WeWow on the Weekend (6/1/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: WeWow on the Weekend (June 1, 2025) – Detailed Summary

Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Produced by: Tinkercast | Wondery
Release Date: June 1, 2025

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1. Summer Road Trips and Planet Wow Initiative (00:00 - 01:46)

As the summer season approaches, Mindy and Guy kick off the episode by discussing exciting summer plans. While Guy humorously references his "annual summer rewatch of the 26-hour-long docuseries on the history of whales" (00:08), Mindy shifts the focus to summer road trips.

Planet Wow Partnership:
The hosts introduce Planet Wow, a collaborative geocaching eco-adventure developed with Geocaching HQ, the Aspen Institute, and the Nature Conservancy. This initiative aims to inspire kids to explore the wonders of our planet and become future climate advocates.

Interactive Engagement:
Guy mentions, “We’ve sent out Planet Wow trading cards to members of our World Organization of Wowzers to plant in a geocache near them” (00:57). Listeners are encouraged to check if a trading card is near their route via the Planet Wow website or to print and plant their own cards if none are nearby.

Call to Action:
Mindy invites families to share their eco-adventure discoveries by submitting video or audio messages for a chance to be featured in future episodes, fostering community participation and enthusiasm for environmental exploration.

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2. Wee Wow on the Weekend: Q&A Segment (04:06 - 06:33)

Transitioning to a lighter segment, the episode features Wee Wow on the Weekend, a fun and interactive Q&A show hosted by Dennis and Reggie.

Listener Questions:

• Van from Newport News (04:06) asks Dennis whether he'd prefer to always be cold or always be hot. Dennis humorously recounts his chaotic attempts to regulate temperature, ultimately admitting, “...I don't remember either. Next question” (04:19).

• Amaru from Denver, Colorado (05:22) inquires, “Why do computers and tablets have to recharge?” Dennis responds playfully, equating his need to recharge to taking naps after hard work, suggesting, “everyone deserves to take a little nap, even computers and electronics” (05:37).

• Ben (06:15) asks, “Can Baby Dennis ride a bicycle?” This leads to a charming interaction where Baby Dennis emerges to affirm his biking skills, adding a whimsical touch to the segment (06:19).

Engagement Encouragement:
Dennis prompts listeners to submit their questions by calling a provided number, fostering ongoing interactive dialogue with the audience.

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3. Inside Tinkercast Studio: Podcast Promotion (07:00 - 09:00)

In a meta-podcast segment, Dennis introduces Inside Tinkercast Studio, where he reviews episodes from fellow Tinkercast shows.

Featured Podcast – Once Upon a Beat:
Mindy and Guy promote Once Upon a Beat, a collaborative podcast with Wondery that fuses fairy tales with hip-hop rhythms. Guy remarks, “Once Upon a Beat is where hip hop and fairy tales meet” (09:19), highlighting its unique blend of storytelling and music.

Exclusive Access:
Listeners are informed about early and ad-free access available through Wondery+ subscriptions, enticing them to explore additional content offered by Tinkercast and Wondery partnerships.

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4. Primary Discussion: How to Talk to a Dog – Experiment and Findings (09:00 - 27:00)

The core of the episode delves into the intricacies of human-animal communication, specifically focusing on infant-directed speech (IDS) and its impact on bonding with dogs.

Introduction to the Topic:
Guy initiates the conversation by sharing a personal anecdote about dog-sitting Guy Raz’s friend Eleanor’s dog, Beardsley. Their playful banter sets the stage for exploring how humans communicate with pets.

Psychology Behind Pet Communication:
Mindy introduces recent research from the University of York's psychology department, aiming to determine if the manner in which humans talk to their pets affects the bonding process. She explains, “they wanted to find out whether the way humans talked to their pets had anything to do with how they were able to bond with them” (15:21).

Experimental Design:
To illustrate the study, Mindy and Guy conduct a live experiment with a group of dogs, attempting to apply baby talk techniques. Their playful skit involves humorous mishaps, such as Guy getting tangled in a leash and Mindy interacting overly affectionately with Beardsley.

Key Findings Discussed:

• Tone Matters: The experiment demonstrates that a high-pitched, rhythmic baby voice enhances bonding with dogs. Mindy states, “speaking to dogs in dog-directed speech or baby talk while saying dog-directed things... was especially important when it came to adult dogs” (25:23).

• Content Relevance: It’s not just the tone but also the relevance of the words to dogs that fosters connection. Phrases like “Who’s a good boy?” resonate more effectively than unrelated adult jargon.

• Impact on Puppies: Interestingly, while puppies responded well to baby talk, the actual content of what was said was less important for this age group. Mindy notes, “puppies also responded to baby talk the most. But it didn't seem to matter what these researchers were actually saying to them” (25:55).

Practical Applications:
Guy and Mindy discuss how these findings can benefit professionals such as veterinarians and animal rescue workers, enhancing their interactions with animals to promote better care and understanding.

Humorous Interlude:
Throughout the experiment segment, comedic elements are interwoven as Guy struggles with the canine communication process, ultimately adding an entertaining layer to the educational content. Notable moments include Mindy playfully threatening to eat Beardsley and the chaotic influx of dogs during their live demonstration.

Conclusion of Experiment:
The hosts conclude that both the how (tone) and the what (content) of communication are crucial for bonding with dogs. They reinforce the importance of using appropriate speech patterns to foster stronger connections with pets.

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5. Episode Wrap-Up and Credits (27:00 - End)

Mindy and Guy wrap up the episode by reiterating the significance of understanding pet communication and encouraging listeners to apply these insights in their interactions with animals.

Acknowledgments:
They extend thanks to contributors, listeners, and collaborators, emphasizing the community-driven nature of the podcast. The episode concludes with plug-ins for additional content availability through Wondery and Tinkercast platforms.

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Key Takeaways:

• Planet Wow Initiative: Encourages family engagement in eco-friendly adventures through geocaching, promoting environmental awareness among kids.

• Interactive Q&A: Enhances listener participation by addressing fun and thought-provoking questions from the audience.

• Effective Pet Communication: Research highlights the effectiveness of infant-directed speech in bonding with dogs, emphasizing both tone and relevant content.

• Humorous Educational Approach: The episode blends humor with educational content, making complex topics accessible and entertaining for families and young listeners.

Notable Quotes:

• Mindy Thomas (00:15): “Uh, sure, Guy Raz, but I was actually thinking about summer road trips.”

• Dennis (04:19): “Because, Reggie, I work very hard to make sure I'm exactly the right temperature at all times.”

• Mindy Thomas (15:21): “They wanted to find out whether the way humans talked to their pets had anything to do with how they were able to bond with them.”

• Guy Raz (25:23): “That when it comes to dogs, it not only matters what you say, but also how you say it.”

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Conclusion:

"WeWow on the Weekend" successfully combines educational content with engaging and humorous segments, making complex scientific research accessible to children and their families. By exploring the nuances of human-animal communication and promoting interactive initiatives like Planet Wow, Mindy and Guy Raz continue to inspire wonder and curiosity in their audience.

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 them.

[Mindy]

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.

[Guy Raz]

Have you ever looked up at the stars and wondered, is there life on other planets?

[Mindy]

It's really happening. I knew aliens are looking for me.

[Guy Raz]

From Disney and Pixar.

[Mindy]

Welcome to the communiverse. Allow me to adjust your gravity. Oh. High five. Gravity on. Wow.

[Guy Raz]

We are not.

[Mindy]

This is awesome.

[Guy Raz]

Alone.

[Dennis]

Are you gonna eat me?

[Mindy]

Ew. What kind of alien are you?

[Guy Raz]

Disney and Pixar's Elio. Rated PG. Parental guidance suggested only in theaters June 20. Tickets available now.

[Mindy]

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.

[Dennis]

We wow on the weekend. We wow on the weekend. We wow on the weekend.

[Mindy]

We.

[Dennis]

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.

[Mindy]

Yeah.

[Dennis]

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 We Wow on the Weekend. I'm your host, Dennis and that's my co host, Reggie. This is the show where we chit chat and answer questions from our fans and listen to tinkercast podcasts. So Reggie, what's a crackalackin? What's the haps? What's going down in Pigeon town? Whatever, bro. I'm just being cool. Maybe you just don't know how all the kids are jib jamming these days. Well, I think our devoted listeners are just about the coolest, most skibidiest, funky rizz dogs in the world. Oh, I know. Let's hear from a few 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 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.

[Mindy]

Hi, my name is Van and I live in Newport News.

[Dennis]

Hi, Van.

[Mindy]

I have a question for Dennis. Dennis, would you rather be cold all the time or hot all the time?

[Dennis]

Hmm. Cold all the time or hot all the time? What a tough question. Because, Reggie, I work very hard to make sure I'm exactly the right temperature at all times. Like last night I was a little chilly, so I put on a sweater, but then I was too hot, so I turned on a fan, but that made me too cold, so I turned on my electric blanket, but then I started sweating, so then I turned on the ac, which made my teeth chatter, so I turned on a space heater. Now at this point I was boiling, so I opened up the freezer and stood in front of it. But then the freezer was too freezing, so I got a hairdryer to try and warm up. And then a fuse blew in the electrical box because I was using too much electricity and all the lights in the house turned off. And then mother yelled at me about responsible energy conservation or something like that. Anyway, what were we talking about? Yeah, I don't remember either. Next question.

[Mindy]

Hi, Dennis, my name is Amaru. I'm in Denver, Colorado. I have a question for you. Why do computers and tablets have to recharge?

[Dennis]

Huh? Why do computers and tablets have to recharge? Well, I don't know much about how computers or tablets or batteries work, but I know I have to recharge when I've been hard at work. Yes, Reggie, I work hard. Snooping is hard work. I have to hide and sneak and be quiet and listen to conversations and go in all the right spots, Right? And then I'm all tired and I need to take a little nap to recharge. So I guess the answer is, everyone deserves to take a little nap, Even computers and electronics. Next question.

[Mindy]

Hi, Des. My name's Ben, and I have a question.

[Dennis]

Hi, Ben. Whatcha got?

[Mindy]

Can Baby Dennis ride a bicycle?

[Dennis]

Oh, wow. Can Baby Dennis ride a bicycle? Baby Dennis, ears are burning. Oh, Baby Dennis, come out of your box. We have a question for you. Hi, Big Dennis. Hi, big Reggie. Hi, devoted listeners. Baby Dennis, Ben wants to know, can you ride a bicycle? Oh, boy. Baby Dennis loves his bicycle. Well, there you have it, Ben. Baby Dennis loves his bicycle. Look out for baby Dennis. No, Baby Dennis, not in the house. Baby Dennis, daisies die. Baby Dennis, you get off that adorably tiny bike this instant. Oh, good idea, Reggie. Baby Dennis, take your bike upstairs and ride outside, please. You got it, Big Dennis. Up the stairs. Well, that answers that mystery. Thanks for 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. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Okay, that takes care of that. All right, next up is a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studio. 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 25 called how to Talk to a Dog. Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing. I already know how to talk to a dog. You go like this. Hi, Dougie. Hi, dog. What are you doing? Are you having a nice day? Do you like the weekend? What's that? Little Timmy stuck in the old mill. The only one who knows where he is. That's so interesting. Okay, bye. See? I know how to do it. Okay, fine. We'll listen to how Mindy and Guy Raz say to do it. Here we go and play Wee Wow.

[Mindy]

We'll be right back. Grown ups, this message is for you. Hey, grown ups, 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 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 Beat.

[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 canoe.

[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. What in the world?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I have to say I was feeling a little apprehensive about having you stay here for a whole week. But, you know, any friend of Eleanor's is a friend of mine. Now, I know you must be homesick, and I want you to know that those feelings are valid. But I'm gonna do everything I can to make you feel comfortable and content while you are here. If you'll follow me, you'll see that I've got your room all set up. I've got a brand new hypoallergenic mattress on the bed, some tools for cognitive stimulation. Oh, and I left you some sparkling water in that bowl over there on the floor.

[Mindy]

Coming.

[Guy Raz]

I'm coming. Slow down. You're going to crash.

[Mindy]

Through the door. Whoa. Hey, boy. Hey. Where did you come from?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, my beautiful door.

[Mindy]

Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I see you've met Beardsley. Mindy.

[Mindy]

Sorry, Guy Raz. I thought I heard a dog over here, but by the way you were talking to it, I figured you were probably just recording a new podcast or something. Isn't that right, Beardsley? Isn't that right? Was Guy Raz talking to you like you were a guest on a podcast? Yes, he was. Yes, he was.

[Guy Raz]

Well, Beardsley is actually my friend Eleanor's dog. She asked me to dog sit while she went to Paris.

[Mindy]

She asked you to dog sit?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. Well, why do you sound so surprised?

[Mindy]

Well, for one, you send me back home every time I come to your house wearing a Chewbacca costume and covered in a flea circus.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, okay. First of all, no human should ever be covered in fleas. And second of all, there is not a single flea to be found on Beardsley because we just got back from the groomers and.

[Mindy]

Hold the phone, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy]

Let me see your glasses.

[Guy Raz]

Ah, Mindy, take my glasses off.

[Mindy]

Are your eyes on my eyes deceiving me, or did you and Beardsley get matching haircuts?

[Guy Raz]

So what if we did?

[Mindy]

Oh, man, are you getting Beardsley Matching glasses and a matching tweed jacket.

[Guy Raz]

Well, actually, the glasses should be here in about five business days. And we're getting him fitted for a jacket this afternoon. I found a place that does reinforced elbow patches for dogs.

[Mindy]

Guy Raz, why are you trying to turn a dog into a furry version of yourself?

[Guy Raz]

Do you really want to know the reason, Mindy?

[Mindy]

Do I really want to know the reason, Guy Raz?

[Guy Raz]

Well, it's because I've been trying to bond with Beardsley all morning long and nothing seems to work.

[Mindy]

Huh.

[Guy Raz]

Hmm.

[Mindy]

Well, what have you done?

[Guy Raz]

You know, the usual bonding techniques. I asked him about his family, shared some of my hopes and dreams. I played Two Truths and a Lie. We did a few trust falls.

[Mindy]

And so what happened?

[Guy Raz]

Well, he just walked away and fell asleep.

[Mindy]

Hmm. Well, I'm sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, Guy Raz, but you're kind of doing this whole bonding with the dog thing all wrong.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, I guess you're right. We probably should have just skipped all the small talk and gone right to Pedic. By the way, do dogs have toenails?

[Mindy]

Ok, Raz, I'm not talking about pedicures. I'm talking about about. Well, here, let me just show you.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, you have a pet pigeon. What do you know about who's a.

[Mindy]

Spicy little furry meatball? You are. Yes, you are. Let me rub that chubby bunny little belly of yours. You're so cute and delicious, I can just beat you up. Yes, I could. Yes, I could. Now I could just put you in a hot dog bun and eat you up.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, stop. You cannot eat Beardsley.

[Mindy]

What?

[Guy Raz]

I'm dog sitting for him, Mindy. He's on loan. I can't tell my friend Eleanor that my friend went off the rails and ate her dog on a bun.

[Mindy]

I wasn't going to eat her dog. Guy Raz, wait. You just said I say a lot of crazy things. It doesn't mean that I mean them, but it's psychology, Guy Raz.

[Dennis]

Psychology.

[Guy Raz]

You mean the science of mind and behavior?

[Mindy]

Yeah. And in this case, the mind and behavior of humans and dogs. And what behaviors make them feel close or bonded.

[Guy Raz]

So let me get this straight. Telling a dog you're gonna eat it will make it feel closer to you?

[Mindy]

Okay, let's just move on from the whole eating the dog thing. Okay, Glad. And let's focus more on how I was talking to Beardsley like a clown.

[Guy Raz]

Mixed with a dolphin mixed with an ice cream truck.

[Mindy]

Wow, that is oddly specific.

[Guy Raz]

But, yeah, I'm not Sure, I'm following.

[Mindy]

Okay, so as you noticed, I was talking in a high pitched, rhythmic baby voice, right?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, I think even the neighbors noticed that, Mindy.

[Mindy]

And I was saying things like, who's a good boy?

[Guy Raz]

And I could just put you in a hot dog bun and eat you all up.

[Mindy]

Guy Raz. Again, let's move on from the hot dog eating stuff. Okay, Wait, you said. I know what I said, but what I want to focus on is why I was talking to Beardsley that way.

[Guy Raz]

And that has to do with psychology or the science of mind and behavior.

[Mindy]

You're picking up what I'm putting down, Guy Raz. Phew. Okay, so I just read about this new study from researchers at the University of York psychology department. And what they wanted to find out was whether or not the way humans talked to their pets had anything to do with how they were able to bond with them.

[Guy Raz]

So kind of like how people tend to baby talk when they're trying to communicate with babies?

[Mindy]

Exactly like that. And there's even a name for that baby talk that grown ups use. It's called infant directed speech. Oh, right.

[Guy Raz]

I think we've known for a while that talking to babies in that high pitched baby talk voice actually helps babies to learn how to speak and how to bond with their grown ups.

[Mindy]

You got it. So knowing this, these researchers set out to discover whether the same was true for dogs and other pets.

[Guy Raz]

So they wanted to know if baby talking to a dog helps to form a stronger bond between the dog and its owners.

[Mindy]

Yeah, basically their mission was to find out whether or not how humans talk to their pets and if what they say matters when it comes comes to bonding with them.

[Guy Raz]

So this must have been an interesting experiment. A bunch of scientists in a laboratory, baby talking to dogs.

[Mindy]

Anything for science, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

So how did they do it? I mean, how did they conduct the experiment?

[Mindy]

Well, I could tell you. Yeah, but I'd rather show you. Come on, let's go find a bunch of dogs. Maybe I. Ah, just trust me. Beardsley, you can come too. Give me your phone. Give your boat.

[Guy Raz]

Ah, yeah, okay. You know, I was just about to. Whoa.

[Mindy]

Looks like Beardsley is walking you. Guy Raz. Hey, wait up, you two. Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run. Beardsley, sit.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, untie me from this leash.

[Mindy]

How did you get yourself all tangled up in this leash?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, wow, those are cute dogs.

[Dennis]

Are they twins?

[Mindy]

Oh, thank. Actually, I'm a human. He's a human dog.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, gross.

[Dennis]

Never mind.

[Guy Raz]

Ugh.

[Dennis]

Probably has abstract thoughts.

[Mindy]

Mandy, get Back up on your hind legs, Guy Raz. Beardsley, you get back down on your four legs. You're confusing people. Let me just untangle this leash here. I can't take you to anywhere. Guy Raz, you're the human. Beardsley, you're the dog. The human walks the dog, not the other way around. You got it? Okay, so now that we've got that under control, we're just going to need like, 20 more dogs.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, that's a bad.

[Mindy]

Free dog walking for sale. Come and get your dog walk. Free dog walkies for one year. You got a dog. You a dog mom. And she.

[Guy Raz]

What in the.

[Mindy]

Thank you. Thank you very much. Thanks. I'll have him back in 10 minutes. Thank you. Ooh, she's a real live wire this month. Thanks. Have a great time. Meet you back here in a few. Oh, and we're also going to stop by our laboratory to conduct a quick and totally safe experiment. Okay, bye, Mindy. Welp. Ready to head back to the lab, Guy Raz?

[Guy Raz]

No.

[Mindy]

Okay, let's just see how many dogs we have here. 1, 2. Did I already count that? 1, 3, 4, 24. Okay. All right, now you take a dozen, and I'll take a dozen. Plus beards later.

[Guy Raz]

Are you sure this is a good idea, Mindy?

[Mindy]

Yes, of course. I'm not sure this is a good idea, Guy Raz. Come on. We've only got 10 minutes until I have to return all these dogs.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, here we wait. Wait up, Mindy.

[Mindy]

Wait for me. Okay, here we are. Now, you hold onto these leashes, Guy Raz, and I'll hold the lab door open. Single file line, you little four legged fur balls. After you. After you. After you. Hi. After you. After you. After you. After you. After you. After you. After you.

[Dennis]

There.

[Mindy]

Think we got him all inside. Wait, where's Beardsley? Wow, I hardly even recognized you in those glasses. You really are starting to look like Guy Raz's furry four legged twin.

[Guy Raz]

Beardsley, give me back my glasses. I can't see anything.

[Mindy]

Beardsley, give him back his glasses. Thank you. Good dog. Good dog. Good. Little furry little spicy little meatball, you now what?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy? I can hardly hear myself. Thing, are you sure that this is what the researchers did when they conducted this experiment?

[Mindy]

Yes. I am not sure that this is what the researchers did when they conducted this experiment.

[Guy Raz]

So what's the first step?

[Mindy]

Well, we've already accomplished the first step, and that is to get into a room with a bunch of dogs.

[Guy Raz]

Are you sure they used this many dogs?

[Mindy]

Uh, no. I think you might have overdone it. Me? Okay, everyone, I need everyone to stop their yapping and stop breaking all my lab equipment.

[Guy Raz]

This stuff is expensive.

[Mindy]

Sit. Now stay.

[Guy Raz]

Wow, I can't believe that really worked, Mindy.

[Mindy]

I know. Me neither.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, so now what?

[Mindy]

So the first thing I'm going to do is observe or watch and learn from the way the dogs are react to the way you talk to them.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, why do I have to do the talking?

[Mindy]

Okay, so first thing I'm gonna need you to do is say a bunch of dog related things like who's a good boy? And were you digging in the trash again?

[Guy Raz]

Okay, I think I got this. Excuse me, dogs. I have a few questions I'd like to pose to you.

[Mindy]

Guy Raz, just get to the questions. I'm ready to observe.

[Guy Raz]

Right, right. Who's a good boy? Were you digging in the trash again?

[Mindy]

No, not like that.

[Dennis]

What?

[Mindy]

You need to say it in that high pitched baby voice, you know, your dog directed voice. Try again.

[Guy Raz]

You know, on second thought, let's just get these dogs back to their owners.

[Mindy]

Come on, Guy Raz, you can do it. Come on now, little buddy.

[Guy Raz]

Who's a good, good boy?

[Dennis]

Who's been digging in the trash?

[Mindy]

Oh, Guy Raz, they all seem to really love you.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, they really do, don't they? You know what they say about a dog being a guy's best friend.

[Mindy]

Okay, now everyone heel. Sit. Stay. Phew.

[Guy Raz]

Thanks for that, Sing.

[Mindy]

Make me a sandwich.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, so what's next?

[Mindy]

So now it's your turn to observe me while I speak to these dogs in an adult directed voice and using adult directed words. Okay?

[Guy Raz]

Okay.

[Mindy]

Hello, dogs. I enjoy competitive cornhole. I'm thinking about refinancing my home mortgage. I was once mistaken for a land otter. Okay, what are you observing, Guy Raz?

[Guy Raz]

Well, the same thing you are, Mindy. The dogs look pretty confused.

[Mindy]

Okay, so what did we learn from this experiment?

[Guy Raz]

That there's such a thing as competitive cornhole.

[Mindy]

No, with the dogs. What did we learn from observing the dogs reactions to our different ways of talking to them?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, right. Well, it was pretty obvious to me that most of those dogs seemed to bond a lot more with them with me after I talked to them in that high pitched baby voice.

[Mindy]

Right, and that was exactly what these researchers observed when they conducted their own experiment. Like this. Okay, you ready for the next one?

[Guy Raz]

Uh, there's more.

[Mindy]

Yeah, I told the owners that we'd have their dogs back in like 10 minutes.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, what's next?

[Mindy]

Now we're Gonna shake things up.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, no. Mindy. Beardsley's hardly even able to sit and stay. I don't know if he's ready to learn to shake yet.

[Mindy]

So then you. The next question the researchers had was, do dogs react to what we say or how we say it?

[Guy Raz]

So in that case, we should probably do some swapping. I'll use my high pitched dog directed voice only. This time I'll say non dog related things.

[Mindy]

You got it, little buddy. Grown up things, but in a baby voice. Go for it.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, here goes.

[Dennis]

Who won?

[Guy Raz]

And some kale salad with freshly grated parmesan. Who's a good congressional candidate?

[Mindy]

Good job, Guy Raz. Now I'm going to use my adult directed voice and say dog related things. Okay?

[Guy Raz]

Okay, I'm ready to observe.

[Mindy]

Let me smell your puppy breath. Do you have to poop? Do you have to poop? Get off that mail carrier.

[Dennis]

Huh?

[Guy Raz]

That was odd. Mindy, these dogs still look confused.

[Mindy]

Okay, so now let's observe who the dogs want to sniff more now.

[Dennis]

Huh?

[Guy Raz]

They're not moving, Mindy. It seems like they're not interested in either one of us now. I guess it's safe to say that dogs respond most to high pitched baby talk, especially when the person is also saying words that make sense to dogs.

[Mindy]

Yeah, and that's what these researchers discovered in their own experiments as well.

[Guy Raz]

That when it comes to dogs, it not only matters what you say, but also how you say it. And Mindy, I'm assuming that this research could really come in handy for people like veterinarians and animal rescue workers.

[Mindy]

Exact oritos, Guy Raz. But they found that speaking to dogs in dog directed speech or baby talk while saying dog directed things or things that dogs can kind of understand was especially important when it came to adult dogs.

[Guy Raz]

And what about puppies?

[Mindy]

Well, they found that puppies also responded to baby talk the most. But it didn't seem to matter what these researchers were actually saying to them.

[Guy Raz]

So they could say something like, always remember to floss your teeth and brush for two minutes. Get these puppies off of me.

[Mindy]

Wait, stay still. I'm trying to snap a pic to post on my face. Face. Get Raz. Stop wiggling. There. Got it. A little fuzzy, but guess that'll do. Who wants a puppy treat?

[Guy Raz]

I do. I do. I want a puppy treat.

[Mindy]

No, not you, Guy Raz. I'm trying to save you from the puppies.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, wait. Is that my organic free range grass.

[Mindy]

Fed St. Where's the beef? Where's the beef? Oh, yeah. Where's the beef. Where's the beef?

[Guy Raz]

My beautiful stake.

[Mindy]

Okay, guy Raz, we've gotta get these dogs back to their owners. Hop on this sled.

[Guy Raz]

Sled? Oh, no, Mindy.

[Mindy]

It's an urban dog sled. I invented it. Now hold on tight because here we.

[Dennis]

Wow, that was so cool. Okay, now I know how to do it. Did you like that podcast, Reggie? Did you like it? Huh? Huh? Boy, who's a good co host? Who's such a good pigeon? Oh, sorry. Ah, sorry. I got caught up in the puppy talk. I know you're a pigeon and not a puppy. Well, in my defense, you do like belly rubs. That's a great idea. We should go wander around the park and see if there are any puppies we can talk to. Who's a smart Reggie? Use a smarty smart little birdy bird. You are. You are. Okay, I'll stop. Let's 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 1-888-7-WOW-WOW. That's 1-888-7- wow Wow. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Okay, let's go. So, Reggie, do you think if we go to the park and just yell puppies, all the puppies will come to us? Or maybe we should go to like a puppy cafe? Is that a thing? Well, it should be. Okay, let's go to the puppy cafe and if there isn't one, let's invent it.

[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].

[Dennis]

Thanks for joining us for this edition of Wee Wow on the Weeknd. Our show is written by Ruth Morrison and Jed Anderson. The role of Baby Dennis is played by Jed Anderson. Ah, well then who plays the role of Big Dennis? Never you mind. Tee hee. Original sound design and production is done by Henry Moskal with contributions from Jed Anderson and Tyler Tholey. 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 Helpin, Ranzer, Thuy Mac, Erica Medina, Henry Muskill, Jody Nussbaum, Ali Paksima, Guy Raz, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Mindy Thomas, Johanna 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 wow. No, baby Dennis. We Wow.

[Mindy]

All right.

[Dennis]

Wee.

[Mindy]

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