Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's sixteen-legged episode, Christian weaves a web of truth about the Joro spider & Ellen pulls no punches with the day octopus. We discuss what the media hype gets wrong about the Jo

133: Slow Loris & Cassowary

3 Feb 23rd, 2022 1h

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen hangs out with the slow loris & Christian observes leg day with the southern cassowary. We discuss armpit alchemy, the pitfalls of cute animal videos, rumbles in th

107: Thresher Shark w/ Jaida Elcock!

2 1 Aug 23rd, 2021 58m 34s

Join Ellen & special guest, shark scientist & co-founder of MISS Jaida Elcock, for a review of the chronically anxious scorpion of the sea: thresher sharks! Topics include the unique features that make thresher sharks particularly amazing, what

102: Plants w/ Dr. Vikram Baliga!

3 Jul 12th, 2021 1h 3m

Join Ellen & special guest, horticulturist Dr. Vikram Baliga, for a review of... plants! We left the animal kingdom for this look at some of the fascinating adaptations that plants have made to stay thriving. In this episode, we discuss milleni

96: Orangutans w/ Dr. Lara Durgavich!

2 1 May 14th, 2021 47m 14s

Join Ellen & special guest, biological anthropologist Dr. Lara Durgavich for a review of the arboreal royalty, orangutans! In this episode, we discuss how orangutans have adapted to make themselves at home in the tree tops, how we see ourselves

89: Vietnamese Mossy Frog w/ Gina Zwicky!

3 1 Mar 19th, 2021 37m 45s

Join Ellen & special guest, biologist & naturalist Gina Zwicky, for a review of the amphibian master of disguise, the Vietnamese mossy frog! In this episode, Gina makes the case for frogs as simple yet refined masterpieces, shares some tricks o

86: Copepods w/ Jimmy Bernot!

3 2 Feb 24th, 2021 54m 7s

Join Ellen & special guest, evolutionary biologist Jimmy Bernot, for a review of the microscopic crustaceans truly running the world, copepods! In this episode, we discuss what makes copepods so successful at what they do, the role that parasit

45: Hippopotamus & Northern Mockingbird

3 Mar 25th, 2020 51m 21s

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian treats us to some delightfully absurd hippo facts and stories & Ellen sings praises for the northern mockingbird.

42: Tuatara w/ Thomas Rillstone!

3 1 Mar 4th, 2020 1h 2m

Join the Weatherfords and special guest Thomas Rillstone from the History of Aotearoa New Zealand podcast for a review of the tuatara! In this episode we get educated on what makes this ancient reptile and other New Zealand wildlife so special,

30: Blue Footed Booby & Dingo

2 Nov 27th, 2019 36m 17s

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian explains where the supremely elegant blue-footed booby gets its very serious and dignified name and Ellen howls about the controversial dingo.

25: Capybara & Gaboon Viper

1 Oct 23rd, 2019 48m 48s

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen chills out in the capybara language & Christian begs you not to touch the Gaboon viper.

18: Giant Manta Ray & Red Panda

2 Sep 4th, 2019 47m 15s

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode inspired by the Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta, Christian reviews the alien spaceship of the sea, the giant manta ray, and Ellen gushes over the "original" panda.

16: Blobfish & Three-Toed Sloth

2 2 Aug 21st, 2019 52m 8s

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode all about dismantling unfair animal prejudices, Christian caves to peer pressure and sets the record straight on the blobfish, and Ellen shifts the narrative on the three-

1: American Alligator & Florida Manatee

3 1 May 14th, 2019 49m 25s

Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this episode, Ellen recalls her gator coven and Christian rejects the cetology of sea pigs.

160: Marine Iguana & Colugo

1 Sep 14th, 2022 1h 5m

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! This week, Christian gets salty over the marine iguana & Ellen glides along with the literally treehugging colugo. We discuss archipelagos, snot rockets, Darwin's garbage takes, Godzilla, skin p

159: Moon Jellyfish w/ Sophie Wolvin!

1 Sep 7th, 2022 1h 3m

Join Ellen & special guest, marine biologist Sophie Wolvin, for a review of the ocean's little jello casseroles full of live bees: moon jellyfish! We’re gonna talk about what to do if you get stung by a jellyfish, what it’s like to care for the

158: Pallas's Cat & Kiwi

1 Sep 1st, 2022 1h 2m

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen lets Pallas's cat out of the bag & Christian probes into the world of the sensitive kiwi. We discuss grumpy cats, spawncamping, chilly beans, buff legs and giant eg

138: Phasmids w/ Shakara Maggitt!

2 Mar 30th, 2022 47m 16s

Join Ellen & special guest, entomologist and animal scientist Shakara Maggitt, for a review of the gentle giants of the insect world: phasmids! You may know them as stick bugs, leaf insects or any of their other many common names. We discuss l

137: Babirusa & Greenland Shark

2 Mar 23rd, 2022 51m 46s

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen wallows in the unique charm of the babirusa & Christian gives us a look into the mysteries of the Greenland shark. We discuss teeth mutiny, Icelandic food, and life

136: Cuckoo Wasps w/ Katie Goldin!

2 Mar 16th, 2022 53m 1s

Join Ellen & special guest, fellow animal science podcaster and Cool Bug Appreciator Katie Goldin, for a review of the spectacular and delectably devious cuckoo wasps! We discuss what makes these glittering jewels of the insect world such perfe

135: Egyptian Vulture & Eastern Spotted Skunk

2 Mar 9th, 2022 48m 25s

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's especially odoriferous episode, Christian gives high marks to the Egyptian vulture and Ellen gives props to the grandstanding, handstanding eastern spotted skunk. We discuss where

134: Hyenas w/ Dr. Christine Wilkinson!

2 Mar 2nd, 2022 57m 32s

Join Ellen & special guest, conservation biologist Dr. Christine Wilkinson, for a review of the oft-maligned powerhouses: hyenas! We discuss the diversity of the hyena family, eating bones, girlbossing, how pop culture has missed the mark on hy

132: Blanding's Turtle w/ Tharusha Wijewardena!

2 Feb 16th, 2022 43m 1s

Join Ellen & special guest Tharusha Wijewardena for a review of the charming and endangered Blanding's turtle. We discuss what to do if you see a turtle crossing the road, what cartoons get right and wrong about turtles, the perils of longevity

131: Green Iguana & Blue Marlin

2 Feb 9th, 2022 54m 44s

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian drops in on green iguanas and Ellen reels in the blue marlin. Topics include pendulous dewlaps, frozen lizards falling from trees, the powerhouse of the cell, a

130: Turacos w/ Aeralyn Rudnick!

2 Feb 2nd, 2022 54m 46s

Join Ellen & special guest, animal trainer Aeralyn Rudnick, for a review of the relentlessly charming turacos! They are here to tell us all about what it’s like to work with these spectacular little goofballs, how to win their hearts over with