The Animal Nerd Podcast

When Jane Goodall first documented tool use in wild chimpanzees, it completely rewrote our understanding of non-human great apes - and also of our own evolution. Scientists were eager to learn more, and one such study was carried out on Abang, a rescue orangutan who had been stolen from the wild as a baby. However, things would become more complicated when the phenomena of enculturation was discov...

In summer 2009, Australia faced the worst bushfires it had ever seen. And yet in a time of such intense darkness and horror, there was a glimmer of light in the form of a small, badly-burnt koala, whose rescue video went viral. Sam, as she was named, would go on to become a symbol of hope for those who had lost everything, and served as a poignant reminder of just how much of an impact one small a...

Thumbelina was the shortest horse to have ever lived - only 17 inches tall! And while she did receive some media coverage in her lifetime, a lot of it was very surface-level, and since her passing she's faded into obscurity. So join me today as we deep-dive into the full life story of this incredible little animal, and the massive impact she left behind on the world! Original air date: 16th July 2...

Golden tabby is a rare colour mutation sometimes seen in tigers, and there's no doubt that they're beautiful, but despite that, their presence in the wild is a major red flag for conservationists. We're diving into why it's so concerning to experts in this week's episode of the Animal Nerd Podcast. Original air date: 9th July 2024 Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when...

In the 1860s, two stray dogs became unlikely celebrities in the US city of San Francisco thanks to their uniquely strong bond. They would go on to become so beloved by local residents that they were officially declared to be the property of the city, and laws were changed to ensure their safety. Honestly, their story is one of the cutest I've done, and I loved being able to share it with you! Orig...

At over 70 years old, Wisdom the laysan albatross is the oldest wild bird in the world, and she's still going strong to this day. She has a pretty incredible story and has completely rewritten everything experts thought they knew about her species. And yes, this is the episode I was working on when I got sidetracked by laysan albatrosses and made the bonus minisode for Pride month! Original air da...

In the 1960s the art world was abuzz with discussion of a brand new star on the scene, Pierre Brassau. Hailing from France, Pierre was an up-and-coming abstract artist whose work was taking Europe by storm... but there would turn out to be a lot more to this story than a few cool paintings, and in this week's episode of the Animal Nerd Podcast we delve into the truth behind one of the art world's...

Look, sometimes self-care means rambling about lesbian albatrosses for five minutes, and that was definitely the case for me today! Happy Pride month, my loves 💕 Original air date: 23rd June 2024 Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episo...

It's often said that black cats are unlucky, but Tommaso very much proved that that's not true when, as a stray kitten living rough on the streets of Rome, he was adopted by a kind-hearted elderly woman - and then went on to become the world's richest ever cat! Learn all about his story in this week's episode of the Animal Nerd Podcast. Original air date: 11th June 2024 Important note: Unfortunate...

In the early 20th century, Huberta the hippo became an international celebrity when she set off on a now-legendary trek across South Africa. But where was she going? And why? In this week's episode, we attempt to answer those questions - as well as sharing all the hijinks she got up to on her journey, of course! It's going to be a fun one! Original air date: 4th June 2024 Important note: Unfortuna...

Faith was once considered to be the most famous dog in the world, but in recent years her story has faded into obscurity. In this episode, we're telling Faith's whole story, from humble beginnings as a tiny mixed-breed puppy who was almost killed, to an global superstar, and everything in between. Original air date: 28th May 2024 Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I...

This week we're focusing in on the wood frog. These little brown amphibians may not look like much, but they have the incredible ability to freeze solid every single winter, clinically dying in the process, only to come back to life in spring. But how do they survive such an unlikely feat? Well, you'll have to listen to find out! 😉 Original air date: 21st May 2024 Important note: Unfortunately I...

In the early 1900s, Clever Hans the Equine Wonder took Europe by storm. Hans became famous for his abilities to perform complex mathematical equations, spell out full sentences, share his hot takes on music, and so much more. But was this horse really a master of maths? Or was this all just an elaborate hoax? Well... it was actually neither. It turns out that the truth was far more interesting tha...

In our first ever episode, we're going to be exploring the story of Thandi, the southern white rhinoceros who, in 2013, made history when she became the first rhino ever to survive and fully recover after being attacked by poachers. Original air date: 7th May 2024 Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-...