Flightless Bird

By David Farrier

Flightless Bird follows journalist David Farrier as he learns about what makes America special from his unique perspective as a Kiwi accidentally marooned in the Land of the Free. Infinitely curious b... more

4.9

28192,819 ratings

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FAQs about Flightless Bird:

How many episodes does Flightless Bird have?

The podcast currently has 128 episodes available.

Flightless Bird episodes:

April 08, 2025 Flights of Fancy: Cheese, Kony 2012, Hot Air Balloons, Troubled Teens, Ice Machines
In this week's episode, David and Rob take calls from Flightless Bird listeners, who pitch the topics they want them to investigate! From a man who tells of being woken up at age 13 to two men in his room with zipties who abducted him to a controversial “Wilderness Therapy Camp”, to someone involved in competitive air ballooning, to an intern involved in the infamous “Kony2012” campaign, we hear from Birdies with stories to tell.

Links:
- Flightless Bird live in Portland on 4/13: https://bit.ly/lostkiwiPDX
- Flightless Bird live in San Francisco on 4/18: http://bit.ly/lostkiwiSF
- Flightless Bird T-Shirts: www.flightlessbirdpod.com
- E-mail us with your feedback at [email protected]

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1h 12min
April 01, 2025 Deported
In this week’s episode, David and Rob look at the recent cases of ICE and other agencies detaining and/or deporting various US residents who are in the US 100% legally. David interviews Canadian Jasmine Mooney, who found herself imprisoned for two weeks after arriving in the US for her job. David wonders how safe he is being critical of the current US administration while here on an 01 Visa, and the practical dangers of even doing this episode.
Links:
Flightless Bird live shows and merch: www.flightlessbirdpod.com
Email us: [email protected]
News Articles and References:
- Detained Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil:
https://apnews.com/article/columbia-protests-immigration-detention-mahmoud-khalil-755774045e5e82849e3281e8ff72f26d
- Documentary voiced by Mahmoud: https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/columbia-protest-documentary-narrated-by-mahmoud-khalil-has-us-premiere-thursday
- What we know about the Tufts University PhD student detained by federal agents:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/27/us/rumeysa-ozturk-detained-what-we-know/index.html
- Academic groups sue Trump administration for arresting students:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/academic-groups-sue-trump-administration-arresting-students-faculty-li-rcna198139
- Jasmine Mooney’s essay:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/canadian-detained-us-immigration-jasmine-mooney
- The Guardian on Jasmine’s situation:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/18/canadian-actor-jasmine-mooney-detained-mexico-border
- Canadian woman detained by ICE being used as ‘example,’ immigration experts warn:
https://globalnews.ca/news/11080371/canadian-woman-detained-ice-example-immigration-border/
- University of Washington lab technician and green card holder detained:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/green-card-holder-50-years-detained-ice-rcna198044
- He voted for Trump. Now his wife sits in an ICE detention center.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/03/16/mass-deportation-ice-detains-non-criminals/82304354007/
- Yes, border control can go through your phone. Here's what travelers should know.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2025/03/21/border-control-phone-search/82594653007/
- David Farrier write on Webworm on speaking up during these Crazy Times:
https://www.webworm.co/p/missionstatement

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1h 17min
March 25, 2025 Quiverfull
In this weeks Flightless Bird, David sets out to understand the Quiverfull movement, which advocates for having lots and lots of children. He talks to a Zach, a man raised in this environment, before find out his parents literally wrote the book on Quiverfull - so David calls Zach’s mom.
Upcoming live shows:
- Portland on April 13: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/80185968/flightless-bird-with-david-farrier-portland-revolution-hall
- San Fransisco on April 18: https://www.ticketmaster.com/flightless-bird-live-with-david-farrier-san-francisco-california-04-18-2025/event/1C0062589BAC1D9F
- Flights of Fancy Submissions: https://bit.ly/fbfancy
Contact us: [email protected]
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flightlessbirdpodcast
Flightless Bird T-Shirts: https://www.flightlessbirdpod.com/

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1h 6min
March 18, 2025 Goodyear Blimp
In this weeks episode, David goes for a ride on the Goodyear Blimp in an attempt to learn more about this iconic piece of America, celebrating its 100th birthday this year. He is shocked to find out that it's not even a blimp!
Get tickets to our live shows:
- Portland on April 13: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/80185968/flightless-bird-with-david-farrier-portland-revolution-hall
- San Fransisco on April 18: https://www.ticketmaster.com/flightless-bird-live-with-david-farrier-san-francisco-california-04-18-2025/event/1C0062589BAC1D9F
- Flights of Fancy Submissions: https://bit.ly/fbfancy
Links:
- Plugged in - Focus on the Family’s stupid reviews: https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/wolf-of-wall-street
- Helium Shortage: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/helium-shortage-doctors-are-worried-running-element-threaten-mris-rcna52978
- New Blimp for travel: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/24/the-flying-bum-uk-firm-airships-airlander-hav
Contact us: [email protected]
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flightlessbirdpodcast

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1h 23min
March 11, 2025 Prisons
In this week’s Flightless bird, David looks at the American prison system, attempting to understand why the US has the largest prison population in the world - with around 1.9 million people incarcerated here. He interviews Bianca Tylek of national advocacy group “Worth Rises” about problems in the prison system, and meets Robert Craig, associate director at Abolish Private Prisons. He then travels to San Diego to meet Alana McMains, an attorney who mainly focuses on federal criminal defense. Farrier also talks to Jared Klickstein about his book “Crooked Smile”, as well as Rob’s dad!
LIVE SHOWS:
-Portland on April 13: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/80185968/flightless-bird-with-david-farrier-portland-revolution-hall
-San Fransisco on April 18: https://www.ticketmaster.com/flightless-bird-live-with-david-farrier-san-francisco-california-04-18-2025/event/1C0062589BAC1D9F
Links:
Worth Rises: https://worthrises.org/
Abolish Private Prisons: https://www.abolishprivateprisons.org/
Jared Klickstein and his book: https://www.jaredklickstein.com/
Feedback and suggestions: [email protected]

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1h 6min
March 04, 2025 Focus on The Family
This week on Flightless Bird, David looks at Dr James Dobson and Focus on the Family, a Colorado Springs based fundamentalist Christian group formed in the 70s. Using his status as a child psychologist, Dobson wrote over 30 parenting books, creating a media empire that changed how many parents raised their kids. With a very strong focus on discipline and breaking the will of the child, Dobson’s ideas travelled far and wide, ending up in places like New Zealand. With hundreds of millions of dollars in donations, Dobson turned his focus to lobbying, extremely angry that females and gay people were getting a voice in society. David talks to people raised by adherents of Focus on the Family, before talking to DL Mayfield of the “Strongwilled” podcast about Dobson’s problematic roots and ideas. He then tracks the influence of Focus on the Family in New Zealand, talking to Michael Frost and Shane Meyer-Holt of the “In The Shift” podcast.
Email us: [email protected]
“In The Shift” Podcast: https://intheshift.com/
“Strongwilled” newsletter and podcast: https://strongwilled.substack.com/
4/13 Tickets for Portland: https://bit.ly/lostkiwiPDX
4/18 Tickets for San Francisco: https://bit.ly/lostkiwiSF

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1h 24min
February 25, 2025 Live in Seattle
David and Rob take Flightless Bird to Seattle, doing a live episode to a sold out crowd at the Neptune Theatre. They interview a former homicide detective who penned a book on Seattle’s forgotten serial killer Gary Gene Grant, before turning their attention to the Rain City Jacks - a “jackoff club” preparing to celebrate its 20th year. What makes a group of over a 100 men come together to masturbate, and why? Rob and David also share what they love about the city, before David goes back into old interviews and finds one with grunge legend Chris Cornell.
Links:
- David’s full 30 minutes with Chris Cornell: https://www.webworm.co/p/chriscornell
- Chris Cornell tribute by Frank Guan: https://www.vulture.com/2017/05/chris-cornell-lyrics.html
A giant thanks to:
- Real Don Music for performing an amazing opening set, and live theme song (https://linktr.ee/realdonmusic)
- Paul Rosenberg of the Rain City Jacks (NSFW: https://www.raincityjacks.org/)
- Cloyd Steiger, author of “Seattle's Forgotten Serial Killer: Gary Gene Grant” (https://www.amazon.com/Seattles-Forgotten-Serial-Killer-Grant/dp/1467143626)
- Sydney Paulsen for her amazing photography
- Betty Putnam for her taxidermy to dress our set (https://www.eputnamstudio.com)
- Matt & Kate for stage managing
- The staff at the Neptune!
- All those in the audience who came to our first live show - stay tuned for me.
Email us: [email protected]
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flightlessbirdpodcast

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1h 32min
February 18, 2025 Gallagher
In this week’s Flightless Bird, David and Rob are joined by Gareth Reynold’s from “The Dollop” and “We’re Here To Help” podcasts. Gareth tells them about the story of Gallagher, an American comedian who pioneered the "Sledge-O-Matic" - and got into a bitter feud with his younger brother Ron. Along the way they talk infomercials, Carrot Top, and the dangers of impersonating someone else.
LINKS:
Mental Floss story: https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/gallagher-vs-gallagher-ii | Pop culture hyperfixations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCbYP2mzFhQ
The Dollop podcast: https://www.dolloppodcast.com/podcast
We’re Here To Help podcast: https://www.heretohelppod.com/

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1h 11min
February 11, 2025 Kanye's Squatter
This week, David meets the man who squatted in Kanye West’s Simi Valley house, sleeping in Kanye’s bed, eating Kanye’s pasta, and shitting in Kanye’s backyard. While there, John wrote a book called “Squat” which is, in this podcast’s opinion, fantastic. David then has an update about Melbourne’s Fake Seizure Guy, and reads listeners emails about other local legends around America, Canada, and the world. NOTE: While this episode about Kanye may seem incredibly timely, we actually recorded the studio part of this episode a day before Kanye’s latest X/Twitter tirade, which saw him saying a bunch of mindnumbily dumb, stupid, and offensive stuff. He was racist, extremely anti-semitic, and sent out porn. In a way it doesn't really change anything because we already knew all this about Kanye West - he’s done all this before - but in the chaos of keeping up with everything that’s going on in the world right now, some of that felt a million years ago. I guess I could sum up my feelings by what I texted Rob just now - “I wish we’d gone a little harder here”.
Links:
- John Safran’s book, Squat: https://www.amazon.com/Squat-John-Safran/dp/1760890170
- Beware the Serial Squatter of Malibu’s Point Dume: https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/serial-squatter-malibu-point-dume
- Update on Fake Seizure Guy’s Arrest: https://www.webworm.co/p/fakeseizureguy2

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1h 3min
February 04, 2025 Australia: Fake Seizure Guy
"In this week’s Flightless Bird, David continues his series in Australia. This week, he arrives in Melbourne to try and solve the mystery of “Fake Seizure Guy”, a local man who appears to fake having a seizure so locals can sit on him. Why does he want people to sit on him, and how long has this been going on?
Do you have more information? Email us: [email protected]
Links:
- Webworm article on Fake Seizure Guy: https://www.webworm.co/p/fakeseizureguy
- Flightless Bird on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flightlessbirdpodcast
- Carrot Man: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/12/melbourne-fitzroy-carrot-man & https://www.instagram.com/whereiscarrotman/ "

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1h 17min

FAQs about Flightless Bird:

How many episodes does Flightless Bird have?

The podcast currently has 128 episodes available.

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