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How the Turkey Got Its Gobble | Ep. 305 (A Podcast Turducken with Terrestrials and Wow in the World)

Nov 18, 2025
Join Guy Raz, public-radio host and co-creator of Wow in the World, Mindy Thomas, his co-host known for her energetic storytelling, and Lulu Miller, the insightful host of Radiolab's Terrestrials. They dive into the adventures of a runaway chicken named Inga and explore her incredible journey home. The conversation shifts to the mystery of the 'bio-duck' sound, linking it to Arctic minke whales. Lastly, a Cherokee legend offers a whimsical tale of how the turkey discovered its iconic gobble, featuring unexpected friendships and feather trades.
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ANECDOTE

Runaway Chicken Returns Home

  • Lulu Miller tells the story of Inga, a chicken sold to a rooster factory who returned home after a long journey.
  • The tale highlights Inga's resilience and reconnecting with her flock and mate after escaping the Hünerbreiter.
INSIGHT

Chickens Navigate Like Migratory Birds

  • Chickens possess strong navigational skills, memory for landmarks, and magnetite-based sensing like a compass.
  • Sai Montgomery explains these abilities made Inga's miles-long return plausible rather than mere luck.
ANECDOTE

The Bio-Duck Mystery Solved

  • Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas narrate the 50-year mystery of the 'bio-duck' quack heard in the Arctic.
  • Researchers used D-tags and suction-cup hydrophones to record minke whales and linked their calls to the mysterious quacking sounds.
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