Wow in the World — WeWow on the Weekend (9/14/25) Summary

Episode Overview

This episode of WeWow on the Weekend—a spinoff from the #1 science podcast for kids, Wow in the World—is hosted by the quirky Dennis and his co-host Reggie. The show kicks off with listener Q&A, moves into an “Inside Tinkercast Studios” segment (featuring a classic Wow in the World episode about flying taxis in Dubai), and blends humor, science facts, and engaging storytelling for curious young minds.

Main Segments & Key Discussion Points

1. Listener Q&A with Dennis and Reggie (02:51–09:34)

Dennis begins the weekend show with his signature song and playful banter with Reggie before diving into listener questions and riddles:

• Listener Riddle (Ellie from Ambler, PA)

  • Riddle: "Why did the chicken cross the road?"
  • Dennis guesses the classic answer and jokes with Reggie about alternative possibilities (like chasing the ice cream man).
  • Ellie's punchline is a twist on the classic: "He was trying to get to the ice cream man because the ice cream man was too fat for him." (05:40)
  • "Wow. You got really close, Reggie. But you were still wrong. Next question." (05:50, Dennis)

• Why Start WeWow on the Weekend? (Arjun from Ohio)

  • Dennis explains the reasoning: other Tinkercast shows post on weekdays, so weekends needed something special.
  • "Wee wow on Tuesdays doesn’t sound very good. Wee wow on the weekend is way better." (06:25, Dennis)
  • He says he works with Reggie because Reggie knows how to set up the technical side (microphone, website, RSS feed), but quickly gets overwhelmed by the details.

• Which Came First, the Spoon or the Fork? (Q, age 5)

  • Dennis muses about big cooking utensils vs. eating utensils, and hypothesizes that spoons came first for practical reasons, especially for eating soup.
  • "That's my final answer: eating spoons came before the eating fork." (07:51, Dennis)

2. Inside Tinkercast Studios — Flying Taxis in Dubai (09:34–18:11)

Dennis introduces a "replay" of Wow in the World Season 1, Episode 14: "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's a Flying Taxi," featuring hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz.

Key Talking Points:

• What is The Jetsons? (10:00–10:32)

  • Discussion of the iconic futuristic cartoon and its vision of flying cars and robot helpers.
  • "It was that cartoon from the past that took place in the future and basically predicted most of what we have today, right?" (10:03, Mindy)
  • Mindy and Guy reminisce about the show's predictions, mentioning the robot maid Rosie.

• Are Flying Cars Coming? (10:42–11:56)

  • Many in the past thought we'd have flying cars by 2017, but safety and logistics (like crowded skies) are big barriers.
  • "A dream is like an engine inside your body, except it powers ideas." (11:42, Guy Raz)

• First Real Flying Taxis: Dubai’s Plan (12:26–13:16)

  • Dubai aims to become the world's most modern city by introducing flying taxis—essentially large human-carrying drones.
  • "Dubai will be the first place to have flying taxis." (12:48, Guy)

• How Do Flying Taxi Drones Work? (13:17–15:09)

  • The flying taxis resemble egg-shaped drones with eight propellers.
  • They have one seat (for a single passenger) and no human pilot; navigation is handled by computers and satellite signals, similar to GPS-based apps.
  • For safety, they're constantly monitored by humans at ground stations.

• Where Will the Drones Go, and How High? (16:22–17:19)

  • The drones are programmed with fixed routes for safety, landing only at designated spots.
  • They can fly up to 11,000 ft—enough to drop passengers at the top of skyscrapers like the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
  • "That little drone taxi will be able to fly as high as 11,000 ft." (17:01, Guy)

• Why Dubai? (17:27–17:50)

  • Dubai is keen to be a model of technological advancement, already operating a driverless metro system.
  • "If this experiment does work in Dubai, I have no doubt that we will all be traveling in little air taxis in a few years from now." (17:45, Guy)

Notable Moment:

• Mindy jokingly suggests launching Guy in a mayonnaise-greased balloon attached to her drone as a playful, off-the-wall fantasy. (17:50)

3. Closing Banter & Reflections (18:11–19:42)

• Dennis realizes he appeared in an early episode of Wow in the World, connecting the present to its “origin story.”
• Dreaming wistfully about flying taxis and haggling over a ride to Dubai with Reggie (his bird co-host), Dennis keeps the laughter going:
  • “Oh, $100. Well, why didn’t you say so, sir? Next up: Dubai. Walk to Dubai. Walk to Dubai.” (19:37, Dennis)

Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• Dennis: "Wee wow on Tuesdays doesn’t sound very good. Wee wow on the weekend is way better." (06:25)
• Guy Raz: "A dream is like an engine inside your body, except it powers ideas." (11:42)
• Guy Raz: "Dubai will be the first place to have flying taxis." (12:48)
• Guy Raz: "If this experiment does work in Dubai, I have no doubt that we will all be traveling in little air taxis in a few years from now." (17:45)
• Dennis: "That's my final answer: eating spoons came before the eating fork." (07:51)
• Mindy Thomas: "It was that cartoon from the past that took place in the future and basically predicted most of what we have today, right?" (10:03)
• Dennis: “Oh, $100. Well, why didn’t you say so, sir? Next up: Dubai. Walk to Dubai. Walk to Dubai.” (19:37)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Q&A Segment starts: 04:48
• Riddle from Ellie: 04:48–05:50
• Why WeeWow on the Weekend? 05:56–06:48
• Spoon vs. Fork question: 07:01–07:51
• Inside Tinkercast Studios intro: 08:55–09:34
• Flying taxi discussion begins: 10:00–18:11
• Dennis reflects and signs off: 18:11–19:42

Episode Tone & Style

The episode features:

• Inventive, child-like curiosity
• Playful banter
• Humor and whimsy blended with scientific topics
• Encouragement to dream big and stay curious

Bottom Line

This WeWow on the Weekend episode whirls listeners through jokes and questions from real kids before sparking imaginations with a look back at a futuristic real-world innovation—flying taxis in Dubai. While full of laughs and Dennis’s charming tangents, the episode reinforces the values of asking questions, following dreams, and believing science fiction might just become tomorrow’s reality.

Perfect for kids and parents who want science, silliness, and a hearty dose of “WOW”!