Koalas: A Natural History and an Uncertain Future –
Dr. Danielle Clode
The Not Old Better Show, Inside Science Interview Series
Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Inside Science author interview series on radio and podcast. I’m Paul Vogelzang, and today’s episode is brought to you by POM Wonderful. Check out why POM Wonderful is called the science Antioxidant Superpower. We have a special program about koalas. Yes, that’s right, koalas. Koalas are cute and cuddly but with razor claws. Koalas are the million-dollar babies. They raise more funds than any other species in the world, but they are endangered, like so many animals today, and yet in some places on earth, they thrive…we’ll talk more about koalas and their amazing qualities and their many contradictions in a bit.
POM Wonderful logo. (PRNewsFoto/Roll Global)
Thank you so much for listening. We’ve got a great guest today in Dr. Danielle Clode, who, after reading her new book, Koala: ‘A Natural History and an Uncertain Future,’ I’ve been looking forward to speaking with her for a while and whom I’ll introduce in just a moment…But, quickly, if you missed any episodes, last week was our 692d episode, when I spoke to author Joe Hart about his new book ‘Take Command: Find Your Inner Strength, Build Enduring Relationships, and Live the Life You Want.‘ Two weeks ago, I spoke with Smithsonian Associate Rick Steves about his new book, Italy is for Food Lovers. Wonderful subjects for our Not Old Better Show audience…If you missed those shows, along with any others, you can go back and check them out with my entire back catalog of shows, all free for you, there on our website, NotOld-Better.com
The story of the koala has taken our guest today, Dr. Danielle Clode, all over the world, across continents and cultures, into the distant past, and through an incredibly wide range of knowledge systems: botany, ecology, Indigenous knowledge, evolution, paleontology, anatomy, conservation biology, history, toxicology, psychology, veterinary and nutritional science, and animal behavior.
Dr. Danielle Clode studied politics and psychology at University of Adelaide before completing her Ph.D. in Zoology as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. Dr. Clode worked as a zookeeper before completing her doctorate in zoology at Oxford University, studying seabirds and feral mink in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. We’ll hear today from Dr. Clode about koala’s habits, their history, changing habitats, and their joy in being themselves, sleeping, and eating.
That, of course, is our guest today, Dr. Danielle Clode reading from her new book, Koala: ‘A Natural History and an Uncertain Future,’ Please join me in welcoming to the Not Old Better Show, Inside Science interview series, Dr. Danielle Clode.
My thanks to POM Wonderful, called the science Antioxidant Superpower. for sponsoring today’s show. My thanks to Dr. Danielle Clode for her time, expertise, and willingness to read from her new book, Koala: ‘A Natural History and an Uncertain Future,’ Dr. Clode’s book is available on Apple Books. My thanks to the Smithsonian team for all they do to support the show. My thanks to you, my wonderful Not Old Better Show audience on radio and podcast…please be well and be safe, which I’m mentioning in every show because I want to bring attention to the issue of assault rifles, which aren’t safe, in anyone’s hands but the military and law enforcement. Assault rifles are killing our children and grandchildren in the very places they learn: schools! Please, let’s work together to eliminate assault rifles, and let’s do better. Let’s talk about Better…the Not Old Better Show on radio and podcast.