Mindy

Hey, Wowzer fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show, did you know that you can listen to your favorite songs from wow in the World all summer long? That's right, Reg. Whether you can't stop singing Oops, I slipped on a penguin or you can't stop dancing to the scientifically most danceable song in the world, you can now listen again and again and again on your favorite music player. Just search wow in the world in your music app. Oh, good point, Reg. And if you're looking for more, for more summer jams from your favorite Tinkercast podcasts, you can find songs from Flippin Mosey and Once Upon a Beat. Wherever you get your music, that's it. And now a quick ad break, and then back to the show.

Dennis

Ah, ah, ah, ah. We wow on the weekend. We wow on the weekend. We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Talking, laughing, me and Reggie singing, laughing.

Guy Raz

And then we.

Dennis

Oh, wait, no, I said laughing twice. Whatever. We wow on the weekend. Yeah, we wow on the weekend. We wow on the weekend. Cause this is what we do on the weekend. Hello and welcome to We Wow on the Weekend. I'm your host, Dennis, and today we've got a very special.

Mindy

What the.

Dennis

Reggie, quit making a nest out of my clean laundry because I just folded that. Fine, Mother just folded that. As I was saying, today is a very special day because I came up with a new segment for the show I'm going to call what's in this Box? I found a box down here in the basement, and now I'm going to find out what's in the box. Okay, so in this segment, I'm gonna go over there into the crawl space and dig out a random box from storage. Then I'm gonna open it up and we'll see what's in it. Doesn't this sound like fun? Yes, it does, Reggie. Okay, you stay here. I'm gonna go into the crawlspace. I just gotta duck under this one beam.

Mindy

Ow.

Dennis

Okay, I'm in. I'm just gonna grab a box here. Okay, I got one. Okay, got a box. Now let's open it and find out what's in it. Ready? What's in this box? It's a dozen cans of baked be.

Listener (e.g., Greta, Jack, Eric)

Baked beans.

Dennis

What for? Oh, right. I bet mother put these in here in case the power went out. Or in the event of an alien invasion. Or maybe she found a coupon for baked beans. Wow. Okay. Thanks for playing. What's in the Box, everyone? Good idea. Let's answer Some questions from my devoted listeners in the Q and A segment. The Q and A segment. Alright, let's just get the old answering machine pulled up here. Okay? Here we go. Hi, you've reached Dennis from WEWOW on the weekend.

Guy Raz

That's me.

Dennis

Do you have a question? Well, I do too. Lots of them. And who's gonna answer all my questions?

Listener (e.g., Greta, Jack, Eric)

You?

Dennis

Probably not, but I guess I can answer yours. Leave me a message.

Listener (e.g., Greta, Jack, Eric)

I'm Greta from New York City, and my question is, who invented the sandwich?

Dennis

Wow, that's a great question, Greta. I don't know who invented the sandwich, but I invented a sandwich. I call it the Dennis Witch. First, I start with two slices of cinnamon raisin bread, toasted. Then I add lettuce, avocado, and a slice of Swiss cheese. Now, the holes in the Swiss cheese kind of freak me out. So I fill them in with olive slices. But the olive slices also have holes in them. So I fill those holes with ketchup. Lastly, I add a handful of potato chips. Close it up and hello, Dennis Witch. I know, we really gotta do a cooking segment soon. Next question.

Listener (e.g., Greta, Jack, Eric)

Hi, Dennis. My name is Jack and I live in Boulder, Colorado. My question for you today is. Why do we have dreams? Bye.

Dennis

Whoa, Jack. Why do we have dreams? That's deep. Now, obviously, I'm not sure why we have dreams, but I think it's so that we can have something to do when we're asleep. Because, Reggie, when I'm asleep, I'm bored. And dreams keep it interesting. Although it would be nice if we got to pick what our dreams are. Because I would not choose to do half the things I dream about. Like this one time I dreamed that I was on pogo stick, which is already way too much work, even for dream Dennis. But the pogo stick broke, so obviously I had to go buy a new one. But the store that sold them in the mall was closed. And the mall wasn't even the mall anymore. It was my middle school cafeteria. And we had to put all the lunch trays away. And I'm like, I can't put trays away. This cafeteria is full of dogs. So then I started to name the dogs. The first one was named Tricia. The second one I named Reggie. Wake up. How could you fall asleep while I'm talking about being asleep? What do you mean? Dreams are more fun to have than listen to. Oh, whatever. Next question.

Listener (e.g., Greta, Jack, Eric)

Hi, Dennis. It's me, Eric from Pinsdale, Illinois. I want to know what's your favorite wow in the world episode? Bye.

Dennis

Oh, Eric, great Question. My favorite wow. In the World episode is any episode with me in it. Exactly. Like Dennis and Reggie's Wild Ride. Or the Snoop and Seek Robot One. Or the Rise and Fall of Static Ma. I mean, am I in that one? I don't know if I'm in that one. It's a good episode, though. Oh, good idea, Reggie. We should get to today's episode. Thanks for your calls, everyone. If you've got a question for me, call and leave me a message. The number is 1-888-7-WOW. Wow. I just might answer your question on WEWOW on the weekend. Okay, that takes care of that. Alright, 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 this weekend, we're revisiting episodes from season of wow. In the World. Today we're doing a story from episode four called the Great Human vs. Rabbit Race. Only just a moment ago, Eric asked me what my favorite episode of wow. In the World is. And while my favorite is me, my other favorite are these episodes from season one. I know, Reggie. It's like I forgot all about them and now they're like new episodes. Except they're old. Right? Let's play the episod. Okay, here we go. And play

Mindy

Wee. Wow will be right back. Grownups, this message is for you. Hey, grownups. Mindy here. And it should come as no surprise that I love talking to people. I do it every Friday on two. What's in a People who Wow edition? And I've got to tell you about something else designed to bring the joy of conversation back to kids. It's called Pinwheel Home and it's a modern take on the landline phone. The Pinwheel Home is just like the phones you remember, except it connects using your WI fi and plugs into a regular wall outlet. Plus, adults approve all contacts so you don't get strangers or spam calls. And calls to other Pinwheel homes are free, so you can talk to all your friends. Pinwheel Home lets kids safely connect with their friends and family. Plus it builds conversation skills and promotes independence. Visit pinwheel.com wow to learn more. That's P-I N W H E-E-L.com wow. To learn more. That's it. Now back to the show.

Dennis

Welcome in the world.

Guy Raz

Mindy, do you know the name of the fastest human on earth?

Mindy

Of course I do, Guy Raz. It's for.

Guy Raz

Can I give You a hint?

Mindy

No, it's on the tip of my face.

Guy Raz

Mindy, it's okay.

Mindy

Just a little hint. Okay, just one tiny hint, but that's it.

Guy Raz

His name rhymes with.

Mindy

Rhymes, Rhymes. Leon rhymes. Volt.

Guy Raz

Usain Volt. I think you mean Usain Bolt.

Mindy

Nope, I'm talking about Usain Volt. He's the guy that races to my house every time the electricity goes out.

Listener (e.g., Greta, Jack, Eric)

Why?

Mindy

Do you know him too well?

Guy Raz

I'm actually referring to Usain Bolt, the fastest human on earth. You know, the guy who ran the hundred meter dash in 9.58 seconds and the 200 meter dash in 19.19 seconds faster than any other human in recorded history.

Mindy

Yeah, but can he do a one headed cartwheel? Guy Raz, I know who you're talking about. Why didn't you just say that in the first place?

Guy Raz

Well, Mindy, say Usain Bolt decided to have a race against, let's say, a rabbit. Right? And let's say that if you predicted or correctly guessed the winner of the race, you got a giant ice cream sundae with caramel sauce and four cherries. Would you make that bet, Guy Raz?

Mindy

I would race Usain Bolt and that rabbit if it meant getting to that ice cream sundae first. So take that as a big yes, I would make that bet.

Guy Raz

Okay, Mindy, so the big question, of course is who would win that race? Usain Bolt, the fastest human ever to walk planet Earth, the man who won eight Olympic gold medals, or the teeny tiny, itsy bitsy little rabbits?

Mindy

Well, I may just bust out my own personalized ice cream shovel, Guy Raz, because I have a feeling I'll be needing it when Usain Bolt leaves that rabbit in the dust.

Guy Raz

So you're betting on Usain Bol, the fastest human ever to run on planet

Mindy

Earth, beating the rabbit 100%.

Guy Raz

Well, what if I told you, Mindy, that you might have to give that ice cream sundae to the rabbit?

Mindy

You'd never. Uh, well, Guy Raz, Usain Bolt has way longer legs than any rabbit. How could I possibly lose this bet?

Guy Raz

Because, Mindy, in a race between a rabbit and Usain Bolt, the fastest human to ever run on Earth, the rabbit, Usain Bolt, so bad it would probably have enough time to make a carrot casserole and do the dishes by the time Usain Bolt had completed the race.

Mindy

Wow, that's impressive. I had no idea that rabbits knew how to cook.

Guy Raz

Well, they don't. They don't. I was just trying to illustrate how much faster a rabbit runs than A human.

Mindy

Oh, got it. Okay, so now that we've got that all cleared up, why exactly are we talking about carrot casserole and Usain Bolt? Where is this going, Guy Raz?

Guy Raz

Oh, yeah, I almost forgo why I'm telling you this story, Mindy. Well, one of the advantages most four legged creatures have is that they walk or run in a very particular way.

Mindy

And what way is that?

Guy Raz

Well, Mindy, almost all animals, when they walk or run, they land on their toes. And that is very different from us humans. Here, here, let me show you.

Mindy

Aw, are we going on a hike?

Guy Raz

Okay, so stand up.

Mindy

Okay, I'm coming.

Dennis

Hold on.

Mindy

I've been sitting in this laundry basket for an hour and I just gotta stretch it out.

Guy Raz

Okay, and let's just walk down the hall. Are you ready, Mindy?

Mindy

Yep, I'm ready. Let's do it, Guy Raz.

Guy Raz

Okay, left, left, right, left, right. See how our heel touches the ground before our toes do?

Mindy

Oh, yeah, I get it. There it goes again. My heel touches the ground as my other foot, it starts to lift off and swing forward. And then the next thing I know. Guy Raz, I could do this all day. I'm walking, walking like the wind. But, but, but watch out. When you slow down, you wanna hit

Guy Raz

the drum set, I sit up at the end of the hallway. Are you okay?

Mindy

Yeah, never been better.

Guy Raz

Okay, where were we?

Mindy

Ooh, I believe we were at left, right, left, right.

Guy Raz

Oh, yeah. Well, you might be why we humans, when we walk, why we land on our heels rather than our toes like most other animals.

Mindy

Guy Raz, are you trying to get me to ask why we land on our heels rather than our toes like other animals?

Guy Raz

Uh, yeah. And in fact, an anthropologist by the name of James Weber from the University of Arizona was wondering the same thing. Because, Mindy, he likes to run and he uses those barefoot running shoes when he goes out for his morning jog.

Mindy

Oh, I've seen those. They make your toes look like foot fingers and your feet look like leg hands.

Guy Raz

Yeah, yeah, sort of. Anyway, he noticed that when he runs in those shoes, he tends to land on his toes. But when he walks in those very same shoes, he tends to land on his heels. And Mindy, this didn't seem to make sense to Dr. Weber, because one of the reasons animals land on their toes first is rather than their heels is because it actually extends or stretches the length of their foot. In other words, it makes their legs longer.

Mindy

Yeah, but Guy Raz, wouldn't it also make our legs longer? I mean, my toes are pretty far away.

Dennis

Hey. Hello down there.

Guy Raz

Well, Mindy, you would think so, but actually, in humans, it has the opposite effect. What James Webber discovered is that when we humans land on our heels, it actually makes our legs longer than if we were to land on our toes. It's a trick of evolution, because a long, long, long time ago, our human ancestors probably stood on their toes. But over time, their bodies evolved or changed. And eventually, over millions of years, their feet got smaller and their heels dropped to the ground. So by the time we humans, or Homo sapiens, appeared here on Earth, our bodies were designed to allow for our heels to touch the ground before our toes do.

Dennis

Wow.

Mindy

So how is he able to investigate this?

Guy Raz

Well, Mindy, this scientist at the University of Arizona asked two groups of humans to help him with his experiment. And with the first group, he asked them to walk normally.

Mindy

Okay. And so what did he do with the second group?

Guy Raz

With the second group, he asked them to walk on their toes. And guess what?

Mindy

What?

Guy Raz

He found that when humans land on their toes first, they use a lot more energy than if they land on their heels. And landing on our toes actually slows us humans down because of how hard the front part of our foot has to work to push our bodies forward. Here, let's try this. But this time, please watch out for the drums.

Dennis

Okay.

Mindy

Not making any promises.

Guy Raz

Okay, you ready?

Mindy

Yep.

Guy Raz

Okay, let's go.

Mindy

All right, here goes nothing. Toes out. Landing on the floor first. Left, right, left. I'm losing my balance. I'm losing it. And,

Listener (e.g., Greta, Jack, Eric)

Uh.

Guy Raz

Mindy?

Mindy

I'm okay.

Guy Raz

Uh, are you sure?

Dennis

Ugh.

Mindy

Never been better.

Guy Raz

Uh, okay. Okay, great. Well, now you understand why it makes sense that we humans land on our heels rather than our toes.

Mindy

Yeah. After all that, it's obvious to me that unlike cats or dogs or even rabbits, we're much better off landing on our heels when we walk, because that's what gives us length, efficiency, and stability.

Guy Raz

And that seems to be James Webber's conclusion as well.

Mindy

Now, let's walk heel to toe to the ice cream truck and get that giant sundae you owe me, huh?

Dennis

Reggie, we should have a race like that. Rabbit and Usain Bolt.

Listener (e.g., Greta, Jack, Eric)

Nuh.

Dennis

I would win. No, Me. Fine. You're on. Let me just wrap this up, and then we're going outside and having a race. Thanks, everyone, for listening to this episode of Wee Wow. On the weekend, be sure to give our phone lines a call and ask me, Dennis, a question. The number is 1-88-8,7, wow. Wow. That's 1-888-7, wow. Wow. I just might answer your question on Wee Wow on the Weekend. Okay, you ready?

Guy Raz

Great.

Dennis

Let's go. Reggie. No way. You are going down. I am so fast. Yeah. Huh? One time mother timed me and I was like shweew. And then she was all like, whoa. And I was all like, I know. And she was all like.

Mindy

Thanks for joining us for this edition of We Wow. On the Weekend. Our show is written by Ruth Morrison and Jed Anderson. Original sound design and production is done by Henry Moskal and Marion Lozano with help from Jed Anderson and Tyler Thol. Original music for wewow on the Weeknd is composed and performed by Tyler Thol.

Guy Raz

Special thanks to Steph Sosa, Rebecca Caban and all of the other tinkerers at Tinkercast hq.

Mindy

There's still time to share your Wee Wow crafternoon challenges with us grown ups. You can upload pictures and videos of your projects to us@tinkercast.com or call us at 1-888-7-WOW. Wow.

Guy Raz

Our website is tinkercast.com there you can learn more about becoming an official member of the World Organization of Wowzers, learn about upcoming events, shop our shop and pick up a copy of the latest edition of our number one New York Times best selling book series, wow in the Wild.

Mindy

Thanks again for thinking, tinkering, experimenting and exploring with us this week. Meet us back here on Monday for Wow in the World. And remember who wows We Wow.

Guy Raz

Wow

Dennis

wow in the World.

Mindy

Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.