logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2022
24m 36s

My octopus friend?

Vox
About this episode
Octopuses are largely solitary animals, but there have been rare times — notably in the movie My Octopus Teacher — where they seem to have become comfortable around humans. But is it really possible to be friends with an octopus? For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our sho ... Show More
Up next
Nov 19
Lost on the road to enlightenment
So many of us have been told that meditation can make us less stressed, more productive, and happier. But for a small group of people, it has a dark side. What’s going on? Guests: Willoughby Britton, associate professor at Brown University; Richard Davidson, professor at the Uni ... Show More
35m 17s
Nov 17
Is animal grief real?
A dog on its owner’s grave. A killer whale carrying around its dead calf. A goose that isolates when its mate dies. These behaviors in animals may look like human mourning, but should scientists call them "grief"? (First published in 2023) Guests: Jennifer Vonk, comparative/cogn ... Show More
26m 11s
Nov 12
The Sound Barrier #4: Listen to the universe
When Wanda Diáz-Merced lost her sight as a college student, she thought her dreams of becoming an astronomer were over — until she learned to listen to space instead. Wanda is one of several pioneering scientists listening to space. For this episode, we also spoke to Robert Wilso ... Show More
37m 25s
Recommended Episodes
May 2018
101: The Soul of an Octopus—Exploring Consciousness and Animal Communication with Sy Montgomery
When exploring a branch of highly evolved animal consciousness that evolved in parallel (and completely separate) from our own, Sy Montgomery is sure of one thing: “If I have a soul, an octopus does too.” If you want even the tiniest dose of confirmation, try to keep your eyes dr ... Show More
57m 6s
Oct 2020
What If an Octopus Was Your Teacher? - with Pippa Ehrlich
What do we really know about octopuses? For starters, they don't have 8 tentacles...they're called arms. Did you know they had 3 hearts? 9 brains? And that some people believe they aren't originally from Earth? If you've been lucky enough to catch the Netflix documentary "My Octo ... Show More
44m 29s
Mar 2024
Octopus Cognition
We are joined by Tamar Gutnick, a visiting professor at the University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy. She studies the octopus nervous system and their behavior, focusing on cognition and learning behaviors. Tamar gave a background to the kind of research she does — lab res ... Show More
38m 10s
Jul 2021
How Octopuses Upend What We Know About Ourselves
<p>I’ve spent the past few months on an octopus kick. In that, I don’t seem to be alone. Octopuses (it’s incorrect to say “octopi,” to my despair) are having a moment: There are award-winning books, documentaries and even science fiction about them. I suspect it’s the same hunger ... Show More
56m 3s
Mar 2024
Did You Know that Octopuses Have Three Hearts
Octopuses have three hearts? That's right! Dive into the amazing world of octopus biology and discover why these creatures need this unique circulatory system. Find the full transcript of this episode and learn more about it on https://englishpluspodcast.com/octopuses-the-three-h ... Show More
2m 19s
Feb 2024
S3 Ep 12: Friday Bonus & More Film Pitches
First up, some news about Rom’s unsolvable internet problems, the many varieties of fibre, Tom’s blood test, late night eating, boring sandwiches and using abacuses. Then it’s onto the main event as we read out more of our listener’s Wolf & Owl film pitches. Thank so much for you ... Show More
35m 4s
Feb 2024
G: The World's Smartest Animal
<p>This episode begins with a rant. This rant, in particular, comes from Dan Engber - a science writer who loves animals but despises animal intelligence research. Dan told us that so much of the way we study animals involves tests that we think show a human is smart ... not the ... Show More
50m 20s
Jul 2021
Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch || Dear Therapists
<p>Today it’s great to chat with Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch on the podcast. Lori Gottlieb is a psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37570546-maybe-you-should-talk-to-someone">Maybe You Should Talk to Someone</a>, w ... Show More
57m 2s
Oct 2023
118. Overcoming Financial Anxiety with Farnoosh Torabi
Are financial fears holding you back? Have you ever felt anxious about money or career choices? In this episode of Financial Feminist, Tori engages in a candid money conversation with Farnoosh Torabi, a renowned financial expert, author, and host of the "So Money" podcast. Farnoo ... Show More
1 h
Sep 2022
651: Negative Reviews, Narcissist Conspiracy, & Cats Rule
<p>We discuss the negative review we got from a male listener, and share why he wasn't entirely wrong, but we're still mad. Sarah is literally falling apart after her slip-n-slide disaster, and she might have to avoid the powder this winter. We learn why narcissists are prone to ... Show More
59m 40s