Best Tiny Octopus Podcasts (2025)

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Meet the Masters of African Cichlids: 50 Years, 45 Varieties, One Legendary Hatchery 19:25

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2d ago19:25

19:25

#338: Paul Radice and his wife Judith at Angels Hatchery first brought this hardy colorful fish from the 3 largest lakes in Africa 50 years ago and are still breeding the 45 most popular varieties.By Tracie Hotchner

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How exercise shrinks tumours and starves cancer; Weird molecules found on comet 3I/ATLAS; Einstein v Bohr on the nature of light 25:25

5d ago25:25

25:25

Episode 335 Exercise has been shown to shrink tumours by 60 per cent. A new study shows another link between regular exercise and cancer prevention, this time revealing that muscle cells may outcompete cancer cells for energy - basically starving them. We explore the links between metabolism and glucose - with the caveat that so far this has only b…

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The Python Huntress in Naples, Florida 21:34

9d ago21:34

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#337: Python Huntress on Instagram, Amy Siewe leads guided hunts to kill invasive Burmese pythons, her biggest kill being a 17 foot snake. A “herper” who loves snakes and used to breed small ones, Amy has eliminated over 750 of these snakes that have decimated the mammals in the Everglades — one python even had a deer and two fawns inside it when t…

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The evolution of sperm and the enduring mystery of the scrotum; How our brain rewires itself 4 times in life; The (real) disaster scenarios of imminent climate breakdown 39:11

12d ago39:11

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Episode 334 Which sperm is the oldest sperm - the ancestor sperm that came before all others? Well, you might think it links back to an ancient animal that came before us, but the oldest sperm may actually predate animals altogether. We explore this plus the enduring mystery of the scrotum - and why a male’s most important body part is so delicate …

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515: Script Boomers 1:10:22

13d ago1:10:22

1:10:22

Nick Kartsioukas joined us to talk about security in embedded systems. Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) is the primary database to check your software libraries, tools, and OSs: cve.org. Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP, owasp.org) has information on how to improve security in all kinds of applications, including embedde…

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How About an African Emperor Scorpion as a Pet? 20:22

16d ago20:22

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#336: Dr. Doug explains that scorpions — which are over 200 million years old, the oldest living animal on earth, — are unusual as an exotic pet. African Emperor scorpions — "ominous looking, yet fairly gentle with grasping pincers" — carry their young on their back like a taxi service.By Tracie Hotchner

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The origin and evolution of music: Steve Pretty plays the conch 30:43

19d ago30:43

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Episode 333 It’s not often you get to see or hear someone playing music on a conch shell. So prepare yourself for a musical treat with musician and podcaster Steve Pretty, who brings into the studio a trumpet and a collection of his favourite conches, rigged up to some modern electronics. Steve is best known as the bandleader of the Hackney Collier…

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Play with Beaktivity (and Your Food!) 28:21

23d ago28:21

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#335: Avian specialist and house call parrot veterinarian Dr. Ann Bourke talks about having helped Sue & John with the development of the Beaktivity hanging parrot toy, which makes parrots happy because they can destroy a toy made with his physical and mental needs in mind.By Tracie Hotchner

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New genome of ancient human; 95% of us have a dormant virus that causes disease; Formula E cars faster than F1; Bill Bryson joins the pod! 45:02

26d ago45:02

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Episode 332 For only the second time, the genome of an ancient Denisovan has been sequenced - thanks to the discovery of a 200,000-year-old tooth found in a Siberian cave. This ancient member of the human family has long been a mystery, so this genome is being described as a bombshell moment, revealing an early stage of Denisovan history. We explor…

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514: Just Turn Off All the Computers 1:10:03

25d ago1:10:03

1:10:03

Philip Koopman joined us to talk about embedded systems becoming embodied and intelligent. We focus on the safety considerations of making an intelligent and embodied device. Phil’s new book is Embodied AI Safety: Reimagining safety engineering for artificial intelligence in physical systems. It uses robotaxis as an example as it discusses safety, …

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Why the claims about Hitler’s genome are misleading 29:00

27d ago29:00

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Episode 331 This week sees the broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK of a documentary called Hitler’s DNA: Blueprint of a dictator. Geneticists have managed to find a DNA sample from Adolf Hitler and have sequenced it and verified it, and now we have his genome. The big question is what does this really tell us – what can we tell from someone’s genome? …

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Reptile Got Mites? Give your snake a bath in olive oil! 18:48

1M ago18:48

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#334: Dr. Doug discusses mites on snakes — and the different mites that get on lizards — and how to treat them with an olive oil rub down, or the medication Provent-a-mite.By Tracie Hotchner

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COP30: The world's climate future hinges on this meeting 31:30

1M ago31:30

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Episode 330 COP30 is nearly upon us - and this climate conference may be the most crucial so far. In a year where we’ve seen the first major global tipping point reached, destructive wildfires raging in Los Angeles and much more, joint action has never been more urgent. But as hope starts to wane and climate goals continue to be missed, many are qu…

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Bats and the Night Shift: Pollinators That Work in the Dark 6:13

1M ago6:13

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Hey everyone, it’s Brandon Perry — normally behind the soundboard at Good News from Planet Earth at Soundnectar Studios. But today, stepping out from the shadows to talk about one of his absolute favorite creatures: bats. Bats are spooky, mysterious, and completely misunderstood — but they’re also essential night-shift pollinators keeping ecosystem…

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Coffin Cave Bugs: The Underworld’s Tiny Guardians 5:16

1M ago5:16

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You’re listening to Good News from Planet Earth. For this Spooky Season of Good News, we’ve explored haunted forests and rotting pumpkins. Now, we’re going deeper — into the caves. It’s cold, damp, and dark. Drips echo in the silence, and somewhere beneath your feet, tiny pale creatures crawl through the soil. They look like something from a nightm…

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Pumpkin Rot — From Jack-O’-Lantern to Climate Hero 4:56

1M ago4:56

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Welcome back to Good News from Planet Earth! For this Spooky Season of Good News, we’re digging into the afterlife of one of Halloween’s most iconic symbols: the jack-o’-lantern. Carved into grinning faces, lit with flickering candles… and then left to slump, sag, and rot. At first glance, that post-Halloween pumpkin seems like nothing more than tr…

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Ghost Forests: The Haunting That Brings New Life 4:45

1M ago4:45

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Welcome! You’re listening to Good News from Planet Earth. For this Spooky Season of Good News, we’re venturing to some of the eeriest places along the U.S. coastline: ghost forests. Imagine rows of pale, lifeless trees standing knee-deep in saltwater, their trunks bleached and skeletal, branches bare, rattling in the wind like a forest of bones. Cr…

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The Fungus That’s Saving Forests (and Might Outlive Us All) 7:19

1M ago7:19

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Welcome to Good News from Planet Earth! In this Spooky Good News episode, we’re uncovering a secret network beneath our feet that’s silently saving the world. Close your eyes… Imagine a web stretching across a forest. A living, breathing network hiding in the dark soil, whispering between roots. Sounds like Stranger Things? Maybe — but this isn’t t…

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The Special Human-Animal Bond With Fish 15:09

1M ago15:09

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#333: Dr. Doug Mader talks about his personal history with keeping fish as pets — feeling emotionally attached to them and their responsiveness to him as their caregiver. Another facet of the human-animal bond that is increasingly recognized in the pet keeping world.By Tracie Hotchner

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The collapse of America’s health data system; How sleep affects your focus; Life on Mars in liquid veins? 23:51

1M ago23:51

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Episode 329 America’s health data system is in crisis. The US government has been bleeding public health experts – many of whom run crucial public health surveys and databases which help identify, monitor and respond to health threats across the country. From drug use to food security and birth data, discover the 5 surveys most critically hit by th…

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513: I’m Sorry You Learned Something 1:17:20

1M ago1:17:20

1:17:20

Jason Turner of C++ Weekly and Empty Crate spoke with us about the joy of puzzles, the changing directions of an interesting career, and the C++ programming language. I mean, of course we talked about C++. But only a little. Jason recently published Programming Puzzles Big Book: 400 pages of fun for ages 7-99, a book of puzzles for the logically mi…

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Spooky Season Trailer 1:09

1M ago1:09

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It's the time of year when things get darker in the Northern hemisphere of Planet Earth, and on Good News from Planet Earth, we're shining a light in that darkness to tell you all of the good, yet spooky news that is happening all around us at this time of year! From fungi that communicate underground, to smashing pumpkins, it's time to get snuggle…

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Love Your Fish! (and they'll love you back) 15:09

1M ago15:09

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#332: Dr Doug Mader talks about "the atypical human-animal bond" and how statistics are showing a new generation of fish and reptile owners who are forming bonds and interactions with their exotic pets. Tracie explains how Scratches, the new APP for atypical pet owners (that is a sponsor of EXOTIC PETS), allows enthusiasts of atypical pets to find …

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How mRNA vaccines teach your body to kill cancer; Grim state of climate action; Why birds sing the dawn chorus 29:20

2M ago29:20

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Episode 328 Not only has the mRNA covid vaccine saved 14 million lives, it may also help our bodies fight off cancer. A study of cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy treatment showed those who received an mRNA vaccine lived nearly twice as long - and this effect was discovered by accident. In a trial of cancer vaccines, Elias Sayour’s team at t…

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Neuroscience of reality; Quest for dark matter; Folklore of geoscience (New Scientist Live Special) 28:29

2M ago28:29

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Episode 327 A special episode recorded on October 18 at New Scientist Live in London, featuring experts in geoscience, dark matter and neuroscience. Anjana Khatwa is an Earth scientist and TV presenter. In her new book, The Whispers of Rock, she brings together Western scientific knowledge about the evolution of our Earth and indigenous knowledge a…

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How Tiny is Tiny? 26:55

2M ago26:55

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#331: Exotic veterinarian Dr Jeff Jenkins in San Diego talks about doing surgery on "tiny things" like a Society Finch (that’s the species actual name, not an adjective!), spaying guinea pigs and neutering rats — all through surprising locations on their bodies.By Tracie Hotchner

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First climate tipping point triggered; Man controls another person's body by brain implant; health worries over sumo wrestlers 34:00

2M ago34:00

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Episode 326 The world’s first major climate tipping point has been triggered. The decimation of warm water coral populations caused by rising temperatures is now irreversible - passing the point of no return. The global consequences of widescale coral dieback could be catastrophic, so experts are sounding the alarm. But is anyone listening? A man w…

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512: What if I Didn’t Stop? 1:05:29

2M ago1:05:29

1:05:29

Katherine “Smalls” Connell spoke with us about making thin and flexible circuits, making stretchable electronics, and running a successful Kickstarter. Katherine’s Kickstarter: Sprite Lights LED Body Art (light-up tattoo). Katherine shares her makes, describing her build process for companion robots and other projects. You can find her as The Small…

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Space 2075: How Humanity Will Live, Work and Make Drugs off-planet | Live Recording at the Royal Society 53:35

2M ago53:35

53:35

A special episode all about the future of space exploration, recorded in front of a live audience at the Royal Society in London. Earlier this year, the Royal Society published ‘The Space: 2075 report’, which recognises the huge changes we’re seeing in space exploration, and urges for action to be taken to make sure the next 50 years of activity in…

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His Octopus Friend Who Lived With Him 23:49

2M ago23:49

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#330: Dr Don Harris really did have an octopus as a pet — in fact a series of them, as they don’t live very long, but are fascinating “companions.” Note: Octopuses are not actually pets for sale. You'd have to dive and find them as babies, as Dr Don did!By Tracie Hotchner

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How Jane Goodall changed the world; How the universe ends; How “selfish sperm” affect male fertility 43:27

2M ago43:27

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Episode 324 The legendary primatologist Jane Goodall died last week aged 91, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. Her work studying tool use in chimpanzees completely reshaped the way we view animal intelligence. Fiercely protective of the natural world, she was also responsible for a huge amount of advocacy during her life. Primatologist Alejandra …

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Anne, Joe and Ally talk Walking and Writing 14:39

2M ago14:39

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Can simple practices like walking and free writing boost mental health? In this final episode of Good News from Planet Earth’s Mental Health Awareness series, Anne Cloud, Joe Passaro, and Ally Murphy share how these everyday habits support their wellbeing. From the clarity that comes with moving your body outdoors to the release of putting thoughts…

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Diana and Dustin talk Meditation Apps 12:37

2M ago12:37

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How can meditation apps support mental health? In this episode of Good News from Planet Earth’s Mental Health Awareness series, Diana Holguin and Dustin Ebaugh explore the role of mindfulness technology in daily self-care. Dustin shares how using meditation apps has become an important part of his own mental health routine, while Diana offers a uni…

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Grounding with April Watts 8:12

2M ago8:12

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In honor of Mental Health Month, April Watts shares a simple yet powerful ritual that helps her reset, reconnect, and lower stress: grounding. Through a personal story, she explains how walking barefoot on the earth and tuning into the sounds of nature has improved her mental and physical well-being and how you can try it too. What You’ll Hear in T…

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Tapping for Mental Health with Charlie Albers 8:07

2M ago8:07

8:07

By Voiceover for the Planet

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How Trees help our Mental Health 9:44

2M ago9:44

9:44

By Voiceover for the Planet

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The Clients Are Exotic, Too! 23:31

2M ago23:31

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#329: Dr. Jeff Jenkins in San Diego talks about his 40+ years running an Exotic Specialty Practice — the early pioneers of exotic animal medicine on whose shoulders he stands — and how he also enjoys the unusual humans who own unusual pets.By Tracie Hotchner

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511: Forty Trillion Divides 1:22:55

2M ago1:22:55

1:22:55

Chris and Elecia talk about the show overflowing to another bit, fight over vim vs nano, consider awards, discuss writing (and self-motivation), consider linear algebra on AI cores, encourage remote device quality assurance, describe design documentation, review timer multipliers, and consider changing chip vendors. A list of all Embedded Episodes …

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Emergency in Antarctica; How movement changes the brain; Why women live longer than men 30:56

2M ago30:56

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Episode 323 Temperatures in Antarctica have soared by over 35°C. Scientists are concerned about how quickly things are changing on the continent as these warmer temperatures impact the polar vortex. Coupled with record lows in sea ice cover over the last decade, this could be a sign that Antarctic weather patterns have shifted permanently. What’s d…

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Mental Health Awareness Month Trailer 0:45

2M ago0:45

0:45

This season on Good News from Planet Earth, we are sharing our ways of looking after our mental health. Because to experience the joy that this beautiful planet offers us, we need to be in a good space mentally. Member of Voiceover for the Planet will share their tips for staying mentally healthy. From Tapping, to Journalling, from Walking to Groun…

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My Rat is Crying Blood! 18:53

2M ago18:53

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#328: Dr. Doug talks about the red tears and runny nose that look like blood — but are not actually blood, but a symptom of a lowered immune system in a stressed ratty. Most rats purchased from pet stores have dormant viruses that get triggered by stress — but there are SPF colonies of rats (Specific Pathogen Free) which do not carry these conditio…

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Skull rewrites story of human evolution; Autism and Tylenol; discovery of wind coming from black hole 33:57

3M ago33:57

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Episode 322 An ancient skull discovered in China may have just rewritten the story of human evolution. It’s widely accepted that the common ancestor of Homo sapiens, Denisovans and Neanderthals came out of Africa. But this skull upends that assumption - potentially showing human evolution began in Asia. Discover how a new reconstruction of the Yunx…

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When Your Snake Has Trouble Shedding His Skin 17:58

3M ago17:58

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#327: Dr. Doug Mader describes the monthly process in which a snake slips out of his own skin, like taking off a sock, inside out — and the sorts of problems to be aware of and to avoid (like never handling a snake that is molting).By Tracie Hotchner

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510: The Secret Chip 1:04:46

3M ago1:04:46

1:04:46

Christina Cyr spoke with us about building cell phones, entrepreneurship, social purpose corporations, awards, lithium recycling, and her interesting career path. We talked about Christina’s Cyrcle Phone, the related kit from dTOOR, and her CES Innovation Award. We also mentioned Fairphone in the section about social purpose corporation. There is a…

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The evolutionary price we pay for longer lives; the asteroid coming VERY close to Earth; how dinosaurs shaped the ecosystem 32:59

3M ago32:59

32:59

Episode 321 Humans live a lot longer than other primates - and much of that is down to our immune system. But there’s a price we pay for the capacity to fight off infections: inflammation. Chronic inflammation is to blame for a range of health issues, especially those related to older age. And now research has revealed exactly why inflammation is g…

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Ear Mites in Rabbits Hurt Like the Dickens 18:00

3M ago18:00

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#326: Dr. Doug describes how to spot ear mites in your rabbit — a common problem that is easily solved if caught early — and the challenge ahead of you if you’ve let the crusty result of ear mites clog up your rabbit’s ear opening, causing a great deal of discomfort to your bunny.By Tracie Hotchner

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Why we can't announce life on Mars (yet); The Romans' impact on the British economy; Link between exercise and your microbiome 29:59

3M ago29:59

29:59

Episode 320 Was Mars once home to alien life? The evidence is stronger than ever, since NASA’s discovery of rocks marked by patterns similar to those made by microbes on Earth. Found in an area now named Bright Angel, these rocks give us a tantalising insight into Mars’ ancient past - but just how definitive is this finding? It’s long been thought …

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Parrots & Cockatoos All Over Oz! 21:21

3M ago21:21

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#325: Dr Rick LeCouteur describes the natural phenomenon in Australia of thousands of kinds of parrots flying free and loose all over the place, causing havoc with their destructive beaks, and delight with their beauty.By Tracie Hotchner

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First complete map of brain activity; Queen ant lays eggs of another species; The perils of scrolling while on the toilet 31:10

3M ago31:10

31:10

Episode 319 Scientists have created the first complete activity map of a mouse’s brain. Combining brain images from multiple mice, researchers recorded more than 650,000 neurons while these mice manipulated little Lego steering wheels in a driving game. This complex behaviour has allowed scientists to examine the interplay between various parts of …

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Playground Power: Hoboken's Resiliency Park 5:20

3M ago5:20

5:20

What if a playground could protect an entire city from flooding? In this episode of Good News from Planet Earth, host Serge De Marre takes us to Hoboken, New Jersey, where ResilienCity Park proves that infrastructure can be both practical and joyful. Built on a former industrial site and opened in 2023, ResilienCity Park is now the largest resilien…