Better Than Human
Jennifer and Amber
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Top 10 Better Than Human Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Better Than Human episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Better Than Human for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Better Than Human episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Hummingbirds: Tiny Acrobats And The Marvel of the Bird World
Better Than Human
09/01/21 • 50 min
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
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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
2 Listeners
08/10/21 • 61 min
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
1 Listener
Allosaurus: The Bone Wars Almost Ruin Our Discovery
Better Than Human
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
1 Listener
09/16/22 • 62 min
In this episode, Jennifer and Amber explore the history of the potatoes. Or as a hobbit would say, "Po-tay-toes! Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew." However you like them, potatoes have changed the world. Jennifer insists potatoes are not roots or stems, but they’re tubers. Amber insists they are technically a specialized stem called a stolon. These tubers evolved to store food for potato plants when resources were scarce. The Native Americans living in what is now Peru quickly realized this benefit and began cultivating them. In the Western World, Potatoes were slow to catch on, due to the myth that they cause leprosy or that they were poisonous, and because they were thought of as “poor people” food. However, regardless of its rather interesting history, the potato has become the third most important food crop in the world.
The potato had a large effect on society; it yielded about three times the calories per acre of grain while also being nutritious enough to almost support all your nutritional needs. It also grows in a wider variety of soils and climates, making it easy to grow almost anywhere.
Historically, potatoes were cheaper than bread, just as nutritious, and did not require a gristmill for grinding (which was important if money was tight). Because of this, potatoes sustained workers through the industrial revolution, and are still sustaining us in modern times.
Potatoes have gotten a bad rap recently, but they are simple, nutritious, and taste good with a bit of butter. Listen now to learn about potato, the tuber native to the Americas.
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!
Episode 6: Algae. Without It, You'd Be Dead
Better Than Human
02/05/20 • 58 min
Algae. It's one of the greatest things on the planet and it's responsible for all life on Earth, including your life. But how much do you really know about this incredible species? Is it a plant? Why is it green? Can you eat it? Can we make it into fuel? What's up with algae blooms? Learn more in our newest episode where we talk about the benefits of algae and how it is better than human.
Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1
on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast
on Instagram @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.
Episode One: The Mighty Opossum
Better Than Human
01/01/20 • 49 min
Welcome to Better than Human the Podcast. In our show, sisters Amber and Jennifer humorously breakdown all the stupid, senseless, or downright silly things humans do and prove, once and for all, humans are not the epitome of the evolutionary chain. In our premiere episode, we'll be talking about North America's cutest, and only, marsupial, the opossum. Join us as we comically and informatively attempt to prove that these normally disregarded animals that many consider to be vermin are actually better than most humans.
Pangolin: The Most Trafficked Animal in the World
Better Than Human
02/24/21 • 51 min
Pangolins, sometimes called scaly anteaters, (though they’re not closely related to anteaters), are the only mammals with their own body armor. There is a good chance you’ve never heard of this animal even though it is, sadly, the most trafficked animal in the world.
First, Jennifer and Amber talk about cloning endangered animals. Is it a good idea? Cloning can be used to introduce new genes into a population, which is great, but will it lead to lax conservation or the introduction of animals that went extinct years ago, like the woolly mammoth?
This week’s topic, pangolins, comes from the Malay word pengguling, meaning "one who rolls up", because they literally roll up into a heavily armored ball when threatened. Their armor is so strong they’ve been known to survive being hit by cars.
Pangolins are threatened by poaching (for their meat and scales), which are used in Chinese traditional medicine, and because of heavy deforestation of their natural habitats. As of January 2020, all eight species of pangolin have a conservation status listed as threatened, and some critically endangered.
New research has shown that maybe we got COVID-19 from pangolins, who got it from something that got it from bats. But if that is the case, (which we don’t know for sure), it would still be human’s fault for trafficking these adorable Pokémon like creatures.
Listen now to learn about pangolins and why they’re Better Than Human
For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com
Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1
on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast
on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast
on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander
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 #cultofweirdness
Krampus: He Knows If You've Been Bad
Better Than Human
12/22/21 • 55 min
Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure in Alpine folklore. On Christmas, he terrifies children who have misbehaved. Krampus has recently been introduced into North American culture, but has a rich history in Eastern European cultures, including pre-Christian pagan traditions where he has long been a companion of Saint Nicholas.
Jennifer’s good and bad news: Quantum entanglement is complicated, but we try to explain it in the most basic terms. Why? Because researchers from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have quantum entangled a Tardigrade. This is the first multicellular organism to be quantum entangled.
Amber’s bad news: The Guinea worm was almost eradicated, but is now making a comeback. (The worm Jennifer talks about is the guinea worm...)
The good: Eastern mosquitofish are being scared into not mating by robot fish. Yes, we said robot fish.
Krampus is a half-goat, half-demon monster. He has a long, pointed tongue that lolls around (like a snake), and fangs. He carries chains that sometimes have festive bells! Like a super creepy version of Santa's sleigh bells.
Unlike North American versions of Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas concerns himself only with the good children, while Krampus is responsible for the bad children. Saint Nicholas gives gifts, while Krampus punishes bad children. Sometimes Krampus appears with a sack or a basket strapped to his back and he carts off evil children for transport to Hell. So you better watch out. You better not pout. Or Krampus will kidnap you!
So grab your masks and let's go to a Krampus run, get shitfaced, and scare children. Happy Holidays Everyone!
02/19/20 • 63 min
The media loves to create hype, even if what results from their exaggerations and lack of all the facts creates hysteria. Add in Karen from HR who thinks they know everything and 24-hour news coverage, this old phenomenon of mass hysteria has seemingly become worse in the digital new age. Take the recent hype around the Novel Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19 virus. We are not saying Covid-19 is not dangerous, because it can be, but do you really need to be hoarding toilet paper and cans of soup? Find out more in the latest episode of Better Than Human, where Amber and Jennifer discuss mass hysteria, if a virus is alive or not, how Covid-19 likely started, and lay out the facts thus far. We talk the facts and myths, and why quarantines and isolation are the best way to stop the virus.
Note: This podcast episode was made before Covid-19 spread wide and far outside of China, so some of our statistics are outdated. Remember, wash your hands, practice social distancing if you can, and be safe. Like I said in the podcast, the majority of us if we got coronavirus would have mild symptoms and would be just fine. However, we all know someone with an immune disorder or a weakened immune system who might have a severe reaction to the virus. Quarantines and social distancing prevent the disease from spreading, which prevents our hospitals from becoming overloaded with patients they might not have enough room for, and helps prevent the spread of infection to those in our community who have a weakened immune system and who the Covid-19 might be fatal for. But, quarantine and social distancing also does not mean start panicking. For more, check our newest episode on Covid-19 with updated information.
Plant Mimicry in Nature: The Mimic, The Model and The Fool
Better Than Human
12/01/21 • 59 min
In biology, plant mimicry occurs when a plant has evolved to resemble another organism, increasing the mimic's Darwinian fitness. Mimicry may provide the mimic certain benefits including protection against being eaten, trick pollinators into provide them a service without offering a reward (food) in return, or may even do something we haven't figured out yet.
In The Good The Bad The News
Amber hates snow, Jennifer thinks it is beautiful, but you know what Jennifer hates? Nurdles. Those tiny plastic pellets that are spilled into the ocean, just like oil, and cause just as much damage. Over 230,000 tonnes of nurdles end up in oceans every year. Not good.
Most Americans would be fine without turkey at Thanksgiving dinner, and Jennifer and Amber agree that this would be fine. The UK government has declared that lobsters, crabs, octopuses and related species will be included under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill, which is Good news for animal rights.
In plant mimicry there are always three things, the mimicker, the model, and then the third thing, which is the thing being duped by the mimic. Sometimes the fool is actually humans. Mimics walk a fine balance between being an evolutionary advantage and being an evolutionary dead end.
There are many different examples of plant mimicry in the wild, each more interesting than the last. Vines that might borrow host DNA, hooker lips, bee flowers, and trickster rye plants just to name a few.
Listen now to learn about plants that pretend to be something they aren’t.
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
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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, Science Podcast, History, Human, Comedy, Podcast, Nature, Podcasts, History Podcast, 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.
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