The Primordial Soup Pot

Urban Wildlife! Rustin starts with the Peregrine Falcon. Learn about the unique conservation approach that brought them into our cities and how they became the bane of pigeon owners everywhere (sorry, Mike Tyson). Aaron discusses the Asian water monitor, the second-largest lizard in the world. Learn how these lizards have surprisingly adapted well in human environments where most large carnivores cannot.

Birds! In this episode, Aaron talks about the Indian vulture crisis. Learn the cause of this historic vulture decline, its effects on the health of the people and environment, and the efforts undergoing to bring them back. Rustin follows with the bizarre biology of the Hoatzin. Learn all about the unique adaptions of this evolutionary outcast.

Lab Rats! In this episode, Rustin and Aaron discuss two very important species in the field of scientific research. Rustin discusses the zebra finch. learn how this bird's unique breeding habits made it one of the most studied songbirds in the world. Aaron follows with the African-clawed frog. Learn how this species went from one of the most useful laboratory animals to one of the most invasive.

The autumnal season. Aaron starts with an infamous invasive species in the northeast United States, the spotted lanternfly. Learn about how this species affects our crops and possible methods to stop the spread. Rustin follows with the diverse field of caddisflies. Learn how these communities of insects utilize the fallen leaves for food, shelter, and even breathing.

The most extreme! This week we look into extremophiles. Aaron discusses the bizarre, and understudied, petroleum fly. Learn how this insect lives inside pits of crude oil. Rustin follows with the Rio Tinto. This toxic environment is home to some tough bacteria that may reveal information on bioremediation and life on other planets.

We're back with season 2! Starting off with the topics from last season that didn't quite make the cut. Rustin leads with Clark's Nutcracker. This bird's fantastic memory allows it to remember the locations of thousands of stored nuts. Learn how these birds are key to reforestation efforts Aaron follows with the history and ecology of the Catalina Island Bison (what happens when you try to film a Western movie out on a Pacific island and leave a herd of bison behind).

Coral reefs! Aaron starts us off with the parrotfish. learn about how these animals' unique adaptions allow them to feed and how this behavior reshapes the coral reef around them. Rustin finished off with the infamous crown of thorns starfish. Learn about how these starfish have gotten out of control and what methods are being used to help protect the great barrier reefs.We'll see you all again for season 2!