Best Sam Illingworth Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 278: A Map of Echoes 6:08

3h ago6:08

6:08

This episode explores new research, which has found that bats use an acoustic cognitive map for navigation. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Bats' by Luke Hathaway here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcast: E…

1
Episode 277 – Colour Shift 6:28

2h ago6:28

6:28

This episode explores new research, which has found that human actions cause insect colour change. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Insect’ by Annie Finch here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcast: Email: sam…

1
Episode 276: Tethered by Moonglow 6:43

2d ago6:43

6:43

This episode explores new research, which has found that tropical mammals react to changes in lunar light. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Moonlight’ by Paul Verlaine here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcas…

1
Episode 275: The Volatility of Life 6:48

21d ago6:48

6:48

This episode explores new research, which has used the chemical fingerprints of zinc contained in meteorites to determine the origin of volatile elements on Earth. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Near-Earth Object’ by John Shoptaw here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on s…

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Episode 274: Where Migration Ends 7:11

28d ago7:11

7:11

This episode explores new research, which has found that drier winter habitat impacts songbirds’ ability to survive migration. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Migration’ by Ira Sadoff here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or commen…

1
Episode 273: Wood Vaulting 6:18

1M ago6:18

6:18

This episode explores new research, which has found that burying wood in the right environmental conditions can stop its decomposition and help curb carbon dioxide emissions. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Wood’ by Richard Brautigan here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam o…

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Episode 272: The Forge of the Sea 7:01

1M ago7:01

7:01

This episode explores new research, which has found that the long-range transport of dust enhances oceanic life. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Dust’ by Dorianne Laux here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podca…

1
Episode 271: Painting Petals 6:07

2M ago6:07

6:07

This episode explores new research, which has found that flowers use adjustable petal designs to attract pollinators. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Flowers’ by Wendy Videlock here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for …

1
Episode 270: Lost in the Night Light 6:38

2M ago6:38

6:38

This episode explores new research, which has found that excessive light pollution may increase risk of Alzheimer's. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read “Alzheimer’s” by William J. Harris here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comment…

1
Episode 269: Monster Galaxies 6:21

2M ago6:21

6:21

This episode explores new research, which has observed a pair of galaxies in the act of merging 12.8 billion years ago. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Universe’ by Steven Schnur here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments fo…

1
Episode 268: Under Wandering Light 6:43

2M ago6:43

6:43

This episode explores new research, which has found that meteor showers shed light on where comets formed in the early solar system. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Meteorite’ by Randall Jarrell here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any ques…

1
Episode 267: Echoes in the Earth 6:48

3M ago6:48

6:48

This episode explores new research which has found that underground acoustics amplify soil health. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘This Soil’ by Alice Corbin Henderson here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podca…

1
Episode 266: The Nature of the Selfie 6:42

3M ago6:42

6:42

This episode explores new research, which has found that nature is at risk in the hunt for the perfect selfie. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Manifesto of the Lyric Selfie’ by Becca Klaver here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or …

1
Episode 265: The Earth Rises to Meet the Sea 6:41

3M ago6:41

6:41

This episode explores new research, which has studied how the rising earth in Antarctica will impact future sea level rise. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Way to Keep Going in Antarctica’ by Bernadette Mayer here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and se…

1
Episode 264: Chromatic Change 6:09

3M ago6:09

6:09

This episode explores new research, which has investigated the iridescent evolution of birds. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read 'Birdsong' by Joanie Mackowski here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcast: Email: s…

1
Episode 263: Renewal in Green 7:22

4M ago7:22

7:22

This episode explores new research, which has found that even 10 minutes of nature exposure is likely to yield benefits for adults with mental illness. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Wildlife Management III’ by James Galvin here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social …

1
Episode 262: At the Edge of the Lakes 6:27

4M ago6:27

6:27

This episode explores new research, which has found that unprecedented warming threatens earth’s lakes and their ecosystems. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Lake Cycle’ by Jessica Nelson North here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions …

1
Episode 261: Cool Roofs in the City 6:19

4M ago6:19

6:19

This episode explores new research, which has found that painting roofs white is effective at cooling cities at scale. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read 'Heat' by John Gould Fletcher here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments f…

1
Episode 260: The Red Crater Clock 6:32

4M ago6:32

6:32

This episode explores new research, which has found that meteorite impact rate on Mars can help date planetary surfaces. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Meteorite’ by Randall Jarrell here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or com…

1
Episode 259: The Blackest Wind 6:48

4M ago6:48

6:48

This episode explores new research, which has found that dense, swirling winds help supermassive black holes grow. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Effects’ by Nick Laird here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the…

1
Episode 258: Rats and Restoration 8:15

5M ago8:15

8:15

This episode explores new research, which has found that restored rat-free islands could support hundreds of thousands more breeding seabirds --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Baiting Bush Rats’ by Anthony Lawrence here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and se…

1
Episode 257: A Promise of Lavender 5:51

5M ago5:51

5:51

This episode explores new research, which has identified the gene that enhances some of the properties of lavender. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read 'Lavender' by Mary Enslow here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the …

1
Episode 256: Wated Mussels 7:47

5M ago7:47

7:47

This episode explores new research, which has found that mussels downstream of wastewater treatment plants contain radium. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Merrymakers in a Mussel Shell’ by Holly Corfield Carr here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send i…

1
Episode 255: Wobbling Stars and Super Earths 7:01

5M ago7:01

7:01

This episode explores new research, which has used wobbling stars to find new exoplanets. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘In the Planetarium’ by James Doyle here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcast: Email: …

1
Episode 254: Shadows in the Sea 7:41

6M ago7:41

7:41

This episode explores new research, which has investigated how heatwaves are affecting Arctic phytoplankton. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Invitation’ by Aimee Nezhukumatathil here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for…

1
Episode 253: Seismic Snow 6:45

6M ago6:45

6:45

This episode explores new research, which has found that heavy snowfall and rain may contribute to some earthquakes. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read 'Snowfall' by Ravi Shankar here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for th…

1
Episode 252: The Weakening Pulse of Life 8:15

6M ago8:15

8:15

This episode explores new research, which has found that a magnetic field collapse may have triggered the emergence of animals on Earth. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Moon’s Magnetic Field Once Came from an Asteroid’ by Rebecca Morgan Frank here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. ---…

1
Episode 251: Women of the Wildfires 7:11

6M ago7:11

7:11

This episode explores new research, which has found that women and shepherds historically reduced wildfire risk in Central Italy. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Leaves’ by Ursula K. Le Guin here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or…

1
Episode 250: Plastic Flesh 8:18

7M ago8:18

8:18

This episode explores new research, which has found that toxic chemicals from microplastics can be absorbed through skin. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Plastic: A Personal History’ by Elizabeth Bradfield here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in a…

1
The Return of Reddit Roulette: Secret Money & Trauma Dumping 47:50

6M ago47:50

47:50

In the last episode of Season 3, we bring back Reddit Roulette (from Season 1, episode 10) - our mashup of all things Reddit and Chatroulette . We spin the wheel to discuss who the a****** is in a relationship conflict, as well as discussing trauma dumping, how to navigate financial disparity in relationships, and the big topic of boundaries. Are t…

1
Episode 249: Pink and Swollen Shores 7:33

7M ago7:33

7:33

This episode explores new research, which has found that Africa’s flamingos are threatened by rising lake levels. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Flamingo Watching’ by Kay Ryan here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for …

1
Elizabeth and Damian Hurley, boundaries and naughty cats 25:22

7M ago25:22

25:22

When Damian Hurley released his debut film, "Strictly Confidential," people were shocked that he directed raunchy scenes starring his own mother, Elizabeth Hurley. From critics labelling their relationship as "disturbing" to others dismissing them as mere "publicity hounds," we dissect some of the fierce responses to this erotic thriller and reflec…

1
Episode 248: Fettering their Nests 7:19

7M ago7:19

7:19

This episode explores new research, which has found that four in five bird species cannot tolerate intense human pressures. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘The Birds’ by Linda Pastan here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comment…

1
Love, as an older woman: Sam Taylor-Johnson, Kylie Minogue and Drew Barrymore 56:34

7M ago56:34

56:34

Cougar, MILF, or even a tragic singleton like 'Bridget Jones', today, we are looking at all the comments used to describe older women when it comes to love and dating. Sam Taylor-Johnson, in the promotion of her new Amy Winehouse film, is facing renewed scrutiny over her marriage to Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who is 23 years her junior. We talk about th…

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Episode 247: Shadows in the Glass 7:32

7M ago7:32

7:32

This episode explores new research, which has found that common water pollutants cause heart damage in fish. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Water Devil’ by Jamaal May here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podca…

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Rebel's Revelations, Wino Forever and Lizzo Quits? 35:20

7M ago35:20

35:20

A year on since we did our "Fatshaming" episode featuring Adele, Rebel Wilson, and Lizzo, we find the three women are once again the centre of attention due to discussions about their weight. With Lizzo announcing she is "quitting" due to body-shaming and Rebel claiming in her new memoir "Rebel Rising" that Adele "hates her" because they were both …

1
Episode 246: Secrets Beneath the Ice 7:42

7M ago7:42

7:42

This episode explores new research, which has found that signs of life could be detectable in single ice grains that are emitted from extraterrestrial moons. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Ten Moons’ by Sasha Dugdale here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media a…

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“My Emotional Truth”: The Case of Hasan Minhaj, Prince Harry and Jay Shetty 50:05

7M ago50:05

50:05

Since Oprah brought self-help and therapy speak into the mainstream, more and more people have been talking about “speaking my truth” over telling the truth. From Prince Harry to Britney Spears, the celebrity memoir has often been sold as the chance to read their “personal truths”. But what does this really mean? And are there different types of tr…

1
Episode 245: Blue Reflections of Time 7:16

8M ago7:16

7:16

This episode explores new research, which has used ancient tree rings to reconstruct the climate records of North China. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Trees’ by Mark Haddon here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for th…

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Meghan Markle’s new brand launch and is Temu stalking us all? 31:37

8M ago31:37

31:37

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is back with the launch of her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. Today, we are examining the mixed (putting it mildly) reactions to her launch, particularly the responses to The Cut’s Instagram post, questioning the timing of her launch. Did Meghan really deliberately time her launch to divert attention from …

1
Episode 244: Silence in the Depths 7:08

8M ago7:08

7:08

This episode explores new research, which has found that fishing for oil and meat drives deepwater shark and ray decline. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Sharks at the New York Aquarium’ by Charles Martin here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in an…

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Who do you think you are? The transformation of Geri Halliwell 45:15

8M ago45:15

45:15

From her iconic Union Jack dress and Girl Power persona to her current all-white dress code and role as the “devoted wife”, today we are exploring the online reactions to Geri Halliwell’s transformation. Has she really abandoned her working class roots by “marrying up”, or is this just part of growing up and evolving? And are commenters justified i…

1
Episode 243: Deforesting Disease 7:28

8M ago7:28

7:28

This episode explores new research, which has found that deforestation exacerbates the risk of malaria for the most vulnerable children. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Mosquito Music’ by Philip Gross here --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any que…

1
Our situation with the Daily Mail, plus comments about International Women’s Day 30:25

8M ago30:25

30:25

Right in time for International Women’s Day and our one year anniversary, the Daily Mail launches a new podcast, called "Straight to the Comments!" - fronted by 2 young male presenters. We go into it in today’s episode. Plus, we have our comments guessing game about a funny topic and discuss the importance of Women’s Day in 2024. How much has chang…

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Episode 242: When the Sky Gathers Tears 6:12

8M ago6:12

6:12

This episode explores new research, which has found that cloud clustering causes more extreme rain. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read 'Clouds' by Caroline Forché here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the podcast: Email…

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Health Conspiracy Theories: Kate Middleton, Selena Gomez & Jamie Foxx 43:52

8M ago43:52

43:52

Today, we are discussing the internet's relentless speculation surrounding Kate Middleton's recent surgery announcement. From genuine concern to mind-bending conspiracy theories, we explore the reactions to this news. We also investigate the trend of celebrities, like Selena Gomez, openly discussing their medical issues. On the flip side, we delve …

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Episode 241: Nuclear Transmutations 8:02

9M ago8:02

8:02

This episode explores new research, which has looked to neutron stars to reduce nuclear waste. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Near the Desert Test Sites (Palm Desert, California)’ by Sherod Santos here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any quest…

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Jodie Foster vs Gen Z, Plato and Justin Timberlake's no-apology 25:24

9M ago25:24

25:24

Welcome back to Season 3's first Mini! We're kicking things off with our comment guessing game, a topic that we believe will stir up strong emotions among Gen Xers (and perhaps even millennials). Then, we'll dive into Justin Timberlake's no-apology stance on the Britney Spears drama and explore the phenomenon of apology tours. Finally, we'll wrap i…

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Episode 240: Consumed Stars 6:21

9M ago6:21

6:21

This episode explores new research, which has detected the faint light of stellar corpses beside predator stars. --- Read this episode’s science poem here. Read the scientific study that inspired it here. Read ‘Stars’ by Marjorie Pickthall here. --- Music by Rufus Beckett. --- Follow Sam on social media and send in any questions or comments for the…

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Criminals as Celebrities: Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Anna Delvey 51:03

9M ago51:03

51:03

Today, we are exploring the "celebrification" of criminals in the age of social media, particularly that of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Anna Delvey. Gypsy Rose Blanchard, recently released from prison for the murder of her mother, and Anna Delvey, a con-artist currently under house arrest in New York, have become prime examples of how criminals can no…

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