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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!
Time for one final gear check on all this filming equipment.
I can't believe.
The idea for this movie we're about to make was inspired by an actual scientific study.
OK, lights.
Camera.
Action.
Oh, it's open.
Come on in.
Hey, Mindy.
Your door is jammed again.
Jammed, Guy Raz?
It's jelly.
Well, whatever it is, Mindy, I can't get it open.
Here, hang on, buddy.
I think it's just getting caught in all of these boxes of equipment.
Here, hold on.
Let me give you a hand.
All right.
Now get ready to push on three, okay?
One, two.
Wendy, what is all this stuff?
All what stuff?
The entryway of your gingerbread mansion is filled with boxes.
Oh, yeah.
It's all my new filmmaking equipment.
Filmmaking equipment?
Yeah.
I'm making a movie.
Now help me get all this equipment out of the way before everyone else arrives.
Before who arrives?
Everyone.
I got the whole neighborhood involved, including you, Guy Raz.
Oh, no.
Oh, yes.
You're not gonna put me in some ridiculous costume, are you, Mindy?
No, of course I'm going to put you in some ridiculous costume, Guy Razzi.
And this is the script.
Here, catch!
Ah!
Mindy!
I know you're probably wondering what your role is going to be in this movie and I can't tell you because it's a secret, because I haven't announced the roles yet.
But what I can tell you is that you will be playing the role of...
Of a robotic fish developed by scientists at the University of Western Australia.
Oh.
Oops.
I think I just told you the secret.
A robotic fish from the University of Western Australia?
That seems bizarre.
Pretty specific.
Oh, yeah.
It's based on this real-life scientific project to help protect native fish and frog species from a deadly invasive predator called the mosquito fish.
And I'm playing the role of the robotic fish?
Uh-huh.
And you're perfect for the role, Guy Raz.
Really?
Really?
You know, you're always looking out for the little guy.
Aw.
Plus, you got those big googly fish eyes.
These are my blue science spectacles, Mindy.
They know.
Grandma G-Force?
Why is this door always busted?
Thomas Fingerling?
What is it, some sort of contemporary design trend?
Oh, yeah, these broken door concepts have really good flow.
Whoa!
Oh, nice.
Oh, now that's some good feng shui.
Ow.
Dennis?
Mindy, there are a lot of boxes in here.
Are you building a box fort or something?
What?
No, Dennis, I'm not building a box fort.
Inside all of these boxes is the equipment we're going to be using to shoot our movie.
Oh?
A movie?
I thought we were coming over here for a throwdown.
You telling me I squeeze into my wrestling unitard for nothing?
No, we're here to make a movie, everyone.
A very special movie.
One that's based on a real life scientific project.
More science?
No, no, no, just hear me out, everyone.
No.
Maybe you should tell them a little bit about the plot, Mindy.
Plot?
Now, what happens in the bathroom stays in the bathroom.
That's what I never say.
Yeah, guy.
No, no, the plot.
You know, what happens in the story that we're going to be telling with the movie.
Thank you, Guy Raz.
Now, Reggie, will you hand these scripts out to everyone, please?
Thank you.
This better not have any spoilers in it.
All right, story time.
In the faraway land of Australia lives a deadly predator, a fish with a ferocious appetite.
Oh, no, no, no!
This little fish was causing havoc all over the country, attacking local wildlife and threatening to destroy entire ecosystems.
Oh, no!
Until science came to the rescue.
Hooray!
A group of top-notch scientists came together to create a robotic guardian.
Ooh!
A robot. that would be able to identify and scare off the predatory fish.
And in turn, protect the native wildlife.
Wow!
And that is how the world came to know Robo-Fish!
Now, does everyone have the script?
Yeah, right here.
All right, now it's time to divvy up the roles.
Everyone ready for the cast list?
Ooh, I'm ready.
Okay, let's see here.
Playing the role of the native frog species, we have Dennis.
Oh, is that the lead?
It sounds like the lead.
Yay, I'm a star.
Quiet.
And the two vicious predatory fish will be played by Grandma G-Force.
Grandma G-Force don't play.
Mr. Fingerling.
Yep, sounds about right.
And finally, as the star of our movie, is Mr. Robofish himself, Guy Razzi.
Wow, I don't know if I'm the star, but I'm honored.
What's he talking about?
He said he's a nerd.
All right, now the first scene is going to be shot outside in front of Guy Raz's micro house.
So I need everyone to get into costume and meet me there in five minutes, okay?
Okay.
Boy, that's so exciting.
I can't wait to see what the step looks like.
I hope it's not just me.
Okay, bye, Mindy.
Oh, no, no, not you, Guy Raz.
Follow me.
Your costume is in the garage.
In the garage?
What's it doing there?
Oh, okay, so I had to sort of take apart some of the wow machine to finish off your costume.
What?
Well, it's a robo-fish costume, Guy Raz.
You know, emphasis on the robo.
Robot.
Right.
Come on, follow me.
Opening the door.
Come on.
There we go.
Ta-da!
Here it is.
Whoa.
I know.
Okay, so it's not 100% accurate, but... What do you mean, Minty?
It looks pretty. pretty robotic to me.
Yeah well, it doesn't have the cameras or the artificial intelligence that the real RoboFish has, but you know, we can add all of that in post-production.
Cameras?
Artificial intelligence?
Oh, yeah.
The real RoboFish, invented at the University of Western Australia, uses two high-definition cameras to figure out which animals it needs to protect and which ones it needs to scare off.
Scare off?
You mean the Predatory mosquito fish?
Exactoritos.
Seems like a pretty smart robot, Mindy.
Sure does.
And hey, that's another thing you two have in common.
Now come on, let's get you into this hunk of junk costume.
It's pretty big, Mindy.
Are you sure I'll be able to wear it out of the garage?
Yes, of course I'm not sure, Guy Raz.
Huh?
But the Robofish was designed to look like a big fish called the largemouth bass.
Which I'm guessing is the mosquito fish's natural predator?
Exactly.
So it only makes sense that the costume for Robofish would also be pretty big.
Well, yeah, I guess that makes sense.
So, you ready to try it on?
Oh, sure.
Okay, sure, Mindy.
All right, now just lift up your arms here.
And I'm going to have you squeeze yourself into this hole here.
Come on, Guy Raz.
Come on, stretch it out.
Stop wiggling so much.
Come on, stay still.
Come on.
I'm pretty squeezed in here.
Come on, push a little harder.
There you go.
It's like a glove.
It's a little tight and pinchy.
How does it look, Mindy?
Oh, it looks completely ridiculous.
Now, come on, Guy Raz.
We gotta hurry up.
Everyone's probably waiting to start filming.
All right.
Let's go!
So, what's the first scene we're filming, Mindy?
Oh, so the first scene is going to be one based on one of the experiments they did at the university.
Do you mean in their lab?
Yeah.
So these researchers went out and picked up a whole bunch, bunch of those pesky mosquito fish from the wild.
Then they brought them back to their lab and put them in a container with a group of tadpoles.
And then what happened?
Well, as expected, they started to approach the little defenseless tadpoles like they might attack.
Oh no!
Oh yes!
And that's when the researchers introduced RoboFish!
RoboFish!
When the mosquito fish started to approach the tadpoles to try to eat them, the robo fish would spring to life and lurch forward, imitating a large mouth bass's attack.
Wow, and how did the mosquito fish react?
Oh, they were scared out of their scales, Guy Raz.
They fled to the other side of the tank, terrified to get any closer.
So the experiment worked?
Yep, it worked six times.
Wow.
Over the next few weeks, these researchers performed the same experiment again and again, and again and again with different types of mosquito fish, just to see if their findings were consistent, meaning pretty much the same every time.
And the Robofish was able to keep scaring them away from the tadpoles each and every time?
Yep.
And that's not even the most bonker balls part.
It's not?
Nope.
I haven't even told you what happened After they tested the experiment.
Well, what was that?
Oh, I'll tell you in a minute.
Looks like we're here.
We're where?
On set!
Oh, Mindy, there you are.
Listen.
I have a question about the scene on page six where me a lowly defenseless tadpole cowers under driftwood.
Now, am I scared or terrified?
Uh, oh, what?
You know, scared like, ah!
Or terrified like, ah!
Can you hear the difference?
What?
I just want to get it right because continuity-wise I was thinking Okay, it doesn't matter.
Dennis,
Just read the lines.
I can't work like this.
Okay, everyone.
We're going to get set up for scene one.
Well, it's about time I'm all bright up.
Gee, Force, I told you not to stand in the sun with that rubber fish costume on.
You smell nasty.
Well, huh.
All right, everyone to their places, please.
Grandma G-Force and Thomas Fingerling, you're over there.
Okey-doke.
That's too far.
I'm not walking over there.
And Dennis, you're going to be right here.
Okay.
Okay, that guy Roz, do you know when you gotta come in?
What?
It's in the script.
You come in right after Dennis' line, Oh, no.
Who will save me?
Ah, OK.
Page six.
Got it, Mindy.
Right.
Reg, you ready?
OK.
Lights.
Camera.
And action.
Ooda lolly.
I'm just a little defenseless tadpole swimming around in a beautiful laboratory environment.
I'm so happy to have my own place. far away from those nasty mosquito fish.
Huh?
Did somebody say mosquito fish?
That's us, right, G-Force?
Well, well, well, what do we have here?
Oh, uh, yeah!
What do we have here?
Oh, no!
The mosquito fish!
My archenemy!
Looks like we're gonna have to take a bite out of you.
What?
We are?
What's this movie rated?
Oh, no!
Help!
Who will save me?
The lowly defenseless tadpole.
Hey, Ross, that's your cue.
Oh, right.
Fear not, little tadpole.
It is I, Robofish.
I'm here to protect you.
Oh, what is that?
It looks like a largemouth bass.
Oh, bass.
Largemouth bass.
Huh?
Oh, yeah.
That makes more sense.
It looks like a largemouth bass.
That's right.
And you two mosquito fish better get out of here if you know what's good for you.
Oh, what?
Yeah.
Or this lurches forward.
Oh, sorry.
Or this.
Ooh, nice choreography.
The mosquito fish recoil.
We'll be back.
Mark my words.
We'll be back.
Yeah.
Okay, now what?
We go over this way?
There we go.
Thank you, Robofish.
You saved me.
You're my hero.
You don't have to thank me, little creature.
Oh, I was programmed to protect.
Oh!
And cut!
Okay, back to one, everyone.
Let's take it again.
Guy, we need more from you.
G-Force?
You were amazing.
I'm the best at this.
Now for this one.
We're going to do tighter coverage on the tadpole, so keep that in mind as we.
Oh, that's okay, Dennis.
I think we got it.
Uh but Mindy, I had this great idea about how the Robofish could adopt the tadpole as his.
I think we got it.
Oh, fine.
Wait, was that it, Mindy?
Yep, that's it for now.
Just need to edit this bad boy up real quick.
Uh, hey, Reg!
Can you hand me that laptop over there?
Yeah, the one I waffle maker.
Thanks, Reg.
I made this laptop myself.
Right.
Okay.
Uploading video footage.
Now, just gotta hit the edit button.
And put up the edit button.
Ugh.
So Mindy, what exactly happened after those lab experiments?
Oh, yeah, right.
So after these experiments, the researchers continued to watch the mosquito fish and they noticed something strange.
Something strange?
What was it?
The robo fish scared those mosquito fish so bad that they started to have a lot fewer mosquito fish babies.
You mean they stopped reproducing?
Not entirely, but they were definitely not having as many babies as they were before the robofish came along.
Huh.
So when they release the robofish into the wild, not only will it help to protect the native wildlife from being eaten, But it might actually reduce the number of mosquito fish altogether.
That's right.
Talk about a two-for-one special, huh?
Yeah.
Edit complete.
A movie.
Wow.
Wow, that was fast.
So, you want to watch it?
Okay.
Sure.
All right.
And play.
In a world overrun with predators.
Fingerling and me are mosquito fish and we're in this movie too.
Oh, hey, that's you, G-Force.
Oh, well, well.
Predators who prey.
On native species.
Oh, no!
The mosquito fish!
My arch enemy!
Is that me?
Is that what my voice sounds like?
One robot dared to stand up.
Oh, what is that?
It looks like a largemouth bass.
It is I, Robo Fish.
Whoa!
Programmed to defend And protect.
I was programmed to protect.
Get out of here.
Oh, man.
Based on a true story.
Looks like we're going to have to take a bite out of you.
But we are.
Coming this summer.
Prepare to meet.
I'm RoboFish.
Rated B for Bonker Balls.
Mindy Films Incorporated is a subsidiary of Wow Productions.
Wow.
What did you think, Guy Razzi?
Mindy, it's fantastic.
I know it is.
But I do think it might need a couple of more scenes.
That's what I said.
You know what, Guy Raz?
You're right.
All right, everyone.
Come on.
Let's get back out there.
Oh, my gosh.
It's happening.
I'm a movie star.
Okay, everyone.
Gather around.
Reggie, load a new memory card into this camera, please.
And melt the lights.
Everyone else?
Let's make some movie magic.
I'm ready for my close-up.
No.
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.
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 curiosity.
That's it.
Back to the show.
Minion Guy Rise.
My name is Rory, and I'm from Applegate, Oregon.
My wow in the world is that a hummingbird can beat its wings up to 80 beats per second.
My Minion Guy Rise.
Hi, my name is Callum.
I am 10 years old, and I live in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
My wow is that some fish in South America jump out of the water to Eat berries from low-hanging branches.
Say hello to Dennis.
Ahoy there.
Grandma G-Force.
Ah, hush puppy.
Thomas Fingerling.
What?
And Reggie.
I love your show.
Bye.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name is Violet, and I live in Madison, Wisconsin.
My wow in the world is that koalas have five fingers on their front paws and two of which are separated from the other fingers and are like our thumbs.
Say hi to Reggie.
Grandma T-Force.
Booyah!
And the Sleigh Cats.
Oh, and Dennis.
Hi there.
Be very careful.
Okay.
People are suspecting that you are Static Man.
Maybe.
Ow!
Ow.
This is Elena from Pensacola, Florida.
The German Shepherds can run as fast as 30 miles per hour.
Thank you, noise and my wow is it's not just animals that fossilize.
You can find fossils of poop too.
They're called coprolites.
Scientists have found a t-rex coprolite thanks.
And my favorite character is dennis.
My two 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 Thull.
You can also hear Jed Anderson in 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 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 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 Wowzers.
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 Wow in the World.
And our email address is hello.wow. at Tinkercast.com.
And if you're a kid with a big wow to share with us, call us at 1-888-7-WOW-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.