Cute. Fluffy. Nut-obsessed. That's the squirrel story we all know... right?

Not so fast.

This week, we sit down with Dr. Sonja Wild, a behavioral ecologist and postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis, whose work explores how animals adapt and thrive in a changing world. Her recent research helped uncover something that stunned even seasoned scientists: California ground squirrels hunting and eating voles.

In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Wild shares how her team documented this never-before-described behavior, what it reveals about squirrel intelligence and adaptability, and why there's still so much to learn about some of the animals we think we know best.

After this episode, you'll never look at the squirrels in your backyard the same way again.

https://sites.google.com/view/sonjawild/home www.furrealpodcast.com

ig@s_wild_photography ig@thefurrealpodcast ig@markakyle fb@ Mark A Kyle

you tube @sonjawild @thefurrealpodcast

tik tok @thefurrealpodcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What can a sand-swimming lizard, a cockroach sprinting across rough terrain, and a centipede teach us about the next generation of robots?

In this episode,we sit down with physicist and roboticist Daniel Goldman to explore the fascinating world of robophysics—the science of using animals to uncover the fundamental principles of movement. From sandfish lizards that "swim" beneath desert dunes to multi-legged robots designed for search-and-rescue missions, Goldman's research reveals how nature's solutions can inspire machines capable of navigating some of the world's most challenging environments.

Along the way, you'll discover how studying animal locomotion has led to breakthroughs in robotics, why failure is often the key to understanding movement, and how insights from creatures that have evolved over millions of years may help engineers build smarter, more adaptable robots for the future.

Whether you're fascinated by animals, engineering, physics, or the intersection of all three, this conversation offers a remarkable look at how nature continues to shape innovation.

www.crablab.gatech.edu www.groundcontrolrobotics. com

www.furrealpodcast.com

ig@thefurrealpodcast ig@markakyle fb@markakyle tik tok@thefurrealpodcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For decades, starfish were among the most common and recognizable animals along many coastlines. Then, seemingly overnight, millions began to disappear.

In this episode, Dr. Ian Hewson takes us inside one of the largest wildlife disease events ever documented in the ocean: the Great Starfish Die-Off. We explore the mysterious outbreak known as Sea Star Wasting Disease, what scientists have learned about its causes, and why the loss of these remarkable creatures has ripple effects throughout entire marine ecosystems.

From the biology that allows starfish to regenerate lost limbs to their critical role as keystone predators, Dr. Hewson explains why these animals are far more important than most people realize. We also discuss the challenges of studying disease in the ocean, how environmental changes can influence marine health, and what scientists are still trying to uncover about this ongoing mystery.

The conversation also turns to Dr. Hewson's current work investigating disease outbreaks in sea urchins—another group of marine animals facing significant challenges in ecosystems around the world. By studying these events, researchers hope to better understand how diseases spread through ocean environments and what they can tell us about the future health of our seas.

It's a fascinating look at one of the ocean's greatest mysteries—and a reminder that the health of the ocean often depends on creatures we rarely stop to notice.

www.team-acquatic-virus.com www.furrealpodcast.com

ig@thefurrealpodcast ig@markakyle fb@ Markakyle tiktok @ The Fur Real Podcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What makes the praying mantis one of the most fascinating predators on Earth? In this episode, Lohit Garikipati joins Mark A. Kyle to explore the strange, beautiful, and sometimes terrifying world of praying mantises. From lightning-fast attacks and incredible camouflage to their almost “alien” appearance and ability to track movement with precision, these insects are among nature’s most efficient hunters.

Lohit shares how mantises evolved into masters of ambush, the surprising intelligence and behaviors they display, and why they continue to captivate scientists, photographers, and insect lovers around the world. The conversation also dives into mantis myths, their unique vision, their role in ecosystems, and what most people completely misunderstand about these remarkable creatures.

Tiny, mysterious, and deadly effective, the praying mantis may be one of the closest things we have to an alien life form right here on Earth.

ig@ mantodeology ig@ thefurrealpodcast ig@ markakyle

fb@ lohit garikipati fb mantodeology fb@ Mark A Kyle

tik tok@ mantodeology

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Mark sits down with Dr. Heather Berst of Zoetis to discuss Breed Explorer — a tool designed to help people find the right pet for their lifestyle, personality, living situation, and activity level.

Not every pet is the right fit for every home, and this conversation explores why making the right match matters for both humans and dogs. Apartment dwellers, active outdoor families, first-time pet owners, seniors with limited mobility, and people with large yards all have very different needs — and pets do too. Heather explains how Breed Explorer helps guide potential owners toward breeds that better fit their daily lives, energy levels, and long-term expectations.

The episode also dives into breed-specific health concerns, behavioral tendencies, exercise requirements, and what owners should know at different stages of a pet’s life. Whether you’re thinking about getting your first pet or looking for the right companion for your current lifestyle, this episode offers practical insight into building healthier, happier, and more successful relationships between pets and humans.

www.zoetispetcare.com www.furrealpodcast.com

FB @Zoetis Petcare FB @Mark A Kyle

ig @Zoetispetcare ig @thefurrealpodcast ig @markakyle

tik tok @zoetispetcare tik tok @thefurrealpodcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Blair Braverman is a musher, adventurer, and celebrated author who has found her greatest teachers on four legs. From long distant racing treks including the Iditarod across 1,000 miles of Alaskan wilderness to the quiet moments between a musher and her dogs, Blair's life is a masterclass in love, resilience, and what it means to keep moving forward. In this conversation, we explore the personalities of her dogs, the brutal beauty of life on the trail, and the profound wisdom that only a pack of sled dogs can teach you. She's a woman with an old soul — and her dogs have much to do with it.

ig@ blair_braverman ig@thefurrealpodcast ig@ markakyle

fb@ Balir Braverman fb@ Mark A Kyle

tik tok @blairbraverman tik tok @thefurrealpodcast

www.furrealpodcast.com

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-to-carry-what-to-burn/id1896260781

https://www.amazon.com/Dogs-Trail-Year-Blair-Braverman/dp/0063066262

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/magazine/sled-dogs-pack-racing-mushing.html

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Heather Gibson of Big Hearted Breeders joins for a thoughtful conversation that challenges the idea that it has to be adopt or shop. From ethical breeding to rescue, we explore how both paths can coexist when the focus stays where it belongs: on the dogs.

We also dive into the powerful role dogs play in our lives—how they support, heal, and connect us in ways that go far beyond companionship.

At the end of the day, it’s not about sides—it’s about doing right by dogs and the people who love them.

Ig@ bigheartedbreeders Ig@ thefurrealpodcast ig@markakyle

fb@ Big Hearted Breeders fb@ Mark A Kyle

tik tok@ Big Hearted Breeders tik tok @The Fur Real Podcast

www.bigheartedbreeders.com www.furrealpodcast.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the most powerful weapon against landmines and disease weighed less than three pounds and ran on banana rewards? Meet the HeroRATs.

This week, Mark sits down with Christophe Cox — CEO and co-founder of APOPO — to tell the remarkable story of how a wild idea born in Belgium became one of the most innovative humanitarian organizations on the planet. From the organization's scrappy origins to deploying specially trained African giant pouched rats across minefields in Cambodia, Angola, and Mozambique, Christophe shares what it really takes to clear land that's been terrorizing communities for decades.

But landmines are just the beginning. These extraordinary animals are also sniffing out tuberculosis in clinics across Africa — catching cases that traditional testing misses — and now being trained for search and rescue and wildlife trafficking detection.

It's inspiring, it's eye-opening, and yes, it will make you see rats in a completely different light.

ig@ apopo ig@ herorats ig@thefurrealpodcast ig@markakyle

fb@ apopo fb@ Mark A Kyle

tik tok@herorats tik tok@ thefurrealpodcast

www.apopo.org www.furrealpodcast.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.