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

31323,132 ratings

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FAQs about Flightless Bird:

How many episodes does Flightless Bird have?

The podcast currently has 172 episodes available.

Flightless Bird episodes:

May 06, 2025 Emo Music
In this week’s Flightless Bird, David and Rob look at emo music in the United States, from its origins to where it is today. Rob presents David with a lesson in emo bands and reaches out to them to ask whether they consider themselves emo or not. David plays some of his old emo reporting from back in New Zealand in the mid 00s, before attending an infamous Emo Night event in LA where he talks to founders Morgan Freed and T.J. Petracca. They also interview Vic Fuentes from Pierce the Veil and discuss the war between punks and emos that broke out in Mexico City in 2008.

Email us: [email protected]
Merch: www.flightlessbirdpod.com

LINKS:
Rob’s emo playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7zwXnoiAe2Ja18nhvnSsCY?si=e5c8ca80a9a2434eTheme song performance: Nick Thomas of The Spill Canvas https://www.thespillcanvas.net
In regards to last week’s Autism episode, some other spicy writing from David:
- Prosopagnosia - face blindness: https://www.webworm.co/p/superrecogniser and https://www.webworm.co/p/prosopagnosia
- Aphantasia: https://www.webworm.co/p/aphantasia
- Telepathic Children Do Not Exist: https://www.webworm.co/p/telepathytapes
- My memory and ADHD: https://www.webworm.co/p/memoryworms

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1h 51min
April 29, 2025 Autism Reveal Party
In this week’s Flightless Bird, David talks to Lisa Didion, an Assistant Professor of Special Education at the University of Kansas. Lisa wrote in after the Fake Seizure Guy episode, saying that Flightless Bird should take a deeper dive into autism in America. With RFK Jr’s recent unhinged comments on autism, it felt like the right time to clear up some misinformation. On top of this - David got invited to an Autism Reveal Party. What is that? Well, listen to find out.
- Email us your feedback to: [email protected] Merch: www.flightlessbirdpod.com - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flightlessbirdpodcast
Links:- RFK Jr. exaggerates share of autistic population with severe limitationshttps://www.politifact.com/article/2025/apr/21/rfk-jr-exaggerates-share-of-autistic-population-wi/ - Kennedy announces new studies to examine environmental factors linked to autismhttps://thehill.com/homenews/5252236-kennedy-announces-new-studies-to-examine-environmental-factors-linked-to-autism/ - Trump Administration Cuts Funding for Autism Research—Even As It Aims to Find the Causehttps://time.com/7279068/trump-administration-autism-research-cuts/ - NIH autism study will pull from private medical recordshttps://www.npr.org/2025/04/23/nx-s1-5372695/autism-nih-rfk-medical-records - The Pitt’s Dr. Mel King Is a Small but Meaningful Step Forward for Neurodivergence Onscreen:https://time.com/7275814/the-pitt-mel-neurodivergence-autism-adhd/

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1h 12min
April 22, 2025 Live in Portland: Bigfoot, Beavers, and the Oregon Trail
This week’s episode is from our live show in beautiful Portland that happened on April 13. David and Rob share stories from their time in Portland, before turning their attention to Bigfoot - talking to Cliff Barackman, the man behind the North American Bigfoot Center. Cliff has been doing bigfoot field research since 1994. His expeditions have taken him to 46 states and five continents in search of evidence supporting the existence of undiscovered hominoids worldwide. From there, Flightless Bird turns its focus to the urban beavers of Portland, talking with Matt Guziejka, a beaver researcher from Portland State University. Matt has spent the last few years knee-deep in data and also mud studying how people feel about beavers living in cities. David and Rob then meet Philip Bouchard, the man responsible for taking the Oregon Trail video game mainstream. Plus, a special live performance from Suzzallo.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

- Suzzallo - www.instagram.com/suzzallo_music
- Cliff Barackman - https://northamericanbigfootcenter.com / BigfootandBeyondPodcast.com
- Matt Guziejka
- Philip Bouchard

- Paxton Gate for sharing their beautiful taxidermied birds
- Local artist Mike Bennett: www.mikebennettart.com
- Steven Smith Teamaker for the custom tea and hospitality.

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1h 47min
April 15, 2025 The Cheesecake Factory
In this week’s Flightless Bird, David and Rob visit one of America’s most iconic restaurant chains: The Cheesecake Factory. They discover its humble origins as a small cheesecake shop in 1940’s Detroit - eventually launching an empire with one of the lengthiest menus in the USA. They discuss decor, the toilets, and of course - the cheesecake.

Links:
Email us: [email protected]
Upcoming live shows and t-shirts: www.flightlessbirdpod.com

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1h
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

FAQs about Flightless Bird:

How many episodes does Flightless Bird have?

The podcast currently has 172 episodes available.

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