In his lifetime, Shergar the most famous and successful racehorse in the world - so when he was stolen from his stable by a group of masked men armed with machine guns, it naturally sent shockwaves through the equestrian world. In the more than forty years since his abduction, no trace of Shergar has ever been found, and no one has been brought to justice for their role in his theft and presumed killing, and his story has become one of the most infamous unsolved true crime cases in Ireland and the UK.

We may never know the truth about what happened to Shergar, but in the decades since clues have begun to emerge, and they point to a story much darker than a mere case of horse theft. This is a tale of fame, tragedy, and terrorists. Actual, literal terrorists. It's a fascinating and heart-breaking story, and you might want to check out the content warnings in the show notes before you tune in this week!

Original air date: 20th November 2024

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hgYnC0PVngpV9d5ZgywWvtRdZLPPCBmCzuUui-VwsJM/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oh, you think normal yellowjacket wasps are creepy? Just you wait until you learn about dementor wasps! These guys don't just sting - oh, no, they inject cockroaches with a mind-altering toxin that turns them into actual literal zombies... and things only get worse from there. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Original air date: 31st October 2024

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qcJr6_7on8nO-Vz9P5lZs2k86G4VWxP7qt4oPqQhKMw/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So you've heard of mothman, right? Of course you have! How could anyone not know and love him? But have you ever heard of his English cousin, the owlman of Mawnan? He may not be as well-known as mothman, but the owlman absolutely terrified me as a child, which is why I had to choose him as our first ever Halloween special topic! And, yes, I am uploading a Halloween episode in August - I'm still re-uploading my back catalogue, hence the weird timing! But even if it's a little out-of-season, I hope you enjoy this episode. It's probably one of my favourites - but then I'm a fan of anything spooky or cryptid-based!

Original air date: 29th October 2024

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19de7MlT4xS2CkKbQcUc-KzwiN-v0tJc47lABtb7obYs/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dolly was probably the most famous sheep to have ever lived, but a lot of what we think we know about her is actually untrue. For example, did you know that she actually wasn't the first animal ever to be cloned? She wasn't even the first cloned sheep! So why did she get so much more attention than her predecessors? We dive into all of that in this weeks episode, as well as discussing what she was like as an individual, and the legacy she left behind her in the world of scientific and medical research.

Original air date: 22nd October 2024

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dPY8mMMg2EkLHZvxMJKhQrUBdeaJNUTcgk5i5EFihEg/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MGM lion, nicknamed Leo, must be one of the most recognisable logos and mascots in the world. Generations of moviegoers have grown up watching him herald the start of the newest blockbuster. But have you ever actually wondered who the real lion behind the screen is? Because I have. It turns out that there have actually been a lot of lions featured in the MGM logo over the years, and some of their life stories are beyond belief! Seriously, guys, this is probably one of the most fun episodes I've done in a long time!

Original air date: 15th October 2024

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RddgZxazCJUnH84KYHk2EjfakZvJFsiFrbQVLfuDzYU/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When she was only a baby, Rosa the sea otter was abandoned by her mother. Her life was saved by staff at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, who rescued and rehabilitated her with the hope of one day returning her to the wild. And while she was never able to be released, she would still go on to have a massive impact on helping to save her species, by both serving as a foster mother to other orphaned babies (many of whom were successfully returned to the wild!) and by raising massive amounts of money and awareness for sea otter conservation through her unexpected career as an internet star. It's just as wholesome as it sounds, and I loved getting to share it with you today!

Original air date: 1st October 2024

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DaelpyvJFA_2cptObZc1U1FvYk4C238WodA3mnNA8TI/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Revered as the world's most valuable dog, Pulaski's Masterpiece had it all. He was a champion show dog, a successful stud, the mascot of a luxury dog supply shop, a model, a socialite, a celebrity, a TV talk show host, and even an international goodwill ambassador. With a resumé like that, it's not surprise he was considered to be the most famous dog in the world during his lifetime. But that's not what Pulaski's Masterpiece is most remembered for. Instead, his legacy is dominated by the mystery of his disappearance. Despite an extensive police investigation and a high-profile campaign to find him, 70 years on the truth of what happened to him is still unknown. In this weeks episode of the Animal Nerd Podcast, we're diving deep into both Masterpiece's incredible life and the unsolved mystery of his disappearance. Honestly, this episode gets surprisingly true crimey for a podcast about pets!

Original air date: 1st October 2024

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZHn4GdMlGtG7aMs95LdQCprOCcOGyHYfJlybdQW9pXo/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this weeks episode of the Animal Nerd Podcast, we're delving deep into history to try and track down the origin of the phrase "when pigs fly" / "pigs might fly". It's actually been around for a lot longer than you might expect, and has a surprisingly interesting history - in my slightly biased opinion, of course! So sit back and relax while I relay to you almost five hundred years of flying-pig-based history!

Original air date: 20th September 2024

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Bcwq7OvgOqtqvJ4vH2WY-ytTGboF8RlTw1VauVq6BRY/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

White bison are sacred in many Indigenous American cultures, and so when White Cloud, the first documented albino bison, was born, it's no surprise that she was revered by many across Turtle Island. She was a truly unique and incredible animal, and I hope you enjoy getting to learn about her story 💕

Original air date: 17th September 2024

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wmh94uriGYEmAofgBispWyCGXqPmytDMMcIyj_NADyQ/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Incitatus, the favourite horse of Emperor Caligula, lived a life of luxury the rest of us can only imagine. Servants, a palace, the finest jewellery, and even a potential consulate in the Roman Senate? But there's actually a lot more to this story than the surface-level tale that's often told, and it carries some important lessons that we can still learn from to this day about political power and what 'history' even actually is. Bet you weren't expecting that on the fun animal podcast!

Original air date: 10th September 2024

Important note: Unfortunately I wasn't able to import my show when I was switching hosting platforms, and as a result I'm having to re-upload my podcast from the start. Because of that, these early episodes are not indictive of the show's current quality - both in terms of the equipment used and my own skills as a writer & presenter - so apologies for that! Hopefully before too long I'll have caught up to my current output. In the meantime, you can check out my full back catalogue of episodes, and catch up with my newer content, over on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6MWEI1w5ZrPiEM7zZKmgvtqhmWWbpeB

Show notes: (for content warnings, sources used, related non-profits, etc)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-vrK2B2kMc3SkbNMUmu4MVH9E3uFjdPkchn1amOBvwM/edit?usp=sharing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.