Welcome to section 2 of the podcast, "Making Sense of the World"! With section 1 now behind us, you know all about the incredible diversity of animals that exist on this planet. However, these animals don't exist on their own, so they must be able to assess their surrounding environment. Listen to this episode to find out what to expect from section 2, why it's important to gather information, and how it all works in the animal kingdom!

Ever wondered what makes mammals ... mammaly? In this final episode of Section 1, we’re diving into the world of the warm-blooded creatures that rule the land, air, and sea. Discover what makes mammals unique - hint: it’s not just the hair or the milk. From their skin glands and runner build to specialised teeth and fermenting guts, we’ll talk about everything mammaly including marsupials’ pouch-packing skills and the wild ways some defend themselves. Tune in for a fun journey through the weird, wonderful, and sometimes downright bizarre world of mammals!

In this episode, we’re soaring into the incredible world of birds, from their dinosaur ancestors to the incredible evolution of feathers and flight. Learn about how their skeleton and muscles are adapted for flying, how they cope with its energetic demands, how they've colonised pretty much every habitat on Earth, and so much more! As always, we’ll finish with some amazing bird highlights: vultures cleaning up the mess, hummingbirds defying physics, scary cassowaries, and the fastest animal on the planet - the peregrine falcon. Tune in to be amazed by the biology and brilliance of our feathered friends!

Ready to get cold-blooded? In this episode, we’re slithering, crawling, and sunbathing – mostly sunbathing actually. Found all over the globe, reptiles are masters of adaptation with some seriously wild tricks up their scaly sleeves. I’m talking heavy-armoured animal tanks (aka turtles), scale-flexing shapeshifters (hello, chameleons!), and even the little-known “third-eye” tuatara. But first, we’ll discover what amniotes are and why reptile evolution is so damn confusing! Have a listen to find out more about these funky scaly creatures.

To discover class Amphibia in this episode, we must first talk about tetrapods: the wiggly pioneers that first crawled out of the water and paved the way for life on land. And then, we're hopping (and slithering) into the odd and wonderful world of amphibians! These guys are the true weirdos of the animal kingdom - breathing through their skin, giving birth out of their back, and even regenerating body parts like it's no big deal. Have a listen to discover the good, the weird, and the "wait, what?!" of these slimy critters, and why keeping them around is really important for our planet.

Let's dive (did you get the pun haha) into the world of fish! These come in all shapes and sizes and are found in every (aquatic) corner of the globe, so chances are you've seen one before and you know what I'm talking about. But I'm ready to bet you might not have known that the group of animals we call "fish" is a lot more diverse than many people think! Listen to this episode to find out more about jawless blood-suckers, fishes made of the same material as our nose and ears, and a rock-looking fella that could land you a trip to the hospital.

Have you ever wanted to explore the frozen world of Antarctica? My friend Heidi and I were very lucky to visit this majestic continent on a research expedition as part of our university course, and we tell you all about it in this Special Episode. We describe how we collected data on marine mammals, sea birds, penguins, and microplastics, and how these can be applied in wider ecological contexts. We also share the most memorable moments of this incredible experience, so have a listen to find out more!

When asked "What's the difference between a vertebrate and an invertebrate?", most people don't really know what to answer. And indeed, even for biologists the lines between phyla at the limit of vertebrates are quite blurry. With groups like hemichordates (and echinoderms, ep108!) that can seem to be a little bit of both, it's tricky to pin point the difference - and to know vertebrates aren't even their own phylum! Have a listen to this episode to find out more on what 'chordata' is and how it links us to the entire animal kingdom.