WeWow on the Weekend (5/24/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: Episode Summary – "WeWow on the Weekend" (May 24, 2025)

Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Podcast: Wow in the World by Tinkercast | Wondery
Release Date: May 24, 2025

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1. Summer Adventures and Planet Wow Eco-Adventure

As summer approaches, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz kick off the episode by encouraging families to embark on exciting eco-adventures. They introduce Planet Wow, a collaborative geocaching initiative developed with Geocaching HQ, the Aspen Institute, and the Nature Conservancy.

• Mindy Thomas [00:20]: "If your family has some summer road trips coming up, take a pit stop to find some wow."

• Guy Raz [00:49]: "We've sent out Planet Wow trading cards to members of our World Organization of wowzers to plant in a geocache near."

Planet Wow aims to inspire kids to become climate crusaders by discovering and sharing the remarkable wonders of our planet through interactive geocaching experiences.

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2. Introducing "WeWow on the Weekend" Skit

The episode transitions into a playful skit titled "WeWow on the Weekend", featuring guest characters Baby Dennis and Baby Sock Dennis. This segment adds a layer of humor and engagement, showcasing a fictional podcast scenario where Baby Dennis attempts to host alongside Baby Sock Dennis.

• Baby Dennis [05:27]: "This is the show where Baby Dennis and Baby Sock Dennis talk, answer questions and listen to Baby Dennis's favorite episodes of Tinkercast Podcast."

The skit includes humorous interactions, such as answering silly questions about why cats purr and attempting to play tic-tac-toe, adding a light-hearted break before delving into the main scientific discussion.

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3. The Mystery of Wombat Poop Cubes

The core of the episode revolves around a fascinating scientific mystery: Why do wombats produce cube-shaped poop? Through an engaging narrative, Mindy and Guy Raz explore this intriguing phenomenon.

a. The Invitation and Journey to Australia

The adventure begins with Mindy receiving a peculiar, maple syrup-covered invitation to her gingerbread bathroom, leading to a whimsical journey to Australia.

• Mindy Thomas [12:33]: "Your presence is requested in Mindy's gingerbread bathroom, the crumbling house next door."

Upon arriving in Australia, the hosts visit the Poo Seum, an immersive museum dedicated to wombat poop, setting the stage for their exploration.

b. Inside the Poo Seum: Exploring the Science

Within the Poo Seum, Mindy and Guy Raz embark on a simulated journey through a wombat's digestive system to understand how and why wombat poop forms into cubes.

• Mindy Thomas [23:24]: "Anything for science, right?"

Using a creative exhibit called the Bowel Mover, they experience the digestive process, highlighting the unique stretchiness of wombat intestines that leads to the formation of cube-shaped feces.

c. Patricia Yang's Research on Wombat Intestines

The hosts delve into the scientific research led by Patricia Yang from the Georgia Institute of Technology, who investigated the physiological reasons behind the cubed poop phenomenon.

• Mindy Thomas [25:12]: "They did this to compare the stretchiness of the wombat intestines to the stretchiness of pig intestines."

Yang's team discovered that the uneven stretchiness of wombat intestines creates precise pressure points, molding the poop into cubes as it moves through the digestive tract.

• Guy Raz [26:05]: "Meaning that when the food went through the digestion process and turned into poop, that uneven stretchiness created uneven pressure, which was then put on the poop before it popped out the wombat's butt."

d. The Role and Benefits of Cubic Poop for Wombats

Mindy and Guy Raz explain how cube-shaped poop benefits wombats in their natural habitat.

• Guy Raz [30:00]: "So wombat poop plays a valuable role in a wombat's life. And if you think about it, it might be safe to say that their poop is essential to the survival of wombats as a species."

The cubed shape prevents the poop from rolling away, allowing wombats to effectively mark their territory and communicate with potential mates through scent marking.

• Mindy Thomas [32:28]: "And as a major bonus, the unusual cubed shape of the poop helps to keep it from rolling down a hill or in the wind."

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4. Biomimicry and Future Applications

Drawing inspiration from wombat biology, the hosts discuss the concept of biomimicry—using nature's solutions to solve human engineering challenges.

• Mindy Thomas [33:04]: "So one, once scientist Patricia Yang got to the bottom of this mystery, the scientific community went bonker balls thinking of all the things they could do if only they could find a way to make fake wombat intestines."

Potential applications include designing manufacturing processes to create perfectly shaped cubes for building materials, packaging, and even food products, emulating the natural efficiency of wombat digestive mechanics.

• Guy Raz [33:26]: "Like using it in manufacturing to make cubes."

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5. Conclusion and Wrap-Up

The episode concludes with Mindy and Guy Raz reflecting on the incredible insights gained from studying wombat biology and its broader implications for science and technology.

• Guy Raz [34:15]: "We're gonna need a cleanup on aisle seven."

With humor and enthusiasm, the hosts wrap up their adventure, inviting listeners to ponder the wonders of nature and the innovative ways we can learn from it.

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Key Takeaways

• Planet Wow Initiative: Encourages family-friendly eco-adventures through geocaching, promoting environmental awareness and stewardship among children.

• Wombat Poop Cubes: A natural phenomenon where wombats produce cube-shaped feces, aiding in territorial marking and communication.

• Patricia Yang's Research: Uncovered the physiological reasons behind the cubic shape of wombat poop, emphasizing the role of uneven intestinal stretchiness.

• Biomimicry Potential: Insights from wombat biology inspire innovative solutions in engineering and manufacturing by emulating natural designs.

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Notable Quotes

• Mindy Thomas [00:20]: "If your family has some summer road trips coming up, take a pit stop to find some wow."

• Guy Raz [26:05]: "Meaning that when the food went through the digestion process and turned into poop, that uneven stretchiness created uneven pressure, which was then put on the poop before it popped out the wombat's butt."

• Mindy Thomas [32:28]: "And as a major bonus, the unusual cubed shape of the poop helps to keep it from rolling down a hill or in the wind."

• Guy Raz [33:26]: "Like using it in manufacturing to make cubes."

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Conclusion

In this captivating episode of Wow in the World, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz take listeners on an adventurous exploration into the quirky yet scientifically significant world of wombat poop. Balancing humor with insightful explanations, the hosts highlight how studying nature's unique solutions can lead to groundbreaking innovations, inspiring both kids and adults to remain curious and engaged with the wonders of the natural world.

Transcript

[Mindy]

Hey Wowzer fams Mindy and Guy Raz here. And before we start the show, it's almost summertime and you know what that means.

[Guy Raz]

It's almost time for my annual summer rewatch of the 26 hour long docuseries on the history of whales.

[Mindy]

Uh, sure, Guy Raz, but I was actually thinking about summer road trips.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, that's right, Wowzers. If your family has some summer road trips coming up, take a pit stop to find some wow.

[Mindy]

We've teamed up with our friends at Geocaching hq, the Aspen Institute and the Nature Conservancy to create Planet wow, an epic geocaching eco adventure that shares the wows of places on our Earth and encourages curious kids like you to become the next generation of climate crusaders.

[Guy Raz]

We've sent out Planet Wow trading cards to members of our World Organization of wowzers to plant in a geocache near.

[Mindy]

Them and you can check see if one of those cards are in a geocache near [e-mail] planetwow there you can also find the location of our official Planet Wow geocaches.

[Guy Raz]

And if there aren't any trading cards nearby your route, print yours at home and plant them in a geocache along the ride. We have printable cards available on our website Tinkercast.com Planetwow we can't wait to.

[Mindy]

Hear what you find on your eco adventures this summer. Leave us a video or audio message about places in your world that wow you for a chance to be featured on an upcoming episode of wow in the World. That's it. And now let's get back to the show.

[Dennis]

Hey grownups. Want to give your kids the best possible advantage in their education no matter where they are in their learning journey? IXL can help. IXL is an online learning program that fits seamlessly into a homeschool curriculum. It offers interactive practice in math, English, language arts, science and social studies. At Tinkercast, we know that kids learn at their own pace and follow their own interests. So we like that IXL allows kids to study at any learning level and adapts to their specific needs. And we appreciate that with ixl, kids have agency to choose the activities and educational games that they like make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and WOW in the world. Listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com wow visit ixl.com wow to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price. Hey grownups. Craving your next action packed adventure story for a real thrill. See what adventure sounds like by listening to it on Audible. Audible has thousands of titles to choose from. No matter what kinds of thrills you're seeking, from electrifying suspense and daring quests to spine tingling horror and otherworldly sci fi, there's an adventure out there that will captivate you at Tinkercast. We love listening to exciting titles from Audible. And when we're in the mood for something new, we like that. We can browse Best Sellers, Editor's Picks and audible essentials top 100 lists to take some of the guessing out of what to listen to next. Audible knows there's no greater thrill out there than yours. Discover what lies beyond the edge of your seat on Audible. Start your adventure today. Sign up for a free 30 day trial at audible.com wow and dive into a world of new thrills. That's audible.com wow.

[Guy Raz]

It is estimated that over 4 million people have been abducted by alien life forms. But only one of them asked for it.

[Mindy]

This is Elio of Earth. If any aliens are listening, come and.

[Guy Raz]

Get me from Disney and Pixar.

[Mindy]

Yes, it's really happening.

[Guy Raz]

He'll go where no one has gone before.

[Mindy]

Welcome to the Communiverse. This is the most beautiful place I've ever seen.

[Guy Raz]

This is the bathroom. Disney and Pixar's Elio. Rated PG. Parental guidance suggested only in theaters June 20th.

[Baby 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. Whatever. We wow on the weekend. Yeah. We wow on the weekend. Laugh, clap. We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Hello and welcome to Wee Wow on the Weeknd. Baby Dennis is your host and this is Baby Dennis co host, Baby Sock Dennis.

[Mindy]

What the.

[Baby Dennis]

Who's down there? This is the show where Baby Dennis and Baby Sock Dennis talk, answer questions and listen to Baby Dennis's favorite episodes of Ticker Cast Podcast. What on actual earth is going on here? Nothing. Nothing, my tush. It sounded like you and Baby Sock Dennis were attempting to host my podcast. Oh, sorry. My and Reggie's podcast. Baby Dennis was adding star power to Big Dennis show. What? Star power? You're not famous, Baby Dennis. Yuh. Huh? Baby Dennis as Ventriloquist magazine's D dummy of the year. What?

[Mindy]

Eh.

[Baby Dennis]

Baby sock Dennis has 14 million followers on sock Talk. Oh come on. Even if that were true, which I don't think it is, this is my show. Sorry. My and Reggie's show. And we are plenty famous enough to host it, thank you very much. So back in your box now, both of you. Come on, this is no fun. Get in there. I know, the nerve. Yeah, let's just move on with a Q and A segment. The Q and A segment. Alright, let's just get the old answering machine pulled up here. Okay, here we go. Hi, you've reached Dennis from Wee wow on the Weeknd. That's me. Do you have a question? Well, I do too. Lots of them. And who's gonna answer all my questions? You? Probably not. But I guess I can answer yours. Leave me a message.

[Mindy]

Hi, Dennis, my name is Lizzy.

[Baby Dennis]

Hi, Lizzy.

[Mindy]

I have a question for you. Why do cats purr?

[Baby Dennis]

Oh, well, that's an easy one. Because they can't bark. Next question. What do you mean? That's not a good answer. Yeah, I guess I can say more. Well, cats can't bark. And they can't moo either, or ribbit, or do whatever that elephant noise is. So they purr and meow. Does that clear things up, Reggie? Well, agree to disagree. Next question.

[Mindy]

My name is Isaiah and I'm from Providence, Rhode Island.

[Baby Dennis]

Hi, Isaiah.

[Mindy]

My question is if Dennis knows how to play tic tac toe.

[Baby Dennis]

Of course I know how to play tic tac toe. Sure. We can play a quick game, right? Okay, here are my tic tacs and here are my toes. Oh, please, they don't smell that bad. Reggie, stop being a bad sport and pick which one you want to be. Tic tacs or toes. What do you mean? That's not how the game works. Well, maybe I just play a different version of it. A better version. Whatever. Next question.

[Mindy]

Hello, my name's Ruben and I have a riddle for Dennis.

[Baby Dennis]

Hi, Ruben. I love riddles. What you got?

[Mindy]

Riddle is, I have cities but no towers. I have forests but no trees. I have meadows but no flowers.

[Baby Dennis]

Okay. I have cities but no towers, forests but no trees, meadows, but no flowers. Hmm, this sounds tricky. Yeah, I think I need to take my time with this one. You know, really think about it. In fact, maybe I should take notes and draw some diagrams and stuff. Get some paper here. There we go. Exactly. When one is presented with a riddle, one must be calm and collected. Persistent and precise. Organized.

[Mindy]

You have to guess the answer in 20. 19.

[Baby Dennis]

18. Countdown.

[Mindy]

17.

[Baby Dennis]

Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry. What is it? Cities, but no something. Forests, but no bees. A meadow, but no towers. Magic. What's a meadow? A field, like a farmer's. Field. Well, how am I supposed to know that.

[Mindy]

For auntie was a map.

[Baby Dennis]

Oh, a map. Yes, Reggie. Maps have meadows. Ruben says so. Thanks for all your calls, everyone. If you've got a question for me, call and leave me a message. The number is 1-888-7-WOW. Wow. That's 1-888-7. I just might answer your question on WEWOW on the Weeknd. Okay, that takes care of that. Alright, next up is a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios. Inside Tinkercast Studios. This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows. And today we're listening to wow in the World, Season 3, Episode 4 called the Cubic Scoop on Wombat Poop. Ew, poop. Well, I don't care how interesting the poop is, it's still poop. Okay, fine. Just let me know when the poop part's coming, okay? And I'll cover my ears.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Baby Dennis]

The whole thing is poop parts. Okay, here we go. And play.

[Mindy]

Wee. Wow. We'll be right back, grown ups. This message is for you. Hey grownups, it's Mindy and Guy Raz from Wow in the World. And guess what?

[Guy Raz]

What's the good news, Mindy?

[Mindy]

Once Upon a Beat is back with brand new episodes.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, I love that podcast.

[Mindy]

We here at Tinkercast have partnered with our friends at Wondery to bring your family new episodes of Once Upon a Beach.

[Guy Raz]

Once Upon a Beat remixes fairy tales and fables as old as time, giving them a fresh spin with some rhythm and rhyme.

[Mindy]

This podcast is hosted by the amazing DJ Fuch and features original hip hop songs from Grammy award winning artist Secret Agent 23's Cadoo.

[Guy Raz]

Once upon a Beat is where hip hop and fairy tales meet. And you can listen to new episodes right now.

[Mindy]

Follow Once Upon a Beat on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Once Upon a Beat early and ad free right now by joining Wondery in the Wondery app in Apple podcasts. That's it. Now back to the show.

[Baby Dennis]

What in the world? Knock, knock, knock. Special delivery.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, the mail's here.

[Baby Dennis]

Yellow.

[Guy Raz]

I'll take that, thank you very much.

[Baby Dennis]

Oh. Oh, it seems to be stuck to my fingers, man.

[Guy Raz]

And it's release doc.

[Baby Dennis]

What is this?

[Guy Raz]

Maple syrup.

[Baby Dennis]

It is maple syrup. Who would put this in the mail?

[Guy Raz]

I recognize those sticky fingerprints anywhere, Mindy.

[Mindy]

Hi, Rozzy. Hey, did you get my invitation?

[Guy Raz]

Invitation? Got it. Here, let me try and fry that thing out of your hands.

[Baby Dennis]

It's everywhere.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, on the count of three.

[Baby Dennis]

One, two. Ouch.

[Guy Raz]

Got it.

[Baby Dennis]

Carry the mail, they said it'll be fun. They said, no, you'll never be covered in maple syrup.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, now to get this thing open.

[Mindy]

They're at.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, let's see what this invitation says. Here. Your presence is requested in Mindy's gingerbread bathroom, the crumbling house next door. Now, a clock, chocolate milk, and horse doves will be served. Horse doves? Does she mean hors d' oeuvres? P.S. mindy has something bonkerballs to show you.

[Mindy]

Hey, Guy Raz, did you read my invitation? Now, a clock started, like, five minutes ago.

[Guy Raz]

I'm coming, I'm coming.

[Baby Dennis]

Hi, Mindy. Hi, guys.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, hi, Dennis.

[Baby Dennis]

Did I hear someone say invitation? Should I go check my mailbox?

[Mindy]

Sorry, Dennis. Didn't know your address.

[Baby Dennis]

Oh, that's okay. My address is Dennis. Neighbor. The house next door. Busybody. Apple.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy made up.

[Baby Dennis]

Elisa, read the sign.

[Guy Raz]

What? Let's see here. Huh? No dumping allowed.

[Mindy]

Nope, the other one.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, right. Let's see here. The sign says, rage against the latrine. Potty. This way. Potty.

[Mindy]

It's a wordplay on the word party.

[Baby Dennis]

Oh, right.

[Guy Raz]

I get it. Okay, this must be the place.

[Baby Dennis]

Guy Raz, you came.

[Mindy]

Come right in. Make yourself at home.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, how many toilets are in this bathroom? Wait, are those my clogs? The shoes I brought back from my trip to Amsterdam. What are they doing in your toilet?

[Mindy]

Clogging it up.

[Guy Raz]

And is that a tree growing out of that one?

[Mindy]

My toiletry. In the spring. It's supposed to bear tiny toothbrushes. Can I interest you in any horse doves?

[Guy Raz]

Don't you mean hors d' oeuvres?

[Mindy]

No, I mean horse doves. See, I genetically engineered them by combining the DNA of a horse with the DNA of a dove. Aren't they cute?

[Guy Raz]

Tiny, white flying horses. Mindy, what did you invite me over here for?

[Mindy]

Well, Guy Raz, I brought you here because we need to talk.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, so why didn't you just. Just call me on the phone or stop by? You know, I do live right next door. I mean, we could have done this literally anywhere but your bathroom.

[Mindy]

Well, that's the thing, Guy Raz. See, the bathroom is really the only place we can have this particular talk.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, where are you going with this?

[Mindy]

Well, you know how you're always saying that toilet talk belongs in the bathroom?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, I do say that to you multiple times a day.

[Mindy]

Well, this is one of those times.

[Guy Raz]

I'm not sure I follow.

[Mindy]

Guy Raz, we need to talk about these.

[Guy Raz]

Ooh, dark chocolate truffles. Don't mind if I do.

[Mindy]

No, Guy Raz, stop.

[Guy Raz]

Ain't no stopping me now. Guy Raz, that's wombat poop. Wombat poop.

[Mindy]

Wombat poop. That's why I invited you here to my bathroom. We need to talk about it, and this is the only place where that would be appropriate.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, I don't know where you got this wombat poop from, but I think it's safe to say you've been swindled.

[Mindy]

What?

[Guy Raz]

This poop is cubed like tiny brown blocks.

[Mindy]

Yeah, okay, well, number one, I got this wombat poop off the interwebs by zoodling poop cubes.

[Guy Raz]

Do what?

[Mindy]

And for only $1 plus $322, plus taxes, plus shipping and handling, this little bag of wombat poops is all mine. Certified authentic and imported from Australia.

[Guy Raz]

Wait a minute, Mindy, you spent $323 on poop?

[Baby Dennis]

No.

[Guy Raz]

You did, Mindy.

[Mindy]

And number two, this number two is supposed to be cubed. It's wombat poop.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, Now, I've been to Australia and I've seen these furry, little short legged, waddling marsupials with my own four eyes, but I've never seen any cubes left behind.

[Mindy]

Well, neither did Patricia Yang from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, I've heard of her. Isn't she that mechanical engineer who studies hydrodynam, or the motion and action of fluids?

[Mindy]

Yeah, and not only that, but she specializes in bodily fluids of animals like blood, food, traveling through the intestines, pee, probably.

[Guy Raz]

Bars. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got it.

[Mindy]

Anywho, when she first learned that wombats do poop cubic bricks, she did what any other good scientist would do. And she asked the question.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, why?

[Mindy]

No, actually, she asked if she could build a little poop igloo out of them. But then she asked the question, why?

[Guy Raz]

Why?

[Mindy]

Why? Patricia Yang had stumbled upon a scientific mystery.

[Guy Raz]

My favorite kind of mystery. So what happened next? Oh, wait, wait. Let me get my popcorn black. So good. Okay, now I'm ready. What happened next?

[Mindy]

Well, I could tell you, Guy Raz. Yeah, but I'd rather show you. Raji.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, Mindy, are you sure it's a good idea to keep him in your house?

[Mindy]

Yes, of course. I'm not sure it's a good idea to keep in my house, Guy Raz, but he pays half the mortgage, and he's the only one who knows how to clean up my licorice gutters. Oh, but you're right. From now on, we'll keep him in your house. Come on, Reg. Got a long fly ahead of us. Let's go, Guy Raz, hop on.

[Guy Raz]

Where are we going, Mindy?

[Mindy]

I'll give you a few hints. It's the smallest contest in the world.

[Guy Raz]

Australia.

[Mindy]

It's surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans.

[Baby Dennis]

Australia.

[Mindy]

It's famous for its beaches, kangaroos, and the Sydney Opera House.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, you're talking about Australia.

[Mindy]

Ooh, I'm sorry, Guy Raz. The correct answer is Australia.

[Guy Raz]

That's what I just said.

[Mindy]

Reg, put another shrimp on the Barbie doll and get ready for takeoff. Cause here we go. Thanks for the ride, Reg.

[Guy Raz]

Looks like Reggie's met his match.

[Mindy]

What in the.

[Baby Dennis]

Wow.

[Mindy]

She's up with that crazy looking ostrich.

[Guy Raz]

That's not an ostrich, Mindy. That's an emu. Only the second largest living bird by height.

[Mindy]

I'll say. That thing's taller than you, Guy Raz. Sounds like she's asking Reggie for a ride.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, you speak emo?

[Mindy]

Wait, she's saying that her wings are only there for decoration. And now she's bragging about how she can run like 30 miles an hour.

[Guy Raz]

And she's hopping on Reggie's back. A bird riding another bird. What is happening?

[Mindy]

I don't. Come on, Reg. Don't forget to pick us up later.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, so what in the world are we doing in Australia again?

[Mindy]

Oh, remember, we're here to explain. Explore a cubic poop mystery. Why do wombats poop in cubes?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, right. So where do we begin?

[Mindy]

Look behind you, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Welcome to the Poo Seum. The Poozeum?

[Mindy]

Yeah, like museum, only it's full of poops. Anywho, inside this pooseum is an immersive interactive exhibit on wombat poops. Come on. Run, run, run, run, run, run, run.

[Guy Raz]

Hello there, and welcome to the Poo Seum. Featuring our immersive interactive exhibit on the magic and mystery of wombat bow movements.

[Mindy]

Two tickets, please.

[Guy Raz]

Perfect.

[Mindy]

Thank you very much.

[Guy Raz]

Now, please proceed to the bag check.

[Mindy]

Okey doke.

[Guy Raz]

Excuse me, ma' am, Please open your toolbox.

[Mindy]

Ah. Are you sure you want me to do that, Mindy?

[Guy Raz]

Let him inspect the adventure toolkit so we can enter the Poo Seum.

[Mindy]

You asked for it. Okay, everybody stand back.

[Baby Dennis]

What in the are these cats?

[Mindy]

Thank you. Enjoy your day at the Poozam.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, I'm supposed to say that to you. So, looking at the map here, it looks like our. Our first stop is the Wombat. Exhibit. Oh, that must be it over there.

[Mindy]

Huh? How can you tell?

[Guy Raz]

Well, because it's a wombat structure the size of a car wash. Looks like the entrance is the wombat's open mouth.

[Mindy]

This is so. Wow. A giant building shaped like a wombat with a wide open mouth. It says here on the map that we're supposed to cover ourselves in grass and then enter through the mouth as wombat food.

[Baby Dennis]

What is this?

[Guy Raz]

Cover ourselves in grass?

[Mindy]

Hey, anything for science, right?

[Guy Raz]

Anything for science.

[Mindy]

Okay, now stay still while I dump this barrel of grass all over us, transforming us into delicious, grassy wombat food.

[Guy Raz]

Ha. It's itchy, Caleb.

[Mindy]

Let me just see here. Next stop, we enter the immersive exhibit through the mouth.

[Guy Raz]

Whoa. Is it supposed to be this dark? Mindy, what happens next? Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our immersive and interactive exhibit on the magic and mystery of wombat poo. For the next two and a half weeks, you will experience what it's like to travel through a wombat digitized by Google Digestive System. Beginning as a simple meal of grasses and ending up as a one of a kind cubic poop. We're gonna be converted into poop.

[Mindy]

Anything for science.

[Guy Raz]

That means anything. Ladies and gentlemen, please follow me and step aboard the Bowel Mover and begin our two and a half week journey throughout the wombat's digestive tract. Two and a half weeks? We only bought one day tickets to the Poozeum, Guy Raz.

[Mindy]

Two and a half weeks is the length of time it takes for a wombat's food to travel through the intestines and convert to poop. So have a seat.

[Guy Raz]

You think they'd speed it up for the exhibit's sake?

[Mindy]

Just be patient, Guy Raz. The end is where all the magic happens. In the meantime, while we're on this bowel Mover, we've got plenty of time to talk about the. This poop cube mystery I was telling you about.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, right, the mystery of the cubic poop.

[Mindy]

Yeah. So Georgia Tech's Patricia Yang and her fellow research buddies set out to discover why and how wombats poop in cubes.

[Guy Raz]

And how did she exactly begin this exploration?

[Mindy]

By collecting wombat intestines.

[Guy Raz]

And by intestines, you mean those long tubes found in the bodies of humans and animals that help us break down food and turn it into energy?

[Mindy]

You know it, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

But what do you mean when you say collected wombat intestines? I mean, did the wombats just give up their intestinal tracts voluntarily or.

[Mindy]

Oh, no, no, no, no. No, I should clarify that. These particular intestinal tracts came from wombats who were no longer living. May they rest in peace.

[Guy Raz]

Oh.

[Mindy]

So the next thing they did was pretty. Wow.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah? What's that?

[Mindy]

Well, in the spirit of anything for science, Patricia Yang and her fellow research buddies pumped up these intestines, blowing them up like giant, freakish balloons.

[Baby Dennis]

Ugh.

[Guy Raz]

Are you making this up, Mindy?

[Mindy]

Not this time, Guy Raz. They did this to compare the stretchiness of the wombat intestines to the stretchiness of. Of pig intestines.

[Guy Raz]

And what was the difference?

[Mindy]

Well, the difference was that while the pig intestines had sort of an even stretchiness throughout the wombat intestine stretchiness was super uneven, especially in two separate, distinct places.

[Guy Raz]

Meaning that when the food went through the digestion process and turned into poop, that uneven stretchiness created uneven pressure, which was then put on the poop before it. Yeah, before it.

[Mindy]

I believe the word you're looking for is popped out the wombat's butt. Yeah, that, and it looks like we're almost there.

[Guy Raz]

Has it been two and a half weeks already?

[Mindy]

Well, judging by the time on this watch I'm not wearing right now, I'd say time flies when you're having fun. Guy Raz. Now we're nearing the end of our journey, and this is where all the magic happens.

[Guy Raz]

Are we gonna be turned into magic poops?

[Mindy]

Hold on tight, Guy Raz. We're about to reach the first uneven, stretchy groove in the intestine.

[Baby Dennis]

What is happening?

[Mindy]

We're in the the final step of the ingestion process. We're firming up, and the intestine is squeezing us into cubes.

[Guy Raz]

Poop cubes.

[Mindy]

Now close your eyes, Guy Raz. We're about to pop out the.

[Baby Dennis]

Wheel. We did it.

[Mindy]

We did it, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, you look like a cubic poop emoji with googly eyes.

[Mindy]

And you look like a cubic poop emoji with googly eyes and glasses.

[Guy Raz]

So now what do we do? Wait, are we in a gift shop?

[Mindy]

Ooh, souvenirs.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, stop taking our picture. Pa. Poop is a private matter.

[Mindy]

Too bad your pictures won't be scratch and sniff. Am I right? Okay, Guy Raz, here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna take a deep, cleansing breath. Then we're gonna stretch and shimmy until we bust loose from these compact poop cubes. Okay, Take a deep breath. Stretch it out. Stretch it out. Give me shimmy. Stretch it. There we go. Good as new. Ooh look, this gift shop has those little personalized license plates and keychains. Let's see if we can find one that says Guy Raz keychains.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, I think we need to take some time to digest what we just experienced in there. Yeah, well, now that we know how cubic poop is formed, the question we're left with is why?

[Mindy]

So as you may recall, that was the first question that led Patricia Yang on her journey to solve this mystery.

[Guy Raz]

So did she discover the answer?

[Mindy]

Here's the thing, Guy Raz. Wombats, which are nocturnal animals, meaning that.

[Guy Raz]

They sleep all day and poop all night?

[Mindy]

Yeah, basically. So every night they poop out 80 to 100 little 1 inch poops.

[Guy Raz]

1 cubic inch.

[Mindy]

Well, almost that big. And they use these poops to communicate and to mark their territory so that potential mates know where to find them.

[Guy Raz]

Mark their territory? Do they use them as bricks to build tiny wombat poo pots?

[Mindy]

I wish, but no.

[Guy Raz]

But wombats are known for having pretty bad eyesight. So how will other wombats even know where to find them once they've marked their territory?

[Mindy]

Well, what they lack in vision, they make up for with their supersonic sense of smell.

[Guy Raz]

Ah, yes, I've heard about this.

[Mindy]

Guy Raz, have you ever dreamed of smelling wombat poop the way that a wombat smells its poop?

[Guy Raz]

Uh, no.

[Mindy]

Well, then today is your lucky day. Presenting. Oh, hang on a second. I gotta get it out of my adventure tool kit first. I know I put it in here somewhere. Dog toy? I don't even have a dog. Here it is, here it is. Okay, Guy Raz, presenting. The handy dandy 5D sensor sensory hat. D. My friend Mina made it for us. Here. Stay still and I'll put it on your head.

[Baby Dennis]

Ah, Daf.

[Mindy]

Stay still. I gotta fasten the chin strap. Ah, there we go.

[Guy Raz]

What is all this stuff hanging off of it?

[Mindy]

Guy Raz, those are the sensors.

[Guy Raz]

Oh.

[Mindy]

See, Mina is a world renowned inventorito from Southern California and she invented this hat helmet as a way for us to experience. Experience the five senses the way that animals do.

[Guy Raz]

Like the way that wombats smell with supersonic sniff power.

[Mindy]

You know it. Okay, now let me just attach this doohickey to your nose here and adjust the settings on the dial here on top. There, that should do it. Okay. Deep breath through your nose, pretty.

[Guy Raz]

Wow.

[Mindy]

Huh? Oh.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, get this helmet off of me.

[Mindy]

Stay still.

[Guy Raz]

There we go.

[Mindy]

So that's how wombats do it. They take their poop cubes, mark their territories, and then wait for other potential wombat mates to smell their stinky surroundings, and then they fall in love. Or something like that.

[Guy Raz]

So wombat poop plays a valuable role in a wombat's life. And if you think about it, it might be safe to say that their poop is essential to the survival of wombats as a species.

[Mindy]

Exact oritos. And as a major bonus, the unusual cubed shape of the poop helps to keep it from rolling down a hill or in the wind.

[Guy Raz]

Genius. So why don't we make all poop like this?

[Mindy]

I know, right? If I had a nickel for every time your cat Alice's poop would just roll away underneath your refrigerator when I was cat sitting for her.

[Baby Dennis]

What?

[Mindy]

Before we leave, Guy Raz, I want you to look to the left of this gift shop, right through that big window over there.

[Guy Raz]

Huh. Looks like a bunch of scientists and engineers and manufacturers are working on something.

[Mindy]

Yeah. So one. Once scientist Patricia Yang got to the bottom of this mystery, the scientific community went bonker balls thinking of all the things they could do if only they could find a way to make fake wombat intestines. Oh, it's something called biomimicry, or using nature as a model for human inventions.

[Baby Dennis]

Wow.

[Guy Raz]

Like using it in manufacturing to make cubes.

[Mindy]

I mean, just imagine. Imagine all of the biomimicry possibilities. Guy Raz, cubic wombat poops as a model for bricks and blocks and board game dyes and chocolates.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, time to put the poop talk back in the bathroom, man. You know what? Why don't we try to find one of those little keychains with our names on it?

[Mindy]

Or a souvenir pair of poop dice to hang from their rear view mirror of Reggie.

[Guy Raz]

Reggie has Reggie right in the middle of the gift shop.

[Mindy]

Now, if only nature could find a way to pack bird poop into neat little cubes.

[Guy Raz]

We're gonna need a cleanup on aisle seven.

[Baby Dennis]

That was so gross. Yes, it was. Reggie, Mindy and Guy Raz got pooped out of a fake wombat's butt. Also, that episode kind of made me have to poop now, too. Yeah, we better wrap up the show, like, 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 1-88-8-7, wow wow. That's 1-888-7- wow wow. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Ok, the goodbye song. Here we go. That's the end of the show. I need to go before I poop my pantaloons. Oop. Sorry, but I'll do another show tomorrow. But for now it's the end of the show. Ee e Bye.

[Mindy]

Grown ups. If you like wow in the world, you can listen early and ad free right now on Wonder Join Wondery plus.

[Guy Raz]

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.