Strange by Nature Podcast
247 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 33 ratingsLife is strange, naturally you want to hear about it. Strange by Nature is your guide to the strange, weird and unbelievable side of nature. Professional naturalists present weekly curated stories about just how strange nature can get.
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Episodes
The Dinosaurs Died in the Spring
April 24, 2024 09:30 - 57 minutes - 79.3 MBThis week Victoria tells us all about the strange bird, the Pelican. Did you know they can fit 5 gallons of water in their mouth? Kirk is up next and blows our minds when it comes to a new find that teaches us about the very last minute dinosaurs spent on Earth. Rachel is up last and tells us about one of her favorite flowers, the very useful Jewelweed. Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free! Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature ...
Unbelievable Honey Guides
April 17, 2024 09:34 - 44 minutes - 61.1 MBThis week Rachel brings the amazing story of the relationship between humans and birds called Honeyguides. Victoria looks into the strange story of bird respiration and Kirk discusses the process of how volcanic islands become lush and green. Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free! Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Can Tapeworms Double Your Life?
April 10, 2024 09:34 - 37 minutes - 51.8 MBThis week, Kirk talks about how scientists found a way to double or even triple your lifespan. The catch? You have to be an ant and you have to be infected with tapeworms. Keeping with the gross topics. Rachel serves up a disgusting bouquet of Ambergris. One of the most valuable substances on earth that smells both wonderful and awful. Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free! Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: contact...
Parachuting Beavers
March 27, 2024 09:30 - 37 minutes - 52.1 MBRachel's up first this week with a deep dive on the largest toothed whale in the world, the Sperm whale. How did they get that weird name? You'll have to listen to find out. Kirk shares the bizarre story of the time Idaho parachuted 76 beavers into a remote wilderness as part of operation Beaver Drop. It's an amazing story with some long-term benefits you can even see from space! Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free! Support us: pa...
Land Shrimp and a Leech in Your Eye
March 20, 2024 09:33 - 36 minutes - 50.8 MBThis week, Kirk starts us off with an unbelievable story about a recent science expedition to one of the most remote jungles in the world where scientists bizarrely discovered a terrestrial shrimp. That's right a shrimp that lives on land. Rachel is up next and tells us about a beautiful and rare phenomenon, hair snow. This strange creation requires a fungus and exactly the right weather. When they come together, something magical happens. Victoria rounds out the show by doing a run-down...
When The Ocean Attacks Swimmers
March 13, 2024 09:30 - 42 minutes - 59.1 MBThis week, Victoria spins a tale of a mystery creature inflicting terrible pain swimmers and the strange unorthodox researcher who solved the mystery. Kirk then tells us about strange obelisks living in our mouths. Rachel rounds out the week by diving down 16,000 feet under the ocean to track down a bizarre eel with a giant mouth. Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free! Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: contact@stran...
3rd Annual Bizarre Quiz Show feat. Brett Sieberer
March 06, 2024 10:30 - 48 minutes - 66.5 MBIt's that time again, the end of another year of Strange by Nature. So, as usual, we're joined by professional naturalist Brett Sieberer and he takes over the show to quiz us about the past year of shows and other bizarre nature knowledge. Yes, we play the ever popular game, Eat, Ride, Jacket. Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free! Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strang...
The Most Painful Plant in the World
February 28, 2024 10:30 - 43 minutes - 59.2 MBThis week Rachel kicks of the show talking about the bizarre theoretical phenomenon of Spaghettification, the process of your body being stretched out into a line of sub-atomic particles inside a black hole. Victoria then takes us to the ocean where we learn about how the ear-wax plugs of whales can teach us about their life-histories. Kirk then wraps it all up by telling us about the horrific experience of bing stung by the most painful plant in the world, the Gympie-Gympie. Join us we...
The Missing Continent of Zealandia
February 21, 2024 10:30 - 38 minutes - 52.7 MBThis week Kirk kicks us off with a discussion of Samurai Crabs and realizes they sound familiar because of a strange childhood connection involving a cartoon rabbit. Rachel then dives into prions and Chronic Wasting Disease. Fear not, she has good news. Victoria rounds out this week by telling us about the missing continent of Zealandia. Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free! Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: cont...
The North American Plant with Caffeine
February 14, 2024 10:30 - 33 minutes - 46.6 MBVictoria kicks off this week with a charged up salute to caffeine. Sure, you can find it in Coffee and Tea but there are other plants from around the world with caffeine including a Holly from North America. Kirk is up next and he shares multiple examples of times humans have unintentionally caused the evolution of species. Rachel rounds out this week's episode with a Valentine's treat of pearls. Where do they come from? Why do they exist? Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our...
Ninety-five Foot High Rogue Waves
February 07, 2024 10:30 - 32 minutes - 45 MBThis week we Rachel and Kirk both head to the ocean but or very different reasons. Rachel tells us all about the Portuguese Man-O-War, one of the strangest creatures in the sea. Upon hearing the story, Kirk decides he may never swim in the ocean again. Kirk brings us back to the sea again with a story about the time his ship almost fell victim to the North Sea and then fills us in on the phenomenon of Rogue Waves that can reach 95 feet in height. That's some big waves! Surf's up! J...
Cologne for Cats?
January 31, 2024 13:10 - 35 minutes - 48.8 MBThis week Kirk kicks things off with details of a fascinating study that determined which perfume tigers find most alluring. The implications for research are surprisingly useful. Rachel takes on a listener suggestion and covers new research into the bizarre ability of Reindeer to eat while they sleep! Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free! Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Vi...
A T-Rex with Lips
January 24, 2024 10:30 - 44 minutes - 60.8 MBThis week Victoria starts us off by having us think about dinosaurs and why we haven't updated our portrayals of them based on new science. It turns out, T-Rex probably had lips. Kirk then tells the tale of a time in the far distant past when birds ate our ancestors. Rachel wraps things up this week with the bizarre tale of a moth with a surprising diet. Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free! Support us: patreon.com/strangebyn...
Why Are There So Many Deadly Animals in Australia?
January 17, 2024 10:30 - 41 minutes - 56.6 MBRachel kicks off this week with a bizarre tale of a parasite that invades the nests of red ants, pretends to be their queen, works the ants to death, and eats their young all in a quest to become a beautiful butterfly. Victoria takes us to Australia and asks the question, why are there so many poisonous animals there? Kirk rounds out the episode with the strange story of how volcanoes may be changing the color of owls. Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon ge...
Beer Saved Our Lives
January 10, 2024 10:29 - 32 minutes - 44.8 MBThis week on the show, Kirk talks about how Beer saved his life (and yours.) Rachel then has a mystery animal that isn't anything like you would suspect from the name. The Mountain Chicken doesn't live in mountains, and isn't a chicken. It isn't even a bird. It is the biggest frog in the world. Weird. Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free! Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us ...
Where Did Tongues Come From?
January 03, 2024 10:30 - 38 minutes - 52.2 MBTwo great topics this week. Rachel tells us about mysterious rivers that flow under the ocean and Kirk tracks the history and evolution of the tongue! Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free! Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Inducing Hibernation with Sound
December 27, 2023 13:43 - 33 minutes - 45.6 MBThis week, Kirk kicks things off by sharing some incredible research that shows it may be possible to induce a torpor/hibernation state in mammals with ultrasound. Rachel lets us know all about the Gopher Tortoise, and Victoria tell us all about the strange world of Mussel reproduction. Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free! Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebyna...
Inducing Torpor with Ultrasound
December 27, 2023 13:43 - 33 minutes - 45.6 MBThis week, Kirk kicks things off by sharing some incredible research that shows it may be possible to induce a torpor/hibernation state in mammals with ultrasound. Rachel lets us know all about the Gopher Tortoise, and Victoria tell us all about the strange world of Mussel reproduction. Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free! Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebyna...
Echidnas Have a Four-headed Pecker
December 20, 2023 10:30 - 46 minutes - 63.7 MBHello Dear Listeners. Here's what we have for you this week. Victoria kicks things off by telling the tale of her recent encounter with one of the world's few venomous mammals and you'll never guess where she found it...her basement! Kirk invents a weird quiz about strange ways nature might try to kill you. Which is more likely, getting hit in the face by a duck while jet skiing or being gored by a bison? Rachel shares about a relative of the playtpus, the Echidna, and wow does she ever sa...
Bull Sharks on the Golf Course
December 13, 2023 12:18 - 42 minutes - 59 MBWe had an absolute blast this week with the full crew. Rachel kicks us off by telling us exactly how strange Scallops really are. Are those eyes? Yup. Next up, Victoria tells us the story of the golf course with bull sharks in the water traps. Kirk then wraps things up by testing out how well the other hosts can spot a hidden snake in digitally altered images all to test out something called the Snake Detection Theory. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: contact@strangeby...
Excuse Me, Is That the Anal Secretion of a Beaver You’re Wearing?
December 06, 2023 10:30 - 34 minutes - 47 MBKirk takes us on a journey to learn about where the smell of Musk comes from and along the way we find out about a problem with the synthetic versions that took our nostrils by storm starting in the 1990s. Rachel then tells the amazing story about how the physical structure of dragonfly wings can destroy bacteria just by coming into contact with it. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
The Dumbest Looking Spider in the World is Deadly
November 29, 2023 10:30 - 27 minutes - 38.4 MBRachel kicks things off this week with the most ridiculous looking spider ever. Seriously. This thing is bizarre and cool and completely stupid looking. Listen as we learn about the Pelican Spider. Kirk takes us on a real-life Hero's Journey to the briny depths of the Galapagos Spreading Zone where biologists got a little help finding a rich biological treasure below the waves. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynat...
The Dumbest Looking Spider in the World
November 29, 2023 10:30 - 27 minutes - 38.4 MBRachel kicks things off this week with the most ridiculous looking spider ever. Seriously. This thing is bizarre and cool and completely stupid looking. Listen as we learn about the Pelican Spider. Kirk takes us on a real-life Hero's Journey to the briny depths of the Galapagos Spreading Zone where biologists got a little help finding a rich biological treasure below the waves. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynat...
Humans are Slowing Getting Colder
November 22, 2023 10:30 - 58 minutes - 79.8 MBThis week Kirk kirk kicks things off by talking about a fungus showing up somewhere unexpected. Speaking of unexpected, Rachel shares a story about two species that were accidentally cross-bred in a lab when it shouldn't have been possible. Victoria rounds out the show this week by talking about how weirdly we're all getting cooler over time. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Spring Nocturnal Wanderings is my Band Name
November 15, 2023 10:31 - 38 minutes - 52.6 MBVictoria brings us the amazing story of the world's first ever known fruit eating frog. Yeah, it pollinates flowers too. Kirk delves into the Salt Cedar and tries to puzzle out whether or not invasive species really are to blame for being the way they are. Rachel blows our minds by telling us about pollinators and flowering plants in the ocean. She presents new research on crustaceans as pollinators. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] ...
40 Million Pounds of Beer Yeast
November 08, 2023 10:30 - 27 minutes - 37.2 MBThis week, Rachel ask the question, "Can you tell if something is wet?" the answer may surprise you. Kirk talks about a new surprising use for waste beer yeast, it just might be the key to clean drinking water. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Maybe Don’t Eat the Snails
November 01, 2023 09:30 - 28 minutes - 39 MBKirk just can't help himself and goes with another episode about a parasite. Ladies and Germs, we present, the Rat Lung Worm. Rachel keeps the infection theme going by talking about the first ever case of a cross-kingdom infection when a man was found to have a fungus growing in his throat. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
The Halloween Episode 2023
October 25, 2023 09:30 - 30 minutes - 42.1 MBWelcome to the Halloween Episode. This week we have three spooky stories. Rachel talks about the terrifying Black Swallower Fish, Victoria bring us the story of Pirate Spiders and Kirk examines the smell of fear. Happy Halloween! Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
A Digestive Turduckin
October 18, 2023 09:30 - 33 minutes - 46.1 MBAs we ramp up toward Halloween things really start to get weird. Kirk makes us all queasy by talking about Bot flies that prey on humans. Rachel brings us the bizarre looking Monkey Slug Caterpillar and Victoria tells us all about Cockroaches. We had a ton of fun this week, we hope you do too. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Let’s All Fly Into the Fire!
October 11, 2023 09:30 - 49 minutes - 67.9 MBVictoria kicks things off with a bizarre story about Fire Beetles, a strange animals that actually goes TOWARD fire instead of away from it. Kirk then shares some disturbing news about powerful solar storms that could disable society and Rachel rounds out this week's show with the spookiest of near-Halloween topics...mistletoe? Oh yeah, we also answer a strange listener question about Pineapple. Amanda, how dare you? Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: contact@strangebyna...
Wait...are Jackalopes Real?
October 04, 2023 09:30 - 30 minutes - 42.2 MBRachel starts us off this week with the strange history of Jackalopes. It seems they are a fairly recent fabrication and not real animals...or are they? The story is stranger than you may expect. Kirk swerves into Rachel's lane this week and takes us to the depths of the ocean where the mysterious Volcano Snail lives aside hydrothermal vents and creates a shell and body covered in metallic armor. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit...
Cheetahs Are Weird
September 27, 2023 09:30 - 39 minutes - 54 MBKirk brings some new science around Bamboo. Are we on the verge of a massive die-off? Rachel talks Cheetahs! Are they strange? Yup! Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Uh, There’s a Worm in Your Brain
September 20, 2023 09:30 - 41 minutes - 56.9 MBVictoria starts off this week making us squirm with the story of a worm in a woman's brain. Kirk then shares some strange facts about the Fossa, the main antagonist in the kids movie Madagascar that for sure did NOT make it into the cartoon and Rachel wraps things up this week where else but the ocean where she shares about an amazing and enormous colonial animal. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Do Spiders have Dreams?
September 13, 2023 09:30 - 36 minutes - 49.6 MBThe whole gang's back together this week and it ends up being an unplanned invertebrate extravaganza! Rachel blows our mind this week with new research that shows spiders dream, Victoria then talked about absolutely astounding ant super-colonies that span several countries in size. Kirk rounds out our invertebrate celebration with a story about an amazing new wasp named after the Dementors from Harry Potter. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: contact@strangebynaturepodca...
Can Plants Smell? (Spoiler: YES!)
September 06, 2023 09:30 - 29 minutes - 41 MBThis week Kirk answers the question, "Can plants smell?" by looking at some really interesting experiments. Rachel then decides to rise to the occasion of talking about the weird world of yeasts. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
When Grass Screams for Help
August 30, 2023 12:39 - 28 minutes - 39.2 MBThis week Rachel takes us (unsurprisingly) to the depths of the ocean to meet a bizarre and ancient creature while Kirk talks about how the smell of fresh cut grass may actually be a cry for help. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
The Invisible Squid
August 23, 2023 09:30 - 38 minutes - 53.4 MBKirk kicks things off with a deep dive on Sea Devils, Rachel brings us the story of a squid that seems to have an invisibility cloak and Victoria tells us the tale of a strange bird that smells exactly like tangerines. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Unexpectedly Glowing Flying Squirrels
August 16, 2023 09:30 - 38 minutes - 53 MBVictoria is back this week and she starts things off with a list of animals that smell like familiar foods. Kirk tells us about the Red-lipped Batfish, an utterly bizarre creature from the ocean and Rachel rounds out the show this week with a suggested topic, glowing flying squirrels! Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Land of 10,000 Landbergs
August 09, 2023 09:30 - 27 minutes - 38 MBThis week Rachel goes in search of a bird lost to science for over 100 years and Kirk answers the question, "Where did all of these lakes come from?" Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Maned Wolves are Taller Than Your Kitchen Counter!
August 02, 2023 09:30 - 37 minutes - 50.9 MBThis week Kirk kicks off the show with the tallest canine in the world, the strange Maned Wolf. Rachel then takes us off the planet to the outer reaches of the solar system to learn about Haumea, a strange dwarf planet shaped like a giant rugby ball. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Talking Baby Talk to Dolphins
July 26, 2023 09:30 - 38 minutes - 53 MBVictoria kicks things off this week with a surprising story about Garlic Mustard that goes against everything we thought we knew. Kirk then really stretches our minds by talking about extended cognition in spiders. Rachel rounds out this week's show talking about a new discovery around dolphin language. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Cave Dwelling Human Fish
July 19, 2023 09:30 - 35 minutes - 48.6 MBRachel really kicks things off this week by telling us about the "human fish" that live in caves. Victoria is back this week and looking at how the gender of scientists can skew the results of research. Kirk rounds things off this week by talking about how hippos sweat a pseudo-blood to use as sunscreen. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Why Does Nature Keep Making Crabs?
July 12, 2023 09:30 - 36 minutes - 49.7 MBThis week, Kirk talks about how Carl Linnaeus thought there were species of Wild humans and Monster humans. Rachel then tells us about carcinization, the evolutionary process that keeps turning species into crabs. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
The Unicorn of the Sea
July 05, 2023 01:22 - 42 minutes - 58.4 MBThis week Rachel kicks things off with a story about the Unicorns of the Sea, Narwhals! Guest Jarrod Klopp tells us about a newly discovered superfood fungus found in the Grand Prismatic pool at Yellowstone that may end up feeding humans in space. Kirk rounds out the week with by examining questions of Astrobiology. Is Earth-like life inevitable? Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
The Bird with a Three Foot Tail
June 28, 2023 09:30 - 38 minutes - 53.3 MBThis week Kirk talks about strange collective nouns for animals and an animal we never realized travels in herds until recently. Rachel tells us about the amazing quetzal bird with a three foot tail and Victoria rounds out this week's show with a series of updates chocked full of new updates to old stories. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
The Liquid Rainbow River
June 21, 2023 09:30 - 35 minutes - 48.4 MBThis week Victoria tells us about the strange armored spiny mouse. Kirk talks about real life dragons in the sea and Rachel rounds out the week with tales of the most colorful river in the world. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Goats Don’t Get Scurvy
June 14, 2023 09:30 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MBDid you know that most other animals make their own vitamin C and we're the weirdos who don't? You won't find a goat or lemur with Scurvy. Kirk tells us all about it. Rachel then brings us on a journey of discovery under the sea to learn about the Sea Horse. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Viruses Can Make You More Attractive! (to mosquitoes)
June 07, 2023 09:30 - 44 minutes - 61.3 MBThis week Rachel kicks things off by talking about Clown Fish and how they can actually change their sex! Guest Alicia Little has us fascinated with the science behind catnip and Kirk finishes up with an amazing story of how viruses make you more attractive to mosquitoes. Link to the cat study with cute graphics:https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abd9135 Link to the cat video Alicia mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNUz4zQTA1E Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Ema...
The Rarest Bee in the World
May 31, 2023 09:30 - 40 minutes - 55.4 MBHappy Summer! This week, Kirk kicks things off by talking about another human parasite, Rachel details the re-discovery of one of the rarest bees in the world and Victoria tells the tale of a drowned child brought back to life. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com
Hold on...is the sun actually Green?
May 24, 2023 11:54 - 30 minutes - 42.2 MBThis week Victoria blows our mind with a story of beetles moisture farming though their anus, Kirk goes on a rant about the color of the sun and Rachel tells us a tale of a cool hermit crab with connections to the film/book Howl's Moving Castle. Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature Email us: [email protected] Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com