try to hug it after it's been on for a couple of hours, it'll burn you.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. I take it you learn that the hard way.

[Mindy]

The sun gets hotter and hotter over time too, even if we can't really feel it heating up.

[Guy Raz]

And so that's another thing speeding up the Earth's rising temperatures.

[Mindy]

Yep. But what I want to know is if the dirt and the plants absorbed the carbon dioxide and cooled down the earth a long time ago, then why can't the Earth just do that again?

[Guy Raz]

Well, because right now, Mindy, it's just getting too hot too fast. And the Earth's cool down process and warm up process are like two turtles in a race.

[Mindy]

Oh, I love a good turtle race. So how does it work?

[Guy Raz]

Well, when nature is in charge, the cooling turtle and the warming turtle sometimes pass each other, but eventually they end up evening out the score at the finish line.

[Mindy]

But now with greenhouse gases, it's like we put the global warming turtle on a rocket powered skateboard or something.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. So we're gonna have to speed up that cooling turtle or slow down the warming turtle so they can even out again.

[Mindy]

And we can help do this by doing things like walking or riding a bike instead of driving a car. Or maybe just stop wasting so much stuff and creating a bunch of garbage and trash.

[Guy Raz]

That's right. And by switching out our light bulbs for energy efficient LED light bulbs.

[Mindy]

Take that, warming turtle. So what else can we do?

[Guy Raz]

Well, you might be surprised, but one of the best things we can do is to compost our food waste.

[Mindy]

Oh yeah, composting that beautiful process of worms eating our old food and pooping it out into warm, lovely dirt.

[Guy Raz]

Indeed.

[Mindy]

But how does it help the Earth?

[Guy Raz]

Well, the average American family produces 20 pounds of food waste every month.

[Mindy]

Wow, must be a lot of work to deal with all that.

[Guy Raz]

It is. And garbage trucks have to burn fossil fuels to take that garbage to landfills. And in some Cities, it's a 500 mile drive.

[Mindy]

That must make so many greenhouse gases.

[Guy Raz]

It sure does. And even worse, when that food sits in the landfill and decomposes or breaks down, it produces methane, which is another very super strong greenhouse gas.

[Mindy]

Not to mention a very stinky gas.

[Guy Raz]

And that's why it's our responsibility as humans to help slow down the warming turtle or find a way to speed up the cooling turtle and make sure the Earth is a good place for all living things.

[Mindy]

Oh, just think of Reggie's great, great, great, great, great, great grand pigeons. We can help make the future of this planet better for them, too.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, I just got an idea. Why don't we go back to our own time and get Started.

[Mindy]

Good idea, Guy Raz. We gotta get back to the time machine. Let me just. Alright now, time to saddle up, partner.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, I thought you weren't gonna talk like a cowboy anymore.

[Mindy]

I'm not talking like a cowgirl.

[Guy Raz]

No, I.

[Mindy]

Here we.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, man, that was a tough landing. You okay, Mindy?

[Mindy]

Yeah, I think so.

[Guy Raz]

All right, well, let's get back inside the greenhouse.

[Mindy]

Um, actually, Guy Raz, I think I'm gonna meet up with you later. Now that I've got my time machine key to the future, I've got a quick errand to run.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, but please be careful in the future. And bring your ice helmet just in case.

[Mindy]

See you soon.

[Guy Raz]

Well, I guess I better go back to the greenhouse and start harvesting my kale.

[Dennis]

Wha.

[Guy Raz]

What? Is she back already?

[Mindy]

Greetings, Guy Raz. I'm back from the year 2100.

[Guy Raz]

The year 2100. What was it like?

[Mindy]

I met an old man and an old woman who were really famous.

[Guy Raz]

Okay?

[Mindy]

And they were famous because they had worked together to invent a new way to create energy to use for almost everything. From our lights to our cars, to our waffle makers to our electric skateboard for cats.

[Guy Raz]

The future has cat skateboards.

[Mindy]

Whoops.

[Dennis]

Shh.

[Mindy]

I didn't mean to give that one away.

[Guy Raz]

Cat skateboards.

[Mindy]

Anywho, this little team and their friends created a new way for us to make energy. A kind of energy that didn't add any more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

[Guy Raz]

Wow. Our climate change heroes are really out there, Mindy.

[Mindy]

Yep, they sure are, Guy Raz. And they may not be even know it yet.

[Dennis]

Wow, that was so cool. But now I'm so curious about the climate heroes Mindy met in the future. I know. Who were they? She said they were an old man and an old woman. Right? Or did she say an old pigeon? Reggie, what if we're the climate heroes she met? Well, if we create a new energy source, we could be. You're right. We have no time to wait waste, Reggie. Let's wrap up the show so we can get really good at inventing right now. 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- wow Wow. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Okay. Should we do the goodbye song? Alright, let's do it. Ahem. That's the end of the show. I need to go and create a renewable energy source to save the earth from greenhouse gases and power all the little kitty cat skateboards. But I'll do another show tomorrow. But for now, that's the end of the show. Bye.

[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 plus 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] survey.