Built in earplugs, massive heat syncs, and hearing at the speed of light- These are some extraordinary animal ears!

Our guest host this episode is Andrew Lasken, Co-director of Citizens for Los Angeles Wildlife (CLAW). CLAW is an amazing local nonprofit that protects wild lands and raises awareness of LA's vast biodiversity. Learn about the organization and see some of their amazing critter cam footage on their instagram @clawla or on their website:
CLAW Nature Cam — Citizens for Los Angeles Wildlife (clawonline.org)

Content warning: Mild language

Our animal candidates:
Cheetah
Barn Owl
Crocodile
Elephant
Horseshoe Bat
Owlet Moth

Want to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Tongues that mimic worms, throw venomous harpoons, and move faster than the eye can blink- Tongues are versatile little organs and these are some of the best ones in the animal kingdom!

Our guest today is evolutionary biologist and herpetology enthusiast JP Lawrence.  Give him a follow on instagram to see some of his gorgeous wildlife photography!
JP Lawrence (@jplawrencephoto) • Instagram photos and videos

Content Warning: Mild language

Our animal candidates:
Alligator Snapping Turtle
Ribbon Worm
Flamingo
Giant Anteater
Chameleon
Cone Snail

See some of these tongues in action!
Alligator Snapping Turtle tongue lure! Video - YouTube
The Proboscis Worm's Mouth of Horrors - YouTube
Giant Anteater Gets New Transparent Feeding Tubes To Showcase Her Tongue Skills | The Zoo - YouTube
Watch These Cunning Snails Stab and Swallow Fish Whole | Deep Look - YouTube
How do Chameleon Tongues work? (In Slow Motion) | Smarter Every Day 180 - YouTube

Want to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Are sharks really man eaters? Do tarantula bites catapult you into manic dancing fits? And do bats really start pandemics? Find out as we discuss the animals with the least deserved negative reputations.

Our guest host this episode is ecologist and science communicator Jaclyn Aliperti.
Home | Jaclyn Aliperti - Wildlife Ecology and Visual Storytelling
If you're a fan of Jaclyn's style, check out her previous episode where we discuss animal architects!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1183211/7168420

Content warning: Mild language

Our animal candidates:
Sharks
House centipedes
Crows
Spiders
Bats
Wolves

Check these out!
Here are some amazing bat faces! 30 Species Of Bats That Look Too Bizarre To Be Considered Bats
Here is an amazing short film about wolves in Yellowstone How Wolves Change Rivers - YouTube

Want to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Our guest host this episode is podcaster Sarah Winters, our cohost of of the boardgame podcast PlayDNA.
https://playdna.buzzsprout.com/

Content warning: Descriptions of animal sex and mild language

Our animal candidates:
Prairie Voles
Burying Beetles
Emperor Tamarins
Mute Swans
Albatross
Gay Penguins

Want to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Frog and tarantula babies playing together, coyotes and badgers watching each others' back, and pistol shrimp and goby fish sharing an apartment. These are some of the best animal friendships.

Our guest host this episode is filmmaker and voice actress Lauren Freedman. 
http://thelaurenfreedman.com/about/
Love Lauren's sense of humor? She previously hosted the episode Least Deserved Positive Reputation, which you can listen to here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1183211/7168864

Content warning: Descriptions of animal sex and mild language

Our animal candidates:
Coyote and Badger
Microhylidae frog and Tarantula
Ox Pecker and african grazers
Pistol Shrimp and Goby Fish
Ants and Aphids
Carrier Crab and Sea Urchin

Want to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Murderous siblings, angry mothers, and pregnant infants. These poor babies have pretty tough childhoods!

Our guest host this episode is wildlife film composer Cody Westheimer! You can hear some of his beautiful work on his youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/c/codymusic

Content warning: Descriptions of animal violence and mild language

Our animal candidates:
Sand Tiger Shark
Convict Fish
African Lion
Aphid
Golden Eagle
Elephant Seal 

Want to vote for your favorite? Or nominate a sad baby animal with a terrible childhood? Subcribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Mouth brooding, forced egg adoption, and male pregnancies- these are the hardest-working dads of the animal kingdom!

Our guest today is Astrobiofuturist and Animal Planet host Billy Almon.
https://www.billyalmon.com/

Content warning: Descriptions of animal sex/violence and mild language.

Our animal candidates:

Darwin's Frog
Rhea
Emperor Penguin
Mudskipper
Seahorse
Harvestmen

Want to vote on your favorite? Or nominate another excellent fatherly figure? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast.

Welcome to the show! New episodes the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month.

Have a topic you think we should cover, or an exciting animal you want to tell us about? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast and leave a comment!

Tongue eaters, baby killers, and crab hackers- who is the creepiest parasite?

Our guest today is Adrian Smith,  head of the Evolutionary Biology & Behavior Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.  See some of his incredible arthropod videos and images here!
https://www.instagram.com/dradriansmith/
https://www.youtube.com/antlab

Content warning: Descriptions of animal violence and mild language. 

Our animal candidates:

Cuckoo bird
Braconid Wasp parasite- Dinocampus coccinellae
Tongue Eating Louse
Rove beetles- Xenodusa
Crab hacker barnacle
False Cleaner Wrasse

Want to vote on your favorite? Or nominate another creepy parasite? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast.

Dolphin assassins? Kidney stealing birds? Poisonous elbows? Get your favorite fluffy animal ruined for you as we decide which animal has the least deserved positive reputation.

Our guest today is voice actress and filmmaker Lauren Freedman. Check out her recent work here!
http://thelaurenfreedman.com/about/

Content warning: Descriptions of animal sex/violence and mild language.

Our animal candidates:

Giant Panda
White tiger
Bottlenosed Dolphin
Slow Loris
Kea
Koala

Want to vote on your favorite? Or nominate another horrible animal that people seem to love? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast.