WeWow on the Weekend (4/6/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: "WeWow on the Weekend" Episode Summary (April 6, 2025)

Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Episode: WeWow on the Weekend
Release Date: April 6, 2025

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1. Introduction to Planet Wow

The episode kicks off with Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz unveiling an exciting new initiative titled Planet Wow, a global geocaching adventure aimed at inspiring listeners to explore and appreciate the wonders of our planet.

• Mindy Thomas [00:12]: "As you know, there are so many places on our planet that make us all say wow."
• Guy Raz [00:06]: "Introducing Planet Wow, our new epic geocaching adventure."

Planet Wow encourages participants to find hidden treasures, or geocaches, located in captivating locations across the United States. Collaborating with the Aspen Institute's Planet Media and Geocaching.com, the hosts have developed four trackable trading cards featuring fascinating facts about environmental stewardship.

• Mindy Thomas [00:26]: "We've partnered with our friends at the Aspen Institute's planet media and geocaching.com to create four different trackable trading cards with some wow facts about caring for our planet."
• Guy Raz [00:38]: "We'll be sending out one of four trading cards to every member of the World Organization of Wowzers."

Listeners are invited to join by signing up for a membership by April 11th to receive their trading card and embark on the Planet Wow adventure.

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2. Invasive Species: The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

A significant portion of the episode delves into the pressing issue of invasive species, spotlighting the brown marmorated stink bug as a prime example.

Understanding Invasive Species

• Guy Raz [13:51]: "I'm talking about invasive species."
• Mindy Thomas [14:02]: "Biodiversity is the variety of plant and animal life in one specific habitat or ecosystem."

An invasive species is defined as a non-native organism that causes environmental harm upon introduction to a new habitat.

• Guy Raz [14:04]: "An invasive species is a species whose introduction to a new habitat causes environmental damage."

Impact of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Mindy discusses how the brown marmorated stink bug, first detected in Pennsylvania in 1998, has spread to nearly every U.S. state except Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska.

• Mindy Thomas [19:16]: "Stink bugs... have devastated crops across the United States and shows no signs of slowing down."
• Guy Raz [19:29]: "Man, those stink bugs really get around."

The bug's voracious appetite threatens a wide array of crops, including apples, peaches, sweet corn, soybeans, tomatoes, and bell peppers.

• Mindy Thomas [20:05]: "Apples, peaches, sweet corn, soybeans, tomatoes, bell peppers. It just keeps going."
• Guy Raz [20:35]: "So these stink bugs are just roaming across the country trying out the local delicacies?"

Challenges in Controlling the Stink Bug Population

Traditional chemical controls, such as pesticides, have proven ineffective against these bugs due to their unique feeding mechanisms.

• Guy Raz [21:13]: "Chemical control? You mean like pesticides?"
• Mindy Thomas [22:09]: "They have a very thin and sharp mouth which makes it almost like a straw."

This adaptation allows them to bypass pesticide-treated surfaces, rendering chemical methods less effective.

3. Biological Control: The Samurai Wasp

In an effort to combat the brown marmorated stink bug, researchers are exploring biological control using the samurai wasp (Trissolcus japonicus).

• Mindy Thomas [24:15]: "A biological control. This is when you bring a natural predator to the invasive species inside the environment."
• Guy Raz [24:44]: "What is it, Mindy?"

The samurai wasp targets stink bug eggs, laying its own eggs inside them. Upon hatching, the wasp larvae consume the stink bug eggs, effectively reducing their population.

• Mindy Thomas [25:24]: "These wasps lay their eggs inside the stink bug eggs."
• Guy Raz [25:38]: "So these samurai wasps must really be something."

Researchers have already released samurai wasps in Oregon and plan to introduce them to New York State, though concerns remain based on past biological control attempts.

• Mindy Thomas [25:43]: "They've already been released in Oregon, and later this year, the researchers are hoping to release them in New York State as well."
• Guy Raz [26:04]: "Well, I hope it works, because a similar thing has been tried before and, well, it doesn't always turn out well."

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4. Historical Example: Australia's Invasive Species Battle

Drawing parallels, the hosts recount Australia's experience with invasive species, highlighting both successes and failures in biological control.

Prickly Pear and the Cactoblastis Moth

In the early 1800s, Australia faced an infestation of prickly pear cacti. The introduction of the cactoblastis moth from South America successfully eradicated the invasive cactus within seven years.

• Guy Raz [28:10]: "Cactoblastis moth... lay their eggs in the cactus... keep them from spreading."
• Mindy Thomas [29:21]: "So it worked."

The Cane Toad Catastrophe

Conversely, the introduction of cane toads to combat sugar cane beetles backfired disastrously. Without natural predators, the toads proliferated uncontrollably, now numbering over 200 million and posing threats to native wildlife.

• Guy Raz [30:10]: "That, Mindy, is a cane toad."
• Mindy Thomas [31:09]: "That's awful."

This historical lesson underscores the complexities and potential unintended consequences of biological control measures.

• Guy Raz [31:09]: "There's nothing to eat the cane toads. So now there's over 200 million of them all across Australia."
• Mindy Thomas [31:24]: "It's because of their ridonkulous appetite."

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5. Engaging Interactions and Humor

Interspersed with informative discussions, the episode features humorous exchanges among hosts and characters Dennis and Reggie, adding a lighthearted tone to the educational content.

• Dennis [03:58]: "I don't hear any of Baby Dennis. If you put on more Baby Dennis, I will rate you 100 billion."
• Mindy Thomas [10:02]: "Back her up, boy."
• Guy Raz [22:33]: "What? So Steve, do you like neckties? Run."

These interactions provide comic relief while maintaining listener engagement, exemplifying the podcast's appeal to both children and adults.

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6. Conclusion and Call to Action

The episode concludes with a reminder for listeners to engage with Planet Wow and participate in conservation efforts.

• Mindy Thomas [17:43]: "Oh, hang on a second. What was that, Steve?"
• Guy Raz [33:37]: "Join Wondery in the Wondery app or on Wondery Kids on Apple Podcasts."

Listeners are encouraged to sign up for memberships, share their own "wow" moments, and contribute to the ongoing mission of celebrating and protecting the planet's wonders.

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Notable Quotes:

• Mindy Thomas [00:12]: "There are so many places on our planet that make us all say wow."
• Guy Raz [14:04]: "An invasive species is a species whose introduction to a new habitat causes environmental damage."
• Mindy Thomas [22:09]: "They have a very thin and sharp mouth which makes it almost like a straw."
• Guy Raz [24:44]: "What is it, Mindy?"
• Guy Raz [30:10]: "That, Mindy, is a cane toad."
• Guy Raz [31:09]: "There's nothing to eat the cane toads. So now there's over 200 million of them all across Australia."

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Final Thoughts:

"WeWow on the Weekend" masterfully blends education with entertainment, providing listeners with valuable insights into environmental issues like invasive species while maintaining an engaging and humorous narrative. The episode not only informs but also inspires action, encouraging listeners to explore and protect the natural wonders that make our world truly say "wow."

Transcript

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, Wowzer fams. Mindy and Guy Raz here with some bonkerballs. Big news.

[Guy Raz]

Introducing Planet Wow, our new epic geocaching adventure.

[Mindy Thomas]

As you know, there are so many places on our planet that make us all say wow.

[Guy Raz]

And that's why we're inviting you to go out into the world to find hidden treasures called geocaches. We've stashed in some amazing places.

[Mindy Thomas]

We've partnered with our friends at the Aspen Institute's planet media and geocaching.com to create four different trackable trading cards with some wow facts about caring for our planet.

[Guy Raz]

We'll be sending out one of four trading cards to every member of the world Organization of Wowzers. Not a member yet, but want a trading card? Sign up by April 11th to get your trading card in the [e-mail] membership.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now, here's the fun part. Once you get your trading cards, head out on an adventure to find geocaches near you to stash them and look for the other collectible cards in Planet Wow. Geocaches in places that wow across the United States.

[Guy Raz]

Visit tinkercast.com planetwow where you can find out how to get involved and save our planet.

[Mindy Thomas]

You can also upload a video, photo, or audio message telling us about the places on our planet that make you say wow once again. That's tinkercast.com planetwow.

[Dennis]

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. We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Hello and welcome to WEW on the Weekend. I'm your host, Dennis, and Reggie's here, too. This is the show where we hang out in my mother's basement and do fun stuff and listen to episodes of Tinkercast podcasts. And to kick off the show, I'm introducing a new segment, the Snoop Scoop. Snoop Scoop. Snoopity. Scoopity. Snoop Scoop. The sneakiest Snoopity news Poop. Reggie, it is not a gossip segment. It's investigative journalism of the goings on in the neighborhood. Okay, fine, I admit it. It's gossip. Let's talk about everyone's business. Ahem. Today's Snoop Scoop is that yesterday I saw Mindy wearing two different shoes. What? What do you mean? She does that on purpose. One of her shoes was a bowling shoe, and the other was a roller skate. Roller bowling huh. Mindy has some weird hobbies. Okay, well, get this. I overheard Guy Raz talking about meeting up with some shady character named Dan. I've never heard of Dan before. Who's Dan? His last name? Uh, I think it was Tist. Yeah, Dan Tist. Oh, dentist. Oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh. Okay, I guess that makes more sense. Well, today, Snoop Scoop drooped. I'll have better gossip. I mean, investigative journalism next time. Moving on to our next segment is reading reviewsy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ahem.

[Dennis]

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 I read reviews that people leave us on Apple podcasts. Okay, this first Reviewsy is from yoyo321ieo. The title says, I want more Baby Dennis prayer hands emoji. And the message says, I don't hear any of Baby Dennis. If you put on more Baby Dennis, I will rate you 100 billion. Reggie, did you hear that? 100 billion stars. That's so many. Okay, we need to get those stars. Baby Dennis. Baby Dennis. Get out here. Baby Dennis. Where is he? Baby Dennis. Uh, do you hear that, Reggie? Yeah, it sounds like it's coming from the filing cabinet. Let's just take a peek in here. Moving on to national news, the Federal Trade Commission says that. Baby Dennis, what are you doing? Oh, hey, Big Dennis. Why do you have a microphone and little tiny news desk? Baby Dennis, are you doing investigative journalism? Did you steal my snake Snoop Scoop segment? Um, maybe. Oh, that is just like you. I'm gonna Snoop scoop you for my next Snoop Scoop. Not if Baby Dennis. Snoop scoops Big Dennis first. How dare you. Tee Hee. Ah, quit copying me. No tee hee. Okay, yoyo 321ieo. You owe us 100 billion stars. Next reviewsy. This next reviewsie is from Koalagirl Hedgehog. The title reads please, and the message says, dennis, can I be featured on Wee Wow on the weekend? Even though I've always imagined you as a yellow cat with a doctor suit. Wait, what? Reggie, stop laughing. I am not a yellow cat with a doctor suit. I am a human dentist wearing normal clothes. What are you talking about? What's not normal about my purple polka dot overalls? You said you liked my cowboy hat. You said it tied the ensemble together. Reggie. Maybe we should just do a new segment called Judgy Reggie. Actually, that sounds pretty great. Let's workshop that at the next writers meeting. Thanks for all your reviewsies, listeners. Keep em coming. If you leave me a comment on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, I just might read it on Wee Wow. The Weeknd. Five stars or more, please. Because, Reggie, we're a star studded podcast. We give them stars, they give us stars. It's equivalent trade. Okay, 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 2, Episode 28 called Samurai vs. The Stink the Science of Invasive Wildlife Species. This is such a good episode, Reggie. Oh, right. But it's also kind of scary, huh? Maybe we should save it for Halloween time. Yeah, now you're right. Now that we've talked about it, we have to listen to it. Besides, it has Stink Bug Steve in it. Okay, here we go.

[Mindy Thomas]

And play Wee Wow will be right back. Grown Ups, this message is for you.

[Dennis]

Psst.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, Wowzer fams. It's Guy Raz and Mindy here. And Mindy. Can you believe we have our very own wow in the World stem toys?

[Mindy Thomas]

I know. And look, they even have our faces on them.

[Dennis]

Look at little us.

[Guy Raz]

Guy Razzie, it's so bonker balls.

[Mindy Thomas]

Aw, you're using my catchphrase.

[Guy Raz]

Grown Ups, we are so excited to share our wow in the World Stu Stem toys with the future scientists in your life.

[Mindy Thomas]

And now you can find our toys at select Walmart locations near you and [e-mail] from the ultimate high flying air.

[Guy Raz]

Rocket to the light up terrarium, there's something for every Wowzer in your world to play and tinker with.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow in the World Stem Toys now available at Walmart. That's it. And now let's get back to the wow. That's it. Now back to the show.

[Dennis]

Wow in the World.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, let's see here. Popped quinoa. Check. Salted seaweed. Check. Kale chips. Mmm.

[Dennis]

Check.

[Guy Raz]

Shack. Now, just to shake this all up. And there we go. The snack mix for my movie marathon snacktacular special.

[Dennis]

Ooh.

[Guy Raz]

Coming. Oh, hey, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Good morning, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Good morning, Mindy. It's 5:00 in the afternoon.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, but I only got up like five minutes ago, so. Still bright and early for me.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, right.

[Mindy Thomas]

Anywho, I brought over a few snacks for the movie marathon. Thought they might give us a little energy boost that we need to get through the next few hours.

[Dennis]

Back her up, boy.

[Guy Raz]

What in the.

[Dennis]

Stop, Dennis.

[Mindy Thomas]

Stop and dump.

[Guy Raz]

Dumb.

[Dennis]

Whoa.

[Guy Raz]

All right, perfect.

[Dennis]

Surprise.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, what is all this stuff? Poppy Brocks? This is popping candy broccoli.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, you're always going on and on and on about healthy eating habits, so I thought I'd shake up my snack habits a bit.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, this isn't what I meant when I said healthy eating habits. Have you got anything that's actually made.

[Dennis]

Of real food here?

[Guy Raz]

I mean, look at this stuff.

[Mindy Thomas]

Isn't it beautiful?

[Guy Raz]

Guy Raz, Fish oil sherbet. What is this?

[Mindy Thomas]

Um, just a snack tacular source of omega 3s. Ooh, you making popcorn over here?

[Guy Raz]

Well, actually quinoa puffs.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, quinoa puffs.

[Guy Raz]

Well, it's got some kale mixed in.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, I think I'll stick with my fish oil sherbet.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, suit yourself.

[Mindy Thomas]

So, did you decide on what movie we're gonna watch tonight?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah, I've got the trailer queued up here. Check it out.

[Dennis]

No one knows where they came from. Oh, honey, you look t. No one knows how it happened.

[Mindy Thomas]

Mom, my portable game device is out of batteries. I need batteries.

[Dennis]

And no one will survive the curse of the Mom Bees.

[Guy Raz]

Brains.

[Dennis]

Mom, you're scaring me.

[Guy Raz]

Brains.

[Mindy Thomas]

What about my brains?

[Guy Raz]

Use your brains.

[Dennis]

What?

[Guy Raz]

Where are your brains?

[Mindy Thomas]

I don't know.

[Guy Raz]

Well, where did you leave them last?

[Dennis]

I don't know. I don't know. From the director that brought you, who moved Dad's tools and the 50 foot sister come.

[Mindy Thomas]

Is that what you're wearing?

[Dennis]

They have bagged lunches. As I'm saying, with extra raisins. Raisins are good for you. It's the invasion. Put on a sweater of the mobies.

[Guy Raz]

I'll treat you like an adult when you start acting like one. Looks pretty great, huh?

[Mindy Thomas]

I don't know, Guy Raz. I mean, I love a good zombie movie, but are you sure you're gonna be able to handle this?

[Guy Raz]

Whoa. What do you mean?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, the last time we watched a scary movie, you had nightmares for a week.

[Guy Raz]

No, no, don't go into the fire station. No, stay away from me, Robo rescue dog. Nah, I'm sure I'll be okay.

[Mindy Thomas]

All right, well, park your keister, meester, and let's get this party started.

[Guy Raz]

Well, we can't start just yet.

[Mindy Thomas]

Why not?

[Guy Raz]

Reggie isn't here yet, and. Oh, that's my phone. Let's see. A text from Reggie.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, what's it say?

[Guy Raz]

Running late, Traffic on the polar jet stream is person finger wave.

[Dennis]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Let me see that. Aw, Guy Raz, that finger person wave is the emoji for cuckoo. He's saying that the traffic is crazy.

[Guy Raz]

Well, whatever it is, looks like Reggie's gonna be late.

[Mindy Thomas]

Aw, man.

[Guy Raz]

Ah, don't worry, men. It's gonna be so worth it. I've been waiting to see this movie ever since I started reading about another kind of invasion.

[Mindy Thomas]

Another kind of invasion? Are you talking about the invas? The killer cucumbers?

[Guy Raz]

No, Mindy, I.

[Mindy Thomas]

Or that other movie, the grandma from outer space?

[Guy Raz]

No, Mindy, I. I'm not talking about a movie. Oh. I'm talking about a wide scale invasion that's happening in nature right now, right here in the United States.

[Mindy Thomas]

What is it, kale yoga? Is it those frozen yogurt shops? Guy Raz, they are everywhere.

[Guy Raz]

No, actually, it's none of those things.

[Mindy Thomas]

Then what is it, Mindy?

[Guy Raz]

I'm talking about invasive species.

[Mindy Thomas]

Invasive species?

[Guy Raz]

That's right.

[Mindy Thomas]

What exactly is an invasive species?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I think I have a.

[Mindy Thomas]

Because it sounds like an alien sci fi movie.

[Guy Raz]

I think I have a book on this topic. Let me see. Ah, here it is. Biodiversity. The interconnected nature of nature.

[Mindy Thomas]

Biodiversity, huh? Isn't that just a fancy pants word for how many species live in one particular place?

[Guy Raz]

That's exactly right. Biodiversity is the variety of plant and animal life in one specific habitat or ecosystem.

[Mindy Thomas]

Gotcha. So what does that have to do with our invasive species?

[Guy Raz]

Ah, here we are. Let me read it. An invasive species is a species whose introduction to a new habitat causes environmental damage.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, okay. So it's kind of like when I come over to your house, but then leave a five foot high pile of garbage behind?

[Guy Raz]

Well, a little. But to really be an invasive species, the animal or plant not only has to come from a different ecosystem, but it also has to cause damage to the new ecosystem.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, I've heard about this problem. And you know what? Now that I think of it, I think the lionfish is an invasive in parts of the Atlantic Ocean around Florida.

[Guy Raz]

That's right. They originally came from the Pacific Ocean, and now these lionfish are eating many of the smaller fish in the Atlantic.

[Mindy Thomas]

But they sure are beautiful.

[Guy Raz]

They are. But invasive species are a huge problem, Mindy. In fact, invasive species are one of the biggest threats to animals and plants in the wild.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, no.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. Just take a look at these horror stories in here.

[Mindy Thomas]

Horror stories? I thought this was a textbook.

[Guy Raz]

Well, it jumps around a lot.

[Mindy Thomas]

The tale of the American chestnut. The year was 1904, and a trading ship traveling from Asia docks in New York City.

[Dennis]

Land ho.

[Mindy Thomas]

Little did they know that the cargo they were traveling with would Go on. To wipe out one of the countries most beloved trees, the American chestnut.

[Dennis]

Oh, golly, I love my chestnut tree.

[Mindy Thomas]

On board that trading ship was a disease known as Asian chestnut blight fungus. Over the next 40 years, this fungus killed off more than 4 billion trees, wiping out almost 180 million acres of chestnut trees.

[Guy Raz]

180 million acres? That's almost twice the size of California. Ahem.

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz, I wasn't finished with my story.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, sorry, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

The loss of these chestnut trees was a disaster, not only for the tree lovers.

[Dennis]

No. My. My tree. My beautiful American chestnut tree.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow. But also for the animals that lived in them. With no home left, 10 moth species that lived in chestnut trees went extinct.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, no.

[Mindy Thomas]

And look, this isn't even the only horror story in this book. Guy Raz, these invasive species keep popping up all over the place. Brown tree snakes and Guam goats on.

[Guy Raz]

The island of St. Helena.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, guy Raz, these stories might be a little too spooky even for me.

[Guy Raz]

I know what you mean. I think I preferred it when the invasive species were just undead mambis. Whoa.

[Mindy Thomas]

Look here, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

What is it?

[Mindy Thomas]

The great American plague of 2018. One part residential nuisance, one part agricultural nightmare. Smaller than a penny, this six legged shield shaped insect has devastated crops across the United States and shows no signs of slowing down.

[Guy Raz]

What is it, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

The brown marmorated stink bug.

[Guy Raz]

Stink bugs?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, just like this Guy. Calm down, Guy Raz. You're gonna scare him away.

[Guy Raz]

And who exactly is him?

[Mindy Thomas]

Steve. Steve? Yeah, Steve. Stink bug Steve.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, Mindy, you're friends with a stink bug?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, he's more of a friend of a friend. Started crashing here in the winter with about 25,000 of his friends. Everyone else left in the summer, but Steve decided to stick around. Isn't that right, Steve? I brought him from home. I keep him in my pocket.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, I had no idea your house had a stink bug infestation.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah, but it's not just me, Guy Raz. Stink bugs are found all over America. Now, they were first spotted in Pennsylvania in 1998, then Maryland in 2003, West Virginia and Delaware in 2004, New York and Ohio in 2007.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, man.

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Ra's stink bugs can now be found in every US State other than Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska.

[Guy Raz]

Man, those stink bugs really get around.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, hang on a second. What was that, Steve? Oh. Oh, yeah, I'll tell him.

[Guy Raz]

Tell me what?

[Mindy Thomas]

Steve says he used to average a mile and a half of travel Every single day with those little wings.

[Guy Raz]

Wow. And so why are Steve and his friend considered. What did you call them again?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, the great American plague of 2018. Well, it's because of their ridonkulous appetite.

[Guy Raz]

Really?

[Mindy Thomas]

Really. Check out this list of foods they eat.

[Guy Raz]

Whoa, that's one long shopping list. Apples, peaches, sweet corn, soybeans, tomatoes, bell peppers. It just keeps going.

[Mindy Thomas]

And the list is only getting longer.

[Guy Raz]

What do you mean?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, when the stink bug found its way to California, it ate through all of the almond trees in the area. Despite the fact that as far as we know, they've never done that before.

[Guy Raz]

So these stink bugs are just. Just roaming across the country trying out the local delicacies?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, pretty much. No use, Dink. Thirsty. No use.

[Dennis]

Howdy y'all. Welcome to Uncle Leo's American Diner. What can I get for you today?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, so many things to choose from. Everything looks great. I'll take a peach from Georgia, a Californian orange, some Ohio soybeans, candy, a couple of Washington apples.

[Dennis]

Ooh, we are out of the Washington apples. I am sorry. Could I interest you in one of these New York apples?

[Guy Raz]

They're big. So what are farmers doing to try and stop these invasive insects from eating all their crops?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, according to your big old textbook over here.

[Guy Raz]

Well, technically, text slash horror storybook.

[Mindy Thomas]

Right. So according to this, there are a couple of ways that we can try to control invasive species.

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now let's see here. Number one, a chemical control.

[Guy Raz]

Chemical control? You mean like pesticides?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yep. Pesticides are chemicals that farmers put on their crops to stop insects from nibbling on them.

[Guy Raz]

So why aren't these chemicals keeping the stink bugs away?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, it has something to do with how the stink bug eats.

[Guy Raz]

How they eat? What do they do, put their food in a smoothie blender?

[Mindy Thomas]

Nope. But you're not far off. Really? So even though these six legged pests might not smoothie their food, they do juice their food. Well, sort of.

[Guy Raz]

Well, you know what I always say, cold pressed kale juice in the morning can't be beat.

[Mindy Thomas]

What? No, they're not drinking cold pressed juices, Guy Raz. You see, the stink bugs like Steve here have a very thin and sharp mouth which makes it almost like a straw. See?

[Guy Raz]

Oh yeah.

[Mindy Thomas]

And so. Hold on a second. I can give you a live demonstration here. I'll be right back. Wait here with Steve, okay?

[Guy Raz]

What? So Steve, do you like neckties? Run.

[Mindy Thomas]

Run, run, run. Okay, I'm back.

[Guy Raz]

Where'd you go?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, to get this.

[Guy Raz]

An apple?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, check this out. Hey, Steve, who's a good stink.

[Dennis]

Bu.

[Mindy Thomas]

Good stink bug. You want an apple? Yeah. All right. Okay, Guy Raz. Now watch this. This is how stink bugs juice their food.

[Dennis]

Whoa.

[Mindy Thomas]

They stick their straw like mouths into the plant, which in this case is this apple.

[Dennis]

Oh.

[Guy Raz]

Oh.

[Dennis]

Ooh.

[Mindy Thomas]

And then they suck out all of the juicy nutrients.

[Guy Raz]

Whoa. Wait, wait. Now it starts to make sense. If Steve was out in the wild and this apple was covered in pesticides, Steve wouldn't get poisoned because his mouth wouldn't ever touch the surface of the apple at all.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exact oritos. And to top it all off, the brown marmorated stink bugs like Steve here have long stilt like legs which keep them high above the poisonous surface. Here, check it out.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah. So let me get this straight. The stink bug avoids getting poisoned by drinking its food through a straw while on stilts?

[Mindy Thomas]

Pretty crazy, right?

[Guy Raz]

Anyway, what's the second way to control an invasive species?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, it's a little something called. See here?

[Dennis]

Aha.

[Mindy Thomas]

A biological control.

[Guy Raz]

Huh?

[Mindy Thomas]

This. This is when you bring a natural predator to the invasive species inside the environment.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, I get it. Because a predator is an animal that would eat the invasive species. So if you bring in an invasive species predator, then that predator will hunt it down and reduce its population.

[Mindy Thomas]

You got it, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Ha. So what's the stink bug's natural predator?

[Mindy Thomas]

It's a little insect known as the samurai.

[Guy Raz]

Was, of course, the samurai wasp, Trisolkus japonicus.

[Dennis]

Oh, no.

[Mindy Thomas]

Steve.

[Guy Raz]

What? Did I scare him off?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, think you did.

[Guy Raz]

Man, these samurai wasps must really be something.

[Mindy Thomas]

Nah, it wasn't the wasp part. He just really hates Latin.

[Guy Raz]

Oh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Anywho, right now, these researchers from the U.S. department of Agriculture are trying to see how good these samurai wasps are at hunting down and. And killing the stink bugs.

[Guy Raz]

Go on.

[Mindy Thomas]

And when they studied them, the researchers found that these wasps like to crawl inside the eggs of the stink bug and lay their own eggs inside of them.

[Guy Raz]

Yikes. Now that seems like a scary movie.

[Mindy Thomas]

Tell me about it.

[Guy Raz]

So these researchers are making more of these wasps in the lab, so. So they can then one day release them into the wild and stop the march of the stink bugs?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, that's the plan. It's a real bug on bug battle. They've already been released in Oregon, and later this year, the researchers are hoping to release them in New York State as well.

[Guy Raz]

Well, I hope it works, because a similar thing has been tried before and, well, it doesn't always turn out well.

[Mindy Thomas]

Really?

[Guy Raz]

Yep. Let me tell you about another Invasion.

[Mindy Thomas]

The invasion of the killer cucumbers.

[Guy Raz]

No, no, man. This invasion takes place in Australia.

[Mindy Thomas]

Australia?

[Dennis]

Aye.

[Mindy Thomas]

No, it's not. It.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Reggie. Hey, Reg. We're going to Australia.

[Dennis]

What's.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, what. What about our movie night?

[Mindy Thomas]

Eh? The Mombies will still be in the movie when we get back. Come on. You ready?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, isn't it getting a little late?

[Mindy Thomas]

What are you talking about? I just woke up. Mindy, it's 5pm yeah, but it's 5am In Australia. Come on, let's go.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, okay, fine. But only if we're quick. I still want to see this Mombies film.

[Mindy Thomas]

Don't worry, Guy Raz. We'll be back before you can and even say brain. Okay, now hold on tight, because here we. Ah, made it. Thanks, Reg. It's hotter than a billy goat with a blowtorch smothered in spicy salsa out here. It must be a hundred degrees.

[Guy Raz]

Well, we are in Australia, So technically, it's 40 degrees Celsius.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, whatever it is, I'm gonna need a popsicle. Wait, where are we, Guy Raz?

[Guy Raz]

I think we're in the state of Queensland, Mindy. And by the looks of it, in the middle of the desert.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, man, not again. Reggie. I said take me to the Australian dessert, not the Australian desert. Anywho, Guy Raz, why did you want to bring me all the way out here to the other side of the planet? Me?

[Guy Raz]

It was your idea to come out here.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, my idea based on your idea. So why did I bring us all the way out here to the other side of the planet?

[Guy Raz]

Well, because Australia, and particularly the state of Queensland, has had a pretty rocky history when it comes to invasive species.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. It all started in the early 1800s when an invasive species, a cactus called the prickly pear, was brought to the country and started popping up all over the place.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, man.

[Guy Raz]

So the Australian government decided to introduce a moth, and that moth, the Cactoblastis moth, which is actually native to South America, came into the areas that were overrun with this cactus.

[Mindy Thomas]

But why?

[Guy Raz]

Well, as it turned out, this moth, or rather the caterpillars that eventually turned into the moths, had an appetite for prickly pear. And the idea was that this moth would lay its eggs in the cactus, then when the caterpillars would hatch, they would chomp down on the cactus and keep them from spreading.

[Mindy Thomas]

A biological control.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly.

[Mindy Thomas]

So what happened?

[Guy Raz]

Well, after 3 billion moth eggs were placed strategically around Queensland, the prickly pears were completely gone in just seven years.

[Mindy Thomas]

So it worked.

[Guy Raz]

Well, it did. But Queensland also happens to be the home of one of the biggest biological control blunders in the history of invasive species. In fact, I think you can see one right there.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, let me just get out my adventure toolbox here. I know I've got some magnifying goggles in here somewhere. Oh, got em. All right, now what am I? Guy Raz. What is. What is that?

[Guy Raz]

That, Mindy, is a cane toad.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, there must be hundreds of them.

[Guy Raz]

There are. And they were originally brought to Australia in the early 20th century to prey on a beetle that was eating all of the farmer's sugar cane. Whoa.

[Mindy Thomas]

And then what happened?

[Guy Raz]

Well, they did just that. They got rid of the sugar cane beetle. But then.

[Mindy Thomas]

But then they started popping up all over the place because they don't have a natural predator here.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. There's nothing to eat the cane toads. So now there's over 200 million of them all across Australia.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, man. So the species brought in to stop the invasive species has become an invasive species itself.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. Because just like the stink bugs, these. These cane toads eat crops, and they can even harm the native wildlife in Australia.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's awful.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, and that's why the United States Department of Agriculture is being so careful about releasing those wasps to eat the stink bugs.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, I guess they don't want to repeat what happened here in Australia.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, and speaking of that, we should probably head back home now before this hoard of cane toads gets any closer to us.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah, before they get any closer. Right.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy? What was that?

[Mindy Thomas]

I didn't hear anything.

[Guy Raz]

Ah. Mindy, did a cane toad just jump out of your pocket?

[Dennis]

Um.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, what are you doing with pockets full of invasive species?

[Mindy Thomas]

I just wanted to bring back some souvenirs from our trip to Australia.

[Guy Raz]

We just talked about this. Ah, they're everywhere.

[Mindy Thomas]

Aw, but look at their little face. They're so cute. Come on, Guy Raz, give him a little snuggle here. Come on, do it.

[Guy Raz]

Keep that thing away from me. Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, come on.

[Dennis]

He likes you.

[Guy Raz]

Run. Run, run, run.

[Dennis]

Where are you going? Run, run, run. Yay. That was so cool. Wait, Reggie, the stink bugs. They could be in my garden right now. What if they want to eat my azaleas?

[Mindy Thomas]

What if.

[Dennis]

Reggie, I need to go protect them. Or I need to call stink bug Steve and ask him to convince his relatives not to eat them. Right. We need to wrap up the show real fast and fix this. 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 Reggie, you call Steve and I'm gonna go run outside and guard the plants because Reggie, I don't have Steve's number. Reggie, just do it. Hold on my precious babies. I'm coming.

[Mindy Thomas]

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 on Apple Podcasts. Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Mindy Thomas]

And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey.

[Dennis]

Thanks for joining us for this edition of WEWOW on the weekend. Our show is written by Ruth Morrison and Jed Anderson. The role of Baby Dennis is played by Jed Anderson. Ah well dear, who plays the role of Big Dennis? Never you bind Teehee. Original sound design and production is done by Henry Moskal with contributions from Jed Anderson and Tyler Thol. Original music for Wee Wow is composed and performed by Tyler Thole. Special thanks to Jessica Boach, Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall, Kenny Curtis, Lizzie Fralich, Kristin Yang, Meredith Halpin, Ranzer Thuy Mack, Erica Medina, Henry Muskill, Jody Nussbaum, Ali Paksima, Guy Raz, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Mindy Thomas, Joanna Weber, 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 podcasts from Tinkercast. Thanks again for hanging out in the basement this weekend. Be sure to check out episodes of wow. In the World every Monday and remember who wows. I know no Baby Dennis Wee wow. All right. We wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

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