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Hey, Wowzer fans, Mindy here.
And before we start the show, I got to let you know that this November, with a special new episode featuring our friends at Circle Round and Terrestrials on Radiolab for Kids,
And don't miss when Elmo from Sesame Street stops by Wow in the World to make us all belly laugh on November 24th.
Oh, but that's not all, Reg.
On December 1st, we are sharing our 250th episode of Wow in the World with all of you.
We think this one is going to be music to your ears.
Literally.
Did I mention it's a musical?
And if you're a member of the World Organization of Wowzers...
Oh boy, do I have a surprise for you.
You can listen to our 250th episode early with me and other members from around the world on Saturday, November 22nd, at 7 pm.
Eastern.
That's right, we are throwing another listening party.
Join us as we dance along to our new songs.
React to the episode with other members in the chat and more.
Grownups.
If you want your wowzer to join this members-only listening party, you can sign up to become a member today at Tinkercastcom.
Slash wow.
Already a member?
Well, you can find the link and password to join the event when you sign in at Tinkercastcom.
Slash wow.
That's it.
It's going to be a November to remember.
But for now, let's get on with the show.
Woo!
One, two, three, four.
Mindy, you caught me in the middle of my new morning exercise routine.
This is not exercise.
You're just standing here laughing to yourself like you've gone bonker balls.
What in the... This is not funny, Guy Rod.
It's getting weird.
Okay, well, maybe this will help.
Here, come watch this video.
Video?
Man, I've been trying to be all eyes up, screens down.
Okay, what's the video about?
Oh, it's a video of the laughing yogi.
His name is Ramesh Padney and he lives in India, where he's known as the world's greatest laugh teacher.
A laugh teacher.
Guy Raz, who needs to be taught how to laugh?
Well, Grumpy people for one thing, Mindy.
Well, I'm not grumpy, but I'm also not in a laughing mood, because I came over here to tell you about this serious science story that I learned.
And you're just acting like life is one big joke, laughing and giggling all over the place.
I don't even know what's going on anymore.
Well, Mindy, let's make a bet.
You want to make a bet?
Yeah, a bet.
I will bet you that this video of Yogi Ramesh Padme will make you laugh Within 30 seconds and Mindy, if I'm wrong, I will fill up your swimming pool with gummy bears.
Okay, first of all, that's not a swimming pool.
That's a tunnel that I'm digging to China.
But second of all, I'm intrigued.
What happens if I lose?
Well, if this video makes you laugh, you have to clean up my cat Alice's litter box for a whole week.
That's a litter box?
Oh, man, I've been using that as a tiny sandbox.
You mean she popes in?
Well, so what do you say?
You want to shake on it?
Your video of some guy trying to get me to laugh on command?
Good luck with that, Guy Raz.
You sure about that?
I am so sure I'll win this bet that I've already sent out a telegram to all of the gummy bears in the world instructing them to march toward my house.
Well, then, it's a bet.
You ready?
Lay it on me.
Okay, okay, so here goes.
Here is Yogi Ramesh Padani... doing his laughing exercises.
Laughing exercise for the heart and mind.
Very easy.
I'm not gonna laugh.
I'm not gonna laugh.
And I'm happy I'm relaxed.
I'm happy I'm relaxed.
I'm happy I'm relaxed.
Now you can do full laughter.
I'm happy I'm relaxed.
Mindy, if we don't stop laughing, we're not going to be able to get on with our lives.
Okay.
Mindy, Mindy, we just experienced a phenomenon known as contagion.
Contagion?
Wait, contagion?
Everyone, quick, cover your mouths.
Put on your germ masks!
Mindy, Mindy, don't worry.
There's nothing to worry about.
Oh, nothing to worry about?
I happen to know that the dictionary definition of contagion is the communication or spread of a disease by a direct or indirect contact.
I mean, did you even see the movie Contagion?
I didn't.
Too scary.
But Mindy, you're right.
That is one definition of contagion.
But there's also another one and a little less scary.
Well, I'm not taking this mask off until you can convince me it's safe.
Mindy, the contagion I'm talking about is also about the spread of something.
And in this case, the spread of an emotion or a behavior or an action.
Wait a minute.
So you're saying that when you were laughing, it spread to me and made me laugh?
Yes, contagion.
Laughter is one of those things humans do that spreads to other humans.
It's contagious.
Oh, so that explains why when I go to the movies I always wind up laughing, a lot more than when I watch a movie at home by myself.
Right, because when you hear other people laughing around you like you do at the movies, it triggers something in your brain that makes you want to laugh too.
Wait a minute.
So there are other things that we humans do that are contagious too, like when we yawn enough.
How does it work?
If you see someone else yawn, there's a good chance you will yawn as well.
Pretty sure we just experienced that guy, Roz.
But you know what?
I think that smiling might be contagious too.
Yep.
See my pearly whites?
Ooh, you are smiling with teeth I didn't even know you had.
But yeah, your smile kind of makes me want to smile too.
And amazingly Mindy, When you see another person shiver from the cold, even if you see them through a window, like you know, say inside your warm house just seeing someone else shiver can make you feel colder.
Wow, that is some serious communication.
It's all called mirroring behavior.
Okay.
So like when you look in a mirror and you see your own reflection, or when you see someone laughing or yawning or shivering and your body wants to mirror their behavior or copy it.
Yes, isn't it incredible?
Yeah, it really is.
And even more amazing is that these behaviors, especially laughter, can spread from one person to the next, to the next to the next, almost like a cold or the flu.
Oh, all right.
So this reminds me of this crazy video that I saw once, where all of these people were stuck together on a train and then one person started laughing, and then another person started laughing, and another, and another.
Until before you knew it, the entire train was laughing their brains out.
I thought the whole thing was going to fly off the rails.
Yes, I love that video.
It's hilarious.
And you know, Mindy?
Know what?
There's a cognitive neuroscientist from the University of London named Sophie Scott.
Time out.
A cognitive neuroscientist is a person who studies the brain and thinking.
Time in!
And Sophie, well, she's one of the world's experts on laughter.
You know, why we do it and why it spreads.
And what she does is she takes groups of people into her lab and, well, she asks them to laugh.
What?
For science?
This is my kind of experiment.
And what she's trying to figure out is... how our laughter spreads and how laughter affects us.
Well, I know I always feel a lot better after I laugh.
Me too.
And Mindy.
What's so cool is that when we laugh, our bodies release natural chemicals, happy chemicals called neurotransmitters, with silly names like dopamine and serotonin.
Sorry.
And these neurotransmitters help keep us smiling and also focused.
Ah, smart.
Now I'm starting to understand those weirdo laughing exercises you were doing, Guy Raz.
Well Mindy, I was inspired by some research that was done by a team of scientists at Georgia State University.
And they wanted to find out if laughing while exercising could actually be even better for certain people than just exercising alone.
Guess what?
Well, Mindy what these scientists found?
That when people laugh and exercise together, not only do they get stronger, but if they're older, it helps their memory.
How does that work?
Well Mindy, for six weeks, a group of older adults so maybe even older than some grandparents listening exercised for 40 minutes.
And during that time, they were told to laugh for up to 60 seconds 10 different times.
And whatever exercise they were doing, they had to laugh while doing that.
What?
So what happened?
Well, laughter forces the muscles in your body to strengthen and relax, strengthen and relax.
And by repeating this, the researchers found that it actually helped this group of older adults become healthier.
Wait, so this worked?
Like they were healthier and stronger afterwards?
Yes, and not only stronger, but the researchers found that the laughter helped this group remember things longer and stay happier.
And the most interesting thing Mindy, is that it didn't matter if it was real laughter or fake laughter.
What?
Our bodies can't really tell the difference, so all laughter is good.
Wait, so they were just tricking their bodies into laughing?
Yes, and the more they laughed, the more others around them laugh.
Contagion!
Yes!
Oh boy, here we go again.
Okay, Roz, I am not going to fall for it.
No, I know what you're trying to do.
I know that I lost the bet and I'm going to have to clean Cat Alice's litter box, but I will not start laughing just because you're trying to.
I can't hold it in anymore.
Oh! be right back grown-ups this message is for you hey grown-ups it's mindy and guy ross here from wow in the world mindy and i have some brand new wow in the world toys out in the world just in time for the holidays made for the kids who love science and for the ones who don't yet from our 100 experiments that wow kit to the telescope and astronomy kit Our Wow in the World toys help your wowzer learn about their world through play.
Plus, you can hear exclusive audio content from me and Guy Raz to help your wowzer discover even more wows.
Grown-ups.
Give the gift of wow and wonder this holiday season with our latest Wow in the World toys designed with your curious wowzer in mind.
You can shop our Wow in the World toys at Tinkercast.com slash toys.
That's Tinkercastcom slash toys show.
Welcome to open mic night here at wow in the world comedy.
We've got a great lineup of comedians for you.
You're not going to want to be throwing rotten tomatoes at these guys.
You're going to want to be throwing the fresh ones.
Let's get them up here.
Let's let's make with the jokes.
Okay, our first joke is from me, and here it is.
Parallel lines have so much in common, it's a shame they'll never meet.
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Boo.
Boo who?
Don't cry, it's a legend.
What did the fish say when it left the reef?
What did it say?
See you later.
Why do cows have bells?
Because their horns don't work.
Okay, here's another one.
How do you count cows?
With a calculator.
You guys are utterly ridiculous.
Hey, everyone.
Thanks for coming here.
I'm going to make you a joke.
Where did the cow went for his vacation?
To the moon.
Why was Cinderella bad at soccer?
Because...
Her coach was a pumpkin.
Thank you.
Thank you, everybody, for coming out here.
Don't forget to tip your waiter.
Hey, thanks so much for listening to Wow in the World this week.
And parents, if you want to continue the conversation with your kids.
We've posted some questions about this episode at our website, wowintheworldcom.
And while you're there, you can find links to some of the sources we used to tell our stories this week.
Also, we love hearing from you.
You can write us at hello at wowintheworld.com.
Our show is produced by Jed Anderson.
Say hello, Jed.
Our theme song, Wow in the World, was written and performed by The Pop-Ups.
Check them out at thepopups.com.
Big thanks to the kid comedians you heard in today's episode.
Bradley, Giovanna, Sabrina, Annie, Sydney, and Casey.
You guys were hilarious.
Thanks for cracking us up.
Also, we love hearing what's been wowing you.
For a chance to be featured on an upcoming Thursday episode.
Have your grown-ups help you share something that's recently wowed your world by dialing 1-888-7WOWOW.
Thanks again for listening, subscribing, and telling your friends about our show.
We'll be back for a brand new Thursday edition.
In the meantime, go forth and find your own Wow in the World.
Wow in the World is made by Tinkercast.
Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts.
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