The Fur Real Podcast with Mark A Kyle

Some animals spend their lives in places that seem impossible to survive. Clinging to sheer cliffs, navigating narrow ledges, and scaling near-vertical mountainsides, these remarkable creatures have evolved to thrive where one wrong step could mean the difference between life and death. In this episode, Dr. Marco Festa-Bianchet, one of the world's leading experts on mountain wildlife, shares insig...

Most people think lions are Africa's greatest hunters—but what if they're not? This week, Mark sits down with wildlife conservationist Greg Rasmussen to uncover the remarkable story of Africa's painted dogs, one of the continent's most successful—and most endangered—predators. With decades spent studying and protecting these incredible animals, Greg shares what makes them such extraordinary hunter...

Flying fish soar above the ocean. Elephant seals dive to extraordinary depths. At first glance, they couldn't be more different. This week, we sit down with marine biologists Dr. Eric Lewallen and Dr. Carolina Bonin , two scientists whose research intersects in unexpected ways. Eric shares the remarkable adaptations that allow flying fish to glide hundreds of feet above the ocean, while Carolina r...

Cute. Fluffy. Nut-obsessed. That's the squirrel story we all know... right? Not so fast. This week, we sit down with Dr. Sonja Wild, a behavioral ecologist and postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis , whose work explores how animals adapt and thrive in a changing world. Her recent research helped uncover something that stunned even seasoned scientists: California ground squirrels hunting and eating v...

What can a sand-swimming lizard, a cockroach sprinting across rough terrain, and a centipede teach us about the next generation of robots? In this episode,we sit down with physicist and roboticist Daniel Goldman to explore the fascinating world of robophysics —the science of using animals to uncover the fundamental principles of movement. From sandfish lizards that "swim" beneath desert dunes to m...

For decades, starfish were among the most common and recognizable animals along many coastlines. Then, seemingly overnight, millions began to disappear. In this episode, Dr. Ian Hewson takes us inside one of the largest wildlife disease events ever documented in the ocean: the Great Starfish Die-Off. We explore the mysterious outbreak known as Sea Star Wasting Disease, what scientists have learned...

What makes the praying mantis one of the most fascinating predators on Earth? In this episode, Lohit Garikipati joins Mark A. Kyle to explore the strange, beautiful, and sometimes terrifying world of praying mantises. From lightning-fast attacks and incredible camouflage to their almost “alien” appearance and ability to track movement with precision, these insects are among nature’s most efficient...

In this episode, Mark sits down with Dr. Heather Berst of Zoetis to discuss Breed Explorer — a tool designed to help people find the right pet for their lifestyle, personality, living situation, and activity level. Not every pet is the right fit for every home, and this conversation explores why making the right match matters for both humans and dogs. Apartment dwellers, active outdoor families, f...

Blair Braverman is a musher, adventurer, and celebrated author who has found her greatest teachers on four legs. From long distant racing treks including the Iditarod across 1,000 miles of Alaskan wilderness to the quiet moments between a musher and her dogs, Blair's life is a masterclass in love, resilience, and what it means to keep moving forward. In this conversation, we explore the personalit...

Heather Gibson of Big Hearted Breeders joins for a thoughtful conversation that challenges the idea that it has to be adopt or shop . From ethical breeding to rescue, we explore how both paths can coexist when the focus stays where it belongs: on the dogs. We also dive into the powerful role dogs play in our lives—how they support, heal, and connect us in ways that go far beyond companionship. At...

What if the most powerful weapon against landmines and disease weighed less than three pounds and ran on banana rewards? Meet the HeroRATs. This week, Mark sits down with Christophe Cox — CEO and co-founder of APOPO — to tell the remarkable story of how a wild idea born in Belgium became one of the most innovative humanitarian organizations on the planet. From the organization's scrappy origins to...

What if your pet could live not just longer—but better? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kevin Toman , a veterinarian focused on longevity and proactive care, to explore what it really takes to extend the life—and quality of life—of our animals. From nutrition and early prevention to emerging science and overlooked habits, this conversation breaks down how small, intentional changes can have...

Spotted hyenas are often cast as villains—scavengers with eerie laughs and ruthless reputations. But the truth is far more fascinating. In this episode, Dr . Kay Holekamp , one of the world’s leading experts on spotted hyenas, breaks down the science, behavior, and social complexity of one of Africa’s most misunderstood predators. From their powerful matriarchal societies to their intelligence, hu...

Rabbits are often seen as simple, low-maintenance pets—but the truth is far more complex. In this episode, Paige Parsons of Rabbit.org joins the conversation to share what it really means to care for these intelligent, sensitive animals. From the surprising depth of their personalities to the level of commitment they require, this episode explores why rabbits are so often misunderstood. We also di...

In this episode, I sit down with Sinead Imbaro , a highly experienced K9 trainer and canine search specialist with over two decades of work in detection, tracking, and search and rescue. Sinead shares her journey working alongside elite dogs in some of the most demanding environments—from disaster response to high-level operational deployments. At the center of it all is K9 Magnus Ares , a remarka...

Live from SoHo House Austin during SXSW, this conversation with filmmaker and author Turk Pipkin explores the wild through a deeply human lens. From the vibrant ecosystems of flamingos to the extraordinary migration of monarch butterflies and the powerful presence of mountain gorillas, Turk shares stories from behind the camera and across the globe. Through his films, he captures not just animals,...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Virginia Mule' to discuss the mission behind Emancipet and its groundbreaking work to make veterinary care accessible and affordable for more pets and families. Millions of pets across the United States go without basic veterinary care each year, not because their families don’t love them—but because the cost of care can be out of reach. Emancipet is tackling...

Why do dogs age so much faster than we do—and can science change that? The Dog Aging Project is one of the most ambitious studies ever conducted on canine health and longevity. By following tens of thousands of dogs across the United States, researchers are uncovering how genetics, environment, diet, and lifestyle influence how our dogs age. Dr. Brynn Franks joins the conversation to explore what...

What did it mean to care for an animal in the Middle Ages? Long before modern veterinary medicine, medieval people developed detailed systems for healing horses, hounds, livestock, and even household pets. Treatments ranged from practical wound care and herbal remedies to bloodletting, lunar timing, and deeply held spiritual beliefs about the body. Medieval historian Kathleen Walker-Meikle explore...

They tower above the African savannah — silent, watchful, and impossible to ignore. Giraffes are the tallest animals on Earth, yet their conservation story is far more complex than most people realize. While some populations have declined sharply, others are stabilizing and even growing. So what’s really happening with the world’s most iconic giants? In this episode, we explore the full giraffe st...

Dingos have been called pests. Predators. Even villains. But what if we’ve been telling the wrong story? In this episode, Kylie Cairns takes us deep into the Australian outback to uncover the truth about one of the world’s most misunderstood canines. Are dingos wild dogs? A separate species? A missing evolutionary link? And what role do they really play in balancing fragile ecosystems? We explore...

What if intelligence isn’t what we’ve always assumed it is? In this episode, corvid researcher Kaeli Swift invites us to reconsider how intelligence is defined by exploring the inner lives of crows and their relatives. Drawing from her groundbreaking work on crow funerals—where crows gather silently around their dead to observe, learn, and assess danger—she reveals how these birds use memory, reas...

What began as playful Super Bowl counter-programming has grown into one of the most successful adoption platforms in television history. Now in its 22nd year , the Puppy Bowl has helped prove that joy, storytelling, and animal rescue can coexist — and work. In this episode, we go inside the Puppy Bowl with Dan Schachner , the longtime “Rufferee” who has been part of the event’s evolution into a cu...

Snow leopards are among the most elusive animals on Earth—so rarely seen they’re known as the ghosts of the mountains . In this episode, Mark is joined by Dr. Koustubh Sharma , a leading snow leopard researcher, to explore the hidden world of these remarkable big cats and the fragile high-altitude ecosystems they call home. Dr. Sharma takes listeners deep into the remote mountain ranges of Central...

Dogs experience the world through scent in ways humans can barely imagine. In this episode, I sit down with Maria Ikenberry , founder of Eyes Ears Nose and Paws , to explore how specially trained dogs use their extraordinary noses—and their training—to support people with medical needs. We talk about how dogs can alert to seizures and other medical events through scent, as well as how they’re trai...