WeWow on the Weekend (8/9/25)

Summary

Wow in the World: Episode Summary – "WeWow on the Weekend" (Released August 9, 2025)

Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Produced by Tinkercast | Wondery

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Introduction

In the episode titled "WeWow on the Weekend," hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz dive into an engaging blend of listener interactions, scientific explorations, and whimsical adventures. The show balances educational content with entertaining dialogues, making complex topics accessible and enjoyable for both kids and their grown-up listeners.

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Wee Wow on the Weekend Segment

Hosts: Dennis and Reggie the Giant Pigeon

The episode opens with the special segment "Wee Wow on the Weekend," hosted by Dennis and his co-host, Reggie the Giant Pigeon. This segment is dedicated to casual conversations, answering listener questions, and sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of Tinkercast podcasts.

Listener Q&A

1. Why Do We Have Fingernails?
   Izzy, Age 11 (05:10)

   • Question: "Why do we have fingernails?"
   • Reggie's Response (05:20): "We have fingernails because sometimes we get itchy and it's too hard to scratch ourselves with our toenails."

2. Dreams of Touching an Elephant
   Jordan and Miles (05:33)

   • Miles' Question: "What’s your experience with elephants?"
   • Reggie’s Answer (05:39): Discussed touching two elephants named Evie and Stampy, referencing past episodes where elephants play significant roles.

3. When Will the Sun Explode?
   Paul (07:26)

   • Question: "When is the sun going to explode?"
   • Reggie's Calming Response (07:40): Explained that the sun won't explode but will exhaust its hydrogen fuel in about 5 billion years.

Notable Quote:
Mindy humorously reassures listeners, "The sun's gonna run out of hydrogen fuel. Wait, what's that? Well, the sun won't run out of hydrogen fuel for like, 5 billion years. Okay, I think 5 billion years is just about enough time to get a spacesuit and a spaceship and a whole bunch of astronaut ice cream, and then I'll figure it out from there." (07:40)

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Inside Tinkercast Studios

Mindy and Reggie transition into a nostalgic segment where they revisit a past episode of "Wow in the World." They reflect on Season 3, Episode 13, titled "Hey Baby Island. How'd You Get Here? When Underwater Volcanoes Grow Up." This reflection underscores the show's commitment to revisiting and deepening previous discussions, fostering a sense of continuity and community among listeners.

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Adventure: Journey to Baby Island

Back in the main segment, Mindy and Reggie embark on a thrilling adventure using the "wow machine," a time-travel device integral to the show's storytelling.

Time Travel to Hunga Tonga Island

• Objective: Observe the formation of a young volcanic island in Tonga.
• Process:
  • Mindy operates the wow machine to travel back to 2015, the year Hunga Tonga was formed.
  • They witness the volcanic activity that leads to the island's birth, observing underwater volcanoes and the initial stages of land formation.

Notable Quote:
Mindy excitedly explains the significance of their destination: "Hunga Tonga is extra special because it's the only one of those three islands that have been born in the age of satellites. Which means we have satellite photos of it growing up from a small little eruption in 2015 to the four-year-old we have now in 2019." (25:02)

Formation and Sustainability of the Island

• Scientific Insights:
  • Volcanic Activity: Illustrates how underwater volcanoes contribute to island formation.
  • Ecological Development: Highlights the role of migratory birds, specifically sooty terns, in bringing seeds that foster plant growth on the volcanic soil.
  • Soil Fertility: Emphasizes the richness of volcanic soil, laden with nutrients essential for plant life.

Notable Explanation:
Guy Raz elaborates on ecological processes: "The seeds from many of these plants probably arrived in the bellies of these migratory birds. And once they pooped out onto the volcanic soil here, well, it began to grow into what we see here today." (30:08)

Challenges During the Adventure

• Technical Difficulties:
  • The wow machine experiences leaks, leading to a near-submarine situation.
  • Mindy and Guy Raz must improvise to navigate back safely, using unconventional items like tennis rackets as oars.

Humorous Interaction:
Mindy jokes about her app installation: "It's kind of like ice breakers. You know, like the kind of questions that you ask people to get to know them a little bit better." (14:48)

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NASA’s Research and Future Implications

The hosts discuss recent findings from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, which conducted a research expedition to Hunga Tonga. The insights gained from studying this volcanic island have broader implications for understanding volcanic activity on other celestial bodies, such as Mars.

Future Exploration:
Mindy states, "If they can understand how volcanoes and oceans work together here on Earth, they can use similar satellite images that we have from Mars to understand if they were also formed with oceans millions of years ago." (31:08)

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Conclusion

The episode wraps up with a reflection on the fascinating interplay between geological processes and ecological development. Mindy and Reggie's adventurous spirit, combined with their scientific curiosity, leaves listeners both entertained and educated.

Final Thoughts:
Guy Raz muses, "If it's anything like other islands in the Pacific, the answer probably lies in what those feathered friends are doing over there." (29:37) emphasizing the interconnectedness of ecosystems.

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Closing Remarks

The episode concludes with a light-hearted discussion about bird behavior, reinforcing the blend of humor and education that "Wow in the World" is known for. The hosts invite listeners to engage further through surveys and subscriptions, ensuring an ongoing dialogue with their audience.

Final Quote:
Reggie humorously recounts an experience with bird poop: "What? Bird poop is not less gross than other kinds of poop, Reggie. If anything, it's more gross." (32:21)

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Overall, "WeWow on the Weekend" successfully combines interactive segments, scientific exploration, and playful storytelling to deliver a captivating episode that stimulates curiosity and fosters a love for learning among its young and mature audiences alike.

Transcript

[Guy Raz]

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 Mindy and Guy Raz here. And before we start the show, we want to wish all of our Wowzers a very happy new school year. Cue the confetti cannon Reg. Okay, that's enough confetti. It's in my mouth.

[Guy Raz]

The new school year with some extra wow. Grown Ups, we've got some wow in store for you.

[Mindy]

That's right, you can shop the wow this back to school season at Amazon.com.

[Guy Raz]

Wonderykids plus you can help your wowzers ease back into the new school year with play. Check out our brand new wow in the World stem toys, available for shipping starting this week.

[Mindy]

Your wowzer can keep their eyes on the prize in the skies with our wow in the World Kids Telescope and Astronomy kit.

[Guy Raz]

Or they can swim in the seas with a great white shark with glow in the dark teeth.

[Mindy]

Grown Ups add some WOW to your Back to School shopping [e-mail] wonderykids that's Amazon.com wonderykids that's it. And now let's get back to the show.

[Dennis]

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[Reggie]

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. Laugh, laugh. 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, and that's my co host, Reggie the Giant Pigeon. This is the show where we chit chat and answer questions from our fans and listen to Tinkercast podcasts. Hey Reggie, check it out. Yeah, I got a new library card. Isn't it cool? It's all new and shiny, has my picture on it. Well, now, library cards don't usually have pictures on them. I taped this one on myself and then I bedazzled the whole card. Sparkle, sparkle. Oh yeah. I guess all the rhinestones could make it hard for the librarian to scan my card when I check out books. Umm, well, that'll be a problem for future Dennis. Thanks, future Dennis. In the meantime, let's hear from our devoted listeners 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 We wow on the Weeknd. That's me. Do you have a question? Well, I do too. Lots of them. And who's gonna answer all my questions?

[Mindy]

You?

[Reggie]

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

[Mindy]

Hi, Dennis. Hi, Reggie. My name is Izzy and I am 11 years old.

[Reggie]

Hi, Izzy.

[Mindy]

My question why do we have fingernails?

[Reggie]

Ooh, good question, Izzy. Why do we have fingernails? Well, we have fingernails because sometimes we get itchy and it's too hard to scratch ourselves with our toenails. Next question.

[Mindy]

Hi, this is Jordan and Miles.

[Reggie]

Hi, Jordan and Miles.

[Mindy]

And Miles would like to let you know that his biggest dream in the world is to what elephant to touch an elephant. And he wants to know if you've ever touched an elephant and what you know about them.

[Reggie]

Have I ever touched an elephant? Good question, Miles. And yes, I've touched two elephants. Yeah, I did, Reggie. First there was Evie the elephant. She was from the local zoo in wow in the world. Season 7, episode 7 titled Elephant in the Room. Mindy borrowed Eevee from the zoo to study her trunk. Yeah, Mindy studied Evie's trunk. And using soft robotics, she invented a thing called, like the Super Suction Sniffer Storage Sprayer snorkel Something something 2000. Right. And I got to touch Av because she needed a push to fit through the door of Mindy's laboratory. And also she picked me up with her trunk and squeezed me and tossed me around. And then there was Stampy the elephant. I don't know where that elephant came from. In wow. In the World, Season 8, Episode 23 titled My Elephant Got Loose. Mindy just set an elephant free in the neighborhood because she thought it would be happier in the wild. But then Stampy came into my yard and stamped on all my flowers and scuffed my shoe. Yeah, Stampy was a little rascal. Oh, right. A big rascal. And we needed to get Stampy to move out of the neighborhood. Well, it turns out elephants are afraid of bees. Yeah, bees. And Mindy and Guy played bee buzzing noises through a big speaker and got Stampy to move to someplace safer. I know. Who would have thought that big old elephants would be afraid of little old bees? There you have it, Miles. I've touched two elephants. Oh, yeah, you're right. Maybe they touched me. Um, next question.

[Mindy]

Hi, Dennis. My name is Paul.

[Reggie]

Hi, Paul.

[Mindy]

And my question is, when is the sun going to explode? Bye.

[Reggie]

What? The sun's gonna explode?

[Mindy]

Panic, Panic, panic. Pan.

[Reggie]

Reggie, why are you so calm? Didn't you hear Paul? The sun's gonna explode. Wait, what? Oh, the sun won't actually explode, but it will eventually run out of hydrogen fuel. Ah, the sun's gonna run out of hydrogen fuel. Wait, what's that? Well, the sun won't run out of hydrogen fuel for like, 5 billion years. Okay, I think 5 billion years is just about enough time to get a spacesuit and a spaceship and a whole bunch of astronaut ice cream, and then I'll figure it out from there. Boy, you and Paul really had me freaked out there for no reason. Yeah, I think that's about all the questions I can handle right now. Thanks for all 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. That's 1-888-7-WOD. Wow. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Okay, that takes care of that. Alright, 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 listening to wow. In the World, Season 3, Episode 13 called hey Baby Island. How'd you get here? When underwater volcanoes grow up. Oh, I think I'm in this one. Yeah, it's the one where Mindy woke up the whole neighborhood in the middle of the night. But it's cool because we got to chit chatting and I think we really connected, you know? Yeah, I'm a super duper good listener. People just talk and talk and talk and all I do is listen and I make them feel heard and understood. Right, right, right. The episode. Okay, here we go. And play.

[Mindy]

Wee. Wow. Will be right back.

[Reggie]

Grown ups.

[Mindy]

This message is for you parents.

[Dennis]

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[Mindy]

That's it. Now back to the show round in the world. Hey, Guy Raz. Guy Raz, it's me, Mindy. Open the door. I'm here. Guy Raz. Guy Razzie.

[Reggie]

Hi, Mindy.

[Mindy]

Hey, Dennis.

[Reggie]

Mindy, it's 4 in the morning. What are you doing up so early?

[Mindy]

Just getting ready for my morning Walk with Mr. Sleepypants in here. Guy Raz, I'm outside.

[Reggie]

Mindy. Mr. Sleepypants moved out of that house five years ago. Lots of people have lived there before. Guy Raz. Back in the 50s, it was lazy Susan. Then after her was Mr. And Mrs. Party pooper. They were cool, but they also owned a lot of scaredy cats.

[Mindy]

Dennis, what are you even doing awake? It's the middle of the night.

[Reggie]

Well, you're making a racket and I'm an insufferable busybody.

[Mindy]

Good morning, Guy Raz. Good morning. Good morning. And it's time to wake up, Brains. Good morning. Good morning to you.

[Guy Raz]

What on earth are you doing? It's the middle of the night.

[Mindy]

Um, actually, it's four hours past the middle of the night.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy]

It's 4:00am Hi, Guy.

[Reggie]

Hey, since we're all awake, who wants to play? Yahtzee. Dennis.

[Guy Raz]

Dennis.

[Mindy]

Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

What on earth is. What is going on here?

[Mindy]

It's time for our new weekly neighborhood walk. Remember I was saying how I needed to get more exercise after I won that napping hot dog eating contest?

[Guy Raz]

Yeah.

[Mindy]

And then you were like, hey, we should go on one long walk around the neighborhood once a week.

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh.

[Mindy]

And then you said, come over to my house and knock on the door tomorrow at 4 o'. Clock. And judging by the time on this watch I'm not wearing right now, it's four o'. Clock.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, Mindy, I meant four o' clock in the afternoon. I assumed you would have figured that out by yourself.

[Mindy]

Well, you know what happens when you assume?

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy]

You get confusing logistical mix ups. Like this.

[Guy Raz]

Well, what? You've woken me up. So I suppose if we start now, we might be able to make it back for sunrise.

[Mindy]

I know. I love a good sunrise. One time I took the wow Machine to go back and forth in time just to watch the same sunrise 12 times in a row. You know, if you're not careful, a bird's gonna fly in your mouth.

[Guy Raz]

Let me just get into my walkout gear and we can get going. Just wait here for a minute.

[Mindy]

Okey doke. I'll be waiting right here. Here.

[Reggie]

Well, Mindy, looks like it's just you and me, a science minded sassafras, and a professional neighborhood. What exactly? What adventures lie in store for us? Will we solve scientific mysteries or will we go eavesdropping in the backyard? Personally, I say eavesdropping. I think audiences will really respond to.

[Guy Raz]

It and it'll be I'm ready.

[Mindy]

Right on time.

[Reggie]

Also, I really think it'll help flesh out our characters as we go into the sixth and seventh seasons. Where are you going?

[Guy Raz]

You know, Mindy, once you're actually out of bed and you've got the cold morning air on your face, it's actually. It's actually quite nice being out at this time of day. It's so peaceful.

[Mindy]

I know. No people, no cars, no babies running you over with their rollerblades.

[Guy Raz]

Just peace and quiet.

[Mindy]

Ooh, it's ready.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, what in the wow was that?

[Mindy]

Oh, that was my phone.

[Guy Raz]

Who's trying to contact you at 4 in the morning?

[Mindy]

Oh, that wasn't someone trying to contact me.

[Guy Raz]

Then why did your phone just like a chicken?

[Mindy]

That was just my phone letting me know that my app is finished downloading.

[Guy Raz]

Your app?

[Mindy]

Yeah, it's this new app called Nice Breakers.

[Guy Raz]

Nice breakers?

[Mindy]

Mm. It's kind of like ice breakers. You know like the kind of questions that you ask people to get to know them a little bit better.

[Guy Raz]

But Mindy, we've known each other for years. Do you really think we need icebreaker questions and.

[Mindy]

Okay, here we go. Guy Raz, if you could take one item to a deserted island, what would it be and why?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, that's a good one, Mindy. Hmm, let me see. I suppose it would have to be my collection of essays from the London Review of Books.

[Mindy]

Hmm, color me surprised.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, boy, I could read and re read those for years and years and years until someone stopped by the island to rescue me. Oh, did I ever tell you about that one article I read, Mindy, about carbon capture solutions and developing?

[Mindy]

Well, if you must know, I guess I would have to take a rattle.

[Guy Raz]

A rattle?

[Mindy]

Or maybe a pacifier.

[Guy Raz]

Huh?

[Mindy]

Maybe like one of those little cribs you can travel with.

[Guy Raz]

A rattle, A pacifier, A crib. Mindy, why would you want to take all this baby baggage to a deserted island?

[Mindy]

Well, Guy Raz, I'm thinking of a very specific island. Oh, the island I'm thinking of is a lil baby is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean near the island country of Tonga.

[Guy Raz]

Little baby island. Mindy, is this an island full of babies?

[Mindy]

Yes, of course it's not an island full of babies, Guy Raz, don't be ridonkulous.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, good. Cause I thought you were saying the.

[Mindy]

Island is a baby.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy]

The island is a baby.

[Guy Raz]

I don't think I understand, Mindy. You're. You're gonna have to explain this one to me.

[Mindy]

Well, I guess I could tell you about it. Yeah, but I'd rather show you about it. Come on, let's turn this nice breaker into a stone cold adventure maker.

[Guy Raz]

I thought we were going for a walk, Mindy.

[Mindy]

Well, it's kinda hard to walk to an island, Guy Raz. I mean, for one, they're surrounded by water on all sides. Well, but good news for us, I have a partly functional wow machine that can get us their lickety splits. And since it can travel through time, we can just come back once we're done and I can wake you up all over again. Anything for science, right?

[Guy Raz]

Anything for science.

[Mindy]

Yes. Okay, you wait here and I'll run back and get the wow Machine, okay?

[Guy Raz]

Uh, okay.

[Mindy]

Be back before you can say, hey. Where did Mindy go? I thought she was right here, but now she isn't. Wow. She's faster than lightning. Sure hope she'll be back soon.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, are you pulling along the wow machine with your cats?

[Mindy]

Yeah, all 47 of them. Finally let them out of my adventure toolkit. Come on, guys.

[Guy Raz]

And what's that leaking out of the bottom? What?

[Mindy]

Oh, that's margarine.

[Guy Raz]

Margarine?

[Mindy]

Yeah, I ran out of butter.

[Guy Raz]

Uh huh.

[Reggie]

Okay.

[Mindy]

All right. There we go. Okay. Hop in, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, did you move the door again?

[Mindy]

Yeah, had to make room for the solar power toaster. The door is. Now, where did I go? Where did I put that thing? Oh, oh, here it is. Here it is.

[Guy Raz]

Oh.

[Mindy]

100% upcycle door. Can you believe someone was just gonna throw this thing away?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, Mindy, where did you get this thing? It looks 400 years old.

[Mindy]

421 years old. I found it on the side of a pirate ship.

[Guy Raz]

An abandoned boy pirate ship.

[Mindy]

Sure. Oops, sorry. Let me just grab that thing. I just. There, get his new. Right behind you, buddy. Okay, let's see here now. Let me just get these empty coconuts off the dashboard.

[Guy Raz]

Empty coconuts?

[Mindy]

Yeah. Reggie borrowed the wow machine the other day. He took a four year vacation to Tahiti and was back in an hour.

[Guy Raz]

Okay.

[Mindy]

All right, let me see here. We're gonna punch in the coordinates. The island of Honga, Tonga. Let's lock it in. And here we. Wow. What a ride. This never gets old. Right, buddy?

[Guy Raz]

Right.

[Mindy]

Come on, let's go look outside from the observation deck.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, the wow machine has an observation deck?

[Mindy]

Yeah, it's right between the gym and the business center.

[Guy Raz]

What now?

[Mindy]

If you get to the pool, you've gone too far.

[Guy Raz]

Huh?

[Mindy]

Come on, follow me. Okay. Guy Raz, may I present to you Hunga Tonga, one of the youngest, most teeny tiny baby islands in the entire world. Whoa. Can you even believe it? It's four years old today. A little toddler. Such a little cutie. Pretty soon he's gonna be going off to island kindergarten to learn his island ABCs and make lots of little island friends.

[Guy Raz]

Wait a minute. Mindy, is this what you mean when you were talking about a baby island?

[Mindy]

Yeah, Isn't it cute? I mean, look at those little adorable sand banks. I just want to eat them up.

[Guy Raz]

Where exactly are we anyway?

[Mindy]

Ugh. Well, that's kind of a tough question to answer because, well, we're kind of in the middle of nowhere.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy]

Technically, this island belongs to the Kingdom of Tang.

[Guy Raz]

And the Kingdom of Tonga is a string of islands in the South Pacific Ocean.

[Mindy]

You know it? Tonga is made up of more than 160 islands and is 6,540 miles away from the US's west coast.

[Reggie]

Oh, yeah.

[Guy Raz]

I can see it on my globe right here.

[Mindy]

Your globe?

[Guy Raz]

I'd never leave home without it. Here it is. Tonga, huh? It looks like these islands lie about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand.

[Mindy]

Yeah, that looks about right. And this little baby was formed in the kingdom of Tonga in January of 2015.

[Guy Raz]

Huh.

[Mindy]

So, do you want to watch?

[Guy Raz]

Watch what?

[Mindy]

The island being born.

[Guy Raz]

Born? Mindy, don't you mean formed?

[Mindy]

Yeah, that's what I said. So, do you want to watch?

[Guy Raz]

Uh, yeah. Yeah.

[Mindy]

Well, then, strapping again. We're going to use this wow. Machine to travel way back in time, all the way to 2015.

[Guy Raz]

2015? That's like seven guy phones ago.

[Mindy]

I know. Aren't ancient cultures so fascinating? 2015, here we come.

[Reggie]

Whew.

[Mindy]

That was a close one. I had to dodge a royal wedding, two soccer world cups, and a Beyonce baby. But we're here, safe and sound. What was that sound?

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, what was that?

[Mindy]

Well, if I had to guess, I'd say it's an underwater volcano.

[Guy Raz]

An underwater volcano?

[Mindy]

Is there an echo in here? Go in here, Mindy.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, why in the world would you land us right over an active underwater volcano?

[Mindy]

Because, Guy Raz, this is how most islands are formed. In the fiery and watery depths of massive underwater volcanoes. Ah. Now. Now who shut the blinds? We're gonna miss the best part. I can't get these things to open ever. Aw, man, that sounded like a good one.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, are you sure we're safe in here?

[Mindy]

Yes, of course I'm not sure we're safe in here, Guy Raz, now can you give me a hand with these blinds? Cause we're missing the best part of the show.

[Guy Raz]

Well, sure thing, Mindy. Wait, don't you just pull this cord?

[Mindy]

I knew that. Whoa.

[Guy Raz]

Look at that, Mindy. All those bubbles and jets of water, that massive cloud of ash. This is amazing.

[Mindy]

And to think that just four years from now, there'll be an island right there in that exact same spot.

[Guy Raz]

Wait a minute. Mindy, is this a volcanic island?

[Mindy]

You know, it is.

[Guy Raz]

You know, Mindy, I've read about these sorts of islands before, but if I'm not mistaken. Don't.

[Mindy]

Don't.

[Guy Raz]

These islands only usually hang around for a few months before sinking back into the ocean.

[Mindy]

Yeah. In fact, over the past 150 years, only three volcanic islands have survived more than a few months.

[Guy Raz]

Whoa.

[Mindy]

Whoa. Was right. But this island is extra special because.

[Guy Raz]

Because it's sort of shaped like the bat signal.

[Mindy]

Close, but no, this island is extra special because. It's because it's the only one of those three islands that have been born in the age of satellites. Which means.

[Guy Raz]

Which means that we have satellite photos of it growing up from a small little eruption in 2015 to the four year old we have now in 2019.

[Mindy]

Bingo. And if you played all those satellite images in a row, like a flipbook, it would look a little something like. Like this. Whoops, wrong button. Where did I put the fast forward button on this thing? Oh, here it is. A little something like this. Whoa.

[Guy Raz]

That's incredible, Mindy. I can see the island slowly rising up from the water. And look, I can see plants starting to sprout on the black soil down there.

[Mindy]

Wow. Okay, we're coming up on 2019. Gotta time this just right. Wait for it. Wait for it. Now. Ah, there we go. Back to present day.

[Guy Raz]

Nice landing, Mindy.

[Mindy]

Thanks, buddy.

[Guy Raz]

It's now been around four years. So does that mean that Hunga Tonga is here for.

[Mindy]

Well, according to a team of Scientists from NASA's Goddard Space Flight center that recently visited the island on a research expedition, they expect that the island will be here for around another 30 years.

[Guy Raz]

Wow. Really?

[Mindy]

Yeah. You know, in fact, I think I see one of those little researchers down there on the beach right now.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Mindy]

Maybe he can tell us more about it. Here, let me just get on the megaphone. Hello down there. Oh, no. It's okay, little buddy. We come in pee. Ah. Aliens.

[Reggie]

I knew it. Run. Run for your lives.

[Mindy]

Why does this keep happening to me? Well, I guess we're gonna have to investigate ourselves. Prepare for a water landing, Guy raz.

[Guy Raz]

Water landing.

[Mindy]

3, 2, 1, 1, 0. Wait. Did I ever fix that leak?

[Guy Raz]

Huh? Nope. Mindy, what are we gonna do? We're in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in a slowly sinking wow machine.

[Mindy]

Well, the first thing we're gonna have to do is stop complaining and go with the flow. Get it? Because of the leaking water, Mindy. And the second thing to do is grab an oar and help me get to land before this wow machine becomes a. Wow. That sunk. Quickly. Machine.

[Guy Raz]

Are the oars in the same place as last time?

[Mindy]

Yes, of course they're not. Guy Raz. Here, I'll get them. They're right next to the tennis rackets. Do you want starboard or bow?

[Guy Raz]

Does it matter?

[Mindy]

Starboard it is. Catch.

[Guy Raz]

Catch. Mindy, this is a tennis. Tennis racket.

[Mindy]

No time for semantics, Guy Raz. Rope and rope and rope and rope and rope and rope. Hey, we made it.

[Guy Raz]

Yay.

[Mindy]

Okay, let's get out and see what's going On. On Hunga, Tonga. Hmm. Smell that? South Pacific. Polynesian.

[Reggie]

Wow.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, take a look at this soil. It's completely black, and its grains are bigger than regular sand. Like small little pea sized pebbles.

[Mindy]

Yeah, I think this might be basalt.

[Guy Raz]

Basalt? Oh, you mean the type of rock that forms once the lava from a volcano cools down?

[Mindy]

Exactly. All of this black stuff we're standing on right now probably started its life as pipin, hot volcanic magma.

[Guy Raz]

And yet. Look over there, Mindy.

[Mindy]

Over where?

[Guy Raz]

Over there. There's green vegetation growing all over this baby island.

[Mindy]

Green vegetation is my third favorite kind of vegetation.

[Reggie]

Huh?

[Mindy]

Come on, let's check it out. Run, run, run, run, run, run, run.

[Reggie]

Whoa.

[Mindy]

Check this out. Guy Razz.

[Guy Raz]

This is incredible, Mindy. This island is in the middle of the ocean, hundreds of miles away from most of the rest of the world, and yet life seems to be thriving here.

[Mindy]

But how?

[Guy Raz]

Well, if it's anything like other islands in the Pacific, the answer probably lies in what those feathered friends are doing over there.

[Mindy]

Where?

[Guy Raz]

See over there? The birds.

[Mindy]

Oh, yeah, those sooty terns chilling out over on the cliff face.

[Guy Raz]

Right, those sooty terns that have decided to make this island their home as they fly across the Pacific. And these birds have most likely brought these plants with them.

[Mindy]

What? How?

[Guy Raz]

Well.

[Mindy]

Ugh. Is that sooty tern becoming a poopy tern?

[Guy Raz]

Yep. And the seeds from many of these plants probably arrived in the bellies of these migratory birds. And once they pooped out onto the volcanic soil here, well, it began to grow into what we see here today.

[Mindy]

You mean like how those ducks were spreading duckweed from pond to pond and lake to lake all over America?

[Guy Raz]

Exactly.

[Mindy]

Whoa.

[Guy Raz]

And that's not all, Mindy. Volcanic soil, like the stuff we're standing on right now is chock. A block full of nutrients like phosphates and nitrates and potassium and calcium, which are all needed for plants to grow up big and strong.

[Mindy]

Yeah, well, watch where you're treading there, Guy Raz, because there's a lot of that plant fertilizer all over this island beach.

[Reggie]

Ugh.

[Guy Raz]

So, did you find out what the scientists from NASA learned about this island, Mindy?

[Mindy]

Well, as it turns out, this little volcanic island could teach us a lot more about other volcanic islands. And I'm not talking about just the ones found here on Earth.

[Guy Raz]

Wait, what do you mean?

[Mindy]

Okay, so the scientists at NASA are hoping that these satellite images can help us to understand. Understand how volcanoes and oceans work together to make islands here on Earth. Huh? And if they can do that, they can use similar satellite images that we have from Mars to understand if they were also formed with oceans millions of years ago.

[Reggie]

Wow.

[Guy Raz]

You know what, Mindy? It's actually quite peaceful out here.

[Mindy]

I know. It's the perfect spot for our morning walk. The beach, the waves, the pooping birds.

[Guy Raz]

What more could you ask for?

[Mindy]

Oh, I know this.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, no, not more nice breakers.

[Mindy]

Oh, yes, More nice breakers. Okay, let's see here. Oh, this is a good one. If you had to choose between getting woken up at four in the morning every day for the rest of your life or row across the Pacific Ocean with. With nothing but a wooden door from a pirate ship and a tennis racket, what would you choose?

[Guy Raz]

Mayday.

[Mindy]

May Day.

[Reggie]

Wow, that was so cool. That's where most islands come from. Underwater volcanoes. And then the volcanic rock turns into soil, and the soil grows plants, and the plants are fertilized by bird poop. That's so awesome. Except for the bird poop part. That part's gross. What? Bird poop is not less gross than other kinds of poop, Reggie. If anything, it's more gross.

[Mindy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Huh? It is. Because one time a seagull pooped on my shoulder while I was standing in line for ice cream at the beach, and the ice cream lady said, that's good luck. No, Reggie, it was not good luck, because then the seagull stole my entire ice cream cone. So I had bird poop on me and no ice cream. Okay, I don't want to talk about bird poop anymore, so let's wrap this up. Ahem. 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. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the weekend. Okay, should we do the goodbye song? Here we go. That's the end of the show. I need to go and do something else besides talk about bird poop. Yep. But I'll do another show tomorrow. But for now, that's the end of the show. Bye.

[Mindy]

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

[Guy Raz]

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

[Mindy]

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