Bonus Beasts: Iorek Byrnison, from the His Dark Materials trilogy.

This episode isn’t just about polar bears. It’s about what happens when you’re stripped of your purpose — and how, for some people, recovery means forging a new kind of armour. To explore that, I’m joined by psychiatrist and trauma specialist Dr Mathew Hoskins — who’s worked on cutting-edge therapies for PTSD, including MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.

Today we’re asking: what can a fictional bear teach us about real psychological healing?

In this episode of Bird Brain, we take flight into the world of geese in literature, folklore, and nature with Liliana Tarrant Snedden—President of the Cardiff University Ornithological Society and BTO Youth Rep.

We discuss:
Kaisa the daemon – Exploring how Philip Pullman's choice of a Snow Goose for a witch’s familiar in His Dark Materials is subverting the usual image of a witch’s bird, often linked to corvids or birds of prey.
📜 Mary Oliver’s Wild Geese

🧬 Genetic diversity – Why it’s crucial for species survival and conservation.

Liliana also shares how young birdwatchers can get free birding equipment to level up their skills! Check out these links:
🔗 BTO Equipment Scheme: Access free birdwatching kit
🔗 BTO Youth Reps: Find out more
🔗 Follow Liliana on Instagram: @liliana.rts

Please like and share this episode ✨

#Birdwatching #HisDarkMaterials #Geese #WildlifeConservation #PhilipPullman #DaemonTheory

Roadrunners, Cuckoos, and Cold War Cartoons: A Chat with Jon Carter from the BTO

In this episode, we’re joined by Jon Carter, Media Manager at The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), to talk all things birds—and a bit of Looney Tunes! 🐦🎥

We dive into why Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote became a surprising cultural phenomenon in the Soviet Union during the Cold War, explore the fascinating connection between roadrunners and cuckoos, and debate whether the cartoon duo symbolizes the unattainable American Dream.

Plus, Jon shares how bird surveys like the BTO’s Garden BirdWatch and Nest Count Project play a vital role in tracking bird populations—and how you can get involved.

📢 Listen now and visit BTO’s Garden BirdWatch and Nest Count Project to make a difference for our feathered friends!

To get involved with the tracking of cuckoos specifically, click here:

https://www.bto.org/cuckoos