Grownups, this message is for you.
Hey, grownups.
It's Sky Roz and Mindy here.
And before we jump into today's adventure, we want to share something important with you.
Something we've never asked in our entire nine years of making this show.
That's right.
For nine years, Wow in the World has been free for every family, every teacher, every curious kid and every grownup who listens.
And we've been able to keep it going through partnerships sponsors, distributors and honestly, a whole lot of scrappy ingenuity.
But the truth is, the media industry has changed a lot since we launched this show in 2017.
And it's becoming a lot harder to financially sustain a show like WOW in the world without additional help.
And that's because every episode you hear every silly character voice, every story twist, every science deep dive.
It's all handcrafted by an entire team of real humans.
Writers, producers, editors, composers, researchers, science experts.
And one lady who keeps exploding beakers in the studio.
Mindy!
What?
Science is messy, Guy Raz!
Every single episode starts with us searching far and wide for real scientific discoveries, sometimes buried in complex scientific journals.
And then we translate that science into an adventure story that kids and grownups can enjoy together.
After that, we send it to science experts for fact-checking.
So you know what you're hearing is accurate, trustworthy, and full of integrity.
And then we record all the voices from Guy to me to Grandma G-Force to... Dennis.
You're welcome, everyone.
Dennis!
Oh.
And finally, our team adds original music sound design editing, mixing and mastering, until the world of the story comes to life inside your ears.
No AI, no shortcuts.
Just real humans making something to spark your curiosity and imagination.
And we do it because we believe science can inspire kids and grown-ups to do great things.
Especially now.
When the world is full of confusing information real, fact-based science is more important than ever.
And here's the hard part we want to share with you.
To keep doing this, to keep making the show at the level of quality you expect and should get.
We need your help.
That's right.
For the first time ever, we are asking our listeners, you, to help support this show.
If your family values what we create, If you've laughed or learned something new, if the show has inspired curiosity in your home or just saved your sanity on a long road trip, we're asking you to consider making a contribution.
And any amount truly helps.
Big, small, medium-ish, extra large, astronomically huge.
Mindy!
I'm being inclusive.
Anyway, your support goes directly to paying our team, the people who research write produce, fact check, compose and build this world every week.
It keeps the show sustainable so we can keep making it.
And it helps us keep Wow in the World free for everyone who needs it.
So grownups, if you have the means to help support our show, you can visit Tinkercastcom slash support where you can pick from a handful of fun things we've curated as thank you gifts for your support.
And there's some good things on there.
Yeah.
So again, just visit Tinkercast.com slash support to help us keep this show going.
We'll also drop the links in the podcast show notes.
So from the bottom of our hearts.
And the tops of our brains.
Thank you.
Now, on to the show.
Proceeded.
Three, two, one.
Ignition.
I don't know what you've been told, but we're in a golden age.
So many discoveries that are jumping off the page.
Wild in the world.
Wild in the world.
Wild in the world.
Wild in the world.
Wild in the world.
Wild in the world.
Wild in the world.
It's my guy phone telling me that I have a message.
Oh, my.
Wow.
I got to tell Guy Ross.
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run.
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run.
Hey, Mindy.
Mindy.
Hey, where are you going?
Why are you running away from me?
Sorry, can't stop now.
I've got big news.
Oh, well, in that case, why don't we all just... Mindy?
Hey, Rozzy!
Why are you so out of breath?
Because I just ran all the way over here from my house.
But your house is next door.
Exactly.
Which is why I should probably move my gingerbread mansion to your kitchen.
Uh-huh.
Anywho, do you know why I ran all the way over here?
Uh, not really, no.
Well, because, Guy Raz, it's the first day of spring.
And you know what that means that my micro-organic cherry tomatoes are finally almost ready to harvest.
What?
No!
Oh.
It's turkey season, Guy Raz!
Mindy, you can eat turkey any time of the year.
Oh, I'm not talking about eating turkey.
Gross.
I'm talking about turkey mating season!
Uh, what?
Turkey mating season, Guy Raz.
The flowers are blooming, the weather is warming and every wild turkey, from San Francisco to New York City, is looking good.
For love.
Wait, I'm confused here, Mindy.
Why exactly are you excited for turkey mating season?
Because it means that they're about to start filming a brand new season of Fowling in Love.
Fowling in Love?
Yeah, get it?
Fowl?
Like a bird?
Uh-huh.
It's only like the highest rated turkey matchmaking reality show on the planet.
Surprised you never heard of it, Guy Raz.
Well, it never occurred to me that someone would even make a show like that, Mindy.
What's it about?
Oh, great question, Guy Raz.
I didn't ask.
They take one female turkey and then introduce her to five eligible turkey bachelors.
Then she asks them a bunch of questions and has to decide which Tom she wants to take home.
Which Tom?
Oh, yeah.
Male turkeys are often called Toms.
What's that?
Someone say my name?
Nothing, Thomas Fingerling.
Go back to your gardening.
I ain't gardening.
I'm stealing Mr. Rozzy's turnips.
Hey.
Oh, no.
It's old farmer Rozzy.
What?
I'm just going to keep taking your turnips, okay?
Anywho, the season premiere is today.
You want to watch with me?
I don't know, Mindy.
I'm still not entirely sold on the idea of reality TV.
Oh, really?
Well, you seemed pretty sold on reality TV when Sonny and Ned got together at the end of Lizard Island.
Well, yeah, but that was because of the scientific observations that the show was based on.
Uh-huh.
It's true.
Well, would it help to know that this show is also based on real-life scientific observations?
Really?
Yeah.
The show is based on research from Dr. Richard Buckles.
He's a professor of biology at the University of Mississippi.
Oh, yeah.
I think I've read some of his work.
So, what do you say, Guy Raz?
Are you in or are you in?
Well, I guess so, Mindy.
Sure, I'm in.
Yes!
Reggie's waiting just around the corner.
Oh, great.
Reggie's coming to watch it, too?
Well, I don't know if he's going to watch the show, but he did say he'd give us a ride.
A ride to where?
Hollywood, Guy Raz.
Hollywood?
What are we doing flying to Hollywood?
I've got us two tickets for a live taping.
A live taping?
Really?
Yeah.
Reggie knows a turkey who does casting for the show, so... And he was able to get you tickets?
Yeah, but we gotta make a move.
The taping starts in ten minutes.
Ten minutes?
Yeah.
Why do you think I ran all the way over here?
Come on.
Follow me.
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run.
Hey, Reg, you ready to go?
Sorry, I know I'm a little late, but Guy Raz needed some convincing.
All right, Guy Raz, come on.
All right.
Let me just climb aboard Reggie and I'll pull you up.
Come on, grab my hand.
There you go, there you go.
Phew.
Phew.
Uh, good morning passengers and uh welcome to Reggie Air Flight.
Uh direct from here to Hollywood, California.
And uh, in the event of an emergency, adopt the brace position and uh, put your head between your legs and kiss your booty goodbye.
What?
Thank you, and, uh, have a pleasant flight.
All right, Reg, we're all strapped in, and here we go.
Okay.
Nice landing, Reg.
Very smooth.
You been practicing?
You still in one piece back there, Guy Raz?
Yup.
Great.
Let's unbuckle and hop off here.
Hollywood, California.
You can smell the fake tan.
Oh, okay, Reg.
What was that?
Oh, Reggie's just gonna pitch his movie script to a couple of studios while we're here.
Oh, great.
Come on, Guy Raz.
We're gonna be late for the taping.
Okay, Mindy, I'm right behind you.
Hmm, okay, where is it?
Huh.
Oh, I think it's behind this door that says pirate.
Mindy, I think that says private.
Ah!
Mindy!
Hey, you can't be here.
Oh, sorry, officer.
We're actually here for a taping of, um, what was it called again, Mindy?
Fowling in Love.
Right, Fowling in Love.
And we seem to have gotten a little lost.
Tickets to Fowling in Love, eh?
Uh-huh.
You lucky ducks.
You want to head over to Studio 4-H.
Over that way.
Great.
Thanks for the help.
Thanks, buddy.
No worries.
Have a good time.
Come on, Guy Raz.
The show's about to start.
Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk.
Opening the door.
So, Mindy, before it starts, tell me a little more about the research that this show is based on.
What was his name again?
Dr. Richard Buchholz?
Yeah, great memory, Guy Raz.
Thank you.
Okay, so this researcher has been observing wild turkeys in North America for decades.
And over that time, he's noticed a couple of things that turkeys do to try to attract one another.
You mean different things that the males do to try and get the attention of the females?
Yeah, it turns out they're super picky when it comes to selecting a mate.
Okay, so do they have some kind of mating dance, or is it more about what they look like?
Well, that's what we're about to find out, Guy Raz.
Hey, look, Studio 4-H.
We're here.
Oh, great.
Come on, let's sneak in and try to find a seat.
Wow, this is quite a set, Mindy.
I know.
Looks like they really went all out this season.
Look over there, Mindy.
I think there's some spare seats right there.
Oh, yeah.
Good eye, Guy Raz.
Come on.
Let's go get them.
Excuse me.
Sorry, I'm just going to... Sorry, I didn't mean to step on you.
Excuse me.
Can you lift your legs a little bit?
Sorry.
I apologize.
I am so excited!
Oh, Mindy, I think it's starting.
Hello and welcome to Vowel It Live!
That's right, the only show that's dedicated to helping young turkeys find their one true mate.
Right this minute, backstage is one lovely female turkey and five eligible young turkey bachelors who are hoping to be her top.
Are we just about ready to meet these birds?
All right, all right, everyone.
Please welcome our first contestant, the beautiful Butterball.
Butterball is a wild North American turkey who comes to us all the way from New England.
She enjoys long walks in the forest and using her big old claws to scratch at piles of leaves.
What a character.
And now let's meet the five male turkeys that will compete for Butterball's heart.
These plump young fellows are from all over the United States, from San Francisco California, to Burlington, Vermont.
Please welcome to the stage our contestants, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, and Tom.
You said it, Butterball.
What a crowd.
They're all called Tom?
Yeah.
Remember I told you that male turkeys are sometimes called Toms?
Yeah, but I thought that at least they'd have different names.
Doesn't that get super confusing?
Oh, yeah.
And on top of that, most of these turkey flocks are related to each other.
Why is that?
Well, because they all stick together and try to help each other out.
So they all collectively decide that one of them should be the one to get the girl, and the rest of them will spend the entire time trying to make him look good.
You mean they'll try to convince the female turkey that one of the turkeys in their squad is the one for her?
Yeah.
They'll hype him up, show off his best qualities, try to make him look good, you know?
Oh, look, they're about to start.
All right, all right, poach, let's get started.
Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, and Tom, our first question is for you.
What would you say is your most attractive feature?
You may have a moment to decide as a group.
And time's up.
Do you toms have an answer?
One at a time.
One at a time.
Tom, why don't you speak for the group, please?
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
All right.
The toms are in agreement, and they have decided their most attractive feature is their snooze.
And, more specifically, they agree that Tom there, third from the left, has the best, most attractive snood among them.
His snood, huh?
Isn't that the fleshy little bit of skin that sort of hangs over the male's beaks?
Yeah.
How'd you know?
Well, I once read a book on turkey anatomy.
Really?
Oh, yeah.
It was really fascinating, Mindy.
I find that hard to believe.
Well, I guess that snood on the turkey third from the end is pretty long, but I don't understand.
Why would that be attractive to female turkeys?
The snood doesn't do anything, right?
Right.
I mean, I guess they can make it change color sometimes.
But aside from that it's a pretty useless appendage.
So if that's the case, why do the female turkeys care about it at all?
Well, many of the researchers believe that it might be due to the fact that if a turkey is able to grow a really long snood, then it must also be pretty healthy.
Like, it's got energy to spare.
I guess.
Guess that does make sense.
I mean, if a male turkey is so healthy that it's able to grow a big, long snood, then it's probably also likely that any little chicks that the turkey has would also be pretty healthy.
Exact Doritos.
So what else do female turkeys look out for?
Oh, well, keep watching.
We're about to find out.
All right, all right, you dudes with snoods.
Butterball likes your answer.
But this next question is going to be a little more difficult.
That's right.
It's time for Multiple Choice.
Is everybody ready?
Tom, you paying attention?
No, not you, Tom.
You're doing great.
You, Tom.
Yes, you.
Are you ready?
Okay, here is your multiple choice.
After the snood, which of the following attributes do you think is most attractive?
Number one, caruncles.
Those are the pebble-like bumps on their heads and necks.
Yeah, I know.
Number two, skullcaps.
That's the toughened skin on top of the turkey's head.
I know.
Number three, spurs.
Those are the talons on the ends of their legs.
I know, Mindy.
Or number four, beards.
Those are the tufts of feathers on the fronts of their chests.
Mindy, I read a book about all of this.
I know what a turkey beard is.
Be quiet.
Oh, sorry.
I'll give you a moment to discuss amongst yourselves.
So wait, the female turkeys have to consider all of these things when selecting a mate?
Yeah, but some of them are more important than others.
Let's see if this group of toms picks right.
All right, all right.
It sounds like the toms are ready to answer.
Let's hear it.
What did you decide?
The beard!
Very interesting.
Now tell us how did you decide that the beard, the dark hair-like tuft of chest feathers, is the most attractive quality in a mate?
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
Because a vibrant coat of feathers means a clean bill of health.
Very good.
And you all believe that Tom, third from the left, with the best snood, also has the most vibrant beard.
And how about you, Butterball?
What do you say?
Do you agree with these fellas?
Wow!
Strong words!
Tom, third from the left, has taken a large lead thanks to the encouraging words from the other four Toms.
Ladies and gentlemen, this competition is all but decided.
Wow, Mindy, these other Toms are really hyping up this turkey third from the end, huh?
Yeah, like I said, this is what they do.
They go around in blocks and support each other like this.
Amazing, but why would they do that?
I mean, wouldn't it be more advantageous for them to all try and find their own mating place?
Well, in the grand scheme of things, turkeys that are supported by other turkeys like this are seven times more likely to find a mate.
Wow, that's quite a statistical advantage.
Yeah, and since most of these turkeys are brothers, if just one of them finds a mate, it helps their families to continue to grow for generations to come.
Wow.
All right, all right.
It's time for Butterball to pick a mate.
Butterball, who's it gonna be?
Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, or Tom?
Oh, and there it is!
Tom, third from the left, is the winner!
Congratulations, Butterball.
You have successfully fallen in love.
That's right.
What a wonderful competition.
And another beautiful step in the ongoing conservation efforts to protect the wild American turkey.
That's all the time we have for today, folks.
Make sure to join us next week for another episode of... Fowling!
What's the duck?
Oh, that's just my phone telling me I have a text message.
Let's see here.
Oh, it's Reggie.
Oh, what does it say?
Uh, it says he wants to meet us outside.
He has a big surprise?
Huh.
I wonder what it could be.
Me too.
Let's go find out.
What?
So Mindy, what did that host mean when he said that this was another step forward in conserving the American turkey?
Well, that's another reason why this show is so great, Guy Raz.
Why?
Because conservation programs that help bring turkeys together to have lots of little turkey babies is the main reason that the wild North American turkey has made a comeback in the last few years.
Okay.
And a lot of those conservation successes are based on research like the one this show was based on.
Yeah, that's why shows like Fowling in Love are so important.
Right.
Reggie!
What's the big news, Reggie?
What is it?
A movie deal?
You mean they finally bought your script, rockin' Reggie?
Aw, congraduritos, Reg!
You're gonna be famous!
I mean, more famous!
This calls for a celebration!
Milkshakes, anyone?
Yeah, I'm sure they have birdseed flavor.
This is L.A.
I could go for a birdseed milkshake.
Wow in the World will be right back.
Grown-ups, this message is for you.
Greetings, Earthlings.
I am called Flip.
And you can call me Mosey.
And we are extraterrestrials, what you may call space aliens.
Flip, you can't just blurt it out like that.
The humans will get freaked out And we've got to wait 3,000 years for the repair ship to show up.
So while we're waiting, we decided to make a podcast all about exploring your planet.
We particularly enjoy interacting with many of the earthlings you call animals, like giraffes, pandas and penguins.
On our podcast feed we transmit different kinds of episodes back to our home planet and to all of you.
You can hear musical episodes, travel pod interviews, and our newest addition to the feed are mini pods.
We are calling postcards from earth.
Experience life on Earth in a whole new way.
Check out Flip and Mosey wherever you get your podcasts.
You can listen to Flip and Mosey's new mini-pods, Postcards from Earth, starting next Thursday, February 12th in the Flip and Mosey podcast feed.
Don't miss out on any earthly adventures.
Subscribe to Flip and Mosey wherever you get your podcasts.
Hey, grownups.
It's Mindy.
And Guy Raz.
And we have an important message to share with you.
For nine years, Wow in the World has been free for every family teacher, curious kid and grownup who listens.
And we've kept it going through partnerships sponsors, distributors and honestly, a whole lot of scrappy ingenuity.
But the truth is the media industry has changed a lot since we launched this show in 2017.
And it's becoming a lot harder to financially sustain a show like Wow in the World without additional help.
And that's because every episode you hear is handcrafted by an entire team of real humans.
So for the first time ever, we are asking our listeners, you, to support the show.
If your family values what we create.
If you've laughed or learned something new.
Or if the show has inspired curiosity in your home.
We're asking you to consider making a contribution.
Your support goes directly to paying our team and keeps Wow in the World free for everyone who listens to it.
So grownups, if you can just visit Tinkercastcom slash support to see the thank you packages that we've put together for your support,
Once again, you can visit Tinkercast.com slash support and we'll put all this information in the podcast show notes.
Thanks for helping to power the wow at Tinkercast.
And now let's get on with the show.
That's it.
Back to the show.
Wow in the world.
Hi, thanks for calling Wow in the World.
After the beep, get ready to record.
Hi, I'm Inigo Arroz.
I'm Presley and I'm from Florida.
My wow in the world is that mercury is slowly shrinking over time.
Bye.
Thanks.
I love your show.
Hi, me and Guy Ross.
My name is Max, and I live in Berkeley, California.
My wow in the world is that blue whales can have hearts that can be as big as a car.
Isn't that crazy?
Say hi to Reggie, Static Man, Dennis, and the Sleigh Cats.
Bye.
Hi, my name is Nat, and I live in Los Angeles.
My wow is that my mouth produces one liter of saliva a day.
Say hi to Reggie and Static Man, but I know Static Man is Dennis.
Bye!
What?
No, I'm not Static Man.
We just look alike and sound alike.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name's Elise, and I am from the Woodlands, Texas, and I am 10 years old.
My wow in the world is that some lizards can detach their tails if they are caught by a predator.
This helps them get away quickly, but they can regrow their tails.
Isn't that bonker ball?
Say hi to Reggie.
Grandma G-Force.
Did somebody call Mama?
Thomas Fingerling.
Trump.
And Dennis.
Hi.
Also, Reggie.
Bye.
Love your show.
My name is Ed May, and I live in Brooklyn, New York.
My wow is eggplants are actually berries.
Hi, Mandy and Guy Raz.
My name is Anaya, and I live in Germantown, Maryland.
And I'm eight years old.
And my wow in my world is that you can't see flamingos' knees because they're up in the feathers.
The part that you see is the ankle.
They hide to Grandma Keefer's... Booyah!
And Reggie.
Thomas Langley.
Ooh, cool, dude!
And, oh, Dennis, I know you're a static man.
What?!
!
Hi, Mindy and Guy Rose.
My name is Eleanor and I live in Los Angeles, California.
My wow in the world is that there's such a thing as a pink pigeon.
Say hi to Reggie for me.
Hi, my name's Rosie and I live in Santa Rosa, California.
My wow is that scientists will dress up as an adult panda in front of panda orphans to teach them to live with pandas and not humans.
Bye.
End of messages.
Wow in the World is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalken with help from me, Guy Raz.
Original sound design and music editing is done by Tyler Thole with help from our supervising producer, Jed Anderson.
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 Steph Sosa, Henry Moskal, Anna Daniker, Rebecca Caban, Kit Ballinger, Sana Ali-Mohamed, Anna Zagorski and all of the other Tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ.
To keep the wows rolling, visit us at Tinkercastcom, where you can become an official member of the World Organization of Wowsers.
Learn about upcoming events, shop our wow shop, find our New York Times bestselling books and learn about all of our other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast.
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 1-888-7-WOW-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.
