Species - podcast cover

Species

mackenmurphy.orgwww.mackenmurphy.org
"The host, Macken Murphy, is able to condense vast chunks of information into engaging and digestible episodes. Fact-filled and fun." — The New York Times

Episodes

Pelican

Why do two separate cultures believe the penguin feeds their children with a blood ritual? Can a pelican's beak hold more than their belican? How many horses can you trade for a pelican mandible? Find out all this and more on this episode of Species. Bibliography

Jul 20, 202019 minTranscript available on Metacast

Wood Frog

This frog survives freezing to death. Come learn about cryonics, what cold is, terminal burrowing, and more on this episode of Species. Bibliography Donate

Jul 13, 202025 minTranscript available on Metacast

Blue Whale

How did blue whales evolve to be so big? What can whale earwax teach us about whale emotions? Do blue whales have long-distance relationships? Come learn about the largest animal of all time on this episode of Species. Bibliography

Jul 06, 202034 minTranscript available on Metacast

Starfish

Do you need a brain to think? Come learn about an animal that eats inside-out and sees with their arms on this bizarre episode of Species. Bibliography...

Jun 29, 202021 minTranscript available on Metacast

Vampire Finch

Come learn about a blood-sucking bird, solve a few mysteries, and find out more about the history of evolutionary theory on this episode of Species. Bibliography

Jun 22, 202025 minTranscript available on Metacast

Sturgeon

A gargantuan remnant of the Jurassic lives on in a Russian river... Come learn about a candidate for the largest freshwater fish of all time on this episode of Species. Bibliography

Jun 15, 202019 minTranscript available on Metacast

Hyena

Why do female hyenas have penises? Are hyenas cats or dogs? Do hyenas eat humans, and what should I do if hyenas are terrorizing my city? Find out all the answers to these questions and more on this episode of Species. Bibliography Donate...

Jun 08, 202027 minTranscript available on Metacast

Leatherback Sea Turtle

This animal is bolder than a shark, and tougher than your boat. Come hear a crazy story, learn everything we know about the biggest turtle in the world, and discover how you can help them on this episode of Species. Bibliography Donate...

Jun 01, 202028 minTranscript available on Metacast

Roadrunner

Do roadrunner's footprints ward off evil spirits? Does this animal have solar panels? Do they really make a "beep beep" sound? How fast can they go, and how do they do it? Who would win, a roadrunner or a rattlesnake? Get the answer to all of these questions and more on this episode of Species. Bibliography

May 25, 202026 minTranscript available on Metacast

Porcupinefish

Come listen and learn about the science of inflatable fish on this episode of Species. Bibliography

May 17, 202023 minTranscript available on Metacast

Camel

Why do camels have humps, and is there actually water in them? How do camels survive in the desert with that hairy coat? What's special about camel blood, and camel urine? Learn all about the dromedary on this episode of Species. Bibliography...

May 11, 202024 minTranscript available on Metacast

Flying Squid

Yes, this is a real thing. No, we don't mean "gliding," or "jumping," we mean flying . Come learn about a biological rocket and the history of jet propulsion on this insane episode of Species. Bibliography

May 04, 202025 minTranscript available on Metacast

Pandemics, Politics, Sex, and Sentience with Geoffrey Miller

Geoffrey Miller is among the most prominent scientists on earth. As an evolutionary psychologist, he has published over one hundred academic articles with over 14,000 citations, and he is the author of several popular books. His work has been featured everywhere from The New York Times to The Joe Rogan Experience , and he has worked as a consultant for governments, NGOs, and Fortune 500 companies alike. In this conversation, he uses evolutionary psychology as a lens with which to view a wide var...

Apr 28, 20202 hr 50 minTranscript available on Metacast

Toucan

Why do toucans have big beaks? Surprisingly, not because of sexual selection! Come learn about the many uses of the toucan's beak, hear about the bird that pays rent to toucans in blood, and discover how to make lighter crash-resistant cars on this episode of Species. Bibliography...

Apr 27, 202021 minTranscript available on Metacast

Parrotfish

Learn about the defensive benefits of mucus, the origins of disgust, the disturbing source of tropical beaches, and the benefits of changing sex, all on this episode of Species. Bibliography Donate

Apr 20, 202022 minTranscript available on Metacast

COVID-19 & Animal Activism with John Oberg

In this episode, Macken sits down for a livestream with social media expert John Oberg. John gives us a tutorial on activism in the era of social distancing, before discussing a wide variety of topics relating animals and COVID-19. John and Macken discuss the humanist reasons to go vegan, wet markets, factory farms, and the ban on eating dogs in China. John Oberg is one of the most prominent characters in the modern animal rights movement. He is an animal advocate hoping to make the world a kind...

Apr 16, 20201 hr 9 minTranscript available on Metacast

Oryx

The Arabian oryx is a legendary animal that rose from the dead and (possibly) started the myth of the unicorn. Come learn everything about them and their remarkable meteorological capabilities on this episode of Species. Bibliography...

Apr 13, 202021 minTranscript available on Metacast

Fruit Fly

This is one of the most important species in human history, and one of the most well-understood beings in the universe. Why do we use them in labs? Are they sentient? Will they get me sick? Come hear all about fruit flies getting drunk to deal with their personal problems on this episode of Species. Bibliography Donate...

Apr 06, 202023 minTranscript available on Metacast

Canada Goose

Learn about the ruthless ways of the Canada goose, and the science behind their flight formation, on this episode of Species. Bibliography...

Mar 30, 202022 minTranscript available on Metacast

Goblin Shark

Come learn about the goblin shark, alien neomorphs, slingshot jaws, and electroreceptors on this episode of Species. Bibliography

Mar 23, 202020 minTranscript available on Metacast

Pangolin

In this episode, we discuss the pangolin, their incredible abilities, their bizarre anatomy, and the terrible threats to their existence. We also discuss the coronavirus pandemic. Come join us for an unusually grim episode of Species. Bibliography...

Mar 16, 202018 minTranscript available on Metacast

Shedao Pit Viper

Shedao Island houses 20,000 snakes inside 0.28 square miles. Learn all about this island and its remarkable inhabitants on this episode of Species. Bibliography...

Mar 09, 202020 minTranscript available on Metacast

Ostrich

Do ostriches really bury their head in the sand? The short answer is no, the long answer is complicated. Come listen and learn all about the biggest bird on earth on this episode of Species. Bibliography Donate...

Mar 02, 202021 minTranscript available on Metacast

Olm

This salamander famously stood still for seven years, but there's much more (or, perhaps, less) worth noticing about them. Come learn about one of the strangest animals on earth on this episode of Species. Bibliography Donate...

Feb 24, 202023 minTranscript available on Metacast

Raccoon Dog

Today's episode is about hibernation, Japanese culture, monogamy, video games, the fur trade, and more. Come learn about an incredibly unique animal who looks like a raccoon and lives like nothing else on earth. Bibliography Donate...

Feb 17, 202023 minTranscript available on Metacast

Bobbit Worm

The bobbit worm is an enormous, terrifying, predatory animal that lives in the depths of our oceans. How do they get inside aquariums? Do they have anything to do with Lorena and John Wayne Bobbitt? Why do they live underground? How do fish fight back against their reign of terror? Find out on this episode of Species. Bibliography Donate...

Feb 09, 202022 minTranscript available on Metacast

Monk Parakeet

Why is 1/10th of Pingelap completely colorblind, and why is this parrot all over the place? Come learn about the parrot that builds apartment complexes on this episode of Species. Bibliography Donate...

Feb 03, 202026 minTranscript available on Metacast

Pacu

The fish with human teeth, the vegetarian piranha, the genital-eating fish, the pacu. Bibliography Donate...

Jan 26, 202022 minTranscript available on Metacast
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