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.

Welcome to a new concept I've decided to introduce to this podcast: special episodes! Unlike the Sections (numbered or guest), these episodes will be standalone since nothing will necessarily link them together (other than cool topics and relevance to the podcast...) in the way that Section episodes are linked by an overaching theme. (That also means they might be longer than regular episodes but I'll try to keep them under 45-50mins.)

For this first Special Episode, come with me to Mexico as I describe my summer expedition in the Yucatán Peninsula! With the help of my guest Lucas, we'll talk about how we surveyed the local wildlife and environment to better understand the challenges this southeastern region of Mexico faces due to climate change.

Many of you might have loved watching SpongeBob as a child, but did you know that Patrick Star is actually an echinoderm? That's right, starfish and sea stars, along with sea cucumbers and prickly urchins, are all part of an important phylum called Echinodermata. This phylum is thought to be a link between earlier animals and more "complex" ones like us! On top of this important phylogenetic element, they're some of the most unusual invertebrate animals out there. Have a listen to find out how weird echinoderm skin is or why they have no blood!

Welcome to the world of creepy crawlies! Not all of you will be fans of these little creatures, but this is the most abundant and diverse phylum on Earth. Having evolved through hundreds of millions of years, they now come in all shapes and sizes. From cute little honeybees to giant lobsters, this episode covers the gigantic phylum that is Arthropoda in as much detail as I can afford, so sit back and enjoy! And try not to think of the spider probably lurking in a corner nearby...

Have you ever eaten good ol' mussels and chips by the sea? Well, you just put a mollusc in your mouth. Molluscs are the second largest clade of animals, with extremely varied morphology & habitats. They range from the small garden snail you peeked this morning, to those mussels you ate, to the clever octopus you may have seen in documentaries! If you want to learn more about the diversity of this amazing group, how snails can fit their whole body into their shell or why cephalopods are so clever, this episode is for you!

At last, we leave behind the cryptic world of ancient creatures! We do however stay in theme by looking at another group of worms: annelids. These may be more familiar to you as they do include your good ol' garden earth worm, but in case they're not, this episode is here to guide you through their basic features and many subgroups.