goodpods headphones icon

To access all our features

Open the Goodpods app
Close icon
headphones

Better Than Human

Jennifer and Amber

Star filled black icon

5.0

(1)

Better Than Human the Podcast: Your favorite science biology podcast, where each week we pick an animal or topic to illuminate how fascinating our subject is and prove, once and for all, humans are not the epitome of the evolutionary chain.
profile image
profile image

2 Listeners

Star filled black icon

5.0

(1)

not bookmarked icon
Share icon

All episodes

Best episodes

Top 10 Better Than Human Episodes

Best episodes ranked by Goodpods Users most listened

Hummingbirds are the world’s smallest bird species, with a heart rate of 500 beats-per-minute on average and a breathing rate of 250/minute. Hummingbirds are nearly always on the edge of starvation, so they need to eat their body weight in nectar each day. Which might explain why some female white-necked Jacobin hummingbirds have evolved to look like male hummingbirds. Because, guess what? Male hummingbirds can be jerks.
In The Good The Bad The New
The Bad:
The EU has removed US travelers from Covid safe list. This is because of all the idiots out there that will take horse medication but not the actual vaccine.
The Good:
Thank you to the San Francisco Airport (SFO) for protecting the San Francisco garter snakes and red-legged frogs. We at Better Than Human are friends of Snakes and Frogs.
Hummingbirds are tiny acrobats with the fastest wingbeat of all birds, (70 strokes per second or more than 4,000 per minute). Unlike other birds, they can hover, fly backwards, and even fly upside down! Hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of all animals. They had an amazing amount of energy and live a relatively long time for their size.
Hummingbirds are native only to the Americas and thrive from Alaska to the tip of South America and are specialized to the flowers they eat from.
Listen now to learn about these tiny marvels of the bird world.
For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com
Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1
on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast
on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@betterthanhumanpodcast
or Email us at [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!
#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

play

09/01/21 • 50 min

profile image
profile image

2 Listeners

comment icon

1 Comment

1

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

This week in Better Than Human the Podcast we tackle the controversial topic of asshole animals. Guess what people? There are some animals that are straight up jerks! So much so that we had to add the following Trigger warning: This episode talks about forced copulation of animals by other animals, it isn’t recommended for all listeners.
In The Good The Bad The News
In the Bad, there are actual idiots out there paying for fake covid vaccine cards when they can just go and get the vaccine for free. What is wrong with people? And men’s right groups are mad because South Korean Olympic Archer An San has short hair. Really ... that’s how fragile their egos are that short hair offends them.
In the Good, a plant that’s been right in front of us for years is found to be carnivorous and Olympic medalists share the gold.
So what animals do Amber and Jennifer think are assholes? Jennifer 100 percent believes that Otters are not cute and adorable and are straight up necrophilic rapists. Amber hates wasps, but seriously, who doesn’t hate parasites that eat their way out of caterpillars or have way too painful venom. Don’t be fooled by bottlenose dolphins or orcas either. Flipper was a fantasy.
Want to learn more (cause you really should), listen now wherever podcasts are found.
Listener Note: Even at their worst, animals are just animals being themselves, and unlike humans, they do not have the ability to be “evil”. ALL animals deserve respect, and the right to exist in this world. For more information on how you can help wildlife visit https://www.worldwildlife.org/initiatives/wildlife-conservation
Except for mosquitoes, fuck mosquitoes
For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com
Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1
on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast
on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@betterthanhumanpodcast
or Email us at [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!
#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

play

08/10/21 • 61 min

profile image

1 Listener

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
play

11/03/21 • 59 min

This week is all about the Allosaurus, a large carnosaurian theropod dinosaur that lived 155 to 145 million years ago during the Jurassic period. Think what the Velociraptors in Jurassic Park look like, but bigger, and spoiler: probably no pack hunting.

In the Good The Bad the News

In the Bad, Syphilis in on the rise in the U.S., a sign that our public health services are failing. (A few years ago we almost eliminated syphilis in America...)

In the Good, Amber talks about the ‘penis plant' that just bloomed in the Netherlands that smells like rotting flesh. Yum. And Jen talks about loggerhead sea turtle nests in the West African nation of Cape Verde making a rebound.

Allosaurus means "different lizard" referring to its unique (at the time of its discovery) hollow vertebrae. Allosaurus had sharp saw-like teeth, which it used to slash the flesh of its prey, tearing at it without splintering bones.

We know a lot about Allosaurus because of the many fossils we found of the species, from eggs to fully grown. Allosaurus was one of the earliest dinosaur discoveries, and they are the most commonly found dinosaur in the United States. The Bone Wars of the late 1800’s, however, botched their discovery, and it was years before the dinosaur was even officially even called Allosaurus.

Listen now to learn about Allosaurus, a commonly found dinosaur throughout the U.S.'s Midwest.
For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com
Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1
on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast
on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@betterthanhumanpodcast
or Email us at [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!
#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

play

11/03/21 • 59 min

profile image

1 Listener

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Like in the Hitchhikers Guild to the Galaxy, Garter Snakes are what one would call “Mostly Harmless”. Do they have venom? Sometimes. Will it hurt you? Probably not. Compared to how humans treat this planet, Garter Snakes are most definitely harmless. Also, host Jennifer thinks they are very cute. The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is a group of snakes, which are indigenous to North America and found throughout the continent. On average, they grow a little less than 2 feet long (44cm) and can have patterns of different color stripes.

First in The Good and The Bad News , Jennifer talks about the first US Capitol rioter conviction, which is both good and bad news. Then Amber talks democratic socialism which 100% of republicans do not understand and/or are rich assholes who do not want to be taxed more.

This week Amber picked the topic, because, you know, cute snake videos, but Jennifer picked the species, because, you know, random weird behaviors. What weird behavior you ask? Well, when mating, populations have way more males than females, (we don’t know why), so during mating season, they form "mating balls”. (Yep, a giant snake orgy). And that is not the weirdest thing they do while mating, just read the Nature, 1985, article titled "Female Mimicry in Garter Snakes".... If you can.

Listen now to learn about the Common Garter Snake, the animal Jennifer almost did her theses on.
For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com
Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1
on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast
on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@betterthanhumanpodcast
or Email us at [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!
#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

play

07/21/21 • 55 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
play

06/30/21 • 43 min

Sloths are a group of mammals native to South America that are actually quite a bizarre animal that seems like it shouldn't exist. How is it normal for a species to have a weekly poo with a poo dance? And that isn’t even the weirdest thing about them.
First thing first, this episode is coming out on the last day of Pride 2021, so let’s talk about some good things that happened this Pride Month.
Then we get into sloths, which are a weird animal that while can’t walk on the ground, and move slower than any other animal on the planet. Surprisingly, though, they are good swimmers.
Two-toed sloths and three-toed sloths aren’t that closely related to each other and are only so similar due to Convergent evolution. Their ancestor, and the largest known sloth to ever exist, is the extinct ground sloth, which was as big as modern elephants. (Picture that).
Listen now to learn about the curious Sloths, one of the strangest animasl of South America, and probably the world, too.
For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com
Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1
on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast
on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@betterthanhumanpodcast
or Email us at [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!
#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

play

06/30/21 • 43 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Flamingos: you’ve probably seen one, either in the wild or at a zoo. Fun to look at but not that interesting, right? Wrong! Flamingos, known for their pink feathers and standing on one foot, are a very delightful group of birds, who happen to be more closely related to doves than water fowl.

First we talk #LGBTQIA in professional sports, specifically Carl Nassib who has become the first active NFL player to come out as gay. We have come a long way, but hopefully soon we will come to a day when an LGBTQIA player is so common it isn’t newsworthy.

Talking about LGBTQIA, did you know that some Flamingos form homosexual pairs that have been known to mate, build nests, and even raise chicks together? They have even been known to form polyamorous partnerships.

Listen as we answer some of Google's most asked questions about Flamingoes (like can they be blue) and learn about the fascinating Flamingos.
For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com
Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1
on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast
on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@betterthanhumanpodcast
or Email us at [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!
#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

play

06/23/21 • 52 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
play

07/07/21 • 57 min

This week, Better Than Human asks what are some of the world's cutest animals that aren't well-known? Our answers? Some strange, but adorable, animals. And no, they aren't all fluffy.

First, listen to our newest segment, the best and worst of the news of the week. The Olympics committee made some dumb choices this week, but at least both Jen and Amber found some good news this week, as well.

Amber picks the Fennec Fox which is is 100% cute and fluffy, but have you ever seen the small antelope species Dik-Dik? Have you ever looked to the ocean to find the cutest species on earth? Have you heard of the Dugong? The Sea Bunny? The Sea Leaf? And, what about the world’s misunderstood ugliest animal?

Listen as we talk about some of the Earth’s most captivating animals.

For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com
Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1
on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast
on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@betterthanhumanpodcast
or Email us at [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!
#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

play

07/07/21 • 57 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

This week’s episode is The Great White Shark, aka the largest macropredatory fish of the oceans.

First, what the heck happened to sharks 19 million years ago when 90% of sharks just disappeared from the ocean??? This unknown event didn’t seem to affect other ocean animals, but wiped out between 70% and 90% of shark species. Scientists have no idea what happened to the sharks, and we’ll have to wait probably a decade for more information, cause that's how science works.

Of all the different shark species, the great white shark is responsible for most of the recorded shark bite incidents on humans. Does that make them bad? No. And, luckily for humans, we’re either too boney for the Great White’s liking, or we’re able to get away before we bleed to death.

You might think White Sharks are related to the Giant Megalodon (which could literally grow to the size of a semitrailer), but they’re actually more closely related to Mako Sharks, which you’ve probably never heard of.

Due to recent scientific research we’ve recently learned a lot of about Great White Sharks that we didn’t know just a few years ago. Listen now as Better Than Human presents, The Great White Shark: Not the Scariest Predator in the Seas.
For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com
Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1
on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast
on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@betterthanhumanpodcast
or Email us at [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!
#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

play

06/09/21 • 55 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Microplastics are fragments of any type of plastic that are less than 5 mm (0.20 in). Think a grain of rice or smaller. Microplastics come from a lot of different places, but sources include single use plastics (shopping bags and water bottles), cosmetics (those stupid plastic beads they put in toothpaste and face scrubbers), clothing (bet you didn’t realize your clothing was shedding plastic), and industrial processes.

Why do we care about Microplastics? Because they are EVERYWHERE. Yes, you’ve probably heard that they are in the ocean, because a lot of trash ends up there. Microplastics, however, are also in fresh water, wetlands, soil, icebergs, and even worse, they’re in the air you are breathing right now. You probably have microplastic in your stomach and lungs at this very moment.

What can we do about microplastics, and plastic waste in general? Listen to learn about this microplastic contamination of our entire planet that is only going to get worse and worse.
For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com
Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1
on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast
on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@betterthanhumanpodcast
or Email us at [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!
#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

play

06/02/21 • 65 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Guess what, Amber? Do you know what inchworms turn into because they’re caterpillars? They turn into butterflies or moths! Inchworms specifically turn into Geometer moths, which is a very large family of moths with over 23,000 species. A well-known Geometer moth is the peppered moth, which I bet you don’t remember the name, but remember learning about them in Biology class.

Inchworms are cute, and you’ve probably seen them dangling from threads in the forest. If you’re lucky enough, you might have even found one on yourself. Inchworms however, are generally regarded as a pest that can be hard to get rid of, which is why biological controls are commonly used against them. The biological control just happens to be terrifying parasitic wasps, and be glad you aren’t an inchworms cause you don’t have to worry about parasitic wasps laying their eggs inside of you.

We end the episode with the Rosy Maple Moth, a North American moth that is the smallest of the great silk moths.

Listen now to learn about Inchworms, Parasitic Wasps, Peppered Moths, and the cute little Rosy Maple Moth.

For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com
Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1
on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast
on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@betterthanhumanpodcast
or Email us at [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!
#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

play

06/15/21 • 46 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Show more

Toggle view more icon

FAQ

How many episodes does Better Than Human have?

Better Than Human currently has 136 episodes available.

What topics does Better Than Human cover?

The podcast is about Comedy Podcast, Animal, History, Human, Comedy, Podcast, Nature, Podcasts, Science and Biology.

What is the most popular episode on Better Than Human?

The episode title 'Hummingbirds: Tiny Acrobats And The Marvel of the Bird World' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Better Than Human?

The average episode length on Better Than Human is 54 minutes.

How often are episodes of Better Than Human released?

Episodes of Better Than Human are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Better Than Human?

The first episode of Better Than Human was released on Jan 1, 2020.

Show more FAQ

Toggle view more icon

Comments

5.0

out of 5

Star filled grey IconStar filled grey IconStar filled grey IconStar filled grey IconStar filled grey Icon
Star filled grey IconStar filled grey IconStar filled grey IconStar filled grey Icon
Star filled grey IconStar filled grey IconStar filled grey Icon
Star filled grey IconStar filled grey Icon
Star filled grey Icon

1 Rating