Cool Facts About Animals
165 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago - ★★★★★ - 565 ratingsThis is a podcast by and for kids giving you the coolest facts about the coolest animals. We research our episodes carefully, distilling the information into manageable segments, focusing on the things that really make these animals unusual. Thanks for listening!
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Episodes
Portuguese Man of War
January 16, 2024 17:38 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MBWe're back with a new episode on the Portuguese Man of War. Wow, this is one cool animal/colony of organisms, with super long tentacles, a deadly sting, and an interesting backstory. Thanks to our Patreon sponsors! If you'd like to be a Patreon sponsor, head here. And if you think you know the answer to the creature quiz or the riddle, send us an email at [email protected].
Animal Defenses with OMSI
November 19, 2023 15:27 - 29 minutes - 39.1 MBHere in Portland, Oregon, we're lucky to live so close to a world-class science museum, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, which we all affectionately call OMSI. A few weeks ago, we got the chance to take a tour of their latest exhibit, Staying Alive: Defenses of the Animal Kingdom, with Sarah, the exhibit's curator. We learned about all sorts of animal defenses, including speed, size, camoflauge, and lots of others. We hope you enjoy this virtual tour - and if you're in Portland, d...
Cheetahs Reboot
November 09, 2023 14:52 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBWay back in our first episode - over 5 years ago now! - Grady chose cheetah for our first episode. We've learned a lot more about cheetahs since then, and introduced two new podcasters - Jaguar and Corduroy! So, we decided to bring you this reboot of our original episode. We hope you enjoy it. Here's the video we mentioned about cheetahs running in slow motion: https://rangerrick.org/rr_videos/slow-motion-cheetah/ If you think you know the answer to our creature quiz or riddle, send us a...
Scorpions
September 14, 2023 03:52 - 23 minutes - 23 MBThese little arachnids pack a mean sting. But how dangerous are they? What does a scorpion sting feel like? And how many times can Jaguar evolve in one episode? Learn all about scorpions in our latest episode. Thank you to our Patreon sponsors! If you'd like to support us financially, please head to our Patreon page here. https://www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals We love to hear from you! Send us an email at [email protected]
World of Jaguar Premiere!
August 28, 2023 20:18 - 1 minute - 1.32 MBJaguar is starting his own podcast! Listen to the promo on this episode, and then listen to universe premiere of World of Jaguar wherever you find your podcasts. Apple link here. MAKE ME RICHER AND FAMOUSER MINIONS! p.s. Scorpion episode coming soon!
Sea Otters
July 09, 2023 21:04 - 19 minutes - 16.8 MBYou’re in for an adorable treat on this sea otter episode of Cool Facts About Animals! Learn about their special fur, tool use, and an ancient lion-sized otter. We’d love to hear from you! Send us your creature quiz answers, let us know you did the kid power challenge, or take a guess on our next episode. Send us an email at [email protected] Thank you to our Patreon sponsors Cardiff, Grace, and Evie! If you’d like to be a Patreon sponsor, head here. https://www.patreon.com...
Sheep, Cloning, and an Interview with Dr. Bill Ritchie
June 12, 2023 02:27 - 33 minutes - 17.8 MBOn this special episode of Cool Facts About Animals, we got to interview one of the scientists who changed the world! Dr. Bill Ritchie was one of the scientists behind the cloning of Dolly the Sheep. We talk about why this was so important, and how it has helped to change medicine today. We also have lots of cool facts about sheep, courtesy of Clara. We hope you enjoy the episode!
Rebroadcast: Dracomax on Dragons
May 31, 2023 14:13 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBWe're almost done with our episode on sheeps, featuring a very special interview with a scientist who was involved with perhaps the most famous sheep of all. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this rebroadcast of a very silly episode with our friend Mr. Eric of the excellent podcast What If World.
Four Truths and a Lie – Bug Edition
April 23, 2023 15:23 - 21 minutes - 19 MBWe had so much fun with our last four truths and a lie (ocean animals) that we decided to do it again! This episode features five unbelievable bugs. Four are real, one is fake. Can you spot the fake? Let us know what you guessed by emailing us at [email protected]! Thanks to our Patreon sponsors Loretta and Bennett! If you’d like to be a Patreon sponsor and help financially support our podcast, head over to https://www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals Thanks for your sup...
All About Cooking: Dinosaurs
March 21, 2023 20:03 - 22 minutes - 20.1 MBEvery once in a while, Jaguar prevails and we take a break from our regularly scheduled programming for an All About Cooking episode. This is one of those times. In this episode, Jaguar prepares Dinosaur with the essence of Turkish bay leaf. He also teaches us some pretty incredible science. Kids, DO NOT try this at home!! We’ll be back soon with a four truths and a lie about bugs! Thanks for listening! *The full episode didn't upload the first time. If you're having trouble, pleas...
Rebroadcast: The Schmidt Sting Pain Index with Dr. Justin Schmidt
February 28, 2023 14:26 - 26 minutes - 24.8 MBWe've had some sickness in our house that has interfered with our podcast schedule. (Don't worry, we're all ok!) So this month we're reaching into our archives to replay an episode you may have missed the first time. This is one of our favorite episodes, and one of our most popular. It's an interview with Dr. Justin Schmidt who has been stung by over 100 different insects and created a scale of how much each one hurts. He tells us about what it feels like to get stung by a bullet ant (OUCH!)...
Axolotls - plus interview with Dr. S. Randal Voss
January 31, 2023 17:11 - 31 minutes - 24.4 MBAxolotls are territorial, regenerative, and maybe hold the secret to eternal youth. Oh, and they're suuuuper cute. In this episode, we share 10 cool facts about axolotls, then we share our interview with Dr. S. Randal Voss. Dr. Voss is one of the leading experts on axolotls, and he shares all sorts of facts about what makes them unique, why they are critically endangered in the wild, and how kids can help protect them. Find out more about Dr. Voss's lab here: http://www.vosslab.com If y...
T-Rex v. Ankylosaurus
December 28, 2022 20:31 - 21 minutes - 18.7 MBIn this episode, one of the most fearsome predators of all time and a living tank go head-to-head. Yes, the T-Rex and the Ankylosaur battle! Before these two face off, we learn key facts to better predict who will take the crown. Which was faster? Which was smarter? Which was best equipped to survive? We gave a few different battle scenarios. What do you think would have happened? Send us an email at [email protected] with your answers, and we will send you a bookmark. We als...
Domestic Cats
November 28, 2022 00:55 - 27 minutes - 24 MBIf you are a regular listener of our show, you know that we LOVE cats – we even have three! In this episode, we learn all about domestic cats – how smart they are, how much they sleep, how well they communicate, some strange jobs they’ve had, and of course, how cute they are! Thanks to our Patreon sponsors, Maelynn, Coralynn and Atesh! If you’d like to help financially support us – and get a shout out on our show – head here. Also, with the holidays coming up, now is a good time to sh...
Jaguar's ABCs
November 28, 2022 00:54 - 3 minutes - 3.12 MBIn this bonus mini episode, Corduroy tries to teach Jaguar the ABCs... but it doesn't go quite according to plan.
Rats! With Special Guest Professor Monica Green
October 25, 2022 00:20 - 25 minutes - 16.8 MBIn this episode, we dive into the world of rats. Sure, they can crawl up sewer pipes into your toilet and may have been at least partly responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of Europeans. But - they're also really smart, feel regret, and can show emotion with their ears. This is a special episode. In our first half, we share cool rat facts. And in the second half, we interview Professor Monica Green, who studies plague. We learned so much from her about plague, how it was spread,...
Rats and Plague with Prof. Monica Green (extended cut)
October 24, 2022 23:55 - 29 minutes - 15.9 MBIn this episode, we include many of the facts from our interview with Professor Green that we couldn't fit in our Rat episode. We do go into some detail about the plague and its continued existence, so please use discretion in whether you feel comfortable listening to this episode. Don't miss our rat episode that accompanies this episode, which includes additional facts about rats and also includes lots of interesting information from Professor Green.
Interview with National Geographic Author Julie Beer
October 16, 2022 18:37 - 18 minutes - 11.9 MBIn this episode, we speak with National Geographic author about all sorts of cool animals facts. We talk about why pandas are black and white, why t-rexes have short arms, and some of her favorite animal myths to debunk. Julie is the author of almost 50 books, including a number of Weird But True books, and her new book - Why? Animals. Thank you to Paul and Evelyn for being our Patreon sponsors. If you'd like to support us financially, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/coolfacts...
Rebroadcast - Mega Plastic Episode with Dr. Jenna Jambeck
October 13, 2022 13:15 - 43 minutes - 31.5 MBToday we are rebroadcasting our mega plastic episode. We’re replaying this episode now because we just found out that one of the people we interviewed for this episode, Dr. Jenna Jambeck, was named as one of the 25 MacArthur Genius Grant recipients for 2022. This is a really big honor! We have a lot planned in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for an episode with Weird But True author Julie Beer about all sorts of animal trivia. And then – our episode about rats. As part of that episode, we...
Jaguar and Corduroy and Jaguar Present: Laughtown Game Olympics
September 24, 2022 13:56 - 10 minutes - 6.68 MBIn this special episode, Jaguar and Teddy play some games. You'll never guess who wins! Thanks to our Patreon sponsors, Magdalena, Kellan, and George! If you'd like to be our Patreon sponsor, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals
Cool Facts About Animals Visits the Redwoods!
August 31, 2022 20:48 - 34 minutes - 20.1 MBIt was a long time coming, but we finally made it to the Redwoods! We got to learn all about this amazing habitat and see the forest in person, as well as meet with two California State Park rangers, Marnin Robbins and Kyle Buchanan. In our discussions with them, we learn about the unusual way Redwood trees reproduce, the animals that live there, solve a Redwoods mystery, discover how to keep the habitat safe, and lots more. Thanks to our Patreon sponsors for making this episode possible! ...
Bonus: Interview with National Geographic Author and Wildlife Vet Dr. Gabby Wild
August 20, 2022 16:59 - 16 minutes - 8.93 MBIn this bonus episode, the Cool Facts About Animals Crew gets the chance to speak with National Geographic author and wildlife vet Dr. Gabby Wild. We speak about her new book, How to Speak Animal, and learn a lot about the different ways animals communicate. Unfortunately, she couldn’t tell us how to tell our cat Fuzzy to stop bullying our other cats. Alphas gonna alpha. We think you’ll enjoy learning all sorts of fun animal communication facts, including how crickets can tell us the tempera...
Episode Swap! Newsy Pooloozi's Plastic Trees and Animal Poo
August 03, 2022 15:00 - 20 minutes - 22.2 MBIt’s an episode swap! Today we’re sharing an animal-themed newsy podcast from our Kids Listen pals Newsy Pooloozi! You’ll hear stories about animals, plastic trees, and, well, poo. We think you’ll enjoy it. If you do, be sure to check out their podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.newsypooloozi.com Don’t forget about our Patreon sponsor meetup on Saturday, August 13 at 10 am pacific! We hope you can join us. https://www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals
Sled Dogs: Cool Facts About Animals and The Past and the Curious Mashup
July 31, 2022 20:06 - 41 minutes - 39.6 MBIn this special episode, Cool Facts About Animals and the Past and the Curious team up to learn all about sled dogs! We learn ten cool facts about sled dogs while also learning the history of two very special sled dogs who saved the town of Nome, Alaska. Don't forget out meetup on August 13 at 10 am Pacific for Patreon sponsors! Become a sponsor here: https://www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals Also, we have merch! Want a tshirt? An All About Cooking Apron? Find it here: https://www.z...
Honeybees
June 30, 2022 22:18 - 22 minutes - 19.9 MBIn this episode, we learn all about honeybees! Learn about the waggle dance, how furry bees are, and other fun facts about these amazing and important pollinators. We are having another Patreon meetup! Patreon sponsors at any level (beginning at $1) are invited to join us for a Zoom on August 13 at 10 am pacific/1 pm eastern. Zoom details will be available on our Patreon page. https://www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals Our kid challenge this episode is to build a home for mason bees....
Happy World Jaguar Day!
June 11, 2022 23:43 - 11 minutes - 7.81 MBNot to be confused with International Jaguar Day, we celebrate World Jaguar Day with Jaguar, his best friend Lunch the spider monkey burrito, and the rest of the crew. Not a lot of learning in this one, but lots of giggles.
VERSUS! Anaconda v. Salt Water Crocodile
May 16, 2022 01:57 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MBTwo kings of reptiles meet in our mock meetup ... anaconda versus crocodile (versus Jaguar). First, learn cool facts about the anaconda and salt water crocodile, and then let us know if you agree with our crowned winner(s). Thanks to our Patreon sponsors James and Millie! If you would like to be a Patreon sponsor (and start getting our newsletter!) head over here: https://www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals To answer our creature quiz, riddle or to let us know about your kid power cha...
Arctic Animals with Dr. Maarten Loonen
April 10, 2022 22:32 - 26 minutes - 17.4 MBDuring our research of the arctic fox, we discovered Dr. Maarten Loonen, a biologist who studies in the Arctic Circle. We learned so many cool things that we hadn't known about before, not just about the arctic fox but about other animals, too. Like the amazing journey of the arctic tern, and how to tell whether Rudolph is a boy or a girl reindeer. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed speaking to Dr. Loonen.
Arctic Fox
March 28, 2022 02:15 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBReady to learn about the pint-sized, fluffy-tailed arctic fox? Yes, the arctic fox is adorable. But it’s also tough. It's highly evolved to withstand the -50 degree temps of the arctic circle. We’ll learn about these traits and more facts that make these animals so cool in this episode. Thanks to our $10 Patreon sponsor Tessa for the suggestion! If you’d like to support us financially, check out our Patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals You can show your Cool F...
Introducing Mashups by Kids Listen
March 20, 2022 17:37 - 1 minute - 1.23 MBHello listeners! We know you've heard us talk about Kids Listen before. Well, we're excited to announce that they're putting out a new podcast series called Mashups. And we're in the first episode! The podcast "mashes up" two different podcasts. We were mashed with Ms. Lynn of the Good Words podcast. We talk about our podcasts, play a game together, and share some bloopers at the end. Here's the first episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep1-good-words-about-animals/id1502915...
Four Truths and a Lie
February 28, 2022 00:50 - 23 minutes - 20.9 MBWe’re very excited about this episode of Cool Facts About Animals. We’re breaking format to present “Four Truths and a Lie.” Four of these sea animals are real. One is not. Can you figure out which one is the lie? Thank you to our Patreon sponsors! If you would like to be a Patreon sponsor, head here: https://www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals We’ve also created a Cool Facts About Animals merchandise store! You can buy a t-shirt, sweatshirt, or canvas bag. Jaguar has also added an All...
Coyotes
January 28, 2022 15:19 - 29 minutes - 21.7 MBIn this episode, we learn about the trickster coyote. At the end of this episode, you’ll know their defense mechanisms, how dangerous they really are to humans, and what’s so cool about their noses. We’ll also learn a Native American story about coyotes. Plus, find out all about Latin from Jaguar. Thanks to our Patreon sponsors for your support! We are using the funds to travel to the Redwoods to learn more about different animals and speak with experts. If you’d like to support us financi...
Vaquita
January 02, 2022 00:21 - 41 minutes - 29.7 MBIn this episode, we learn about one of the most endangered animals in the world, the vaquita. Vaquitas are the smallest existing porpoise and there are only about 10 o them left. We learn about the vaquita, the reason why they are in such danger, and how to help. We meet with two vaquita experts – Dr. Barbara Taylor and conservationist Jonathan White – to help us better understand the plight of the vaquita. Be sure to check your feed for our stand-alone interviews with them too. Thanks to ...
Vaquita: Bonus interview with Dr. Barbara Taylor
January 02, 2022 00:20 - 26 minutes - 16.4 MBIn this companion episode to our vaquita episode we speak with scientist Dr. Barbara Taylor. She tells us even more interesting facts about the vaquita than we could fit into our vaquita episode. She also tells us about a real life polar bear encounter! Spoiler: she survived. Be sure to check out our interview with conservationist Jonathan White and our vaquita episode too!
Vaquita: Bonus interview with Jonathan White
January 02, 2022 00:19 - 34 minutes - 22.2 MBIn this companion episode to our vaquita episode, we speak with conservationist Jonathan White. He tells us about his own vaquita spotting, how dangerous it is out there on the Gulf of California, and we discuss why saving the vaquita matters. Also check out our interview with Dr. Barbara Taylor and our vaquita episode!
Jaguar Presents: All About Cooking (Vegetarian Version)
November 14, 2021 22:53 - 20 minutes - 13.5 MBUnfortunately for Jaguar, the cassowary escaped. So this all about cooking is all vegetarian.
Cassowary
November 08, 2021 00:55 - 26 minutes - 23.6 MBYou guessed it listeners! This episode is about the Australian flightless bird the cassowary. Learn about why this bird has been termed the world’s deadliest bird, what that horn thing is all about, and just how big they get. If you think you know the answer to our creature quiz or riddle, or if you did our kid challenge, let us know! Send us an email at [email protected] or tweet us at @coolanimalspod and we will send you a bookmark. Patreon sponsors! We are having a Zoom ...
Goblin Shark - Halloween Episode!
October 20, 2021 15:41 - 23 minutes - 20.8 MBWe’re featuring a creepy, Halloween-worthy animal in this bonus episode! The Goblin shark gets its name because it really does look like a goblin. Learn more about its impressive mouth gape, lightning fast jaw speed, and more. We mentioned the videos of the goblin shark eating – there are links to both videos in this informative article. https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/goblin-shark-mitsukurina-owstoni/ One of our kid challenges this episode is to try to find plastic-free ...
Bonus: One Word Story
October 12, 2021 12:53 - 1 minute - 1.04 MBIt's taken a bit longer than we wanted to get our next episode out. We found this goofy recording on my phone from the summer and thought you might enjoy. See you soon with our next episode!
Piranha
September 12, 2021 18:48 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBPiranhas get a bad rap. They’re thought of as vicious, human killing machines. While piranhas do have some impressive teeth and an even more impressive bite force, they’re really not quite as dangerous as they’re made out to be. In this episode, we do some piranha myth busting and learn more about this impressive creature. Thank you to RACC for our audio equipment. We really think you can tell the difference! We’re so glad to be able to share some clearer audio with you. Thank you also t...
Rhinoceros Viper
August 29, 2021 20:58 - 28 minutes - 23.8 MBOn this episode, we learn all about the venomous (not poisonous) rhinoceros viper. Learn about its cool retractable fangs, the not one but TWO types of venom it has, and take a listen to Jaguar's new evolution music. Thank you to the Regional Arts & Culture Council for our awesome new podcasting equipment! We are excited to give you better and better audio as we learn the tricks of our new equipment. Thank you also to Nora for being our Patreon sponsor! If you would like to be a Patreo...
Episode Swap! Newsy Jacuzzi
August 09, 2021 12:00 - 20 minutes - 15 MBHello listeners! We are doing an episode swap with Newsy Jacuzzi! We think you’ll love this podcast, another kid-grownup collaboration. They help find some of the coolest news stories from all across the world and share them with their listeners. There are often stories about animals, the environment, and other things that I know our listeners care about. We hope you like this episode, which has news stories about hangry fruit flies, air purification, and lots more. If you like Newsy Jacuzzi...
Ants and Other Bugs with Dr. Mark Moffett
August 05, 2021 12:42 - 24 minutes - 18.3 MBHave you ever watched ants hurry busily along and wonder what they're doing? Dr. Moffett did, and decided to turn that interest into ants and other bugs into a career. In this episode, we learn about ants - from the kind in your backyard to the kind that can eat people, how Dr. Moffett almost got trampled by elephants, hit by blowdarts, and other adventures. We also are joined by his wife Melissa, who tells us about their travels and more. Thanks to Andrew Barkan of Ear Snacks for our the...
Animal Facts from Our Listeners
July 25, 2021 13:38 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBWe asked, you answered! In this episode, we hear facts about sea slugs, lions, zombie caterpillars, wild horses, and lots more. And of course, Jaguar evolves to become even more powerful. Thanks to Ari, August, Cristian, Gracelyn, Lucy, Oliver, Sally, Tristan, Quinn, Harry, Iris, and Theo for their facts! Be sure to check out the Kids Listen podcast Best Day Yet for positivity, affirmations, and animal explorations. You can find the podcast here: https://www.bestdayyetpodcast.com Thank...
How Kids Can Stop Plastic Pollution
July 04, 2021 12:57 - 40 minutes - 29.8 MBOur plastic episode is here! In this episode, we learn about how much plastic is in the ocean, why that’s a problem for animals, how it all got there, and, most importantly, how you can help. We talked to so many experts to make this episode. Thank you to: Senator Jeff Merkley Dr. Jenna Jambeck, University of Georgia Christopher Joyce, NPR Rachel Giles, Chelsea Rochman’s lab Shaye DiPasquale, Terracycle David Clark, Amcor Thank you also to our fabulous editor, Eric Klein. If ...
Jaguar Presents: All About Cooking Meow Meow
June 11, 2021 23:37 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBThis is Jaguar meow meow! Learn how to cook endangered meat with just a flame thrower, trebuchet and elbow grease in this best ever episode!
Hippo/Hippopotamus
June 06, 2021 14:54 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBIn this episode we learn all about lake cow bacon, otherwise known as the hippopotamus! You’ll learn about poop-flinging, built-in sunscreen, mouth gape, how huge they are, and more. Thanks for listening! If you would like to support us on Patreon, please head here: https://www.patreon.com/coolfactsaboutanimals We have fun benefits like shout-outs and outtakes (including a funny one on poop today). Here’s our website. https://coolfactsaboutanimalspodcast.wordpress.com/2021/06/06/hippopo...
Cicadas - Brood X
May 10, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutes - 20.7 MBWe at Cool Facts About Animals are pretty jealous of our east coast listeners who are about to get visited by TRILLIONS of cicadas! In this episode, we give you all the information you need to know about this amazing insects, which have been waiting for the past 17 years to emerge. Included in that is a zombie fungus disease that makes their butts fall off! You don't want to miss this one. Thanks to our Patreon sponsors August and Wren! If you would like to be a Patreon sponsor, you can s...
Earth Day! Endangered and Comeback Animals
April 22, 2021 05:24 - 31 minutes - 22.4 MBHappy Earth Day! In this special bonus episode, we each choose an endangered or extinct animal to learn about, then we choose an animal that’s making a rebound, and share an idea for how you can help to keep animals of the endangered list! In this episode, we learn about: Black rhinoceros White rhinoceros European Jaguar Blackfooted pigeon Tooth-billed pigeon Condor Vaquita American alligator Here’s a great website to learn more about ethical and sustainably-produced seafoo...
Herons
April 12, 2021 00:45 - 28 minutes - 20 MBIn this special double episode, we learn all about herons. First, we are joined by Patreon supporter and friend Meryl to learn all about the third biggest heron, the great blue heron. Then, the usual crew learn more about the second biggest and biggest herons - the white bellied heron and the Goliath heron. We want to hear from you too! Send us an audio clip with your cool animal fact to [email protected] and we will include them in an upcoming episode. If you'd like to be...