Australia is full of weird plants and animals. And Dr Ann Jones is on speaking terms with most of them! Each week Ann explores the most unusual elements of our natural world — the ones that make you go What the Duck?! Like why do quolls have spots? Who farts (and who doesn't)? And how do snakes climb trees? Join Ann alongside experts and ordinary Aussies alike to solve mysteries, smash myths and uncover the bizarre truth about nature down under.

Latest episodes

Flaco the owl escapes cage in Central Park Zoo

October 2, 2026 · 27 min

A superhero origin story would absolutely be 12 years in a cage and then set free by secretive criminals. That’s the story of Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle Owl, released from his vandalised cage in Central Park Zoo, New York City. But how…
Bumblebees have BIG feelings

September 25, 2026 · 26 min

Mum says it’s ok to be angry. But it’s not ok to take over a whole island state. Featuring: Andrew Barron - Comparative Neuroscientist from Macquarie University, NSWTim Low - Biologist and a founder of the Invasive Species…
What will we eat in space?

September 18, 2026 · 26 min

How will we survive the cosmic void? Scientists have a superfood diet in mind, but will the smallest flowering plant on Earth REALLY save humanity? Featuring: Jenny Mortimer - Professor of Plant Synthetic Biology in the School of…
T**s, boobies and hooters

September 11, 2026 · 26 min

Why is it that bird names seem so… childishly misogynistic? Featuring: Professor Andrew Cockburn, bird watcher and word batcher, ANU Jeannie Gray, Author, Australian Bird Names: Origins and Meanings. Ian Fraser, Author, Australia Bird…
Can you speak fish?

September 4, 2026 · 26 min

Someone get a translator app because the fish are ready to speak. FEATURING: Lauren Hawkins - Centre for Marine Science and Technology at Curtin University.Dr Aaron Rice - Research Scientist at Cornell University. FEATURED SOUNDS…
Hitchhikers guide to ecology

August 28, 2026 · 26 min

Grabbing a lift can go from bad to worse when your uber drops you outside your evolutionary niche. FEATURING: Dr Matt Greenlees - Sydney University.Arthur White - NSW frog and tadpole study group.David Chapple - Monash University.Dr…
G.O.A.T AUSTRALIAN WILDFLOWER

August 21, 2026 · 55 min

Does Australia have a BEST wildflower? Hang on... what even is a flower? Dr Ann Jones and Belinda Smith count down the top 10 best wildflowers as voted by YOU in a special live show, The Hour of Flower. FEATURING: Tim Entwisle – Author…
Flowers are disgusting, filthy, badasses

August 14, 2026 · 26 min

Quackery and Catfishing. Fake news doesn’t only happen on the human internet. Welcome to nature’s dark web. We didn’t TRY to make a spooky and disturbing episode... we just wanted to talk about plants with DUCK in the title. But oh boy…