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Hey, Wowzer fans, Mindy here.
And before we start the show, I gotta 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! in the big toot.
On K-W-O-W-F-M.
That was never let you down by America's number one elevator music sensation, The Elevates.
You know Mindy, I hear that the elevators at the DMV where we're headed towards have been playing some pretty great music lately.
Oh, you're going to want to bear left right here.
Right where?
Mindy.
Oh, hold on.
Ah, K-Bongo.
Did you hear about the new art museum exhibition that just opened downtown?
Ooh, there's a new museum exhibition downtown?
Oh, watch for those speed humps, Mindy.
What speed humps?
That's nothing.
Oh, yeah, dude.
It's called Disgustival.
And word on the street is that it's making everyone who visits blow their groceries.
Ugh. crack me up.
How is this an exhibition at the art museum?
Yeah, my girl G-Force went over the weekend and tossed her cookies so hard they had to shut the place down to clean it up.
Clean up on aisle five.
Did you hear that?
Wait, Grandma G-Force knows these guys?
Oh, Mindy, watch out.
There's a stop sign coming up right here.
Huh, weird.
Never seen one of those before.
What?
Who?
Mindy, I... Okay.
It's like some kind of creepy haunted house, but based on science.
Did he say science?
Mindy, you're supposed to stop before the stop sign, not after.
We're in the middle of an intersection.
Oh, we are.
Hi.
Look, there's cars in every side.
Get out of the way!
Hello?
Some scientist dudes in England did a really grody experiment that had people retching and ralphing all over their lab.
Nasty!
Wait a minute, Mindy.
I think I know the experiment they're talking about.
You do?
Yes, I read about it in the scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Well, today is the last day of Disgustables, so you better get your batutes down to the art museum if you want to get your barf on before it closes.
Tell them Bongo and the Big Toot sent you.
Will do, Bongo and the Big Toot.
And now for a quick check on the traffic with our eye in the sky.
Hey, Chuck!
What's it look like out there?
Ah!
Bunko!
Big Toot!
An ice cream truck just stopped in the middle of a four-way intersection, causing a traffic jam in all directions.
Ugh, traffic reports.
Now, how do I get to the art museum?
But Mindy, I thought we were going to the Department of Motor Vehicles, the DMV.
Ah!
Hey, Roz, I can get my driver's license anytime.
We've got to make it to the Disgustable before it closes forever.
Wait, that's why we were going to the DMV?
Uh-huh.
Mindy, have you been driving this ice cream truck without a license?
Are you sure you want to know the answer to that?
I thought we were going to the DMV so you could finally pay this stack of parking tickets.
Ah!
Hey, Guy Raz, those parking tickets are the tickets to get into the DMV.
That's not how it works, Mindy.
And, as you can see, I've got enough to give me admission for the rest of my life.
Now, which way do I turn to get to the Disgustable?
Let me see.
All right, you're going to want to turn left here.
Aye, aye, Captain.
No, Mindy, your other left.
Oh, man!
I am so glad we made it to the Disgustable before it closes forever!
Are you sure you really want to do this, Mindy?
Yes, of I'm not sure I really want to do this, Guy Raz.
It's just that I read the study that this is based on, the one conducted by a couple of scientists from Nottingham Trent University in England and the University of California, Los Angeles, and Hello.
Welcome to the Disgustival.
May I see your tickets, please?
Uh... You know it.
I got a whole stack of them right here.
Uh...
This one is worth $100.
Oh, my.
Have you ever tried double parking an ice cream truck?
Well, no.
Not your parking tickets, Mindy.
Oh.
Right.
I want to check your tickets to the museum exhibit, Disgustival.
Well, in that case, no.
Not to worry.
If you don't have a ticket, you can just contribute something revolting to add to the collection inside.
Really?
Yes, really.
OK, hang on.
I'm sure I've got something disgusting in my adventure tool kit here.
There we go.
What's that smell?
Indeed.
Let me see here.
Use tissues.
No.
We eat banana.
Here we go.
Would you accept a three-week-old room-temperature mayonnaise sandwich wrapped in a diaper and covered in exploding ants, with a used band-aid stuck to it by a piece of chewed gum with a little hairball on it?
Mindy!
Oh, it's exquisite.
What?
I knew it would come in handy someday.
Glad I didn't throw that thing away.
Thank you so much for this contribution.
Please, write this way.
Thank you.
Oh, and Bongo and the Big Toot sent us.
Oh, I don't know what that is.
Of course.
Now, allow me to give you just a brief history of the Disgustival Exhibition.
History?
I love history.
Me too.
Me also as well.
Now, the exhibition is about two weeks old and was inspired by the work of two scientists.
One, Tom Kupfer, a psychological scientist.
That's a scientist who studies why people act the way they do.
I know what a psychological scientist is, Mindy.
And Daniel Fessler, an evolutionary anthropologist.
That's a scientist who studies how humans have evolved over time, both Biologically and culturally.
I know what an evolutionary anthropologist is, Guy Raz.
Ahem.
Sorry.
Not to worry.
Walk with me this way.
Finally.
When do we get to the gross stuff?
In a minute.
First we go to the year 2017, where Dr Kupfer was sharing his latest findings on trypophobia with some colleagues.
Oh, yeah.
Guy Raz here has trypophobia.
Yeah. why he's always afraid to go on any adventure trips with me.
No, no, no, no, no.
Tripophobia is not about vacation.
That's not true.
I'm just afraid I'm not going to make it anywhere in one piece.
That is true.
We skipped getting my driver's license today just to come to this.
Oh, goodness.
Have you ever tried operating an ice cream truck with only three wheels?
Huh?
That's why the ride was so bumpy?
Yeah.
Um, one, two, three, all eyes on me.
Okay?
Sorry.
Sorry.
That's quite all right.
Now, trypophobia is the aversion to the sight of closely packed clusters of tiny holes or bumps, like what you'd find on this strawberry.
Ooh.
Or these foam bubbles.
Ooh!
Or this newly blossomed lotus pod.
Ooh.
Huh.
Oddly revolting.
Or how about the skin on my knees after kneeling on a bunch of frozen peas for too long?
See?
Oh, my.
Ooh. go back to normal someday.
Uh anyway, now as Dr Kupfer was sharing his findings that people who suffer from trypophobia, when presented with pictures of say, things such as this skin infection crawling with parasites.
Okay, that's enough for today.
No way, Guy Raz.
We're just getting to the good stuff.
Well, when presented with these pictures, people with trypophobia will often feel the urge to itch or scratch their skin.
Sometimes... to the extreme.
Just from looking at the pictures?
My skin is crawling just thinking about those pictures.
Well, it's funny you should say that.
I don't know if it was that funny.
No, not funny like... Just listen.
During the photo presentation on his findings, one of Dr Kupfer's research colleagues, who had been sitting in the front row, became so physically uncomfortable looking at the disgusting images he began shouting at Dr Kupfer to take the photos down.
Because the disgusting images in the photo presentation made that person want to scratch their brains out.
Yes, exactly.
Even though they were only photos, are you sure there was nothing actually creeping and crawling on their skin?
No. there was nothing actually on their skin whatsoever.
Huh.
Wait a minute, Guy Raz.
You know how sometimes you feel like you're gonna barf your brains out at just the sight of something gross.
Like, um, hang on.
Let me just get something out of my adventure toolkit here.
Oh, no.
There we go.
Okay, how does the sight of this 65-year-old potato make you feel, Guy Raz?
It's a family heirloom.
Ugh, Mindy, I feel nauseous just looking at that old potato.
Right.
And that feeling, that feeling of nausea, like you're going to barf, is part of what keeps you from eating it.
That nauseous feeling is like your body's first line of defense when it comes to putting poisonous things into your body.
That barf feeling is like your body's built-in bodyguard.
Ah.
Ah, well, that makes sense.
Mindy, let me see your adventure toolkit for a sec.
Let's see here.
Aha!
Okay, so if I were to show you this... By the way, what is this in here?
Oh, that's my collection of live fleas, ticks, and deadhead lice.
Oh, right.
So as I show you this collection, how does it make you feel?
Oh, proud...
Well, that's one way to look at it, because just looking at these fleas and ticks and lice make my skin crawl and my head itch.
But they're not even touching your skin or head, Guy Raz.
Exactly, but that feeling that my body is experiencing well, it's a signal to my brain that I should not touch these things.
It's another one of my body's first lines of defense.
Good thing, because without that feeling, you'd probably dump them out on the floor and roll around in them.
What?
Well, that might be a bit extreme.
I mean, ectoparasites aren't all that cuddly in appearance.
Oh, I read all about this in the study, Mindy.
Dr. Kupfer and Dr. Fessler wanted to explore these two very different responses to certain threats.
So let me get this straight.
Nausea and barfing in response to bad stuff that you might put into your body.
And itching and scratching in response to ectoparasites, those teeny, tiny organisms that live and feed off your body, on your skin.
Ah, on the outside of your body.
So like fleas and ticks and lice.
Ectoparasites.
Exactly.
Yes.
Well, I do believe you're ready for the disgustival.
Please, take one of our complimentary bath bags as you enter the exhibit.
Nah, I'm good.
I'll just cut my hands.
Oh, my.
I will gladly take one.
Thank you.
Excellent.
Now keep in mind everything you'll experience in this exhibit is based off of the actual scientific study that took place between Dr Kupfer and Dr Fessler.
I'm so excited, I'm so excited, I'm so excited, I'm so excited!
And just to get you started, our barfy exhibits are off to the left there in the vomitorium.
And our itchy, scratchy exhibits are off to the right in the creepitorium.
Enjoy yourselves.
Ta-ta!
What do you say, Guy Raz?
Barfy barfy or itchy scratchy?
Is it too late to choose neither?
Good choice.
All of this gross talk is making me hungry.
Oh, hey, excuse me.
Excuse me.
Yes?
Any chance you got a food court in this place?
Certainly not.
No food or drink allowed in the museum.
Oh.
Well, actually, Mindy, maybe we should just head to the Itchy Scratchy exhibit.
It was, after all, what inspired this new study.
Well, anything for science.
Anything for science.
Look at this place, Guy Raz.
It's like a creepy disco.
Disgusting haunted house, but everything is displayed beautifully like a fine art museum.
Ooh, check this out.
A trash mattress infested with bed bugs.
Hey there, little buddies.
And a dirty porta-potty toilet from a music festival.
Ew, good thing I wore my boots.
Mindy?
What a random collection of disgusting things.
Well actually Mindy, these are all the things that those two researchers used to study people's responses to both the sight of the body invading pathogens.
Pathogens.
Oh, organisms like bacteria or virus that make people sick.
And also to the sight of itchy, scratchy ectoparasites.
Ectoparasites.
Oh, so things like mosquitoes, ticks and head lice that live on and feed off the skin they attach themselves to.
Exactly.
So for this experiment, the researchers searched the internet for the most repulsive, sickening and revolting videos they could find.
Anything for science.
And they didn't want people to just say, ugh, that's gross.
They wanted itching and scratching and gasping. and nausea.
That's right.
So for example, a slice of moldy bread just wasn't gross enough.
But something like this giant pile of dirty earwax was?
That is vile, but so artfully displayed.
I know, right?
This place is really nice.
And as the participants in the study watched these videos of ectoparasites with like nasty skin infections and fur covered in fleas, and mosquitoes sucking blood.
All of which are artfully displayed here at the Disgustival.
So, while they watch those videos and also videos of pathogens like Oh, like this display of raw meat swarming with maggots
Or this skin eruption with a volcano of... I think I'm going to be sick.
We interrupt this episode of Wow in the World for a brief bath break.
And now back to your regularly scheduled program.
Stop!
I only grabbed one barf bag.
You should put that thing on display here.
So Guy Raz, what happened next in the experiment?
Well, after showing these disgusting videos to over 1000 people between the US and China, the researchers found that people shared a lot of the same reactions when it comes to pathogens.
So basically everyone got nauseous and felt like they could burp their brains out?
Exactly!
And they found that they also shared the same reactions when watching videos containing ectoparasites.
So they wanted to scratch their brains out.
Well, not literally, but they did report feeling an itchy sensation as if the ectoparasites were actually crawling on their skin.
Wow, so is it safe to say that that nausea and that itchy, scratchy feeling are like our body's bodyguards when it comes to these kinds of dangers or threats?
Yeah, and developed in us humans over millions and millions of years.
Huh, so you mean we've basically evolved to have these reactions?
Exactly.
Think of it as your great great great great great great great, great great Grandma telling you not to eat something or go near something.
Huh.
Well thanks great great great great great great great great great great, great great, Grandma G-Force.
But, of course, more experiments are still needed before we can know for sure.
Ooh, more experiments?
What's next?
Well, the plan is for Dr. Kupfer and Dr. Fessler to take this show on the road, internationally.
Disgustable!
The World Tour!
They hope to find out whether people who speak different languages and have different customs all share the same physical and emotional reactions to really, really disgusting things like pathogens and ectoparasites.
Wow.
Hello.
Just wanted to check in and see if you have any questions.
Oh, yeah.
I was wondering, is there anything else to see?
Like, anything real gross?
Well.
Now that you mention it... I think we've seen enough, Mindy.
Guy Raz, it's just that I really thought I would get disgusted at the Disgustable, you know?
And, I mean, to be honest, I haven't felt like barfing or scratching even once since we got here.
Oh, no.
Really?
I'm sorry we didn't meet your expectations.
It's okay.
Well, the final stop on our tour is down this slide right here. into our experiential ball pit.
Be sure to take a selfie when you land for the social media stuff with the hashtags and the likes and the internet points and the Wait, did you say ball pit?
Well, yes, I suppose I did.
Come on, Mindy, let's go!
This is great, Mindy.
It's been years since I've been in one of these.
Yeah!
Sweat and snot and germs and bacteria and it smells like dirty feet in here.
Hey, are you okay?
Okay, Ross, raw meat swarming with maggots is one thing, but this has gone too far.
I think I'm going to be sick.
Oh, no.
Ross, cup your hands for me.
My hands?
Here it comes.
We interrupt the ending of this episode of Wow in the World for a brief... bath, uh, uh, conclusion.
There we are.
Thank you.
Wow in the World will be right back.
Grown-ups, this message is for you.
Hey, grown-ups, it's Mindy and Guy Raz 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.
Grownups.
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 Tinkercast.com slash toys.
Hi, thanks for calling Wow in the World.
After the beep, get ready to record.
Hello, my name is Grant and I live in Oak Park.
My Wow in the World is that two trees can share the same root system.
Love your show.
Hi, my name is Guy Ross.
My name is June.
And I live in Traverse City, Michigan.
My well in the world is that when starfish lose an arm, they can grow another one.
Say hi to Reggie and Grandma G's horse for me.
Oh, isn't that nice?
Bye.
Hi, my name is Nick, and I live in a cushion in Massachusetts.
And my well is that trucks can swim 15 miles per hour.
Bye.
I love your show.
Say hi... to Reggie and Dennis for me.
Hi there.
Hello, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name's Frida, and I'm from New Zealand, and my wow in the world is that giraffe tongues are blue.
Bye, Mindy and Guy Raz.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name is Naga, and I live in Baltimore, and this is my wow in the world.
Did you know that there are stars brighter than the sun Bye.
Say hi to Reggie, Gamma G-Force, Dennis, and Thomas Fingerlings.
Hi, Mindy and guys.
I'm Jacob from Massachusetts, and my wild world is blood worms look like worms, but they have teeth.
Say hello to Lamma Jeepers and Dennis for me.
Oh, yeah.
Hi.
Hi, Mindy and guys.
My name is Sophia, and I live in Nevada City, California.
I'm 11 years old.
My wow in the world is that Australia's feral cats kill over 1 million reptiles a day.
Say hi to Reggie, Grandma G-Force, and Tom Fingerling for me.
Hey Mindy and Guy Raz, my name is Hannah and I'm 10 years old.
I live in Huntsville Ontario Canada, and my wow in the world is that giant squid have better eyes than humans, because giant and colossal squid have eyes that are roughly the size of a beach ball, which helps them see objects in super dark deep water.
Isn't that dolphinately wow?
Say hi to Reggie.
Dennis.
Ahoy there.
Tom Fingerling.
What?
Grandma G-Force.
Well, huh.
And the cat sleigh team.
And dun, dun, dun, Static Man.
End of messages.
Grownups, if you like Wow in the World, you can listen early and ad-free right now on Wondery Plus.
Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts.
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And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey at wondery.com slash survey.
Wow in the World is written by Mindy Thomas and with help from me, Guy Raz.
Our senior producer, Jed Anderson, brings our show to life with sound design and music editing and is also in charge of wrangling Dennis Thomas Fingerling, Reggie and many of the other silly characters you hear.
Jessica Bode keeps our facts straight as our fact checker and Meredith Halpern-Ranzer powers the wow at Tinkercast.
Our theme song was composed and performed by three-time Grammy nominees, The Pop-Ups.
Find them at thepopups.com.
Special thanks to the rest of our team of tinkerers, including Anna Zagorski, Rebecca Caban, Kit Ballinger, Henry Moskal and Tyler Thole.
To keep the wows rolling, visit us at tinkercast.com.
There you can learn more about becoming an official member of the World Organization of Wowsers.
Learn more about upcoming events.
Shop our shop and pick up a copy of our new number one New York Times bestselling book, The How and Wow of the Human Body.
Grownups, you can follow Wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at wowintheworld.
And our email address is hello at tinkercast.com.
And if you're a kid with a big wow to share with us, call us at 1-888-WOW for a chance to be featured at the end of our show or an upcoming episode of Two.
What's in a Wow?
Thanks again for listening, and until next time, keep on wowing!
Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
