The Fur Real Podcast with Mark A Kyle

Manta rays are enormous, graceful, and unlike just about anything else in the ocean. But behind those huge wings is something even more surprising—a remarkably big brain.
This week, Mark is joined by Dr. Guy Stevens, one of the world’s leading manta ray experts and co-founder of the Manta Trust, to explore what makes these ocean giants so extraordinary. From their intelligence and complex social lives to their incredible migrations and curious encounters with humans, manta rays are proving there’s a lot more going on beneath those wings than we ever imagined.
Guy takes us into the world of mantas—how researchers identify individual rays, what we’re learning about the way they think and interact, why they gather at cleaning stations, and what it’s actually like to be in the water alongside one of these massive animals.
We’ll also look at the threats manta rays face around the world and the work being done to understand and protect them.
Huge wings. Bigger brains. And one seriously fascinating fish.
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Tarantulas have a reputation for being big, hairy, and downright terrifying—but how much of what we think we know about them is actually true?
This week, Mark is joined by Dr. Chris Hamilton, tarantula researcher and evolutionary biologist, to get beyond the fangs and the fear and discover what makes these incredible spiders so fascinating. Chris takes us inside the world of tarantulas—from how they hunt and defend themselves to their surprising behaviors, incredible diversity, and why these giant spiders may be far less dangerous than their reputation suggests.
We’ll also find out what it’s like to search for tarantulas in the wild, why scientists are still discovering new species, and why Chris believes these misunderstood animals deserve a little more appreciation—and a lot less fear.
And we’ve got a special guest before we go! Chris’s son Coy joins us at the end of the episode—and delivers what just might be one of the best jokes we’ve had on the show yet. You’ll definitely want to stick around for this one!
“TARANTULAS! Big, Hairy and Surprisingly Nice!” takes a closer look at one of the animal kingdom’s most feared creatures—and might just have you seeing tarantulas very differently.
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When your pet has an emergency, panic can set in fast. What should you do first? What happens when you arrive at the ER? And how do veterinarians decide which animal gets treated first?
Dr. Garret Pachtinger, a board-certified veterinary emergency and critical care specialist, joins Mark to take some of the fear and uncertainty out of one of the most stressful moments a pet parent can face. From recognizing a true emergency and knowing when to head to the ER, to understanding triage, wait times, costs, and what’s happening behind those closed doors, Garret gives pet owners an inside look at emergency veterinary medicine.
They also talk about how a little preparation before an emergency happens can make a huge difference when every minute counts—and how new technology, including Garret’s work with Tether, is helping veterinarians communicate, learn, and provide better care.
Because when something happens to the animal you love, you may still be scared—but you don’t have to be unprepared.
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How smart can a parrot really be? Dr. Irene Pepperberg spent decades answering that question with the help of one remarkable African grey parrot named Alex.
Alex didn’t just mimic words. He learned to identify colors, shapes, numbers and objects, understood concepts like same and different, and showed abilities that challenged what scientists thought they knew about animal intelligence.
In this episode, Dr. Pepperberg shares the incredible story of Alex, their groundbreaking work together, and how one very special bird helped change the way we think about the minds of animals.
Funny, fascinating and sometimes deeply touching, this is the story of a parrot who proved that being called a “bird brain” might actually be a compliment.
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What do Pablo Escobar, Colombia, and hippos have in common? More than you might think.
From their incredible size and surprising behaviors to the unusual story of how they became one of Colombia's most controversial wild animals, hippos are full of surprises.
In this episode, Mark sits down with Dr. Rebecca Lewison, professor of biology at San Diego State University and one of the leading experts studying Colombia's hippos. Together, they explore what makes hippos one of Africa's most fascinating—and dangerous—animals before diving into the remarkable story of how Pablo Escobar's four imported hippos grew into a thriving wild population in Colombia. They discuss the impact these animals are having on native ecosystems and the difficult decisions scientists and governments face in managing their future.
Are the "cocaine hippos" simply a bizarre legacy of a notorious drug lord, or have they become something far more complicated?
Be sure to stay through the very end, where our Special Guest Comedians, Payton and Naomi Lewis, each share a fun animal joke that's sure to leave you smiling.
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