Ep. 134: Fat Bear Week 2025

Moby Dick may be one of the most famous whales in fiction, but Herman Melville did not create the story from nothing. In this episode, we look at the real sperm whales behind the legend, the brutal world of 19th-century whaling, the true story of the Essex—a whaling ship sunk by a sperm whale—and the legend of Mocha Dick, a massive pale whale that became famous among sailors decades before Moby-Dick was published. We’ll also separate some sperm whale myths from reality and look at how Melville combined real animals, real disasters, whaling folklore, and his own experience to create one of the most famous stories in American literature.

21 animals. 21 absolute giant animals. From a 20-foot crocodile and a 900-pound liger to a four-foot rabbit, a two-pound snail, and a 661-pound freshwater stingray, these are real individual animals that grew way beyond the normal size for their species. Some became Guinness World Record holders. Some became internet legends. And some were just so absurdly large that they looked unreal. In this episode, we’re looking at the stories, measurements, and records behind 21 animals that grew WAY bigger than normal. Which one surprised you the most? Nature is Random and Chaotic!

The Rocky Mountains are home to some of North America's most incredible wildlife—but what should you actually do when you encounter it? We cover why moose and bison are far more dangerous than they look, how to tell a black bear from a grizzly, what to do if you encounter a cougar, why you should never run from a bear, and why the best strategy for dealing with a rattlesnake is usually just to leave the damn thing alone. Then we finish with one of our favorite—and most horrifying—subjects: rabies. How does the virus reach the brain? Why does it cause hydrophobia and abnormal behavior? Why are bats particularly important to rabies in North America? And why is rabies almost completely preventable before symptoms appear, but almost invariably fatal once they begin? From thousand-pound herbivores to ambush predators, venomous snakes, and a virus that hijacks the nervous system, this is our guide to understanding—and surviving—the wildlife of the Rocky Mountains. Nature is random and chaotic.

Moby Dick may be one of the most famous whales in fiction, but Herman Melville did not create the story from nothing. In this episode, we look at the real sperm whales behind the legend, the brutal world of 19th-century whaling, the true story of the Essex—a whaling ship sunk by a sperm whale—and the legend of Mocha Dick, a massive pale whale that became famous among sailors decades before Moby-Dick was published. We’ll also separate some sperm whale myths from reality and look at how Melville combined real animals, real disasters, whaling folklore, and his own experience to create one of the most famous stories in American literature. Nature is Random and Chaotic!

Check out the Halll of Fame of Man-Eaters... Who do you think deserves to be in the Hall of Fame?