Anthropomania

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.

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.

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.

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.

Season One of Anthropomania debuts March, 15, 2021