WeWow on the Weekend

Summary

Wow in the World: "WeWow on the Weekend"
April 5, 2026 | Tinkercast

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode of “WeWow on the Weekend,” Dennis (and giant pigeon cohost Reggie) bring listeners on a weekend adventure brimming with humor, science, and audience participation. They kick things off with silly banter and fan reviews, then replay the classic Wow in the World episode "G-Force vs. Wasabi: How the Brain Registers Pain," featuring Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz. The focus today: why and how some creatures, like mole rats, are immune to the pain from spicy foods—plus what that might teach us about pain, nerves, and the wonders of science!

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Opening Antics and Viewer Reviews

[01:52–04:58]

• Dennis sings the new “WeWow on the Weekend” theme song and discusses minty-fresh dental floss and “snackies” stuck in his teeth, setting a whimsical, relatable tone.
• Fan Review Highlight:
  • Username: “ilovereggie” wishes Reggie had his own segment.
  • Dennis prompts Reggie to improvise a "Reggie Report" ('the news,' featuring weather so wild you'd need both a snowsuit and swimsuit!).
  • “Okay, I’ll admit it. Reggie is good at segments.” (Dennis, 05:24)
• The segment gently introduces themes of creativity and audience engagement.

2. Inside Tinkercast Studios: "G-Force vs. Wasabi"

[06:26–27:04]

• Episode Setup: Dennis announces the relisten of a favorite scientific adventure about peppers, wasabi, and the science of pain resistance.
• Mindy and Guy Raz prep for the Hot Pickle and Pepper Championships, with side tales about pet rescue sharks and the infamous “motor pickle” ride.
• Comic Moments:
  • “Pet baby shark? What the…” (Guy Raz, 10:37)
  • “Cradling a baby rescue shark in my arms?” (Mindy, 11:06)
  • “Well, I did install a sidecar on the motor pickle…” (Mindy, 12:41)

Science at the Competition

• Capsaicin & Peppers:
  • Explanation of capsaicin—the compound making peppers hot.
  • Jalapeños register 4,000 on the Scoville Scale; today’s championship peppers go up to 2 million!
    • “The peppers that these competitors will eat… measure in at closer to 2 million on the heat scale.” (Mindy, 16:27)
• Meet the Competitors:
  • Grandma G Force: Returning champ, known for withstanding spiciest peppers.
  • Nelson the Naked Mole Rat: Scientists have shown naked mole rats don’t feel pain from capsaicin.
    • “You can literally roll Nelson around in a pool of Carolina reapers and he won’t feel a thing.” (Guy Raz, 17:35)
  • Peppers swapped for wasabi—introducing a different type of pain compound: AITC (allyl isothiocyanate).
    • "Wasabi doesn’t have the same chemical compounds [as chilies]. It actually has a different chemical… AITC.” (Guy Raz, 18:51)
• Neuroscience Connection:
  • Capasicin and AITC trigger pain by activating different neuronal pathways.
  • Naked mole rats immune to capsaicin, but still susceptible to AITC.
    • “Naked mole rats just don’t have the neurons... that tell them a hot pepper is… painfully uncomfortable.” (Guy Raz, 17:44)
  • The twist: Harold, a highveld mole rat, is introduced:
    • Highveld mole rats found immune to wasabi/AITC pain as well (unlike their naked cousins).
    • “I think the reason why is because Harold’s brain is designed to block the sensation… when we eat wasabi.” (Guy Raz, 22:55)

3. Scientific Deep-Dive: The Evolution of Pain Immunity

[23:06–26:55]

• Experimental Evidence:
  • Dr. Gary Lewin’s lab in Berlin studied why some mole rats feel no pain.
  • Highveld mole rats’ neurons have a sort of “escape hatch” so the painful chemicals can’t trigger the pain signal.
    • “That escape hatch allows all of those AITC chemicals to escape… before they’re able to send a signal… that it should feel pain.” (Guy Raz, 24:23)
• Evolutionary Backdrop:
  • Highveld mole rats share burrows with stinging ants (natal droptails); evolved pain immunity against their stings—also rich in AITC-like chemicals.
    • “Their bodies evolved… to make them resistant to those painful ant stings.” (Mindy, 25:27)
• Real-World Applications:
  • Discoveries in mole rat neurology may offer breakthroughs for pain management in humans, such as during surgeries.
    • "Maybe we could figure out how to trick the neurons in our brains to not notice certain types of pain?" (Mindy, 25:56)

4. Whimsical Wrap-Up & Dennis’ Extended Cut

[27:04–29:31]

• Dennis recaps his own “day at the Peppers championship,” including sneaking into the arena, singing “Dennis Shark doo doo doo doo,” and mistaking wasabi for mint ice cream.
  • “I ate a big spoonful and then I screamed and sneezed… and wasabi blew out of my nose.” (Dennis, 27:39)
• Team decides to “train” by eating sushi—with wasabi, naturally.
• Advice for listeners: call in with questions, enjoy fun ways to eat sushi (sushi kebab, anyone?), and keep science weird and wonderful.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Minty dental floss makes my friendship bracelets minty fresh.”
  —Dennis ([02:36])

• “What’s today’s date? It’s April 1st, isn’t it? April Fools, Guy Razzie.”
  —Mindy ([00:51])

• “Capsaicin… is that natural chemical that gives hot peppers their burn.”
  —Mindy ([15:54])

• “Are you telling me that… you can literally roll Nelson around in a pool of Carolina reapers and he won’t feel a thing?”
  —Guy Raz ([17:35])

• “Wasabi doesn’t have the same chemical compounds of chilies. It actually has a different chemical called allyl isothiocyanate or AITC.”
  —Guy Raz ([18:51])

• “That escape hatch allows all of those AITC chemicals to escape… before they’re able to send a signal… that it should feel pain.”
  —Guy Raz ([24:23])

• “Maybe we could figure out how to trick the neurons in our brains to not notice certain types of pain?”
  —Mindy ([25:56])

• “This one time, I mistook a bowl of wasabi for mint ice cream.”
  —Dennis ([27:39])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:52] — Show proper begins: “WeWow on the Weekend” intro theme, banter with Dennis & Reggie
• [04:59] — Reggie’s News Segment ("The Reggie Report")
• [06:26] — Inside Tinkercast Studios segue to "G-Force vs. Wasabi"
• [15:36–18:00] — Capsaicin, Scoville scale, Naked Mole Rat explanation
• [18:42] — Wasabi is introduced; AITC science, comparison with peppers
• [21:23–22:55] — Harold the highveld mole rat triumphs, science deep dive
• [24:23–25:44] — Escape hatch in neurons, evolution, ant stings
• [25:56] — Future of pain research/implications for human health
• [27:04–29:00] — Dennis’s “Extended Cut” and behind-the-scenes stories
• [29:31–31:00+] — Listener call-in invitation, final wrap-up

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Episode Tone & Takeaways

The episode is playful, imaginative, and packed with wordplay and character antics. Underneath the fun, Mindy and Guy Raz seamlessly introduce core neuroscience concepts—pain receptors, chemical signaling, evolution, species adaptation, and medical implications—making the science accessible and engaging for kids and families.

Main takeaway:
Nature is full of surprises—from pain-proof mole rats to spicy plants—and science explains not only what happens, but sometimes how we might use those wild abilities to help people.

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For Further Wow-ing

Listeners are encouraged to ask questions, try STEM activities, and keep experimenting. As always: when it comes to science and curiosity, “Who wows? I wow!”

Transcript

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, Wowzer fams Mindy and Guy Razzie here. And before we start the show, we have a little announcement for you.

[Guy Raz]

We just got a brand new item in stock at our shop.

[Mindy Thomas]

Introducing the state of the art, never before seen, heard or wanted jar of farts.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

Do you or a loved one enjoy the smell of a fresh toot? No. Well, then you're not gonna like this. Each wow in the World Zara farts features the latest vacuum sealing technology to preserve the tooth's original odor so your nose will be so full of sulfur the second your sniffer gets a whiff of it.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, this is gross. No one's gonna wanna buy this.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's exactly what market research said. But I think.

[Guy Raz]

Wait a minute. What's Today's date? It's April 1, isn't it?

[Mindy Thomas]

April Fools? Guy Razzie.

[Guy Raz]

So we're not selling jars? Of course.

[Mindy Thomas]

Of course not. But we do have some stem toys that toot.

[Guy Raz]

Toot Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Like our wow in the World High flying air rocket. It's got a toot nozzle for when you wanna let her rip. And our wow in the World Amazing human body kit comes with a toot whistle too. And not to toot our own horn here, but we've got lots of stem toys that will wow the kids in your life who love science and the ones who don't yet grownups.

[Guy Raz]

Visit Tinkercast.com to shop the wow. Now that's Tinkercast.com shop. Now back to the show.

[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. 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 here's my co host, Reggie the giant pigeon. Hold on. This is the show where we hang out, chit chat, answer questions from our fans, and listen to Tinkercast podcasts. I'm not talking weird. I'm just. I have some food stuck in my teeth. I know it's gross. That's why I'm trying to get it out. Well, I can't just leave it in there, Reggie. I'll get a cavity. I don't have any dental floss. I used it all to make friendship bracelets because Reggie, dental floss makes my friendship bracelets minty fresh. Well, there's gotta be something else around here I can use. Like floss. Um, let's see. How about one of these sour candy straws? Ah, right. Candy straws are probably not good for teeth either. Huh? Well, how about you just take a look in my mouth and tell me which tooth the food is stuck in? Okay. Ah. See anything? No. But which tooth is that? Second roller A Fred left. Okay, I feel it. Ah, got it. Ooh, it's a piece of turkey jerky. Yay, snackies. Oh, come on, Reggie. You've seen me eat way grosser stuff than this. Uh huh. What about those gummy slugs that were actual slugs? Whatever. Moving on, let's get into our first segment called Rating Reviewsies. I'm reading reviewsies for me and for you Zs. We've got us some doozies. So let's read reviews. Z's. This is the part where people write us comments on Apple podcasts or Spotify or whatever, and I print a bunch out and I read them aloud. Okay, this first reviewsie comes from username ilovereggie. Ooh, Reggie, somebody loves you. The message? Reggie should have his own segment. Okay, Reggie, if you could have your own segment on this show, what would it be about? The news. But I already do a news segment. The Snoop Scoop, remember? It is so real news. Fine, Mr. News Pigeon, let's see what you got.

[Announcer]

Ahem.

[Dennis]

And now it's time for our next segment. Psst, Ratchy, what's the name of your segment? Oh, good one. The Reggie report. Ooh, wow. 53 llamas on the loose. Really? Mindy broke a world record. Oh, wow. That's the weather today. So I guess I should wear a swimsuit and a snowsuit. Okay, I'll admit it. Reggie is good at segments. And speaking of segments, 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 25 called G Force vs. Wasabi. How the brain registers pain. Wasabi? That's that green Japanese horseradish that they put on stuff like sushi, right? Why do they call it horseradish, by the way? Do horses eat the radishes or do they grow em? Oh, yeah, I guess we'll find out. Okay, here we go. And play.

[Mindy Thomas]

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

[IXL Sponsor]

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[Guy Raz]

Hey Wowzer Fams Guy, Raz and Mindy here. And before we start the show, Happy

[Mindy Thomas]

Earth Day to you.

[Guy Raz]

Happy Earth Day to you. Happy Earth Day, dear Wowzers.

[Mindy Thomas]

Happy Earth Day to you.

[Guy Raz]

If you're looking for ways to celebrate our Earth today and every day, visit tinkercast.comearth to find activities, episodes and videos that bring the wows of the world right to you.

[Mindy Thomas]

And while you're at it, don't forget to show your gratitude to the Earth today. It does a pretty good job of taking care of all of us, so let's all remember to take care of it too.

[Guy Raz]

That's it. Now let's get back to the show.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, Wowzer fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show. Oh, sorry about that. I forgot to put it on silent. Hey, wait a second. It's anemie from us. Check it out, Reg. Let's see here. It says we've got episode recommendations, free STEM activities to try out at home. The latest news about what's happening at Tinkercast. Pretty bonker balls, huh? Here, I'll help you sign up. So you and the grown ups will just go to tinkercast.comemail and put in your first and last names and email address. Wait, Reggie, I just realized I don't know your last name. Really? Is that with a silent G or a silent Q? Huh, who knew? Let's see here. Oh, and you're not a robot, right? Sorry, just had to double check. Okay, you are all signed up grown ups. You can sign up for our Tinkercast newsletter too. It's full of ideas on how to get some extra wow to your family's life. Visit tinkercast.comemail to sign up today. That's tinkercast.comemail. that's it. And now let's get on with the show. That's it. Now back to the show. Mindy?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, where are you?

[Mindy Thomas]

Mindy, we're gonna be late. Where is she?

[Guy Raz]

She knows we have two tickets to the Hot Pickle and Pepper Eating Championships.

[Mindy Thomas]

Mindy, can you hear me?

[Dennis]

Sheesh.

[Guy Raz]

She must be in the shower. We're gonna be late. Mindy, hurry up.

[Mindy Thomas]

I'll be right there. I'm just giving my new pet baby shark a bath. Yes, I am.

[Guy Raz]

Pet baby shark? What the.

[Mindy Thomas]

Good morning, Guy Raz. Ah. Why do you always do that whenever I'm holding a killer animal? Gonna scare him. Calm down, Guy Raz. Baby lockjaw here is not gonna eat you. Pretty sure, Baby lockjaw. Mindy, why are you cradling a baby

[Guy Raz]

shark in your arms?

[Mindy Thomas]

Um, you mean, why am I cradling a baby rescue shark in my arms?

[Guy Raz]

Huh?

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz. I rescued him from babysharkrescue.com.

[Guy Raz]

a rescue shark?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah. Ever since that baby shark song came out, all these celebrities have been buying baby sharks as pets. But after they realize how much responsibility they take, well, then.

[Guy Raz]

Well, what?

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, they just dump them on the stairs in front of the babysharkrescue.com office downtown.

[Guy Raz]

But why did you decide to adopt one?

[Mindy Thomas]

You mean rescue one?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, rescue one. I mean, don't you think Lockjaw would be better off in, say, the ocean?

[Mindy Thomas]

Huh? The ocean. The ocean, yeah.

[Dennis]

Nope.

[Mindy Thomas]

Never even considered it. Anywho, I was just about to put on my Anaheim chili pepper slippers so that we can take off for the hot pickle and pepper championships. You ready?

[Guy Raz]

Ready. I've been trying to tell you we're going to be late for the last five minutes.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, then let's go. What's taking you so long, Reggie?

[Dennis]

Hey there, Mindy. Hey there, Guy. Hey there, little Carcharodon carcharius.

[Guy Raz]

Carcharodon carcharus?

[Dennis]

Yes, the Latin name for a great white shark.

[Guy Raz]

Oh.

[Dennis]

Huh. So, what are you up to today?

[Guy Raz]

Well, Dennis, we were just about to leave. See you later.

[Dennis]

Ooh, leaving? That sounds like fun. I'll leave, too. Hang on. Let me get my wetsuit.

[Guy Raz]

Wetsuit. Hang on. But you don't even know where we're going.

[Dennis]

That's why I'm grabbing the wetsuit.

[Guy Raz]

Gotta be prepared, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, I did install a sidecar on the motor pickle, so there's. There's not. Not room for Dennis. Hey, Dennis, you ever ride a motor pickle?

[Dennis]

No. But once I had a bicycle with a banana seat. Does that count?

[Guy Raz]

We're taking the motor pickle. That thing is dangerous.

[Mindy Thomas]

Dangerous? Yes. And it's also perfect. Guy Raz, we're going to the Hot Pickle and Pepper Championships. Come on.

[Dennis]

Yeah, Guy, come on.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay, I'll be ready to go in just a sec. But first I gotta go put Baby Lockjaw back in the bathtub. Be right back. Run, run, run.

[Dennis]

So, Guy, what's new? Uh, Ren?

[Mindy Thomas]

Ren. Ren. Okay, all ready to go. Now. To the motor pickle.

[Announcer]

Yeah.

[Dennis]

To the motor pickle.

[Guy Raz]

To the motor Pickle.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hop on back, Guy Raz.

[Dennis]

And hop in the sidecar, Dennis. Guys, look, I'm literally and figuratively a third wheel. Isn't this fun?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I guess this means.

[Mindy Thomas]

Here we go.

[Dennis]

Whoa. Whoa. That was awesome.

[Mindy Thomas]

How's that for a parking job?

[Guy Raz]

Parking job? Mindy, you've screeched into a vegetable garden.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, where else would you park a giant pickle that doubles as a motorcycle?

[Dennis]

That is an excellent point.

[Announcer]

Attention, please have your event tickets ready. This is a sold out show. Tickets purchased in advance only.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, man, I only have two tickets. Sorry, Dennis. I didn't know you were coming until you invited yourself today.

[Dennis]

Well, that's okay, Mindy. You know, it's like my mother always says, don't invite Dennis if you don't want. Ah. Dennis, what are you doing here? You scared me. Ah, Mother so wise. Anyway, I'll just stay back and clean the motor pickle. I mean, look at this thing, it's filthy.

[Guy Raz]

Good idea. Here, catch.

[Dennis]

Oh, wow. Apple cider vinegar. This will be perfect. And you know what? Maybe I should check the air filter and then clean the spark plugs.

[Guy Raz]

Thanks, Dennis.

[Dennis]

You're awesome, guys. You're the best, Dennis. Looks like a 76. My dad had a 76.

[Mindy Thomas]

Come on, guy Raz, we better hurry up. Grandma G Force is competing in the first round. She's the defending champ.

[Announcer]

Tickets, please.

[Guy Raz]

Here you go.

[Announcer]

Thank you. You two are seated in section 105,

[Dennis]

row T, section C.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait for me, Mindy. Excuse us, excuse us. Thank you. You squeezing through? Thank you.

[Guy Raz]

I didn't realize how long it would take to get to our seats.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, just in time. The competition is about to begin.

[Announcer]

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 13th annual Hot Pickle and Pepper Championships. Two reigning Capsaicin champions will face off in the ultimate battle of the Chase Buds.

[Guy Raz]

Capsaicin. Capsaicin.

[Mindy Thomas]

I know.

[Guy Raz]

I've heard that word before.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yeah. Capsaicin is that natural chemical that gives hot Peppers their burn.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, right. And the way they score how hot a pepper is is by using the Scoville heat unit.

[Mindy Thomas]

Exact Doritos guy Raz. In fact, that lowly little jalapeno pepper that you can just get at the grocery store, that measures in at around 4,000 on the Scoville heat scale. But the peppers that these competitors will eat today, these babies are measuring in at closer to 2 million on the heat scale.

[Guy Raz]

2 million? Man, someone's gonna get hurt.

[Mindy Thomas]

Did somebody say time for hurting?

[Guy Raz]

It's Grandma G Force.

[Mindy Thomas]

Go Grandma G Force.

[Announcer]

In the left corner, the queen of Campsaicin, the princess of pain, the first lady of fire, Grandma Gforce.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow. We love you, Grandma. Jeepers.

[Dennis]

Woo woo woo woo woo.

[Announcer]

And in the right corner, the upstart, the nobody, the small potato who clawed his way to the top of Habanero Mountain. Please welcome Nelson the naked mole rat.

[Mindy Thomas]

Nelson the naked mole rat. I didn't even know mole rats were eligible for this contest.

[Guy Raz]

Oh yeah, Mindy. Several years ago, a scientist named Gary Lewin discovered that mole rats. Rats are not sensitive to capsaicin.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait a minute, are you telling me that.

[Guy Raz]

Yup. You can literally roll Nelson around in a pool of Carolina reapers and he won't feel a thing.

[Mindy Thomas]

What?

[Dennis]

But how?

[Guy Raz]

Well, naked mole rats just don't have the neurons in their brains that tell them a hot pepper is, well, painfully uncomfortable.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, so it's all about the neurons. Those teeny tiny cells in the brain that pass information to other cells and to parts of our bodies.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly.

[Mindy Thomas]

So you know what this means, guy Raz?

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

That Grandma G Force is doomed. There's no way she'll be able to defeat Nelson the naked mole rat.

[Announcer]

These two fire eating competitors have mastered the hottest peppers known to humankind. The Carolina Reaper, the Dragon's Breath, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, the Komodo dragon chili, and on and on and on and so forth. But today we've got a different kind of heat. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you wasabi.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wasabi? Wow.

[Guy Raz]

They're gonna make em eat wasabi?

[Mindy Thomas]

Is he talking about the Japanese horseradish that they serve at sushi places?

[Guy Raz]

Well, that's what it sounds like. But you know, Mindy, wasabi doesn't have the same chemical compounds of chilies. It actually has a different chemical called allyl isothiosinate or aitc.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait a minute. Isn't that the chemical in some plants that burns your sinuses or those areas right under your face, above your eyebrows and in your cheeks?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. And unlike peppers, wasabi doesn't usually burn your tongue, but man oh man, it can really make your head feel like it's gonna explode.

[Announcer]

Competitors, are you ready?

[Mindy Thomas]

Didn't your mama teach you to read? Even my unitard says I'm ready now.

[Announcer]

Bring on the heat, Milseth, are you ready? On the count of three, both of you will eat a spoonful of wasabi. One. Two. Three.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, my sinuses. They're on fire. Ah, snap. I need water. Give me some white rice. Hand me that fire extinguisher. I'm on fire. What's going on? Guy Ran, what's happening with Grandma GeForce?

[Guy Raz]

I think Grandma GeForce and Nelson the naked Mole Rat aren't reacting well to the AITC chemical in the wasabi.

[Announcer]

The wasabi has defeated our competitors. I guess the winner of round one is the wasabi.

[Mindy Thomas]

It's okay Grandma G Force. You'll get that wasabi next time.

[Announcer]

Is there anyone in the crowd who thinks they can conquer the the mighty power of wasabi? What's this? A volunteer? Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the arena.

[Dennis]

Harold,

[Mindy Thomas]

what is that?

[Guy Raz]

I'm not sure. Can I borrow your magnifying goggles?

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh yeah, let me just get them out of my toolkit here. Kitchen sink. Get that out of there. Alice, your cat?

[Guy Raz]

Nope.

[Mindy Thomas]

Kiki, your new dog? Nope.

[Guy Raz]

You have Alice and Kiki inside your toolkit?

[Mindy Thomas]

My kombucha starter?

[Guy Raz]

Nope. That's my kombucha starter.

[Mindy Thomas]

Um, Iron anvil? Nope. Um. Oh, there are my magnifying goggles. Here you go, Guy Raz, let me

[Guy Raz]

take a closer look.

[Mindy Thomas]

What is it? What do you see?

[Guy Raz]

Yep, just as I thought. Mindy, I think Harold is a.

[Mindy Thomas]

You mean the mole rat species that's found in South Africa?

[Guy Raz]

Exactly.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, why would Harold the highveled mole rat think that he could do what Grandma G Force and his cousin Nelson the naked mole rat couldn't do?

[Guy Raz]

Well, I think it might have something to do with the way Harold's neurons handle pain.

[Announcer]

Harold, are you ready for some wasabi? On the count of three, Harold the high billed mole rat will put this spoonful of green Japanese horseradish into his mouth. One, two. And three. Well, Harold? Anything? Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like Harold the high built Molered has dethroned Grandma G Force and Nelson the naked mole rat as this year's hot pickle and pepper champion.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well you better watch your face Harold, cause I'm a comin for you next year.

[Guy Raz]

Amazing. Mindy, Harold's the new champion.

[Mindy Thomas]

I can't believe it. Kyrah's Grandma G Force has never been out spiced by a competitor before. And a highvel mole rat. Man, I did not see that one coming.

[Guy Raz]

And I think the the reason why is because Harold's brain is designed to block the sensation or feeling that most of the rest of us get when we eat wasabi.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait a minute, I think I heard about this. Are you talking about a recent study done by that same scientist, Dr. Gary Lewin?

[Guy Raz]

That's the one, Mindy. Gary Lewin works at the Max Delbruck center in Berlin, Germany. And he knew that naked mole rats didn't feel pain when they ate things with capsaicin like peppers. But he also knew that naked mole rats couldn't eat things with AITC like wasabi. So he wanted to find out if there were creatures who didn't feel anything when they ate plants with AITC like wasabi.

[Mindy Thomas]

And I have a sneaking suspicion that he discovered that high belled mole rats like Harold here don't feel that wasabi burn.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy. Not only that, but the scientists in Germany actually gave these high veiled mole rats a shot of pure aitc.

[Mindy Thomas]

The same chemical found in wasabi?

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. And it was such a high amount of AITC that the scientists actually had to wear gas masks in the lab. Whoa. And guess what?

[Mindy Thomas]

I'm guessing that the highveled mole rats didn't feel a single.

[Guy Raz]

Not one bit.

[Mindy Thomas]

But why? I mean, how is that even possible?

[Guy Raz]

Well, the scientists in Germany found that the neurons in their brains have an escape hatch.

[Mindy Thomas]

What? An escape hatch in their brains like the one we have in the WOW machine?

[Guy Raz]

Well yeah. And that escape hatch allows all of those AITC chemicals to escape or to leak out before they're able to send a signal to the rats body that it should feel pain.

[Mindy Thomas]

Did the scientists come up with a theory for why?

[Guy Raz]

Well it turns out the hive elled mole rats live underground and they happen to share their homes with an ant species called natal droptails.

[Mindy Thomas]

Natal droptails? Oh, you mean those ants that have that nasty sting?

[Guy Raz]

Those are the ones. And these scientists believe that over millions of years, the highveled mole rats naturally developed a way to to defend themselves against the pain of those stings. Because the sting in those ants contains a chemical that is very similar to the chemical in wasabi aitc.

[Mindy Thomas]

So what you're telling me is that the high belled mole rats bodies evolved or changed over time to make them resistant to those painful ant stings.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. And today highveled mole rats don't feel any pain when they're Exposed to those chemicals.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, man. So what could all of this even mean?

[Guy Raz]

Well, what's really cool is that the scientists believe that rats like Harold could help us humans understand how to deal with our own pain.

[Mindy Thomas]

You mean, maybe we could figure out how to trick the neurons in our brains to not notice certain types of pain?

[Guy Raz]

That's right. Especially for people who are in the hospital or have to have surgery.

[Mindy Thomas]

Man, that's bonker balls Guy Raz. And you know, now, even though Harold might be the new reigning champ, I gotta say, grandma GeForce did put up a pretty impressive fight, didn't she? Did somebody say sushi? Tell you what, I can throw down some sushi right now. Grandma G force. You did so great out there. And you know what? No matter what happened in that rink today, you're still the same spiciest little pepper I know. Spicy pepper nothing. Getting spiced out by a mole rat. You know, let's go to that sushi place. I'm gonna throw down a California roll and get my wasabi on. Okay. Start training for next year.

[Guy Raz]

That's a great idea.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, wait. We left Dennis with a motor pickle. We better tell him we're going for sushi.

[Dennis]

Sushi.

[Guy Raz]

Dennis, how'd you get into the stadium?

[Dennis]

Well, I went to the ticket booth to ask if they had any standing room only tickets available, and wouldn't you know it? They said, sir, stop trying to put your face through the ticket slot. We can hear you just fine where you are. But they weren't gonna get rid of me that easily. I might not be the quickest bunny in the forest.

[Mindy Thomas]

Dennis.

[Dennis]

Oh, right, sorry. What were we talking about? Sushi. Are we going to dinner?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, it's more of like a training thing than a dinner. We're just trying to, you know, get grandma G force ready to take on more wasabi.

[Dennis]

Wasabi? Oh, no, none for me, thank you. This one time, I mistook a bowl of wasabi for mint ice cream. I ate a big spoonful and then I screamed and sneezed at the same time, and wasabi blew out of my nose. And then the librarian said, wait, did I mention this was in the library? Anyway, the librarian said, rose. And I said, quiet, we're at the library. And she said, wow, that was so cool. Yeah, I forgot I was in that one. Yeah, because while Mindy and Guy Raz were watching Granny G and those mole rats, I was off doing my own thing. Yeah, I have a tape around here with the extended Dennis cut with my version of the episode. Oh, here it is. Listen, here's me washing the motor. Pickle Dennis Shark Doo doo doo doo doo doo Dennis Shark doo doo doo doo doo doo Dennis Shark Dennis Shark Grandma G4 Shark Doo Doo Doo doo. And here's me trying to get a ticket to the sold out competition.

[Announcer]

Sorry, sir, there are no more tickets.

[Mindy Thomas]

Police.

[Dennis]

Police. Mr. Security man, just let me in, please. Please, please, please, please.

[Announcer]

So,

[Dennis]

and here's me sneaking into the competition by hopping the fence. They'll never catch me. Memories. Hey, Reggie, wanna go get sushi so we can have some wasabi? Hooray. 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-WWOW Wow. I just might answer your question on Wewow on the weekend. Okay, let's go. Hey, Reggie, what kind of sushi do you like? Oh, right. Whichever one has the most sesame seeds on it. You know what I like to do with my sushi? I like to take my salmon roll and skewer it on my chopstick. Like a sushi kebab. Yeah. And then everyone gets really mad at me when I do it. It's like, hello, people. Ever hear of fusion cuisine? Thanks for joining us for this edition of We Wow. Our show is written by Ruth Morrison and Jed Anderson. The role of baby Dennis is played by Jed Anderson, mother, who plays the role of Big Dennis. Never your mind. Tee hee. Original sound design and production is done by Tyler Thole with contributions from Jed Anderson and Henry Moskal. Original music for Wee Wow is composed and performed by Tyler Thol. Special thanks to Jessica Bode, Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall, Kenny Curtis, Kristin Yang, Meredith Helpern, Ranzer, Twee Mac, Jody Nussbaum, Ali Paksima, Guy Raz, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Mindy Thomas, 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 from Tinkercast. Thanks again for thinking tinkering, experimenting and exploring with me this week. Be sure to check out episodes of wow in the world on Mondays 2 what's in a wow On Fridays? And We Wow on the weekend with Dennis on the weekends. And remember who Wows. I wow oh, baby. Dennis. We wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

All right.

[Dennis]

We wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow in the world Was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.