BBC Earth Podcast
BBC Earth
Each week the BBC Earth podcast brings you entertainment, humour, an abundance of amazing animal stories and unbelievable unheard sounds. Explore the world of animals with superpowers, deep dive into death, hear from heroes passionately protecting the planet and get expert insights into corners of the natural world you’ve never explored before.Hosted by zoologists Rutendo Shackleton and Sebastian Echeverri, each episode features special guests including the world’s most respected scientists and naturalists, stars of film and television, nature Instagrammers and more.Listen, laugh and learn – whether you’re a nature lover, nature curious or haven’t yet realised n...
Ghosts
The show takes a spooky turn as we go on a ghost hunt through the natural world. Sebastian shares his adventures finding fossils – the traces of animals that once lived, and Rutendo talks about her experiences in The Cradle of Humankind, the South African UNESCO World Heritage site containing early human fossils.Deep in the Peruvian Amazon there is a species of wild dog so rarely sighted it has become known as the ‘ghost dog’. We hear from Renata Leite Pitman, one of the few scientists to succes
Order and chaos
The difference between order and chaos can depend on your perspective. The systems and processes that drive the natural world might seem random in close-up, whether it’s an ant wandering around near its nest, or a wildebeest charging through the water. But if you zoom out, you can see how these small activities combine to form part of a bigger picture.The Darwin Tree Of Life project is an attempt to bring order to nature by sequencing the DNA of every living thing in the UK, a staggering 70,000
Rhythm
Sebastian is not afraid to admit that he lacks natural rhythm. But Rutendo thinks he’s too hard on himself – perhaps the world is just out of sync with him. Besides, every living thing is built upon natural rhythms, from our response to night and day, to the beating of our hearts.Kristina Bolinder leads us on an exploration of a plant with a very unusual habit: it only flowers under the light of the full moon. The reason why connects a century of lunar records with the latest in botanical resear
Individuals
In an age of individualism, sometimes we are more connected than we think. And the same is true for everything on the planet. Rutendo and Sebastian explore the question of how and why we define an individual, a colony, or a group, across the animal kingdom.Lisa Kirkendale was astounded when she came across the longest organism ever discovered, a siphonophore off the coast of Australia. Composed of several semi-independent but constantly connected parts known as zooids, could it be seen as a colo
Threat
It’s a scary world out there, as we explore how everything on the planet – from humankind to glaciers – must be able to respond to threat in order to survive. Sebastian surprises Rutendo with a story of the time he lived in Japan and took up fencing, occasionally finding himself at the wrong end of a sword.WWE wrestler and commentator Stu Bennett, better known as Bad News Barrett, is used to feeling the pressure in the ring. But away from that controlled environment, he has faced less expected t
Reflections
Light and reflection are crucial across the animal kingdom, and sometimes they interact in strange and surprising ways. Rutendo tells Sebastian about the time she carried out a classic experiment, the mirror test, with lions, during her PhD. Some lions made friends with the mirrors, while others pursued less wholesome activities...The hatchet fish has evolved a fascinating means of hiding itself from predators, especially those searching out their prey with giant bioluminescent headlights. Biolo
Defenders of the Earth
Sebastian and Rutendo celebrate nature’s defenders in all their forms. They argue that vultures should get more credit for their vital role as scavengers. Their super-acidic stomachs kill off deadly bacteria, like anthrax, that accumulates onrotting carcasses. This prevents the spread of disease and recycles nutrients back into the environment.Molecular biologist Mike Kolomiets tells us that the fragrance of newly mown grass isactually a scream for help and a warning to nearby plants that a herb
Whose Story?
Rutendo and Sebastian are looking at stories and whether it matters who is telling them. Paula Kahumbu is a renowned conservationist and film-maker in Kenya who wants to see more African stories told by Africans for Africans. “It's really important that Iam empowered to tell my own story. Not just that it's authentic, which therefore will resonate with the audiences ...but also it boosts my ability to have more impact out there.” Through her programme: ‘Wildlife Warriors’, Paula is training, cha
Pulling Power
We explore the invisible pulling powers of nature through the forces of smell, sound and gravity.In Greece, desert ants start their lives underground in total darkness. Void of landmarks and sun they initially learn to orient themselves using the Earth’s magnetic field. German scientist Dr Pauline Fleischman reveals how her team discovered the ant’s internal GPS.A healthy coral reef is a very noisy place, full of the snapping, rasping, scraping and croaking of various vocal species. But a dying
Death
Rutendo and Sebastian explore death and its role in the natural world. For Sebastian, death is a permanent state, a complete end to a life. But for Rutendo and her family, death is just a temporary parting. Around the world burial customs differ, but throughout nature, death and decay provide sustenance to other life-forms. Sebastian explores the extraordinary diversity within the ground, with soil ecologist Frank Ashwood, who explains that a single teaspoon of healthy soil contains more th
Superpowers
Rutendo and Sebastian get to indulge their passions for nature AND superheroes, as they look at real-life superpowers in nature.Rutendo explores how these superpowers inspire fictional worlds and heroes with Mike McHargue, a science advisor/world builder for film and television. Mike helps writers and film-makers integrate accurate and consistent science into their stories, and together he and Rutendo invent a brand new superhero.Rats seem unlikely superheroes but in Tanzania they’re being train
Safari
You don’t need to be on an African Savanna to enjoy a safari. Rutendo and Sebastian explore how to have a nature adventure wherever you are. On the isle of Bute in Scotland, Nature Instagrammer Lucy Lapwing takes us on an immersive walk through her local woodland. It’s a wonderfully damp, fresh day, and the forest is dripping with lichen and bright lime green moss as Lucy points out local birds and wildlife. Rutendo and Sebastian go in search of spiders in Bristol, and with the i
Series trailer
Each week the BBC Earth podcast brings you entertainment, humour, an abundance of amazing animal stories and unbelievable unheard sounds. Explore the world of animals with superpowers, deep dive into death, hear from heroes passionately protecting the planet and get expert insights into corners of the natural world you’ve never explored before.Hosted by zoologists Rutendo Shackleton and Sebastian Echeverri, each episode features special guests including the world’s most respected scientists and
Finding what doesn't want to be found
In the final episode of series 4, we’re digging into some of the more elusive corners of our planet.To begin, we’re on a bear hunt deep in the Bornean rainforest. Guiding us is Siew Te Wong, who is the world’s foremost authority on a bear we know very little about. The sun bear is the smallest bear in the world and, as Wong has discovered for himself, tracking them can draw up some unexpected discoveries.Next we’re turning our attention upwards, to the sky at night. Or, to be more precise, to th
Saving the world's rarest marine mammal
In this episode, we’re delving into the topic of extinction. We'll be finding out about some of the animals who are critically endangered, meeting the people trying to rescue them, and exploring species who may be able to make miraculous comebacks.Perhaps one of the most endangered species is the vaquita, a small sea mammal with a population of less than 20. We hear from some extraordinary people weathering threats and tragedies in an attempt to bring these ‘pandas of the ocean’ back from the br
The artists of the animal kingdom
In this episode, we’re displaying the most impressive artists of the animal kingdom. From tiny visual masterpieces, to animals that can dance to a beat, we’re shining a spotlight on the art that can be found in nature.Deep in the Amazon rainforest, there’s a tiny structure that (if you’re able to spot it) catches your eye. The intricate silk henge is a mini masterpiece, and for some time nobody could say exactly what it was or why it existed. Phil Torres takes us on his journey of discovery and
I became part of a lionesses family
While nature is full of beauty and wonder, it also has a deadly side. In this episode, we're getting a brush with death and exploring how nature can be both a source of comfort and a source of danger.Prosanta Chakrabarty spends his time studying different species of fish in some of the world's most hostile spots. He leads us into a deep, dark cave in Madagascar where he and his team didn't just discover a new species, but also discovered a new illness.We’ll be introduced to the unlikely ‘assassi
What the deep ocean can teach us about life
We’re exploring the parts of our world that require us to look a little deeper. From the depths of our oceans to the canopies that grace our skylines, we’ll be venturing into unfamiliar pockets of nature with the people who have carved a life out of choosing to study the things that many of us can’t see.First up, we meet Matthew Doogue who finds solace in capturing small things. He tells us how photographing the tiniest creatures has helped him find a greater sense of happiness.We also travel to
The desert rocks that 'sing'
We’re exploring the boundary between our world and the world of myth, mysticism, and magic. We’ll discover how some of the customs and practices from our ancient ancestors continue to influence our relationship with the natural world today.To begin, we’re opening our ears to some of the sounds of the natural world and the inanimate objects that produce them. On a trip to Serengeti, Jahawi stumbled across rocks which, when hit by another type of rock, produced different sounds. He leads us into t
The man-made forest that led to extinction
There are few places on our planet that have not in some way been shaped by humans. We’re looking at how, for better or worse, we’ve made a mark on our world, and whether it’s possible to escape the influence of us.To begin, we travel to Aldabra - an idyllic coral atoll in the Indian ocean. It’s one of the most remote places in the world, home to giant tortoises and very little human intrusion. Yet even in this largely uninhabited spot, traces of humanity can be found.Next we’ll be exploring an
A wombat ate my homework
We’re exploring the theme of recovery, delving into times when we’ve stepped in to help save our natural world, and looking at the moments when it’s come to our rescue too. We’ll be starting off in the sea off the West Coast of Africa where a crew member from the latest David Attenborough series, A Perfect Planet, will take us behind the scenes on an eye-opening rescue mission. We’ll then meet the Bloom family, whose lives were turned around following a life-changing accident. The road
Saving a species through sound
In this week’s episode of the BBC Earth podcast we’ll be looking to solve some of the natural world’s mysteries.Starting off in North West Honduras, we’ll hear from ethnobiologist and sound artist Ben Mirin who set out to discover the voice of a previously voiceless animal. The exquisite spike-thumb frog is a critically endangered species. Recording its voice could help save this frog. The only problem is, nobody actually knows what it sounds like.We’ll also be taken on a personal journey of dis
Fire ants floating for survival
We're exploring what the natural world can teach us about teamwork. We'll learn how in some of the most remote locations and harshest conditions, strength can come in numbers.In the Amazon rainforests in Northern Peru, tiny creatures have found an ingenious way to tackle the annual floods. With the help of a crew member from the landmark series, A Perfect Planet, we'll be floating alongside fire ants forming a living raft.Tens of thousands of penguins make the journey from the sea to a spot in t
Looking for mushrooms, finding happiness
We're journeying into hidden worlds, exploring nature that offers much more than what initially meets the eye. We travel to locations that continue to thrive against the odds.When Long Litt Woon's life drastically changed, she turned to the secretive world of mushrooms to manage her grief. She tells us how these visible fungi are just one tiny part of a vast and complex organism that lives beneath our feet.We'll hear how a crew member filming the latest David Attenborough series, A Perfect Plane
Baby iguanas born inside a volcano
We’re back with new discoveries and awe-inspiring moments, taking you to a world far beyond your own four walls.The wildlife photographer and adventurer Tui De Roy explores one of the most hostile spots on Earth: the mouth of a volcano on Fernandina Island. The inside of the volcano is a barren place, but surprising life exists - in the form of tiny iguanas. Jason Ward’s encounter with a Peregrine falcon from the window of his homeless shelter in the Bronx led towards a lasting love affair
My best friend was an octopus
We've reached the end of Series 3! It's been a series of new discoveries, awe-inspiring moments, tear-jerkers and revelations.In the final episode of the series, we are telling stories about the senses. We begin by meeting Sy Montgomery, who built a bond with an eight limbed friend through touch. Octopi have the unique ability to taste what they are touching using the suction cups on their tentacles; some are more sensitive than others and it became clear to Sy that a friendship had been born. H
This river is legally a “person”
In this episode of the BBC Earth Podcast, we’re getting glimpses into brave new worlds, advancing into unfamiliar territories and breaking new ground. We’re pushing at the frontiers between us and the natural world.In New Zealand there is a river so integral to the history of the Maori people, it has just been granted "personhood". It has been a fight fought for 140 years but finally, this giver of life and symbol of rich history has the same legal rights as the human beings that love it so much
Frozen squirrels and the human brain
For the seventh episode of the BBC Earth Podcast, we’re bringing your stories about adaptation. Did you know, during its 8 month hibernation, the Arctic ground squirrel can survive with a core temperature of 3 degrees below freezing? Scientists have been studying this astounding little rodent’s long, cold sleep to understand whether its hibernation can help revolutionise understanding of our own brains. We also meet the ‘Lightning Bug Lady’ Lynn Faust 
The singing sand dunes of the Sahara
Welcome to another episode of the BBC Earth Podcast; the podcast that delves deep into nature’s great mysteries and surfaces the unknown. This week we’re telling stories of the unexpected, stories which seem too astounding to be true. Journey with us to the Sahara where the sand is known to sing; deep, bassy sounds that reverberate as the millions upon millions of grains fall down the dunes. From the unknown cause of these sounds to the unknown status of a species, let us take you back to the 19
The music that makes camels cry
This week we are telling stories from the wilderness. Stories of scale, vast expanses, extreme conditions, little known corners of the planet and the sparsest environments. We begin in Alaska, with the tale of an unbreakable bond between a dogsled racer and her pack, who travel huge distances across rugged terrain. Diving deep to the ocean floor, we join Deep Sea Biologist, Diva Amon, to discover new species and understand the threats that lie beneath. Meet the camera operators who filmed flight
This corridor of trees unites 20 countries
This week on the BBC Earth Podcast, we are sharing stories of unity. Hear the story behind the international mission of 20 African countries to hold back the desert and plant trees to reclaim the once lush oasis of oasis and greenery. We also discover the unique relationship between a toad and tarantula who choose to be roommates as well as a migration miracle: a three-thousand mile oceanic journey across the Sargasso Sea is made by a transparent animal half the width of a pencil.Make sure you'r
The rhino that flew 10,000 miles
This week we're travelling to a place that is different for all of us, but one we all hold close to our hearts: Home.Listen to the heart-warming story of a keeper in Ohio who built an unbreakable bond with a baby Sumatran rhino named Harapan. Sumatran Rhinos are facing extinction and Harapan was the last remaining in the Western Hemisphere, kept in captivity at Cincinnati Zoo. To give the species the best chance of survival in the wild, Harapan was to fly across the world and return to the home
Hitching a lift to the bottom of the world
Welcome to the third series of the BBC Earth Podcast. This time, we’re taking you behind the scenes and sharing untold stories from our latest landmark series, Seven Worlds One Planet, from the perspective of camera crew, producers, researchers and scientists alike. Alongside these stories, you’ll hear tales from people all over the planet, exploring the huge array of environments on our planet, from the beauty of vast sand dunes to the eerie deep sea floor; unveiling the harsh reality of disapp
Series 3 - Trailer
The BBC Earth Podcast is back from Thursday 31st October. This series, we're taking you behind the scenes and sharing untold stories from our latest television series, Seven Worlds One Planet. Alongside these stories, you'll hear tales from all over the planet, from vast sand dunes, to the eerie deep sea floor.It's time to close your eyes, open your ears and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Looking Up
Welcome to the final episode of the BBC Earth Podcast, Series 2. This series we've told stories about the amazing animals that live among us, and discovered the amazing technology that helps us get close to them; we've looked down on the wonder of our planet from above, and met the people who are working hard to take better care of it. For our final journey, we're looking beyond Earth, out through our thinning atmosphere to the stars and the depths of space.Make sure you're subscribed so you don
Mystery of the Milky Sea
Sometimes we need to look at our planet from a different perspective to really appreciate its splendour and realise how small we really are, when sailing the seas or staring into the sky. This week join us in discovering the magical, the unexpected and the awe-inspiring. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode and let us know what you think on social mediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcearth/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcearth/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bbcearth
The planet where it rains diamonds
Ever wondered what it would be like to fly into the heart of a storm? For the pilots of the 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron it’s just another day on the job monitoring and collecting data on weather systems. These ‘Hurricane Hunters’ share what it’s really like when you reach the eye of a storm. But it’s not just weather on Earth that captures our imagination; we’re travelling about 63 light years from our world to experience weather on other planets. Wind speeds of 5,400mph, dust storms and
The birds, the bees and the robots
This week we turn our attention to the technology that enables us to soar above the clouds to and zoom in close to our natural world. We meet Sacha, who conquered a debilitating fear of flying to fly alongside and study the decline of swans. Prepare to be amazed by the complex world of bio-inspired robotics and the intelligent engineers behind them. These robots go where humans can’t, places that are inaccessible or dangerous, collecting samples, making measurements and deliveries to aid human i
Can anything last forever?
This week, we tackle one of the biggest questions that has puzzled scientists and philosophers for centuries – the concept of ‘forever’.First, we look to the future where advances in science could give the species we thought lost forever a second chance at life and wonder what the archaeologists of the future (human or otherwise) will learn about our civilisation from the items we leave behind. Will plastic be humanity's lasting legacy on this planet and what will happen to Earth’s great cities
The Ugly Animal Preservation Society
Never has the saying 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' been more true, than in nature. This week, we ponder a question: who really decides what is beautiful? It is the creatures who do not fit our conventional beauty standards that are taking centre stage. We discover The Ugly Animal Preservation Society (yes, it exists!) and its weird yet wonderful looking members. While a little more aesthetically challenged, some of these animals are just as endangered as their cute, cuddly and beautiful
The things you can only see by slowing down
The world is moving and changing at an ever-increasing speed, but we’re all starting to realise the importance of slowing down. This week we meet Amy Powney who explains how the influence of her off-the-grid childhood led her to be a pioneer in slow, sustainable fashion. Plus, the cameramen who help us understand creatures and plants on different time scales to our own with the help of specialised equipment and a lot of patience. We also meet Lauren Gay who, in 2015, spontaneously booked a “part
Big hairy neighbours
We begin the second series of the BBC Earth Podcast in bustling, often polluted, but always charismatic cities. In today’s built-up world, it’s easy to forget that nature is often closer than we might think. Meet the two women from a suburban London council estate who bonded over their discovery of some very unexpected guests from the woods at nightfall. Just as humans adapt to rural or urban lifestyles, we explore the ways in which urban animals’ bodies have adapted, alongside their behavioural
Series 2 - Trailer
The BBC Earth Podcasts returns for a second series from Thursday 21st March. We’ll be taking you on a journey from our beautiful but changing environment here on earth, to less explored corners of the universe. Imagine how it feels to discover a bear in your home… the lengths we would have to go, to exist on another planet. Close your eyes, open your ears and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Raising 34 orphaned chimpanzees
For our final week of BBC Earth Podcast's first season, we're talking families, the bonds that bind us so tightly and the feuds that could tear us apart. Series producer Rupert Barrington takes us on a deep dive into Dynasties, exploring the ideas behind the series and how the stories were chosen (don't worry, no spoilers!). Meet the remarkable couple who dedicate their lives to nurturing a colony of orphaned chimps and wrap your head around the biology of bonding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com
The man who discovered an unseen world
Join us for a game of hide and seek. Imagine trying to track down an uncollared tiger in a vast, dense jungle in India… You’d need the help of experienced local trackers who have spent years perfecting the art of tracking animals through the language of surrounding species. To them, simply listening to the wall of sound around them paints the perfect audio map of what’s going on in the dense undergrowth. Speaking of maps, we hear the tale of a man who used satellite technology and imagery to dis
When wolves sing
Discover the rituals performed in the animal kingdom for love, life and death. Did you know painted wolves sing to vote for the next alpha couple? Neither did we. This behaviour was documented for the first time ever by the crew working on BBC Earth’s latest landmark. We explore the weird, and occasionally dark, acts that characterise crow funerals, how birds brandish themselves to potential mates and the awe-inspiring tale of witnessing a mass-baptism at the Blue Nile – a river steeped in myth
Teenage elephants need a father figure
The transition between childhood and adulthood is no easy feat for humans and animals alike. These awkward years see creatures evolving physically and socially, clumsily learning to fend for themselves with all the pitfalls of being young, foolish and free. This week we hear from producer-director Simon Blakeney as he describes the dynamic teenage duo of Red and Tatu from Dynasties’ Lions episode. Learning from others is part of getting older and, hopefully, wiser, but when there are no par
Could you survive 8 months of isolation?
This week we’re taking you to the southernmost continent on the planet: Antarctica. This is where cameraman Lindsay McCrae and his team spent 10 months filming emperor penguins for Dynasties. As it was impossible for the crew to leave their location, it meant Lindsay experienced a key life event over 14,000 kilometres from home. In this episode, you’ll also walk among gorillas in the Impenetrable Forest, step into untouched caves and meet the man who finds companion
The man whose life was saved by honey bees
Beginnings. Join the crew from the BBC Studios series Dynasties on a journey to Senegal, home of Fongoli chimps. Each year, these chimps brave intense wildfires that ruin their homes. Destructive though they seem, these wildfires are actually part of the cycle of life. The stories in this episode embrace what it means to discover our roots, to begin again and the trials some animals must endure in their very first stages of life.Very few of us get up early enough to hear the birds sing in the da
Introducing: BBC Earth Podcast
Intimate stories and surprising truths about nature, science and the human experience in a podcast the size of the planet. Each week the BBC Earth podcast brings you a collection of immersive stories about our world and the astonishing creatures, landscapes and elements in it. Close your eyes and open your ears as you travel from the impenetrable forests of Uganda to research bases in the Antarctic; the edges of the Thar Desert to the Shores of Lake Tahoe. You’ll get up close and