Note from Katie: As I question nature's wisdom with regards to the third trimester of pregnancy, I thought I'd offer you one of my favorite past episodes about how doofy and convoluted evolution can get. Today on the show: They're not dinosaurs, they're from BEFORE the dinosaurs, and they're very, very, very strange. Giant apex predator shrimp thingies, centipedes you could ride on, the tully monster, evolution's most amazing mistakes! I'm joined by paleontologist and science educator Dane Pavit...
Jan 07, 2026•1 hr 9 min
Happy Creaturekringletimes everyone! Today on the show I'm joined by Just the Zoo of Us host Ellen Weatherford, and we talk about animals who manage to keep their babies cold despite freezing temperature! Bears, walruses, snowy owls, and penguins, all who make great sacrifices to ensure their babies survive cold weather and don't become pup-sicles. And a personal announcement from me! Festive intro/outro music by Aaron Kenny. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 17, 2025•1 hr 16 min
In this listener questions episode, I talk about how fish smell smells, whether hyenas grow winter coats, and animals who don't mind spending a lot of time to get the job done, even thousands of years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 10, 2025•38 min
This is a buggy listener questions episode as I answer your queries about insect vision, ants outsmarting our poisons, and the impacts of insect farming! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 26, 2025•29 min
I'm having some minor medical shenanigans, I should return shortly! In the meantime, to stick with the theme of medicine, here's one of my favorite episodes on how animals deal with illness. I'm joined by naturalist, educator and author Heather Montgomery as we talk about her book "Sick" and the fascinating world of animal immune systems (and poop). Guest: Heather Montgomery See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Nov 19, 2025•56 min
I'm getting excited for the new season of Fallout, so here's one of my favorite episodes where we look at the mutated creatures of the Fallout franchise and discussing whether they could actually exist in a nuclear wasteland! It's a real optimistic episode and we discuss BIG BUGS! How can we bring back big bugs?! Guest: Will Poole See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 12, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Halloween early release special! Today on the show: KILLER BATS! Bats with very spooky dietary habits. From vicious carnivores that have a soft side, to the strangest sight you'll sea on the seashore. I'm joined by Kimia Behpoornia to discuss these adorable, murderous bats. Footnotes/images See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 31, 2025•43 min
Today on the show, ALIENS! I'm joined by particle physicist Daniel Whiteson to discuss whether it would be possible to talk to aliens, the difficulties of alien communication, using real examples of animal communication and sensory differences right here on planet earth. Why do hermit crabs have a death cult? Do dogs think in smells? Are pigeons actually physics geniuses? All this and more as we use real earth biology to discuss how an alien encounter might go down. See omnystudio.com/listener f...
Oct 29, 2025•54 min
On today's show I subject my guest to a gauntlet of strange oddities, and he (and you) must guess whether these are animals, minerals, vegetables, or something else entirely... Guest: DJ Danl Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rRUT2Ywx6B9XF-1SyNJ8lxVyLX94eY2n06FjiE4x-O8/edit?usp=sharing Mystery animal sound credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMwAgft_kZ8 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 22, 2025•58 min
All the weirdest ways in which humans rescue animals! From throwing babies off cliffs, to saving hitchhikers, sometimes you gotta act a little freaky for the sake of the animals. Discover this and more as we answer the age old question: why is there a man in a dirty panda suit? I'm joined by Robert Brockway and Seanbaby of 1-900 Hotdog! Footnotes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 15, 2025•55 min
Today on the show, we talk about what a cool lady and incredible scientist Jane Goodall was. A innovative primatologist with a great sense of humor, who started out only with a fierce love for animals, and ended up shaping what we know about chimps! Also, chimps can be jerks! I'm joined by Chris Crofton to spread a little love about Jane. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 08, 2025•1 hr 5 min
I answer your questions: animals who switch sexes, the world's smallest sharks, and marmots, as in, what's their deal?! If you have a question you'd like me to answer, you can write to me at creaturefeaturepod@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 01, 2025•32 min
I'm joined by Lauren Augustine, the curator of reptiles and amphibians at the Philadelphia Zoo, for an exciting Galapagos tortoise announcement, cool facts, and the wild (and sometimes glittery-poop filled) details behind-the-scenes at zoos. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 24, 2025•42 min
I'm joined by science journalist and author Cara Giaimo, to meet some of the real-life sea monsters from her book, Leaving the Ocean Was a Mistake. From tent-mouthed fish who kiss each other competitively, to ping-pong ball sponges that fooled the navy, these animals from every layer in the ocean have both cool life advice and freaky adaptations. Discover all this and more as we answer the age-old question: how do you enforce your boundaries when you're spineless? See omnystudio.com/listener for...
Sep 17, 2025•56 min
I answer your amazing questions! From ephemeral pools, to ants who clone other species. And what's up with invasive species, is culling really the answer? If you have a question you want answered, you can write to me at creaturefeaturepod@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 10, 2025•55 min
I'm back from my break with hot, fresh, new, full episodes! This one is about the weirdest appendages in the deep sea! From a spider that is (literally) all legs, to a cryptid squid, we look at abyssal legs, arms, and whatnots! Also, 3D-printing worms! I'm joined by Bridgett Greenberg as we dive into the deep ocean and take a look at some ghoulish gams. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 03, 2025•52 min
One of my favorite past episodes, Ellen Weatherford and I talk about wild human inventions inspired by animal designs! Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZEGyyeNn8trH-FmcchVthmmppq8-XiQlKILt-9fIISk/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 27, 2025•1 hr 21 min
One of my favorite episodes! You can be a citizen scientist in your own backyard! Broods! Birds! And mushroom butts! I'm joined by podcaster and voice actress Janet Varney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 20, 2025•1 hr 18 min
A feed drop from the Secretly Incredibly Fascinating podcast, with me and Alex Schmidt! On this very Creaturey-featurey episode, we talk about the history of zoos, and tons of cool zoo facts! Baby pygmy hippos definitely mentioned! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 13, 2025•1 hr 15 min
I answer your questions, from pigeons telling time, to whether cats can taste sugar or not! And in the middle I try to discuss yard maintenance, how to have a wild yard without gosh dern rats! If you have an evolutionary biology or animal related question you'd like answered, you can email me at creaturefeaturepod@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 06, 2025•30 min
One of my favorites from past summer! Today on the show we continue hot shark summer with shark biologist and author of the book, "Sharks Don't Sink," Jasmin Graham! Guest: Jasmin Graham Footnotes: Minorities in Shark Science website: https://www.misselasmo.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 30, 2025•1 hr 1 min
You're kiddin me with these echidnas! My buddy Alex and I discuss echidnas over on Secretly Incredibly Fascinating, and they're too weird not to share over here on Creature Feature! The history, the species, the... interesting anatomy. Check out Secretly Incredibly Fascinating if you haven't already! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 24, 2025•1 hr 8 min
I answer your animal biology and behavioral questions. Do mosquitos sleep? The mystery of a crocodile with an s-shaped spine. And how do cuckoos know they're cuckoos? If you have an evolutionary biology or animal behavior question, you can email me at creaturefeaturepod@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 16, 2025•26 min
I'm taking a brief summer break, I'll be back soon! In the meantime, I'm hand-selecting some of my favorite episodes to feature. They're in the air! There's billions of them! And they're tiny! We're talking about aeroplankton, what they're doing up there, and what happens when they get in your nose. I'm joined by Soren Bowie! Last week's mystery animal sound source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8Phip5U-Wo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 02, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Today on the show, I answer your animal behavior questions! Why do birds sound like robots? What's up with two-headed animals? And do cats like to be meowed at? If you have an animal question you'd like answered, you can email me at creaturefeaturepod@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 18, 2025•34 min
New episodes starting next week! But here's one of my favorite classics dug up from the dirt! We’re taking on scary urban legends about animals, and showing you that there’s nothing to fear! Well… okay, maybe there is, but it's not what you think! Join us with special guest Maggie Mae Fish. Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zPY_hNdmrgUy8GgrctKEBmwielWQNYfv080KVAxzjDo/edit?usp=sharing Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener...
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 103
Katie's taking a brief break (she'll be back soon!!), so here's a favorite episode! Don't worry, these critters haven't been mutilated, but rather through evolution, they've ditch certain appendages. Legs? Don't need 'em. Wings? Forget about it. Tails? Lose 'em. Sometimes efficiency requires sacrifice, and body parts have go to go! Guest: Joelle Monique Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v9AWcvOv1K2ailxCWHMD-LMOWn2DtGcAPD5udVNdNiE/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...
Jun 03, 2025•46 min
LIPS! The lovely luscious lips of living and extinct animals. Who has the best pout? Plus, a talking beluga! Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: if you have a real long tongue, where do you keep it? Guest: Anna Hossnieh Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hKwcP67esS0xOVIWmWJI9SXHbOByADpRbRMghZMCZHY/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 28, 2025•46 min
Primates have been found to be three times faster than humans at healing, so what's up with that? Plus, there's a mouse out there who can regrow ears and survive 60% of its skin being ripped off—turns out, it's a feature, not a bug! I'm joined by (medical) Dr. Kaveh Hoda to discuss why we're the best (at being the worst) at wound healing! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 21, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Please enjoy one of my favorite episodes, especially with the new season of that fungus zombie show! In this interview with infectious diseases expert Professor David Boulware, we discuss the real impact ophiocordyceps has on ants, and whether we humans should be concerned. Guest: Professor David Boulware See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 14, 2025•37 min
