That's Just Wild

Welcome to That’s Just Wild.

A wildly entertaining nature show filled with adventure, behind-the-scenes stories, and fascinating facts, told by the people who’ve seen it all for themselves.

Every Tuesday join adventurer, explorer and broadcaster Steve Backshall, wildlife biologist Lizzie Daly, and journalist Sarah Roberts as they dive deep into the wonders of the natural world. From braving Arctic extremes to swimming with sharks, each episode begins with a bold superlative—Spiky, Freezing, Venomous—and unfolds into remarkable tales of the wild.

Think: unexpected encounters, jaw-dropping science, and nature like you’ve never heard it before.

Then, every Friday, it’s your turn. Our Q&A episodes tackle your most need-to-know nature questions—from how not to become bear food to how long is an elephant’s trunk?

Because the world is wild, its wonders are endless—and we’re here to tell the stories that prove it.

For ad-free listening and special episodes, support the podcast at thatsjustwild.com.

Produced in the wild by Fresh Air.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last refreshed: July 16th, 2025 at 6:14 PM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Team Players: Termite Snow, Starling Skies and Flying Ant Day

How do birds know how to fly in formation? Why do flying ants all seem to appear at once? And what on earth is termite snow?! This week wildlife legends Steve Backshall, Lizzie Daly, and Sarah Roberts dig into the critters that operate as one. We meet the team players: from cicadas synchronising their song to ants that perform surgery on each other - and survive! Follow wherever you get your podcasts so that you never miss an episode - and don’t forget to listen out for our Q&A eps every Fri...

Jul 15, 2025•37 min•Ep. 14

Q&A: Great Whites, Hammerheads and Shark Hypnosis

Can you hypnotise a shark? 🌀🦈 Join Steve Backshall, Lizzie Daly, and Sarah Roberts to find out in this week's Q&A, as the team answer your questions on everything Shark... 🤔 Why do Hammerhead Sharks look like they do? ⏳ How do some sharks live so long? 🇬🇧 And will we ever see Great Whites in British waters? If you have a question you’d like our expert trio to answer, e-mail the team at 📧 questions@thatsjustwild.com or reach out on Instagram or YouTube @thatsjustwildpod. 🔔 Make sure yo...

Jul 11, 2025•23 min•Ep. 13

Sharks: Jaws, Netflix, and Misconceptions

How did Jaws change public perception of sharks? What makes something a shark? And why is Sarah travelling the world looking for them? Explorers Steve Backshall, Lizzie Daly and Sarah Roberts are talking all things sharks. Watch Sarah and "Shark Man" Dan on All The Sharks , live globally now on Netflix, check it out here . Go to thatsjustwild.com to get ad-free listening, special deep-dive episodes and exclusive That's Just Wild goodies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

Jul 08, 2025•44 min•Ep. 12

Q&A: Dolphins, Sharks, and Toxic Relationships

Do shark nets work? Which animal has the most toxic relationship? And why dolphins have the best PR of the animal world... It's time for another Q&A where Steve Backshall, Lizzie Daly and Sarah Roberts answer your wild questions. Plus, here are the books mentioned in this episode for any keen readers: The Malay Archipelago - Alfred Russel Wallace Climbing Mountain Probable - Richard Dawkins Somebody Swallowed Stanley - Sarah Roberts The Secret - Rhonda Byrne Coming of Age with Elephants - Jo...

Jul 04, 2025•26 min•Ep. 11

Punks: Honey Badgers, Bearded Vultures, and Mohawked Turtles

Who are the punks of the animal kingdom? Why do honey badgers scare lions? Why are Cassowary birds so badass? Wildlife legends Steve Backshall, Lizzie Daly and Sarah Roberts bring serious attitude to this episode of That's Just Wild. This week we meet the rebels, including: devil fire fish (taking over the Caribbean), turtles with Mohawks (that can breathe from their bum), and headbutting tenrecs (note, NOT a hedgehog) ...And that time Steve Backshall had a ponytail. Watch Lizzie's documentary V...

Jul 01, 2025•35 min•Ep. 10

LIVE: Osprey, Sharks, and the Loch Ness Monster

Can sharks smell period blood? Is wildlife conservation effective? What happened to the Loch Ness Monster? Steve Backshall, Lizzie Daly and Sarah Roberts are LIVE from Cheltenham Science Festival... With some familiar voices (Robin Ince and Dallas Campbell) AND an actual audience! Plus: The worst creatures to work with (don't have nightmares), frogs with extra limbs (save the amphibians) and what's lurking in the deep sea (lots and lots of mysteries). Go to thatsjustwild.com to get ad-free liste...

Jun 29, 2025•35 min•Ep. 9

Q&A: Hippos, Bees, and Underrated Rats

Did you know hippos and whales share a common ancestor? Steve Backshall, Lizzie Daly, and Sarah Roberts take on your questions: Why do rats get a bad rep (meet the real Pinky and the Brain)? Do animals learn from each other (don't eat cane toads)? Are there any animals that could outsmart humans (it's all about that hivemind)? If you have a question you’d like our expert trio to answer, e-mail the team at questions@thatsjustwild.com or reach out on Instagram or YouTube @thatsjustwildpod. Make su...

Jun 27, 2025•20 min•Ep. 8

Slimy: Hagfish, Banana Slugs, and Vampire Squids from Hell

Vampire squids create shimmering decoys, scientists defrost a 45,000 year old worm, and banana slug mucus can numb toothache. Steve Backshall, Lizzie Daly and Sarah Roberts slide into this week's slippery episode and cover everything from whale anal syrup (be careful what you google!), exploding ants (that smell like curry) and the secret to your latest moisturiser (snail to the face, anyone?) Follow wherever you get your podcasts so that you never miss an episode - and don’t forget to listen ou...

Jun 24, 2025•35 min•Ep. 7

Q&A: Black Widows, Blue Whales, and Orcas wearing Salmon hats

“When the jaws open wide, and there’s more jaws inside, that’s a Moray” wins the prize for the most creatively asked question in this week's Q&A ep. Why do Moray Eels have two sets of jaws? is not the only question Steve Backshall, Lizzie Daly and Sarah Roberts get their teeth into … but it’s the only one that gets an enthusiastically delivered duet. This week we also cover spider love stories (mate munching), dinosaur leg bones (massive) and trend-setting whales (salmon hats and a song that...

Jun 20, 2025•19 min•Ep. 6

Colourful: Birds of Paradise, Binturong and Dancing Dinosaurs

Why is blue the hardest colour to produce? Why are bright colours rarely a mistake? And do albino snakes get sunburn? This very colourful episode is recorded on location at Longleat Safari Park , where Steve Backshall, Lizzie Daly and Sarah Roberts are joined by some very special guests: A Burmese python with blue eyes called Monty (Python, Monty Python) A binturong, or bearcat, called Biscuit (who’s neither a bear, nor a cat) And a pair of red footed falcons called Kieron and Ben (super noisy) ...

Jun 17, 2025•41 min•Ep. 5

Q&A: Parasites, Giraffe Necks, and Shark Attacks

Hypodermic syringe spines spurting venom a foot in the air, a thirty metre long parasite, and optimal giraffe neck length are just some of the topics covered in this Q&A episode. But that’s not all. Steve Backshall, Lizzie Daly and Sarah Roberts are back using their incredible wealth of expertise, insight and anecdotes to answer your wild and wonderful questions. This week they include Steve’s comedy career (brief), giraffe necking competitions (brutal), a question of mistaken identity (shar...

Jun 13, 2025•28 min•Ep. 4

Venomous: Bullet Ant Rituals, Box Jellyfish, and Wandering Spiders

What is venom? How does it work? And how do different species use it? Wildlife legends Steve Backshall, Lizzie Daly and Sarah Roberts are back with a bite this week, in a truly venomous episode of That's Just Wild. As well as some awe inspiring stories of poisonous creatures we get geeky with the science, and dive into the development of a universal *anti-venom. *Trigger Warning - this episode contains content that some listeners may find distressing. Animal testing is referred to as part of a d...

Jun 10, 2025•39 min•Ep. 3

Q&A: Milking Ants, Silver Foxes and Pigeon Top Trumps

What do milking ants, silver foxes and pigeon Top Trumps have in common? They form the answers to some of the questions in our very first That's Just Wild: Q&A episode. Between them Steve Backshall, Lizzie Daly and Sarah Roberts have a wildly impressive wealth of experience of our natural world. Every week we raid it to answer your burning wildlife questions - sometimes serious, sometimes silly - always with some interesting detours along the way. This week they include one of Steve’s near-d...

Jun 06, 2025•23 min•Ep. 2

Freezing: Narwhals, Polar Bears and Walrus Songs

What do you get when a polar bear mates with a grizzly, a walrus starts making music, and a scientist decides to freeze themselves on purpose? One wild first episode! Hosted by wildlife legends Steve Backshall, Lizzie Daly, and Sarah Roberts, That’s Just Wild takes on a new theme every week and uncovers the wildest facts, stories, and science from nature. This week, things get freezing . We’re talking snow blindness, getting deliberately hypothermic in the name of science, and the mashup that is...

Jun 03, 2025•44 min•Ep. 1

That's Just Wild: Launching June 3rd

Welcome to That’s Just Wild. Launching on June 3rd. A wildly entertaining nature show filled with adventure, behind-the-scenes stories, and fascinating facts, told by the people who’ve seen it all for themselves. Every Tuesday join adventurer Steve Backshall , wildlife biologist Lizzie Daly , and journalist Sarah Roberts as they dive deep into the wonders of the natural world. From braving Arctic extremes to swimming with sharks, each episode begins with a bold superlative— Spiky , Freezing , Ve...

May 20, 2025•2 min

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android