The comedy nature podcast for more than just nature nerds. A really wild show for grown ups, each episode looks at stories and science from across the natural world and also pits a host against a listener suggested species of animal to decide how many they could take in a fight. Insta @howmanygeese Support the show at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/howmanygeese
Episodes
Tuesday Feb 20, 2024
Tuesday Feb 20, 2024
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to falter, your pals at "How Many Geese?" are here to offer you an alternative. Suit up to meet our radioactive team of superheroes as we introduce Wales' nuclear sheep, Bavarian boar and Mutant Turtles as we turn off the lights to see which animals are glowing in the dark.
Continuing our superhero theme, our pals Birda introduce us to their very own Hawkeye as we get acquainted with the Arrow-marked Babbler before Roddy tackles the sea's sharp-toothed master of camouflage, the Tasselled Wobbegong. And finally, every superhero needs their supervillain, and we get asked what invasive species we would introduce to our arch-enemy's desert island to make their life a misery...
Check us out on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/howmanygeese/
Check out Birda the show sponsors here https://birda.org/
If you're feeling extra generous and want to help support the show, consider leaving us a tip at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/howmanygeese
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Love is in the air and so too is Season SEVEN as we return to the mics refreshed and renewed for a Valentine's Day special - only.... not quite the most romantic one it turns out!
Looking to show love is all around us, Roddy tried to find the cute and loving side of creatures the world deems weird (see: not you sea otters), except it didn't quite go to plan as we hear how love in the animal kingdom takes many strange (and sometimes terrifying) forms. It's not just scary animal sex though, as we also hear the story of how one zookeeper's commitment to the job helped save an endangered crane species. And do we mean - commitment.
Sticking to the Valentine's theme, we're asked the age old question of snog, marry, avoid - insects, mammals, birds - and our show sponsors Birda take us to look at some lovey dovey doves with a double feature special in the diamond and bleeding heart doves.
...... .... oh and also Roddy fights an African Spurred Tortoise. In the 90s. We kind of ... drifted from the theme for that one...
Check us out on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/howmanygeese/
Check out Birda the show sponsors here https://birda.org/
If you're feeling extra generous and want to help support the show, consider leaving us a tip at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/howmanygeese
Tuesday Jan 16, 2024
Tuesday Jan 16, 2024
We're back in your ears to kick off 2024 with the episode that was meant to close out 2023 - it's the end (beginning) of year special! So sit down, ignore your resolutions and get ready to listen to what happens when we lose a handle on the conversation...
A seemingly straightforward audience question takes us over half an hour to sift through, as we try and work out which animal would claim the title of Highlander - there can be only one! Let it never be said we are anything other than thorough, as we develop our very own knock out tournament for some of the greatest combatants in animal fighting history.
Of course, it wouldn't be How many geese? without an animal fight - but we're peeling back the curtain to show they don't always go to plan. We welcome the Titan Triggerfish into the arena and wrestle with everything from plasticine to Pythagoras as Roddy tries to form a plan to fight it!
Lastly, we're letting you know courtesy of Birda to check out the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch - and help take part in vital citizen science for listeners in the UK. Download Birda for free, wherever you get your apps.
To support the show by leaving us a donation to help keep growing the podcast, please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/howmanygeese
Follow our Instagram page for updates here www.instagram.com/howmanygeese
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Our time in Mexico comes to an end with the final episode of the expedition! We park our usual animal heavy chat to speak to Dr Kathy Slater (Mission Mexico: Welcome to the Jungle guest) about the communities who live around the biosphere and the threats it is under. Dare we say it - but we get serious for possibly the first time ever on the show!
Firstly, we talk to Kathy about the honey production which many local communities are engaged in, and her work alongside local NGOs to help them move away from unsustainable agriculture practices. It's not just Kathy we speak to about the honey though - as we interview one of the local Mexican staff members Esteban about his own hives and what it's like producing honey... alongside wildlife... ... in a drought.
The other big topic while we were on expedition was the "Tren Maya" train project that was being constructed. While we haven't mentioned this in the earlier episodes, this mammoth construction project was hard to avoid in Calakmul. Kathy helps explain a bit more about the train and offers some insight to the impact it could have to the region. Do read up on it - which has recently featured in the Natural History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
Finally, rest assured there's still some Jack and Roddy chat squeezed in - as we round up our success in seeing our Big 5, Jack gives his bird breakdown and we have the most grown up conversation we've ever recorded as we reflect on our time in the forest...
For more information on Operation Wallacea, check out www.opwall.com
To support the show by leaving us a donation, please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/howmanygeese
Follow our Instagram page for updates here www.instagram.com/howmanygeese
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Today's episode is spreading it's weird fleshy wings and echolocating into your ears as we delve into the frankly absurd world of the bats. We've woken up a trio of guests from their daytime slumber to lift the lid on the superpowered world of bats and bring us face to face with one of the largest species in the Calakmul jungle.
Oh and yes, don't be fooled by the early outtro. For those who want a real insight into just how crazy you get in the jungle, stick behind after the end to hear HMG reporting live from a fashion show in the middle of the forest...
For more information on Operation Wallacea, check out www.opwall.com
To support the show by leaving us a donation, please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/howmanygeese
Follow our Instagram page for updates here www.instagram.com/howmanygeese
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
We are swimming, sliding and hopping into your ears this week as we head out under cover of darkness to look for all things herpetological - aka reptiles and amphibians. With the help of blacksmith-come-herpetologist Stuart and PhD student Fred, we dive into the scaly world of reptiles and (the permanently moist world of) amphibians.
As ever though, that's not all! We answer that classic jungle question of what animal would you choose to be your karaoke partner and check back in on Private Jamie Hartup from the frontlines of the (his?) war against the ants. Will humanity ever know peace?? Thankfully though, if anything can hoover up ants - it's the herps!
For more information on Operation Wallacea, check out www.opwall.com
To support the show by leaving us a donation, please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/howmanygeese
Follow our Instagram page for updates here www.instagram.com/howmanygeese
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Today's jungle diary has got us all a-flutter as we explore the world of tropical butterflies. With the help of entomologists Liz and Holly, we're learning about why they're such important indicators for the health of the forest and heading out on a survey to get our hands on some ourselves.
Also in today's episode we join Private Jamie Hartup to get his report from the frontlines of the Ant War, unpack some of our halfway wildlife highlights, decide which Mexican animals would make good video characters, and start to panic that the podcast may never actually get finished when we notice the humidity is starting to corrode our kit...
For more information on Operation Wallacea then check out www.opwall.com
To support the show by leaving us a donation to help keep growing the podcast, please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/howmanygeese
Follow our Instagram page for updates here www.instagram.com/howmanygeese/
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
The Mayan journey continues as Jack and Roddy move deeper into the Mexican jungle and set up shop at a new camp that is not without its (small and very, very well organised....) challenges - as they reach the Western front of humanity's battle with a colony of leaf cutter ants! But before they fall prey to the colony, it's time to get the flock together and head out looking at our feathered friends - as this week we're all about birds.
Learn about the different surveying methods used to study them, as well as that most crucial of scientific questions - WHY bother with birds?! And in a turn of events no one could have predicted when How many geese? started, Jack and Roddy sit down with local eco guide Ezekiel to talk not just birds - but learn some Mayan language along the way!
For more information on Operation Wallacea, check out https://www.opwall.com/
To support the show by leaving us a donation to help keep growing the podcast, pelase visit https://www.buymeacoffee.com/howmanygeese
Follow our Instagram page for updates here www.instagram.com/howmanygeese/
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
Part three of our journey into the Mexican jungle and today, we're focusing on the big, fluffy stuff. It's an absolute mammal-fest this episode as we delve into some of the jungle's most famous residents. Find out the difference between Jaguars and your Jaguarundis, which mammal is the Mafia boss of Mexico and why monkeys are such dicks to each other.
We've then got an extra treat at the end as we sit down with expedition medic Dr Stefan Hudson to hear all about he looks after the weirdest mammal of all - us.
For more information on Operation Wallacea then check out www.opwall.com
To support the show by leaving us a donation to help keep growing the podcast, please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/howmanygeese
Follow our Instagram page for updates here www.instagram.com/howmanygeese/
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
Our Mexican adventure continues as today's episode sees us getting to grips with one of the most important aspects of the Calakmul jungle - the Mayans. Come with us as we explore the ancient city of Calakmul and the ruins of Hormiguero with Holly Cunningham as our guide. From blood sacrifices to Belugas of the underworld, this is the closest you'll get to a How Many Geese? history channel.
We then list which animals make our Mexican Most Wanted before making time to answer one of your listener questions because, even if we're severely dehydrated and getting bitten to death by mosquitos - we'll still make time for you, dear listener.
For more information on Operation Wallacea then check out www.opwall.com
To support the show by leaving us a donation to help keep growing the podcast, please visit www.buymeacoffee.com/howmanygeese
Follow our Instagram page for updates here www.instagram.com/howmanygeese/