meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

Snakes vs Octopi (featuring Dr. Matt Giorgianni)

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

iHeartPodcasts

Natural Sciences, Physics, Science, Astronomy

4.72.8K Ratings

🗓️ 7 April 2026

⏱️ 69 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

If a rattlesake bit an octopus, would its venom have any effect? Daniel and Kelly bring venom expert Dr. Matt Giorgianni on to the show to answer this listener question, and to talk about the evolution of snake venom.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is an I-Heart podcast.

0:02.9

Guaranteed human.

0:04.9

No gloss, no filter.

0:07.9

Just stories.

0:09.6

Spoken without fear.

0:11.4

A person who is not generous can not be an artist.

0:14.2

The world will be at peace only when it is ruled by poets and philosophers.

0:18.9

Listen to my weekly podcast, the Pooja Abhaw on the IHeart Radio app,

0:23.3

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

0:28.0

Come for the honesty.

0:29.7

Stay for the fire.

0:44.1

How? How does an animal end up with something like venom?

0:48.7

I mean, I can see how it would be great to have something like venom to kill your prey.

0:56.0

But could the evolutionary process through which venom is developed be dangerous to you as well?

1:01.8

Like, I'm notoriously clumsy, but I can't be the only one out there who's bitten their cheeks or their lips while they're eating. What if a snake accidentally bit itself? How do you

1:08.0

keep from hurting yourself with your own venom? Or did something like personal anti-venom to your own venom evolve at the same time?

1:16.6

And what evolves first?

1:18.6

The venom or the fangs needed to deliver the venom?

1:21.6

The evolution of snake venom is endlessly fascinating and is associated with all sorts of misconceptions.

1:29.1

And we got super excited about this question after a listener asked us a particularly fun inquiry,

1:35.1

which was this, if a rattlesnake bit an octopus, would its venom have any effect?

1:41.8

So, on today's show, we bring on Ven venom expert, Dr. Matt Georgiani, who exhibits the

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from iHeartPodcasts, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of iHeartPodcasts and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.