Flora learns facts about the flamingo that change her. #YESflamingoListen to Mogul: The Life and Death of Chris Lighty, a hip-hop miniseries from Gimlet Media and Loud Speakers Network. Now available wherever you get your podcasts.Apple P

The Genius of Birds: Live From the Aspen Ideas Festival

2 Jul 9th, 2018 24m 24s

Some birds can fashion tools and create tiny works of art, so why do we always underestimate their bird brains? In this panel discussion, recorded at the 2018 Aspen Ideas Festival, Flora talks with writer Jennifer Ackerman and crow expert Alex

Are Babies Born With Tails?

1 Jun 11th, 2018 24m 47s

Plus, learn how to lie like a dad.Guests: Fake parenting expert Adam Mansbach; belly whisperer Tamara Duker Freuman; bird-watcher extraordinaire Amar Ayyash. Special thanks to Nicolas, Marisa, and everyone who called in with their Old Dad's Ta

Chair, Misunderstood

3 1 Jul 3rd, 2017 27m 1s

Learning to love a viral piece of furniture.Our Sponsors: Wordpress.com | Synchrony Financial | CasperLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeremy’s Muscle Car: An Update

Dec 10th, 2021 3m 41s

On our “I Did it For Love” episode, listener Jeremy told us about a 1968 AMX that he was buying to surprise his dad. This week, they go for their first ride.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I Did It for Love

Dec 6th, 2021 37m 53s

What have you done for love? Hear about the impulsive, expensive, inspired and illegal things our listeners did for love. Thanks to Erica, Mario, Beth, Jeremy and everyone who called in with a heart-felt tale.Learn more about your ad choices.

Why Is This Goose Out to Get Me?

1 Jul 12th, 2021 24m 3s

Listener Corey needs to know if a goose named Dave is targeting him. Goose expert Tony Fox tells us why Dave’s feathers may have gotten ruffled, and offers his advice for dealing with unhappy geese. Special thanks to Casey Williamson, Steve Dav

Hummingbirds: Magical Fairies or Vicious Little Drones?

1 Jun 14th, 2021 30m 12s

Caller Makaila needs to know about the hummingbirds that frequent her father’s feeders. Hummingbird expert Alejandro Rico-Guevara fills us in on their feeding, flying, and fighting feats. Photo credit: Kristiina HurmeLearn more about your ad c

Chasing Ghosts: Searching For Endangered Animals

1 Apr 12th, 2021 24m

Listener Diksha wants to know: when an animal species is endangered, how do we know when it’s really gone? Professional frog counter and disease ecologist Jamie Voyles has answers.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch

The Dirt on Houseplants

1 Nov 16th, 2020 25m 24s

Attention all you #hortihotties, this week caller Esther asks about houseplants: When did we start keeping them, and has there ever been another houseplant heyday? Guests Catherine Horwood, author of Potted History, and Charlotte Salter-Townshe

Meet the Scrunchie Queen

Feb 10th, 2020 25m 16s

Kate, a “hair is life” kind of person, asks about the invention that keeps her hair out of her face. Guests: Hair stylist and hair archaeologist Janet Stephens; Scrunchie queen Rommy Revson. Thanks to caller Kate.Learn more about your ad choic

Kangaroo Pouch: A Four-Star Hotel of Horrors

1 Nov 22nd, 2021 28m 15s

Caller Sophia needs to know: What’s it like inside a kangaroo pouch? We get the inside scoop from marsupial expert Robin Beck. Plus, should Flora’s sister Ruth fear her squash? Professional pumpkineer Steve Reiners has a tip: if it smells like

Can I Bury a Body in My Yard?

1 Nov 1st, 2021 30m 16s

Listener Jake wants to know if he can bury a body in his tiny, suburban backyard. Grave expert and archaeologist Hal Hassen has the scoop on how we went from burying grandpa out back to the giant park-like cemeteries we have today. Plus, local

Worms and Pelicans: Dentistry’s Rotten History

1 Oct 25th, 2021 29m 21s

This week, we brush off an ELT favorite on the gory history of tooth care. For most of human history, chomper maintenance has been bloody and brutal. So how'd we go from charlatans yanking teeth in a public square to the soft light and high-tec

The ELT Help Line

1 Sep 18th, 2017 28m 32s

Flora and Katherine answer questions from listeners. ELT Help Line #: (347) 464-9626.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Auctioneers: Why Do They Talk Like That?

Nov 15th, 2021 25m 30s

This week, an episode from the archives: Why do auctioneers talk the way they do? And what are they actually saying? Professional auctioneer Junior Staggs tells us about the psychology behind auction-speak, and gives caller Katie some tips for

What the Flock Is in My Chimney?

Oct 11th, 2021 26m 32s

Every evening at dusk, listener Tara watches clouds of tiny birds dive-bomb into her boyfriend’s chimney. What are these creatures, and are they going to destroy the house? Ornithologist Margaret Rubega introduces us to these notoriously myster

How Old is Winnie-the-Pooh?

2 Dec 28th, 2020 27m 53s

We’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes this week. A few years ago, listener Annie asked ELT to settle a longstanding family debate: exactly how old is Winnie-the-Pooh? To hunt down an answer, we consult with professional age-guesser Ben

How Potatoes Took Over the World

Dec 21st, 2020 23m 29s

Listener Taylor was making a medieval stew when she noticed a prominent ingredient was missing from the recipe: potatoes. Potato biologist Maria Scurrah and journalist Charles Mann explain the potato’s twisting route to stewpot domination. Spec

Why Is the Ocean Glowing?

1 Aug 17th, 2020 25m 32s

Listener Erik saw a mysterious glow in the water during a trip to the beach, and he wants to know more. ELT talks to the “Jacques Cousteau of glow,” a scientist who has spent decades deep diving for answers. Guest: biologist and ocean researche

Sand: What’s It Really Made Of?

1 1 Aug 10th, 2020 22m 42s

Caller Hank wants to know where the sand on his central California beach came from. ELT gets the surprising scoop on how beaches are born. Guest: Kiki Patsch, California State University Channel Islands. Special thanks to Gary Griggs.Learn mor

Meet the DJs of the Bird World

Jun 15th, 2020 26m 4s

Mockingbirds are masters at copying the songs around them. Listener Tim wonders: how do they develop their expansive playlists? Two mocker experts fill us in. Plus, listener Matt has spent decades searching for someone to validate his spoon gri

Dream Your Way to a Better You

May 11th, 2020 25m 47s

Listener Natalie had a dreamy question: can you change something in your waking life by dreaming about it? ELT talked to a lucid dream expert to find out if we can optimize our snooze time. Guest: Daniel Erlacher, sports scientist at the Univer