A Show About Animals

5.0 (6)
DOCUMENTARY
WEEKLY SERIES

Many of us dream about talking to other animals - but what if we already can? A deep dive into Koko the Gorilla, one of the most hotly contested stories in American science - and what it all says about us humans. From VICE World News.

EPISODE 1

A Talking Gorilla

It’s the early 1970s, and grad student Penny Patterson sets out to investigate a big question: is language a uniquely human skill? So she begins an ambitious experiment -- with the help of a young gorilla named Koko. Pretty soon, Penny says Koko is learning sign language. But some doubt Penny’s version of events. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

37 min
EPISODE 2

A Gorilla Who Lied

Koko is learning signs at lightning speed, and Penny’s getting all kinds of attention for her work. But defining language isn’t exactly straightforward. And now, the San Francisco Zoo wants Koko back. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

32 min
EPISODE 3

Uptown Chimp

A rival ape language experiment takes shape. Herbert Terrace, a psychology professor at Columbia University, moves a chimp into a brownstone, names him Nim Chimpsky, and hires an entire team to teach him sign language. Can a chimp create a sentence? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

30 min
EPISODE 4

Nim Chimpsky from the Bronx

Nim the chimp moves uptown into a picturesque mansion in the Bronx. But the experiment only gets harder to manage. And Dr. Herb Terrace reveals a shocking conclusion. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

31 min
EPISODE 5

"A Witch Hunt"

The claws come out at a major science conference in New York, throwing into question the field of animal language research and the future of Project Koko. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

29 min
EPISODE 6

Nipplegate

Penny Patterson focuses on Koko’s future, including trying to find her a mate. But former foundation staffers say behind the earnest headlines and cheery videos coming out of The Gorilla Foundation, Koko’s world is way more complicated. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

31 min
EPISODE 7

"Man Is Stupid"

Koko addresses the world at the Paris Climate Conference - and she is not impressed with humankind. And when she passes away a few years later, her legacy is uncertain, and often hotly contested. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

23 min
EPISODE 8

I Just Knew I Was a Chimp

So... can we talk to animals? We look back at what we can learn from the ape language research experiments, and what it says about humans. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

28 min
EPISODE 9

A Trip to the Zoo

We hit the road to meet Ndume, the last living gorilla who had been part of The Gorilla Foundation. But we're in for a wild surprise. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

29 min

See All Season 1 (9)

TRAILER

Project Koko

In 1972 a Stanford graduate student named Penny Patterson meets a young gorilla named Koko at the San Francisco Zoo, sets out to teach her sign language, and proceeds to turn the world on its head. This is the first season of our new podcast A Show About Animals. Drops November 3rd, 2021. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

20/10/2021

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4 min

5

out of 5

6 Ratings

Fascinating topic and a great host

10/05/2023

BlackStemmedRose

This is a great show for people interested in zoology, psychology, animal behavior, but I suspect that most science enthusiasts would also appreciate it. The topic is interesting; however, I believe that what truly makes the podcast great is the way the information is presented and the performance of the host. I like the music and the fact that it’s to the point. The interview excerpts were another awesome feature, I don’t think the experience would have been the same without them. I listened to it while commuting and on my weekend walks, great way to pass the time and learn something new!

Many of us dream about talking to other animals - but what if we already can? A deep dive into Koko the Gorilla, one of the most hotly contested stories in American science - and what it all says about us humans. From VICE World News.