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PODCAST

Bird Brain

Bird Brain is a podcast about bird characters from popular culture and their counterparts in the natural world. Expect ratings on the anthropomorphic interpretations, anecdotes, ornithologist guests and appearances from my Fairy Godson, Elliott, aged 10. Each episode will explore pressing questions like: What type of bird is Big Bird? Would pigeon post have been more appropriate than owl post? And, has there ever really been a vampire duck?

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All Episodes

00:45:49

The Red Lory and Iago

Bird Brain ·

2025/11/01

This week on Bird Brain, I’m joined by Alice Vassallo, zookeeper and host of Asshole Animals with Alice.Together we talk about Red Lories and Iago. We dig into why Disney’s sharp-tongued parrot is so unforgettable, and which real-life animals might make even better troublemakers. A chat full of colour, chaos, and charismatic villains!

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00:30:21

Chicken Run

Bird Brain ·

2025/08/30

This week on Bird Brain, I’m live from Global Birdfair 2025, joined by ecologist Naomi Davis, my first non-binary guest on the pod! Together we dive into the iconic flock of chickens from Chicken Run, that stop-motion classic once pitched as “The Great Escape with Chickens.”We cover everything from the genius of the word “wazzock” and why it matters , to the way internalised misogyny shapes how we read characters like Mac. Along the way, we explore how films like Chicken Run can both reinforce and

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00:27:29

Green Woodpeckers and Professor Yaffle

Bird Brain ·

2025/07/28

This week on Bird Brain, I’m joined by ecologist, bird ringer, and rewilding champion Penny Green, fresh from a decade at Knepp and now heading into her next wild chapter on the South Downs.We’re talking about Green Woodpeckers (also known as yaffles), with a specific focus on Professor Yaffle from Bagpuss. We look at everything, from their role as habitat engineers to their unmistakable laugh. Penny shares what it’s been like witnessing nature bounce back at Knepp, why unimproved meadows are more

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01:00:35

Spix's Macaw and Blu

Bird Brain ·

2025/06/17

🎙️ In this episode of Bird Brain, we soar into the vibrant and endangered world of the Spix’s Macaw—the striking blue parrot made famous by Blu in the animated film Rio.Joining me is Scarlett Hilton—BTO Young Leader, nature poet, and passionate advocate for equitable access to nature.We discuss:🦜 Rio and the real-life story behind Blu🌵 The caatinga biome – What makes this dry forest ecosystem so vital for macaws⚖️ Poaching and pet ownership – From international trafficking to Minnesota’s bizarre

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01:09:36

Bonus Beasts: Polar Bears and PTSD

Bird Brain ·

2025/05/05

Bonus Beasts: Iorek Byrnison, from the His Dark Materials trilogy.This episode isn’t just about polar bears. It’s about what happens when you’re stripped of your purpose — and how, for some people, recovery means forging a new kind of armour. To explore that, I’m joined by psychiatrist and trauma specialist Dr Mathew Hoskins — who’s worked on cutting-edge therapies for PTSD, including MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Today we’re asking: what can a fictional bear teach us about real psychological

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00:56:46

Snow Geese and Kaisa

Bird Brain ·

2025/02/15

In this episode of Bird Brain, we take flight into the world of geese in literature, folklore, and nature with Liliana Tarrant Snedden—President of the Cardiff University Ornithological Society and BTO Youth Rep.We discuss:Kaisa the daemon – Exploring how Philip Pullman's choice of a Snow Goose for a witch’s familiar in His Dark Materials is subverting the usual image of a witch’s bird, often linked to corvids or birds of prey.📜 Mary Oliver’s Wild Geese 🧬 Genetic diversity – Why it’s crucial

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01:01:53

Roadrunner

Bird Brain ·

2024/12/17

Roadrunners, Cuckoos, and Cold War Cartoons: A Chat with Jon Carter from the BTOIn this episode, we’re joined by Jon Carter, Media Manager at The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), to talk all things birds—and a bit of Looney Tunes! 🐦🎥 We dive into why Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote became a surprising cultural phenomenon in the Soviet Union during the Cold War, explore the fascinating connection between roadrunners and cuckoos, and debate whether the cartoon duo symbolizes the unattainable

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01:14:17

Herring Gulls, Northern Gannets and Scuttle

Bird Brain ·

2024/11/28

In this episode of Bird Brain, I’m joined by Stu for a lively conversation as we unpack the challenges of Stu’s vegan lifestyle and examine the often arbitrary ways humans categorise animals—shifting between entertainment, companionship, and consumption.We dive into the ethical implications of mega-corporations like Disney, their influence on wildlife conservation, and the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. Who made the better Scuttle: a Herring Gull or a Northern Gannet? And what does the

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00:53:26

Vultures and The Jungle Book

Bird Brain ·

2024/09/19

In this episode of Bird Brain, I’m joined by a special guest, Tom Morath, Deputy Head of Living Collections at The Hawk Conservancy Trust. Together, we dive into the fascinating world of vultures—one of the most misunderstood and critically endangered groups of birds on the planet. We’ll discuss why these incredible scavengers are vital for ecosystems and explore their depiction in popular culture, especially in The Jungle Book.Plus, we assemble our very own "Winged Avengers"—picking

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01:23:18

Ravens and Matthew the Raven

Bird Brain ·

2024/08/27

In this exciting episode of Bird Brain, host Kelly Keegan takes flight into the fascinating world of ravens, focusing on Mathew the Raven from the popular comic and Netflix series, Sandman. Joined by longtime friend and comic book aficionado Joe, Kelly dives deep into the myths and misconceptions surrounding these enigmatic birds. Discover how the real-life raven stacks up against its fictional counterpart and why these intelligent creatures are often misunderstood. Spoiler alert: Kelly isn’t a fan

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00:30:42

Bonus Beasts: Tim Appleton and Birdfair

Bird Brain ·

2024/08/15

Every 6th episode of the podcast will be dedicated to Bonus Beasts (in honour of the number of the beast!). Whether it’s interviews with humans who are doing incredible work in the conservation and nature spaces or just an excuse to take about beavers, these are the episodes where you’ll find additional content about how popular culture intersects with the natural world.In this inaugural episode of Bonus Beasts I had the pleasure of interviewing Tim Appleton, founder of Global Birdfair, LIVE at

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00:23:44

Pigeons and Chump

Bird Brain ·

2024/08/07

In this week's episode I am joined by writer Charlie Bingham; together we swoop through pop culture to tackle 2024's Migration (produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination) and explore how similar the character of Chump is to real pigeons.Charlie can be found on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_charliebingham?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== She is represented

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00:39:18

Toucans and Tookie Tookie

Bird Brain ·

2024/07/28

In this week's episode I am joined by Roddy and Jack from the How Many Geese? podcast; together we swing through pop culture to tackle the 1997 blockbuster hit George of the Jungle, and explore how similar the character of Tookie Tookie is to a real toucan. A certain "jacking off" monkey also gets an honourable mention, at just before the 32 minute mark - Skip about a minute if you don't want tiny ears to hear about that. Jack and Roddy's fantastic show can be found

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00:28:58

Red-Billed Hornbills and Zazu

Bird Brain ·

2024/07/16

This is a podcast for people who like pop culture and nature. In this episode of Bird Brain I tackle the subject of whether the representation of Red-Billed Hornbills, via the character of Zazu in The Lion King, has done the species justice. I am joined by author Lucy McRobert and translator (of nature books and bird ID guides) James Lidster. You can find Lucy and James on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildlylucy/ https://www.instagram.com/james.lidster/ Special thanks to Sound Engineer for

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00:43:52

Adelie Penguins and The Penguins of Madagascar

Bird Brain ·

2024/07/07

In this episode of Bird Brain, artist Carly Sharp and I tackle the subject of whether the representation of Adelie Penguins in the Dreamworks Madagascar franchise has done the species justice. This is a podcast for people who like pop culture and nature. Carly's work can be seen on Instagram at: https://tinyurl.com/bdhr6j4y

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01:09:24

Snowy Owls and Hedwig

Bird Brain ·

2024/01/30

Join us for episode one of Bird Brain, Stephen Moss (renowned nature writer and ornithologist) and I delve into the portrayal of Hedwig from Harry Potter. Discover whether the depiction aligns with the true traits of Snowy Owls and explore the storied history of anthropomorphising this fascinating species. Expect avian anecdotes, fantastic facts, wizarding world geekery, and an appearance from my Fairy Godson, Eloquent Elliott, aged 9. Read more from Stephen Moss at the Guardian :

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16 results

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