What is That?: Recent Episodes
Danielle and Katie
We've got good news and bad news and I'll be honest with you: it's the same news. We've. Got. Worms. Again. Prepare to be delighted and disgusted, maybe at the same time, as we delve into the depths of the ocean for the Bearded Fireworm, then traverse into some moist marshlands to be infected by the Snail Eyestalk Worm.
This week we go back, way back, wending our way to some of our first animal discoveries to see how they're doing now. We've headed back to year one of the podcast and we have some exciting updates! Pack your bags and prepare for all weather as we start up in the arctic, learning new behaviors emerging in the Bowhead Whale. Hike up the mountains to revisit the Himalayan Brown Bear. We'll also be taking a trip to the land of noses to see what the Brown Kiwi and Proboscis Monkey are up to. It's going to be a whirlwind adventure that you won't want to miss!
Have we got a treat for you! On this very special "Location" episode we are telling our first-hand experiences with a variety of animals from our very own trip to the incredible island-country of Iceland. By joining us on our journey first to the raw, mostly undeveloped East side and then as we make our way back to the more often traveled West side of the island, you will hear stories from our wild, awe-inspiring, sometimes perilous adventure. Prepare yourself for the unexpected as we encounter the Icelandic Horse, Reindeer, Arctic Fox, Iceland Gull and Arctic Char.
Happy Independence Day! As you look to the skies with joy and excitement to celebrate with explosions of light, we will be exploring some places much more down to earth and ocean with just as much vibrancy. Learn about the multiple functions and omnipotent beauty of nature's light-producing capabilities through discovery of two animals that have incredibly evolved to be lit from within. The California Millipede and Siphonophores burst with color intensity, celebrating year round the independent evolution of bioluminescence.
Join us as we venture to one of the most unique and critically endangered ecosystems on Earth, the Cloud Forests. These forests exist under such specialized conditions that it's no surprise the animals that live there are incredibly uniquely adapted to survive in them. We'll breathe the misty mountain fog and creep through the foliage dense, biodiverse landscape to uncover the nearly invisible Glass Frog and wait with baited breath for a glimpse of the newly discovered Olinguito.
Bust out those wet suits and find a really big suit case for all of your diving gear, we're back in the kelp forests and we've gone a-travelling. We've discovered that the world is riddled with kelp forests in all states whether increasing, declining or holding a stasis and this week we're highlighting some kelp forests you may have never heard of. Brush up on your Japanese as Danielle guides us through the chilly, ethereal Japanese Kelp Forest and prepare yourself to be awed by the Pajama Catshark in the Great African Seaforest.
The rains have ceased, the flowers are blooming... and we're all sneezing every time we step outside. It's pollinator season! This week, as is our fashion, we've dug up a couple of animals that are key pollinators in their area, and if you're expecting a buzzing insect or a nectar-obsessed bird, you're in for a surprise. Join us as we learn about how the Drakensberg Crag Lizard and the Cape Spiny Mouse have developed a close relationship with the plants in their area, and really how surprisingly similar their lifestyles are!
Ever dreamed of having a talking parrot to come home to or a fuzzy chimp to integrate into the family dynamics? We're here to tell you why you might want to rethink those pets. This week we delve into the dark world of illegal wildlife trafficking. We'll be narrowing our focus in order to go a little deeper into some of the most at risk species and spout some surprising statistics about the all too familiar parrot and the closest living relatives to humans, apes and monkeys. Content Warning: Some disturbing stories are described during this episode concerning bodily mutilation, sensitive audiences be advised.
Are you glad there's been an end to the months of wet winter storms? These animals are too! This week we are joined by a couple of animals that hardly seem to need water at all and thrive in some pretty extreme lifestyles. Soar the salty skies as we try to keep up with the Frigate Bird, then hunker in the arid desert as we painstakingly try to get a glimpse of the elusive Sand Cat. These two incredible animals bring new meaning to conserving your resources and utilizing the environment you have to survive.
With millions of species and countless lifestyles animals have to come up with some pretty creative life-hacks to get by sometimes. Meet our animal scamming stars this week: the Potoo and the Ant-Mimic Spider, two animals that have evolved to trick the eye and con the senses of other animals to such an extent you might never even know if you passed them by.
Maybe you've heard of the picture-perfect tropical paradise vacation destination off of Africa's eastern coast that is the Seychelles islands, but you've probably not heard of or seen the other side of these stunning islands featuring sheer rock cliffs jutting out of the ocean protecting secluded pristine tropical forest. Well, hop aboard because we are taking you into the unknown depths of these islands to discover the Seychelles Sheath-Tailed Bat and Seychelles Giant Tortoise.
If you've ever dreamed of being an explorer of a mythic world of old, delving deep to discover dragons lairs or dipping back a pine branch to reveal a gentle unicorn, this episode is for you. Fair maidens and lads, join us as we enter a world of mythological origin right in our own backyard. We'll slip into tossing ocean waters to find the Sea Dragon and traveling to magical lands to find the Pink Fairy Armadillo.
Adventure awaits!
The natural world provides a vast array of different ways that one animal may attract another to produce that magical behavior called reproduction. One of the most relatable varieties for humans may be what is infamously known as the "cat call". Although detested by many humans, it is widely used to the benefit of males in the animal world. Join us as we listen for a couple of cat calls that might surprise you when we learn about the Desert Rain Frog and the Club Winged Manakin.
It's that time again, pink hearts and overpriced flowers line the shops, but not everybody is looking to cuddle up to or impress a mate this season. We've scoured the mountains to the desert plains to find a couple of females who prefer to celebrate Galentines day, every year. Come celebrate the ladies out there with us while we divulge the female-centered lives of the New Mexico Whiptail Lizard and the Wolverine!
Join us as we kick off a new series exploring the animal world through colors! We're starting this technicolor series defying conventional perceptions of color with Blue. Although it's winter and the blues are commonly associated with feeling a little down and looking forward to the sunshine, we've found a couple of animals that embrace their blues and use it to their advantage.
Delve into two complete opposite ends of the animal spectrum as we find out what blue means for the Mandrill and...shoot Danielle I forgot the name of your animal, even though I can picture the gummy snack perfectly (Blue glaucus).
Welcome back to a brand new year! We are continuing our New Year's tradition of exploration into the different types of metamorphosis with Simple Metamorphosis. Join us as we creep through the jungle to discover the Stick Insect and flit through the air on four wings with the Dragonfly. We'll learn about their unique life stages and species adaptations to their truly amazing ways of life!
Brrrr it’s cold out here!! Slide on some mittens and cradle a hot beverage as we venture into the freezing habitats of the Wood Frog and the Arctic Cod to find out how these incredible animals have adapted to keep their fins and webbed little toes from getting frost bitten!
This week, journey with us into the depths of winter as we hunker down with a few unexpected animals that hibernate all through the coldest months of the year. In the corner of the earth snuggling Australia and Madagascar, traditionally thought of as hot and dry places, we flip the script by joining the Mountain Pygmy Possum and Dwarf Fat-Tailed Lemur as they slumber on through the chilly months.
Happy spooky season and prepare yourselves for a second installment of our Halloween Spooktactular. Join us as we dissect Shakespeare's MacBeth's famous witches brew, parsing out key ingredients and where to find them. From the tiny elf owlets wing to the “Fenny” snake across the pond, we will be sure to give you the proper ingredients for your next bubbling potion.
Join us to learn about a couple of unique Ghanaian creatures, the Black Bellied Pangolin and the Gaboon Caecilian!
Mail Time!
In this episode we answer three burning questions from our listeners. If you have a question for a future episode, you can email it to us at whatisthatapodcast@gmail.com or send us a DM on Instagram.
Worms! Wiggling, Wild, Wonderful!
Join us as we dig deep into one of the most diverse animal kingdoms on the planet...WORMS!
Kelp! We need somebody....to learn about these cool sea critters with us!
This month we dive into some kelp forests to explore the worlds of the Rock Lobster and the Giribaldi Fish.
Give your favorite critter some fresh water and relax with them as you join us for a very special episode celebrating national pets month! We have some exciting guests today and are shifting our focus from wildlife to some of our domestic companions. Danielle is going to take us on her journey learning to care for specialty exotics the Uromastyx and Hedgehogs. Then, our first ever Special Guest, Kristi, is here with us in studio shining a light on Pit and Bulldog breeds among other ups and downs and everything in between coming from the animal shelter world.
It’s time to dust off that passport for another Location, Location, Location episode! This time we are taking a short trip south to the picturesque island of Cuba where we will get to know some of its more unique inhabitants in the form of the Cuban Painted Snail and the Solenodon.
There’s nothing like the feeling of getting wild with a few… million of your closest pals. Join us as we get in the spring break spirit and let the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat and the Christmas Island Red Crab show us how to get down and party up on a massive scale!
Have you ever gone above and beyond to woo that special someone? Well, prepare to be in good company as we explore some of natures most extreme and baffling shows of courtship!
We're buggin' out in this transformative episode! Join us as we discuss two nifty insects who's metamorphic transformations we find inspiring.
This episode we look at two creatures who are keeping it extra cool. We learn about the Steller's Eiders and the Sea Spider.
Second installment of our Location, Location, Location series, where we spin a globe to find out which country's wildlife we will be learning about. Round 2: Venezuela!
In this episode we discuss a couple of critters that give us the heebies AND the jeebies.
Please be sure to pack your finest filtering equipment as we dive on in and explore two animals who are experts on using their filters.
In this episode we discover a couple of critter that have short, but sweet, life spans.
In this episode we discuss two creatures that have loooooooong lives, the Bowhead Whale and the Immortal Jellyfish!
In this episode we take a look at a couple of critters who do not rely on vision to navigate their world. Meet the Olm and the Golden Mole!
First installment of our Location, Location, Location series, where we spin a globe to find out which countries wildlife we will be learning about. First up: Tajikistan!
Put on your humble pants and safety goggles! Today we are exploring the more extreme environments on earth. From the cold tundra, to the dry, rugged mountaintops.
Welcome to the first episode where we will meet the Goblin Shark and the Hoatzin. A couple of living fossils!