Meet Professor Bryan Fry – Venom Scientist, Komodo Dragon Expert, and All-Around Adventure Seeker

When your guest has an adrenaline molecule tattooed on his neck, you know you're in for a wild ride — and this episode absolutely delivers.

Professor Bryan Fry is one of the world’s leading experts on venom and Komodo dragons, and in this episode of The Fur Real Podcast, he breaks down the fascinating science behind what venom actually is (spoiler: it’s not just poison!), how it evolves depending on a species’ environment, and why the Komodo dragon’s bite is way more complex — and deadly — than you might think.

We explore how animals use venom not just for defense, but also for hunting, survival, and even communication. From snakes to sea creatures to the legendary Komodo dragon, Professor Fry shares jaw-dropping stories from his fieldwork that will make you see these creatures in a whole new light.

🧬 If you're a science lover, an animal enthusiast, or just someone who enjoys a great story told by a guy who’s been bitten, stung, and still keeps chasing the next discovery — this is the episode for you.

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Article links

Fry BG, Wroe S, Teeuwisse W, van Osch MJP, Moreno K, Ingle J, McHenry C, Ferrara T, Clausen P, Scheib H, Winter KL, Greisman L, Roelants K, van der Weerd L, Clemente CJ, Giannakis E, Hodgson WC, Luz S, Martelli P, Krishnasamy K, Kochva E, Kwok HF, Scanlon D, Karas J, Citron DM, Goldstein EJC, Mcnaughtan JE, Norman JA (2009) A central role for venom in predation by Varanus komodoensis (Komodo Dragon) and the extinct giant Varanus (Megalania) prisca. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 106(22):8969-8974.

Goldstein EJC, Tyrrell KL, Citron DM, Cox CR, Recchio IM, Okimoto B, Bryja J, Fry BG (2013) The anaerobic and aerobic bacteriology of the saliva and gingiva from 16 captive komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis): new implications for the “bacteria as venom” model. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 44(2):262-72.

Speical thanks to J Jig Cicero @jjigcicero for our music intro and outro..you rock!!!

Special thanks to Jake Olson jfolson.music@gmail.com for awesome sound editing

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