
Free Daily Podcast Summary
by Framed by Fables Team
What we think we know about animals often comes from the stories we tell. But are wolves really big and bad? Are owls really wise? Framed by Fables puts animal myths, stereotypes, and pop-culture portrayals to the test with real science. Hosted by comedian Helen Hong, each episode features a special guest and a renowned animal expert, who unpack what’s true and what’s fiction. Every misunderstood animal gets a redemption arc. And every episode ends with a twist you won’t see coming.
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
Send us Fan Mail What do Bugs Bunny, the Easter Bunny, Playboy, the Tortoise and the Hare, and pregnancy tests have in common? More than you might think. Helen Hong goes down the rabbit hole with Candace Frazee and Steve Lubanski, founders of The Bunny Museum, and wildlife biologist Miguel Ordeñana to explore the surprisingly strange world of rabbits. We get into the stories, characters, traditions and cultural associations that made rabbits such a familiar part of our lives, while also diggi...
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...
Send us Fan Mail From the biblical serpent who supposedly got us kicked out of Eden to Hollywood’s endless snake pits and slithering sidekicks, snakes have carried the “evil” label longer than any other animal. In this episode of Framed by Fables, we dig into how that reputation took hold and what real snakes are actually like. Comedian Helen Hong and Zoologist Dr. Jo Wimpenny are joined by Hollywood Snake Wrangler Jules Sylvester, the man behind the serpents in Indiana Jones, Snakes on a Pla...
Send us Fan Mail Why do pigs get stuck with all the worst labels? From idioms like “greedy pig,” “filthy pig,” and “pigging out” to the political satire of Animal Farm, pigs have been cast as gluttons, mess-makers, for centuries. In our first full episode of Framed by Fables, we dig into how these ideas took hold and what real pigs are actually like. Comedian Helen Hong and Zoologist Dr. Jo Wimpenny are joined by Eric Bauza, the Emmy‑winning voice actor behind Looney Tunes’ Porky Pig, D...
What we think we know about animals often comes from the stories we tell. But are wolves really big and bad? Are owls really wise? Framed by Fables puts animal myths, stereotypes, and pop-culture portrayals to the test with real science. Hosted by comedian Helen Hong, each episode features a special guest and a renowned animal expert, who unpack what’s true and what’s fiction. Every misunderstood animal gets a redemption arc. And every episode ends with a twist you won’t see coming.
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Get key takeaways from FRAMED BY FABLES in a 5-minute read.
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of FRAMED BY FABLES as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Framed by Fables Team.
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
FRAMED BY FABLES publishes biweekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
FRAMED BY FABLES covers topics including Comedy, Science, Culture, Society & Culture, Life Sciences. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.