The Steller's sea cow, or Hydrodamalis gigas, was one of the most beautiful and unique animals to have ever graced our planet - but despite that, less than three decades after they first became known to western science, these gentle giants of the ocean had been hunted to extinction. The loss of the Steller's sea cow was an unnecessary and avoidable tragedy, fuelled by capitalistic greed and a total lack of consideration for the natural world and the other living beings who share the Earth with us. While it's not an easy or uplifting story to tell, it's an important one all the same - especially now in our age of climate meltdown. We can't bring the Steller's sea cow back, but if we learn from the lessons their story holds, maybe we can help to prevent other at-risk species from suffering the same fate.

Original air date: 15th July 2025

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gsQugxRnH5rdPr1nUIYZBGujXG7gUcZK_3hBMd-c0ao/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the peak of his fame in the late 1980s, Bubbles the chimp - the beloved (and controversial) pet and sidekick of the (equally beloved & controversial) King of Pop - has disappeared completely from the public eye. But what really happened to him? Where did he go? And is he still alive? In this weeks episode of the Animal Nerd Podcast, I'm deep-diving into Bubbles' story, from his birth in a medical research facility to his stint as an international superstar to where he is now. Hope you enjoy! 💕

Original air date: 24th June 2025

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wxeWuru51w5a0GMvGkKw5aQNASEqntlvqD_18f25mY4/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thomas was a feral goose living in New Zealand, who initially made headlines when people realised that he had chosen a black swan as his mate. Their interspecies relationship alone would have been enough to garner attention, but when their fans realised that they were also both males, Thomas and his husband Henry were skyrocketed to international stardom. But it wasn't until a second black swan arrived at the scene and turned Henry's head that the real drama started to go down...

Honestly, this story has got to be one of my all-time favourites! And if you need a wholesome tale as a little pick-me-up, then I'm sure you'll love it too! Thomas is the kind of queer hero we all need in our lives.

Original air date: 17th June 2025

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jxIgozTzbKLz30VbCy5WbOVFyaCCm68mX9TcKaVbPm8/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One day, Blackie the donkey was living a quiet, unsuspecting life in rural Spain. The next, he found himself at the centre of an international rescue mission which included underhand journalism tactics, decades of campaigning, and a fierce debate about the intersection of tradition and animal welfare that still rages on to this day. So sit back and relax (as much as you can) as we dive deep into this complicated (and controversial!) story.

Original air date: 3rd June 2025

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rf4s689AVXWQl5dr58Eky5PVrm4Vg8F3HtECv-U4pvY/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you imagine the kind of wildlife native to Yorkshire, hippopotamuses are probably not the first species that spring to mind. And, sure, these days if you go for a stroll through the Dales you're definitely not going to run into one of them. But prior to the last ice age, they were actually a common sight across much of the UK, and so it's not as uncommon as you'd think for their fossilised remains to be dug up by archaeologists - and that's how the skeleton now known as the Armley or Leeds hippo was first found. And, look, I know an entire podcast episode about a collection of old bones doesn't sound very exciting (I mean, it's not even a full skeleton! Just a partial one!), but I promise this story is a lot more interesting than you might think.

Original air date: 13th May 2025

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nYM8ykaz-Yf39hQoXacyCf8036flPy1CyqxH2jMoliQ/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early 1980s, the case of the Silver Springs monkeys - seventeen macaques rescued from a medical research laboratory in Maryland - became one of the highest-profile animal rights cases in American history. It sparked widespread conversations on the ethics of animal experimentation and skyrocketed People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) into the global spotlight. Despite being a landmark case in the fight for a kinder world to animals, the truth of this story is a lot more nuanced and infinitely more complicated than the commonly-told version, and today we're diving into all of that.

Original air date: 2nd May 2025

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fOfShShNWbIYg2n1XxIF1HZbu8EPIZ9zVvQ_yotOSS0/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early 20th century, a wire-haired fox terrier named Caesar became the most famous dog in Europe after he took pride of place in the funeral procession of his owner, King Edward VII of England, but in the 100+ years since then he's been forgotten... until now!

"Where's Master? By Caesar the King's Dog" full audiobook:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wILLCkJ4lzc

Original air date: 15th April 2025

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DLANfvJh3OspuYZQO501MW1_Rq63KX5krMa9bjhbwR4/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rescue of Kaavan the Asian elephant - nicknamed 'the loneliest elephant in the world' - made headlines around the globe when American superstar Cher backed the campaign to free him. But there is so much more to this incredible story than that, and today we're taking a deep dive into the full life story of Kaavan, from his birth in the rainforests of Sri Lanka to his life now in a Cambodian sanctuary, the inspiring tale of his rescue, and the legacy his case has left behind.

Original air date: 8th April 2025

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WKW4ybjcadpgLl-mZZGBHSYYTZMfe7bfg96jLH-n9hw/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.