In this hour of Radiolab, stories of cross-species communication.
When we gaze into the eyes of a wild animal, or even a beloved pet, can we ever really know what they might be thinking? Is it naive to assume they're experiencing something close to human emotions? Or is it ridiculous to assume that they AREN'T feeling something like that? We get the story of ... Show More
Aug 2023
How We’re Learning to Talk to Animals
If we could talk with the animals, grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals, what would we say? We’d better start thinking of something good because researchers are learning to speak sperm whale, prairie dog, and a bunch of other species' languages.See omnystudio.com/listener ... Show More
53m 58s
Dec 2023
Do Animals have Feelings?
Have you ever wondered if your pets or animals have feelings? Dr. Carl Safina, best-selling author, a TED speaker, and a leader in the field of conservation biology. He is on our show to give his expert insight into just what our animals might be thinking. Don't miss this fun an ... Show More
31m 14s
Sep 2025
Can We Talk With Animals? Chapter Two: AI is Another Animal
People have attempted to communicate with other animals since before the dawn of recorded history. Today, almost every pet owner feels they have deep, communicative bonds with their pets -- but what about wild animals? In the second chapter of this two-part series, Ben, Matt and ... Show More
1h 4m
Sep 2025
Can We Talk With Animals? Chapter One: Your Pets Know Way More Than You
Do you have a bond with a household pet? Do they understand what you say to them -- and, if so, how much? In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Matt and Noel dive deep into a question that's mystified humanity since the dawn of history: Can we really talk to non-human a ... Show More
1h 2m
Nov 2025
S2E5: Animal Telepathy & Consciousness
<p>Animal communication moves from theory to lived experience. A non-speaking teen, Trevor, spells intimate details from his therapy horse, knowing about deaths, emotions, and conversations no one told him. Animal communicator Alex Anderson recounts the moment her own horse “spok ... Show More
51m 17s
Dec 2005
Animal Communication, Sexual Signalling and Emotions
This week we learn about animal communication straight from the horses mouth. Dr Gillian Forrester, from the University of Sussex, describes how gorillas use tactile signals to communicate, Dr Katie Slocombe, from the University of St. Andrews, talks about her work on how chimpan ... Show More
58m 8s