Tributaries

Investigating the connection between birds and dinosaurs by taking a closer look at some of the adaptations that make a bird a bird, as well meeting some of the strange transitional creatures that lived along the way. This is a continuation of a conversation with Daniel Ksepka, an avian paleontologist at the Bruce Museum.  Pictured is a Microraptor, as illustrated by Durbed.  Music by Boon, Drop Ceiling, and Sully Allen.

In preparation for the museum's new Dinosaurs in Motion exhibit, we wanted to learn a little more about the dinosaurs from the Mesozoic Era and those alive today: birds.  We talk to paleontologist Daniel Ksepka and ten-year-old Afah Takwi about the connection between the T-Rex, the Hummingbird, and all the strange creatures in between.  Pictured here is the dinosaur Yi Qi, as illustrated by Emily Willoughby.  Music by Drop Ceiling, Boon, and Sully Allen.

Every holiday season, penguins abound, both in the Museum of Science and History's Enchanted Forest exhibit and in holiday decorations worldwide.  So this year, we wanted to learn a little bit more about these unique birds and how they became the creatures we know today.  We talk to Daniel Ksepka, a paleontologist who studies the evolution of birds, about today's penguins as well as their ancient relatives, such as the giant Anthropornis.  Special thanks to Discoll for this image, as well as Boon, Sully Allen, and Purple Planet for the music in this episode.

Sixty five years ago, WHER, the first all-female radio station in America, went live from Memphis, TN.  This Thanksgiving, we're giving thanks for this pioneering group of female DJ's and our fellow Memphis museum, the Museum of Rock and Soul, by presenting an episode from their podcast, Memphis Musicology, hosted by Ezra Wheeler.  Ezra and the production team at the OAM Network use archival recordings to transport us back in time to the WHER studio to hear the story unfold.

Happy Halloween from the Museum of Science and History at the Pink Palace!  To celebrate the spooky season, Tributaries host Katie Quinlan tells us some of the haunting stories from Memphis's past, from Ernestine and Hazels's to Elmwood, Yellow Fever to Treasure Hunters.  Music and Sound Production from Boon, Katie Quinlan, and Luke Ramsey.

Audubon's Birds of America is one of the most valuable books ever and shaped how museums and scientists do illustration and taxidermy today.  In this episode, we celebrate the life of the naturalist and illustrator, from his birth in Haiti to his fame as one of America's most iconic frontiersmen, painting birds across America, like this now extinct Carolina Parakeet.  Music and sound production by Michael Vignola, Bobby Cole, Boon, Sully Allen, Jacob Weaver, and Luke Ramsey.

Purple Martins are a native bird that nests in massive colonies, but only in human-made homes.  They're an effective way to control insect populations and have been a favorite species of birdwatchers since precolonial times.  To learn more about their behavior and how to be a good purple martin landlord, we talked to naturalist Mary Schmidt at Lichterman Nature Center.Music and Sound production by Sully Allen, Boon, and Luke Ramsey.

Step back in time with collections manager Louella Weaver to learn more about prehistoric Indigenous ceramics.  These ceramics hold clues to the past, giving us glimpses into the culture of the Mississippian Peoples through examining how these pots were made and what symbols adorn them, including the Underwater Cat Monster, or Great Horned Serpent.  Hosted by Luke Ramsey and Jes Gibson, with music and sound production from Boon, Sully Allen, Jacob Weaver, Zapsplat, and Luke Ramsey.

In this episode, we continue to examine how transit shaped the city of Memphis. In the early 1900s, steam powered transportation was replaced by cars, trolleys, buses, and planes.  Join hosts Jes Gibson and Harry Clark as they delve into how these modes of transit shaped the city, with help from former county historian Jimmy Ogle.  Produced by Katie Quinlan and featuring music by Sully Allen, Boon, Luke Ramsey, and Purple Planet.

Transit and trade have been key to the story of Memphis, from the time of the Mississippian Peoples to today.  In this episode, we learn of some of the first types of transit used in the region, the evolution and significance of steam powered travel, and the largest inland maritime disaster in US history, the sinking of the Sultana.

Music and Sound Production by Sully Allen, Boon, Spence Bailey, Zapsplat, and Luke Ramsey