A Ten News Deep Dive: Episode 709
It's a Halloween takeover at The Ten News! š Pam and Ryan are getting into the spooky spirit with witches taking flight, a mysterious vampire grave, and a GHOST SHARK lurking deep in the ocean! š§š»
Plus, why do our brains actually LIKE being scared? What's the deal with blue trick-or-treat buckets? And has ranch dressing officially gone EVIL?! š¤ Stick around for a candy-filled trivia treat with Owen that's sure to POP! š¬
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Transcript:
[INT. STUDIO]
[SFX: Creaking door, thunder, spooky laughter]
RYAN: Oooooh, itās feeling spooooky in hereā¦ is that a witch statueā¦?
PAM: HAPPY HALLOWEEN RY! (SCREAMS IT, PURPOSELY SCARING RYAN)
RYAN: AHHHHHHHHHH! Good gravy that was awesome Pam, do it again!
PAM: I canāt scare you again if you know itās coming.
RYAN: But Halloween is practically here, Iām giving you permission to frighten me.
PAM: Well letās do a Halloween takeover and then weāll see what happensā¦
RYAN: Sounds good to me, Pamela Kirkland. I hopefully wonāt see it comingā¦
PAM: See what coming, Ryan Willard? Itās Thursday, October 29. We are the Ten Newsā¦
RYAN: And here are Ten Halloween Things You Need to Know!
RYAN: Number One: Is obviously about the Top Fits for Halloween
PAM: And the big question is: What's everybody wearing? According to the National Retail Federation, Spider-Man is expected to be the most popular kids' costume this year, with an estimated 4.6 MILLION kids planning to dress as the web-slinging superhero.
RYAN: Spider-Man is an AWESOME choice btw. Bonus points if you dress up like Miles Morales!
PAM: Other popular picks include princesses, witches, ghosts, and superheroes. Meanwhile, grown-ups are sticking with some Halloween classics. Witches and vampires top their costume lists. And we canāt forget our furry friends! Americans are expected to spend about 920 MILLION dollars dressing up their pets this Halloween. The most popular pet costumes include pumpkins, ghostsā¦and hot dogs.
RYAN: I think a dog dressed as a hot dog is pretty much the perfect Halloween costume. Especially if his name is Little Mr. Frankfurter!
PAM: Number Two: Witches Take Flight!
RYAN: Earlier this month in Orlando, Florida, 184 people dressed in pointy hats and witch costumes gathered at the Orlando Eye, a 400-foot-tall Ferris wheel, to set a world record for the most witches riding an observation wheel at once. The witches soared high above the city in enclosed glass capsules, proving you don't need a broomstick to fly!
RYAN: Number three: Be Kind to Bats
PAM: Fake spiderwebs may look creepy, but wildlife experts say they can be a real nightmare for birds and bats. In California, wildlife rescuers have already responded to cases of bats getting tangled in stretchy artificial Halloween webbing, which can leave animals trapped and sometimes seriously injured. There's an easy fix. Keep those fake cobwebs indoors and away from trees and bushes. You can make a pretty spooky house by covering your windows on the inside.
RYAN: Because the scariest thing about Halloween shouldnāt be getting a real bat stuck in your decorations! Trust me that would be pretty freaky.
PAM: Number four: Chills, Thrills and Your Brain
RYAN: So Pam, you know how I going to haunted houses and watching scary movies and getting startled by my friend named Pam?
PAM: Yes, yes I do, Ry,
RYAN: Do you know why that is?
PAM: Because, believe it or not, our brains actually enjoy being scared. At least when we know we're safe. When you see something frightening you, your brain immediately gets to work and sounds an alarm. A part of your brain called the amygdala helps recognize potential danger, and triggers your bodyās fight-or-flight response. Your heart beats faster, your breathing speeds up, and your body releases hormones like adrenaline, getting you ready to run away or defend yourself.
RYAN: Like when I see a butterfly soaring in my general direction? Like a demon in the sky??
PAM: Uh, yes Ryan. But here's the interesting part. When you're watching a scary movie or exploring a haunted house, your brain can also recognize that you're not in real danger. And afterward, when the scary moment passes, you might feel relieved, excited, or even proud of yourself for making it through. Of course, not everyone enjoys being scared. And that's totally normal too.
RYAN: So my brain thinks I'm in danger, but another part of me knows it's all pretend?
PAM: Pretty much! Which means your brain can turn a terrifying moment into a thrill.
RYAN: Basically youāre saying Iām fearless, like Green Lantern and Daredevil.
PAM: You just admitted youāre scared of butterfliā
RYAN: (CUTS HER OFF) āNumber five: A Creepy Condiment
PAM: Ryan, something disturbing is happening at the grocery store. Ranch dressing has turned EVIL! <SFX: Thunder crash> Hidden Valley has released a special Halloween version of its famous dressing called Spooky Ranch, and instead of its usual creamy white color, this ranch is BLACK!
RYAN: BLACK ranch dressing?! Ok, thatās kinda cool.
PAM: It even comes in a glow-in-the-dark bottle! The black color comes from fruit juice and cocoa, and the company says it still tastes just like regular ranch dressing.
RYAN: Spooky Ranch dressing in a glow in the dark bottle? That is the easiest way to get me to eat vegetables. .
PAM: Ry I told you it tastes exactly the sameā.
RYAN: Well it might taste scarier, I donāt know and I wonāt know until I try it for myself. CONJURE THE CARROTS!!
PAM: Alright, while I do that, letās take a quick break.
<SFX: Spooky music>
PAM: We're halfway through our Halloween takeover, and it's time to share what we are dressing up as for Halloween.
RYAN: Before we do that, I gotta shout out Kikiās Quest who left us a review on Apple Podcasts and said, āIām dressing up as Rapunzel when her hair is cut. Iām making a frying pan from scratch and have a Pascal the chameleon stuffed animal with a magnet to put on my shoulder!
PAM: Okay that is AWESOME. I wish you wouldāve made me a costume. We got a voicemail from a Tenāer named Charlotte, check it out:
<SFX PLAY VOICEMAIL>
RYAN: <SFX Michael Jackson scream> Charlotte is aā¦ Charlotte is aā¦Smooth criminal!
PAM: And a Tenāer named Shinobu Kocho San said āFor Halloween Iām going as Shinobu Kochoā
RYAN: Ooooh, a Demon Slayer costume! Cool!
PAM: And then they said, āFun fact, the cho in Kocho means butterfly, Ryaaaaan.ā
RYAN: WHUT! I donāt know if thatās true and I donāt want to believe it!
PAM: So whatās your costume this year, Ry?
RYAN: Well I was thinking of dressing as Erland Haaland the Norwegian soccer starā¦ but my blonde wig did not arrive in time.
PAM: And I was thinking of dressing up as _________ but I couldnāt find a _______.
RYAN: So I decided to be LINK from the Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time.
PAM: Niiiiiice! I knew you couldnāt resist a gaming inspired costume. Well I decided to dress up as (PAM PLEASE IMPROVISE!)
RYAN: Okay I donāt know if I could pull that off, so Iām glad youāre doing it. And Tenāers, we still want to know what you dressed up as for Halloween!
PAM: So leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, a comment on Spotify, or email us at Hello@theTenNews.com! And we might shout you out on the show!
RYAN: Speaking of, back to it!
PAM: Alright, we are back! Whatās next, Ry?
RYAN: Number six: An Ancient Anti-vampire Grave?
PAM: A centuries-old grave is giving archaeologists the creeps. In Poland, researchers have been studying a mysterious 17th-century burial, where a young woman was found with a sharp, curved farming tool called a sickle placed across her neck. And that wasn't all! A padlock had also been placed near her foot.
RYAN: Um, Pam? Why would someone put a LOCK in a grave?
PAM: Researchers believe people may have been trying to prevent the woman from rising from the dead.
RYAN: What?!?
PAM: Itās true. In parts of Europe hundreds of years ago, people feared that some dead people could return as vampires or other supernatural beings. Of course, we know vampires aren't real, but the discovery gives archaeologists a fascinating look at the beliefs people held centuries ago.
RYAN: They left the lock on the grave right? Just asking for a friend.
<SFX: Chains>
RYAN: Number seven: A Zombie Walk and a Supersized Skeleton
PAM: Something spooky has been happening in Mexico City. Earlier this month, the streets filled with zombies, monsters, and other costumed creatures for the city's annual Zombie Walk. But these zombies weren't looking for brains. They were collecting food donations to help families in need.
RYAN: Zombies doing good deeds? I love that plot twist.
PAM: And Mexico City is just getting started with its celebrations. Itās preparing for DĆa de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This holiday, traditionally celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, is a time for families to remember and honor loved ones who have died. Mexico City is planning huge parades, colorful decorations, and a massive sculpture of La Catrina, the elegantly dressed lady skeleton, thatās 32 meters, about 105 feet, of the iconic symbol of DĆa de los Muertos.
RYAN: And while DĆa de los Muertos and Halloween happen around the same time, they're different holidays, with different histories and traditions. For many families, DĆa de los Muertos is a joyful celebration of memories, family, and the people we love. It also makes me want to watch Coco!
PAM: Number Eight: The Meaning Behind Blue Pumpkins
RYAN: If you're out trick-or-treating this Halloween, you might notice some kids carrying BLUE pumpkin-shaped candy buckets. For some children with autism, the blue buckets are a sign to let neighbors know they might communicate differently or need a little extra patience. For example, they might not say "trick or treat," make eye contact, or feel comfortable wearing a costume.
PAM: And while some families prefer not to carry blue buckets, the best thing we can do is be kind to EVERY trick-or-treater, no matter what color bucket they're carrying.
RYAN: Kindness is the coolest. Aaaandā
RYAN: Number nine: G-G-G-Ghost Shark!
PAM: Deep beneath the Pacific Ocean, scientists in Costa Rica have identified something that sounds like it belongs in a Halloween horror movie. A GHOST SHARK!
RYAN: Despite the spooky freaky freaky name, ghost sharks aren't actually ghosts. And they're not true sharks, either! They're deep-sea fish called chimaeras, distant relatives of sharks and rays, with a family history stretching back hundreds of millions of years. This newly identified species has an unusual long snout and lives in the dark waters of the deep ocean. A mysterious fish living in darkness with the word GHOST in its name? Who needs pretend sea monsters when we have real creatures like these?
PAM: Now letās go to Owen for our final Halloween treat!
OWEN: Thanks Pam, Number Ten: Putting the POP in Pop Rocks!
Owen: I love getting pop rocks at Halloween. And if youāve ever eaten them, you know what happens when you put those tiny sugary crystals in your mouth. They start popping, crackling, and fizzing all over your tongue! But do you know why? What makes Pop Rocks candy POP when you put it in your mouth? Is itā¦
A: Tiny pieces of fireworks,
B: Little bubbles of trapped carbon dioxide gas,
C: A special kind of exploding sugar, OR
D: Pixie dust
[SFX: Spooky countdown ticking]
OWEN: Tenāers did you guess it? The answer is... B! Little bubbles of trapped carbon dioxide gas! Pop Rocks are made by trapping pressurized gas inside the candy as it cools and hardens. When the candy dissolves in your mouth, those tiny gas bubbles escape, creating that famous popping and crackling sensation. So your candy is basically having a tiny fizzy party in your mouth.Happy Halloween Tenāers!
PAM: And that was Ten Halloween Things You Need to Know.
RYAN: I LOVE Halloween! But Pam, you still havenāt scared me again!
PAM: Well, the episode is not quite over and it will definitely be when you least expect it.
RYAN: But when? Because we still gotta give out Ten News Snaps!
PAM: And before that, hereās a quick note for the grownups.
<AD BREAK>
RYAN: Itās time for Ten News Snaps!
PAM: A Tenāer named Jedediah Owl left us a five star review on Apple Podcasts and left some owl and cat emojis and said, ā10 out of 10 would recommend.ā Thanks so much Jedediah, we hope you do recommend it!
RYAN: Also, i approve of those emojis, owls and cats are awesome. Did you know barn owls donāt go whooo whooo? They actually screech like this <SFX BARN OWL SCREECH> !
PAM: āThe Ten Newsā is a co-production of Small But Mighty Media and Next Chapter Podcasts, and part of the Airwave Podcast Network.
RYAN: The Ten News creative team includes Tracey Crooks, Brian Douglas, Earl Davis and Carson Potter. Big thanks to our titan of trivia, Owen!
PAM: Our Production Director is Jeremiah Tittle, and our Executive Producers are Donald Albright and show creator Tracy Leeds Kaplan. Iām Pamela Kirkland.
RYAN: And Iām Ryan Willard, thanks for listening to the Ten News.
PAM: Booooā
RYAN: āNice try, Pam. But that didnāt get meā
PAM: You didnāt let me finish. I was saying Boooooterfly!
<SFX butterfly wings fluttering>
RYAN: A WHAT WHAT WHAT?! AHHHHHHH! <SFX PLEASE INSERT A HIGH PITCH MAN SCREAM> <SFX runs away>
PAM: That was a fake butterfly, soā¦happy Halloween!
