Hey, Mindy, I've got some great news.
You know the small talk show on TV, right?
Oh, yeah, the small talk show.
The one where the host and the guests sit around and make small talk about the weather and stuff like that.
Yes, yes, that's the one.
And they're looking for a new host, so I thought I'd audition.
Guy Raz, host of a show?
Who would have thought?
I know, right?
So for the audition they've asked me to prepare a list of questions that help start small conversations.
But it turns out that small talk is a little harder than I expected.
Oh, don't worry, Guy Raz.
I've got you covered.
Now, I've got it right here.
Checking my adventure tool kit.
Oh, here it is.
Introducing my newest invention, the small talk generator.
Wow.
Wow.
This is great.
Okay, let's see what topics it generates.
Let's see here.
What is your favorite type of weather?
That's a good one.
Do you have any pets?
If so, have they ever tried to eat your gingerbread mansion?
Yes, that could lead us to a conversation about family and animals.
Here's one.
Tell me about the last four digits of your bank account number.
What?
Mindy, do you really ask people about their bank accounts?
Oh, Guy Raz, you could tell a lot about a person based on their bank account number.
Okay, but you know what always leaves me with great questions?
Our game show.
Oh, our game show.
I almost forgot.
Drain the bathtub.
Cut the coupons.
And dip the floor.
And now for everyone's second favorite game show, after teaching your grandparents how to use their cell phones.
It's Two What's and a What of Two What's and a Wow.
Two What's and a Wow.
The scientific game show that separates the wows from the what's.
And the category for today is animal communication.
Mindy, why don't you refresh our contestants on how the game works?
You know it.
Wowzers, we are going to present you with three scientific statements about how animals communicate.
But this is a Big butt.
Only one of those statements will be a true wow.
The other two, just a couple have made a what?
Okay, let's get started.
Which of the following statements is a true scientific wow about how animals communicate?
Is it A, goats sneeze at one another to warn of danger?
Or is it B, Great white sharks send chemical messages to other sharks through their poop.
Or is it C?
Pigeons can communicate to one another by moving their feet rapidly like tap dancing.
When you think you know the answer, bark it at your nearest dog.
We're going to take a quick break to give you a chance to think.
And when we come back we'll reveal whether your wow is the winning wow.
We'll be right back, grown-ups.
This message is for you, grown-ups.
Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Wow in the World early and ad-free right now.
Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts.
Hey Wowzer fams, Mindy here.
And before we start the show, I gotta let you know that this November is about to get a lot more wow.
Join us each week for the rest of the month for special episodes of Wow in the World.
This week.
Grab a plate and join us for a slice of turducken, 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.
Okay, Wowzers, it's time to reveal the winning wow.
But before we do, let's do a quick review.
We gave you three scientific statements about how animals communicate and challenged you to guess which one was the one true, wow.
Was it A?
Goats sneeze at one another to warn of danger.
Or was it B?
Great white sharks send chemical messages to other sharks through their poop.
Or was it C?
Pigeons can communicate to one another by moving their feet rapidly like tap dancing.
And to answer today's question, joining us by phone, it's Kaya from Canada.
Kaya, what's the wow?
Hi, guys.
My name is Kaya and I'm seven and three quarters.
And goats sneeze to warn each other, warn others of danger.
Did you even know that?
Say hi to Reggie for me and say hello to Baby B because he's the funniest.
Winner, winner, goats, not for dinner.
If you guessed A that goats sneeze at one another to warn of danger.
Congratulations, you found the winning wow.
Sometimes, when goats sense a threat or a danger coming their way, they'll sound their sneezers to warn their goat pals of danger ahead.
By sneezing, these highly intelligent animals are sounding their own alarm.
Now, if you guessed B, while sharks do not typically communicate with one another through their poop, white rhinoceroses do.
Because of their bad eyesight, White rhinos often rely on communal or shared piles of poop called dung, heaps or middens.
Think of these poo-poo piles as one big poop party.
From the chemical clues in the feces, these white rhinos can learn all about health gender, age and their fellow rhino friends in the area.
Now if you guessed C?
Unfortunately, Reggie and his pigeon friends don't break out into a tap dance in order to communicate.
However, the male cordon bluebirds of East Africa do like to break out some dance moves to impress female cordon bluebirds.
Researchers at Hokkaido University in Japan found that not only do these birds tap dance their feet so quickly that it can't be seen by the naked eye, but they also sometimes sing along to their tapping feet.
Now, Mindy, why don't you tell our winning Wowzers what they've won?
Kairos, all of our winning Wowzers today will be taking home their very own invisible talking stick.
Uh, do you mean walking stick?
Nope.
We're talking about a stick that talks, Guy Raz.
Ever wondered how sticks think about stick figure drawings?
Or how sticks feel about the word sticky having absolutely nothing to do with them?
Just ask away.
Okay, well, congratulations to all of our winning Wowzers.
That's about all the time we have for today.
But before we go, we have one little scientific challenge for you.
We call it Operation Conversation Observation.
We learned that animals communicate to one another in all types of ways.
So we challenge you to do some field research.
If you have a pet like a dog, a cat, or a pigeon, observe your pet for the day.
And if not, go outdoors and see if you can find an animal in your neighborhood.
Like a good scientist, be sure to take notes about what the animal you're observing is communicating.
Is the animal singing, barking?
Or perhaps communicating without making any noise?
Maybe your cat's tail is pointed straight up or your dog's ears are folded.
Once you're done observing, write down what you think your animal was trying to communicate.
Then do a little research to find what your animal may have been communicating.
And check to see if your guess is correct.
You might be surprised what your animal is trying to say to you.
But a quick heads up if you find your animal is speaking to you in your language, you might want to get some water and a nap.
And don't forget to take a photo or a video of your animal observations.
Grownups, you can upload pictures and videos to us at tinkercast.com slash share.
Well, that's all the time we have for now, but until next time... Keep on wowing!
Two What's and a Wow is executive, produced by Meredith Halpern-Ranzer, Mindy Thomas and me.
Our writers are Sound.
Production and design is by, With help from our senior producer, Jed Anderson.
Special thanks to the rest of our team of tinkerers.
Including Our theme song was written and composed by The Pop-Ups.
For more on their theme song, three-time Grammy-nominated all-ages music.
Find them at thepopups.com.
And to keep the what's and the wows rolling, visit us at tinkercast.com.
There you can find our Two What's and a Wow Think and Tinker playbook, interactive Kahoot games and info on becoming a member of the World Organization of Wowsers.
Grownups, you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at twowhatsandawow.com.
And our email address is hello at tinkercast.com.
Finally, if you're a kid with a big wow to share, it could be used on an upcoming episode of Two.
What's in a Wow?
Call us at 1-888-7WOW-WOW.
Thanks again for listening and playing along.
Meet us back here on Monday for Wow in the World.
Made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
