WeWow on the Weekend (8/23/25)

Summary

Podcast Episode Summary
Podcast: Wow in the World
Episode: WeWow on the Weekend (8/23/25)
Date: August 23, 2025
Hosts: Mindy Thomas, Guy Raz, Dennis (with Reggie)

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Episode Overview

This WeWow on the Weekend episode blends laughs, science, and audience interaction. Dennis takes the hosting seat and, with his usual flair (and volume), reads listener reviews—many about turtles—before introducing a classic Wow in the World segment. The revisited episode explores a quirky study on how eating with your own reflection may make meals more enjoyable, with Mindy and Guy Raz humorously unpacking the research’s implications for loneliness.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Kicking Off the School Year and Tinkerclass Homeschool

[00:12–01:23] Mindy

• Mindy welcomes listeners to the new school year and introduces Tinkerclass at Home.
• Emphasizes how Tinkerclass helps K–5 students build critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity.
• Announces availability for homeschooling families.
• Quote:
  • “With Tinkerclass at home, you get access to all of our podcast-based projects… plus over 1,000 online activities, experiments, crafts, recipes, worksheets and more.”
    — Mindy [00:36]

2. Dennis and Reggie: Listener Reviews and Turtle Week!

[01:23–06:59] Dennis & Reggie

• Dennis and Reggie return with the "Reading Reviewsies" segment, spotlighting fun listener reviews.
• There’s an overwhelming demand for “Turtle Week”—multiple reviews ask for more turtles.
• Dennis humorously deflects the barrage, referencing the existing "Long Live Lonesome George" episode and noting the difference between turtles and tortoises.
• Commentary on Dennis’ volume comes up, with Dennis playfully attempting to speak quietly but quickly reverting to his usual loud self.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Turtle Week? Like a whole week of shows about turtles. Huh. I guess that could be interesting. Reggie, look into that, please.”
    — Dennis [02:39]
  • “Well, so incredibly beautiful shows, it just so happens that I am not loud. Everyone else is just too quiet.”
    — Dennis [03:46]
  • “This is me talking quietly now. Like a little mouse. A little tiny mouse named Dennis.”
    — Dennis [04:03]
• Dennis wraps up reviews, encourages more listener comments, and segues to “Inside Tinkercast Studios.”

3. Revisiting “Invite Yourself to Dinner”: The Science of Eating Alone (With Your Reflection)

[07:19–14:38] Mindy, Guy Raz, Dennis

Scenario Set-Up

• Mindy is caught eating kale salad (with the kale swapped for Frosted Flakes) in the bathroom in front of a mirror—seemingly having lunch with herself.
• Guy Raz and Dennis are baffled by the two Mindys and the bathroom picnic.
• Mindy introduces the scientific backdrop: Does eating with your reflection make solo meals more enjoyable?
• Quote:
  • “So these researchers wanted to find out if eating alone but looking at ourselves in the mirror would have the same effect as eating with another person.”
    — Mindy [09:59]

The Study Explained

• Researchers at Nagoya University, Japan, enlisted 16 older adults to eat popcorn in three different setups:
  1. Eating in front of a mirror.
  2. Eating in front of a blank wall.
  3. Eating while looking at a photo of themselves eating.
• Participants then reported on their enjoyment and amount eaten.
• Key Finding:
  • “People eating in front of the mirror, and even just in front of a picture of themselves, seemed to enjoy their popcorn more and ate more of it than people eating totally by themselves.”
    — Mindy [12:13]
• Scientists believe the study may guide ways to help people feel less lonely while eating alone.

Practical Implications

• Discussed how this research could help people who live and eat alone feel less lonely.
• Mindy draws parallels to her own “luncheon” with her reflection.
• Quote:
  • “This research could help solve the problem of loneliness.”
    — Mindy [12:43]
  • “Because when someone feels like she's sharing her food with another person, then she's likely to eat more and enjoy the food more than if she was just eating alone.”
    — Dennis [13:16]

Playful Banter and Wrap-Up

• Banter continues between Mindy and her “reflection” about sharing minds, salad forks instead of hairbrushes, and the need for “alone time.”
• Quotes:
  • “I could talk like this all day if I wanted to. Hello Mindy. Hello Guy. Lovely weather we’re having. I can’t take it. It’s too quiet in. Okay, I admit it, I’m a loud talker. But that’s just who I am and I refuse to apologize.”
    — Dennis [04:20]
  • “See if you can get yourself to make one, Guy Raz. Mindy and I have lots to catch up on before we wrap up here.”
    — Mindy [13:39]

4. Post-Episode: Dennis’ Mirror Moment & Sign-Off

[14:44–16:21] Dennis, Reggie

• Dennis is inspired to get his own mirror and host with himself; the segment doubles-down on silly meta-humor.
• Dennis suggests wrapping up to go watch reality TV and eat popcorn—just like the research!
• The show closes with playful banter (“You’re the best!” “No, you are!”) and the signature goodbye song.
• Reminder for listeners to call in with questions.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Turtle Week? Like a whole week of shows about turtles. Huh. I guess that could be interesting. Reggie, look into that, please.” — Dennis [02:39]
• “Well, so incredibly beautiful shows, it just so happens that I am not loud. Everyone else is just too quiet.” — Dennis [03:46]
• “So these researchers wanted to find out if eating alone but looking at ourselves in the mirror would have the same effect as eating with another person.” — Mindy [09:59]
• “People will pretty much do anything for free popcorn.” — Mindy [11:41]
• “This research could help solve the problem of loneliness.” — Mindy [12:43]
• “See if you can get yourself to make one, Guy Raz.” — Mindy [13:39]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:12: Tinkerclass Homeschool Announcement (Mindy)
• 01:23: Dennis’ Theme Song & Listener Reviews
• 02:39–05:20: Turtle Week and Dennis’s Volume Debate
• 06:59: Introduction to “Inside Tinkercast Studios”
• 07:19: Start of the "Invite Yourself to Dinner" episode revisit
• 09:59: Mindy Explains the Science Experiment
• 12:13: Study Results & Discussion on Loneliness
• 13:39–14:38: Mindy and Dennis Wrap Up the Classic Segment
• 14:44: Dennis Wraps Up and Outro Banter

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Tone and Style

The episode is lively, witty, and packed with playful banter. Dennis’s over-the-top personality shines, while Mindy and Guy anchor the science with fun explanations. Reggie, the recurring bird sidekick, adds comic reactions. The segment about eating alone is treated with warmth and hope, making the science accessible and emotionally resonant for kids and grown-ups.

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Useful For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

• Get a taste of Wow in the World’s unique blend of humor, science, and heart.
• Learn about the “Turtle Week” listener phenomenon and why the hosts love responding to feedback.
• Discover a fascinating social science experiment explained in an approachable, silly style that links everyday experience to cutting-edge research.
• Walk away with ideas for making mealtimes less lonely—plus, plenty of laughs along the way!

Transcript

[Dennis]

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.

[Mindy]

Hey Wowzer fams. All of us here at Tinkercast want to wish you a very happy new school year. And before we start the show is your Wowzer family homeschooling this school year. You may have heard about our Podject based learning tool, Tinkerclass, which helps K through 5 students build 21st century skills like critical thinking, collaboration and creative innovation. Over 4,000 teachers are using Tinkerclass in their classrooms. And did you know that you can now bring tinkerclass to a home room near you? With tinkerclass at home, you get access to all of our podcast based projects, or as we like to call them, Podjects. Plus over 1,000 online activities, experiments, crafts, recipes, worksheets and more. Want to learn more about how you can bring the WOW into your your homeschool curriculum this year? Visit Tinkercast.com homeschool that's Tinkercast.com homeschool, that's it. And now let's get back to the show.

[Guy Raz]

Ah. Ah, ah, ahem. 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 Wee Wow on the Weekend. I'm your host, Dennis. Oh, hi, Reggie. Reggie's here too. Oh, dear. You look tired. Why are you so tired, Reggie? You stayed up all night watching reality shows with Mehdi. Reggie, why didn't you invite me? I do not blab while you're trying to watch. It's not blabbing. It's insightful and passionate commentary. Oh, it's funny. Fine. I was asleep anyway. I have to get a full 14 hours of beauty sleep to maintain all of this for the listeners. I'm gesturing to my face, Reggie. Don't laugh. Okay, you're right. Let's get into the show. You want to do another reading Reviewsies? Reading reviewsies. Reggie, you know the comments people write on Apple podcasts or Spotify or whatever, and they give us stars and I print out a bunch and read them out loud. Okay, good. I was going to do it whether you wanted to or not. I'm reading reviewsies for me and for you. Z's we've got us some doozies. So let's read reviews. Z's. Okay, let's see what we got here. This reviewsie comes from username. My question and the title says I want Turtle Week. The message says I want Turtle Week soon. Fun fact, Turtles are faster in water. Water Droplet emoji. And I'm waiting. Grumpy face emoji. Five stars. Turtle Week. Like a whole week of shows about turtles. Huh? I guess that could be interesting. Reggie, look into that, please. Okay, this next reviewsie comes from username Quip Panda and the title says I agree. The message says turtles are so so, so, so, so awesome. Five stars. Turtles again. What is happening? Next review. Okay, this review is from Stellix503 and it says. Oh no. It says I agree with Turtle Week. Please. Turtle Week. Turtle emoji, turtle emoji, turtle emoji, turtle emoji, turtle emoji, turtle emoji, snake emoji. Okay, listen people. There is already an episode of WOW in the world about turtles and it's called Long live Lonesome George. I don't know, just listen to it for a whole week or something. Oh, right. Lonesome George is about a tortoise. And tortoises are different than turtles. Ah, well, next review. Okay, this one better not be about turtles. This review is from username. So incredibly beautiful shows. The title says, why is Dennis so loud? The message reads, whenever the character Dennis talks, he is so much louder than all the other characters, which is annoying because he's always on the show. However, love what you started here. Five stars. Well, so incredibly beautiful shows. It just so happens that I am not loud. Everyone else is just too quiet. And another thing, I can talk quietly if I want to. Yes I can, Reggie. Watch. This is me talking quietly now. Like a little mouse. A little tiny mouse named Dennis. I do not sound weird, Reginald. This is my normal speaking voice, only quieter. I actually kind of like it. I could talk like this all day if I wanted to. Hello Mindy. Hello Guy. Lovely weather we're having. I can't take it. It's too quiet in. Okay, I admit it, I'm a loud talker. But that's just who I am and I refuse to apologize. Thanks for all your reviewsies, listeners. Keep em coming. If you leave a comment on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, I just might read it on WEWOW on the weekend. Five stars or more, please. Okay, fine. Whatever star amounts you deem appropriate. Alright, next up, there's 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 this weekend, we're revisiting episodes from the very first season of wow in the World. Today we're doing a story from episode 11 called Invite Yourself to dinner. In this episode, Mindy goes to lunch with herself and Guy Raz gets really confused because, Reggie, there are two Mindys. No, not like Parent Trap. Actually, no. Yeah, kinda like Parent Trap. Huh? Good idea. Let's play the episode. Here we go. And play wee. Wow.

[Mindy]

We'll be right back.

[Guy Raz]

Grown ups.

[Mindy]

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

[Guy Raz]

What in the world?

[Mindy]

Oh, hi. Excuse me, can I just. Is the seat taken? Well, it is now. Have a seat. Okay. Pleasure to meet ya. The name's Mindy. What's yours? Well, my name is Mindy too. No way. Yes way. No way. Yes way. Get out of here. Okay, I didn't mean that. Oh, right. I should have known that because it's almost like we're. Yes, we're almost the.

[Dennis]

Uh huh.

[Mindy]

We're the same person.

[Dennis]

Whoa.

[Mindy]

That was weird. Am I talking to myself? I'm talking to myself. Oh boy, am I crazy. Busted. Oh no. Here comes Guy Raz. I'm back here. Guy Raz, come on in. What are you talking.

[Dennis]

Where are you?

[Guy Raz]

I just.

[Mindy]

So, Mindy, you have to tell me what you are eating over here. It looks delish.

[Guy Raz]

I can hear you talking.

[Mindy]

Oh, Mindy, thank you for asking.

[Dennis]

Where are you?

[Mindy]

Just a kale Caesar salad that my buddy Guy Raz made from scratch and left over here to wilt.

[Dennis]

I just came by to think of my kale salad that I had.

[Mindy]

Kale salad. Ooh la la. But I made it better by replacing all of the kale with frosted flakes. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Mindy.

[Dennis]

What in the world is going on here? Wait, there are two of you? Am I saying double? What's happening?

[Mindy]

Oh, hey, Guy Raz. We were just talking about you.

[Dennis]

And when you say we, you mean me?

[Mindy]

And me.

[Dennis]

Am I saying double?

[Mindy]

No, you're just wearing two pairs of glasses. Here, take those off. There, that's better.

[Dennis]

Wait, wait. Is that my kale salad? What did you do to it?

[Mindy]

I fixed it with frosted flakes.

[Dennis]

You what?

[Mindy]

And now I'm eating it with my own reflection.

[Dennis]

You're having lunch with yourself?

[Mindy]

Well, technically it's your lunch, but yeah, pretty much. To eat with myself, I needed a mirror. And that's why Me and myself are eating your salad in the bathroom. Here. Do you want it back?

[Dennis]

Wha.

[Mindy]

What?

[Dennis]

No, no. Mindy, what is going on? I mean, you are sitting in the bathroom in front of a mirror, eating a bowl of Frosted Flakes salad, and talking to your reflection.

[Mindy]

Oh, I have a great explanation.

[Dennis]

Somehow you always do.

[Mindy]

So I read about a new discovery that was made by some researchers at Nagoya University in Japan.

[Dennis]

So there's a scientific explanation for all of this?

[Mindy]

Of course there is. Why else would I be eating your salad in the bathroom mirror with my own reflection?

[Dennis]

Right.

[Mindy]

So let me start by saying that there have been studies in the past that have shown that people eat more and enjoy their food more when they're eating it with other people. It's something called the social facilitation of eating.

[Dennis]

Yeah, and speaking for myself, I would say that is true as a. As long as you're not eating with other people in, say, a landfill or this bathroom.

[Mindy]

I'm picking up what you're putting down, Guy Raz.

[Dennis]

Okay, so back to this research.

[Mindy]

And so these researchers wanted to find out if eating alone but looking at ourselves in the mirror would have the same effect as eating with another person.

[Dennis]

Huh, that's interesting. So how did they do this experiment?

[Mindy]

Well, they got 16 people, mostly the age of grandparents, to come and eat popcorn for 90 seconds.

[Dennis]

That sounds like a pretty short party.

[Mindy]

Well, it would be if they were all together and not sitting in a laboratory, but that was not the case here.

[Dennis]

So they had to eat the popcorn alone?

[Mindy]

Well, it depends on what you mean by alone, Guy Raz.

[Dennis]

Well, were they by themselves?

[Mindy]

Well, each One of the 16 people were not with other humans, so I guess you could say that they were technically alone. Okay, but if you mean were they truly alone, then no.

[Dennis]

Well, were they alone or not?

[Mindy]

Well, in one group, the researchers had the people eat in front of a mirror so that they could look right back at themselves.

[Guy Raz]

Hello.

[Mindy]

And in a second group, the researchers asked the people to eat in front of a blank screen or like, a blank wall. And then in the third group, they asked the people to eat the popcorn while looking at a photograph of themselves eating popcorn.

[Dennis]

This is making my head spin.

[Mindy]

Yeah, people will pretty much do anything for free popcorn.

[Dennis]

So what did they discover after the popcor ran out?

[Mindy]

Well, after the popcorn ran out, they asked these people to answer a few questions, like, how much did you enjoy this popcorn that you were eating alone? And how much of it did you eat?

[Dennis]

Interesting. So they wanted to compare how the popcorn tasted. If you ate it all by yourself? Or if you ate it in front of a mirror. Or if you ate it just looking at a picture of yourself.

[Guy Raz]

Hello.

[Dennis]

Eating popcorn.

[Mindy]

You got it.

[Dennis]

And what did they find out?

[Mindy]

Okay, so they found out that people eating in front of the mirror and even just in front of a picture of themselves seemed to enjoy their popcorn more and ate more of it than people eating totally by themselves.

[Dennis]

That's amazing. So even if you're not literally with another person, but just with an image of yourself or you in the mirror looking back, the experience of eating can be better.

[Mindy]

That's what these scientists in Japan concluded. And you know the coolest thing about it?

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy]

Well, this research could help solve the problem of loneliness.

[Guy Raz]

Wow.

[Dennis]

Because feeling lonely is no fun.

[Mindy]

You got that right, Guy Raz. And lots of people all around the world get lonely. Like people who might live by themselves and don't always get to eat dinner with friends or with family.

[Dennis]

I can imagine that would make mealtimes feel pretty lonely.

[Mindy]

For sure. So these scientists in Japan are hoping that maybe this experiment will lead to new ways of helping people who are lonely feel less lonely when they're eating.

[Dennis]

Because when someone feels like she's sharing her food with another person, then she's likely to eat more and enjoy the food more than if she was just eating alone.

[Mindy]

Exactly.

[Dennis]

Now I understand. So this is why you invited yourself to. To eat my lunch in front of your bathroom mirror?

[Mindy]

I told you I had a good reason.

[Dennis]

You always do, Mindy. But now, uh. Oh, you owe me a salad.

[Mindy]

See if you can get yourself to make one. Guy Raz. Mindy and I have lots to catch up on before we wrap up here.

[Dennis]

Uh, Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

Ugh.

[Mindy]

Here I go again. Mindy, I just have to say, your hair looks magnificent. Thanks, Mindy. That's because I've been combing it with a salad fork. No way. Yes way. No way. Yes way. No way. Yes way. Okay, Mindy, don't take this the wrong way, but I kinda need some alone time.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Dennis]

Oh, boy.

[Mindy]

You need some alone time. I need some alone time. Okay, I knew you were gonna say that. And. Oh, what? Now you're just reading my mind? Mindy, we share the same mind. Oh, just because we're the same person.

[Dennis]

What in the.

[Mindy]

Right. Okay, this is getting weird.

[Guy Raz]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Mindy]

She started it. Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy.

[Mindy]

Sorry. Promise to see Stick together forever. Mindy, we don't have a choice. Mindy, I love you. I love you too.

[Dennis]

But now you owe me a salad.

[Guy Raz]

Guy.

[Mindy]

Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Ah, salad. Classic guy Raz. Wow, that was so good. I need to get a mirror down here so I can be my own co host. Oh, yeah, I already did put a mirror down here because, Reggie, I need to check my nose for boogies before we record the show. Okay, let's go. Just get this error closer here and now. How did Mindy do that? Oh, right. Hi, Dennis. Hi there. Welcome to Wee Wow on the Weekend. Thanks for having me. I'm honored. Question for you. Ask away. Would you like to watch reality TV and eat popcorn with me today? Of course. Excellent. Let's wrap up the show and go upstairs. Agreed. That will just about do it for today, listeners. If you have a question for me or me. Right. Give us a call and leave 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. Or I might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Oh, Dennis, you're the best. No, you are. Wanna do the goodbye song with me? Yeah. Okay, great. That's the end of the show. My name is Dennis. And my name is Dennis as well. And we'll do another show tomorrow. But for now, that's the end of the show. Ee. Bye.

[Mindy]

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

[Dennis]

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

[Mindy]

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