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In this episode, Randi and Nathaniel discuss camels. Like, all of them. Not just dromedaries.
Episode 016: The Black Bear Necessities
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In this episode, Randi and Nathaniel discuss the American icon that is the black bear. The two wonder over this food-stealing creature, and a special guest drops by the studio.
Episode 015: Unfriendly Neighborhood-less Wandering Spiders
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In this episode, Randi and Nathaniel discuss Brazilian wandering spiders. Brazilian wandering spiders have almost a six inch leg span, a knack for hiding in produce, and a bite that causes boners.
Show Notes
Let’s not beat around the bush: the venom of Brazilian wandering spiders causes priapism in its victim. As a result, our worldly co-hosts spend most of the episode dragging that fact out as long as possible. Randi also gives a spider anatomy lesson, and describes sultry spider mating habits in alarming detail. Nathaniel demonstrates his astounding knowledge of the god Priapus, while Randi misinterprets logical positivism. Tune in to find out if Brazilian wandering spiders are great, or just okay.
Episode 014: Toucan Keep A Secret
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In this episode, Randi regains control of the podcast and Nathaniel returns to his lowly co-hosting duties. Oh, and also they talk about toucans.
Show Notes
Toucans! Can’t live with them (they’re terrible pets) and can’t live without them (their poop builds forests!). They are also one of the more delightful animals Randi and Nathaniel have talked about to date: they playfight with their bills, they grace the boxes of some of our favorite cereal, and they have feather-esque tongues. Tune in to find out if toucans are great, or just okay.
Episode 013: Aye-Aye Carumba
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In this episode, Nathaniel and Randi discuss the adorable aye-aye. Nathaniel takes over hosting duties, so you know what? No show notes this week. ‘Cause Randi ain’t gonna write nothin’ if she ain’t in charge.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Nathaniel has a natural phobia of microphones. When called upon to host this episode, he agreed to do so only on condition that he be allowed to perform his lines from an adjoining room, with the result that portions of his performance are nearly inaudible, while Randi’s voice remains a model of crystalline perfection throughout. Please consider this a blessing in disguise rather than the unfortunate technical error it technically is.
Episode 012: This Man…This Mongoose!!!
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In this episode, Randi and Nathaniel discuss the mighty mongoose. You know, like Rikki-Tikki-Tavi!
Show Notes
Let’s just get to the good part: mongooses are resistant to the neurotoxins in snake venom. That means if they were a comic book character, they would be Anti-Venom (or possessed by the Anti-Venom symbiote, if you’re a pedant). Like all delightful animals, mongooses have an anal scent gland. They use this gland to mark territory and indicate receptiveness to mating. Mating must be fun, since mongooses giggle during it. Mongooses also feature prominently in some folklore and mythology–for instance, the Egyptian god Ra would transform into a giant mongoose in order to fight the evil god Apopis (why wasn’t that in Gods of Egypt?!). Many ancient cultures also revered mongooses as protectors due to their resistance to snake venom. Tune in to find out if mongooses are great, or just okay.
Episode 011: Sea Wasp. Sea Wasp Run.
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In this episode, Randi and Nathaniel discuss the peerless sea wasp. Sea wasps have been described as “the most lethal jellyfish in the world,” which seems super-duper fun.
Show Notes
Sea wasps are a type of box jellyfish. They are also incredibly venomous, and have been responsible for about 63 deaths in Australia since 1884. Adult jellies are known as medusas, which is pretty rad. Join us for a romp of an episode in which Nathaniel has a hard time feigning enthusiasm and Randi has a hard time justifying the existence of such a beast. We also take the houseboat out from the Thames for the day, and interview two sea creatures with privileged upbringings and noticeably inconsistent accents. Tune in to find out if sea wasps are great, or just okay.
Episode 010: What a Load of Bull Shark
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In this episode, Randi and Nathaniel discuss the mighty bull shark. The bull sharks are unique since they can survive–and thrive–in both freshwater and saltwater. Tune in to find out if bull sharks are great, or just okay.
Episode 009: Stand by Your Mantis
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In this episode, Randi and Nathaniel discuss Praying Mantises. You know, those super cute critters that featured heavily in a season one episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Show Notes
There are so many interesting things about praying mantises: their hunting tactics (they have surprisingly good eyesight), their anatomy (their heads can rotate 180 degrees!), and their cultural significance (many ancient civilizations believed them to be powerful). Of course, our super mature hosts focus on how they do it. So much so, in fact, that this episode features a new song and segment: “How Do You Think They Do It?” Seriously, praying mantises occasionally (not always) practice sexual cannibalism. How can that be ignored?? Join Randi and Nathaniel as they marvel over this insect, debase themselves with tomfoolery, and interview a plucky young mantis by the name of Smoochy P. Tune in to find out if praying mantises are great, or just okay.
Episode 008: Cassowary and Peace
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In this episode, Randi and Nathaniel discuss the cunning cassowary–that’s right, that awful flightless bird that lives in the land down under. Cassowaries have the reputation of being quite dangerous, although a human hasn’t been killed by a cassowary since 1926. The fear of cassowaries probably comes from their horrific, Uma Thurman-esque feet, which include “a long, straight, murderous nail which can sever an arm or eviscerate an abdomen with ease.” Join Randi and Nathaniel as they marvel over this horrible reminder of the tyranny of dinosaurs.
Show Notes
Guys, cassowaries are terrifying. They can run over 30 mph (that’s around 50 km/h for those of you who live in a country that’s never been to the moon), they have a vertical jump of almost five feet (1.5 m), and they can swim so you can’t count on jumping into water to escape them. That said, the majority of cassowary attacks are on dumb-dumbs that try to feed them. So don’t do that, you dumb-dumbs, okay? Cassowaries are mostly frugivorous, and they swallow fruit (including bananas) whole. Their poop spreads the seeds of these fruits, so cassowaries are kind of like terrible, loud Johnny Appleseeds. There are three species of cassowary; of them, only one is endangered: the southern cassowary. Vehicles are the largest threat to cassowaries, which–to be honest–kinda diminishes their intimidating nature. Tune in to find out if cassowaries are great, or just okay.
This episode includes the following segments:
“I Think I Could Take It” — Nathaniel believes he’s finally hit pay dirt when he’s hired by vintner Cassius the Cassowary to work at an Australian vineyard.
“What Do You Think it Tastes Like?” — Randi shares a recipe for Cassowary Stone Soup.