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How many geese?

Jack Baddams & Roddy Shaw

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The comedy nature podcast for more than just nature nerds. A really wild show for grown ups, each episode looks at stories and science from across the natural world and also pits a host against a listener suggested species of animal to decide how many they could take in a fight. Insta @howmanygeese Support the show at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/howmanygeese
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Love science and conservation? Want to discover new ways to protect our species? Elle Kaye chats with guests who work within the science genre, but whose job titles may need a little unpacking. Strap in for entomology, taxidermy, diaphonization, pet remains, human pathology and all those that work with specimens.
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Join us before the year ends as we doff our caps and bend the knee in a chat with Peter Kaestner - ex American diplomat and man who has seen more bird species than anyone else in the world! Peter takes us through the world of bird watching at the elite level, and how his love for birds led him to a career that saw him serve his country and travel t…
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Much like the sun setting on a seaside town, season 8 draws to a close with the raucous cries of seagulls as we take on a newspaper article that set out to find Britain's hardest gulls. It wouldn't be How many geese? though if we didn't meander to Melbourne or detour to Darwin, and true to form our friends down under have their own tales to tell of…
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I can guarantee to you listeners that the start of this week's episode is going to leave you completely baffled as to where it's going, as Roddy embarks on an exploration of what on earth dry cleaners are and the sorcery that goes along with their dark arts. But, stick with us, and we promise it eventually finds its way back to the nature vibe as w…
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How many geese? has seen its fair share of drugged up animals - from the Hollywood sensation that is cocaine bear, through to Pablo Escobar's cocaine hippos - but in this episode we're here to see the effects of things slightly more "over the counter" as Jack takes us through the impact of excess anti-depressants on the environment. If you've ever …
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Cast your minds back Goose fans and you may well remember an episode entitled "Hot bear summer", where our own Roddy Shaw went on a mission to prove that Antelope were animals worth our attention and shouldn't just be consigned to being eaten by a big cat on a David Attenborough show. The conclusion of his mission was that they were indeed incredib…
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We've accidentally curated an episode laden with slime as we talk all things deep sea and mucus! Following last week's chat that went to the roof of the world in search of how yak's can live so high, we've done a full 180 and are going deep, deep DEEP down in the sea to understand why life there is just so difficult and hear about some of the crazi…
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HMG gets high as this episode sees us heading into the mountains to meet one of the maddest animals you've all heard of but never given a thought to - Yaks. Today's episode also sees us invite our first listener on the show! Patreon member Beth joins Roddy in battle against the world's wildlife as she steps into the ring in a tag team bout against …
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For the past seven seasons, How many geese? has flourished atop the twin foundations of whimsy and shenanigans. Well, Jack has decided that season eight is when that comes crashing to a halt - as he blasts through our whimsical bedrock and holds a mirror up to us all to have us question what makes a society... and can utopias exist? He does this, i…
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We're back! A new season is dawning in Gooseland as we kick off series 8 with a banger. We stumble across lots of awesome people in making this show, and when we heard the stories that one of them had to tell, we knew we needed to get him on the show. Enter Ben Callison - CEO of Borneo Orangutan Survival UK, builder of hurricane proof tiger enclosu…
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It's the second part of our live Global Birdfair specials and we're coming out swinging as we try to answer the ultimate question - what is the worst bird in the world? But we couldn't hope to answer such a question alone, so we've called in the expert when it comes to cretinous creatures and are joined by our pal Alice Vassallo off "Asshole Animal…
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How Many Geese has been on the road again listener, this time pitching up at the UK’s biggest nature festival – Global Birdfair! For this episode, we’re bringing you two chats we had with some very cool people. Up first is naturalist, TV presenter and time traveller – the legendary Nigel Marven. He’s been sprayed in the eyes by spitting cobras, he’…
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Roddy and I often reflect on where this silly little show has taken us as we've found ourselves in increasingly absurd places over the years. Standing in a top secret warehouse in Liverpool, holding 2500 year old Ancient Egyptian animal mummies was one of those times. Join us as we're welcomed to the vaults of the National Museums Liverpool by Ashl…
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Gather the hive and listen in - we're buzzing into your ears with a whole episode on bees! We've travelled to the World Museum in Liverpool to meet bee expert Leanna Dixon for an awesome apine* hour, and just in the nick of time too - as it was world bee day on the 20th May. With everything from the bumbling to the buzzing, we cover carpenter, maso…
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Listeners, there's no other way to put this than simply saying that you are in for one of the finest episodes of How Many Geese? that there has ever been. We're down to Joseph's Amazing Camels to meet Daisy Fossett on her very unusual farm. to learn all about the truly wild world of being a camel farmer/trainer/chocolatier/(add your own mad profess…
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We've travelled up to Scotland to visit Europe's biggest penguin pool - why? Because it's none other than World Penguin Day! Join us as we head to Edinburgh Zoo to meet the people behind the penguins and learn about the home of over 130 Antarctic avians, including none other than Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of the Bouvet Islands - offici…
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In episode 047 Elle chats with Jack Baddams: Ornithologist and Wildlife Researcher whose field work is focused on the tagging of different species of birds to learn more about their lives. He shares this work on social media where he talks about the birds he rings and shows off the diversity of the natural world. Socials: www.instagram.com/jackbadd…
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Order in the courts! Today we're hopping back into the Goose Time Machine as Roddy tells us all about the many and varied times throughout history that animals were put on trial. PLUS - we have an update on our team up with Birdfy as we commence Operation Parakeet - we work out what the best radioactive animal would be to be bitten by - Roddy gets …
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It's calcium o'clock at Goose HQ as we talk all things milk in How many geese's very first PREQUEL episode, diving deep into dairy and marvelling at just what makes mammals so....mammal-y. We're not skimming on this episode either, as we go from milk's origin right up to a recent evolutionary step in (none other than our very own) human kind that m…
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In episode 046 Elle chats with Dr. Matthew Kasson: Mycologist and Plant Pathologist who studies fungus biodiversity centered around tree diseases and fungus-arthropod interactions. Socials: https://x.com/ImperfectFunGuy https://twitter.com/plantdisease Research, Sci-Comm and related press and media: Online media, Nightmare-fuel fungi exist in real …
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Today we're diving into one of the most badass ways of fighting back against the overexploitation of the seas as technology teams up with nature with some pretty awesome outcomes. Meet the Ocean Sentinels tracking down illegal fishing vessels down in the Southern Oceans in one of the coolest bits of research we've ever covered. There's a slight cha…
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With the Academy Awards behind us, the world may be moving on from awards season... but Team Goose is here to deliver one more trophy as we take a look and present the award for one of the most insane movies you've probably never heard of - 1981's "Roar"! It's lions, lions and more lions as we look at one couple's passion project that got A LITTLE …
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It's time to man the harpoons as we hop in the Goose Time Machine and set the dial back to the early 1900s to meet a very special Orca with a fascinating relationship with the local whalers. Our Birda chums shine the spotlight on one of the biggest birds in the world as we soar with the Andean Condor, before a child forces Roddy to do battle with L…
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Grab your nearest Gregorian and summon up a sharpie - we've got some key dates for your calendar this week as we ask the question: why do some days have names? Not just Christmas, Halloween or Valentine's, we're talking World Marmot Day, World Pangolin Day and ... International Talk Like a Pirate Day? We dive deep into the calendar of the bizarre t…
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As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to falter, your pals at "How Many Geese?" are here to offer you an alternative. Suit up to meet our radioactive team of superheroes as we introduce Wales' nuclear sheep, Bavarian boar and Mutant Turtles as we turn off the lights to see which animals are glowing in the dark. Continuing our superhero theme, …
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Love is in the air and so too is Season SEVEN as we return to the mics refreshed and renewed for a Valentine's Day special - only.... not quite the most romantic one it turns out! Looking to show love is all around us, Roddy tried to find the cute and loving side of creatures the world deems weird (see: not you sea otters), except it didn't quite g…
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In episode 045 Elle chats with Jazmine Miles-Long; Taxidermist, Artist, Educator and Natural History Restorer based in Hastings UK. Jazmine calls herself an ‘ethical’ taxidermist to describe the way she produces work only using animals that have died from natural causes. Jazmine specialises in creating ethically sourced bespoke taxidermy for galler…
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We're back in your ears to kick off 2024 with the episode that was meant to close out 2023 - it's the end (beginning) of year special! So sit down, ignore your resolutions and get ready to listen to what happens when we lose a handle on the conversation... A seemingly straightforward audience question takes us over half an hour to sift through, as …
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Our time in Mexico comes to an end with the final episode of the expedition! We park our usual animal heavy chat to speak to Dr Kathy Slater (Mission Mexico: Welcome to the Jungle guest) about the communities who live around the biosphere and the threats it is under. Dare we say it - but we get serious for possibly the first time ever on the show! …
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In episode 044 Elle chats with Dr. Samuel Mitchell, volcanologist, marine geologist and earth and ocean science communicator based at the University of Bristol, UK. His main research focuses on volcanic eruptions in our oceans, which has taken him across the world conducting field research on volcanoes on land and on the seafloor using oceanographi…
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Today's episode is spreading it's weird fleshy wings and echolocating into your ears as we delve into the frankly absurd world of the bats. We've woken up a trio of guests from their daytime slumber to lift the lid on the superpowered world of bats and bring us face to face with one of the largest species in the Calakmul jungle. Oh and yes, don't b…
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We are swimming, sliding and hopping into your ears this week as we head out under cover of darkness to look for all things herpetological - aka reptiles and amphibians. With the help of blacksmith-come-herpetologist Stuart and PhD student Fred, we dive into the scaly world of reptiles and (the permanently moist world of) amphibians. As ever though…
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Today's jungle diary has got us all a-flutter as we explore the world of tropical butterflies. With the help of entomologists Liz and Holly, we're learning about why they're such important indicators for the health of the forest and heading out on a survey to get our hands on some ourselves. Also in today's episode we join Private Jamie Hartup to g…
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The Mayan journey continues as Jack and Roddy move deeper into the Mexican jungle and set up shop at a new camp that is not without its (small and very, very well organised....) challenges - as they reach the Western front of humanity's battle with a colony of leaf cutter ants! But before they fall prey to the colony, it's time to get the flock tog…
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Part three of our journey into the Mexican jungle and today, we're focusing on the big, fluffy stuff. It's an absolute mammal-fest this episode as we delve into some of the jungle's most famous residents. Find out the difference between Jaguars and your Jaguarundis, which mammal is the Mafia boss of Mexico and why monkeys are such dicks to each oth…
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Our Mexican adventure continues as today's episode sees us getting to grips with one of the most important aspects of the Calakmul jungle - the Mayans. Come with us as we explore the ancient city of Calakmul and the ruins of Hormiguero with Holly Cunningham as our guide. From blood sacrifices to Belugas of the underworld, this is the closest you'll…
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Come with us deep into the heart of the Mayan jungle as we embark on a once in a lifetime expedition into Mexico’s Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. Joining the Operation Wallacea team, we head out with scientists and locals to get under the skin of Calakmul, learning about the scientific work being undertaken, the history of the forest and the threats i…
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Ahoy sailors! All aboard the good ship HMS Goose as your favourite nature podcast sails into uncharted waters for a meeting with the creatures of the deep. We've travelled down to the Royal Navy's central command base at Whale Island to meet marine biologist Harriet, whose job it is to tell us all about the ocean's weird world beneath the waves....…
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Greetings ant fans! Today's episode is acting as a super colony of ant facts with Roddy as its queen as we dive into a group of animals we've been in awe of on the show for quite some time. Strap in as we learn about the most sophisticated and fearsome civilizations on planet earth and why ants are the ones running the world. Our pals Birda also in…
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We've done Australia at war with the emu, we've done artists in love with wombats, but strap in for one of the maddest mash ups of humans and animals from history as we look at how THE ACTUAL US GOVERNMENT had a plan to weaponise bats in WW2... move over Oppenheimer, we're talking bat bombs! Then join us as we say hello again to Hollywood in our Bi…
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After some spectacular summer specials with guests, we're back with just Roddy and Jack on the mics for an episode that returns to the purest of goose roots and looks at a weird animal you've (probably) never heard of before - Australia's own antechinus (..... .... antechini?). Then, get comfy with going across the pond as all things goose begin to…
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Ladies and Gentlemen, please take your seats in the auditorium as tonight's performance from the Goose Philharmonic is set to begin! Join us in welcoming composer Kain Ravaei to our first transatlantic episode (via the power of internet) as he takes us through both his work and the wider world of wonderful orchestra. Looking at how classical music …
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In episode 043 Elle chats with Leif Bersweden, botanist, author and nature communicator. Leif Bersweden is a writer and botanist with a lifelong interest in nature, focusing on wild plants from the age of seven. He grew up in rural Wiltshire where he taught himself how to identify the local flora, eventually becoming a botanical tutor for The Speci…
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It's time for our now apparently annual tradition of bringing you a How Many Geese? Slimbridge Summer Special! A whole year to the day that that made our first visit to the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust's flagship reserve in Gloucestershire - we returned with our attentions set firmly on the amphibious. Join us as Kay Baxter, Living Collections Superv…
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On this, the anniversary of the first scientific paper documenting the theory of evolution being presented to the world, we talk about the man that made it all happen. And no, not that one. Today's episode is dedicated to shining a light on one of biology's most overlooked figures as we celebrate the life and times of Alfred Russell Wallace - who c…
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Today's episode is going all Mythbusters as we take on some of the most outrageous animal facts to grace the internet. Our Birda buddies are talking about Jack's worst bird in the world (the Cormorant) before Roddy does battle with the King of the Avian World; the Harpy Eagle. And finally, we round up the show with your classic "What would a goose …
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In episode 042 Elle chats with Sophie Pavelle, science communicator and author. Sophie finds creative routes to storytelling, putting a contemporary twist on the natural history genre across wide audiences through her compelling science communication and candid approach. Sophie currently works as Communications Coordinator for Beaver Trust and pres…
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Today's episode is taking on a question that some of the finest minds across human civilisation have put their minds to - what the hell is going on with eels?! Plus; it's hammer time with Birda as we go south of the equator to meet the Hamerkop, debate what animal legs would make the best replacement for our own.. whilst it all gets a little meta i…
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What's in a name? Well, today's episode aims to find out just that as we explore the animals that are named after people and if it's really a good idea to be doing it after all. We find Birda skulking around in the reeds to tell us about Clapper Rails before Roddy defends the UK's Ribena stocks against hordes of Wrinkle-faced Bats. Then we put our …
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Today's show offers you a glimpse into podcast future as Roddy asks artificial intelligence to write an episode of How Many Geese? Our feathered friends Birda are tearing out the sky at over 200mph to talk Peregrine Falcons, we discuss which animal will be behind a coup of Planet Earth and it's the Huntsman Spider's turn to enter the HMG battle are…
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Today's episode is evolving before your very eyes as we get our Darwin (and Wallace) on to explore animals that are changing at lightning speed. Our Birda of the week this week has made a special journey from the opposite side of the world as we welcome Arctic Tern, before Roddy does battle with the Fiddler Crabs. And we round the show off with a b…
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