Shows
Beyond BlathersParasaurolophusThis week, we're talking about one of Olivia's favourite dinosaurs: the parasaurolophus! Listen to learn more about their iconic cranial crest and what they used it for! If you'd like to support the show please check out our Patreon to make a monthly donation and receive stickers and prints in the mail each month! And you can take a look at our merch store over on Etsy where we sell adorable animal stickers and postcards. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly e...2023-11-2729 min
Beyond BlathersSpider (Part 2): No Way HomeThis week we're continuing our chat about spiders! Listen to learn about spider reproduction and to find out which spiders won Olivia's coveted spider awards! If you'd like to support the show please check out our Patreon to make a monthly donation and receive stickers and prints in the mail each month! And you can take a look at our merch store over on Etsy where we sell adorable animal stickers and postcards. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly episode illustrations, m...2023-10-0935 min
Beyond BlathersDrone BeetleThis week we're talking about the big, loud drone beetle (and chafer beetles in general)! Listen to hear about their sticky feet and shiny elytra, and some of Olivia's stories from the field! If you'd like to support the show please check out our Patreon to make a monthly donation and receive stickers and prints in the mail each month! And you can take a look at our merch store over on Etsy where we sell adorable animal stickers and postcards. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up...2023-09-1121 min
Beyond BlathersRe-Release: BrachiosaurusIf you listened to last week’s episode on the T. rex, we’re sorry to leave you on a gigantic dinosaur sized cliffhanger for another week, but Olivia got unexpectedly swamped out in the field and we thought we’d take this opportunity to celebrate our 150th episode and look back on one of first dinosaur episodes. But don’t worry, we’ll be back ASAP with the rest of the T. rex story! For now we hope you enjoy the brachiosaurus episode, which we originally recorded in 2021. If you'd like to support the show please check out o...2023-08-2835 min
Beyond BlathersHoverfly with Rachel PizanteThis week, Olivia sits down with Rachel Pizante to talk about hoverflies! Rachel is a PhD student at the University of Alberta where she studies pollinators. In this episode you’ll hear two bug nerds talking all about this amazing little bee mimic, sharing their research stories, and just getting way too excited about flies. If you'd like to support the show please check out our Patreon to make a monthly donation and receive stickers and prints in the mail each month! And you can take a look at our merch store over on Etsy where we se...2023-07-1746 min
Beyond BlathersDivingIn this special episode, Olivia shares her experience scuba diving for the first time and talks about the sea creatures, terrestrial critters, and birds she saw on her trip to Cancún, Mexico! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell adorable animal stickers and postcards. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly episode illustrations, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter. And don't forget to check out our T...2023-04-1750 min
Beyond BlathersDragonfly with John AcornThis week we're joined by John Acorn the Nature Nut to talk about dragonflies! John is an accomplished researcher, author, science commutator, and instructor at the University of Alberta. He’s also one of Olivia’s thesis supervisors! Tune in to hear this very fun and informative conversation. If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell adorable animal stickers and postcards. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly episode illustrations, make sure...2023-04-1057 min
Beyond BlathersDiving BeetleThis week we're talking about one of the insects that Olivia is studying for her master's research, the diving beetle! Listen to learn more about how these critters breathe, what they eat, and why their larvae sort of look like aliens! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, sticker sheets, and postcards. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly episode illustrations, make sure to follow us on Instagram and...2023-02-0631 min
Beyond BlathersSweet ShrimpThis week we're talking about the sweet shrimp, AKA the northern shrimp, northern prawn, pink shrimp, deepwater prawn, etc. Listen to learn more about the difference between shrimp and prawns, northern shrimp conservation, and how much Olivia thinks shrimp costs at the grocery store. If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, sticker sheets, and postcards. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly episode illustrations, make sure to f...2023-01-1626 min
Beyond BlathersSpecial Episode: Entomology ConferenceThis week, Olivia is taking us along with her as she attends the 2022 Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Entomological Society of Canada, and the Entomological Society of British Columbia. Listen to learn a bit about her research and how she prepared for her first conference presentation, and to hear fun insect facts from other entomologists she met at the conference!If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, sticker sheets, and postcards.Don't forget to subscribe and leave us...2022-11-2121 minBeyond BlathersSummer Recap and Shop Update!This week we're recapping our busy summers, including Olivia's entomology field work, Sofia's thesis first draft, and our trip together to the Royal Tyrrell Museum! And we're also telling you all about our big shop update, which is out NOW! Check it out at our Etsy shop :) If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, sticker sheets, and postcards. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly episode illustrations, make sure...2022-09-0527 min
Beyond BlathersAn IRL Guide to Catching BugsThis week Olivia is giving you all the tips to catch bugs this summer! From what to look for in a butterfly net to the ins and outs of pond dipping, we've got you covered so you can live your best Animal Crossing life IRL. We hope this episode inspires you to get out there and explore the bugs in your neighbourhood! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell fun animal stickers and postcards. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating a...2022-05-2737 minBeyond BlathersLife Update and Q&AThis week Olivia and Sofia are catching up and answering listener questions about everything from their respective masters projects to their favourite marine animals! Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly episode illustrations, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter. And don't forget to check out our TikTok! Beyond Blathers is hosted and produced by Olivia deBourcier and Sofia Osborne, with art by Olivia deBourcier and music by Max Hoosier. This podcast is not associated with Animal Crossing or Nintendo...2022-04-1549 min
Beyond BlathersAbaloneThis week we're talking about the abalone, a marine snail with a coveted shell and apparently delicious taste! These sea creatures were harvested almost to the point of extinction off the coast of California, but scientists are trying to bring them back! Listen to learn more about these conservation efforts. Big shout out to amazing science journalism by Rosanna Xia and Wudan Yan. If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe and...2022-03-1827 min
Beyond BlathersStinkbugThis week we're raising a stink about the stinkbug! Why do they have their specific stench? And why are they considered a pest? Listen to learn more! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly episode illustrations, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter. And don't forget to check out our TikTok! Beyond Blathers...2022-03-1121 min
Beyond BlathersPiranhaThis week we're talking about the iconic piranha! Are they really as ferocious as their reputation suggests? Listen to find out! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly episode illustrations, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter. And don't forget to check out our TikTok! Beyond Blathers is hosted and produced by Olivia...2022-03-0427 min
Beyond BlathersHelicoprion with Evelyn VollmerThis week we're so excited to be joined by Evelyn Vollmer, a digital palaeontologist at the Idaho Visualization Labratory and amazing science communicator. We got to talk about the helicoprion, a shark-like prehistoric creature with some pretty cool teeth, as well as scicomm TikTok and 3D scanning and printing!Make sure to check out Evelyn's TikTok and Instagram! And her work with Fossil Hoard.If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments.Don't forget to subscribe...2022-02-2551 min
Beyond BlathersAnts (Part 3): Return of the AntsThis week we're back with the final instalment of our series on ants! We're talking about the top ten ants you need to know about, as well as ant conservation! If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly episode illustrations, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter. And don't forget to check out our TikTok! 2022-02-1145 min
Beyond BlathersAnts (Part 2): The ResistANTSThis week we're back with even more fun stories and facts about ants! In part two of this trilogy, we dive into slave-making ants, army ants, hell ants, and more. If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly episode illustrations, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Beyond Blathers is hosted and produced by...2022-02-0438 min
Beyond BlathersAnts (Part 1)This week we're kicking off a special three-part series on ants! They may be small but there is just so much to talk about with these creatures! In the first part of this series, we discuss eusociality, Edward O. Wilson, leafcutter ants, and more. If you'd like to support the show, please check out our merch store over on Etsy where we sell stickers, postcards, and hand-made needle-felted ornaments. Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. To stay up to date and see our weekly episode illustrations, make sure to follow...2022-01-2844 min