Today on the show, Weird little guys! Animals that are a wee bit freaky, and also, a bit wee. We're going to get progressively littler, and weirder as we go on. From a cryptid that is essentially a tiny sandworm from Dune, to an even smaller animal that likes to get ahead of home security, these animals have devised some odd evolutionary strategies. Featuring Molly Conger of the new podcast Weird Little Guys! Footnotes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 11, 2024•1 hr 17 min
Crocodilians may have a somewhat intimidating appearance, but that doesn't mean they don't have feelings! We talk about why it's not cool to bop crocs on the nose with a shovel unless you're about to get eaten. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 04, 2024•56 min
I answer your questions! Why are some cats born without tails? Can dogs play fetch in space? What's the deal with leafcutter ants, and what are cool insects wings not used for flight? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 28, 2024•27 min
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....
Aug 21, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Everything you could possibly ever want to know about camels! Plus: flesh balloons (romantic flesh balloons)! Guest: Bridgett Greenberg Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wzSqttUixtTsUlLPKKKmXWuHRQyUgko7TT9UUz6y33I/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 14, 2024•1 hr 23 min
Sharks on cocaine? Embryonic sharks with super powers? Stomach eversion!? We talk hot shark summer. Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: how much musk can a musk duck chuck? Guest: Chris Crofton Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oIBqVnzRnWU0dk2eUqPueCsMxlJyxc7-jEMLgvh6l14/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 07, 2024•55 min
The weirdest, wildest animals you can find in bodies of freshwater! From mysterious lumpy orbs, to the largest living pancake in the world, we're talking about all that's wet, fresh, and slimy. Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: how many baby bjorns can you carry at once? Guest: Abe Epperson Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MMRHJvxBAZB6O-LaiV9X-0mBMNVeybNZ1yAFNfE5rUM/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 31, 2024•55 min
I answer your questions! From debunking bigfeet to wascally wabbit phywogeny, and whether aliens could be revived after billions of years (and then kill us). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 24, 2024•41 min
Beat the summer heat with these worm facts! Some worms like it cold, some like it hot, but what they all have in common is living life as a basic tube. That's right we're talking about worms who live in the most extreme places on earth, able to endure temperatures and chemicals that would easily kill a human. Guest: Soren Bowie Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_0sOAU6eIBMyVGfW6KFU2IDu3TMVBnJ5kQLI1pW3FEI/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 17, 2024•52 min
Today on the show, earth! Is it a spaceship? Is it a blue marble? A giant egg? A hologram projected by aliens? Or is it a living, breathing organism? I'm joined by science writer Ferris Jabr to talk about his new book "Becoming Earth" and whether the planet is alive! Guest: Ferris Jabr See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 10, 2024•53 min
Katie is hiding under her bed from the fireworks, so here's one of her favorite summer episodes: Top ways animals stay cool in the heat, your results may vary! From gular fluttering to a stinky cool down method, bee fans and mucus cocoons, there are all sorts of ways to stay chill in the summer heat! Guests: Ella Hubber, Tom Lum, and Caroline Roper Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/197ka55555R0ejpocBcPs4je_ZKXen1aDLbwqcwfw9rY/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...
Jul 03, 2024•1 hr
How do zebras get stripes? How does Mike Wazowski keep his eyeball moist? And how come a group of crows is called a "murder?" I answer your questions! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 26, 2024•26 min
From clownfish to bonobos, biology and the animal world is far more complex than prudes like to think it is. Joining me today are Laine and Owen, hosts of the podcast A Field Guide to Gay Animals, a podcast exploring queerness in the natural world! Guests: Owen Ever & Laine Kaplan-Levenson Footnotes: Last week's mystery animal sound source See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 19, 2024•1 hr 26 min
These animals steal the food right out of your mouths! The most daring (and grossest) thieves in the world. Discover this and more as we answer the age old question, should there be spider butt dentists? Guest: Katherine Spiers Footnotes: This week's mystery animal sound source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPiFdOStVkM See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 12, 2024•54 min
Today we're looking 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.
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr 2 min
These animals did NOT forget leg day! From leg battles, to deadly runway assassins, to miraculous thighs. Guest: Joey Clift Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uMXBcVWbP2SsR00Gh4NUuXFZbPKlRpSFo2GOtjznN7k/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 29, 2024•40 min
These animals have figured out how to treat their own ailments with the medicine available to them in their habitats. Plus, what can we learn from animals about human medicine? Discover this and more as we answer the age old question, does swallowing a rough leaf a day keep Doctor Zaius away? Guest: Dr. Kaveh Hoda Source for last week's mystery animal sound: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/v_rSygXA1lw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 22, 2024•1 hr 11 min
I answer your questions, like why do animals act weird during an eclipse? How do animals know what to eat? What's the deal with dino penises? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 15, 2024•29 min
The Wise owl, the lazy sloth, and the courageous lion, how much do these animals live up to their names, or should we not judge a book by its cover or a sloth by its algae? Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: is owls stupid? Guest: Adam Todd Brown Source of last week's mystery animal sound: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TDMftMtr5to See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 08, 2024•54 min
To celebrate cicadageddon 2024, here's one of my favorite past episodes, this one on cicadapocalypse 2021: BROOD X has been waiting 17 years to emerge from the ground. What is Brood X? Should we panic? Discover this and more as we answer the age old question: How is it fair that swarms of baby turtles are considered cute, but swarms of bugs are considered “horrifying?” Guest: Mara Wilson Footnotes: Cicada https://live.staticflickr.com/3067/2607912292_150e08400e_z.jpg Cicada tymbal https://www.ci...
May 01, 2024•1 hr 17 min
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. Guest: Janet Varney See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 24, 2024•1 hr 18 min
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. Guest: Soren Bowie Last week's mystery animal sound source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8Phip5U-Wo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 17, 2024•1 hr 8 min
Today, we talk RATS! From plague to pets, rats have had a huge impact on humanity! What was the role of rats in the plague? What even is a rat?? Should you keep them as pets??? And are we so different after all? Guest: Jeff May Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/199aAaHgq-CmEoMcR4iRMnbePedjKrs0iafQalrKhp0I/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 10, 2024•1 hr 9 min
We talk about wild human inventions inspired by animal designs! Guest: Ellen Weatherford Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZEGyyeNn8trH-FmcchVthmmppq8-XiQlKILt-9fIISk/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 03, 2024•1 hr 21 min
Today on the show, we're doing a re-broadcast of an Easter classic! We're firing the Easter Bunny and looking for a replacement! That's right E.B., you're getting benched and we're sending another animal out there to make merry with the eggs and the flowers! Guest: Soren Bowie Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uBq4b0mnk0TsQJfe5CqOZSg3Yk8CqCZ5vG5I1CgsYM8/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Mar 20, 2024•1 hr
I answer your questions, from the realism of Tarzan, to the details behind a frog Buffalo Bill, and how to best serve the birds of your community! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 13, 2024•31 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....
Mar 05, 2024•58 min
Today: we're turning animals into robots! All the weirdest and wackiest ways that roboticists and researchers have played robo-god with animals. From robosaurus, to robot bees, and robo falcons, Adam and Katie discuss whether robots will inherit the earth. Guest: Adam Ganser Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t7NmSAXc6vg0zMZkMHIZKlXSQI_ROlsAyglMHNQ53Ww/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 28, 2024•1 hr 13 min
Today we're talking about animals that look like they jumped off of a page from Lisa Frank's notebook! Pink dolphins, rainbow squirrels, surprisingly fabulous pigeons, and the most beautiful butts in the world. Guest: Joelle Monique Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12uHLiRYjc0_-rKv_fCFSpkTMN8f4ysX9do1j_uLC0r4/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 21, 2024•54 min
I dragged my husband on the show to talk about animals who give romantic gifts, like dead voles and nutritional secretions! Hope he takes the hint! Guest: Brett McCully Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17Kn459lVK4NKOeLYcUM47R-EWo4RX6tgwp0cTvQBPFs/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 14, 2024•42 min
