Extinction Event

King Island Emu

March 22, 2024 13:00 - 42 minutes - 29 MB

It's one of the fastest extinctions we've ever done on the show. An Emu half the size of its mainland brethren on Tasmania and Australia will completely disappear in just a handful of years. And somehow machine guns find their way into this story, too... Leave us a voice message at: speakpipe.com/extinctionevent Or drop us a line at [email protected]

American Chestnut

February 23, 2024 13:00 - 58 minutes - 40.4 MB

There’s a good chance you’ve never seen an American Chestnut Tree. That’s because they’re functionally extinct. 4 million of these giants were wiped out in a span of just 40 years! We haven’t seen numbers like that since the Passenger Pigeon episode. Or maybe the Rocky Mountain Locust episode. Or maybe another episode I’m forgetting. Tune in to find out what the heck happened. Leave us a voice message at: speakpipe.com/extinctionevent Or drop us a line at [email protected]

Christmas Island Bat

January 26, 2024 12:00 - 51 minutes - 35.4 MB

The Christmas Island Pipistrelle was a small bat that would see its life on the cozy tropical island it called home get utterly wrecked and overrun by a nightmarish group of vacationers…that never leave. Check out the Christmas Island archives. They’re cool! https://christmasislandarchives.com/ Leave us a voice message at: speakpipe.com/extinctionevent Or drop us a line at [email protected] ©2024 Extinction Event ©2024 Peglegdeer extinctionevent.buzzsprout.com

Black-footed ferret

January 05, 2024 11:00 - 56 minutes - 38.9 MB

It’s the black-footed ferret episode. Finally! This week we uncover how North America’s only native ferret species skittered right up to the very brink of extinction, until an unlikely hero walked them right back from that terrible ledge. You can find the “wanted” posters we talk about here: blackfootedferret.org/conservation-history Fanmail: Extinctionpod at gmail dot com

Martinique Muskrat

December 22, 2023 13:00 - 38 minutes - 26.7 MB

On this week’s episode we delve into the odor abundant world of the Martinique muskrat and find out why things get too hot to handle for this stowaway turned island-dweller.

Harambe

December 01, 2023 14:00 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MB

We’re baaaack! Season 7 behbeh. On this episode, the life, death, and aftermath of pop culture's beloved Harambe. Get ready to get deep into the crime scene for this western lowland gorilla. And since this is a show about extinction we’ll also talk about how gorillas are going extinct in the wild, but also how some are doing alright, actually. Let’s do this! Drop us a note at ExtinctionPod at gmail dot com. See more crazy AI generated episode artwork at @extinctioneventpod on tiktok ©2023...

Indian Cheetah

May 09, 2023 14:00 - 54 minutes - 37.5 MB

Prized for its hunting prowess and beautiful fur, the Indian cheetah served as a hunting companion and pet to Indian rulers for thousands of years. Despite being the world’s fastest land animal, speed alone won’t be enough for this big cat to outrace extinction. The usual culprits are at play in this week’s episode, but tune in for some interesting info about the famous ruler, Akbar The Great, and his impressive menagerie of cheetahs. Inquiries & episode recommendations: extinctionpod@gmail...

Baiji River Dolphin

April 25, 2023 21:00 - 42 minutes - 29 MB

This nearly blind river dolphin that relied almost exclusively on sonar, entered a living hell when motorized boats, along with a host of other messed up stuff, started taking over its home, the Yangtze River system. Though not official, the 20 million year reign of the “goddess of the Yangtze” is likely over. Dive in to this weeks episode as Jack & Melissa have an honest conversation about their discomfort of river dolphins, being electrocuted, and falling in love with the baiji’s unofficia...

Bad Bass

April 05, 2023 13:00 - 43 minutes - 30 MB

Get ready for an epic battle of survival in the heart of Guatemala! The Atitlán Grebe, also known as the “poc” by local Maya, is facing off against some killer big mouth bass! After these vicious predators were airdropped into the lake, the brave Lake Atitlán birds must team up with an American grad student to wage war against the unwelcome fish. It’s a fierce battle for survival. Not just for the Grebe’s, but the airline that started the whole thing: PanAm. Topic suggestions: extinctionpo...

Fungus

March 16, 2023 17:00 - 50 minutes - 34.8 MB

Welcome to the magical world of fungus. From the spooky to the trippy, it’s all things fungi on this week’s episode. We talk about fungus outbreaks following extinction events, the cordyceps fungus on The Last Of Us and a bunch of other random stuff. Topic recommendations? Send 'em to: [email protected]

P22

February 28, 2023 11:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MB

Extinction Event moonlights as a true crime podcast in this cross-genre special episode. It’s nature-meets-murder mystery as we delve into the unsolved disappearance of the famous mountain lion known as P22 (Puma 22). Join our under qualified and overly speculative detective squad as we explore the mysterious circumstances surrounding the killing of Los Angeles’s beloved big cat, and with the help of AI, provide some alternative theories of our own. [email protected]

Camel Corps

February 09, 2023 23:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MB

The Camel Corps was an elite team of Arabian camels used by the American army. These hardy creatures were all set to replace horses and burros as the country’s top beasts of burden, until the entire camel corps quickly went extinct. Leave us a note here: [email protected]

Xerces Butterfly

January 24, 2023 10:00 - 40 minutes - 27.9 MB

This vibrant blue invertebrate and San Francisco resident that fell victim to the city's development. We’re talking streetcars, sand dunes and sayonara for this beautiful insect on this episode of Extinction Event.

Killer Whales

January 09, 2023 10:00 - 51 minutes - 35.4 MB

Killer Whales AKA orcas. They’re not going extinct in the wild, but as captive performers in theme parks and aquariums around the world, that’s another story. Learn all about famous whales like Keiko (Free Willy) and Tilikum. Plus, find out what living in captivity does to a killer whale and learn why they’re going extinct in captivity.

California Grizzly Bear

December 13, 2022 12:00 - 50 minutes - 35.1 MB

Admired for their strength and size, our fascination with these bears was endless, until we ended them entirely. Get ready for some mild gore and extreme talent with our star apex predator this week, the California Grizzly Bear.

Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

November 29, 2022 10:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MB

Many believe this stunning bird is already gone. And while it could be declared extinct in the United States in the next couple months, continued sightings would call any official ruling into question.

Exeter Exchange & Formosan Clouded Leopard

November 15, 2022 12:00 - 50 minutes - 34.6 MB

This funky building in London housed an indoor zoo on the second floor. All kinds of exotic animals were on display here, including the now extinct Formosan Clouded Leopard.

Frogs & Toads

October 11, 2022 12:00 - 1 hour - 50.2 MB

**TASMANIAN TIGER UPDATE!! Stay tuned to the end for a special thylacine announcement!** The much anticipated frog & toad episode is finally here! Golden toads, poison dart frogs, gastric brooding frogs. You want ‘em and we got ‘em! Jump on in for a long, wild, amphibious ride. Leave us a message at: speakpipe.com/extinctionevent

The Beast of Champawat

September 27, 2022 12:00 - 45 minutes - 31.2 MB

*Warning: graphic descriptions involving a man-eating tiger.* We’re switching things up this week. For the first time ever Jack tells Melissa a story! In his debut man-eaters series, Jack surprises our regular host with a cunning tale about a Bengal tigress that killed over 400 people. Leave us a message at: speakpipe.com/extinctionevent

Western Black Rhino & Man of the Hole

September 02, 2022 22:00 - 45 minutes - 31.2 MB

**Stay tuned after the rhino story for a special Man of the Hole update!** Plus rhinos and their flashy horns! Do they hold magical powers? Will they cure a hangover? The answer is no and no, but that won’t stop humans from hunting down every last one of them until we know for sure. Leave us a message at: speakpipe.com/extinctionevent More extinct stuff on TikTok @extinctioneventpod ©2022 Peglegdeer ©2022 Extinction Event

Lobo

August 24, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 41.4 MB

One super smart wolf in New Mexico protects his pack from hunters and evades the pesky Ernest Thompson Seton. Leave us a message at: speakpipe.com/extinctionevent More extinct stuff on TikTok @extinctioneventpod ©2022 Extinction Event ©2022 PegLegDeer

Javan Tiger

August 05, 2022 21:00 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MB

Strong and extra stripey, these island dwelling tigers were surprisingly resilient in the face of rapid human expansion. Leave us a message at: speakpipe.com/extinctionevent More extinct stuff on TikTok @extinctioneventpod

9/11 Hero Dog

July 25, 2022 11:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MB

We’re turning the tables this episode and delving into de-extinction! Find out how Trakr, the famous german shepherd who found the last 9/11 survivor, got a second chance at heroism through dog cloning. Leave us a message at: speakpipe.com/extinctionevent More extinct stuff on TikTok @extinctioneventpod Credits: Discovery Hit by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royal...

Giant Monitor Lizard

June 30, 2022 18:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MB

Marveling at Australian megafauna. Featuring Megalania, the biggest terrestrial lizard of all time. WARNING: We brutally mispronounce many things and try to grapple with the metric system in this episode. Leave us a message at: speakpipe.com/extinctionevent More extinct stuff on TikTok @extinctioneventpod

Giant Monitor Lizard

June 30, 2022 18:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MB

Marveling at Australian megafauna. Featuring Megalania, the biggest terrestrial lizard of all time. WARNING: We brutally mispronounce many things and try to grapple with the metric system in this episode. Leave us a message at: speakpipe.com/extinctionevent More extinct stuff on TikTok @extinctioneventpod

War Pigeons

June 14, 2022 20:00 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MB

The story of Cher Ami and other wartime carrier pigeon heroes. This once widely used form of communication is now extinct. Leave us a message at: speakpipe.com/extinctionevent More extinct stuff on TikTok @extinctioneventpod ©2022 Extinction Event, PegLegDeer

Extinct Herb

May 26, 2022 14:00 - 46 minutes - 31.7 MB

Silphium was a highly prized herb in ancient times. Used in the kitchen and the bedroom, this mysterious plant was a must have for Mediterranean cultures. Then one day it disappeared without a trace. Visit speakpipe.com/extinctionevent to leave us a message about this weeks topic or anything on your mind. This weeks question: Should the pigeon replace the bald eagle as the national bird? Or tell us your weird pigeon story.

Megalodon

July 23, 2021 16:00 - 54 minutes - 37.5 MB

The biggest shark of all time not only reigned supreme for millions of years, but had the most powerful bite force of any creature ever! So, what happened? Plus, our World Famous End of Season Round Up!

Hitler Beetle

June 30, 2021 12:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MB

Except for the occasional spelunker, these quiet cave beetles enjoyed a pretty solitary existence. But when the scientific community finally got around to classifying and naming them, eons of tranquility would finally be disrupted.

Zanzibar Leopard

June 03, 2021 13:00 - 51 minutes - 35.6 MB

Mystical powers permeate the extinction story of these compact island leopards. Despite having coexisted with humans for over 20,000 years, witchy forces led to their swift end.

The Mink Of Denmark

May 12, 2021 11:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MB

Humans usually kill mink for their silky soft fur. Not this time! This time we’re on a mission to save all humanity.

Tibbles The Cat

April 28, 2021 11:00 - 46 minutes - 31.8 MB

This legendary cat was rumored to have single-handedly wiped an entire species of bird (Lyall Wren) off the face of the Earth. Was this mysterious creature a demon from the deep blue, or just a regular old house cat?

Man Of The Hole

April 14, 2021 14:00 - 44 minutes - 31 MB

This guy has been surviving by himself in the Amazon Rainforest for over 20 years. When he dies, he will become an endling to his tribe. His people and their language lost forever. Discover all the juicy details of what happens when humans start hunting their own species in this unsettling episode. 2018 Man Of The Hole video: youtube.com/watch?v=k7P-8Lq4pyM

Hawaiian Tree Snail

March 31, 2021 11:00 - 44 minutes - 30.8 MB

Get an intimate peek inside the private life of the world’s most famous snail. Plus, discover how an entire species of yellow-tipped tree snails fall victim to an unlikely predator.

Rat Island

March 17, 2021 11:00 - 50 minutes - 34.7 MB

Over 200 years ago a family of shipwrecked rats found refuge on a small Aleutian island. As their colony grew, so did their thirst for the blood of local birds. With the birds on the brink of extinction, it’s up to humans to step in and exterminate the rats before it’s too late.

Colorado Grizzlies

March 03, 2021 13:00 - 46 minutes - 31.9 MB

The bears who called the San Juan Mountains their home were hermits who hibernated a lot of the year. The ultimate laid-back neighbors. But when some whiny ranchers moved in with their noisy sheep and loud-ass shot guns, the Colorado Grizzlies would never know peace again. Plus, we rant way too much about Grizzly Man.

Episodes