Hello, friends, this is Against Everyone with Connor Habib. This is the second episode in a series of episodes about how science intersects with our lives in surprising ways.

I say intersects because these are not scientific episodes per se, but they aren't scientific either. Instead, they're about what science can bring into our lives.

That could include philosophical questions, connections with others, inner states of peace, and even productive dread.

There's a bit of that on this episode. Across this series, we'll be considering the development of the concept of nature, reflections on our own

animalistic violence, the truth and complications of the scientific method itself, and the ways

in which we connect at the tiniest layers of existence. I started this last episode, episode 260,

with Mariline Van Himstra, who wrote a great book called In Light Years,

There's No Hurry, which is all about how cosmic perspectives, seeing the big picture of the

universe itself, and seeing space differently, can help us meet the challenges of our time.

This is a very different episode. It's about animal tax. This episode is

very exciting and interesting for me on many levels, not the least of which is that it's with

Wes Larson. Wes is a wildlife biologist and he is also the co-host of one of the only podcasts I listen to on a

regular basis, the tooth and claw podcast, which he hosts with his brother, Jeff Larson,

and also Mike Smith.

Every week of that show is just like a different horror story where they tell a true story

about animals attacking people and also how to deal with an attack if it seems

imminent for you, how to avoid them, and they share a bit about the animals too. And it's also

very funny, as crazy as it sounds. And somehow, at the same time, generally manages to be

pretty respectful of all parties involved, human and the other animals on

the show. I've been a Patreon, patron, and a long-time listener of Tooth and Claw. So I reached out

to them just out of sheer excitement of talking to someone who hosts a podcast I love. And it's funny,

when Wes was on, I got kind of nervous.

...