

Species
mackenmurphy.org
"The host, Macken Murphy, is able to condense vast chunks of information into engaging and digestible episodes. Fact-filled and fun."
— The New York Times
— The New York Times
Episodes
Mentioned books

9 snips
Nov 20, 2020 • 1h 33min
Docility and the Death Penalty | Dr. Richard Wrangham
Dr. Richard Wrangham’s book, The Goodness Paradox, argues that we humans inadvertently domesticated ourselves using the death penalty. In this conversation, we discuss the evidence supporting this hypothesis, the radical implications that follow from it, and a whole host of other topics, including morality, religion, patriarchy, psychopathy, and drug use in chimpanzees. Richard is Harvard University’s Ruth B. Moore Professor of Biological Anthropology, he is founder of the Kibale Chimpanzee Project, co-founder of the Kasiisi Project, and patron of the Great Apes Survival Partnership. He is the author of three influential books, Demonic Males, Catching Fire, and his newest book, The Goodness Paradox, which we recommend you read: https://www.amazon.com/Goodness-Paradox-Relationship-Violence-Evolution/dp/1101970197/ref=sr_1_1?crid=20C3Z9TAHH4UK&dchild=1&keywords=the+goodness+paradox+richard+wrangham&qid=1605904298&s=books&sprefix=the+goodness+pa%2Cstripbooks%2C180&sr=1-1

Nov 15, 2020 • 18min
Emerald Cockroach Wasp
It's good to be afraid. Come learn about the woman who can't feel fear, the roaches who are rendered fearless and the wasp who makes it possible. Warning: This podcast is not for the faint of heart. Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1su0d1qEn6P_JcjtyIMIZeNNXKOlUVcilBpV-SfQSx7A/edit?usp=sharing

Nov 9, 2020 • 21min
Oxpecker
Today we're going to talk about the (seemingly) mathematically impossible. Come learn about the oxpecker, their relationship with rhinos, and how we know anything on this episode of Species. Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZDY2BPC2qLq1xOaCci_wy0OCjUBeE7M_0p9wBBvTXp0/edit?usp=sharing

Nov 1, 2020 • 19min
Clownfish
Why are clowns scary? If all clownfish are born male, how can they reproduce? How do clownfish survive living inside a sea anemone, and what does the anemone get out the deal? Come listen and learn from the Species podcast post-Halloween special. Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kluzIMr4qZdQkI44n6QM7NJHhV6yxA7SjbwcDHsRFX0/edit?usp=sharing

Oct 26, 2020 • 20min
Moose
Why was Thomas Jefferson embarrassed about American animals? Are there moose in New Zealand? What is the only weapon in the universe that doubles as a hearing aid? Recording of my live lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bnpUnkwLyU Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14Em2fnOkQvkDtmo8C-ASwlqsFyXjnihamYsQMm1K_gk/edit?usp=sharing

Oct 18, 2020 • 19min
Garter Snake
Come hear about an animal who is full of surprises, and learn about one of the most elaborate acts of deception in the animal kingdom. Register for my live show: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0odOivqz8rHd1T_g-UMAlfG92NGUSFIxxD Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UoaDBj8TJlgR3tYbUJrGv3wSd4g0EgkUMQMphFPc9z4/edit?usp=sharing

Oct 11, 2020 • 17min
American Kestrel
This animal has the vision of a video game character, and they glitch like one too. Come hear about the benefits of seeing urine and the hack to hover without hummingbird wings on this episode of Species. Register for my upcoming lecture: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0odOivqz8rHd1T_g-UMAlfG92NGUSFIxxD Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k054w73uaQd1Mre21GzoDrc9LRW-oxdXWRGC6xzj5nA/edit?usp=sharing

Oct 8, 2020 • 1h 27min
Descent Into Hogwood with Juliet Gellatley
Juliet Gellatley is the founder and director of Viva!, one of the most effective animal rights charities in the world. In this conversation, she sat down with Macken to speak about her organization’s new film, “Hogwood,” an exposé of a British pig farm that put the corruption of related institutions on full display. In this conversation, Juliet details the heroism and horrors of her experiences with Hogwood, outlines the greatest joys and worst miseries in a pig’s life, and explains the state of farming in the 21st century. Hogwood is available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Google Play. You can find Viva! here: https://www.viva.org.uk/

Oct 5, 2020 • 21min
Swordfish
Why did humans take so long to invent swords? How do swordfish use their swords? Is a swordfish bigger than my whole family? Find out on this episode of species. Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zyGukCFXL-CWQKHbDOUnswGq52Hyp4Cbt4WngHQ2wZY/edit?usp=sharing

Sep 28, 2020 • 18min
Swamp Rabbit
The biggest cottontail on earth acts like a fictional ninja, and tried to attack a US president. Hear all about them on this episode of Species. Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ouxgMZD6qgxO4CZzZumR6PppOnXAuldEOI-7uO4fsVg/edit?usp=sharing