Wildly Curious
Wildly Curious is a comedy podcast where science, nature, and curiosity collide. Hosted by wildlife experts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole, the show explores wild animal behaviors, unexpected scientific discoveries, and bizarre natural phenomena. Each episode blends humor with real-world science, making complex topics accessible and fun for all listeners.
Episodes
The Real-Life Dragon You've Probably Never Heard Of
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. We see you. We respect it.What if dragons were real?In this minisode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole explore one of the strangest reptiles on Earth: the Armadillo Girdled Lizard (Ouroborus cataphractus), a tiny armored lizard from South Africa that looks like it crawled straight out of a fantasy novel. Covered in
Mutations Explained: The Tiny DNA Changes That Can Change Everything
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. We see you. We respect it.What happens when your DNA makes a typo?In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the strange, fascinating world of genetic mutations—the tiny changes in DNA that can shape evolution, alter proteins, create disease, or sometimes do absolutely nothing at all. From harmless
The Poisonous Bird You've Probably Never Heard Of
Send us Fan MailMost birds are harmless.This one is poisonous.In this minisode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into one of the strangest birds on Earth: the pitohui, a brightly colored songbird from New Guinea that carries powerful neurotoxins in its skin and feathers. The toxin is chemically similar to the same compounds found in some poison dart frogs, making the pito
Real Life Zombies: How Parasites and Fungi Control Animal Minds
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. We see you. We respect it.What if “zombies” weren’t just fiction?In this Season 14 kickoff episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the real science behind “nature zombies”—organisms that can hijack behavior, manipulate brains, and turn animals into living tools for their own survival.From parasitic fung
Why Are They Called Crows and Ravens?
Send us Fan MailWhy are crows called crows… and ravens called ravens?In this mini episode of the Bird Name Game series from Wildly Curious, Laura explores the surprisingly simple—and fascinating—origins behind the names of two of the most intelligent and culturally iconic birds in the world: crows and ravens.These birds are often associated with mystery, mythology, and even death—but their names d
Why Is It Called a Chickadee? The Surprising Story Behind Bird Names
Send us Fan MailWhy do birds have such unusual names?In this mini episode of the Bird Name Game series from Wildly Curious, Laura dives into the fascinating origins behind two of the most familiar backyard birds in North America: chickadees and titmice.These small, curious songbirds aren’t just cute—they’re also incredibly intelligent and highly vocal, with communication systems that scientists ar
Cassowary vs Emu: The Surprising Origins of Their Bird Names
Send us Fan MailWhy are birds named what they’re named?In this mini episode of the Bird Name Game series from Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss explores the fascinating naming history behind two giant flightless birds that look like they walked straight out of the dinosaur era: cassowaries and emus.Both birds are massive, powerful, and deeply tied to the evolutionary story of modern birds—but their names
Why Is It Called an Albatross? The Surprising History of Bird Names
Send us Fan MailWhy do birds have the names they do?In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss kicks off a new mini-series called “Bird Name Game”, exploring the fascinating origins behind bird names. Each episode looks at two birds, their natural history, and the surprising linguistic stories behind what we call them.This episode dives into two iconic seabirds: the albatross and the gull.The a
Can Cats Talk? The Science Behind Meows, Purrs, and Human Manipulation
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and prepare to realize your cat has been training you this whole time.In this Niche Scientists minisode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the fascinating research of Dr. Susanne Schötz, a phonetics professor at Lund University—and the scientist behind some of the most groundbreaking work on cat–human communication.Her research explores how cat
Echinoderms Explained: Sea Stars, Sea Urchins, and the Ocean’s Weirdest Hydraulics
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. We see you. We respect it.In this deep-dive episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole crack open the bizarre, beautiful world of echinoderms—the “spiny-skinned” sea creatures that are hard on the outside, squishy on the inside, and powered by a literal hydraulic system.We’re talking sea stars, sea urchins, sand dol
Snail Racing Science: Why Studying Slime Is a Big Deal
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and prepare to root for the slowest athletes on Earth.In this Niche Scientists minisode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the bizarre but brilliant world of snail racing—and the scientists who study it to unlock secrets of movement, slime, and survival.Every summer in England, snails compete in the World Snail Racing Championships. It sounds r
Natural Navigation: How Humans Find Direction Without GPS
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and rediscover a skill humans were never meant to lose.In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole explore natural navigation—the ancient human ability to find direction by reading the land, sea, sky, plants, and animals instead of relying on GPS.Long before maps and satellites, humans navigated forests and oceans using patterns, movement, and obs
The Scientists Who Studied Pee, Poop, and Won Prizes
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and prepare to learn something you will never un-know.In this Niche Scientists minisode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole spotlight two researchers whose work sounds ridiculous… until you realize it’s brilliant.Meet Dr. David Hu and Dr. Patricia Yang, engineers who study fluid dynamics by asking the questions no one else would:Why do almost all mammals
DNA Explained: How Genetics Shape Who You Are (and Why It Matters)
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. We see you. We respect it.DNA isn’t magic—but it is one of the most powerful instruction systems in the universe.In this deep-dive episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole break down genetics, DNA, and inheritance in a way that actually makes sense—no lab coat required. From the tiny molecular code inside your cel
Whale Earwax Holds a Hidden History of the Ocean
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and prepare to learn something you absolutely did not know existed.In this Niche Scientists minisode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss dives into one of the strangest—and most important—jobs in science: whale earwax archivist.Yes. That’s a real thing.Certain whales build massive earwax plugs over their lifetime, adding a new layer every six months. And scientists have learned
The Science of Swearing: Can Cursing Actually Help You?
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and let your curiosity swear a little. We won’t tell. 😉In this Wildly Curious minisode, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole kick off their new Niche Scientists series with a deep dive into Dr. Richard Stephens—a psychologist who studies something we all do (sometimes loudly): swearing.From pain tolerance to powerlifting, Dr. Stephens’ research shows that strategic cursing c
The Science (and Chaos) Behind Turkeys, Pumpkins, and Thanksgiving
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and stuff your brain before you stuff your turkey. 🦃🥧In this Wildly Curious Thanksgiving special, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole serve up the surprisingly scientific and hilariously human history of America’s favorite feast. From how pumpkins nearly went extinct after the Ice Age to why turkeys were almost wiped out (and then made a comeback), this episode is a buffet
Could You Fight That? Round 2 – Science, Strategy & Total Chaos
Send us Fan MailSeason 13 is here… and it’s fight night. (Hypothetically, of course.) 🥊Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole are back with Could You Fight That? Part 2, the follow-up to one of Wildly Curious’ most beloved (and ridiculous) episodes.This time, the matchups get even wilder—from kangaroos and cassowaries to anteaters and octopuses—as the duo debates whether they could theoretically surviv
The Taos Hum: The Sound Science Can’t Explain
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and listen closely… if you can. 👂In this Nature Mysteries Minisode, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole tune into one of the strangest modern mysteries: the Taos Hum.Since the 1990s, people in Taos, New Mexico have reported a low, constant humming sound that only a small percentage of the population can hear. The rest? Silence.🎧 What is the Taos Hum—and why can only some pe
The Hessdalen Lights: Science’s Strangest Unexplained Glow
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and embrace the glow of curiosity. 🔦In this Nature Mysteries Minisode, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole investigate one of the most baffling natural light shows on Earth—the Hessdalen Lights of Norway. For over a century, glowing orbs have danced through a remote valley, pulsing, hovering, and splitting apart with no clear cause. Scientists have studied them for decades…
The Truth About the Bermuda Triangle: Science vs. Mystery
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and let your curiosity get lost at sea (but like, safely). 🌊In this Nature Mysteries Minisode, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into one of Earth’s most famous unsolved legends: the Bermuda Triangle—also known as the Devil’s Triangle.For over a century, this stretch of ocean between Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico has been blamed for the mysterious disappearances of
How the Moon Was Formed: A Science Cosmic Mystery
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. We see you. We respect it.In this Nature Mysteries Minisode, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole tackle one of the biggest unanswered questions in planetary science: how was the Moon formed?We look at what we do know—like why lunar rocks look almost identical to Earth’s, why one side of the Moon is thicker than the other, and why it’s
Crabs on the Move: The World’s Strangest Mass Migration
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. We see you. We respect it.In this final Swarms Minisode of the season, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole lose their minds (in the best way) over the most chaotic, moon-synced crab love party on Earth: the migration of Christmas Island red crabs.We’re talking: 🦀 50 to 100 million land crabs 🌧 Timed to what we're convinced is a wi
Nature’s Self-Destruct Button: When Death Means Survival
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. We see you. We respect it.In this explosive episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole reveal the surprising truth: sometimes, nature chooses to self-destruct—and it's all part of the plan.From exploding ants to salmon that spawn and die, and fungi that launch spores like botanical cannons, this episode dives i
Swarms: Why Army Ants Are the Forest’s Most Ruthless Hunters
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and prepare yourself—because this time, the swarm doesn’t just chase... it devours.In this Swarms Minisode, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the world of army ants, some of the most strategic, aggressive, and terrifyingly coordinated hunters on Earth. From building living bridges to raiding the forest floor with military precision, these ants don't forage…
Seeds on the Move: How Plants Travel the World Without Legs
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. We see you. We respect it.In this seed-sational episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dig into the unexpectedly wild world of seed dispersal. From coconuts floating across oceans to violets launching their seeds like botanical cannons, this episode explores the many weird and wonderful ways plants get around wi
Swarms: Why Killer Bees Are So Scary (and So Misunderstood)
Send us Fan MailSubscribe if you love science, chaos, and being mildly afraid of your backyard. 🐝In this Swarms Minisode, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole uncover facts around the infamous “killer bees”—a.k.a. Africanized honeybees. Spoiler: they don’t look scary, but they’ll chase you, sting in overwhelming numbers, and sometimes even wait above water for you to come up for air.But is the fear j
How Animals Navigate Without GPS (Magnetic Fields, Instinct & More)
Send us Fan MailEver wonder how birds, eels, whales, or even bugs find their way without a GPS? In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole uncover the jaw-dropping science behind animal navigation.From locusts using sky maps and magnetic fields, to eels migrating thousands of miles to a secret oceanic birthplace no one’s ever seen (seriously), and birds that may be using
Swarms: The Science Behind Biblical Locust Plagues
Send us Fan MailSubscribe if you love science, chaos, and bugs that are way too confident.In this Swarms Minisode, Katy dives into the desert locust, a grasshopper that transforms—literally—into one of the most devastating swarm creatures on Earth.🦗 What causes a peaceful insect to go full apocalypse mode? 🌾 How do they morph from shy loners to yellow, muscle-bound sky-hulks? 🌪 What triggers a swa
Swarms: Why Thousands of Sharks Suddenly Gather
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and brace yourself—because this week, the swarm has teeth. 🦈In this second episode of our Swarms Minisode Series, Laura and Katy dive into a lesser-known swarm behavior: shark aggregations. From 1,400 basking sharks off New England to over 15,000 spinning sharks off the Florida coast, this episode explores the science (and chaos) behind why some of the ocean’s most feared
Why You Smell What You Smell: The Science of Scents, Skunks & Memory
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and let your nose lead the way. This episode stinks—in the best way possible.In this surprisingly deep dive into all things scent, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole explore how your sense of smell works, why it’s wildly underappreciated, and what makes certain smells feel amazing (or like a chemical attack).🧠 How does smell connect to memory and emotion? 🦨 What makes skun
Swarms: Why Starlings Move Like Liquid
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. It’s time for Swarms.In the kickoff to our Swarms Minisodes, Katy and Laura dive into one of nature’s most mesmerizing spectacles: the murmuration of starlings. These jaw-dropping bird formations swirl through the sky like smoke or liquid—but behind the beauty is a stunning system of rules, physics, and evolutionary strategy.🐦 What e
The Wildlife in Your Walls: Hidden Ecosystems Inside Your Home
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and let your inner science goblin move into its own weird little ecosystem. 🦠In the Season 12 kickoff of Wildly Curious, Katy and Laura reveal the bizarre—but very real—ecosystems thriving inside your house. From the Amazon rainforest of your belly button to the bug-filled biome behind your fridge, your home is alive in more ways than you think.🦠 Why scientists swabbed hu
The Volcano That Won’t Quite Sleep: Vesuvius’ Eruption History
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and let your brain go on a weekly field trip. No permission slip required.In this Volcano Minisode, Laura and Katy dive into the dramatic, deadly, and never-quite-dormant history of Mount Vesuvius, one of the most iconic volcanoes on Earth. From burying Pompeii in ash and pyroclastic waves to raining debris across the Mediterranean during WWII, Vesuvius has earned its tit
This Snail Built Its Own Metal Armor (Thanks, Volcanoes)
Send us Fan MailIn this Volcano Minisode, Katy introduces one of the most extreme animals on Earth: the scaly-foot gastropod, a deep-sea snail that literally builds metal armor from volcanic hydrothermal vents. Found over a mile below the ocean’s surface, this snail survives crushing pressure, toxic heat, and total darkness—all thanks to a symbiotic relationship with bacteria and its one-of-a-kind
Obsidian: The Sharpest Rock on Earth (and in Surgery)
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. We see you. We respect it.In this third Volcano Minisode, Katy digs into one of the coolest things a volcano has ever made: obsidian—a rock so sharp it's been shaping human history for 30,000 years and is still used in modern surgery. 🔪🖤🌋 What exactly is obsidian and how is it formed? ⚡ How can lava turn into volcanic glass in a
The Hidden Caves Beneath Antarctica’s Volcanoes
Send us Fan MailIn this second Volcano Minisode, Laura dives deep (literally) into one of Antarctica’s strangest secrets: how volcanic heat has carved out entire networks of hidden ice caves—warm, alien worlds tucked under the frozen surface. 🧊🔥🌋 Why does Antarctica have 18 volcanoes? 🌡 How can you go from -30°F outside to 70°F inside a cave? 🧬 What strange DNA have scientists discovered in these
A Volcano Buried the World’s Largest Pyramid?!
Send us Fan MailIn the first Volcano Minisode of our season break, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole uncover one of the wildest stories you've probably never heard: how an active volcano in Mexico accidentally buried—and preserved—the world’s largest pyramid. Yes, really.🌋 What is Popocatépetl, and why is it still puffing smoke? 🏛 How did the Great Pyramid of Cholula disappear beneath volcani
Volcanoes: Agents of Chaos or Planet Builders?
Send us Fan MailSubscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. We see you. We respect it.In this Season 11 finale of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole blow the lid off volcanoes—literally and figuratively. From earth-shaking eruptions and blue lava to the creation of entirely new islands, this episode dives into the molten madness of how volcanoes destroy, preserve, and even give
Cosmic Critters: The Chimp Who Survived Space—and Changed Everything
Send us Fan MailIn this out-of-this-world episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole tell the incredible—and deeply emotional—story of Ham the Chimp, the first hominid to survive spaceflight.🧠 How was Ham trained to perform tasks during a rocket launch? 🚀 What made his 1961 mission so important to Project Mercury? 💔 And what did it cost to send an intelligent animal into space?Ha
Cosmic Critters: The Spiders Who Spun Webs in Space
Send us Fan MailIn this out-of-this-world episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole unravel the story of two unexpected astronauts: Anita and Arabella, the garden spiders launched aboard Skylab 3 in 1973.🕸️ Can spiders spin webs in zero gravity? 🕷️ How do they adapt without gravity to guide them? 🛰️ What can eight-legged astronauts teach us about behavior and resilience in space
Why We Sleep, Dream, and Lose Our Minds Without It
Send us Fan MailWhy do we sleep? What’s going on in our brains while we dream about flying bagels and dolphin taxis? In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole stay up late to explore the science of sleep, REM cycles, lucid dreaming, and why getting less than 5 hours can mess with your memory, mood, and metabolism.🧠 From brain waves and neurotransmitters to memory formati
Cosmic Critters: The Monkey-nauts Who Paved the Way for Space Travel
Send us Fan MailBefore astronauts, there were monkeynauts. In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the bizarre and often tragic history of the first primates sent to space—Albert I, II, III, and IV.The U.S. was determined to test the limits of space travel, and what better way than by strapping a rhesus macaque to a rocket? Unfortunately for the Alberts, earl
Weather Gone Wild: Lightning, Haboobs, and Animal Rain—Oh My!
Send us Fan MailFrom sky-high lightning bolts that span hundreds of miles to walls of sand swallowing cities whole, extreme weather is wild—and sometimes, just plain weird. 🌩️💨 In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy and Laura break down some of nature’s most shocking meteorological events, including lightning that’s hotter than the sun, haboobs that turn day into night, and actual raining animals
Cosmic Critters: The Frogs That Went to Space
Send us Fan MailFrogs. In. Space. Yep, you read that right! In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole take you on a hilarious and mind-blowing journey into the weirdest space experiment you’ve probably never heard of—the Orbiting Frog Otolith mission.Back in the 1970s, NASA decided that launching two bullfrogs into orbit was a great idea. Why? To study how weightlessness
Could You Train a Dinosaur? Science Says… Maybe!
Send us Fan MailCould dinosaurs be the next great delivery workers, pest control experts, or even search-and-rescue heroes? In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole take a deep dive into the wild world of dinosaur training—imagining what it would take to turn prehistoric creatures into modern-day workers. From speedy compies delivering packages through city streets to a
Cosmic Critters: The Spacefaring Cat Who Defied Gravity
Send us Fan MailBlast off into the strange world of space-bound critters with Wildly Curious! In this episode, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole uncover the bizarre true story of Félicette—the first (and only) cat launched into space. From rigorous astronaut training (including high-G centrifuge spins) to a suborbital flight with no windows, Félicette’s journey was as weird as it was historic.Why
Dinosaurs Uncovered: Myths, Misconceptions, and Mind-Blowing Discoveries
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy and Laura dive deep into the prehistoric past to separate dinosaur fact from fiction. From Hollywood myths to groundbreaking discoveries, they explore how our understanding of dinosaurs has evolved over time. Were all dinosaurs cold-blooded? Did they all go extinct at the same time? What even is a dinosaur? Prepare to have your dino knowledge
Cosmic Critters: Laika—The Stray Who Became a Space Pioneer
Send us Fan MailBlast off with Wildly Curious as Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole launch into the incredible story of Laika, the first living creature to orbit Earth. This fearless stray dog from the streets of Moscow became a space pioneer aboard Sputnik 2, forever changing our understanding of space travel. But her journey wasn’t just about science—it was a tale of sacrifice, Cold War competiti
Freaky Freshwater Giants: Vampire Fish, Giant Salamanders, and More
Send us Fan MailDive into the mysterious world of freshwater ecosystems with Wildly Curious! In this episode, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole uncover some of the strangest and most fascinating creatures lurking in rivers and lakes worldwide. From the razor-toothed vampire fish of the Amazon to the ancient Chinese giant salamander, and even the armored Arapaima of the Amazon River Basin, each biz
The Gundestrup Cauldron: Mysteries of an Ancient Silver Treasure
Send us Fan MailIn this final episode of the Bog Banter mini-series, hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole uncover the story of the Gundestrup Cauldron—a massive silver artifact found buried in a Danish bog. Dating back to 150 BC, this intricately carved cauldron features mysterious depictions of gods, warriors, and mythical creatures from Celtic and Thracian cultures. Was it a sacred offering,
Pickled Dinosaur Brains: A Fossilized Glimpse into Prehistoric Intelligence
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious, hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into a truly mind-boggling discovery—literally! Learn about the astonishing find of a fossilized dinosaur brain, uncovered in a tide pool in southern England. Preserved by bog-like conditions over 133 million years, this rare fossil reveals intricate details of a plant-eating dinosaur’s brain, including
The Tale of Tollund Man: Unraveling Rituals and Mysteries of Iron Age Bogs
Send us Fan MailIn this eerie mini-sode of Wildly Curious, hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the hauntingly well-preserved story of the Tollund Man. Found in a Danish peat bog in 1950, this Iron Age figure still has intact skin, facial features, and even his last meal in his stomach! Katy and Laura explore the mysterious rituals surrounding his death, why bogs preserve bodies so we
Food Science for the Holidays: Staying Safe and Healthy
Send us Fan MailIn this festive episode of Wildly Curious, Laura sits down with food scientist Sarah Oster to explore the science behind staying safe in the kitchen during the holidays. From understanding the microbial risks of your favorite dishes to food safety tips that can prevent holiday disasters, Sarah shares insights from her 10+ years in food science. Learn about the surprising truths of
Bog Mysteries: Mummified Bodies and Frankenstein-Like Discoveries
Send us Fan MailIn this fascinating episode of Wildly Curious, hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole unravel the eerie tale of ancient bog bodies found in South Uist, Scotland. These Bronze Age remains aren’t your typical archaeological find—they’re stitched-together puzzles of multiple individuals, preserved in bogs and buried beneath a 3,000-year-old house. Explore the mysteries behind these F
Bog Chronicles: Butter, Bodies, and Bizarre Finds Beneath the Peat
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss teams up with a special guest (her son, Lukas!) to kick off a mini-series exploring the bizarre and fascinating things found in bogs. Discover the strange world of bog butter—a 3,500-year-old lump of butter preserved so well that it’s technically still edible. Learn why bogs are nature's refrigerators, the ecological importance of
Exploring the World's Largest Cave: Son Doong’s Hidden Wonders
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious, hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole wrap up their cave mini-series with an awe-inspiring journey into Son Doong, the world’s largest cave located in Vietnam. Discovered in 1990 and mapped just over a decade ago, this cave is a geological marvel with skylights revealing lush rainforests, rivers winding through its depths, and colossal stalagmit
ADHD Unmasked: Understanding Strengths, Struggles, and Science
Send us Fan MailIn this insightful episode of Wildly Curious, hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive deep into the world of ADHD. From the brain’s unique wiring to the day-to-day challenges and incredible strengths of those with ADHD, this episode explores it all. Learn about the science behind impulsivity, forgetfulness, and hyperfocus, as well as how reframing ADHD can uncover the power an
Unearthing Cheddar Man: Britain’s Ancient Mystery and Modern Connections
Send us Fan MailIn this captivating episode of Wildly Curious, hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole delve into the ancient history of Cheddar Man, a 9,000-year-old skeleton discovered in the Cheddar Gorge caves of England. Known for his unexpectedly dark skin, blue eyes, and curly hair, Cheddar Man has puzzled scientists and enthusiasts alike. Uncover the story of his discovery, what his remain
Glow in the Dark: Bioluminescence Wonders of the Deep and Beyond
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious, hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the mesmerizing world of bioluminescence, exploring how animals, plants, fungi, and even bacteria light up the natural world. From deep-sea fish with built-in flashlights to fungi glowing in forests, discover the surprising science and evolution behind nature’s glow. Why do creatures glow? Is it a
Inside Mexico’s Giant Crystal Cave: Science and Survival Below the Surface
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious, hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole venture into one of Earth’s most extreme environments: the Cave of Crystals in Naica, Mexico. Discovered in 2000, this surreal underground world holds colossal gypsum crystals, some reaching over 30 feet in length and weighing as much as 55 tons. With temperatures soaring up to 122°F and nearly 100% humidity
Uncovering Subterranean Secrets: The Ancient Underground City of Derinkuyu
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole explore the ancient underground city of Derinkuyu, a massive subterranean metropolis in Turkey. Accidentally discovered in the 1960s, this hidden city could house up to 20,000 people and features everything from stables to chapels. Learn how this Byzantine-era marvel was used as a refuge from invaders and natural
Could You Jump That? Sneaking Up on Nature’s Most(ly) Elusive Creatures
Send us Fan MailIn this laugh-out-loud episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole put their stealth skills to the test in a hilarious exploration of what animals they think they could sneak up on and jump. From cows to quokkas, and even houseflies, the duo breaks down the science, strategy, and surprises behind the animals' senses and reflexes. They dive into fun animal fact
Unveiling the Qumran Caves: The Dead Sea Scrolls and Their Secrets
Send us Fan MailJoin Katy and L in this Wildly Curious episode as they dive into the Qumran Caves, home to the Dead Sea Scrolls, one of the most significant finds in biblical archaeology. Discover the ancient Jewish sects, including the Essenes, who may have lived in these caves, and the remarkable manuscripts they left behind. From the Isaiah Scroll to the mysterious Copper Scroll—a treasure map
Mastering the Skies: The Secrets of Bird Flight Revealed
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature), hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the fascinating world of bird flight and explore the physics behind it. From the elegant gliding of the albatross to the record-breaking speed of the peregrine falcon and the astonishing agility of the hummingbird, these birds have evolved extraordinary adaptations
Why We’re Changing Our Name: From For the Love of Nature to Wildly Curious
Send us Fan MailIn this special episode, hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the big decision behind changing the podcast name from For the Love of Nature to Wildly Curious. After 3.5 years of exploring quirky nature facts, science, and conservation, the hosts share why this renaming was crucial for expanding their reach and improving discoverability. Listen in as they discuss their
Unicorns of the Ice Age: The Cave That Rewrote History
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole continue their Cave Chronicles series by uncovering the remarkable discovery of the so-called Siberian unicorn. Found in a cave in Kazakhstan, this prehistoric animal was a massive, rhino-like creature that roamed the Earth alongside early humans. Katy and Laura dive into
Odd Animal Friends: Heartwarming Stories of Unlikely Companions
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole share heartwarming stories of odd animal friendships. From capybaras hanging out with birds to Koko the Gorilla’s special bond with her kitten All Ball, this episode dives into the unlikely companionships formed in the animal kingdom. Whether it’s animals from different s
Secrets of a Sunless World: Inside Earth's Most Isolated Cave
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole kick off their mini-series on caves by exploring one of the most isolated and unique caves on Earth—Movile Cave in Romania. Discovered in 1986, this cave has been sealed off from the outside world for over 5 million years. Learn how this strange, oxygen-poor environment s
We're Back! Exploring Pocket-Sized Ecosystems in Nature
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole return after a break with an exploration of pocket-sized ecosystems, also known as microcosms. From tiny worlds hidden in moss to intricate ecosystems found in epiphytes, they discuss how these small habitats thrive and support a surprising amount of biodiversity. Whether
Call to Climate Action: he Biggest Challenge and What You Can Do
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change. They break down what climate change really means, how it’s impacting our planet today, and what everyday people can do to help mitigate its effects. From the science behind global warming to real-world so
Mournful Creatures: How Animals Grieve and Mourn the Dead
Send us Fan MailWarning: this episode contains examples and anecdotes of death and loss regarding both humans and animals.In this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole explore how animals, from elephants to lemurs, demonstrate behaviors that resemble mourning and grief. With anecdotes about elephants covering their dead with leaves
Tiny But Lethal: Nature’s Smallest Deadly Predators
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole explore some of the tiniest but most dangerous creatures in the natural world. From the venomous blue-ringed octopus to the ultra-efficient hunting tactics of the black-footed cat, they break down how small animals pack a big punch in the wild. Tune in for surprising fact
Beastly Ballers Week…Idk
Send us Fan MailJoin Laura and Katy for....we don't know what week it is.....but this week on Beastly Ballers we're going to face off University of Georgia vs. University of Kentucky for college football. For the NFL this week, the Philadelphia Eagles take on the LA Rams......or is it the other way around? Find out who Laura and Katy pick and why they suddenly have become mini Tennessee
Beastly Ballers - Week 3
Send us Fan MailWeek 3 of the football mascot battle is here! This week in college football it’s Colorado State vs Colorado, and in the NFL, Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts. Mascot Chaos vs Actual Reason, is tied in the series, so let’s see who will come out victorious in today’s episode! Support the show🎉 Support us on Patreon to keep the episodes coming! 🪼🦤🧠 For more laughs, catch us on You
Two Truths and a Lie Shark Edition: Can You Guess the Real Shark Facts?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole play a fun game of "Two Truths and a Lie" featuring fascinating facts about sharks! From the lightning-fast shortfin mako to the terrifying bull shark, they challenge each other to separate fact from fiction. Tune in for some jaw-dropping shark facts and see if
Beastly Ballers - Week 2
Send us Fan MailJoin Laura and Katy, hosts of For the Love of Nature, for a fun miniseries: Beastly Ballers. They will be joined by a special guest Donnie "Hail Mary Hootenanny" Martin, a football analyst, as they dive into the quirky world of college football and NFL predictions based on mascots. In this episode, they dissect the showdown between Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas Longhorns
Beastly Ballers - Week 1
Send us Fan MailJoin Laura and Katy, hosts of For the Love of Nature, for a fun miniseries: Beastly Ballers. They will be joined by a special guest Donnie "Baton Rouge Bruiser" Martin, a football analyst, as they dive into the quirky world of college football predictions based on mascots. In this episode, they dissect the showdown between North Carolina's Tar Heels and South Carolin
Green Energy: Exploring Solar, Geothermal, and Renewable Resources
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the world of green energy, discussing renewable resources like solar and geothermal power. From the basics of how these energy sources work to their benefits and challenges, Katy and Laura explore the role green energy plays in reducing our environmental impact.
Animal Misconceptions: Debunking Common Myths in the Animal Kingdom
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wildly Curious (formerly For the Love of Nature), co-hosts Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole set out to bust some of the most common animal myths you've probably heard your whole life. Do bears really sleep all winter? Can chameleons change color to match their surroundings? Are goldfish really forgetful? Katy and Laura debunk these misconceptions and more,
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