Wildly Curious

Send us Fan Mail Dive into the mysterious world of freshwater ecosystems with Wildly Curious ! In this episode, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole uncover some of the strangest and most fascinating creatures lurking in rivers and lakes worldwide. From the razor-toothed vampire fish of the Amazon to the ancient Chinese giant salamander, and even the armored Arapaima of the Amazon River Basin, each b...

Send us Fan Mail In this final episode of the Bog Banter mini-series, hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole uncover the story of the Gundestrup Cauldron—a massive silver artifact found buried in a Danish bog. Dating back to 150 BC, this intricately carved cauldron features mysterious depictions of gods, warriors, and mythical creatures from Celtic and Thracian cultures. Was it a sacred offering,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Wildly Curious , hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into a truly mind-boggling discovery—literally! Learn about the astonishing find of a fossilized dinosaur brain, uncovered in a tide pool in southern England. Preserved by bog-like conditions over 133 million years, this rare fossil reveals intricate details of a plant-eating dinosaur’s brain, includi...

Send us Fan Mail In this eerie mini-sode of Wildly Curious , hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the hauntingly well-preserved story of the Tollund Man. Found in a Danish peat bog in 1950, this Iron Age figure still has intact skin, facial features, and even his last meal in his stomach! Katy and Laura explore the mysterious rituals surrounding his death, why bogs preserve bodies so...

Send us Fan Mail In this festive episode of Wildly Curious , Laura sits down with food scientist Sarah Oster to explore the science behind staying safe in the kitchen during the holidays. From understanding the microbial risks of your favorite dishes to food safety tips that can prevent holiday disasters, Sarah shares insights from her 10+ years in food science. Learn about the surprising truths o...

Send us Fan Mail In this fascinating episode of Wildly Curious , hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole unravel the eerie tale of ancient bog bodies found in South Uist, Scotland. These Bronze Age remains aren’t your typical archaeological find—they’re stitched-together puzzles of multiple individuals, preserved in bogs and buried beneath a 3,000-year-old house. Explore the mysteries behind these...

Send us Fan Mail In this  episode of Wildly Curious , Katy Reiss teams up with a special guest (her son, Lukas!) to kick off a mini-series exploring the bizarre and fascinating things found in bogs. Discover the strange world of bog butter—a 3,500-year-old lump of butter preserved so well that it’s technically still edible. Learn why bogs are nature's refrigerators, the ecological importance...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Wildly Curious , hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole wrap up their cave mini-series with an awe-inspiring journey into Son Doong, the world’s largest cave located in Vietnam. Discovered in 1990 and mapped just over a decade ago, this cave is a geological marvel with skylights revealing lush rainforests, rivers winding through its depths, and colossal stalagm...

Send us Fan Mail In this insightful episode of Wildly Curious , hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive deep into the world of ADHD. From the brain’s unique wiring to the day-to-day challenges and incredible strengths of those with ADHD, this episode explores it all. Learn about the science behind impulsivity, forgetfulness, and hyperfocus, as well as how reframing ADHD can uncover the power...

Send us Fan Mail In this captivating episode of Wildly Curious , hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole delve into the ancient history of Cheddar Man, a 9,000-year-old skeleton discovered in the Cheddar Gorge caves of England. Known for his unexpectedly dark skin, blue eyes, and curly hair, Cheddar Man has puzzled scientists and enthusiasts alike. Uncover the story of his discovery, what his rema...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Wildly Curious , hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the mesmerizing world of bioluminescence, exploring how animals, plants, fungi, and even bacteria light up the natural world. From deep-sea fish with built-in flashlights to fungi glowing in forests, discover the surprising science and evolution behind nature’s glow. Why do creatures glow? Is it...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Wildly Curious , hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole venture into one of Earth’s most extreme environments: the Cave of Crystals in Naica, Mexico. Discovered in 2000, this surreal underground world holds colossal gypsum crystals, some reaching over 30 feet in length and weighing as much as 55 tons. With temperatures soaring up to 122°F and nearly 100% humidi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Wildly Curious , Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole explore the ancient underground city of Derinkuyu, a massive subterranean metropolis in Turkey. Accidentally discovered in the 1960s, this hidden city could house up to 20,000 people and features everything from stables to chapels. Learn how this Byzantine-era marvel was used as a refuge from invaders and natura...

Send us Fan Mail In this laugh-out-loud episode of Wildly Curious , Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole put their stealth skills to the test in a hilarious exploration of what animals they think they could sneak up on and jump. From cows to quokkas, and even houseflies, the duo breaks down the science, strategy, and surprises behind the animals' senses and reflexes. They dive into fun animal fa...

Send us Fan Mail Join Katy and L in this Wildly Curious episode as they dive into the Qumran Caves , home to the Dead Sea Scrolls , one of the most significant finds in biblical archaeology . Discover the ancient Jewish sects , including the Essenes , who may have lived in these caves, and the remarkable manuscripts they left behind. From the Isaiah Scroll to the mysterious Copper Scroll —a treasu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature ), hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the fascinating world of bird flight and explore the physics behind it. From the elegant gliding of the albatross to the record-breaking speed of the peregrine falcon and the astonishing agility of the hummingbird, these birds have evolved extraordinary adaptatio...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the big decision behind changing the podcast name from For the Love of Nature to Wildly Curious . After 3.5 years of exploring quirky nature facts, science, and conservation, the hosts share why this renaming was crucial for expanding their reach and improving discoverability. Listen in as they discuss thei...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature ), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole continue their Cave Chronicles series by uncovering the remarkable discovery of the so-called Siberian unicorn. Found in a cave in Kazakhstan, this prehistoric animal was a massive, rhino-like creature that roamed the Earth alongside early humans. Katy and Laura dive in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature ), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole share heartwarming stories of odd animal friendships. From capybaras hanging out with birds to Koko the Gorilla’s special bond with her kitten All Ball, this episode dives into the unlikely companionships formed in the animal kingdom. Whether it’s animals from different...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature ), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole kick off their mini-series on caves by exploring one of the most isolated and unique caves on Earth—Movile Cave in Romania. Discovered in 1986, this cave has been sealed off from the outside world for over 5 million years. Learn how this strange, oxygen-poor environment...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature ), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole return after a break with an exploration of pocket-sized ecosystems, also known as microcosms. From tiny worlds hidden in moss to intricate ecosystems found in epiphytes, they discuss how these small habitats thrive and support a surprising amount of biodiversity. Wheth...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature ), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change. They break down what climate change really means, how it’s impacting our planet today, and what everyday people can do to help mitigate its effects. From the science behind global warming to real-world...

Send us Fan Mail Warning: this episode contains examples and anecdotes of death and loss regarding both humans and animals. In this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature ), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole explore how animals, from elephants to lemurs, demonstrate behaviors that resemble mourning and grief. With anecdotes about elephants covering their dead with leav...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature ), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole explore some of the tiniest but most dangerous creatures in the natural world. From the venomous blue-ringed octopus to the ultra-efficient hunting tactics of the black-footed cat, they break down how small animals pack a big punch in the wild. Tune in for surprising fa...

Send us Fan Mail Join Laura and Katy for....we don't know what week it is..... but this week on Beastly Ballers we're going to face off University of Georgia vs. University of Kentucky for college football. For the NFL this week, the Philadelphia Eagles take on the LA Rams......or is it the other way around? Find out who Laura and Katy pick and why they suddenly have become mini Tennesse...