The Natural History Cupboard Podcast

Interview with Dr Dean Lomax | Nature Bites

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join us as we talk to the much requested Dr. Dean Lomax! Dr. Dean tells us how he started his career, where that has taken him, and why dinosaurs? So ...

A Palaeo Poultry Pretender

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join us this week where Aaron is alone in the cupboard as Gareth is ill. Aaron takes this opportunity to tick off another Jurassic Park species by kde...

A Feathered Forest Giant

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the bird that shaped an ecosystem and, when it disappeared, changed a human culture - the Moa! How did this bird evolve and became a...

Nature Bites Journey To The Deep

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join us this week as we board our podcast class submarine, and travel to the deepest depths of the ocean. We explore the weird and wonderful creatures...

A Polar Predator

15 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week we head to the frigid north to meet the largest member of the bear family, the polar bear. We look at why this bear is the master of the ice...

A Mystery of a Fish

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back, and for the first episode of 2026 we look at one of the biggest mysteries of the natural world - just where do eels come from? The Europ...

New Year's Quiz 2025

28 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For our final episode of the year, and back by popular demand, join us for another quiz! Jess once again guest hosts, pitting Gareth, Aaron and Drew a...

Winter Species Special 2025

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we wrap up warm for our winter special with another trio of seasonal species! Gareth’s better half, Paris, joins us to round out our trio....

A King of the Marshes

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the bird the internet loves for all the wrong reasons, the shoebill! We find out why it's not a "prehistoric evil Dino-bird...

A Pint-Sized Predator

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the pint-sized predatory dinosaur, Compsognathus, and Aaron compares the real animal and its movie counterpart. Meanwhile, in the ne...

A Big Bodied Boy

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week in the natural history cupboard we meet one of the oddest creatures to have ever graced the Permian era Cotylorhynchus.  With some of the o...

A Rainbow Winged Wanderer

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the aerial insect predator, the European bee-eater, and Aaron tells us all about his experience with this beautiful bird. In the new...

An All-Aussie Arachnid

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we head Down Under to meet one of the most venomous and infamous species of spider, the Sydney funnel-web. Find out what makes a male spider...

A Titanic Snake

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we head to the ancient Amazon to meet the largest snake to have ever lived, the Titanaboa! In the news, somehow Nanotyrannus returned... wha...

National Stick Insect Day 2025

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we celebrate World Stick Insect Day by giving you a trio of three living wonders with our special guest, Portia, from Exmoor Zoo’s educati...

A Spooky Species Special 2025

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we get spooky with Phil Barber, from Incredible Inverts & Other Animals, and we bring you a trio of spooky species to enjoy while the ni...

A Shape-Shifting Species

19 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the dinosaur that has undergone multiple changes over its hundred year history, the Spinosaurus! Take a trip through time to see how...

A Princess of the Primates

12 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we pay tribute to the legendary Dr. Jane Goodall. Join us to take a look back at her groundbreaking discoveries and work that positively cha...

A Wronged Rhino

05 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we share the sad tale of the western black rhino. Find out what led to the demise of this sub-species, and the lessons it can teach us to co...

A Powerful Pollinator

28 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we see what the buzz is about with honey bees, and why they are not just important economically, but also vital ecologically. In the news, w...

A Cat of the Clouds

21 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we move stealthily through the forests of south east Asia to meet the cat of the clouds, the clouded leopard! In the news, we show you how y...

A Surprising Seashell

14 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We are back! Well, sort of. Aaron is in the cupboard studio, and Gareth is out and about. But fear not, our regular format is back - as Gareth takes u...

Nature Bites - What is the Best Pet Dinosaur?

31 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join us this week as we delve into the prehistoric pet shop and look at what dinosaur would make the best pet. Gareth takes us through a possible shop...

Nature Bites - War Bugs

17 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Come with us this week on a historical journey through the use of insects in warfare, and learn about the many ways humans have relied on invertebrate...

A Fine Finned Whale

02 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we take a dive in the ocean to come face-to-face with one of the most recognisable cetaceans in the world, the humpback whale! In the news, ...

A Painted Prince of Kenya

27 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we check out for the vividly vibrant, and sometimes violent, lilac-breasted roller. It is the unofficial National Bird of Kenya, and is ofte...

Moth Week Special

20 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week is National Moth Week, and - like our other specials - we have three moths for you: the vivacious hummingbird hawk-moth; the massive tropica...

A Rosetted Wraith

13 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week Aaron closes out the Panthera genus with the leopard. It's the last of the "big cat" features (unless we delve into subspecies), but the ada...

Shark Week Special 2025

06 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we finally get around to tackling another Shark Week - the last time was 2021 (it took us a few years to get the timing right again... whoop...

A Horse's Bane

29 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we take a balanced look at the yellow-flowered common ragwort. Is it responsible for thousand of horse deaths a year, or are those numbers f...

Rainforest Day Special 2025

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, to celebrate Rainforest Day of 2025, we explore three different rainforest regions of the world - the Amazon of South America, Taman Negara...

A Giant Ocean Nomad

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we delve into the ocean, with the giant nomadic leatherback sea turtle, and ask how does such a large reptile live on jellyfish alone? In th...

A Wronged Woodpecker

08 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we traverse a changed forest that should be home to one of the world's largest woodpeckers, the ivory-billed woodpecker, but only the echoes...

A Super Spiked Thumb

01 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the second dinosaur ever discovered, Iguanodon! Find out how its image has changed over the past 200 years to the dinosaur we know t...

A Controversial Canid

25 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we look at one of the most effective predators in Eurasia and North America, the grey wolf! This species attracts lovers and haters, and bot...

A Celtic Corvid

18 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we head to the west coast of the UK to discover how our very own Celtic corvid, the red-billed chough, is woven into the culture and myths o...

Not our Normal Episode

11 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week due to some rather unforeseen circumstances we have not been able to put out our normal episode. But to tide you over until our next episode...

A Huge Hornless Rhino

04 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we travel back to prehistoric Mongolia to meet the many-named, but hornless, rhino, the massive Paraceratherium. In the news, Aaron tells us...

A Whopper Of A Wolf

27 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week it’s all gone to the dogs. Not just the creature feature, the dire wolf, but with our hosts. We explore what a dire wolf is and how it's s...

Spring Special 2025

19 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week is a Spring Special, and we have a trio of super species for you to enjoy from the chicken to the bluebell and the Oviraptor! To help us go ...

A Marvel of a Mustelid

13 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we head to the Canadian wilderness to meet the wolverine... no, not the X-man, but the equally tough, resilient and fierce member of the wea...

A Charismatic Crest

06 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet one of most easily identified plant-eating dinosaurs, Parasaurolophus. Find out how it used its wonderful crest! In the news, we loo...

A Glorious Grouse

30 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we head to the highlands to meet the capercaillie, a glorious grouse in need of help. In the news, we look at how all areas of modern scienc...

A Brilliant Bear

23 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the brown bear, the Swiss Army knife of mammals. We learn what the bear necessities really are, and what it takes to be smarter than...

A Toothy Pterosaur

16 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we travel back to the Jurassic to meet a pterosaur like no other: say hello to the Dimorphodon, a species that has proven you don’t need t...

A Marvellous Marten

09 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the yellow-throated marten! This perfect painted predator shows how it is not just a reskinned pine marten. In the news, beavers are...

A Red Ape of the Rainforest

02 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we take to the trees to meet one of our closet and smartest relatives, the orangutan! In the news, we talk about the sad news of a whale mas...

A Reptilian Rainbow

23 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we head to the deserts of North America to meet the Eastern Collared Lizard. We learn how to live and survive like this rainbow reptile. In ...

An Amphibian Oddball

16 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the boomerang-headed, ancient amphibian, Diplocaulus, and find out why it had such a weird head. In the news, we take a look at the ...

A Cunning Reptile

09 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the snake with a cunning plan, the adder! Aaron looks at how well this species is coping with its rapidly changing habitat. Meanwhil...

A Fatal Frog

02 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the beautiful, but deadly, dart frog! We find out what makes these amphibians so deadly and why are they so brightly coloured. Meanw...

A Mighty Machairodont

26 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we travel to Ice Age Europe to meet the mighty machairodont, Homotherium! Find out what sets this sabre-tooth apart from the rest. In the ne...

A Duelling Dinosaur

19 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we head to the Mongolian desert to meet an underrated dinosaur that is one half of a famous fighting fossil - the Protoceratops! We learn ho...

A Super Speedy Cat

12 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we try to keep up with the specialist speed machine and fastest land animal on the planet, the cheetah! In the news, we look at what the cur...

A Legendary Leaf

05 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We kick off 2025 by heading up the mountain slopes of China to look at a plant that has taken the world by storm - tea! Wars were fought over it, it's...

New Year's Quiz 2024

29 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For our final episode of the year, join us as, back by popular demand, we present our quiz! Jess guest hosts and recaps the year with quiz questions o...

A Very Christmassy Episode (2024)

22 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ho ho ho! This week is our festive Christmas special! We take a look at a trio of wintery creatures from the domesticated and familiar to the prehisto...

A Mega Birthday Episode

15 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week is our 200th episode! And what better way to celebrate than by featuring Megalosaurus, which was discovered 200 years ago? In those 200 year...

A Sea Floor Flying Fish

08 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet an odd fish with wings and feet, but doesn’t fly - the Gurnard! In the news, footage has emerged of a wolf enjoying a nice feast o...

A Kangaroo of the Canopy

01 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we climb into the canopy to come face-to-face with an arboreal kangaroo, and we ask what makes this tree kangaroo such a "goodfellow"? In th...

A Flesh-Eating Fish

24 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we take a dip in the Amazon to meet the red-bellied piranha. We ask if its blood thirsty reputation is really justified or is there a softer...

A Moose Loose Aboot This Hoose

17 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the enormous elk... or should it be called a moose? Join us to discover more about the world’s largest and most recognisable deer ...

A Cruel Sheathed Knife

10 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the sabre-toothed sparassodont, Thylacosmilus, and take a look at the unusual adaptations of this superb sabretooth. In the news, we...

A Pterrific Pterosaur

03 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we take to the Cretaceous skies with one of the most well known pterosaurs, Pteranodon, and we discover how it’s changed from its initial ...

A Spooky Species Special 2024

27 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we bring you a spooky species special, with terrifying special guest, Phil Barber! We look at three creepy creatures from across the animal ...

A Reptilian Rainbow

20 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the rainbow reptile that communicates with colour, the panther chameleon! Learn why it’s named after big cats and forks... and tha...

A Close Cousin

13 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week in the natural history cupboard we travel once more to the African rainforest to meet our closest living relative, the chimpanzee. Find out ...

A Sand Stalking Serpent

06 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we travel to the deserts of North America to meet one of most locomotively unique snakes, the sidewinder! Learn how it moves sideways, but s...

A Mega Set of Antlers

29 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week meet the mightiest of all deer, Megaloceros - otherwise known as the Irish elk. Find out what made this prehistoric deer so unique. In the n...

A Terrific Tetra

22 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week meet the small brightly coloured fish with an amazing tale to tell, the neon tetra. Find out about this species' brilliant history, and what...

A Resilient Roach

15 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week meet the cockroach, now extinct in the wild, that still survives thanks to a forward thinking etymologist, the simondoa cockroach. We find o...

A Unicorn of the Sea

08 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week meet the Jedi of the sea, the cetacean that has one heck of a tooth, the Narwhal! Find out what makes this whale such a perfect polar surviv...

A Spiked Tail

01 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we head to the Jurassic period once more and meet the dinosaur icon that is Stegosaurus! We look at its history, discovery and how much it ...

A Superstar Serpent

31 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week meet the snake that inspired a basketball legend. Find out what makes the black mamba a formidable snake species. In the news, we look at th...

A Pint Sized Penguin

18 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week take a plunge into the cold waters of the southern ocean to meet the smallest species of penguin, the fairy penguin. In the news, Aaron look...

A South American Shadow

11 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Gareth is out sick and so has to dial into the cupboard virtually. In our creature feature, we meet South America‘s most powerful and stea...

A Massive Millipede

04 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the biggest land arthropod that has ever existed, Arthropleura. Why was it so big and what do we know about the odd world it lived i...

A Jurassic Giant

28 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the long boy of the dinosaur world and one of its most well known: Diplodocus. Find out the fascinating backstory of how it was firs...

A flying fisherman

21 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the supremely adapted bird of prey that hunts fish like no other, the osprey! Find out what threatened this bird, and how it’s mak...

A doggy long legs

14 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we head to South America to meet the long legged canid, the maned wolf! Find out what makes this one of the oddest members of the dog family...

A pair of horrible hands

07 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week meet the dinosaur with the horrible hands, Deinocheirus. Find out how this dinosaur went from being a pair of giant arms to a humpbacked duc...

A highly rare butterfly

30 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Drew is back and tells us all about the UK's most threatened butterfly, the High Brown Fritillary. In the news, Aaron looks at the RSP...

A mega marsupial

23 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we hop on over to Australia to meet the extinct giant kangaroo, Procoptodon! In the news, the police have an incident with a cow and a car, ...

A perfect pine

16 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we head down to Tasmania to meet the tree that gets the nickname "living gold", the Huon pine! Find out why this tree is so prized...

A precious pachyderm

09 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we crash through the under brush and meet the enigmatic Asian elephant! In the news, the war in Ukrainian is affecting even the migration of...

A forgotten fish found

02 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the coelacanth, a fish thought extinct but then rediscovered! We find out what makes these fish so unique, and what threatens to mak...

A Beautifully Feathered Tyrant

26 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Aaron takes us to ancient China to meet the feathered tyrant, Yutyrannus. The news reel is big cat heavy, followed by a possible thylacine s...

A sacred scarab

19 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the insects that move the sun across the sky, can navigate by the milky way, and also love the taste of poo! It the dung beetle of c...

A blatantly bullied bovid

12 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we take an in-depth look at Europe's largest herbivore, the wisent, and we hear about its rather dark and sad past. In the news, we look...

A long legged owl

05 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we host our first episode from our brand new studio! Gareth brings us the sad tale of the Hawaiian stilt owl, a recently extinct species par...

A Quick-Draw Claw

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the shrimp that’s always armed but maybe not so dangerous the pistol shrimp. In the news Gareth gets jealous of a new giant ichthy...

A raucous raptor

21 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week meet the Caracara, one of the most intelligent birds on the planet. Learn how its inquisitive nature earns it friends... and also enemies. I...

A hog from hell

14 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week meet the mighty daeodon, a creature so fearsome it’s nicknamed “the terminator pig”. Find out what makes it so amazing and also why it...

A feathered friend

07 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Gareth tells us about the Indian ring neck parrot and also pays tribute to his recently deceased pet. Find out what makes these parrots so a...

A springtime species special

31 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we hop into the season of rebirth with our first Spring species special. Meet the Asian water Monitor, Bilby and the European Rabbit. Find o...

A polar predator

24 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week meet one of the Antarctics most powerful predators the Leopard seal. Learn what makes this a sublime sub surface predator of penguins. In th...

A delightful duck bill

17 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the animal that no one thought was real when it was discovered the platypus. In the news this week Devon takes the crown for oldest ...

A sky high sauropod

10 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet one of the most well known sauropods Brachiosaurus. Learn why it might not be exactly the dinosaur that you thought it was. In the n...

A terrible claw

03 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week meet the real life inspiration for the Jurassic Park raptor Deinonychus. Find out why this dinosaur is more than just a movie monster. In th...

A predator of the pines

25 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week we meet the pine marten an amazing tree top terror of squirrels and learn how it’s making a comeback. In the news there might be good news...