The Animal Nerd Podcast

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 2025Important 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=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeBShow notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jxIgozTzbKLz30VbCy5WbOVFyaCCm68mX9TcKaVbPm8/edit?usp=sharing

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 2025Important 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=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeBShow notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rf4s689AVXWQl5dr58Eky5PVrm4Vg8F3HtECv-U4pvY/edit?usp=sharing

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 2025Important 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=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeBShow notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nYM8ykaz-Yf39hQoXacyCf8036flPy1CyqxH2jMoliQ/edit?usp=sharing

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 2025Important 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=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeBShow notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fOfShShNWbIYg2n1XxIF1HZbu8EPIZ9zVvQ_yotOSS0/edit?usp=sharing

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 2025Important 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=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeBShow notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WKW4ybjcadpgLl-mZZGBHSYYTZMfe7bfg96jLH-n9hw/edit?usp=sharing

70-odd years ago, Slippery the sea lion (often misdescribed as a seal) escaped from his pool at Storybook Park in Ontario, swimming downstream and crossing the border into the United States, where he would go on to cause an international incident. Or did he? Turns out there's more to this story than meets the eye!Original air date: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=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeBShow notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BP23hYFIolLBemsk382kTikyg8WDBinTq83ZuO1gsJI/edit?usp=sharing

In the 2010s, Lil Bub's adorable face was inescapable. But how much do you really know about this amazing little cat? In this episode of The Animal Nerd Podcast, we delve into her story, from her humble beginnings as a feral kitten rescued from a tool shed to her incredible career as a celebrity, to the beautiful legacy she's left behind.If you'd like to support Lil Bub's legacy:lilbub.com/store.lilbub.com/goodjobbub.org/Original air date: 11th March 2025Important 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=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeBShow notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CBM5xizxyJxLKz2rWDQ2vDy5sT78rngMVZMRF_1n-eQ/edit?usp=sharing

As soon as I heard the story of Petra the swan and her pedalo partner, I just knew I had to use it as a Valentine's special (which this originally was!). I hope you find them as adorable a couple as I did!Original air date: 14th February 2025Important 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=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeBShow notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cXaiBu8_vZo0erG6-ewuR81laTlUaA7Rd5FTs7jnHeU/edit?usp=sharing