Beyond Blathers

This week we're talking about the mole cricket, a hodge-podge of an insect that loves to hide underground and sing at night. Listen to learn more about their taxonomy, where they can be found, and how they produce their song. If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell fun animal stickers and postcards. We're having a 25% off sale u...

This week, in honour of the release of the Prehistoric Planet television series, we're talking about the Pachyrhinosaurus, a big, beautiful Northern dinosaur. Listen to learn more about the three species of Pachyrhinosaur, their Northern habitat, and how they're represented in the media. If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell f...

This week Olivia is giving you all the tips to catch bugs this summer! From what to look for in a butterfly net to the ins and outs of pond dipping, we've got you covered so you can live your best Animal Crossing life IRL. We hope this episode  inspires you to get out there and explore the bugs in your neighbourhood! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store ove...

This week we're talking about kelp forest ecosystems, why they're so important, and why they're threatened. From sea stars to sea otters to sea urchins, this story has a lot of interesting characters. Listen to learn more! Check out the story on Haida Gwaii's kelp forests here. If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell s...

This week we're talking about the smallest (and arguably cutest???) marine mammal in existence: the sea otter! Listen to learn more about this incredibly furry, incredibly adorable critter, including how they hunt for food, how they raft together, and the conservation issues they face. If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers...

This week we're talking about the sea star! Who knew these peaceful looking sea creatures can actually be pretty hardcore predators? With almost 2,000 different species, there's a lot to talk about! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe...

This week we're talking about the absolutely beautiful Madagascan Sunset Moth! From their striking colours to their pesky caterpillars, there's a lot to talk about! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review....

This week Olivia and Sofia are catching up and answering listener questions about everything from their respective masters projects to their favourite marine animals! Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly episode illustrations, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter . And don't forget to check out our TikTok ! Beyond Bl...

This week we're talking about the megacerops, a prehistoric ungulate that, although it looks kind of like a rhino, is not actually an ancestor or close relative of contemporary rhinos! Listen to learn more about what exactly these creatures were, what they ate, and why they went extinct. If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell sticke...

This week we're finally diving into the whale shark!! This huge fish is a world record holder in a bunch of ways, but is still relatively mysterious. Listen to learn more! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review...

This week we're talking about the abalone, a marine snail with a coveted shell and apparently delicious taste! These sea creatures were harvested almost to the point of extinction off the coast of California, but scientists are trying to bring them back! Listen to learn more about these conservation efforts. Big shout out to amazing science journalism by Rosanna Xia and Wudan Yan . If you&apo...

This week we're raising a stink about the stinkbug! Why do they have their specific stench? And why are they considered a pest? Listen to learn more! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date a...

This week we're talking about the iconic piranha! Are they really as ferocious as their reputation suggests? Listen to find out! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly epi...

This week we're so excited to be joined by Evelyn Vollmer, a digital palaeontologist at the Idaho Visualization Labratory and amazing science communicator. We got to talk about the helicoprion, a shark-like prehistoric creature with some pretty cool teeth, as well as scicomm TikTok and 3D scanning and printing! Make sure to check out Evelyn's TikTok and Instagram ! And her work with Foss...

This week we're back with the final instalment of our series on ants! We're talking about the top ten ants you need to know about, as well as ant conservation! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To st...

This week we're back with even more fun stories and facts about ants! In part two of this trilogy, we dive into slave-making ants, army ants, hell ants, and more. If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay...

This week we're kicking off a special three-part series on ants! They may be small but there is just so much to talk about with these creatures! In the first part of this series, we discuss eusociality, Edward O. Wilson, leafcutter ants, and more. If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felte...

This week we're joined by marine biologist Charles Nye to talk about the coelacanth! We had a great time chatting with Charles about this fascinating creature, his research on eDNA metabarcoding and cetaceans, and palaeoart! Make sure to follow Charles on Twitter and check out their palaeoart on Instagram and Twitter . If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store o...

This week we're talking all about mussels! Listen to learn more about their beards, impressive glue, and the conservation issues facing freshwater mussels. If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to...

This week we're full on de-bunking Blathers and talking all about the dimetrodon! Spoiler alert: these prehistoric friends weren't dinosaurs, but they weren't actually reptiles either! Listen to learn more. If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget...

This week we're talking about the evening cicada with hardcore cicada-lover Ferf Brownoff. Join us for a celebration of these amazing insects and lots of fun cicada stories!  If you haven't listened to our first episode on the cicada, make sure to give it a listen here for lots more information and fun facts! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over o...

On this Christmas Eve, we hope you enjoy this re-release of our episode on the beautiful and iconic snowy owl! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly episode illustrations, mak...

This week we're joined by Suzy Buttress of the amazing Casual Birder podcast to talk all about Gulliver, gulls, and birding in general! Tune in to learn lots and get inspired, and for lots of fun facts and birding tips and tricks. Make sure to check out Suzy's podcast, The Casual Birder and follow her on Twitter and Instagram for lots more birding content! You can find the episode Suzy r...

This week we're talking about a very familiar animal — the goldfish! Do you know the history of how goldfish came to be pets? And did you know that they have THROAT TEETH?! Listen to learn more! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, keychains, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. We're having a holiday s...

This week we're talking about the sea pineapple! Although it may look like a rotting fruit, it's actually a very fascinating animal that's more closely related to humans than you might think. Listen to learn more! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, keychains, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments....