Oysters and Other Shellfish with Priya Shukla

Today, its time for a lofty subject, as it were: Tom is joined by Abbey Hayes to discuss the original (and best?) form of flight: insect flight. We’ll  be delving into millenia-long developments, and considering wild unknowns. We'll speculate, exploring genetics and molecular tools, as well as settling big questions like 'who's got the best wings?'. Join us, for a thorough and exciting look at this incredible subject. 

Alert! Alert! This is a time sensitive episode! 

The new year monarch count is nearly upon us, and if you want to get involved, now is the time!

www.westernmonarchcount.org

Whether or not you are geographically able to count the monarch, I'm sure you'd love to learn more about one of our most charismatic invertebrates. The monarch butterfly is a migratory butterfly; well-documented, and surely one of the public-facing wonders of the insect world. In this episode, we learn all about the monarch, from its fascinating relationship with plants, to the ways that colonialism has impacted ancient migratory routes. We learn about its toxic defenses, and hear what its like to stand among and experience, first-hand, one of nature's great sights. There's something for everyone here (providing that everyone is wild about butterflies).

Eagle eared listeners will hear that I didn't have my proper mic. Eagle eared listeners will mind their own. 

What on earth's an alvar?

In this episode, you can discover precisely what an alvar is, and learn about the spiders that live there. We consider what it means to study a place with reference to animals, and vice versa. Jillian Suh Kurovski-Legris joins Tom to share her alvar expertise, rhapsodise about spiders, and consider the challenges and pleasures of studying the small and oft-ignored.

 Whats going on with these jellyfish then? What are they, and what are they up to? In this episode, Tom is joined by jellyfish scientist Bailey Steinworth to wrestle with the challenge of the jellyfish. How much sense can we make of a gelatinous and translucent animal? What is it doing, why is it doing it, and what does it feel like to live the jellyfish lifestyle? We discuss all things jellyfish, and touch on the judgements and hierarchies that we foist upon the natural world, as well as exploring with greater depth Bailey's study species: Cassiopea, the upside down jellyfish. 

Microscropic laughs are lurking in the green. Come and discover tardigrades, rotifers, nematodes and more with Andy Chandler-Grevatt, educator and man-of-moss. We discover 'the big 5' of the moss world, think about life at a wholly different scale and sit in a gentle awe as we consider quite how much is going io, close at hand yet out of sight. 

In this episode, we look at how our attitudes towards invertebrates can change. Tom is joined by podcaster Ellen Weatherford from Just The Zoo Of Us to examine what it means to learn about invertebrate life, and how that process of learning changes our outlook on the world at large. What does it take to become an invertebrate fan in adulthood? And what changes in your parenting as your feelings our scuttling pals changes? All this, plus Tom mentions Army Men for the PS1 as part of a broader discussion around our relationships with the natural world. 

A fly comes in the classroom, and panic reigns. In discussing invertebrates, many are revolted. In confronting them, many become hysterical. But the invertebrate world is incredible. How then should we communicate this world to young people? How best do we educate and enthuse about these animals? How do we help children to make sense of their distrust of these animals without being dismissive, and fight back against the overwhelming societal distrust for all that buzzes and crawls? What works? And to what extent do we want to lean into gristly and the grim (naming no names, starfish)?
Jack Baker from Pangolin: The Conservation Podcast joins Tom to discuss teaching about invertebrate animals, to share success stories, and generally have a lovely old time. 

For too long have adult insects hogged the spotlight, with their flash wings and ostentatious sexual maturity. At long last, its time for the larval forms to creep into the spotlight. Tom chats with Dr Erica McAlister, entomologist, author and senior curator at the National History Museum in London about maggots (and other larval diptera). What is there to know about maggots? Hods! Come discover their wriggly world. 

If you like pagentry, ferocity and excellent eyesight then I have the spider for you (though personally, my eyesight is very poor). Tom is joined by Dr Sebastian Echeverri, arachnologist, science communicator and host of the BBC Earth podcast, to learn about jumping spiders. We explore all that makes the jumping spider special, including the aspects of Salticidae lifestyle which are curiously relatable. Plus, extensive discussion of what it means to care about invertebrates, and their relative obscurity within popular understanding despite their overwhelming presence within the animal kingdom.