Anthropomania

Next time you take a sip of your favourite microbrew and tear off a chunk of baguette piled with cheese you might wanna toast to fungi.  Fungus really are among us. From high-priced morels to mold to the medicinal promise of magic mushrooms, fungi were here before us and they'll be here long after we're dust.   They could live without us, but could we live without them? Would we want to?  Listen to the story of a college kid who ran up against a shotgun wielding morel hunter in a forest in Northern Canada while on a quest to find the best patch of mushrooms. Find out what pricey mushroom smells like  sweat and semen, and hear a mycologist who thinks we have a lot to learn from listening to the lowly mushroom.  Show notes:Further reading: Check out Rob Dunn’s Lab here. View Diane Borsato’s work here and stay posted for her upcoming book.Read about the mushroom speaking study hereDon’t forget to rate, review and subscribe! Follow us on Instagram, FB, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok. Subscribe to our newsletter here for bonus content.

Imagine if Jurassic Park came to life...ACTUAL REAL LIFE.  It wouldn't be the first time science fiction became reality. (Hello .space travel)  But, this time, instead of T-Rex and Velociraptors, you've got long-extinct woolly mammoths roaming the arctic tundra, and the more recently extinct passenger pigeons filling the skies.  This is the ambitious dream of scientists George Church (Harvard, MIT) and Ben Novak (Revive & Restore)... but is it even remotely possible? Not everyone thinks so, including our guests Mikkel Sinding and Amy Fletcher.  Thirty years ago, when the original Jurassic Park came out, genome sequencing and CRISPR CAS 9 - the gene editing technology - didn't exist.  Now that they do, does it mean woolly mammoths are  within reach?  We discuss the why's and how's with our brilliant guests. And, hear about a little known connection George Church has to his one time student,  Michael Crichton, the author of Jurassic Park. Don't forget to leave us a five star review if you loved us as much as we think you did.   Check out the work of our brilliant guests:George ChurchBen Novak Lead Scientist, Revive and RestoreAmy Fletcher's Ted Talk on De-ExtinctionMikkel Sinding  Follow us on social media. We're nice. We want to get to know you.InstagramTwitterFacebookTiktokSign up four newsletter and check out our blog

Do cockroaches CREEP YOU OUT? Do spiders make you squeamish? Humans have a complicated relationship with the six and eight-legged animals we share the planet with. And yet, they need our help. We are living in what some have called the Insect Apocalypse, an alarming decline of insect species across the globe. It could mean big changes to the food we eat, and the health of the environment around us. Niki Wilson and Jay Ingram examine whether our “ICK” or “EEEEWWWW” responses to insects prevent us from helping them out, and get advice as to how we stop shuddering when we see a house spider. Further reading: Learn about the Xerces Society hereFind Jeffrey Lockwood’s book “the Infested Mind: Why Humans Fear, Loathe and Love Insects” hereFollow Dr. Catherine Scott on TwitterDon’t forget to rate, review and subscribe! Follow us on Instagram, FB, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok. Subscribe to our newsletter here for bonus content.

Have you ever tried birdwatching at a landfill? In a world where we produce more than 2 Billion tons of garbage each year, it's hardly  surprising that  those mountains of waste  have developed a life of their own.  From landfills to small town dumps to scraps of food left behind by tourists in the Galapagos Islands, animals are evolving in big and small ways because of their proximity to our waste. Whether it's Darwin's finches or  Edmonton's coyotes, animals that live near humans have a Disneyland of potential food sources.  It's also full of potential risks.  Join Niki Wilson and Jay Ingram as they explore Trash Animals and how our perceptions of these creators are impacting how we treat them.  Like what you heard?  Leave us a review on  the Apple podcast app.  Tell us a bit about yourself here on our Listener Feedback Survey.Further reading: Article about Luis De Leon’s research on Darwin’s FinchesArticle about Amy Savage’s research on ants in New York CityVideo of Colleen Cassady St. Clair showing how to measure the boldness of a coyoteArticle by Nick Lund on how to learn to love landfills for birdwatchingDon’t forget to rate, review and subscribe! Follow us on Instagram, FB, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok. Subscribe to our newsletter here for bonus content.

Show notesThe extraordinary saga of the world’s most common bird: combatant, experimental subject, entrée and friend (not necessarily in this order).  The chicken is far more meaningful to our lives than you ever imagined. They can count, recognize faces and are capable of deception.   We trace the history of the humble chicken from its wild beginnings as the Red Jungle Fowl in Southeast Asia all the way to the broiler chicken of today, and finally to the modern backyard chicken craze.  Andrew Lawler’s book: Why Did the Chicken Cross the World?Maryn McKenna book Big ChickenDalia Monterroso, AKA President of Chickenlandia’s Ted TalkDon’t forget to rate, review and subscribe! Follow us on Instagram, FB, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok. Subscribe to our newsletter here for bonus content. Anthropomania is produced in partnership with RDAR – powering the research that transforms agriculture.

From My Octopus teacher to BBC's latest hit The Green Planet, wildlife documentaries continue to draw millions of viewers. But are they good for wildlife? We discuss with top doc makers, and get the inside scoop on working with Sir David Attenborough. We also uncover one the biggest wildlife myths of all time (thanks Disney), and ask, is Tik Tok really where it's at for wildlife media?SHOW NOTES: Take our Listener SurveyWhere to watch The Green Planet.Watch the original nature documentary, Seal Island, Produced in 1948 by the one and only Walt Disney.To find out more about being a n "Eco Tok" influencer on TikTok, read this.Diogo Verissimo,  Research Fellow at Oxford. Read his blog for more background on his work. More on Ann Johnson Prum's work, hereHelp us make every episode better thant he last,  and bring you even better  content that you will love.   Share your pearls of wisdon via  Our sixty second  Listener SurveyJoin the conversation on  social media. There's way more cute pics and bonus content (like, videos) from Jay, Niki and Erika.InstaFacebookTwitterYouTubeAnd please please check out our blog, meet our team and more  anthropomania.com.

Anthropomania is back for another season of putting our relationship with all living things under the microscope. First episode drops March 15th, featuring the rockstars of the nature documentary world. Did My Octopus Teacher blow you away? Do you love BBC's Planet Earth (and all the rest)? That's the tip of the iceberg. Join hosts Jay Ingram and Niki Wilson as they make you think about how you think about the world around you.

Urban wildlife - that's everything from pigeons to coyotes to possums to deer, depending where you live - can be found in every nook and cranny of our cities, but just how well do we know our neighbours? Join Niki, Jay and Erika as they explore the world just outside your window with the scientists that know urban wildlife best. Are coyotes the Batman of our cities? Do raccoons have street smarts? Are there mutant mosquitoes living in our underground tunnels? It’s a concrete jungle out there, and it’s wilder than you think.  Thanks for checking out our show notes!  For more information on Chris Schell and urban coyotes  LinkHelp us improve and bring you even better episode content.   Share your pearls of wisdon via  Our sixty second  Listener SurveyJoin the conversation on  social media. There's way more cute pics and bonus content (like, videos) from Jay, Niki and Erika.InstaFacebookTwitterYouTubeAnd please please check out our blog, meet our hosts and more  anthropomania.com.

The most striking thing about taxidermy is that it is so far removed from what most of us think. That stuffed deer head on the wall? Entertainment. The work done by the taxidermists in this episode, like George Dante, who preserved the remains of the famous Galapagos tortoise Lonesome George, or Allis Markham, who specialises in hummingbirds? That’s art, science and imagination. That is taxidermy.Listener Feedback SurveyNewsletter sign upAnthropomania WebsitePrey  TaxidermyLonesome George

From birds to bamboo, wild boars to Colombian hippos, invasive species are wreaking havoc on eco-systems around the world, and in your backyard. Canadian ecology rock-star Ryan Brook has been tracking wild boars for years and says it's only a matter of time before the pigs outnumber humans in Saskatchewan, Canada. Eradicating them has proven challenging, and conservationist Arian Wallach says, don't bother, it's a waste of time. The boars are too smart. Join Erika, Jay and Niki as they look at invasive species from two very different perspectives. Thanks for listening to the podcast.  Now would be a perfect time to leave us a five-star review and say why you loved it.We'd be very grateful if you filled out our super fast and hilarious   Listener Feedback Survey.  What do you like (or hate!) about the show? We're here for it.From this Episode:Niki Wilson's article  Boar War: Can Canada Stop The Destructive Spread of Wild Swine?Canadian Wild Pig Research ProjectRyan Brook Univ of SaskatchewanArian WallachShakespeare's StarlingsIf you haven't already,  follow the show and leave your review  on Apple Podcasts.Say hey and jump in over on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.Sign up for the fabulous Anthropmania Newsletter or on our website anthropomania.com Anthropomania is proudly produced by LightscopeArtwork by tiblyforbisMusic by Steve Dodd

If your Instagram feed is any indication, plants have blossomed into an obsession. But, is #PlantParenting a one-way relationship, or does Rob the Rubber Plant have feelings about your new #greenthumb?   In this episode, Erika, Niki and Jay explore this thorny issue with pioneering plant researchers  Ian Baldwin, Jack Schultz and Monica Gagliano. Mi’kmaw narrative artist and conservation ecologist Shalan Joudry challenges us to explore the language and intention we use to describe plants, and to understand how this affects our relationship with them. Please take 30 seconds to fill out our   Listener Feedback Survey.  We warmly welcome your ideas for future episodes and  ways we can improve the show.If you haven't already, please follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts.Say hello and jump into the conversation over on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.Sign up for the delightful Anthropmania Newsletter on our website anthropomania.com Click here for information on the book The Mind of Plants .Anthropomania is proudly produced by LightscopeArtwork by tiblyforbisMusic by Steve Dodd

What's one extravagance you'd own if you had access to unlimited wealth?  Would a white tiger be on your list?  For some people in a certain tax bracket (the richest of the rich), an exotic animal is the ultimate #petgoals. The question we wanna ask is: Why, tho? Rich newspaper Tycoon William Randolph Hearst once owned one of the world’s largest private zoos, home to everything from sun bears to storks to elephants. Wealthy Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar had a private menagerie that included rhinos, zebras and those now famous cocaine hippos. Even  World Heavyweight Champion and uber rich guy Mike Tyson got in on it for a while with his three white tigers.   And, of course there's Netflix-famous Joe Exotic aka Tiger King. Erika, Niki and Jay dive into the deep desires of the wealthy to own exotic animals, with the help of psychologist Suzanne MacDonald and animal ethicist James Serpell. The team time travels to the 7th Century with archaeologist Lisa Cooper, and then asks if Tik Tok is the exotic zoo of the future. It’s a wild ride through the world of ancient kings, drug kings, and yes, tiger kings.  Thanks for listening and reading our show notes!   To get more anthropomania content sign up for our newsletter and visit our website.Do you have  feedback? Maybe an idea for a future episode?  Please tell us by filling out our Listener Feedback Survey. As promised, here are  additional links to info about the content you heard on this episode. Find out more about King Ashurbanipal's Zoo and lion hunting practice.Pablo Escobars former zoo Hacienda Napoles which is now an amusement park. And if you're curious about those hippos, read this.Don't forget to follow, subscribe and leave us a ***** review. And share this episode with  our fellow Anthropomaniacs around the world.'Til next time,Team Anthropomania

Do animals have their own distinct personalities? For decades it was a taboo subject in the hallowed halls of scientific research. In the '70s Jane Goodall was chastised for giving the chimps she worked with names rather than numbers. Hal Herzog developed a snake personality test in the '80s but didn't publish his work for fear of backlash. Twenty years later, Sam Gosling was kicked out of his Anthropology Professors office for suggesting he focus his research on it. Today they're all considered pioneers in the field. Today, it's still a controversial topic. What exactly is animal personality, anyway? Is it the same as human personality? Does it apply to all animals or just mammals? What do we know today that we didn't know before? Jay, Niki and Erika debate the issues, talk with Herzog, Gosling and more. Oh, and they find out which animal personality quiz they most resemble.   Wanna find out if you're a silver fox or a  distracted otter?  Animal Personality QuizHelp us improve.   Please take Our sixty second  Listener SurveyJoin the conversationInstaFacebookTwitterYouTubeCheck out our blog, meet our hosts and more  anthropomania.com

A snake with personality. A plant that feels. Feral boars and cocaine hippos. A world famous taxidermist who sings like Roy Orbison.  Why do we have such complex relationships with wildlife? All this and more  in our first season of Anthropomania.Sign up for our newsletter and get more information at anthropomania.com