Wow in the World – "World Series of Spitting"

Podcast: Wow in the World
Hosts: Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz
Date: February 23, 2026
Episode theme: A hilarious, science-packed deep dive into the animal kingdom’s most amazing spitters, told through a wacky adventure at the (fictional) World Spitting Championships.

Overview

The episode brings listeners ringside to the World Spitting Championships—a science-y, laugh-out-loud competition featuring some of the animal world’s most expert spitters! Alongside favorite characters like Mindy, Guy Raz, Dennis, and Grandma G Force, kids and grownups learn the “what,” “how,” and “why” of animal spitting. This episode blends live commentary from the event, animal facts, and playful banter, culminating in a wow-worthy celebration of curiosity and nature's surprises.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Arriving at the Championship

• Mindy is on a snack quest and disappointed there’s no caviar:
  • “Can you believe that none of these snack shacks have any caviar?” (Mindy, 03:46)
• Dennis heroically secures front-row seats:
  • “I know, and I only had to get here five hours early.” (Dennis, 05:24)

2. Meet the (Unusual) Competitors

• The spitting contest is not between humans, but remarkable animals, including:
  • The archerfish
  • A camel
  • A spitting snake
  • Gracie the gray seal
  • Grandma G Force (representing humans)
• “These spitting competitors are all animals.” (Mindy Thomas, 05:50)
• New science fact: Gray seals were only recently discovered to spit at predators (06:08; 13:27)

3. Animal Spitting Superpowers

Archerfish

• Uses spit to hunt insects up to 5 feet above water.
  • “He uses his spitting for hunting purposes.” (Guy Raz, 10:30)
  • “He’s super accurate, too.” (Guy Raz, 10:49)
• Result: Nearly perfect round with 4/5 targets hit. (11:11)

Camel

• Notorious for spitting as a defense; in this competition, spits in the announcer’s face and is immediately disqualified!
  • “You just spit in my face. Disqualified!” (Announcer, 11:32)

Spitting Snake

• Spits venom for self-defense, not hunting, reaching up to 7 feet.
  • “She uses it for self defense.” (Guy Raz, 12:16)
• Fun science tidbit: “Spitting” snakes protect themselves by aiming at attackers’ eyes.
• Result: 3/5, eliminated.

Gracie the Gray Seal

• Recently observed spitting at sea eagles to scare them from her food.
  • “She was first observed spitting in the wild back in 2022.” (Mindy, 13:27)
  • “Scientists think she was spitting at the eagle to try and scare it away from the fish.” (Mindy, 14:00)
• Achieves 4/5 and ties the archerfish.

Grandma G Force (Human)

• Needs a perfect score to win; coached by the eccentric Thomas Fingerling.
  • “Now remember what I said, GeForce: become one with the phlegm.” (Announcer, 15:56)
  • Grandma’s advice for aspiring spitters: “My shoes will not fit you. I got unusually wide feet.” (Mindy as Grandma G Force, 17:52)
• Scores a perfect 5/5; wins the championship!

4. Wrapping Up & Silly Science Takeaways

• The Announcer awards the prize: “Our world champion will leave with a lifetime supply of Francis Ohanigan’s mouthwash. Just swirl and spit!” (18:28)
• Dennis laments Gracie’s loss: “Gracie the gray seal could have really used that mouthwash. She has a raw fish diet. Think how bad her breath is.” (Dennis, 19:05)
• Conversation ends with classic curiosity:
  • “Who knew so many animals knew how to spit and for so many different reasons?” (Mindy, 19:22)
  • “We only learned about seals being able to spit a few years ago. Who knows how many other animals out there have extraordinary animal spitting abilities?” (Mindy, 19:28)
• Teaser for the next event: “I gotta stay for that world Splashing Competition.” (Mindy, 19:57)

Notable Quotes & Fun Moments (with Timestamps)

• “These spitting competitors are all animals.” — Mindy Thomas (05:50)
• “He uses his spitting for hunting purposes.” — Guy Raz on archerfish (10:30)
• “Disqualified! Get out of here, camel.” — Announcer (11:32)
• “That kind of snake can protect itself by spitting venom almost 7 feet.” — Mindy Thomas (12:22)
• “She was first observed spitting in the wild back in 2022.” — Mindy Thomas on Gracie the gray seal (13:27)
• “Now remember what I said, GeForce: become one with the phlegm.” — Announcer (15:56)
• “My shoes will not fit you. I got unusually wide feet.” — Grandma G Force (17:52)
• “Our world champion will leave with a lifetime supply of Francis Ohanigan’s mouthwash. Just swirl and spit!” — Announcer (18:28)
• “Who knew so many animals knew how to spit and for so many different reasons?” — Mindy Thomas (19:24)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 02:29 – Show theme and arrival at the stadium
• 04:23 – Introduction to the World Spitting Championships
• 05:45 – Animal competitors revealed
• 07:19 – Competitor introductions begin
• 10:12 – Spitting round begins: Animals take their turns
• 13:09 – Gray Seal’s story & turn
• 15:07 – Grandma G Force prepares to compete
• 16:09 – Grandma G Force’s perfect round
• 17:38 – Winner announcement and closing words
• 19:05 – Fun final thoughts and wrap-up

Listener "Wow in the World" Messages (20:28–23:22)

Kids share fascinating facts, including:

• Roly Polys are actually crustaceans with gills.
• Bamboo can grow 1.5 inches in an hour.
• Starfish can regrow arms.
• Bananas are berries.
• A day on Venus equals 243 Earth days.

Tone, Style, & Approach

The episode maintains a playful, joke-filled, science-packed tone, with lively sound effects and in-character banter. Scientific facts are woven into the fun, encouraging curiosity and wonder in listeners of all ages.

Key Takeaways

• Spitting is an unusual but important animal behavior, used for hunting and defense.
• Archerfish, camels, spitting snakes, and even gray seals have evolved expert spitting strategies.
• New discoveries in animal science are still being made, like the spitting behavior of seals.
• Curiosity drives both science and silliness—there’s always something new to be wowed by!

A perfect episode for curious kids and their grownups: you’ll laugh, learn, and maybe think differently about animals—and their spit!