Asshole Animals, with Alice

Webster's dictionary defines "fear" as: "an unpleasant, often strong, emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger". For pretty much 90% of the planet, fear in an animal form takes the shape of the humble and introverted Tarantula.

It's unclear why 8 legs and a hairy body seems to equal danger to us, but the answer is probably conditioning from media and a fear that's been passed down through generations, just like a terrible, incorrect recipe from your grandma.

Well, the trauma cycle ends now. Joining Alice today is the ultimate spider-nerd Dr Sebastian Echeverri, who breaks down why we fear Tarantulas and gives us a glimpse into the pros and cons of owning them as a pet. With Halloween coming up, why not face the things that scare you? You might learn something cool for once in your life, damnit.

If you're looking for top-tier spider husbandry knowledge, don't forget to check out "Tom's Big Spiders" on your socials - approved by our spider expert, Sebastian, this week. You can find him on Insta at: www.instagram.com/tomsbigspiders.

Our charity of the week is the INCREDIBLE British Arachnological Society - who are doing the Lord's work by researching and helping to protect our native arachnid species in the UK! You can find them at www.britishspiders.org.uk.

We. Are. Back. And kicking off Season 2 of "Asshole Animals with Alice" is a species that could almost transcend assholery due to their intelligence and their terrifying efficiency: Ants.

It may disturb you to hear that below your picnic blanket, below the loamy depths of the soil is a fully formed SOCIETY with more harmony and union than we will ever achieve as Humans. A Utopia, some might say, but with beings that could easily dominate and enslave the human race if they were only larger.

Aaaaanyway. Today Alice is joined by two members of the human race that are READY to welcome their new insect overlords: Jack Baddams and Roddy Shaw, from the nature podcast: "How Many Geese?". Through traumatic personal stories, philosophical musings, and struggles at being unable to describe the fear/respect they have for Ants, Jack and Roddy will help Alice ascertain how much of a jerk ants can be.

Ants, if you're reading this, this is alllllll a joke. And should you ever rise up to claim this Earth as your own, just know that Alice, Jack and Roddy would make excellent Jesters for your banquets.

Our Charity of the Week this week is the Woodland Trust, helping to protect the woodlands - the home of millions of ants across the UK. You can find them here: www.woodlandtrust.org.

Eugh, who DOESN'T love a giant, bitey, scaley thing? It's why we all love Jurassic Park, right? In a boring world without ACTUAL Dragons, it's time we settle for the next best thing: Komodo Dragons - whom, despite being wingless and unable to breathe fire - can still turn your blood cold if they run after you.

After dodging an incredible 14 episodes of the podcast, it's high time that Reptiles answered for their asshole crimes. This week, Alice dives in to discuss perhaps the coolest bitey, scaley thing (no shade, Crocs and Gators), as well as Nobel Prize winners, King Kong and beer kegs.

So, tune in this week to find out how much of an asshole these giant hunks of meat with teeth can be, straight from the less-teethy mouth of Komodo Dragon keeper and Brummie legend, Adam Radovanovic.

Our charity of the week this week is the legendary: Komodo Survival Program - THE organisation working tirelessly to protect these dragons from extinction. Find them at: https://komododragon.org/

Well, well, well. If it isn't the infamous Macaw episode...

As you guys know, the possibility of a Macaw episode has been thrown around a lot on this podcast. No one thought it would happen. No one DREAMED it would happen. But yet, the wait is finally over, and what better person to help discuss one of the most intelligent species of bird on the planet than Avian behaviour expert and celebrated animal trainer, Barbara Heidenreich.

Join Alice and Barbara as they get philosophical about the term "asshole" and dive deep into topics like: Blu Lu - the Blue-Throated Macaw, San Diego's Frozen Zoo, Macaw sleep cycles and more. Truly a calming presence to Alice's squirrel-like hyperactivity, Barbara is the perfect guest to slow it down and really look at the bigger picture of behaviour. Aren't we all capable of assholery depending on the circumstance? Find out on this week's episode of "Asshole Animals with Alice"!

Our Charity of the Week is the INCREDIBLE Bird Endowment, founded by the late Laney Rickman, whose passion lives on in the conservation work happening as a result of her dream. You can learn about what Bird Endowment is doing to help Blue-Throated Macaws and donate to their important work at: www.birdendowment.org.

You can find Barbara's unparalleled animal training resources at: https://animaltrainingfundamentals.com/.

When you think of "fear", you might think of spiders or snakes. High-up places, cramped places, public speaking or, heck, even Clowns. Maybe giving a talk on a high-up podium at a crowded Clown convention scares you, who knows?

For Australians, there is Swoopophobia, which is the term I just made up for getting swooped by the Australian Magpie. As if Australians needed another thing to be afraid of as well as the chance of Tony Abbott eating another raw onion on live television... (that joke is funny if you're from Down Under).

Too long has Swoopophobia swept over the entire country of Australia, leaving its residents cowering in fear. But now, with the help of experts like the daring Dr Gráinne Cleary stepping in to tell us WHY these birds swoop, the gentle townsfolk of Oz can emerge from their homes, safe in the knowledge that these Magpies - much like P!nk- are simply misunderstood.

Our Charity of the Week this week is the incredible Wildlife Victoria - the native species of Australia's best hope for being rescued and rehabilitated! You can find them at www.wildlifevictoria.org.au.

We interrupt this broadcast to bring you an important message: it turns out that the Goths were right - Bats are actually pretty fucking rad.

From taking care of those pesky mosquitoes that threaten to ruin your vacation, to pollinating the agave plant that is used for the tequila you're inhaling while you're on vacation, Bats are actually doing you a solid by helping you relax on your god damn Ibiza holiday, Karen. Show some RESPECT.

Joining Alice this week, all the way from Down Under, is Wildlife Vet Nurse and Bat rehabilitator/snuggler Rhiannon Traish-Walker, who shares her methods of embarrassing her bats so that they're more independent when they're ready for release. Genius.

So if you want to know how Alice connects Bats to Danny Devito, the Japanese Bullet train and the Burj Khalifa - tune in this week and get bat-happy.

Our Charity of the Week this week is the incredible Bats QLD - Australian superstars in helping rehabilitate these beautiful and important animals, check them out at:

https://www.batsqld.org.au/

Hey! You! Yeah, you. Ever heard of a Triggerfish? Probably not, right? Maybe you're thinking: "Yeah but there are SO many animals I've never heard of, why should I care about this one?" and that's where this podcast comes in - to tell you to get your head out of your ass and start paying attention.

If you're a lover of the ocean, a fish-eater, a fish-hater, someone wanting to brush up on their general knowledge before a pub quiz, or anyone with a passing interest in hearing two women talk about douchey animals - this episode is for you. Joining Alice this week is the fabulous Kate Sheridan and boy, they are covering a range of topics! Shakespeare. High School Musical 2. The founding of New Zealand. All of these topics are addressed in this episode -as well as a hearty dose of Triggerfish talk and an easy-to-understand breakdown of why our coral reefs are in trouble.

Rest assured, you'll leave this episode with more Triggerfish knowledge than you know what to do with. You're welcome.

Our charity of the week this week is The Coral Planters, doing the Lord's work in helping restore and monitor our vitally important Coral reefs around the world. Check out their website at: www.thecoralplanters.org.

Follow the amazing Kate Sheridan and her adventures in the Maldives at: www.instagram.com/conservation_kate.

Somewhere...buried deep in a landfill... lies the bright, glittery Dolphin merchandise of your childhood. You know what I'm talking about. The stickers, the fake tattoos, the dangly earrings. Maybe even a mood ring with a Dolphin on it? Close your eyes and travel back to the past, when deciding where to put up your awesome new Dolphin poster was the biggest problem in your life. Hate to break it to you, but if your Dolphin-merch nostalgia made you sad just now, prepare for it to get a whole lot worse...

In the first ever two-part episode, Alice attempts (in true "Making a Murderer" style) to get into the mind of the master manipulators and psychopaths of the water: Dolphins. It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it. With her on this journey is wildlife filmmaker and star of his own Disney+ show "Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory", THE Bertie Gregory. And diving in to learn more about Dolphin douchery is quite the epic adventure itself...

Our Charity of the Week segment is instead focusing on important Dolphin research from the incredible team at Wild Dolphin Project, you can find them here:

https://www.wilddolphinproject.org/

Were you ever picked on as a kid because you didn't want to go in the swimming pool in case there was a Shark in there? Does the Jaws theme tune STILL make your heart rate quicken to this day? Good news: you were the victim of the media's Shark fearmongering and you COULD be entitled to compensation! Your reparations for this heinous crime include getting to learn why Sharks are awesome and NEVER having to listen to "Baby Shark" again.

Join Alice and her guest, esteemed Zoologist and Shark-booper Megan McCubbin, as they dive into why we all need to go into the sea and love Sharks a bit more. Did you know that Sharks make friends when they're young? And that some Sharks sleep in a cuddle puddle? No? Wow, that's so embarrassing for you...you REALLY need to listen to this episode. Take a nice, long swim in the pool of cognizance. Come on in, the water's fine.

Our Charity of the Week this week is the incredible "Bite Back" who are the best defensive attorneys Sharks can get in an unfair trial against them.

www.bite-back.com

Check out Megan's brand new book: "An Atlas of Endangered Species", available at your normal book retailers, but consider shopping at Bookshop.org to grab it: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/atlas-of-endangered-animals-megan-mccubbin/6148216?ean=9781529369533.

What do we truly know about Opossums? We know they like to eat trash, that they like to come out at night, and we also know they're about non-confrontational as it gets, even faking their death to get out of an awkward situation. Can we not say that at least one of those things are true about ourselves? Take a look in the mirror, people!

Join Alice as she busts myths and changes hearts and minds about North America's only Marsupial, with the help of the talented, knowledgeable and ever-so-dreamy Rick Schwartz, from San Diego Zoo. Together they'll discuss topics that nobody ever talks about with Opossums - such as their brain size and how they're depicted in myth!

Bottom line is: people have been hating on this animal for too long. Google a picture of a baby Opossum and I guarantee your heart will melt. Or listen to this podcast. Better yet, do both.

Our Charity of the Week this week is a BIG shout out to all of the Opossum rehabilitators out there - you guys are awesome. Plus, visit the Opossum Society of the United States if you want some useful tips on how to remove an Opossum or be visited by one!

https://opossumsocietyus.org/

Don't forget to also check out Rick Schwartz in the San Diego Zoo podcast: "Amazing Wildlife" - available wherever you get your podcasts!