Hey, Wowzer fans.
Mindy and Guy Raz here.
And before we start the show, we've got a little surprise for you.
Reggie, cue the fanfare.
Starting this week, we've got brand new episodes of Wow in the World.
Yep, that's right.
Starting right here on our Wow in the World podcast feed and also our YouTube channel, WowTube.
You can watch now at Tinkercast.com slash YouTube.
Well, what are we waiting for?
Let's get back to the show.
Three two, one hit.
So many discoveries that are jumping off the page Okay, so whenever I take my glasses off, I always put them right here on the corner of this table, but they're not on the corner of this table.
So where could they be?
Okay, I really need to focus here.
Maybe I better check the corner of the table one more time.
Still no glasses.
Mindy, don't you ever knock?
Oh, sorry.
I forgot.
I'll do that now.
And knock, knock.
Who's there?
Can't you see?
It's me, Mindy.
Put your glasses on.
Well, that's the problem, Mindy.
I can't find my glasses anywhere.
Okay.
I always put them right here on the corner of this table, and they're not here.
Well, do you remember why you took them off?
Yeah, I was helping Dennis Thomas Fingerling and Grandma G-Force hook a canoe up to a shopping cart.
Okay, that is not where I thought this was going.
Why were you doing that?
Because they were going camping down by the river.
And oh wait, and Colonel Toot's thunderpaw was there too.
Grandma G-Force's cat?
Cat landlord or something, yeah.
Are you sure this wasn't just a dream you had?
No, and as I was doing all of this, the shopping cart started to roll down the hill, pulling the canoe and the cat.
So I chased after it but started to sweat and my glasses kept slipping so I took them off and... Now I have no idea where they are because they're not on the corner of this table where I always put them.
Uh-huh.
Mindy, I've checked everywhere on the corner of this table.
Now where else could they be?
I don't know.
Maybe you should check your head?
Well, why would my glasses be on my...
Oh, they were on my head.
See?
That was easy.
Easy?
I've been searching for them for two hours.
Wow, two hours, huh?
Where were you looking all that time?
I was looking in the corner of the table where I always set them after I take them off.
So you were just looking in the same spot over and over and over again and so focused on that one spot that you completely missed the obvious place that your glasses were hiding.
Yeah, I guess you could say that.
Well, maybe the problem was that you were too focused on where you left your glasses.
Mindy, how is it possible to be too focused?
That's what you do when you're faced with a problem.
You focus as hard as you can until you come up with a solution.
I mean, what was I supposed to do?
Let my mind drift off like Grandma G-Force's shopping cart?
I mean, maybe?
What?
Well, maybe to solve the problem of your missing glasses, you should have just let your mind wander.
Why would I do that?
Because, like I said, maybe you were too focused on the solution.
You keep saying that.
I don't understand how anyone can be too focused.
Okay.
So I just read this new scientific study from the University of Tokyo, where a team of researchers discovered that oftentimes our best ideas come when we let our minds go and stop overthinking.
So you're suggesting that maybe I would have found my glasses sooner had I not been thinking so hard about where they were, that maybe I would have thought to look somewhere else?
That's exactly what I'm saying.
See when we're less focused or even when we daydream, we're making space in our imaginations for fresh, new ideas to pop up.
Ah.
I guess this does make a little sense, Mindy.
I know it does.
So you're suggesting that when we're focusing intensely on a single solution, the space in our imaginations is all taken up?
Exactly.
Huh.
Oh, sorry.
I better get this.
It's Dennis.
Uh-oh.
This can't be good.
They're supposed to be camping.
Huh?
Uh, Dennis?
Hi, Mindy.
Is Guy Raz there?
Well, yeah, but why'd you call my phone?
Why didn't you just call Guy Raz?
I don't know.
You're just the first person I thought of.
Tell Guy Raz we need his help.
Get down, Colonel Toots.
That's a bad Colonel Toots.
Shoo!
Shoo!
And will you two be quiet?
Dennis, what is happening over there?
Oh, Guy, thank goodness.
We have a big problem.
We made it to the river, but the campsite is on the other side of the river.
Well, Dennis, you have a canoe.
Just take the canoe across the river.
Well, that's the problem, Guy.
I need to get me, Tommy, Granny G, and Colonel Toots Thunderpaw across the river.
But the canoe is only big enough to hold me and one other person.
Hey!
Okay, so just take Colonel Toots across and then come back and get Mr Fingerling and then get Grandma G-Force.
Um, that's not gonna work.
Why?
Because if you leave me alone with Fingerling, I'm gonna eat him.
What?
Why?
This is the wilderness, boy.
Oh, please don't leave me alone with this wild...
Okay, okay.
Why don't you just take Grandma G-Force across and then go back to get Thomas Fingerling and Colonel Toot's thunderpaw?
Oh, yeah.
That's a great idea.
Well, if I leave Grandma G-Force alone on the other side of the river, she might run away.
That's right.
I got the runs.
Ew.
No.
Don't say it like that.
And if I'm stranded here alone with the cat, I might eat it.
What?
No.
Stop eating things.
Listen.
The wilderness!
Okay, so let me make sure I've got this straight.
If Dennis crosses the river with Colonel Toots' thunderpaw and leaves Grandma G-Force and Thomas Fingerling alone, then Grandma G-Force will eat Fingerling.
Yeah, that's pretty much it.
It is the wilderness, after all.
And if Dennis crosses the river with G-Force and leaves Colonel Toots with Thomas Fingerling Oh, I'll probably eat the colonel.
Because it's the wilderness.
That is correct.
Also, I'll run away.
See what I'm faced with here, Guy Raz?
We're doomed!
Doomed!
This is a very tricky puzzle, Mindy.
Can you think of something?
Me?
I have to solve this.
Well, somebody has to.
Save us, Mandy.
I'm bored of this, and I'm hungry, too.
Come here, Fingerling.
I don't think I can solve this problem.
The pressure this is putting on my brain is just too intense.
I can't even hear my own thoughts.
Wait a minute.
What?
What, Guy Raz?
Mindy, this is like that scientific study you were telling me about from the University of Tokyo.
Guy Raz, this is no time for science.
Yeah.
No, no, no, everyone, let's hear what Guy Raz has to say.
So I just went through the same intense meltdown when I couldn't solve the problem of my missing glasses.
They were on your head, weren't they, boy?
Well yes, I know that now, but for a few hours I was so stressed about not knowing where my glasses were, I couldn't even stop to think about where I might have left them.
So, what's the solution, guy?
The solution is we need to stop focusing so hard on solving the problem and give our imaginations more space to have new ideas.
Focus less?
Well, that don't make no sense.
Well, actually, it does make sense.
I mean, maybe our imaginations are all clogged and stuck in freak-out mode from all the pressure that we're putting on them to solve this problem?
Ah, our brain pipes is all clogged up, eh?
That's right.
Well, good thing is I brought a plunger.
And I'll unclog them brains right up.
You brought along your own plunger camping?
No, I brought Garage's plunger.
Listen, everyone.
Our brains work better when they're not stuck on one approach or possible solution.
It's true.
The scientists in this study experimented by asking a group of people to solve some very tricky puzzles.
And what happened, Mindy?
Yeah, what did they discover?
Well, they discovered that the people who solved the problems weren't the ones staring and stressing out over the answers.
So, uh, should G-Force plunge my mind then or not?
Yeah!
No, no, not with an actual plunger.
Well, huh.
Well, then how do you plunge your mind?
So in this study, the people who solved the puzzles let their minds just wander a little.
What, like daydreaming?
Exactly.
So the researchers discovered that when people stopped focusing so hard on solving the puzzles, their brains made surprising connections to new ideas.
And helped them find the answers in creative ways.
You know it.
Well then, I think we've solved the problem of how to solve this problem.
We have?
Yes.
We need to stop thinking so hard and send our brains on a little vacation.
In other words, we all need to chill.
Works for me.
Whatever.
You too, Mindy and Guy.
Alright.
We're with you, Dennis.
Okay, everyone.
On the count of three, we All relax.
Think about solutions, but let our minds wander and daydream if they want to.
Huh, okay.
I can do that.
One, two, three, wander.
All right, so leave Fingerling on the starting side of the river and go back for the cat.
Leave the cat and take Grandma G-Force across.
I'm gonna eat Fingerling.
I hope they don't leave me alone with that cat.
I think it knows computers.
Fingerling probably tastes bad anyway.
Maybe if I put some mayonnaise on him.
I don't even know how to row a boat.
So if Fingerling and Colonel Toot's Thunderpaw, the Cat, are left alone, Fingerling will never survive.
I can't believe Grandma G-Force took my plunger without asking.
Okay, time's up.
That's enough.
I'm bored with this game.
Wow, that was a really nice brain break.
I feel looser.
Yeah, me too.
So did it work?
Did letting our brains wander around help us solve the problem of getting all four of us across the river?
Yeah, so I was thinking that maybe Dennis should take Mr. Fingerling across the river first.
Oh, and then I can go back other side of the river alone.
And then he can take me across in the boat.
But wait, no.
You can't leave me alone with G-Force.
She'll eat me.
Oh, yes, that's right.
It's the wilderness.
Exactly.
Wait, I got it.
I figured it out.
You did?
I did.
What is it, Guy?
What's the solution?
Well, there's only one way to find out.
Dennis, pick up your paddle.
It's time for some river crossing.
Aye, aye, No, actually, you're the captain, Dennis, not me.
Literally.
Now take Thomas Fingerling across the river.
Oh, right.
Tommy!
What?
Get in the boat.
Oh, okay.
On your mark.
Get set.
Go!
Paddle, paddle, paddle, paddle.
Oh, that's some fine paddling, Taylor.
Made it.
Tommy, get out.
Okey-doke.
Okay, what's next?
Okay, now go back alone, Dennis.
Roger that.
Paddle, paddle, paddling.
Once you get there, get G-Force and bring her to the other side.
Made it.
Granny G, get in the boat.
Quit telling me what to do, boy.
Okay, hold on tight.
No.
Paddle, paddle, paddling.
You got this, Dennis.
Hey, come on.
The rainforest gets out of the boat.
There you are, Fingerling.
Come here, I'm hungry.
Oh boy.
Dennis, quick, grab Thomas Fingerling and bring him back with you to the other side.
What?
Why?
Gaironis, that's genius.
No it isn't.
I just got him here.
Dennis, just do it.
Fine.
Get in the boat, Tommy.
Paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle paddle, Paddle.
Paddle.
You're doing great, Dennis.
Paddle.
Granny J, quick, take your cat.
Oh, I see the solution now.
We just got to leave Fingerling over there.
Who needs him anyway?
No, no, you can't leave him there.
You've almost got everyone across safely.
OK, now, Dennis, paddle back to the starting side alone and grab Fingerling.
Paddle, paddle, paddle.
Now bring Thomas Fingerling back to the other side and that's it.
I don't even like camping.
Go, Dennis!
Oh, hey, fella.
You look tired.
Get in, Tommy.
Oh, okay.
Paddle, paddle, paddle, paddle.
You're almost done, Dennis.
We did it!
Okay, now let me do a quick roll call to make sure everyone's here.
Tommy.
Present.
Granny G. No.
Colonel Toots Thunderpaw.
Okay, everyone's all here.
See?
Problem solved.
And all we had to do was stop focusing so much on getting them across one by one.
Especially when some of them couldn't be left alone together because, you know...
It's the wilderness.
Yeah, when we allowed our minds to let go and our imaginations to wander, we came up with an idea that involved moving backwards in order to move forward.
And we never would have come up with that idea if we were so fixated on only moving forwards.
Guy Raz, I gotta hand it to you.
Congratulations.
That was some good thinking.
Thanks.
Uh, Mindy?
Oh, Dennis, you're still there.
Are you all setting up your tents?
Not exactly.
Can you come pick us up?
Pick you up?
Why?
I forgot I'm afraid of the dark.
I can't stay out here.
Dennis!
And I'm afraid of the dark, too.
And me as well.
Okay, stand by, Dennis.
We'll be right there.
Thank you.
Hurry up.
I'm starving.
Yeah.
What are we supposed to eat when we're all out here alone in the wilderness?
Wow in the World will be right back.
Grown-ups, this message is for you.
Hey, grown-ups.
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And as schedules fill up with activities and travel, let IXL help you stay on top of your child's learning.
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Visit ixl.com slash wow to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.
That's it.
Back to the show.
Hi, thanks for calling Wow in the World.
After the beep, get ready to record.
Hello, my name is Bowie and I'm six.
My state is Florida and my wow is that the potato head used to actually be red.
With actual potatoes.
Bye.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name is Leah, and I live in Jericho, Vermont.
My way around the world is that wool fiber pills, because it has tiny, microscopic scales that, when heat and agitation are applied, rub together and get caught on each other.
That loose, broken fiber then bunches up to create a pill on fabric.
Say hi to Dennis for his prize-winning azaleas, Mindy's broken gingerbread door, Evie the elephant, Thomas Fingerling's lost bees and Grandma G-Force's wrestling counters.
Thank you.
I love your show.
Bye.
Hi.
My name's Charlie, and I'm from Washington State.
And my wow in the world is that Trunks could spray their stinky spray ten feet behind them.
I'm Abigail from Hawk Point and my wow in the world is that young domestic pigeons are called squeaks or squeakers.
My name is Obi, and I live in Philadelphia.
My wow in the world is that some animals Sweets during the day, not tunnel animals.
Thanks, Animal World.
We love your show.
Hi, this is Luna.
And Vega.
We're from Chicago, Illinois.
And our wow is ostriches have bigger eyes than brains.
Hi, Mindy and Guyrod.
My name is Carter, and I live in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
My wow is... is that Jupiter has over 79 moons and Earth only has one.
Bye.
End of messages.
Thanks for listening to this episode of Wow in the World.
If you're a kid with a big wow to share with us, call our wow hotline at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW for a chance to be featured at the end of the show.
And while you're at it, Head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Leave us five stars and tell us what wows you about our show by leaving a review.
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With that, you'll get year-round mailings in your mailbox, weekly activities, birthday cards...
And learn all about the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast.
Once again, that's Tinkercast.com.
Wow in the World is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalken with contributions from me, Guy Raz.
Original sound design and music editing is done by Tyler Thole, with help from our senior production director, Jed Anderson, and audio producer Henry Moskal.
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.
Steph Sosa keeps our heads on straight as our executive producer.
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 our team, including Kristen Yang Thuy Mac, Ali Paksima, Linda Rothenberg and Anna Zagorski, and all of the other Tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ.
Grownups, you can follow Wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at Wow in the World.
And our email address is hello at Tinkercast.com.
Thanks for listening.
Find episodes of Wow in the World every Monday to What's in the Wow every Friday, right here and on YouTube.
And don't forget, we wow on the weekends with Dennis every Saturday and Sunday right here in the Wow in the World podcast feed.
Until then, keep on wowing.
Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast.
