Teach Like an Orangutan! What Makes These Great Apes Such Great Teachers? (Encore)

Wow in the World

In this encore episode of 'Wow in the World,' Guy Raz seeks advice on teaching his online course, 'Faster Class,' when Mindy suggests learni

Key takeaways

• Orangutan mothers spend up to 12 years teaching their offspring essential survival skills.

Main topics

• Orangutan intelligence
• Animal learning and teaching behaviors

Notable quotes

"Be patient, don't yell, and demonstrate!" – Guy Raz after observing orangutan mothers.

Conclusion

The episode concludes that the best teachers—human or animal—are those who

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:00) Hey, Wowzer fams, Mindy here. And before we start the show, I have some really exciting news. Just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month, you can now listen to some episodes of Wow in the World in Spanish. That's right, Reg. A talented team of tinkerers worked behind the scenes to bring some of your favorite Wow in the World episodes to life in Spanish. all with the goal to make WOW more accessible and to help us wow even more of the world. So whether you're learning Spanish, already fluent, or just want to experience the WOW in a new way, you can listen to our full Spanish language episodes now streaming on YouTube. And of course, I could tell you all about it, but I'd rather show you. Reggie, roll the clip. Speaker 3 (0:50) Okay, Mindy. Speaker 2 (0:51) Reggie, put on your space glasses, crazy bird. We're ready to take off. Guy Raz, Speaker 1 (0:59) let's say the magic words. Speaker 2 (1:01) Here we go! Speaker 2 (1:10) Want to hear more? Listen to full episodes in Spanish now available on our YouTube channel. Visit Tinkercast.com slash YouTube or search WowTube on YouTube to watch now. That's Tinkercast.com slash YouTube. And now for a quick ad break and then back to the show. Speaker 3 (2:09) Okay, Reggie, let's take it from the top. Speaker 1 (2:12) All Speaker 3 (2:13) right, camera rolling. Speaker 3 (2:17) Does it sound Speaker 4 (2:17) okay? All Speaker 3 (2:18) right, count me Speaker 4 (2:20) in. Speaker 3 (2:23) Hello, I'm Guy Raz, and welcome to Faster Class, the online courses that help you learn faster. In my Faster Class, I'll be teaching you the art of dramatic pauses. Dramatic pauses have been used by some of the greatest orators of all time to emphasize meaning, intention, and suspense. Over my six-week course, you'll learn how dramatic pauses can hurt. Sorry, Reggie. I put a sign on the door saying that we Speaker 2 (3:02) were Speaker 3 (3:02) filming. But someone's obviously very eager to see me. Speaker 2 (3:07) Coming! If Speaker 3 (3:10) I had to guess, I'd say it's Speaker 2 (3:15) Mindy. Speaker 3 (3:18) Mindy, we're right in the middle of recording. Speaker 2 (3:21) Recording? Speaker 3 (3:22) Yes, I even put up a sign on the door that says, do not disturb. See? I Speaker 2 (3:28) don't let signs tell me what to do. Anywho, I need Reggie. What? Why? Oh, he's supposed to help me paint some new decals on the side of the wow machine this afternoon. Why Speaker 3 (3:39) do you need Reggie for that? Speaker 2 (3:41) Um, because I don't have a master's in fine arts. Speaker 3 (3:45) Uh-huh. Speaker 2 (3:46) So, is he almost done? Speaker 3 (3:49) Yeah, I guess. We were just wrapping up. Come on in. Speaker 2 (3:53) Thank you. So much fancy filmmaking equipment. What does this thing do? Speaker 3 (4:00) Please, don't touch anything. It's mostly Reggie's stuff. Speaker 2 (4:05) Hey, Reg, you still good to help me paint the wow machine? What are you guys filming in here anyway? Speaker 3 (4:10) Oh, it's a trailer for my new faster class. Speaker 2 (4:12) Ooh, a faster class. The online classes that help you learn faster? That's the one. Oh, I love those things. I took one last year on the art of joke construction, but never finished the last class on punchlines. And let me tell you, the teacher was so old. Speaker 3 (4:31) Uh, how old was she? Speaker 2 (4:34) Anywho, what's your faster class on? Oh, uh, it's on the art of... Speaker 3 (4:40) Uh... Ahem. Dramatic pauses. Speaker 2 (4:43) Of course it is. Speaker 3 (4:46) But I'm a little nervous, Mindy. I've never taught before. I don't know what I'm doing. I just wish there was someone who could give me a couple of pointers. Speaker 2 (4:55) Oh, well, maybe there is. There Speaker 3 (4:58) is? Speaker 2 (4:58) What do you mean? Well, maybe we should go take a couple of lessons on teaching from some of the greatest teachers on the planet. That's Speaker 3 (5:07) a great idea, Mindy. Who did you have in mind? Sal Khan of the Khan Academy? Temple Grandin? Oh, or maybe we could use the Wow Machine and visit Marie Curie or Carl Sagan or Einstein. We Speaker 2 (5:21) don't need the Wow Machine, Guy Raz. Reggie can fly us straight to the best teachers in the world right now. Really? Yep, because the greatest teachers in the world aren't found in the past or in some stuffy college library. They're found... In Sumatra. Speaker 3 (5:37) Sumatra? You mean that Indonesian island in Asia? Speaker 2 (5:41) That's right. And Speaker 3 (5:42) you think the teachers there can give me some hints on how to set up my class? Speaker 2 (5:46) Sure. Well, that is Speaker 3 (5:47) if we Speaker 2 (5:48) can find Speaker 3 (5:48) them. Uh, find them? Speaker 2 (5:51) Well, these teachers can be a little elusive. You know, hard to find. Speaker 3 (5:57) Okay. Speaker 2 (5:58) So, what do you say, Guy Raz? quick trip out to Sumatra? Well, Speaker 3 (6:03) sure thing, Mindy. I mean, I'll take all the help I can get. Yes! Speaker 2 (6:07) Hey, Reg! Looks like we're gonna have to take a rain check on that paint job, buddy. You up for taking Guy Raz and me out for a quick trip to Indonesia instead? Speaker 1 (6:17) Oh, Speaker 2 (6:17) you don't need a raincoat. It's beautiful this time of year. We'll meet you outside, Reg. Come on, Guy Raz. Alright. Speaker 3 (6:26) Walk, walk, Speaker 2 (6:26) walk. Opening the door. Speaker 2 (6:32) What a beautiful day for an adventure. You ready, Reg? All right. Come on, Guy Raz. Let's hop on. Okay, Mindy. Oh, here. I'll give you a boost. Careful, Mindy. Almost there. All set? I think so, Mindy. All right. Now give me a hand and pull me up. Speaker 3 (6:59) Feels good to Speaker 2 (7:00) be back in the saddle again, huh, Reg? Howdy, y'all. Flying nuns, mantra. Please ensure that all tray tables are up and that your seat is in the upright position before we take off. And here we go! Speaker 3 (7:41) Successful landing. Speaker 2 (7:42) Mindy, I think you hit about 15 trees on the way down. Speaker 3 (7:47) Are you okay, Speaker 1 (7:49) Reggie? Speaker 3 (7:50) Oh, yeah, he's fine. Phew. Speaker 2 (7:53) Breathe in that fresh