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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!
Beautiful day, Mindy.
The sun is shining.
The birds are singing.
Uh, your stomach is growling?
Uh, yep.
Wow, you must be really hungry.
Tell me about it.
We almost there?
Almost, Mindy.
You know, I can't remember the last time we ate at the knuckle hut.
Oh, I do.
It was for Dennis' unbirthday party last year, remember?
Happy unbirthday!
Oh, thank you, everyone.
Thank you.
And you smell like one, too.
Mindy!
Wow, that sure is one big cake, Mindy.
You're telling me it took me a week to bake this bad boy.
Oh, look, here comes Thomas Fingerling.
Thomas Fingerling!
Okay, who's happy on birthday, is it?
Oh, me, me, me, me, me.
Oh, you.
Yes, me.
What do I get?
A knuckle-hot on-birthday jig.
Oh, boy.
Let me just get up on the table here.
Uh, Mindy, what's Mr. Fingerling doing?
Oh, just watch.
Okay.
Hit it.
Mr. Fingerling, you're getting ink everywhere.
Yikes.
Oh, yeah.
Now I remember why we haven't been back.
Yeah, that was one messy-on birthday.
So why are we back here again?
Oh, because Guy Raz, the Knuckle Hut, just came out with a brand-new pork knuckle taco, which is exactly what my stomach is asking for right now.
Here, listen.
Uh... See?
What in the... Also, a little birdie told me that something very... was going down there today.
Really?
What?
A world record attempt.
A world record attempt?
What for?
Nobody knows.
Fingerling's been keeping it a secret.
Huh.
But that same little birdie told me that it has something to do with bugs.
Bugs?
Right.
And who exactly is this little birdie?
Reggie.
Who else?
Of course.
Oh, hey, look.
We're here.
Oh, but...
Look at that line, Mindy.
It's going around the block.
Yeah, those pork knuckle tacos must be super popular.
Or they're all here to see whatever bug-breaking record is going down today.
Could be.
So I guess we better get in line, huh?
Get in line?
Guy Raz, we know the owner.
You know what that makes us.
What?
V-I-E's.
V-I-E's?
Yeah, very important eaters.
Now come on, follow me.
Okay.
Excuse me.
Oh, excuse me.
Sorry.
Coming through.
Come on.
Come on there, Wisey.
Sorry.
I'm with her.
Hi.
Hi.
Sorry.
We're VIP.
Apologies.
Whoa.
It is crazy town in here.
Yeah.
Everyone must be here for the world record attempt.
Or that pork knuckle taco.
Taco.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, I hear you.
In a minute.
So, shh. should we find a table, Mindy?
Uh, yeah, just a sec, Guy Raz.
First, I want to find out what this world record attempt is all about.
I thought you were starving, Mindy.
Yeah, but I'm even more hungry for answers.
Come on, Guy Raz, follow me.
Do you see anything, Mindy?
Uh, no, I can't see anything, Guy Raz.
All these People are in the way.
Would you stop hopping and hopping like that?
It's making me antsy.
Grandma G-Force!
Yeah, it's me.
Grandma G-Force, what are you doing here?
What do you mean, what am I doing here?
I'm here to see the record-breaking bug.
So it does have something to do with the bug.
The rumors were correct.
It is nuts in there.
It is.
Okay.
I found out what the world record attempt is for.
Well, spit it out, young buck.
It's for the most legs.
Most legs?
Yep.
But I still don't know who's got the most legs.
What do you think it could be, Mindy?
I don't know.
I mean, ants have six legs.
Spiders have eight legs.
This is taking forever.
I need to know now.
Dennis!
Don't worry, Mindy.
I'm going to go back into the crowd and snoop, I mean look, for answers.
Excuse me.
Excuse me, please.
Oh, ow.
Watch it.
Oh, sorry.
He said excuse me.
Don't be mad.
Bye.
Oh, Dennis.
Sorry about him.
It's nothing personal.
He's like that with everyone.
Oh, it's all right.
I'm actually a judge from the Genius Book of World Records here to verify today's world record attempt.
Really?
Yes, really.
By chance, is one of you... Mr. Thomas Fingerling?
Ooh, no, we're not.
But I do know where to find him.
Follow me, Mr. Genius World Record Man.
Okay.
You too, Guy Raz.
Okay, right behind you, Mindy.
World record counter here coming through.
What in the... Mindy, what is that thing?
It looks like a millipede.
Oh, yes.
That definitely looks like a contender for most legs.
Oh, hey there.
I know you people.
Mr. Fingerling.
Welcome to the knuckle hut.
What do you think of my millipede, squirmy?
Mr. Fingerling, what's going on here?
Why do you have a millipede in your restaurant?
Well, Mr. Razzy, that's a very interesting story.
Story, story.
So, there I was, just doing my regular inventory check for the brunch rush.
Okay, let's see here.
We got pork knuckle.
Taco shells, secret sauce, and, uh, wait a minute.
What's this?
Right there, next to the secret sauce, was a mysterious box.
Ooh, a mystery box.
It's so alluring.
On the side of the mystery box was a label that read, Eumelipes Persephone.
Huh.
No, no, no.
It read, Eumelipes Persephone.
Okay.
Okay, where was it?
Um, oh yeah.
I began opening the package.
And... Ah!
Heaven!
This millipede, a.k.a.
Squirmy, came a-wriggling out.
Hey, no!
Get out of the secret side!
Ah!
Stop squirming all over my brunch!
I'd never seen so many legs, so I called up the Genius World Records right away.
And what exactly did you say this little millipede was called again?
Oh, uh, here's the mystery box I found, and the label is on the side there.
Eumillipes Persephone.
Yeah, I must have ordered it on accident.
Uh-huh.
Why, just last week I accidentally ordered 15,000 ladybugs.
What?
I should probably turn off my one-click ordering.
Right.
Um, excuse me, sir?
Yes?
Hi, I'm from the Genius Book of World Records.
Are you Mr. Fingaling?
Yep, that's me.
Excellent.
Well, I'm here to count the legs on this millipede.
Oh, well, be my guest.
Wonderful.
Let me just get out my microscope here.
Okay, now hold still, please, Mr. Millipede.
Let's see here.
One leg, two legs, three, four, five legs, six legs, seven legs.
Well, this looks like it could take a while.
I gotta get back to the kitchen.
Those pork knuckles ain't gonna crack themselves.
Hey, Kairos, can I have a look at that label again?
Sure thing, Mindy.
Okay, let's see here.
Humilipes Persephone.
Huh.
What do you think it means?
Well, Mindy, I think it's this millipede's full name.
Huh.
You know, the phrase millie in millipede comes from the Latin word for a thousand.
Oh, because millipedes have a thousand legs, right?
Well, actually, most millipedes have between 40 and 400 legs.
What?
That's not even close to a thousand.
What a bunch of imposters.
Four hundred and, uh...
Uh-oh, I lost count.
I'll need to start again.
Okay, here we go.
One leg, two legs.
So the Millie in Eumelipes Persephone means a thousand?
I guess.
And what about the rest of its name?
Well, I'm not sure, but lucky for you, I brought along my Latin translator.
You travel with a Latin translator?
Yeah, it's right here on my guy phone.
Oh, right.
Okay, let me plug it in here.
Eumillipes Persephone.
Aha!
It says here that Eumillipes translates from Latin as truly thousand-footed.
Huh.
What do you think that means?
Well, I think it means that this millipede might actually have a thousand legs, Mindy.
Unlike all of those other imposter millipedes with only 40 to a few hundred legs.
Exactly.
Well, what else does it say about this millipede?
Well...
It says that this species of millipede was discovered by researchers from Western Australia in September of 2020.
Huh.
It says here that the researchers were interested in the millipede because of its number of legs and the fact that it has no eyes.
What?
No eyes?
Yeah, look.
It doesn't have any eyes.
680 legs.
Well, how does it see where it's going with no eyes?
Well, it doesn't.
What do you mean?
Well, according to this, this species of millipede lives deep underground in the deserts of Western Australia.
Oh, where there is no light.
Exactly.
And not much to see.
Huh.
So these millipedes evolved to not have eyes?
Yup.
Because they didn't need them.
Whoa.
And that would also explain the second part of the species name.
What do you mean?
Well, the full name of this millipede is Eumelipes Persephone.
Uh-huh.
And Persephone was the Greek goddess of spring, who every winter would live underground until it was time for spring again.
Well, well, well.
Look at you, Mr. Greek Mythology.
So the full translation of Eumelipes Persephone is... The one true millipede that lives underground.
Exactly.
Ooh, that's pretty bonker balls.
Oh.
Wait a minute, Mindy.
It looks like the world record counter is almost done.
1,305 legs.
1,306 legs.
That's a new world record.
Wow, 1,306, Mindy.
That's well over 1,000.
And so much more than the 400 legs that your average millipede has.
Incredible.
And who knows?
Now that they've discovered this species, we could see this record smashed once again super soon.
Well, what do you mean?
Well, it says right here on your guy phone.
Here, look.
So far, researchers have only been able to find eight of these millipedes in the wild.
Uh-huh.
And you never know how many legs these little critters are going to have.
They found one with 800 legs, but then there are other ones like this that have over 1,300.
Yeah, that's a difference of more than 500 legs.
Exactly.
So scientists think that there may be some other Eumelopes Persephone, millipedes out there with even more legs.
Another world record holder.
Just waiting to be found.
Well, my work here is done.
I must be going now.
I've got an appointment with a walrus in Alaska. in the running for the longest teeth.
Ooh, that sounds fun.
It is not.
Oh.
Goodbye.
Bye!
Well, guess it's back in the mail for you, little buddy.
Come here.
Mr. Fingerling, what are you doing?
Well, I gotta return this thing and get my money back.
You're gonna return the millipede?
Well, of course.
Do I look like I got millipede money?
You can't do that.
Uh, yes I can.
Why wouldn't I?
Because he's so with no eyes.
Oh, no.
Oh, Guy Raz, can we keep him?
Huh?
Look at him.
Mindy, where would he even live?
Under my gingerbread mansion.
I'm going to knit him some little booties for his little feet, and then I'm going to learn how to knit booties.
Booties?
He has over 1,300 legs, Mindy.
So I'll make more.
Come on, Guy Raz.
Fine.
Yes.
Aw, you little, you millipese Persephone.
I'm going to call you Footloose.
Yeah, you like that?
You like that, little Footloose?
Okay, you can keep it, but someone's going to have to pay me.
Isn't that right, Mr. Razzie?
Well, uh... I accept cash, check, or cryptocurrency.
What?
What?
Okay, Guy Razzi.
Well, that's my stomach again.
What do you say?
You, me and little Footloose here sit down and treat ourselves to a pork knuckle taco or four.
All right.
Taco.
Ooh, someone's got a taco tummy.
Wow in the World will be right back.
Grown-ups, this message is for you.
Hey, grown-ups.
It's Mindy and Guy Razzi here from Wow in the World.
Mindy and I have some We'll be right back.
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, my name is Jacob.
I'm 12 years old, and I live in San Diego, California.
Did you know that even though polar bears look white, they have black skin?
Say hi to Reggie and everyone else.
Well, huh.
Including Dennis.
Wow.
I love your show.
Bye.
Hi, my name is Audrey.
I'm from Wilshire, Wisconsin, and my wow in the world is I can't believe 12 to 16 hours a day.
That's a lot for us.
Say hi to Reggie, Thomas Fingerlings, Grandma G-Force, Dennis, and Bucky.
Thank you.
Bye.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Ross.
My name is Daniel.
I live in the state of New Hampshire.
My one in the world is that Earth is a magnet.
Love your show.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Ross.
My name is Aiden.
I am 11 years old, and I live in Lehigh, Utah.
My wow in the world is vacuum cleaners were originally horse-drawn.
Isn't that bunker balls?
Say hi to Dennis.
Hi!
Thomas Fingerling.
What?
Grandma G-Force.
Ah, hush puppies.
Reggie.
And the Snoop and Zeke Robot Science.
Greetings.
What is up?
Love your show.
Bye. with smelly feet.
Say hi to Stannis.
Hi there.
Reggie.
And Grandma G-Force.
Oh, isn't that nice?
And Thomas Vangelis.
I'm the fairest one of all.
Bye!
End of messages.
Wow in the World is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalkin, with help from me.
Original sound design and music editing is done by our senior producer, jed anderson, and tyler tholl.
You can also hear jed anderson and the voices of dennis thomas fingerling, reggie and many of the other silly characters you hear on our show.
Jessica bode keeps our facts straight as our fact checker, and meredith halpern ranzer powers.
The wow at 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 and Henry Moskal.
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 and a Wow.
Thanks again for listening, and until next time, be fun wowing!
Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
