WeWow on the Weekend (8/2/25)

Summary

Wow in the World - Episode: WeWow on the Weekend (08/02/25)
Release Date: August 2, 2025
Host: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz

---

1. Introduction: Places That Inspire "Wow"

Timestamp: [00:12]

Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz kick off the episode by sharing their favorite awe-inspiring places on Earth, setting an enthusiastic tone for the show.

• Mindy: "A place on our planet that wows me is Sonoma Coast State Park. It's in California, but when you visit, some days it looks like you're in tropical Hawaii. Other days it looks like you're on the cliffs of Ireland." ([00:24])

• Guy Raz: "A place on our planet that wows me is the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. It's the only wildlife refuge in the world dedicated to protecting the West Indian manatee. And when you visit, you can actually see these gentle giants up close if you mind your manatee manners." ([00:42])

They encourage listeners to share their own "wow" places, inviting engagement through calls and video submissions.

---

2. Transition to "WeWow on the Weekend"

Timestamp: [01:38]

The hosts transition to the segment "WeWow on the Weekend," introducing Dennis and Reggie the pigeon as the co-hosts, setting up a fun and whimsical atmosphere.

---

3. Listener Q&A Segment

Timestamp: [06:00] - [07:16]

Dennis and Reggie engage with listeners by answering questions submitted by fans.

• Ellie from York, Pennsylvania: "If you were to have a hot dog eating contest, who would win? Reggie or Dennis?" ([05:54])

  • Guy Raz: "Definitely Reggie would win. Because, Reggie, you eat a lot of hot dogs. [...] You use your gizzard to grind it up. [...] So if we had a contest, you'd be gizzarding hot dogs one after the other, and I'd be chewing them all slow with my human mouth." ([06:07])

This playful exchange highlights the personalities of the hosts and sets the stage for further comedic interactions.

---

4. Inside Tinkercast Studios: Revisiting "WeWow on the Weekend"

Timestamp: [07:28] - [09:10]

Reggie attempts to revisit an episode of "WeWow on the Weekend," resulting in humorous chaos as they simulate technical difficulties and time paradoxes.

• Reggie: "This is from the first episode of Wewo on the Weekend. [...] Reggie, quit talking. It's hurting my brain. It's going to rip a hole in the space-time continuum." ([08:54])

This segment adds a layer of meta-humor, engaging listeners familiar with the show's behind-the-scenes antics.

---

5. Nom Nom Awards: A Culinary Comedy

Timestamp: [12:07] - [28:21]

The core of the episode revolves around the fictional "Nom Nom Awards," a playful take on culinary achievements with a plethora of food puns and creative award categories.

• Guy Raz: "What I'm unveiling today is. Is not a revolutionary new form of renewable energy like I had told you. But I think you'll find it just as impressive. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the pop tart party Peanut." ([12:09])

• Mindy: "First and foremost, we'd like to thank the academy for their great taste in food. Thanks to our parents for always making sure we ate a healthy breakfast. And of course, thank you to the scientists and researchers who did the study that inspired our project." ([24:26])

These interactions blend humor with educational content, maintaining the show's signature "wow" factor.

---

6. Spotlight on "Ricequake": The Winning Nomination

Timestamp: [16:52] - [27:56]

A significant portion of the episode delves into the scientific basis behind the award-winning screenplay "Ricequake," showcasing the intersection of science and creativity.

• Mindy: "One of the nominees from that category is based on an actual scientific study by researchers Itay Einav and Francois Gillard from the University of Sydney in Australia." ([17:15])

• Guy Raz: "So these researchers were using these rice crunchies to simulate or model how these ice sheets and dams might react in the wild." ([23:30])

• Mindy: "The researchers found that whole layers of the rice puffs would collapse into themselves all at the same time. And they would make this very loud cracking sound." ([26:55])

The hosts explain how the study utilizing rice crunchies helps predict the collapse of natural structures like dams and ice shelves, bridging the gap between everyday items and complex scientific phenomena.

---

7. Conclusion: Wrapping Up the Nom Nom Awards

Timestamp: [27:56] - [30:07]

The episode concludes with the announcement of "Ricequake" as the winner of the "Best Adapted Screenplay from a Breakfast Food" category, followed by light-hearted banter and a teaser for future content.

• Mindy: "This is the breakfast cereal's third nomination and its first win. Here to accept the award is Snap, Crackle, and Pop." ([24:00])

The hosts express gratitude to listeners and encourage continued engagement, maintaining a warm and inviting atmosphere.

---

Notable Quotes

• Guy Raz on Porous Materials: "A porous material is a material that has tiny cracks or holes in it, right?" ([19:02])

• Mindy on Scientific Application: "By adjusting their timescale from a few seconds to a few years, these researchers are hoping that this model [...] can be used to understand and predict bigger collapses like the ones you were talking about." ([27:23])

• Humorous Interaction:

  • Reggie: "Rice quake." ([24:08])
  • Mindy: "This is such an honor." ([24:22])
  • Guy Raz: "That's bonker balls, Guy Raz." ([27:40])

---

Insights and Conclusions

This episode of "Wow in the World" masterfully blends humor, science, and creativity. By integrating a fictional awards show with actual scientific research, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz create an engaging narrative that educates while entertaining. The detailed explanation of the "Ricequake" study exemplifies the show's commitment to making complex topics accessible to both kids and their grown-ups. Additionally, the interactive segments and playful banter foster a sense of community and participation among listeners.

Overall, "WeWow on the Weekend" delivers a rich and multifaceted listening experience, embodying the podcast's mission to inspire wonder and curiosity about the world.

Transcript

[Mindy]

Grown Ups Wondery subscribers can listen to wow in the World early and ad free right now. Join Wondery in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Guy Raz]

Hey Wowzer fams Mindy and Guy Raz here. And before we start the show, we were just talking about places on our planet that make us say wow. Tell them about our favorite place. Guy Raz Sure.

[Mindy]

Mindy. Well, a place on our planet that wows me is Sonoma Coast State Park. It's in California, but when you visit, some days it looks like you're in tropical Hawaii. Other days it looks like you're on the cliffs of Ireland.

[Guy Raz]

Ooh, I can't wait to visit there.

[Mindy]

Guy Raz what about you? Mindy?

[Guy Raz]

Well, a place on our planet that wows me is the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. It's the only wildlife refuge in the world dedicated to protecting the West Indian manatee. And when you visit, you can actually see these gentle giants up close if you mind your manatee manners.

[Mindy]

That sounds amazing. Mindy. Wowzers. Is there a place on our planet that wows you? We want to hear about it.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, give us a call at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW to tell us about a place on earth that wows you the most. That's 1-888-7-WOW wow.

[Mindy]

Or you can send us a video too. Grown Ups. Upload your [e-mail] ShareYourWow we can't wait.

[Guy Raz]

To hear from you. And who knows, you may even featured in an upcoming episode called Planet Wow.

[Mindy]

That's it for now. Let's get back to the show.

[Dennis]

Hey Grown ups, if you've got Pokemon fans in your life, and maybe you even grew up as one yourself, check out the Pokemon Trading Card Game. It's a great way to experience the world of Pokemon for enthusiasts of all ages. Every card has an awesome illustration on it with either a Pokemon trainer item or stadium, and with several different art styles and artists, you'll want to catch em all. See how your cards stack up against others in easy to learn Pokemon battles, or just collect and trade them. There's no right or wrong way to enjoy the Pokemon Trading Card Game. And now you can collect the newest cards from the Black Bolt and White Flare expansion pack. For info on the latest expansions, game rules and more, visit tcg.pokemon.com hey grown ups, as your family gears up to go back to school, make sure that you're preparing both minds and bodies. Try Ollie, the number one kids supplement brand that makes your family's health and wellness a breeze. Ollie offers a range of vitamins and supplements for kids and adults so you can trust them for your whole family's needs. Kids Multi Plus Probiotic is a tasty essential that kids love. And Kids Sleep offers gentle supports to help them rest. And for the parents, Ollie has your back too. Try multivitamins for immune support and more. And sleep gummies to help you get your best rest. [e-mail] or retailers nationwide. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

[Reggie]

Wee wow on the weekend? Wee wow on the weekend? Wee wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Talking, laughing, me and Reggie singing, laughing. And then we. Oh, wait, no, I said laughing twice. Whatever. We wow on the weekend. Yeah, we wow on the weekend. Laugh, clap, me wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend Weekend. Hello and welcome to Wee Wow on the Weekend. I'm your host, Dennis, and that pigeon you hear in your ear is my co host, Reggie, right, Who is in fact, a pigeon. This is the show where we chit chat and answer questions from our fans and listen to Tinkercast podcasts. Hey, Reggie, I haven't seen you around lately. Where you been? On vacation. Wow, cool. Where'd you go on vacation, Reggie? Antarctica. What? Reggie, vacations are for being on the beach with sunglasses and big floppy hats, not for being cold at the South Pole. Oh, this wasn't a beach vacation. It was an adventure vacation. Well, I forgot there are different types of vacations. So what'd you do in Antarctica? You hung out with penguins? I love penguins. They're so cute. Yeah, I love how they waddle around and slide on their bellies and look like they're wearing little tuxedos. Did you wear a tuxedo and slide around on your belly like a penguin? Aw. You gave the penguins a ride on your back and flew them around because they can't fly even though they have wings. Reggie, that's so sweet, but I'm glad you're back because we have a show to do. That's right. We need to hear from our devoted listeners with a Q and A segment. Ahem, 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 wewow on the Weekend.

[Mindy]

That's me.

[Reggie]

Do you have a question? Well, I do too. Lots of them. And who's going to answer all my questions?

[Guy Raz]

You?

[Reggie]

Probably not, but I guess I can answer yours. Leave me a message.

[Guy Raz]

Hi, Dennis. My name is Ellie and I live in York, Pennsylvania.

[Reggie]

Hi, Ellie.

[Guy Raz]

My question is, if you were to have a hot dog eating contest, who would win? Reggie or Dennis?

[Reggie]

If we were to have a hot dog eating contest, who would win, Reggie or me? Good question, Ellie. Definitely Reggie would win. Because, Reggie, you eat a lot of hot dogs. Just you, Joe. Whenever you go to New York City to visit your cousins, you end up eating a bunch of hot dogs off the sidewalk together. And you don't even really chew your food. You swallow it whole and use your gizzard to grind it up. Your gizzard, Reggie. It's a little organ that you have in your body that I don't have in mind, and it's not fair. I want a gizzard. So if we had a contest, you'd be gizzarding hot dogs one after the other, and I'd be chewing them all slow with my human mouth. Also, I don't really like hot dogs. No, I prefer fully cooked sausage, like bologna logs or a pig in a blanket. Oh, yeah, or a corn dog. I love corn dogs. They have a je ne sais corn about them. No, Reggie, I don't want to have a corn dog eating race. I want to savor my corndog as I walk around the fair or a theme park, and then I want to ride the Ferris wheel. Next question.

[Mindy]

This is Ethan.

[Reggie]

Hi, Ethan.

[Guy Raz]

Dennis, how come you never, ever have listened to an episode of Wee Wow on the weekend? I dare you to do a few episodes of listening to Wee Wow on the weekend.

[Reggie]

Oh, great idea, Ethan. Of course it's a great idea, Reggie. Ethan dared us, Reggie. We have to do it. Okay, next up is a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios. Ahem. Inside Tinkercast Studios. This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows. And today we're doing Ethan's idea where we listen to Wee Wow on the weekend. Okay, let's see what we got. Hit it, Reggie. Huh? I guess we could sing a song. I've got a keyboard here. Oh, wow. Reggie. This is from the first episode of Wewo on the Weekend. Okay, let's fast forward and play. What's my superhero name gonna be? Oh, oh, oh. This is from last year. I remember this. That still has my name in it. It's not secret enough. This is fun. Let's go forward again, Megan. And play. And play. What's this? What's this. It's from right now. Reggie, quit talking. It's hurting my brain. It's going to rip a hole in the space time continuum. I don't want to be a paradox. Reggie.

[Guy Raz]

Stop it.

[Reggie]

Stop it, Stop it, Stop it, Stop it, Stop it, Stop it. That was close and weird. Ethan. That was a horrible idea. Muah.

[Guy Raz]

Ha ha ha ha.

[Reggie]

Oh, Ethan was pranking us. Good one, Ethan. Okay, now let's revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows, that's not Wee Wow. On the weekend. And today we're listening to wow. In the world. Season three, episode four 15 called and the winner is. Ricequake. Ricequake? What's a rice quake? Is it like when the ground shakes and opens up into a bottomless pit of rice cakes? Rice cakes? Reggie, you know, those little round discs that taste like packing peanuts? Okay, fine. Then what is a rice quake? All right, well, just listen to the episode. Sheesh. Okay, here we go. And play.

[Guy Raz]

Wee wow will be right back. Grown ups, this message is for you.

[Dennis]

Hey grown ups, back to school might look a little different if you're a homeschool family. So let IXL help you craft the perfect homeschool curriculum for your kids. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into homeschooling and it's especially helpful this time of year. It offers interactive practice across math, language arts, science and social studies for every grade from Pre K through 12. IXL adapts to your child's learning level and gives them the right challenge at the right time. At Tinkercast, we love when technology can assist in learning, so we really like that. IXL not only offers exercises and activities that adjust to kids learning levels, but also provides robust data and support tools for parents to make informed decisions, make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and WOW in the world. Listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com wow visit ixl.com wow to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price, parents discover a fun and easy to learn game that bridges generations. The Pokemon Company International brings the excitement of the Pokemon trading card game to families everywhere. The Black Bolt and White Flare expansion features stunning artwork of beloved Pokemon from the Unova region, making collecting a visual delight. Whether you're rekindling childhood memories or introducing your kids to a new passion, the Pokemon trading card game offers endless entertainment with various art styles and a diverse range of Pokemon to collect, there's Something for everyone. Ready to start your family's Pokemon trading card game journey? Visit tcg.pokemon.com to learn more about the engaging and exciting world of Pokemon.

[Guy Raz]

That's it. Now back to the show.

[Reggie]

Well in the world. Rolling on two. Can we get a level check on Mr. Raz, please?

[Mindy]

This is so exciting, Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

I know. The last time I saw this many cameras in one room was when I held that press conference for my latest invention last week. What I'm unveiling today is. Is not a revolutionary new form of renewable energy like I had told you. But I think you'll find it just as impressive. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the pop tart party Peanut. Oh, wait, no, come back. You don't understand. It's a pop tart with a peanut.

[Mindy]

Mindy, I still can't believe that one of those reporters actually worked for the all you can eat network. And they asked you to host the television broadcast of this year's Nom Nom Awards.

[Guy Raz]

And I can't believe you agreed to host it with me.

[Mindy]

Are you kidding me? Mindy, I love the Nom Nom Awards. I watch it every year.

[Guy Raz]

The glitz, the glamour, the mountains and mountains of free food. Don't mind if I do.

[Mindy]

Mindy, don't.

[Reggie]

Hey there. You must be Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

That's what they call me.

[Reggie]

And you must be Py Raz.

[Mindy]

Actually, it's Guy Raz.

[Reggie]

What? Oh, no, did we get the wrong person, Karen? Was it supposed to be Py Raz or Guy Raz? Guy Raz.

[Mindy]

Well, there goes the food theme.

[Reggie]

Alright, well, sorry about that, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, no need to apologize.

[Reggie]

Okay, then, we're about ready to start here. Just need to get you mic'd up.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, my old neighbor was named mic'd up.

[Mindy]

What?

[Guy Raz]

Nothing.

[Reggie]

Save it for the show, Mindy. All right, here are your microphones. And could we get a level from you, please, Guy?

[Mindy]

Oh, sure. Hello, I'm Guy Raz and on the show today. Okay, that's great, thanks.

[Guy Raz]

Do you need me to do a few lines too? Cause it's raining time.

[Reggie]

No, that's fine. All right, everyone, are we ready to roll?

[Mindy]

Great. Okay, Mindy, Guy, good luck. Remember, Mindy, big smiles.

[Guy Raz]

My teeth are literally covered in cheese.

[Mindy]

What?

[Guy Raz]

Cheese.

[Reggie]

Okay, we're live in 3, 2, 1.

[Mindy]

Coming to you live from the all you can eat buffet across the street from the Dolby theater here in Hollywood, California. It's the annual Nom Nom Awards with your hosts, High Raz and Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

Hello and welcome. It's great to be here with you on such a magical and delicious night. I'm Mindy.

[Mindy]

And I'm Guy Raz. And tonight we'll be celebrating, paying tribute to and drooling over some of the biggest names in the culinary arts.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, and look, Guy Raz, I think I see some of the Nom Nom nominees coming down the Marinara red carpet right now.

[Mindy]

That's right, Mindy. I think I see some of the kernels from a Star is corn.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, and look, here come the wieners from the Isle of Hot Dogs. Excuse me. Excuse me, sir. Excuse me, sir. What are you wearing tonight?

[Reggie]

It's a bun from Kroger's, and I.

[Mindy]

Spilled some mustard on it.

[Guy Raz]

Well, ooh la la. Smells delicious. Good luck at the awards tonight.

[Mindy]

Thanks. Now, Mindy, we shouldn't forget there are a lot of important awards up for grabs tonight.

[Guy Raz]

That's right, Guy Raz. How about the Nom Nom Award for.

[Mindy]

Best Snack Outstanding Performance in a Salad or Rice Dish.

[Guy Raz]

Best Supporting Actor in a Casserole.

[Mindy]

But, folks, none draw quite as much attention as the coveted Adapted Screenplay from a Breakfast Food award.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yes. Spoonlight took it home a few years years ago, and I gotta say, ever since, I must think about that cereal bowl every week.

[Mindy]

Well, Mindy, that's the first award up for grabs tonight, and I think we could be in for a few surprises.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, it wouldn't be the Nom Nom Awards without a few surprises.

[Mindy]

You've got that right.

[Guy Raz]

And we'll be right back with more from the marinara red carpet right after this commercial break.

[Mindy]

And we're clear. This week at the knuckle hut, get.

[Reggie]

50% off your food when you crack.

[Mindy]

All 10 of your fingers at the front counter. Phew, what a rush, Mindy. I forgot how fun being on TV was.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah. Whatever happened to your Paleolithic cooking show?

[Mindy]

Oh, well, we got replaced by a flashy new mesolithic cooking show. Ugh.

[Guy Raz]

It always goes that way.

[Mindy]

But I'm super excited about these awards, Mindy. I've actually been doing a lot of research into this year's nominees, and I think I've got a few predictions.

[Guy Raz]

A few predictions?

[Mindy]

That's right. You know that category that we were talking about just before the commercial break?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. Best Screenplay Adapted from a breakfast food.

[Mindy]

Yeah. Well, one of the nominees from that category is based on an actual scientific study by researchers Itay Einav and Francois Gillard from the University of Sydney in Australia.

[Guy Raz]

Whoa. Which nominee is it?

[Mindy]

Ricequake?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, the one featuring Snap Crackle and pop?

[Mindy]

The very same.

[Guy Raz]

Oh. So what was the study about?

[Mindy]

Well, Mindy coming back in five. Oh, I'll tell you during the next break, but yeah. Juan. Hello and welcome back to this year's Nom Nom Awards.

[Guy Raz]

I'm Mindy.

[Mindy]

And I'm Guy Razzi. I mean, Guy Raz. We're out here in sunny Southern California, right across the road from the Dolby Theater. Reporting live from the marinara carpet as the last of the Nom Nom nominees make their way into the buffet hall. Ooh, I think I see Christian Kale over there.

[Guy Raz]

Christian Kale is Nom nominated for three nominees tonight.

[Mindy]

Oh, oh, and look, there's the tomatoes from Roma.

[Guy Raz]

Loose. So delicious, so vogue.

[Mindy]

You know, Mindy, it's so great to see some foreign foods making it into the awards this year.

[Guy Raz]

I know. And speaking of foreign foods, Guy Raz, here comes the tortillas from if Beale Street Could Taco.

[Mindy]

And with that final pun, it looks like we may be ready to start the award ceremony.

[Guy Raz]

Coming up after the break, all the awards you've been waiting for live from the buffet hall.

[Mindy]

Don't go anywhere. We'll be right back. And we are clear.

[Guy Raz]

Ah. So, Guy Raz, what was the scientific study that the nominee Ricequake was based on about?

[Mindy]

Oh, yeah, right. So these two researchers from the University of Sydney wanted to see how porous material acted when exposed to liquid and put under pressure.

[Guy Raz]

And a porous material is a material that has tiny cracks or holes in it, right?

[Mindy]

Exactly. It's a type of material that isn't completely solid.

[Guy Raz]

So like a sponge.

[Mindy]

Right. So these researchers wanted to see how these sort of materials held up when soaked in a liquid and put under pressure.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, got it. So then how did this scientific study study inspired the non stop action adventure disaster thriller Ricequake?

[Mindy]

Well, Mindy.

[Reggie]

And we're back and forth every time. Two, one.

[Guy Raz]

Welcome back to this year's Nom Nom Awards.

[Mindy]

The marinara carpet is done and dusted and we are ready to give out some awards.

[Guy Raz]

Up first, the coveted adapted screenplay from a breakfast cereal award.

[Mindy]

All right, let's go live now to the buffet floor. And here to announce the nominees for best adapted screenplay from a breakfast food is self proclaimed foodie Oscar Chow. Oh, wow. This all looks so good.

[Reggie]

I don't know how to choose. Excuse me, I just want to get in here and. Huh? Oh, we're live. Hey there, folks, and welcome to the buffet floor. A place where all of your friends, food dreams come true. And also a Place where the stuffed chicken wings run out. Okay, the nominees for best adapted screenplay from a breakfast are. Toast Busters. Looks like we've got a Category 5 sourdough. Get it to the proton toaster.

[Mindy]

I can. There's lactic acid everywhere.

[Reggie]

Pirates of the Carabakedbian. ARR.

[Mindy]

Oh, you're.

[Reggie]

Ooh. Peter, pancakes. Oh, but, Peter, I don't want to.

[Guy Raz]

Grow up and replace my chocolate with.

[Reggie]

Bananas and my maple syrup with organically sourced local honey.

[Mindy]

Right you are, Wendy. We shan't ever grow up here. Use this bacon to make a smiley face on your pancake and rice quake.

[Reggie]

Ah, the whole darn bowl of puffed rice cereal is about to collapse.

[Mindy]

Looks like this mission just got a little rice risky.

[Reggie]

And the winner is. Coming up right after these messages.

[Mindy]

And we're clear.

[Guy Raz]

Why do they always do that?

[Mindy]

Well, it's all about suspense, Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, well, while I hold my breath, why don't you tell me about that Rice Crunchies study from Australia?

[Mindy]

Oh. Oh, right. Well, as I was saying, these researchers wanted to see how these porous materials reacted when they interacted with fluids.

[Guy Raz]

Like when I pour milk on my breakfast cereal and it all goes soggy.

[Mindy]

Yeah, kind of.

[Guy Raz]

Okay, but why? I mean, don't get me wrong, I've done countless experiments on my breakfast burritos. But why do these researchers care about the sogginess of their rice Crunchies?

[Mindy]

Because, as it turns out, Mindy, many naturally occurring dams and even some ice shelves like the. The ones around Antarctica, are made out of porous materials.

[Guy Raz]

Porous materials like Rice Crunchies. Huh. And just to be clear, a dam is a structure made out of rocks or stones that helps to stop the flow of water in a river, right?

[Mindy]

Correct, Amando. Some of them form naturally, and others are man made in order to collect drinking water or even to produce electricity.

[Guy Raz]

And so where do the Rice Crunchies come in and all this?

[Mindy]

Mindy, Mindy, where did you get that bowl of Rice Crunchies from?

[Guy Raz]

There's a bunch of free food over there with my name on it.

[Mindy]

Well, Mindy, as it turns out, Rice Crunchies are also a porous material. And unlike dams or Antarctic ice shelves, they're small enough and cheap enough to bring into the lab.

[Guy Raz]

So these researchers were using these rice Crunchies to simulate or model how these ice sheets and dams might react in the wild.

[Mindy]

Correctamundo.

[Guy Raz]

And so what did they find?

[Reggie]

Well, back and forth.

[Guy Raz]

Not again.

[Reggie]

1.

[Mindy]

Welcome back to the annual Nom Nom Awards.

[Guy Raz]

Even after just joining us, up for grabs is the coveted Adapted screenplay from a breakfast food award.

[Mindy]

The winner is just about to be announced, so let's head back down to the buffet hall.

[Reggie]

Okay, here we go.

[Mindy]

And the winner of this year's nom.

[Reggie]

Nom award for best adapted screenplay from a breakfast food is. Rice quake.

[Mindy]

This is the breakfast cereal's third nom.

[Reggie]

Nom nomination and its first win. Here to accept the award is snap, crackle and pop.

[Mindy]

Oh, wow.

[Reggie]

Wow. What an honor. What an honor to be nom nom.

[Mindy]

Nominated alongside some of these other breakfast foods.

[Reggie]

I love you, pancakes.

[Mindy]

First and foremost, we'd like to thank the academy for their great taste in food. Thanks to our parents for always making.

[Guy Raz]

Sure we ate a healthy breakfast.

[Mindy]

And of course, thank you to the scientists and researchers who did the study.

[Reggie]

That inspired our project.

[Guy Raz]

Well, looks like that's our time.

[Reggie]

This is such an honor.

[Guy Raz]

Thank you all so much.

[Mindy]

Coming up next, a live performance from a star is corn. And we find out which veggie dish.

[Reggie]

We'Ll be taking home.

[Mindy]

This year's golden carrot. All that and more live from the all you can eat buffet across the.

[Reggie]

Street from the dolby theater here in Hollywood, California.

[Mindy]

California.

[Reggie]

And we're out.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, man. I really thought Peter pancakes had this one in the bag this year.

[Mindy]

Well, Mindy, like I said before, ricequakes is based on a real life scientific experiment, and the academy always loves a true story.

[Guy Raz]

That's true. So how does this study end?

[Mindy]

Well, as I was saying, Mindy, these scientists were trying to see how porous materials like natural dams and ice shelves reacted to liquids and pressure.

[Guy Raz]

Right. And in the lab, these scientists were using rice crunchies to simulate or model those porous materials.

[Mindy]

Correct, Amando. Because, Mindy, even though your bowl of rice crunchies might not be as dramatic as a dam breaking or an ice shelf cracking, a bowl of cereal can actually fit in a lab and can actually be measured.

[Guy Raz]

And then these researchers can take those measurements and use them to predict how dams or ice shelves might break under water pressure.

[Mindy]

Exactly.

[Guy Raz]

So how did they measure this bowl of simulation cereal?

[Mindy]

Well, unlike the bowl of cereal you have here, these scientists put the rice crunchies in a scientific tube.

[Guy Raz]

So like a pipe or a hose?

[Mindy]

Yeah. From the tube top of the tube, the scientists applied pressure onto the rice puffs, and then they injected liquid into the bottom.

[Guy Raz]

Huh.

[Mindy]

And then. Then pumped up the pressure until.

[Guy Raz]

Rice quake.

[Mindy]

That's right. The researchers found that whole layers of the rice puffs would collapse into themselves all at the same time. And they would make this very loud cracking sound.

[Reggie]

Wow.

[Mindy]

And then, after repeating the same experiment a few more times, these researchers were able to predict exactly when these rice quakes were going to occur.

[Guy Raz]

And so, by knowing how and when these rice quakes are going to happen in the cereal tube, these researchers can then predict when and how the same thing will happen with these natural dams and ice shelves out in the real world.

[Mindy]

That's right. By adjusting their timescale from a few seconds to a few years, these researchers are hoping that this model, or scientific estimate as to what is going to happen can be used to understand and predict bigger collapses like the ones you were talking about.

[Guy Raz]

That's bonker balls, Guy Raz. No wonder Ricequake won.

[Mindy]

It sounds like the real award here should go to science.

[Guy Raz]

Ugh, that's so cheesy, Guy Raz. It should have had a NOM nomination in tonight's dairy category.

[Mindy]

Speaking of which, Mindy, I think the next award might be coming up.

[Guy Raz]

Ooh, what's up next?

[Mindy]

Let me see here. Ah, best action thriller based on a legume.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, my money's on chili con carnage. Have you seen it?

[Mindy]

I don't think I have yet, but I really love the Swiss chard family Robinson.

[Guy Raz]

I don't think I'd consider that one an action thriller.

[Mindy]

We are back in 3, 2, 1.

[Guy Raz]

Wow.

[Reggie]

That was so cool. So scientists really studied how rice crunchies crunched under pressure to predict how ice shelves would crunch in places like Antarctica? Well, did you see anything like that when you were in Antarctica, Reggie? You did? Wow. I wanna see, but I also don't want to get cold. No, Reggie, Dennis's don't like the cold. Maybe we could just watch some tube tube videos of ice shelves collapsing and wear snowsuits and pretend we're in Antarctica. I suppose we can watch some pigeon videos, too. Okay, let's wrap up the show and go do that. Thanks to all you listeners out there for tuning to Wee Wow on the weekend. If you have a question for me, call and leave me a message at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW. That's 1-888-7-WWOW. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. And don't forget to call in with your super cool talents for the talent show. Yeah, we'll take all talents. Right, but it's just gonna be audio, so if your talent needs to be seen, you'll just have to describe it. Okay. Should we do the goodbye song? Here we go. That's the end of the show. I need to go and watch some videos on the Internet. While dressed up like an Antarctic explorer. But I'll do another show tomorrow. But for now, it's the end of the show. Bye.

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy]

Join Wondery in the Wondery app or on Wondery Kids plus on Apple Podcasts prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Guy Raz]

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