A color-changing creature many people assumed to be brainless outsmarts his human captors. SPOILER: The creature is an octopus! Author Sy Montgomery tells the story of one octopus named Inky who makes us question who we consider intelligent (and kissable) in the animal kingdom. 

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Terrestrials is a production of WNYC Studios, created by Lulu Miller. This episode is produced by Ana González, Alan Goffinski and Lulu Miller. Original Music by Alan Goffinski. Help from Suzie Lechtenberg, Sarah Sandbach, Natalia Ramirez, and Sarita Bhatt. Fact-check by Diane Kelley. Sound design by Mira Burt-Wintonick with additional engineering by Joe Plourde. Our storyteller this week is Sy Montgomery. Transcription by Caleb Codding. Our advisors are Theanne Griffith, Aliyah Elijah, Dominique Shabazz, John Green, Liza Steinberg-Demby, Tara Welty, and Alice Wong.

Terrestrials is supported in part by Science Sandbox, an initiative of the Simons Foundation.

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Writer Aisha Muharrar got her start in television. She wrote for "Parks and Recreation," "The Good Place," and most recently on "Hacks." Now she's turned to book writing, with her debut novel, Loved One. The book tells the story of Julia and her complicated relationship with Gabe, Julia's first crush turned best friend. When Gabe suddenly dies, Julia makes it her mission to gather all of his possessions. Aisha discusses the book, her idea for the story, and her childhood in Bay Shore on Long Island.

Actor and former NY gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon discusses her roles in the most recent seasons of "The Gilded Age," and Sex and the City reboot, "And Just Like That," plus some local politics.

It is Classics Week on All Of It, spotlighting the big literary anniversaries this year. To kick things off, All Of It and Get Lit producer Jordan Lauf recommends some of the best classics to add to your summer reading list, especially if you are participating in the All Of It Summer Reading Challenge. Plus, listeners share their favorite classics.

On this day in 1977, David Berkowitz confessed to being the Son of Sam killer who terrorized New Yorkers with seemingly random attacks. A new series explores interview tapes with Berkowitz to get a better understanding of the killer and his motivations. Director Joe Berlinger discusses the series "Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes," which is streaming now on Netflix. Listeners also share their memories of this period in NYC history.

Until recently, scientists assumed humans were the only species in which females went through menopause and lived a substantial part of their lives after they were no longer able to reproduce. And they had no idea why that happens, and why evolution wouldn’t push females to keep reproducing right up to the end of their lives. But after a close look at some whale poop and a deep dive into chimp life, we find several new ways of thinking about menopause and the real purpose of this all-too-often overlooked second act of life.  

Special thanks to Danielle Friedman, Rachel Gross and Kate Radke.

EPISODE CREDITS: Reported by Heather Radke and Becca BresslerProduced by Sarah Qari and Becca BresslerFact-checking by Emily Kriegerand edited by Becca Bressler

EPISODE CITATIONS:Books - Check out everything Heather Radke writes, including Butts: A Backstory, 'cause it’s all that good, here: Heather Radke (www.heatherradke.com).

Find any one of Lucy Cooke’s books, including Bitch: On the Female of the Species, here: Lucy Cooke (http://www.lucycooke.tv/)And check out everything Caroline Paul has on offer, including Tough Broad, here:  Caroline Paul (https://www.carolinepaul.com/) Socials - Heather Radke: https://www.instagram.com/radhradkeLucy Cooke: https://www.instagram.com/luckycooke/

Audio:Becca Bressler’s greatest hits - Bloc PartyOur Stupid Little BodiesGigaverse

Radiolab | Lateral cuts - Butt Stuff

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"Shrinking" writer and comedian Bill Posley discusses his one man show, "The Day I Accidentally Went to War," about his experience enlisting in the military, being deployed, and coming home. The show is running at Soho Playhouse through August 30.