Regular programming will return shortly, but in the meantime enjoy this classic episode!  I'm joined by Tiktok's favorite zoologist Mamadou to talk about animals who seem cute... right up until they absolutely wreck you.  Footnotes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moo Deng! Pesto! What do they have in common? They're big babies!! We talk about these giant babies, and also, the tiniest babies who grow to enormous sizes. I'm joined by comedy writer Lydia Bugg!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Creatureween! We're getting scary and spooky (but not really) with a special bat episode! Bats may not be the horrible halloween monster that they're made out to be, but they're still one of my favorite orders of animals in the world! Then, just for more fun, we'll talk about a who's who list of halloweeny critters and why they're so special! Joining me to talk about the most incredible, unusual bat species, as well as separating bat fact from bat libel, is science journalist and...

We're talking about animals who belong on stage at Eurovision! Or not, I suppose, I'm being told that's against the rules! I'm very excited to be joined by the hosts of Eurovangelists, Jeremy Bent, and Dimitry Pompee!   Footnotes 1. Frigatebirds 2. Red howler monkey 3. Fruit flies  4. Ducks eating peas 5. Animals on the Eurovision stage! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's another 'ween classic! This one comes from 2023, and has a story in it that'll really make your skin crawl! I'm joined by Seanbaby & Robert Brockway to discuss factual Halloweeny tales of animal biology! Undead fish skin, vampire mice, and flying zombies! Stay tuned for new episodes this month, including our 2024 Creatureween spooktacular!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OooOOooO the spookiest scare of all: a rerun! Please enjoy this return of a Halloween episode from 2022! Don't worry, we'll celebrate Halloween this year with a very scary spooky episode the day before Halloween, plus all new episodes leading up to it! But for now, enjoy these ghosts of Halloween past! Hags, slime, frogs, and the boogie woogies who can kill you with a touch! Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: can we use ectoplasm as a substitute for egg-whites in...

What's slimy, has a home, and four legs? I answer your animal questions, exonerate black cats, and I do NOT invite you to check out the bear buffet.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we talk about animals who escape after being eaten! There's only a few exits to choose from, but these Houdinis make sure not to end up being dinner, even after all hope seems lost. But it's a race against the clock to not be burned alive in the most horrifying way possible. Also, we mention Moo Deng, everyone's favorite little pygmy hippo, yay!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enjoy one of my favorite old episodes: animals who live the trash lifestyle, pretend to be trash, live inside trash, or are generally having a crappy day (and that's how they like it)! With guest, Pallavi Gunalan! Stay tuned for the results of last week's Mystery Animal Sound next week!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

 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.

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.

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.

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.