
In this tail-wagging, brain-boosting, and totally paw-some episode of Wow in the World, Mindy, Guy Raz, and the WOW crew dive into the surprising science of label learning! At the Dog Vocab World Championship, label learning takes center stage as some of the smartest pups on the planet show off their incredible memories. And as Mindy and Guy discover, label learning might help explain how dog vocabulary works and why dog vocabulary in certain dogs can be way more impressive than you’d ever expect!
When Mindy and Guy Raz arrive at a giant stadium to commentate the annual Dog Vocab World Championship, Mindy is mostly focused on one thing: finding a snack. Unfortunately for her, she ends up in the dog toy line instead of concessions and barely has time to figure out what’s happening before she and Guy are rushed on air. Once the lights go up and the crowd starts barking, cheering, and howling, Mindy realizes this is no ordinary dog show. This is a high-stakes battle of memory, focus, and fetch.
The competitors? A trio of elite canine superstars: the polished Professor Lex, the rebellious fan-favorite Noodle, and the reigning champion Banjo. One by one, the dogs are asked to retrieve specific toys from a big pile on stage, including avocado, monkey, racecar, airplane, and more. To win, each dog must remember which word belongs to which toy and fetch the correct one without making a mistake. It’s like a spelling bee, a memory game, and a sporting event all rolled into one very fluffy package.
But amid all the excitement, Mindy and Guy uncover the real WOW: a fascinating new scientific study from researchers in Budapest suggests that some dogs may not only learn words through direct teaching, but also by simply overhearing humans talk to one another. That means a dog might be able to learn the name of a toy even when no one is talking to the dog directly! In the study, researchers worked with special dogs that already knew lots of toy names. Then, instead of repeatedly teaching a new word face-to-face, the dog’s owner and another person casually talked about the toy together while the dog watched and listened. Later, many of the dogs were able to fetch the correct toy, proving they had learned the word just by overhearing it.
Scientists call this process label learning: understanding that a word belongs to a specific object. It’s something human babies do too, by listening to the people around them talk. And it turns out some dogs, especially highly attentive breeds like Border Collies, may be able to do something surprisingly similar. That makes these pups true outliers in the animal kingdom, with some dogs able to recognize hundreds, and in rare cases even over a thousand, words.
With live commentary, dramatic toy fetches, barks from the crowd, and an unforgettable championship showdown, this episode is packed with laughs, suspense, and an incredible look at how dogs learn.
📺 You can watch the WOW of this episode right now on our YouTube channel, WowTube! Find your favorite Tinkercast podcast episodes, experiments with Mindy, original music with Dennis and so much more at youtube.com/@tinkercast.
✨ Don’t miss the chance to explore even further with Wow in the World:
Grownups can visit https://bit.ly/4pU76WO to join the World Organization of Wowzers (WOW) and unlock exclusive activities, birthday cards, quarterly mailings, first dibs at events, and a welcome kit with an autographed photo of Mindy & Guy Raz! Plus, Grownups help support our podcast and our mission to create content and experiences that connect laughter to learning, curiosity to innovation and kids to the WOWs in their world!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 11
25 min

Dennis and Reggie make Mother's Day cards. Plus an encore episode of, “Yay for Octo-Moms!” Originally aired 5/11/25.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 10
21 min

Dennis and Reggie remember their favorite teachers and read Reviewsies. Plus an encore episode of, “1+2=3? Just ask a BEE! - The Scientific Buzz on Bees and Math” Originally aired 5/10/25.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 9
24 min

What does it take to become a New York Times bestselling author and graphic novelist, and can you guess which stories are true? In this gameshow podcast for kids, Mindy Thomas gets to know Raina Telgemeier, as she shares surprising facts and sneaky fibs about her life! This interactive interview podcast for kids invites listeners to play along, think critically, and discover what it really means to write and draw bestselling graphic novels for kids like Raina Telgemeier!
In this two-truths-and-a-lie podcast all about Raina Telgemeier and being a creator of graphic novels, families will hear unbelievable stories about the joys, the challenges, and the journeys of people who are doing amazing things in the world. But not everything you hear is true… Can you figure out which facts are real?
This episode blends gameplay with real conversation as Mindy and Raina Telgemeier share stories that are surprising, funny, and sometimes totally unbelievable. From childhood beliefs and going behind-the-scenes to hidden talents, listeners will explore how book author and graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier WOWs each and every day!
Along the way, kids and grownups will get to combine curiosity and play, discover the joy of human connection, and see how curiosity can lead to some of the coolest jobs! Designed for families to listen together, this episode encourages communication, imagination, and connection in a screen-free way.
Whether your Wowzer is curious about writing and illustrating books and graphic novels or loves solving a good mystery, this episode helps kids build confidence, ask better questions, and connect with the people around them. It’s all about learning through play, conversation, and curiosity.
✨ Don’t miss the chance to laugh together even more:Â
Grownups can visit https://bit.ly/4pU76WO to join the World Organization of Wowzers (WOW) and unlock exclusive activities, birthday cards, quarterly mailings, first dibs at events, and a welcome kit with an autographed photo of Mindy & Guy Raz! Plus, Grownups help support our podcast and our mission to create content and experiences that connect laughter to learning, curiosity to innovation and kids to the WOWs in their world!
This episode of Two Whats?! And A Wow!: People Who Wow Edition introduces kids and families to a best-selling author of graphic novels and books through gameplay, storytelling, and curiosity-driven conversation.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 8
24 min

What if collecting whale snot could help save the ocean?
In this wildly funny and science-packed episode, Mindy, Guy Raz, and Dennis discover that SnotBot—a real-life drone used by scientists—isn’t just a video game… it’s real technology used to study whales in the wild!
Join the adventure as we explore:
- How scientists use drones to collect whale snot (blow)
- What whale mucus can reveal about health, DNA, pregnancy, and gut microbes
- Why drones are safer and less disruptive than boats and airplanes
- How ocean research helps protect whales after environmental disasters
Plus: video game chaos, ocean detective missions, and one VERY important question… how do you catch snot mid-air?!
It’s the Who, What, When, Where, How, Wow, and WOW of whale snot at drone technology!
📺 You can watch the WOW of this episode right now on our YouTube channel, WowTube! Find your favorite Tinkercast podcast episodes, experiments with Mindy, original music with Dennis and so much more at youtube.com/@tinkercast.
✨ Don’t miss the chance to explore even further with Wow in the World:
Grownups can visit https://bit.ly/4pU76WO to join the World Organization of Wowzers (WOW) and unlock exclusive activities, birthday cards, quarterly mailings, first dibs at events, and a welcome kit with an autographed photo of Mindy & Guy Raz! Plus, Grownups help support our podcast and our mission to create content and experiences that connect laughter to learning, curiosity to innovation and kids to the WOWs in their world!
This episode of Wow in the World is perfect for kids and families who love animals, ocean science, technology, and totally gross (but amazing) facts.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 4
22 min

Dennis and Reggie check in on Goldie-Bob the Goldfish, and invent a brand new drink! Plus, an encore of "A Sunbrella For The Planet!" Originally aired 8/3/25.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 3
26 min

Dennis and Reggie discuss Reggie's latest vacation, answer questions, and listen to... WeWow on the Weekend? Plus, an encore of "And The Winner Is… RICEQUAKE!" Originally aired 8/2/25.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 2
24 min

Break out your overalls! Two Whats?! And a Wow is down on the farm! We’re learning all about Farm Animals this week, so Mindy & Guy will be sorting the farming facts from the foolish farm funnies. Visit https://bit.ly/3zfwJMc for more info. Originally aired 9/13/24.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 1
14 min

Did you know bonobos have their very own way of talking to each other? In this Wow in the World episode, Mindy is using a new language learning app to try and help her communicate better with her pen-pal. The only issue is, her pen pal is an ape! From playful gestures to powerful vocalizations, bonobos use a language all their own to express feelings, build relationships, and keep their families connected. This jaw-dropping episode dives into the science of how bonobos communicate, why it matters for scientists, and what kids can learn about the importance of empathy, teamwork, and listening. Originally aired 9/15/25.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Apr 27
23 min

Dennis and Reggie deliver a hot-off-the-press Reggie Report, answer questions, and listen to an encore of "An Elevator to the Stars!" 7/27/25.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Apr 26
31 min
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