Podcast Summary
Entertaining the Audience Amidst Serious News: Despite serious news, the hosts of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me brought humor and kept the mood light through jokes and games.
During a challenging week with serious news about police violence, racism, and the global pandemic, the hosts of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me managed to bring humor to their audience by making jokes and playing games. A listener named Julian, who was quarantining with his grandfather, participated in the show and played "Who's Bill This Time." The quotes read included one from the U.S. President claiming that the country was doing fantastically well. Despite the president's controversial statements and actions, the hosts and panelists kept the mood light and entertaining. Sutter Health, a healthcare organization, supported the podcast with a message about their commitment to caring for Californians at all stages of life.
Protests and Church Visit, Schools Preparing for Fall, Space Launch: President Trump's church visit amid protests sparks controversy, schools plan for fall with unique policies, and American astronauts launch from US for first time in years
During a protest, President Trump walked to a church carrying a Bible after having the area cleared with force, using tactics like tear gas and riot police, despite the White House denying its use. Meanwhile, schools are preparing for reopening in the fall with new policies such as assigning each student their own ball during recess. Additionally, American astronauts made history by launching from the US for the first time in nine years, with no reports of them actually escaping Earth. It's an interesting juxtaposition of events, with the president's actions sparking controversy and schools and space exploration continuing to move forward.
Proposing unconventional methods to combat climate change: Scientists suggest releasing sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight and cool Earth, but risks to environment and health are uncertain.
Scientists are proposing unconventional methods to combat climate change, such as simulating a massive volcano to block the sun's rays. However, the feasibility and potential consequences of such a solution are uncertain and subject to debate. The idea came from Michael Bloomberg's experience of being unable to see during a concert due to someone's height. Instead, the proposed solution is to release sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight and cool the Earth. But, this method also comes with risks, such as disrupting weather patterns and potentially causing harm to the environment and human health. It's important to note that this is just one of many proposed solutions and that ongoing research and collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and the public is necessary to find effective and sustainable ways to address climate change.
Companies adding hidden health benefits to snacks: Nabisco adds kale extract, probiotics, and chia seeds. Burger King uses strong onion flavor for social distancing. Denver man creates high-fiber, vegan edibles. Companies innovate for healthier options, even in unexpected ways.
Companies are finding creative ways to make popular snacks healthier without consumers noticing. Nabisco, for instance, has been quietly adding ingredients like kale extract, probiotics, and chia seeds to their treats. Meanwhile, Burger King in Italy is using strong onion flavor in their Whoppers to encourage social distancing. And in Denver, a cannabis consumer named Larry Miller is creating high-fiber, vegan edibles to help people maintain optimal health while getting high. However, some consumers have had unintended consequences, such as excessive munchies leading to overeating. Despite these challenges, these innovations show that companies are responding to consumers' desire for healthier options, even in unexpected ways.
Creativity and resilience lead to unexpected success: Helen Hong's Burger King social distancing Whoppers and Sarah Cooper's viral lip-synching show how creativity and resilience can lead to unexpected success, even in the face of challenges
Creativity and resilience can lead to unexpected success, even in the face of challenges. This was evident in the discussion about Helen Hong's story of Burger King's social distancing Whoppers, which was a clever solution to the problem of maintaining social distancing during the pandemic. Another example was Sarah Cooper, who turned her experience of watching and lip-synching the president's speeches into a viral sensation, despite initial struggles and criticism. Larry, who sells pre-made meals under the new name "high and higher fiber," shared a possible story about Nabisco secretly making healthier cookies and cakes. However, the group decided to believe the story about Burger King's social distancing Whoppers instead. Sarah Cooper's success came after she tried stand-up comedy and failed, leading her to take a job at Google as a user experience designer. However, she continued to write and perform comedy in her free time, which eventually led to her viral success. Despite the criticism and negative comments she received, Sarah remained resilient and continued to create content that resonated with people. Her experience shows that persistence and creativity can lead to unexpected opportunities and success.
Effective techniques for appearing smart in meetings: Pace around the room, ask to go back a slide, use a professional background, and say 'taking meetings' instead of 'attending meetings' can make you appear smarter in meetings.
Appearing smart in meetings, whether in-person or virtual, can be achieved through simple yet effective techniques. These methods include pacing around the room, asking to go back a slide, and using a professional background. The speaker, Sarah Cooper, shared her experience of using such tricks at Google, which led to her viral success and a book contract. She also mentioned the importance of saying "taking meetings" instead of "attending meetings," and the potential for a show based on her experiences. During the interview, Sarah demonstrated her impressive lip-syncing skills by mimicking Donald Trump's voice, and a game of "dubbing trouble" followed, where she was asked to identify famous misquoted lines from dubbed movies. Despite getting one question wrong, the interview ended on a light-hearted note, with Sarah expressing her surprise at the incorrect answers and the potential prize for the listener who answered two questions correctly.
Marlon Brando's Meowing Cat and Sarah Cooper's Quiz Victory: Marlon Brando's cat disrupted filming of 'The Godfather' causing some lines to be dubbed over. Sarah Cooper won the quiz and was praised for her book.
During the filming of "The Godfather," Marlon Brando adopted a stray cat on set, causing several takes to be ruined due to the cat's loud purring. This is why some of Brando's lines had to be dubbed over in post-production. Another interesting fact shared during the quiz was that the German title for the movie "Airplane!" translates to "You are under arrest if you call me Shirley." Furthermore, Sarah Cooper, the comedian and author, was revealed to be the quiz champion. The panelists also played a rapid-fire game about COVID-19 news, answering true or false questions. One example was the University of Saskatchewan reducing tuition by 18 dollars (which is about $13 in US dollars). Another example was a theme park in Denmark enforcing social distancing by allowing only one person on the roller coaster at a time. Sarah Cooper's success on the show was celebrated, and she was praised for her recent book "How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings." The episode ended with Bill Curtis ordering the chef's special in the Listener Limerick Challenge and encouraging listeners to call in and play. Overall, the episode was filled with humor, interesting facts, and a friendly competition among the panelists. The COVID-19 related questions added a current and relevant twist to the game.
People leaving cities for rural areas during pandemic: The pandemic has led to urban flight, with many opting for rural life due to remote work flexibility and desire for space. However, the transition may not be easy for everyone.
People are making significant lifestyle changes in response to the pandemic, with many choosing to leave the city and move to rural areas. This trend, known as urban flight, has been driven by the increased flexibility of remote work and the desire for more space. However, not everyone is suited to country life, and some may find the transition challenging. Meanwhile, there have been some unusual news stories this week, including a mayor in Peru who pretended to be dead to avoid arrest during a lockdown, and a man at a Memorial Day pool party who tested positive for coronavirus. Another false report claimed that Disney World would enforce social distancing rules with the song "Zip A Dee Doo Dah" playing on loudspeakers. In other news, Americans are reportedly suffering from record levels of exercise injuries during the lockdown, and the sales of sweatpants have not seen a significant increase.
Stories of bizarre rumors and unusual events: Be cautious of rumors and unusual events, ensuring they're valid before engaging, and follow rules even in seemingly unusual situations.
People should be cautious of rumors and avoid potentially harmful behaviors, even if they seem bizarre or intriguing. The rumor about a fungus on pavement having Viagra-like effects is a perfect example. Meanwhile, in the world of sports, there are also strict rules to follow, even in seemingly unusual events like running the fastest mile in jeans. The record-breaking runner, Johnny Grigorik, had to ensure his jeans were 100% denim or cotton to qualify. Lastly, a Belgian man made headlines for having a family of giant Eurasian eagle owls nest in his living room, watching TV with him. While it may seem unusual, the man was delighted with his new companions. These stories remind us that there's always something new and interesting happening in the world, but it's essential to approach things with caution and a healthy dose of skepticism.
Intense competition in 'Lightning Fill in the Blank' game: Players Peter, Alonso, and Helen faced off in a knowledge-based game with double points for correct answers, with Helen needing 6 more points to win.
The "Lightning Fill in the Blank" game featured intense competition among players Peter, Alonso, and Helen, with each correct answer worth double points. The questions covered various topics such as current events, social media, weather, and unusual situations. Peter was in the lead with 12 points, Alonso was close behind with 16 points, and Helen needed 6 more points to win with a total of 12. Some interesting facts from the game included Defense Secretary Mark Esper not supporting Trump's plan to use the military to quell protests, Facebook employees holding a virtual walkout in response to fact checking policies, and a man microwaving Hot Pockets in a bank break room instead of attempting to swim in money like Scrooge McDuck. The game also touched on political news such as the White House labeling Antifa as a terrorist group, President Trump moving the GOP convention out of North Carolina, and the NBA agreeing to a 22 team playoff to finish the season. The game concluded with Helen needing 6 more correct answers to win, and the overall theme of the game being a test of knowledge and quick thinking under pressure.
Netflix Deception and Quiz Show Champions: An ex-girlfriend hid behind a deceiving settings icon on Netflix, while Alonzo emerged as the champion on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. The show's panelists joked about secret SpaceX rocket features, and sponsor messages were shared.
The settings icon on a Netflix profile can be deceiving, as one ex-girlfriend had cleverly disguised her profile name to continue using the account. In the world of quiz shows, Alonzo emerged as the champion on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, while the panelists entertained the audience with their predictions for secret features on the SpaceX rocket, including a freezer full of Ben & Jerry's, a time machine, and a ludicrous mode for intergalactic boredom relief. The production team behind Wait Wait Don't Tell Me was acknowledged, and listeners were encouraged to stay safe. A key sponsor message from Bombas, offering a discount on their socially responsible clothing line, and a homes.com message promoting their agent directory, concluded the episode.
