WeWow on the Weekend (5/4/25)

Summary

Podcast Summary: "WeWow on the Weekend" (May 4, 2025) - Wow in the World

Hosted by Dennis and Reggie the Giant Pigeon, featuring special guest Thomas Fingerling.

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1. Introduction and Exciting Announcements (00:00 - 02:25)

The episode kicks off with Mindy Thomas sharing thrilling news about an upcoming live event in Seattle. Mindy announces that she, along with friends Carlie Q. Dennis, Grandma GeForce, and Thomas Fingerling, will host the Bonkerballs Competition Game Show. This live event encourages kids to transform their wildest ideas into astonishing inventions on stage.

Mindy Thomas (00:00):

"Seattle. It's time to make it wow. That's right. This June, me and my friends... are headed to Seattle for our live Bonkerballs competition game show where kids turn their wildest and weirdest ideas into jaw-dropping inventions live on stage."

She directs listeners to purchase tickets at Tinkercast.com/events, generating anticipation for the event.

2. Q&A Segment with Thomas Fingerling (04:00 - 08:04)

The show transitions into the Q&A segment, where Dennis and his co-host Reggie answer listener-submitted questions. Their guest, Thomas Fingerling, joins the conversation, adding a layer of humor and interaction.

Dennis (02:26):

"Hello and welcome to WeWow on the Weekend. I'm your host, Dennis, and that's Reggie the Giant Pigeon, my co-host."

Thomas Fingerling brings a playful dynamic to the segment, responding to questions with witty remarks and factual insights.

Ada's Questions:

• Ada asks about the number of knuckles on each hand.

  Thomas Fingerling (05:25):

  "The answer, ADA, is 14 knuckles per hand. That's three on every finger and two on each thumb."

• Ada inquires why fingers get wrinkly in the bathtub.

  Thomas Fingerling (06:05):

  "Our skin is covered in sebum... But the palms of our hands... can quickly get waterlogged... some think it's so we can have better grip when dealing with wet conditions."

• Ada poses a humorous question about the grossest thing seen while snooping.

  Thomas Fingerling (07:21):

  "Did you see me eating a pot pie yesterday and then spill it all over my shirt?"

This segment blends educational content with lighthearted banter, making learning fun and engaging for young listeners.

3. Inside Tinkercast Studios: Revisiting "Wow in the World" (08:04 - 19:53)

Dennis introduces the Inside Tinkercast Studios segment, where they revisit a past episode of "Wow in the World."

Dennis (08:14):

"Inside Tinkercast Studios. This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows."

They play highlights from Season 2, Episode 27, titled "Oh, Nutcrackers," featuring Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz in a humorous skit about thumb wars.

Notable Moments:

• Mindy and Guy Raz engage in preparations for a thumb war event, both dressed in oversized foam hand suits.

  Mindy (09:32):

  "I made us thumb war costumes out of foam."

• The interaction is filled with comedic elements, such as Guy Raz struggling with the foam suits and Thomas Fingerling adding quirky dialogue.

• The skit culminates in an exaggerated thumb war showdown between Grandma GeForce and Thomas Fingerling, emphasizing the playful nature of the podcast.

4. The Grand Thumb War Showdown (19:53 - 30:47)

The episode shifts focus back to the live event setting, highlighting the Thumb War Competition. Thomas Fingerling explains the history and rules of thumb wrestling, adding depth and context to the competition.

Thomas Fingerling (28:15):

"The rules for this match are as follows. Number one, elbows must be kept on the table at all times. And number two, fingernails must be trimmed to tiny nubs."

Grand Finale Highlights:

• Grandma GeForce and Thumbelina compete against Sir Alexander Curly and The Thumbertaker, showcasing skill and strategy in thumb wrestling.

• The competition is intense, with Reggie the Giant Pigeon providing enthusiastic commentary.

  Reggie (28:49):

  "1, 2, 3, 4. I am this a ball. Oh, I'm all fucked."

• Grandma GeForce and Thumbelina triumph, leading to a celebratory atmosphere.

  Thomas Fingerling (29:25):

  "Grandma G Force and Thumbelina have won in a thumb believable. Total upset."

5. Concluding Remarks and Behind-the-Scenes Fun (30:47 - 33:50)

As the episode wraps up, the hosts reflect on the day's events and the fun interactions with Thomas Fingerling.

Dennis (30:13):

"That was so cool, Thomas Fingerling. You sounded a lot younger in that episode."

Thomas Fingerling humorously complains about being dragged into various shenanigans, maintaining the episode's lighthearted tone.

The episode concludes with acknowledgments to the production team and a reminder for listeners to participate in future events.

Dennis (32:17):

"Thanks for joining us for this edition of We Wow on the Weekend. Our show is written by Ruth Morrison and Jed Anderson."

Mindy Thomas (32:29):

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

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Key Takeaways:

• Educational Entertainment: The episode seamlessly blends educational content about human anatomy (knuckles and joint mechanics) with entertaining segments like the thumb war competition.

• Interactive Segments: The Q&A and Inside Tinkercast Studios segments engage listeners by incorporating real questions and revisiting past episodes, fostering a sense of community.

• Humorous Hosting: Dennis, Reggie, and Thomas Fingerling create a lively atmosphere through their playful interactions and comedic skits, making science and learning enjoyable for kids and their grown-ups.

• Community Engagement: Announcements about live events encourage audience participation, extending the podcast experience beyond the digital realm.

Notable Quotes:

• Mindy Thomas (00:00):

  "Seattle. It's time to make it wow."

• Thomas Fingerling (05:25):

  "The answer, ADA, is 14 knuckles per hand."

• Thomas Fingerling (06:05):

  "Our skin is covered in sebum... some think it's so we can have better grip when dealing with wet conditions."

• Reggie (28:49):

  "1, 2, 3, 4. I am this a ball. Oh, I'm all fucked."

• Thomas Fingerling (29:25):

  "Grandma G Force and Thumbelina have won in a thumb believable. Total upset."

---

Conclusion:

"WeWow on the Weekend" Episode released on May 4, 2025, provides a delightful mix of science education, interactive Q&A, and entertaining segments that captivate both young listeners and their grown-ups. With engaging hosts and special guests like Thomas Fingerling, the podcast continues to inspire curiosity and a sense of wonder, staying true to its mission of making us all say "WOW"!

Transcript

[Mindy]

Hey, Wowzer fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show, I got some big news for you. Seattle. It's time to make it wow. That's right. This June, me and my friends Carlie Q. Dennis, Grandma GeForce and Thomas Fingerling are headed to Seattle for our live Bonkerballs competition game show where kids turn their wildest and weirdest ideas into jaw dropping inventions live on stage. Tickets are on sale now. Visit Tinkercast.com events to get your tickets to make it wow near you once again. That's Tinkercast.com events. We can't wait to see you soon. But for now, let's get back to the show.

[Narrator]

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[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.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Dennis]

We wow on the weekend. We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Hello and welcome to wewow on the Weekend. I'm your host, Dennis. And that's Reggie the giant pigeon, my co host. This is the show where we hang out and chit chat and sometimes have special guests on the show. And today we have a special guest on the show. Everyone, please welcome.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Hey, Fowler. How I on yet?

[Dennis]

Not yet. Tommy, I need to introduce you.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Oh, okay. Do you need to know how to spell my name?

[Dennis]

No.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, how much. How much longer is this gonna take?

[Dennis]

I have to do the song first.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Ooh, that sounds fun. Do that. Play me and Diddy.

[Dennis]

You got it. Okay. Guest segment. The segment with the guest. A guest comes on the show. And just like the title suggests, we bring them out and then we hit pop.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Do do. Now that's a good song. I like that one.

[Dennis]

Oh, thank you, Tommy. Devoted listeners, help me welcome Thomas Fingerling to Wee Wow on the.

[Thomas Fingerling]

We. Well, on the who now?

[Dennis]

Wewell on the weekend. You know, the podcast I invited you to be on.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Podcast? Are people still making those?

[Dennis]

Yes, Tommy, they are. Oh, and you're on wewow on the weekend, my podcast. Oh, and Reggie's.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Hey there, pigeon. Well, let's get to podcasting or wee wee ing on the weekend or whatever you're doing here.

[Dennis]

Perfect. Let's start off with a Q and A segment. Ahem. The Q and A segment.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Neat. What's the Q and A segment?

[Dennis]

The Q and A segment is where we get out our answering machine and listen to questions from our devoted listeners.

[Thomas Fingerling]

And then what?

[Dennis]

And then we answer them.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Is this an advice show? Like Dear Abby?

[Dennis]

Umm, no.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Rats.

[Dennis]

All right, let's just get the old answering machine pulled up here. Okay, here we go. Hi, you've reached Dennis from wewow on the Weekend. 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.

[Ada]

Hi, my name is Ada. I'm 11 years old and live in Seattle, Washington.

[Dennis]

Hi, Ada.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Hello there.

[Ada]

I wanted to ask if you knew how many knuckles humans have on each hand.

[Dennis]

Ooh, let me guess, let me guess, let me guess. Is it three?

[Thomas Fingerling]

No.

[Dennis]

Is it 86?

[Thomas Fingerling]

No.

[Dennis]

How about 36 and a half?

[Thomas Fingerling]

No. Feller, let me answer this.

[Dennis]

Okay, Tommy, go ahead.

[Thomas Fingerling]

The answer, ADA, is 14 knuckles per hand.

[Dennis]

Oh, wow.

[Thomas Fingerling]

That's three on every finger and two on each thumb. And when you pop them, it sounds like this.

[Dennis]

Thanks, Thomas Fingerling. And thank you, Ada. Next question.

[Ada]

Hello, Dennis. Why do your fingers get so wrinkly in the bathtub? 100 out of 10 stars.

[Reggie]

Yay.

[Dennis]

100 stars.

[Thomas Fingerling]

That's a lot.

[Dennis]

Okay, Tommy, we got another hand question.

[Thomas Fingerling]

What a coincidence.

[Dennis]

I know. So why do fingers get so wrinkly in the bathtub?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Okay, now this might get a little complicated.

[Dennis]

Alright, let's hear it.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Now our skin is covered in something called sebum.

[Dennis]

See? What?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Bum teehee. Sebum is the natural oil that covers your skin and keeps it a little extra waterproof.

[Dennis]

Neat.

[Thomas Fingerling]

But the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet don't get much sebum. Those areas, our fingers and toes and such, can quickly get Waterlogged.

[Dennis]

Waterlogged. Like they soak up a little water and then they get pruny?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Yep.

[Dennis]

Okay, but why?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Oh, I don't know. Some think it's so we can have better grip when we're dealing with wet and slippery conditions.

[Dennis]

Cool.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Rock on, dude.

[Dennis]

Okay, let's do one more question.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Okey doke.

[Ada]

Hi, Dennis. My question for you is, what's the grossest thing that you've seen Thomas Fingerling do while snooping on him?

[Thomas Fingerling]

What? You been snooping on me, feller?

[Dennis]

No, not that much.

[Thomas Fingerling]

You sure you ain't been sneaking around watching me pick at my toenails?

[Dennis]

No, I didn't see that.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, did you see me eating a pot pie yesterday and then spill it all over my shirt? See, here's the stain right here.

[Dennis]

Uh, you didn't change your shirt today.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, I really hope you didn't catch me plucking my ear hairs of various lengths and textures.

[Dennis]

Ew, no.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, good. Having everybody know that stuff would be very embarrassing for me.

[Dennis]

Well, that's enough voicemails for today, listeners. If you've got a question for me or me, Thomas Fingerling, call and leave me a message. The number is 8887-www. Wow. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the Weeknd.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Okay, now what?

[Dennis]

Next up is a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios. Ahem. Inside Tinkercast Studios.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Ooh, fancy.

[Dennis]

This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Ooh.

[Dennis]

And today I thought it would be fun to listen to the very first episode of wow in the World that you appeared in, Thomas Fingerling.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Oh, boy, My big debut.

[Dennis]

So today we're listening to wow in the World, Season 2, Episode 27 called oh, Nutcrackers.

[Thomas Fingerling]

I can't wait.

[Dennis]

Okay, here we go. And play.

[Mindy]

Wee wow will be right back.

[Reggie]

Grown ups.

[Mindy]

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

[Reggie]

What in the world?

[Grandma GeForce]

Breathe deeply. In and out. Now float away upon that breath. Up, up, up. Gently twirling amongst the moonbeams. Oh, look, the moon waves to you knowingly, like an old neighbor. Wave back now. Hello, moon.

[Mindy]

Hello.

[Reggie]

I'm up. I'm awake.

[Mindy]

Hop out of bed. Run to the bathroom. Brush my teeth. Time to get dressed. Call my buddy Guy Raz to make sure he's awake. Dial, dial, dial, dial, dial.

[Dennis]

Uh, hello?

[Mindy]

Good morning, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, it's the middle of the night.

[Mindy]

You call it the middle of the night. I call it 3:00 in the morning. And you know what day it is?

[Guy Raz]

Um, I don't know. Is it your birthday?

[Mindy]

Nope.

[Guy Raz]

Is it my birthday?

[Mindy]

Nope.

[Guy Raz]

Oh no. Is it Reggie's taekwondo and tap dancing recital? Is that today?

[Mindy]

What? No, that's not even until next month. Oh, by the way, I signed you up to be the stage mom.

[Guy Raz]

But I'm not even.

[Mindy]

Guy Raz, today is Thumb Wars Day at the Knuckle Hut. Guy Raz, you there? Did I lose you? What?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, I'm going back to bed.

[Dennis]

What?

[Mindy]

No, there's no time. We need to get there early if we want good seats. Grandma GeForce is competing.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, Grandma GeForce is a professional thumb wrestler?

[Mindy]

Among other things, yes.

[Guy Raz]

Well, I guess I gotta see this. What time are we leaving, Mindy?

[Mindy]

Oh, well, I'm ready now.

[Guy Raz]

Of course you are. Alright, well, I still need to brush my teeth, do my calisthenics routine, the five Tibetans, my juice cleanse, my morning meditation. I've gotta get dressed.

[Mindy]

Wait, don't get dressed.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy]

I've got something perfect picked out for you to wear.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, I'm not.

[Mindy]

Be right over.

[Guy Raz]

I'm coming, I'm coming.

[Reggie]

Ta da.

[Guy Raz]

What are you wearing?

[Mindy]

I made us thumb war costumes out of foam.

[Guy Raz]

You're dressed as a giant foam hand.

[Mindy]

Well, a giant foam right hand. You're going to be the giant, giant foam left hand here.

[Guy Raz]

Oh no, no, no, no way. I have not.

[Mindy]

Now let me just pull it over your head here. Mindy, hold your breath. Would you stop wiggling so much? Stay till I'm gonna. Here we go. There.

[Reggie]

Aw, don't you look cute.

[Guy Raz]

Where's my full length mirror? Mindy, I have no peripheral vision in this thing.

[Mindy]

Ooh, be careful when you turn around and walk. You might knock everything over.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, hey, you know, Mindy, now that I see myself in the mirror, I.

[Mindy]

Don'T look half bad guy. Raz, you look like a high five.

[Guy Raz]

Did you just body slam me? What was that for?

[Mindy]

I gave you a full body hand suit to hand suit high five.

[Guy Raz]

Why do I feel like this is gonna be the longest of my life?

[Mindy]

Oh, well, probably because it's going to be the longest day of your life.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, right. Starting at 3:00am well, ready to go?

[Mindy]

Nope. Reggie?

[Guy Raz]

Reggie, did you swoop in here wearing a sleeping mask?

[Mindy]

Oh, no, he's been doing that a lot lately.

[Guy Raz]

Doing what?

[Mindy]

Sleep. Sailing through the air.

[Guy Raz]

Is that safe?

[Mindy]

Yes, of course it's not safe, Guy Raz. Now just gently tickle him awake. Okay.

[Guy Raz]

Okay. Uh, wake up Reggie. Early bird gets the word.

[Mindy]

Good morning, Reg. We need you to give us a quick ride to the Knuckle Hut. Yes, you can make a pit stop at the Seed Shack once you drop us off. What on earth are we wearing? Oh, these are just giant foam hand suits that I made for us. I made them for Grandma GeForce's thumb war today. A high five.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, no.

[Dennis]

Sure.

[Mindy]

Guy Raza loves a good high. Wow, Guy Raz, you must be as light as a feather.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Ugh.

[Guy Raz]

He just knocked me over with his talon.

[Mindy]

Oh, Reggie says high five.

[Guy Raz]

Let's just go, Mindy.

[Mindy]

After you. Hey, Guy Raz, give me a boost and then I'll turn around and pull you up. It's hard to move in this giant foam hand suit.

[Guy Raz]

Okay.

[Mindy]

Thanks, buddy. Okay, your turn. Okay, all set.

[Guy Raz]

No.

[Mindy]

Did you say go?

[Dennis]

No.

[Reggie]

Okey doke.

[Mindy]

Here we go. Thanks, Reg. You want to stick around? Oh, early bird special at the Seed Shack. Okay, just head back over here when you're finished.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, the Knuckle Hut is a diner?

[Mindy]

Yeah, it's been here since the 1950s.

[Guy Raz]

And what's that? That creepy hand statue coming out of the ground?

[Mindy]

Oh, so that's a giant sculpture modeled after the left hand of the original owner, Thomas Fingerling. In fact, it's an exact replica, insides and all. Some say that when he cracked his knuckles, you could hear it from 40 miles away. Sheesh. Want to go inside the diner?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, I'm starving. I wonder if they've got some fermented mung beans.

[Mindy]

We'll get to the diner later. First, I think we need to find out what's going on inside that hand.

[Guy Raz]

Do you want to go inside that giant hand dressed like giant hands?

[Mindy]

Yes.

[Guy Raz]

But don't you want to at least say hi to your Grandma G Force first?

[Mindy]

No, but she's your grandma, Guy Raz. Grandma G Force isn't even going to get here until 14 hours from now. The thumb war starts at like.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, you dragged me here at 3am.

[Mindy]

Follow me, Guy Raz. Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Ugh.

[Mindy]

Is it just you, Guy Raz, or am I sweating?

[Guy Raz]

You know, you'd think foam would be a little more breathable than this.

[Mindy]

Okay, brace yourself, Guy Raz, because I'm going to open the door on this giant. Hello? Anyone in this hand?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, why is it so dark inside here? Wait, are Those real bones?

[Thomas Fingerling]

27 bones, to be exact.

[Guy Raz]

What? Who said that?

[Thomas Fingerling]

My name, young lady, is Thomas Fingerling. Welcome to my hand.

[Guy Raz]

Ye Ye y. You're still alive?

[Thomas Fingerling]

More or less. I see you two are dressed in the traditional hand suit. Ooh, is this some sort of high density open cell polyurethane?

[Mindy]

Thank you for noticing. I than myself. See, my name is Mindy and this here is my little buddy, Guy Raz. And we came out this way to see my grandma G Force compete in the Knucklehead's annual thumb war.

[Guy Raz]

But then we couldn't help but notice this giant hand replica sculpture thingy and we thought we'd stop in to check it out.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, that's right. Curious of you. I don't get too many visitors around these days. Not since the invention of the Internet superhighway.

[Mindy]

Ugh, the interwebs. Am I right?

[Guy Raz]

Wait, what?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Long ago, knuckle cracking enthusiasts from around the globe would come to witness my signature Popping Nut Chuck performance.

[Mindy]

Your what?

[Guy Raz]

He said his signature Popping Nut Chuck.

[Mindy]

I heard what he said, Guy Raz. So, Thomas Fingerling, what happened exactly?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, like I said, once the Internet came along with their WWWs and their Netscape navigators, people moved on to other forms of so called entertainment.

[Guy Raz]

You're saying that people used to come here to watch you crack your knuckles for entertainment? Entertainment?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Don't sass me, young lady. And yes, but all these yahoos and dot com bubbles came along and took my audience. Now it's all mewtube videos of cats and hamburger buns or what have you.

[Mindy]

Oh yeah, did you see the one where the cat was wearing a little blueberry pancake beret and roller skating past the Eiffel Tower in Paris? You gotta see this. Here, I'll pull it up on my phone. You are not not gonna believe this. It's so cute.

[Guy Raz]

So let me get this straight. What you're saying, Mr. Fingerling, is that knuckle cracking isn't drawing the same crowds that it was back in the 1950s?

[Mindy]

Yeah. So no one is super impressed by knuckle cracking anymore?

[Thomas Fingerling]

I'm afraid not, young lady.

[Mindy]

Hey, who you calling a lady?

[Guy Raz]

Well, Mr. Fingerling, we're here now. Maybe you can show us around your giant hand replica and and we can talk knuckles for a while.

[Mindy]

Yeah, that's a great idea. And maybe for the grand finale, you can perform your signature Popping Nuk Chuck for us.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, I suppose I still got a little pop left in the old nuks.

[Guy Raz]

That would be amazing.

[Reggie]

Woo hoo. Yay. This is gonna be awesome.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Alright, let's see here. We got two tickets to the tour, plus the IMAX video, a refillable sink, and the Nukchuk performance. That'll be $75.92. Oh, hey, 92, that's my age. I'm sorry, did you say 92 years young, by gum.

[Guy Raz]

No, I mean the price of tickets. 75.

[Mindy]

I got this. Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, where'd you get my wallet?

[Mindy]

Just a little sleight of hand trick I've been working on. 20, 40, 60, $75. Here you go. Thomas Fingerling. Two tickets, please.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Thank you for your business and well, gosh, I'm just so happy no one stopped by here in over 30 years. Between you and me, people tend to.

[Grandma GeForce]

Find this place a little bit creepy.

[Guy Raz]

So where do we begin?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, I suppose wherever you want. Feel free to have a look around. I'll just be napping up in the thumb over there.

[Guy Raz]

Napping? What about the tour?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Gadzooks. What do you think this is, a haberdashery? It's self guided. Now you two kids have fun.

[Guy Raz]

Self guided. 75 bucks.

[Mindy]

Don't worry, Guy Raz, I got this.

[Guy Raz]

The last time you said that, you stole my wallet, Mindy.

[Mindy]

No, really. Half the reason I even wanted to visit the inside of this weird hand sculpture anyway is because I just read this new research on knuckles and I wanted to get a close up experience of what it's like when we crack em.

[Guy Raz]

You dragged me all the way out here for.

[Mindy]

So, to begin the tour, Guy Raz, I'd like for you to pull my finger.

[Guy Raz]

Oh no.

[Mindy]

Pull my finger, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Nope.

[Mindy]

Pull it.

[Guy Raz]

Ugh. Fine.

[Dennis]

Whoops.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy.

[Mindy]

Sorry, wrong finger. Here, try this one.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, I'm not.

[Mindy]

Okay, I'll do it. Watch and learn.

[Guy Raz]

Ah. Did you snap it off, Mindy?

[Mindy]

Nope. That was the sound of me cracking my knuckle. Here, want me to do it again?

[Guy Raz]

No, I.

[Mindy]

Okay.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, I'm not sure it's supposed to.

[Mindy]

Sound like that, so you might be wondering to yourself, Mindy, what makes our knuckles crack like that?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, what makes our knuckles crack like.

[Mindy]

Walk with me, Guy Raz, as we climb that super tall ladder over there to the pointer finger. And there we will find the answer.

[Guy Raz]

Are you sure that ladder is safe to climb?

[Mindy]

Yes, of course I'm not sure it's safe to climb. Guy Raz, you go first. Climb, climb, climb, climb, climb, climb, climb.

[Guy Raz]

Whoa, whoa. Look at that. Mindy, look where the bones of the finger meet the rest of the hand. That's the knuckle, and there's a little lake inside of it.

[Mindy]

Oh, yeah, that's the lake of synovial fluid. Want to take a dip?

[Guy Raz]

I don't think that's a good idea, Mindy. There's a sign here that says this lake is full of gas.

[Mindy]

Yep. This lake of synovial fluid is full of tiny gas bubbles, most made up of carbon dioxide.

[Guy Raz]

But what's the purpose of the fluid in the first place?

[Mindy]

Well, why don't you press that button over there and see what happens? I don't know, Guy Raz, the sign says press me and see what happens.

[Guy Raz]

Okay.

[Reggie]

Whoa, whoa.

[Guy Raz]

The finger is moving, Mindy.

[Dennis]

And we're moving with it.

[Mindy]

Guy Raz, check it out. The secret fluid is keeping the finger bones from grinding on each other.

[Reggie]

Wow.

[Mindy]

Now let's see what this lever does.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Baa.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, the finger bones are pulling away from each other. Stop cranking. Stop cranking.

[Mindy]

Okay, now watch that pressure gauge to your right.

[Guy Raz]

It appears that when the bones pull away from each other, there's a sudden drop in pressure in the middle of the knuckle or joint.

[Mindy]

Yeah. And look, with the pressure drop, the gases are coming together and making new bubbles.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, Mindy, could the popping of these bubbles be what's causing the popping sound in our knuckles?

[Mindy]

Well, that's what some scientists thought for a long time.

[Dennis]

What?

[Mindy]

But other scientists were like, no dice. Clearly the pop comes from the way the bubbles are formed. And then they went back and forth on this for like.

[Guy Raz]

And you know, Mindy, I once read that some of the earliest research on knuckle cracking, dating back to the 1900s, showed that not all joints were crackable.

[Mindy]

Oh, yeah. And that once you pop, you can't stop until you wait for at least 20 minutes first.

[Guy Raz]

You can't pop the same knuckle more than once in a 20 minute period.

[Mindy]

See for yourself.

[Dennis]

Huh?

[Mindy]

See what I mean?

[Guy Raz]

So, Mindy, earlier you'd mentioned some new research on knuckle crack.

[Mindy]

Oh, yeah. So this pair of researchers from the Eco Polytechnique in France, they made a mathematical model to find out the truth of what's been causing the pop.

[Guy Raz]

A mathematical model?

[Mindy]

Yeah. So basically they made this math video game that simulated what happens when our knuckles crack.

[Guy Raz]

A mathematical video game?

[Mindy]

Ha.

[Guy Raz]

That's my kind of video game.

[Mindy]

And in this video game, they had a model of a knuckle with a bubble in it. And then they cracked it over and over and over and over again, listening carefully to the sound it made and how loud that sound was.

[Guy Raz]

And then I'm guessing they compared that sound with the Sound of actual people cracking their knuckles.

[Mindy]

You got it. They compared the sounds in this mathematical video game knuckles with the sounds of their own knuckles and the knuckles of a bunch of volunteers.

[Guy Raz]

That must have sounded like a knuckle popping party.

[Mindy]

That's the way I imagine it. And if I'm wrong, I don't want to be right.

[Guy Raz]

So what did they find?

[Mindy]

Well, what they found is that when they popped the bubbles on the video game, the bubbles made pretty much the same sounds as the popping knuckles make in real life.

[Guy Raz]

So it is the popping of the bubbles after all.

[Mindy]

Well, not so fast. See, they also found that when the bubbles only started to collapse, like less than halfway, but not pop completely, they still made the same sound.

[Guy Raz]

So what does that mean?

[Mindy]

So what this means is that the popping could something to do with the way the bubbles are formed after all.

[Guy Raz]

So I guess it's back to the knuckle hut for these researchers.

[Mindy]

Ooh, speaking of knuckle hut, it's probably about time for Grandma G Force's thumb war to begin.

[Guy Raz]

I thought that wasn't for another 14 hours or so.

[Mindy]

Guess time flies when you're popping these guys.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, stop. You're gonna give yourself arthritis. Fake news. What? Who said that?

[Mindy]

Kairaz Thomas Fingerling is right. Arthritis is a disease that keeps people's joints from working in the way they're supposed to. And people with arthritis in their hands can have swelling or pain or stiffness in their joints and knuckles.

[Guy Raz]

Yes, but.

[Mindy]

But no studies have been able to show any connections between arthritis and knuckle cracking.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Which means it's finger popping time.

[Guy Raz]

It's what?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Let's head up to the thumb war at the Knucklehead. I've been preparing a grand finale.

[Mindy]

You'll never forget your signature popping nut, Chuck.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, boy.

[Mindy]

After you, Mr. Fingerling.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Oh, thank you, kind sir.

[Mindy]

Hey, who you calling sir?

[Guy Raz]

Just keep on moving, Mindy.

[Mindy]

Calling me sir? I'm a lady.

[Reggie]

Whoa.

[Mindy]

This is thumb believable.

[Dennis]

This.

[Guy Raz]

This is a diner. By the way, do you think we have time for me to order an einkorn and quinoa salad?

[Mindy]

No time for that guy. Raz. Look, Grandma G Force and her competitor are already in the ring.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, that's a corner booth in the diner. I'm gonna go put our names in for that table once they're finished with this whole thumb war thing.

[Mindy]

Grandma G Force.

[Reggie]

Hi.

[Mindy]

Hi, Grandma G Force. It's me, Mindy, your granddaughter, Mindy. Hi, Grandma G Force. Look over here. Over here. Grandma G Force. I'm Cracking knocks and Pinky knives.

[Guy Raz]

I don't think she can hear you, Mindy. She looks like she's really in the zone. Say, where did thumb wrestling come from anyway?

[Mindy]

Oh, glad you asked. As the legend would have it, it all started in the year 1936, when a young lad who went by the name Julian Koenigse got bored one day at summer camp and. And that's it. That's the legend.

[Guy Raz]

Huh?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Our contestants for this round of Thumb wars are Grandma GeForce and Thumbelina versus Sir Alexander Curly and the Thumbertaker.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, why are there four contestants?

[Mindy]

Oh, that's because the Thumbs have their own wrestling name. And faces. And tiny hats.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Thomas Fingerling]

The rules for this match are as follows. Number one, elbows must be kept on the table at all times. And number two, fingernails must be trimmed to tiny nubs.

[Guy Raz]

Yikes.

[Thomas Fingerling]

60 seconds are on the clock. It's time for the Wild Thumb War Showdown to Rodent.

[Reggie]

1, 2, 3, 4.

[Mindy]

Add it.

[Guy Raz]

Go, Grandma G Force.

[Reggie]

Go, Thumbelina. You can do it. Come on, Grandma G Force. Make me proud.

[Mindy]

Show them what our G's are made of.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, my. I think she's got it.

[Reggie]

Maybe you look. 1, 2, 3, 4. I am this a ball. Oh, I'm all fucked.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Woo.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Dennis]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

[Reggie]

Now, who wants to hold my finger?

[Mindy]

Runs in the family.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Grandma G Force and Thumbelina have won in a thumb believable. Total upset.

[Guy Raz]

What's that, Mindy?

[Mindy]

Oh, is that what I think it is?

[Guy Raz]

Look up there on the bar. It's Thomas Fingerling.

[Mindy]

Wow. Talk about a grand finale. Just listen to him crack those nuts.

[Guy Raz]

Thumbs up, Mr. Fingerling.

[Dennis]

You still got it in you.

[Reggie]

Wow.

[Dennis]

That was so cool, Thomas Fingerling. You sounded a lot younger in that episode.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, I was younger. This show's been going on for like a million years. And ever since Mr. Rossi and Mandy wandered into my giant handhouse in the middle of the night, they've been dragging me into their Shenanigoogles and it just wears me right out.

[Dennis]

Aw, you don't like all the Shenanigoogles?

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, it's fun and all, but then I need a nap, like right now.

[Dennis]

And he fell asleep. Well, this looks like a good time to wrap up the show. 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.

[Thomas Fingerling]

I'm up.

I'm up. Where am I?

[Dennis]

You're in my basement, Tommy.

[Thomas Fingerling]

What? Still?

[Dennis]

Yeah.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Well, I better get going. I gotta meet G Force at her exploding mahjong club.

[Dennis]

Koal, can we come too?

[Thomas Fingerling]

I don't see why not.

[Reggie]

Yay.

[Dennis]

Mahjong. Mahjong. Mahjong.

[Thomas Fingerling]

It's exploding mah Jongg. And you have to bring your own fire extinguisher.

[Dennis]

Okay, I can do that.

[Thomas Fingerling]

And wear flame proof undergarments.

[Dennis]

I could do that too.

[Thomas Fingerling]

And you have to bring fizzy water for everybody.

[Dennis]

What? Nuh uh.

[Thomas Fingerling]

Yeah.

Huh.

[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 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.

[Dennis]

Thanks for joining us for this edition of We Wow on the weekend. Our show is written by Ruth Morrison and Jed Anderson. The role of Baby Dennis is played by Jed Anderson.

[Reggie]

Ah, well then who plays the role of Big Dennis?

[Dennis]

Never you mind. Tee hee. Original sound design and production is done by Henry Moskal with contributions from Jed Anderson and Tyler Thol. Original music for Wewow is composed and performed by Tyler Thole. Special thanks to Jessica Bode, Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall, Kenny Curtis, Lizzie Froehlich, Kristin Yang, Meredith Halpin, Ranzer Thuy Mack, Erika 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.

[Reggie]

I wow.

[Dennis]

No, Baby Dennis. We wow.

[Reggie]

All right. We wow.

[Mindy]

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