Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin Why did the chicken cross the road?
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Jan 23, 2019 Exploring why chickens cross roads, the discussion highlights fascinating examples from nature. Seth dives into salmon life cycles, showcasing instinct versus learned behavior. Crows adapt by using cars to crack nuts, demonstrating social learning. Blue tits teach each other to access cream from milk bottles, reflecting the spread of knowledge. The conversation connects these animal behaviors to human culture, stressing the importance of peer influence and role models. Seth also tackles economic fears in new ventures and the value of community support.
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Salmon’s Instinctive Life Cycle
- Seth describes the salmon life cycle that includes migration, ocean life, and returning to spawn without parental teaching.
- This story shows animals can be born with complex instincts that humans usually lack.
Crows Use Cars To Crack Nuts
- Seth tells how a crow in Japan learned to drop nuts on roads so cars would crack them open and then others copied the trick.
- The example illustrates how one clever behavior can spread through imitation among animals.
Blue Tits And The Milk Bottle Trick
- Seth recounts Lucy Applin's research showing blue tits learned to drink cream from milk bottles and then taught others across regions.
- Some birds acted as trainers who traveled and spread the technique rapidly beyond local ranges.