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Hey, Wowzer fams!
Mindy and Guy Raz here and before we start the show this week, we have a very special episode of Wow in the World to share with you.
That's right, Mindy.
You may remember, back in April we teamed up with our friends at Geocaching HQ, the Aspen Institute and Nature Conservancy to create Planet Wow, an epic geocaching eco adventure that shares the wows of our planet, and since then we've received so many phone calls telling us about the places that wow you.
You've also sent us photos of your geocaching adventures, and we're not done yet.
This week's episode of Wow in the World takes a closer look at the role we all play in taking care of our planet and how we can all work together to make this planet wow.
Listen to our latest episode called Planet Wow to learn about how you too, can help take care of our planet.
And grown-ups, don't forget to visit Tinkercast.com slash Planet Wow to learn how you and your wowzer can join us in our geocaching eco-adventure.
And it's not too late to call us with your planet wows.
Call 1-888-7-WOW-WOW and tell us about a place on our planet that wows you.
That's it.
And now let's get back to the show.
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Hey, grown-ups, Smurfs is now streaming on Paramount+.
Get ready for an adventure that will blow you away.
Papa Smurf has been taken by evil wizards, and if the Smurfs can't stop them, it'll mean the end of the universe.
Smurfs has an all-star cast with Nick Offerman, John Goodman, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne and Rihanna as Smurfette who leads the mission to rescue Papa Smurf.
Watch now with the whole Smurfing family on Paramount+.
Wee-wow on the weekend.
Wee-wow on the weekend.
Wee-wow on the weekend.
Because this is what we do on the weekend.
Talking, laughing, me and Reggie.
Singing, laughing, and then we, oh wait, no, I said laughing twice.
Uh, whatever.
Wee-wow on the weekend.
Yay!
Wow on the weekend.
Cause this is what we do on the weekend.
Hello and welcome to Wee Wow on the Weekend.
I'm your host, Dennis.
And that's my co-host, Reggie the Giant Pigeon.
This is the show where we chit-chat and answer questions from our fans and listen to Tinkercast podcasts.
So, Reggie, what's up?
The sky?
What kind of answer is that?
I'm asking how you are, Reggie.
Ah.
You're just being a little sassy.
I asked what was up and you said the sky because the sky is up.
You little sassafras.
But actually Reggie, the planet is round, so if you travel long enough, the sky is technically in every direction.
Yeah, huh?
Wait, okay, I'll do one.
You ask me what's up.
Just do it.
Oh, what's up?
Um, airplanes.
Ha ha ha!
Oh, wait, no.
Actually that's not right either, because technically some airplanes are on the ground waiting to be flown, so I need to say passing airplanes.
Okay, ask me again, Reggie.
Fine, whatever.
We'll move on.
Let's get into our first segment, Reading Reviewsies.
I'm reading reviewsies for me and for yousies.
We've got us some doozies, so let's read reviews.
This is the part where people write us comments on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or whatever and I print a bunch out and I read them aloud.
This first reviewsy comes to us from username Solacat.
The title reads, This is for Dennis.
Oh, that's me.
And the message says, Dennis, you yap too much.
Nobody ordered a yappuccino.
Me?
Yap too much?
Never!
I yap just the right amount.
Right, Reggie?
And what's a yap-a-chino?
Is it good?
Can I have one?
Oh, you think Stella Cat's being sassy?
More sass on my show?
Well, I didn't order a sass-spresso.
How many stars did Stella Cat give us?
Two?
That's not enough, SolaCat.
But it's okay.
You can just send me three more stars in the mail.
Okay, next question.
This next Reviewsy comes to us from username HBKJFFEAB.
Yeah, this looks like another case of someone falling asleep on their keyboard while picking a username.
Okay, the title says, I love your show.
And the message says, can you ask me to make a pigeon translator?
I can't understand Reggie, but I still give him nine million star emojis.
Nice job, Reggie.
Okay, and this devoted listener needs a pigeon translator.
Yeah, I know they said to ask them to make a translator, but they don't need to make one.
I have my old pigeon translator around here somewhere.
Let's see.
Where is it?
Translator, where are you?
Oh, here it is.
A little dusty.
Let me blow it off.
Yeah, don't you remember?
This is my old pigeon translator from when I first learned to speak pigeon.
Let's see if it still works.
Turning it on.
Ooh, looks like it's still working.
Let's try it.
Say something into the translator, Reggie.
Oh, whoops.
It's translating back into pigeon.
Stop it!
Um, okay.
Let's try this.
Say something now, Reggie.
Uh, nope.
That's translating into French.
Uh, hold on.
Try now.
Latin?
No!
Never mind.
This thing's broken.
Next question.
This last reviewzy comes to us from username tanly?wowintheworld.
The title says, I love your show.
And the message says, Dennis, if you can do a cartwheel, I will give you one billion star emoji.
One billion star emoji?
That's so many star emoji.
What?
I can so do a cartwheel, Reggie.
Well, I have to try.
You know what they say.
You miss 100% of the carts you don't wheel.
Or something.
Okay, here I go.
One, two, three.
Well...
I'd say that was half a cartwheel.
So, Tanley, you owe me half a billion star emojis.
Okay, I think that's just about enough Reviewsies for now.
Thanks for all your Reviewsies, listeners.
Keep them coming.
If you leave a comment on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, I just might read it on WeWow on the weekend.
Woo-hoo!
Five stars or more, please.
Okay, next up is a little segment I like to call Inside Tinkercast Studios.
Inside Tinkercast Studios.
This is the part where we revisit an episode of one of my favorite Tinkercast shows.
And today, we're listening to Wow in the World Season 3.
Episode 5 called The Zen of Video Games.
Hey, Reggie, want to hear a fun fact?
This episode is also sometimes called Gaming Your Way to Zen.
Why?
Because I think someone at Tinkercast Studios maybe couldn't decide on which title was better and then maybe I forgot and I accidentally used both.
What?
Me?
No, I didn't say it was me.
Oh, I did.
Well, whatever.
Whatever.
Let's just listen to the game of Video Zen or whatever this one's called.
Okay, here we go.
And play.
WeeWow will be right back.
Grownups, this message is for you.
That's it.
Now back to the show.
Okay, let's see here.
Azuki beans, they should definitely be the first.
Shouldn't you?
Yes, you should.
And then, ah, yes, the cannellini beans.
Get over here, guys.
There you go, okay.
Oh, how are we doing for time?
Hey, Zoodle, what's the?
The time is currently 11 o'clock a.m.
Why does this only work when Mindy's not here?
Right on cue.
Mindy!
Guy Razzi!
Hey, what you doing in here?
Were your ears burning?
Yeah, how did you know?
I was trying to see inside them with this candle and almost got a little too close.
Mindy!
Oh, it's fine, Guy Raz.
The candle was made out of my own earwax.
Ugh.
Anywho, I was over there trying out my new binoculars by looking through your windows.
Mindy!
And I couldn't help but notice you pacing over here.
What's got your noodle in a strudel, little buddy?
Oh, Mindy, it's a disaster.
I have a very important guest coming over for dinner tonight, and my house is a complete mess.
Uh, Guy Raz?
This is by far the cleanest room I've been in in at least two weeks.
Well, that's very kind of you, Mindy, but you don't have to humor me.
Just take a look.
My legume collection isn't even alphabetized.
Your what?
My legume collection.
Oh, right.
Your fancy beans.
Mindy, they're not just beans.
So who's the lucky leprechaun that gets to share a seven-course Ancient Grains Diggle Stassion with the one and only Guy Raz?
Huh?
Huh?
Professor Montague.
Professor Montague.
Professor Montague.
Oh, yeah, your old etiquette professor from college.
That's right.
That's right.
She's the one who gave me my graduation elbow patches.
She taught me the difference between an oval soup spoon and a cream soup spoon.
She even helped me refine my southern drawl, although it does tend to come out a bit when I get anxious.
Excuse me.
Oh, man.
So you're saying that this is the professor that turned you into the NPR tote bag carrying New Yorker reading?
Four-eyed wonder kid you are today.
Exactly.
This is such a big deal, Mindy.
Okay.
Look, all you need to do is just chillax a little bit.
Here.
It's near somewhere.
Here it is.
Here.
Here.
It's a stress ball.
Mindy, is your face on this stress ball?
Oh, you know it.
I mean, what's more relaxing than this mug?
I'm pointing at my face.
Uh, thanks.
I appreciate the offer, but I don't think it's going to work.
I've already tried all my usual stress reduction techniques.
I've gotten my eight hours of sleep.
I've drunk all of my chamomile tea.
I even tried using my meditation app.
Okay.
Okay.
Welcome to mobile device guided meditation.
I'm your guru, Theodore Poolsink.
Hello, Theodore.
Hello.
Guy.
Raz.
Focus on your body and breathe in.
Oh, did I turn all my air purifiers on for all this breathing?
Did I answer all those emails?
It's out.
Don't think about that.
Colors manifest as images now.
Oh, lovely.
We're at the beach.
Okay, I hope it's a protected beach.
It is.
The sun is out.
I should have probably brought some of my sunblock with me.
A sea breeze tussles your hair playfully, and on our next breath, the world falls away.
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Come to think of it, Mindy, I think those techniques just made me more stressed out.
Well, you know what chills me out when I'm stressed?
What?
Some good old-fashioned TV.
Mindy, I haven't owned a TV for ten years.
Yeah, but there is a giant home theater somewhere in my gingerbread mansion.
What do you say?
Hmm.
Well, do you have any new episodes of Date or Bait?
I'm pretty sure it's streaming on Petflix.
Let me see here.
Petflix?
Yeah, it's that app that streams just animal videos.
You know, like your typical cats playing pianos, monkeys riding segways, that kind of thing.
Let me see here.
Dramas, comedies, documentaries.
Oh, here it is.
Date or Bait.
All 23 seasons.
Yes.
Well, maybe a little time off from organizing my legume collection would help me clear my head.
Okay, so it's settled?
You'll stop alphabetizing your beans?
Mindy, they are very rare and expensive legumes.
Chick, please, spare P the details.
You get it?
It's a play on beans.
Well, Lima gonna get out of here.
You coming?
Yeah, yeah, hold on.
Let me just put these legumes away.
Wait, are you covering up those beans with tiny blankets, Guy Raz?
Well, of course.
I don't want them to get cold, do I?
Sleep tight, sweet beans.
I mean, dreams.
What in the... All right, Mindy, let's go.
Okay.
Next stop, fine, numbing television.
Is there any other kind?
Well, if there is, I don't want to know about it.
Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk.
And kick!
Oh, yeah!
All right, now, where did I leave that theater?
You don't remember where you left your giant home movie theater?
I mean, I remember where I left it last week, but then I did some shuffling around on Thursday and Let me just Oh, there it is.
All right, Guy Raz, do you have your ticket?
A ticket?
Nah, just joking.
Popcorn?
Have you got any kale chips?
Kale chips?
Let me see here.
No.
I'm fine, thanks.
Suit yourself.
Now, where should we sit?
This place is always so empty.
Well, that's because it's in your house, Mindy.
Oh, yeah.
Oh!
Look, the commercials are starting up.
Come on, sit down.
Commercials?
I thought we were just watching TV.
We are.
Now you sit down, stay here.
I'm going to go get an unhealthy amount of popcorn.
Be right back.
What?
Are you stressed out by visitors to your home?
For example, I don't know, an etiquette professor?
I am.
And have you tried all the herbal teas, stress balls, and meditation apps you can handle?
I have.
Well, maybe it's time you visit us at the Flow Retreat.
Maybe it is.
Of course it is.
Here at Flow, we approach stress relief scientifically, using the latest in relaxification to help you unwind.
That sounds perfect.
Hey, Mindy.
Hey, Guy Rossi.
I think I've found out exactly what I need to unwind.
I think I found something even better.
Check it out.
For the prevention of tension and to finally be heebie-jeebie-freebie.
Join us at Flow Retreat today.
Oh, yeah.
Why didn't I think of that? for this place.
Really?
Yeah, Reggie won them at a video game competition.
What?
During his esports phase.
Is there anything that bird can't do?
Um, well, build a nest.
It's kind of weird that they'd be giving away tickets to a relaxation spot of video game competition, isn't it?
Hey, gamers need to relax too, Guy Raz.
Have you seen Reggie play Fort Nightingale?
Talk about an angry bird.
That is true, Mindy.
Okay, let me just finish this popcorn and then we can head out.
Mindy, you can just leave it here.
You don't have to...
Get to go.
So, uh, how are we getting there, Mindy?
I mean, the wow machine?
Are we going to take Reggie power walking?
Well, uh, the wow machine is in the wash.
Reggie is visiting his parents.
And power walking is for Wednesdays.
Uh-huh.
Which means... Oh, no.
Behold, the all-new and improved Motor Pickle!
Mindy, I thought you turned the Motor Pickle into relish last week.
I did.
And it was delicious.
But I grew another one.
Here, check it out.
This bad boy has a 500cc engine.
That means cucumber calories.
And multicolored streamers on the handles.
I can see that.
So what are you waiting for?
Come on.
I even built you a sidecar.
Okay.
Mindy, it's all wet in here.
Oh, yeah, that's mustard.
Here we go!
Well, this should be it.
Are you sure, Mindy?
We're in the middle of a forest.
Uh, yeah.
It says right here on the coupon located in a tranquil forest, down the dirt path past the rock that holds no moss.
They couldn't have given a street address?
Oh, look.
There's the rock with no moss.
Oh, and there's the dirt path.
Oh, Guy Raz, this is definitely the right place.
Well, all right.
Let's do it.
All right.
Let me just lock up the motor pickle here.
And let's go.
Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk.
You know what, Mindy?
Getting out to nature was such a great idea.
I feel more relaxed already.
I know what you mean.
There's something about the birds, the running river.
The 8-bit music.
The what?
The video game music.
I hear it too, Mindy, but where is it coming from?
Oh, look over there.
The flow retreat.
Huh, guess this is it.
This is it?
It looks more like an arcade than it does a meditation retreat.
Come on, let's check it out.
Race ya.
Mindy, I'm not gonna...
Run, run, run.
Haha, snooze, you lose, Mindy.
What in the garage?
That's not fair.
Wait for me.
Haha, winner, winner, ethically sourced eggs for dinner.
Run, run, run, run, run, run.
Looks like somebody's been eating their compedios.
Okay, wait right here, Mindy.
I'm going to go find out if we're actually in the right place.
All right.
Hi there.
Welcome to the Flow Retreat.
Tokens and lockers are to the right.
Hi.
Yeah, are we at the right place?
I thought this was a relaxation retreat.
It is, sir.
A relaxation retreat using the latest in scientific studies.
To Yeah, I've seen the ad, but this place looks just like an arcade.
Well, that's exactly where the scientific study comes in.
Scientific study? study, what do you mean?
It's all explained, sir, right here in our introductory pamphlet.
Pamphlets?
I love pamphlets.
So what's the scoop on this place, Guy Raz?
I just got laser tagged three times.
Well, it looks like this is actually the place, Mindy.
They said it's all explained right here in this pamphlet.
You I know!
Okay, let's see here.
A guide to relaxation based on the scientific work of Kate Sweeney, a psychologist at the University of California, Riverside.
A psychologist?
You mean a scientist that studies the ways that people feel?
Exactly, Mindy.
So it says here that they use video games to induce a state of mental flow, which in turn helps to reduce levels of anxiety.
Oh, yeah.
I know a thing or two about mental flow.
Really?
Yeah.
Mental flow is like the mental state of mind that a person gets into when they're fully immersed in whatever they're doing.
Huh.
I mean, it's basically just a fancy scientific way of saying being in the zone.
Ah, I get it, Mindy.
Kind of like when you're inventing something.
Yeah, or when you're alphabetizing your fancy bean collection.
You get into this mental flow and hours can pass by and you don't even notice.
And so this researcher from the University of California found out that you can enter the state of flow by playing video games.
I guess.
I mean, it sounds like it.
What else does it say in that pamphlet?
Well, not much.
It just goes on to talk about cleaning your chakra with air hockey and aligning your chi with table tennis.
Hmm.
Well, I don't know.
You want to walk around a little bit?
Maybe play some games?
See if it helps you relax?
Well, I couldn't hurt, Mindy.
All right.
What are you going to play first?
It looks like there's Time Aversion 2 down there.
And I see a line for Smack-A-Mole.
Always promising.
Oh, and there's a claw machine.
Oh, can we, can we, can we, can we, can we?
Well, usually I'd say no.
Oh.
In the spirit of self-care and relaxification, let's do it, Mindy.
Yes!
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run!
Okay, Guy Raz, stand back and prepare to be amazed, because this buttery little claw is about to pick up the cutest little.
Scientific study?
What?
Mindy, look.
All the prizes in this claw machine game are scientific studies.
Why?
Wait a minute.
What?
Exploring the benefits of flow during uncertain waiting periods.
Mindy, I think that might be... Oh, that's Kate Sweeney's study from the University of California.
Jackpot!
You gotta get that one, Mindy.
We need that study.
Oh, I'm gonna get it, little buddy.
Put a couple of tokens in this bad boy and watch Mama go to work.
Let's do this!
Okay, concentrating a little to the left.
Just a nudge forward.
Move it back a smidge.
Come on, Mindy, you can do it.
Okay, claws opening.
It's latching on.
Look, look, Mindy, it's got it.
Come on.
Yes!
Yes!
Yes!
Scientific study!
Scientific study!
Oh, Mindy, I never doubted you for a second.
All right, let me just get it out of the machine here.
See what it says, Guy Raz.
How did they find out that playing video games could put you in a state of flow?
Okay.
So the researchers gathered 309 college students and told them that their peers would be rating How.
Good looking they are?
Man, that doesn't sound very nice.
I know, but apparently it's a really effective way to get people stressed out.
Oh, I get it.
So they didn't really do this.
They just said they were going to do this to get the participants in the study all stressed out.
I got it.
And then after that, the researchers split the 309 college students into three different groups.
And each group played Tetris, but at different difficulty levels.
Oh, I've played Tetris before.
It's that game where you have all of the falling blocks in different shapes and you got to make straight lines to get points.
Yeah, that's right.
I was actually the high score leader back in high school.
Really?
Yep.
They used to call me High Roz because of all my high scores.
Ooh, you must have been a pretty popular guy.
Roz.
Anyway, they split the group up into three difficulties.
One of the groups played a super easy-peasy version of the game which, as you can guess, was super boring.
And then the next group played an extremely challenging, super-duper fast version of the game, which was just super-duper frustrating.
Ooh.
And then the last group played a classic version of the game, where it adapts to the skill level of whoever is playing.
And as the researchers found out, it got them into that state of flow.
Aha!
So, one was too slow, one was too fast, and one was just right.
That's it, Mindy?
Well, you know what they should have called the study, right?
What's that, Mindy?
Goldilocks and the Falling Squares.
Nice one.
So, what did these researchers find out?
Well, it says here that, while all the participants experienced some degree of worry, the third group, The one that had the skill level, that was just right.
Yeah.
Well, they reported higher levels of positive emotions and slightly lower levels of negative emotions, suggesting that the video game that brought on a greater sense of flow actually lowered their levels of stress.
Correctamundo, Mindy!
Ah, that's so wow!
But that's not all, Mindy.
The study goes on to say that this doesn't just work for video games.
What?
This doesn't just work for video games.
Say that into my good ear.
What?
This doesn't just work for video games.
Yeah, okay, I got it, I got it, I got it, I got it.
So you're saying that, as long as it brings us to that state of flow that we can do other things to help us?
Chillax too.
Any activity that brings on a state of flow has the potential to lower anxiety and help relieve stress.
So that means that my inventing and building stuff and your alphabetizing your fancy beans could also be used to put your mind into a state of flow and help you to be less stressed out too.
That's exactly right, Mindy.
You don't have to use screens at all.
But since we are here in an arcade and we are looking to help you chillax um, did you want to hit up that Tetris machine in the corner over there, or yes?
Hmm, I don't know.
How much time do we have before Professor Montague arrives?
Who?
Professor Montague, the professor who taught me my, uh, P's and Q's.
Ooh, right, that Professor Montague, the one that's coming over for dinner.
Don't remind me.
Psh, come on, Guy Raz, you've got plenty of time.
Well... Come on, I can hear the Snackamoles calling your name.
Huh.
Okay, well, okay, Mindy, you've convinced me.
I think it might be time for the return of High Roz.
Woo-hoo!
Yes, yes, yes!
Okay.
Step aside, Mindy, because here we... Come on, little buddy.
You can do it.
Come on.
Go, go, go, go.
Right there.
That was so cool.
Yeah.
I love how playing video games can put you into a flow state, and being in a flow state can help you be calm.
It's so amazing.
I can't even stop.
Reggie!
I can't calm down!
I'm too amazed!
Well then, let's go to the arcade right now and try this Zen Video Game Flow State thing for ourselves.
I'm so amazed and excited!
All right, let's wrap up the show first.
Thanks to all you listeners out there for tuning in to WeWow on the Weekend!
If you have a question for me, call and leave me a message at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW.
That's 1-888-7-WOW-WOW.
I just might answer your question on WeWOW on the weekend.
Okay, should we do the goodbye song?
Here we go.
That's the end of the show.
I need to go and play a bunch of arcade games and maybe get a high score on Snooper Smash Bros.
But I'll do another show tomorrow.
But for now, that's the end of the show.
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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