175 episodes

Life is strange, naturally you want to hear about it. Strange by Nature is your guide to the strange, weird and unbelievable side of nature. Professional naturalists present weekly curated stories about just how strange nature can get. Chosen as one of the best science podcasts of 2021 by Find That Pod.

Strange by Nature Podcast Strange by Nature

    • Science
    • 4.9 • 33 Ratings

Life is strange, naturally you want to hear about it. Strange by Nature is your guide to the strange, weird and unbelievable side of nature. Professional naturalists present weekly curated stories about just how strange nature can get. Chosen as one of the best science podcasts of 2021 by Find That Pod.

    When Everyone Looks Like a Dragon

    When Everyone Looks Like a Dragon

    This week Kirk starts us off with a fascinating story of PMO or Prosopometamorphopsia, a condition where people strangely see distortions to other people's faces that can make them look like demons, elves or dragons.
    Rachel wants to tell us all about ticks this week and it turns into a bit of a PSA on tick safety before going into some interesting facts about these much maligned blood sucking creatures.


    Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free!



    Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature


    Email us: contact@strangebynaturepodcast.com


    Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com

    • 44 min
    Liquifying a Frog for Lunch

    Liquifying a Frog for Lunch

    This week Rachel and Kirk share some incredible stories. Rachel starts us of with some amazing facts about the Albatross. They are truly giant and amazing birds that spend much of their life at sea. 
    I know, you thought Rachel had turned a page and wasn't going to do a story about the ocean but alas, even when she talks about birds she finds a way to make it about the sea. 
    Kirk shares this week about the Epomis Beetle, a truly bizarre little creature that turns the table on the predator-prey relationship by sneak attacking frogs and other animals that try to eat it. What happens next is pretty horrifying. Hint: it involves liquefaction. 
    Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free!



    Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature


    Email us: contact@strangebynaturepodcast.com


    Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com

    • 37 min
    Are Feathers Actually OLDER than Dinosaurs?

    Are Feathers Actually OLDER than Dinosaurs?

    On this week's show, Kirk tells us about a fascinating discovery that may mean feathers are older than dinosaurs.
    Rachel is up next with the story about a rare Tiger Quoll that suddenly showed up in an unexpected spot.
    Victoria rounds out this week's show with an amazing tale of a man who narrowly escaped death after eating the poisonous Spotted Water Hemlock.


    Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free!



    Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature


    Email us: contact@strangebynaturepodcast.com


    Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com

    • 35 min
    Beware the Raw Bacon

    Beware the Raw Bacon

    Victoria kicks things off this week with a bizarre question, is there anything we have three of in our body? This interesting question lead her on a deep dive looking at the strange diversity of body plans on Earth.
    Kirk pours on the nightmare fuel with the story of a patient who's headaches ended up being...wait for it...tapeworms in his brain.
    Rachel rounds out the show with an uplifting story about efforts to restore coral reefs in Florida with the help of hungry crabs. We don't think they'll use our tagline, "Florida Has Crabs."
    Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free!

     


    Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature


    Email us: contact@strangebynaturepodcast.com


    Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com

    • 40 min
    When Sharks Walk on Land

    When Sharks Walk on Land

    This week Rachel brings nightmares to life with a land shark. That's right, a shark that walks on land. Listen to this week's show to learn more about epaulette sharks!
    Not to be outdone, Kirk tells us about the new discovery of a beetle that can be eaten by a frog and survive a trip through the digestive tract and crawl out the other end.
    Truly a bizarre week of stories. Thanks for being along for the ride.

    Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free!
     


    Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature


    Email us: contact@strangebynaturepodcast.com


    Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com

    • 32 min
    Everything's Bigger Than We Expected

    Everything's Bigger Than We Expected

    This week we ended up with the accidental theme of things being bigger than we expected.
    Kirk tells us the tale of coming face to face with enormous coastal manta rays while swimming in the ocean at night and Rachel blows Kirk's mind with the world's tallest sunflower.
    Everything's huge.

    Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free!
     


    Support us: patreon.com/strangebynature


    Email us: contact@strangebynaturepodcast.com


    Visit us at: strangebynaturepodcast.com

    • 36 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
33 Ratings

33 Ratings

JesssMpls ,

Super fun and fascinating

I enjoy this podcast so much. Each episode is utterly fascinating and often very funny. I love learning all about the strangeness and brilliance of nature. Keep up the good work, guys!

trygby ,

Needs work

Rachel lacks knowledge. Her segments are elementary and show her very shallow knowledge of her topic.
Victoria smacks her lips making it very difficult to listen.
Kirk is saving grace of show. He’s knowledgeable, funny and voice is easy to listen to.
Show would benefit from them finding balance of banter and info.

I like what you’re doing here in general but very rough around the edges.

DrinkEatnBeMary ,

Fascinating and factual

I’d say the sign of a great podcast is skeptically observing your cat from afar after finding out the parasitic power they just may have over your brain from said podcast.

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