FRAMED BY FABLES

Send us Fan Mail Are donkeys really dumb, stubborn animals? Or did Aesop just give them that reputation? From ancient fables to Jackass, we take a look at how the donkey became the butt of the joke and why the joke may be on us. Comedian Helen Hong and zoologist Jo Wimpenny welcome Alex Winter, known for his starring role in the Bill & Ted franchise, for a deep dive into the donkey’s surprising history and intelligence. Resources: Alex Winter's latest films Trailer fo...

Send us Fan Mail For many, Wile E. Coyote is the only coyote we know. But how much is he like a real coyote? The answers may surprise you. With Coyote vs. Acme finally out, comedian Helen Hong and wildlife biologist Miguel Ordeñana welcome iconic Looney Tunes voice actor Eric Bauza back to Framed by Fables to help delve into the cartoon history, the movie and the science facts. Do coyotes chase roadrunners? Are they really that persistent? Would they use Acme to hunt i...

Send us Fan Mail Are owls really the wise birds of lore or did they just get that reputation from their association with Athena? We dig into what’s fact and what’s fiction when it comes to these fascinating birds. Kirsten Vangsness, who plays brainy tech-kitten Penelope Garcia in the Criminal Minds franchise, joins us for a deep dive into all things owl. And joining us for the first time in the co-host chair is Wildlife Biologist Miguel Ordeñana, from the Natural History Museum LA County. He ...

Send us Fan Mail "The birds and bees" means sex? Really? We uncover the strange story behind this famous euphemism, explore how birds and bees actually do it, and ask whether they were really the right creatures for the job. Along the way, Dr. Cara Natterson, author, pediatrician and puberty expert, helps us unpack the history of “the talk” and shares how parents and loved ones can have more honest, comfortable conversations with kids about puberty and sex (with or without birds and bee...

Send us Fan Mail Wolves have been cast as villains for centuries, but does the science back it up? In this episode, Comedian Helen Hong and Zoologist Dr. Jo Wimpenny are joined by Teen Wolf's Melissa Ponzio aka Mama McCall to dig into the biology, folklore, and pop‑culture PR disaster that turned a perfectly normal predator into the Big Bad Wolf. Then Dr. Wimpenny offers a surprising creature that might really be a "wolf in sheep's clothing." Follow the show so you nev...