Shenanigans from Weirdly Helpful

This week, we’re bringing you an episode from our friends at Weirdly Helpful, a podcast we love. And we’re talking about… shenanigans! High-spirited, mischievous activities, as defined by Miriam-Webster. As many of us are gearing up for a season of family gatherings, which are sometimes filled with long car trips, long travel delays, and long multicourse dinners, we thought we’d inject this time with some… FUN! Some pranks! Some shenanigans!First, Lulu wonders if animals engage in shenanigans: why do chimps tickle each other? Why do octopuses shoot bubbles across the water? Why do dolphins balance seaweed on their snouts for no reason? Are these shenanigans?Then, host Zak Rosen and artist Rebecca Garza-Bortman share the family shenanigans their listeners called in with, rating each one on a scale from “shenanigan” to “shenananananagan.” You’ll hear about a family that pretends to be squirrels at bedtime, a couple who dance every time the egg timer goes off, and a family that mispronounces words on purpose, forever. Who knows, you might just get some silly ideas to try out at home!Lulu was also on Weirdly Helpful! Listen to her episode here. Listen to Megan Stielstra’s episode about screaming at trains here!If you want to read more about animal shenanigans, read Animals at Play by Marc Bekoff.   HEY GROWN-UPS!Love the show? Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review on your podcast app—it helps curious listeners find us!Terrestrials is made possible in part by listeners like you. Support the show by joining The Explorers Club —and we’ll send you a special puzzle as a thank-you gift from our team!We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts about Terrestrials with us.Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for bite-sized essays, activities, and ways to connect with the show.Follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for behind-the-scenes extras and more.Listen to original music from Terrestrials on Spotify, Apple Music, or our music page.Got a badgering question for the team? Email us at terrestrials@wnyc.org or submit a voice memo with your name, age, and your question using this form! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.