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A collected list of cat podcasts about the Lion.
These podcasts are available to listen to on multiple websites/platforms/apps, and some also have transcripts available to read; links and info are provided to help find them wherever you choose to listen.
Lion (Panthera leo) Podcasts
S1 Ep182 Bull Shark Attack – Triathlon Chuck and the Big Bull Shark
Tells the story of the bull shark attack on Chuck Anderson. Toward the end of the episode very briefly talks about Barbary Lions as a subspecies of Lion. Mentions also Cougars, Eastern Cougars, and Florida Panthers.
(S4 Ep19) Cheetah: The Purring Polka-Dotted Predator
Talks with Katie Wicks, Lead Wildlife Care Specialist at the Safari Park Cheetah Conservation Center. Cheetahs are the fastest land animal (up to 70 mph) and built for speed: claws act like cleats, heart and lungs are enlarged. They hunt during daylight, distance vision is very good, long tail acts as counterbalance for zig-zagging, may form coalitions, can chirp and purr. Lions are apex predators; Cheetahs are predators. Cheetah have polka dots; Leopard have open circles; Jaguar have semicircles with rosette inside. Big cats include Lion, Tiger, Leopard; they can roar. Small cats include Domestic Cat, Black-Footed Cat, Cheetah, Cougar; they can purr.
Episode 450: Geckos and the Snow Leopard
Begins with information about Crested Geckos and Delcourt’s Giant Gecko. Then gives information about: Snow Leopards. Talks about habitat and range, coloration and fur, prey, cubs, & fossils. As a big cat (has round pupils), the Snow Leopard is most closely related to the Tiger. And Snow Leopards can purr but not roar. While discussing the term “big cat”, also mentions Lion, Leopard, Jaguar, Cheetah, Cougar, & Domestic Cat.
Erethizonology (PORCUPINES) with Tim Bean
Dr. Tim Bean shares all about porcupines. Mentions that Cougars will eat porcupines, with mom teaching her kittens to flip them upside down to attack the unprotected stomach. Bobcats also sometimes eat them. An Ocelot was documented predating a porcupine. Lions and Leopards can also eat them.
Momiology (MUMMIFICATION) Part 2 with Salima Ikram & Kara Cooney
Almia Ikram (professor of Egyptology archaeology at the American University in Cairo) and Kara Cooney (professor of Egyptian art and architecture at UCLA) share a lot of information about mummification. One subject is about the many kinds of animals that were mummified. Temples had kitten (Domestic Cat) farms. Lions were bred, and mummified. Leopards were also mummified.
(S3 Ep12) World Lion Day
Many Lion facts are discussed including: social structure, why they were called “king of the jungle”, where we see them in human culture, hunting behavior, and threats and conservation.
CATS with Mikel Delgado
Dr. Mikel Delgado (PhD animal behavior) shares all about Domestic Cats: social behavior, territory, behavior, socialization, comfortable temperature, littler boxes, how to play with cats, kneading, catnip, boxes, purrs & meows. Mentions: Tigers knead; Lions, Leopards, Jaguars, Tigers, & Snow Leopards make a purr-like sound; Bobcats, Cheetahs, Eurasian Lynx, Cougars, & Wildcats purr; Tigers & Lions in sanctuaries like boxes.
Episode 382: Smilodon, the Sabertoothed Cat
Smilodon is the genus, and we think there were at least three species of saber-tooth cats. A lot has been learned from remains in the La Brea tar pits in California. Describes how saber teeth functioned. Smilodon may have hunted in groups like Lions; and it had a short tail like a Bobcat. Tigers can’t purr and Wildcats can’t roar; why we’re not sure what sound the Smilodon made.
(S3 Ep2) Leadership of the Matriarch
Kristi Burtis is vice president of wildlife care at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and talks about several animal species where the females are in charge. Lions are mentioned as one where the females make many of the decisions.
Smologies #38: CARNIVORES with Rae Wynn-Grant
Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant shares all about carnivores (like bears). Mentions: Lions & Tigers as obligate carnivores, Cougars stashing prey, & studying Lions when they’re not hungry. She shares about studying Cougars in California going to the beach for prey. Mentions Domestic Cats and wild cats can’t taste sweet.
Episode 367: The Marozi
Lions, Leopards, and Cheetahs all live in Kenya, Africa. There are also reports of another big cat called the “marozi”. Could the marozi actually be one of these other cat species? Mentions that the Cheetah is most closely related to the Cougar.
S1 Ep91 Moto Lions
Discusses the history of motorcycle racing, and how eventually they started including Lions riding in sidecars, as they raced around the Wall of Death. In 1931 Monarch the Lion enjoyed riding with Fearless Egbert. In England, George Tornado Smith and his Lion named Briton raced until WWII when he became poor, couldn’t afford to feed him and put him down. Joseph Dobish had a Lion named Tuffy, who escaped and attached Thomas in New Jersey.
S1 Ep88 A Hawk Drops a Snake on a Woman – News Stories Including a Polar Bear Attack, a Brave Cow Herder, and a Shark Attack at Rockaway Beach
Discusses several animal attacks including: snake and hawk, polar bear, otter, rhinoceros, beaver, shark, & grizzly bear. Also a story from Kenya about a Lioness attacking a cow and the teen boy herder who tried to rescue the cow. And mentions the possibly oldest Lion in the wild being killed, along with other Lions. Also a story from Brazil about a Jaguar mauling a rancher until it bit his cellphone causing it to explode and scare it away. Also discusses Cougars killing wolves.
(S2 Ep8) Connecting Communities and Wildlife for a Conservation Win
Tomas Pickering, a researcher at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance talks about conservation in Kenya. The community-based woman’s organization Chui Mamas (“Leopard Mothers”) work for coexistence with carnivores. They do this by improving grasslands, which helps prey species of Leopards and Lions, and leads to less predation on livestock.
Interview 13: Saving the Majestic Lion with Peter Lindsey
Director of the Lion Recovery Fund (Wildlife Conservation Network) Peter Lindsey, talks about Lions. Discusses the threats (direct threats, threats to prey, loss of habitat). Discusses canned lion hunts. Shares about the Lion Recovery Fund and projects they fund.
Episode 278 – Tiger: Specter of the Sundarbans
A lot of information about Tiger, including: taxonomy, physical description, compares bite strength to Lion, distribution, prey, vocalizations, & hunting behavior. Discusses tigers killing humans.
Ep 33 A Big Future: Howard Baskin, Big Cat Rescue
Howard Baskin of Big Cat Rescue talks about their work to: provide home for the cats given to them, end the abuse of captive cats, & to help wild cat conservation. They were advocates for the Big Cat Public Safety Act that passed into US law December 2022. Now they’re planning to move their remaining cats to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas. Talks about conservation projects they’ve been involved with. Mentions: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Cougar, Jaguar, & Bobcat.
(S2 Ep2) Maneless and Prideless: Kenya’s Solitary Lions
Ewaso Lions founder/executive director Shivani Bhalla and research manager Toby Otieno, talk about the many threats to Lions in Kenya. Their community-based Warrior Watch program tracks Lions to keep livestock safely away. The Mama Simba program does habitat recovery work. They discuss why Lions there don’t have manes or live in prides.
Why Do Cats Purr? (ENCORE)
Gary Weitzman (former veterinarian) says Domestic Cats mostly only vocalize to people, not each other. They might purr when happy/content/scared/nervous/anxious/tried. Karen McComb (professor) studied cat purrs. Purring happens with expansion and contraction of muscles within the voice box (larynx) as they breathe. Cats can change the pitch of their purr. Robert Eklund (professor who runs purring.org) studied Cheetah purrs. Tigers, Lions, Jaguars, & Leopards roar but can’t purr. Other cat species purr but can’t roar. Not sure about Snow Leopards. There’s still a lot we don’t know about cat purrs.
Ep 31 When We Become Prey: Professor Adam Hart, University of Gloucestershire
Professor Adam Hart of University of Gloucestershire talks about predation on people by wild cats. Tigers that are injured or young males, are known to attack. Leopards are known for liking dogs, which can put them in areas with children. Lions seem to recognize drunk people as easy targets. A benefit: Cougars eat deer, decreasing the deer that run onto the road and thus saving people from traffic accidents.
S1 Ep66 Grizzly Bear Attack – Two Wrestlers vs. One Grizzly, a Python Eats a Woman, and a Bear in Japan Attacks a Rock Climber
Discusses several animal attacks, including: grizzly bear, Asiatic bear, bees, snake, crocodile, coyote, & turkeys. Mentions the story of a Lion in India grabbing a 3-year-old. And another guy also killed by a Lion in India. Also a story from Idaho of a hunter encountering a Cougar. And the three hosts list their 10 favorite cats.
Ep 28 Fighting Wildlife Crime: Ofir Drori, EAGLE Network
Ofir Drori tells the story of how seeing the wildlife crime and corruption in Cameroon caused him to form EAGLE Network (now in nine countries). They fight crime/corruption on all levels from the investigation to the prosecution. Many traffic organizations have a foot in both Africa and Asia and they fight both. Lion & Leopard parts are some of the trafficked animals.
(S1 Ep5) Kids Ask Some of the Most Difficult Questions, But Can Tiger Experts Answer Them?
Dr. Dale Miquelle (from Wildlife Conservation Society) talks about Tiger teeth, how they roar, & where they live. Debbie Martyr (from Fauna & Flora International) talks about what Tigers eat, their stripes, & what they are afraid of. Sashank Sharma (from Zoological Society of London Nepal) talks about the speed of Tigers (compares to Cheetah, Lion, Jaguar, Leopard), why they hunt, & the oldest Tigers.
Episode 286: Chimerism, Mosaicism, and Venus the Cat
Venus the Domestic Cat has unique coloring: mostly tortoiseshell, but her face is black on one half with a green eye and orange tabby on the other half with a blue eye. Possibly there are genetically several reasons for her coloration: heterochromia, piebaldism, chimerism, & mosaicism. Ranger the Lion in Scotland’s Glasgow Zoo exhibited mosaicism.
(S1 Ep34) Cheetah: The Spotted Sprinter
Describes how the design of the Cheetah makes it fast, the sounds it makes, the coat pattern of King Cheetahs, and their problems with Lions and Leopards. Also talks about their conservation status and threats. San Diego Zoo Safari Park wildlife training supervisor Janet Rose Hinostroza talks about using therapy dogs for some Cheetahs, and how ambassador Cheetahs are helping wild Cheetahs.
Ep 22 Backyard Big Cats: Devan Schowe, Born Free USA
Devan Schowe of Born Free USA talks about the proposed Big Cat Public Safety Act. This bill would restrict possession of Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Jaguars, Cheetahs, Cougars, & hybrids of any of them. It would help reduce abuse and exhibition of these cats. Current private owners would have to register their cats.
S1 Ep51 – Mother’s Day Special – Animals that Saved the Day
Hosts are joined by Wes & Jeff’s mom. Discusses several animals that appear to act altruistically: whale, seals, pig, horse, gorillas, and parrot. Also a story about Lions from 2005 in Ethiopia: a girl was kidnapped and then beat daily, and Lions chased off the kidnappers and stayed with her six hours until rescuers arrived, and then left her.
S1 Ep47 Animal Attack News Roundup – Hank the Tank, The Ukraine Zoo Extraction Project, and More
Discusses several animal encounters, including black bears braking into houses, shark attack, viper bite, & smuggling reptiles. Also a story about rescuing animals including a Lion, from a zoo in Ukraine during the Russian invasion; people from the UK picked up the Lion and drove it out of the country to a sanctuary. Also mentions a Tiger mauling a guy in Florida.
Why Do Cats Purr?
Gary Weitzman (former veterinarian) says Domestic Cats mostly only vocalize to people, not each other. They might purr when happy/content/scared/nervous/anxious/tried. Karen McComb (professor) studied cat purrs. Purring happens with expansion and contraction of muscles within the voice box (larynx) as they breathe. Cats can change the pitch of their purr. Robert Eklund (professor who runs purring.org) studied Cheetah purrs. Tigers, Lions, Jaguars, & Leopards roar but can’t purr. Other cat species purr but can’t roar. Not sure about Snow Leopards. There’s still a lot we don’t know about cat purrs.
(S1 Ep1) Are We Making Tigers and Their Prey Sick?
Dr. Matthew Linkie (Deputy Country Director for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Indonesia Program) talks about the threat of African swine fever to Tigers. Tim Redford (Freeland Foundation’s Surviving Together Program Director) talks about the threat of lumpy skin disease to Tigers. Dr. Marton Gilbert (Cornell University) talks about canine distemper virus (originally showing up in captive Tigers, Lions, & other big cat species). It spread fast through wild Lions, because of how social they are.
Carnivore Ecology (LIONS, TIGERS, & BEARS) with Rae Wynn-Grant
Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant shares all about carnivores (like bears). Mentions: Lions & Tigers as obligate carnivores, Cougars stashing prey, studying Lions when they’re not hungry, why Lions attack, & active hours of Lions. She shares about studying Cougars in California going to the beach for prey. Gives tips for avoiding Cougar attacks. Mentions Domestic Cats and wild cats can’t taste sweet.
Smologies #7: CATS with Mikel Delgado
Dr. Mikel Delgado (PhD animal behavior) shares all about Domestic Cats: social behavior, territory, behavior, socialization, comfortable temperature, littler boxes, how to play with cats, kneading, catnip, boxes, purrs & meows. Mentions: Tigers knead; Lions, Leopards, Jaguars, Tigers, & Snow Leopards make a purr-like sound; Bobcats, Cheetahs, Eurasian Lynx, Cougars, & Wildcats purr; Tigers & Lions in sanctuaries like boxes.
Ep 15 The Orphaned Cubs of Welgevonden: Carmen Warmenhove, Welgevonden Game Reserve
Begins with some Cheetah facts, including their low genetic diversity. Carmen Warmenhove, the research coordinator at Welgevonden Game Reserve, tells the story of three orphaned Cheetah cubs that were found there. Talks about how Lions & Leopards sometimes kill Cheetahs.
Ep 14 The Barbary Lion: Dr Simon Black, University of Kent
The Barbary Lion (a once proposed subspecies) is extinct in the wild. Dr. Simon Black (University of Kent) discusses the possiblity that there are some in zoos and that they could be reintroduced into their historic range.
S1 Ep21 Mountain Lion and Crocodile Attack – Mother’s Day Special
Hosts are joined by Wes & Jeff’s mom. Gives statistics of Cougar attacks compared to Lion attacks. Tells a story that happened in British Columbia, Canada in 1996: Cindy and her kids went horseback riding, and a Cougar attacked her son. Cindy attacked the Cougar, who turns his attention on her, and she fights it for a hour. Tells a story of a crocodile attack, where the mom rescues her son from the crocodile.
Episode 146 – Black Footed Cat: A Prolific Predator
A lot of information about Black-Footed Cat, including: taxonomy, habitat, physical description, prey, & territory size. It’s listed as vulnerable, and talk about threats and conservation. Discusses their hunting success rate and compares it to Cheetah, Leopard, Lion, Tiger, & Domestic Cat.
S1 Ep1 Amur Tiger Attack – SF Zoo Chaos
At the San Francisco Zoo on December 25, 2007, 4-year-old Amur Tiger (Tatiana) attacked 3 guys. (In 2006 she’d mauled a keeper: she was too close and she’d pulled her arm through during feeding time.) Discusses the details of the three male visitors harassing her, her jumping out of her enclosure and attacking them, and what happened after. Mentions Leopards are good climbers; a Leopard got out of a Utah zoo. Describes Tigers in the wild. Also mentions Lion size.
Episode 127 – Lion: The Sultan of the Savannah
A lot of information about Lions, including: taxonomy, physical description (mentions white lions), range, & prey. Discusses pride structure, and roaring.
S1 E2 Co-existing with Lions Featuring Antonia Lecki
Antonia Leckie is a conservation biologist who works in Kenya with Lion Landscapes. They collar Lions for tracking them in nearly real time, to monitor if they go to areas with people. If a Lion lingers in a community area, they go on foot to shoo it back to a safe area! She tells about a Leopard that likes to mark her territory on her hut.
Cat People
Tiger King (Netflix) is a popularly watched documentary on Joe Exotic. Rachel Nuwer (author/podcast host) goes to Big Cat Rescue and interviews Carol Baskin. Her sanctuary has 60 cats (Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Cougars, Serval, Bobcats, Caracals, hybrid cats, Ocelot, Jaguar, & Siberian Lynx), that were people’s pets. The Big Cat Public Safety Act is an attempt to reduce exotic cat pet ownership.
When 18 Tigers Were Let Loose in Zanesville, Ohio
On October 18, 2011 Terry Thompson released his 18 Tigers, 17 Lions, 3 Cougars, and some other animals; and then killed himself. This sad incident raised questions about the laws regarding private citizens owning exotic animals.
Scatology (POOP) with Rachel Santymire
Dr. Rachel. Santymire (research director at Lincoln Park Zoo) discusses what science learns from animal poop. She mentions Fishing Cat poop is very stinky. She mentions experimenting with glitter marking in Lions; and also the distemper vaccination campaign of dogs in Tanzania to help protect Lions. She calls cats “elusive poopers” because they bury their feces.
Can You Feel the Lies Tonight
Discusses the many inaccuracies of Disney’s The Lion King. Including: the true relationship between Lions and hyenas, pride structure, and coalitions.
The Secret to Cheetahs’ Super Speed
Anne Hilborn (researcher University of California-Riverside) discusses Cheetah speed. They can run up to 65mph; this speed is for catching prey. Their anatomical adaptations (flexible spine, legs extend far, big nostrils/lungs/heart for using oxygen) are built for speed. Because they’re built for speed, their strength is less. Lions have strength to take their kill; so Cheetahs with cubs must remain alert while feeding.
Felinology (CATS) with Mikel Delgado
Dr. Mikel Delgado (PhD animal behavior) shares all about Domestic Cats: social behavior, domestication, territory, neonatal kittens, cat videos, behavior, socialization, comfortable temperature, littler boxes, how to play with cats, toxoplasmosis, kneading, catnip, boxes, killing birds, purrs & meows. Mentions: Tigers knead; Lions, Leopards, Jaguars, Tigers, & Snow Leopards make a purr-like sound; Bobcats, Cheetahs, Eurasian Lynx, Cougars, & Wildcats purr; Tigers & Lions in sanctuaries like boxes.
Episode 36 – Jaguar: The Champion of Chomp
A lot of information about Jaguars, including: taxonomy, habitat, physical description (including black panthers), hunting & prey. Discusses how they are attracted to Calvin Klein’s Obsession cologne. Discusses the Jaguar’s bite strength compared to a Lion’s, Tiger’s, & Cheetah’s. Mentions El Jefe, the Jaguar in the USA.
Episode 83: Lions, Tigers, and Other Big Cats…of Mystery!
Begins with listing the big cats and talking about whether they can purr/roar: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Jaguar, and also Cheetah and Cougar. The Lion is discussed first, also describing the American Lion. Next the Tiger and mystery reports are discussed, including one that sounds like the Machairodus. Another mystery report was identified as Jaguar. One short mystery Cheetah report is mentioned. Talks about the Leopard; discusses the possibility whether one mystery report might actually be African Golden Cat.
Episode 34: Saber-Toothed Animals
Smilodon (who probably lived like Lions) was probably descended from Megantereon (who probably behaved like Leopards). The American Cheetah (who may have been more closely related to a Cougar than a Cheetah) and American Lion (who was closely related to Lions) lived at the same time as Smilodon. Then some information about non cat animals with similar teeth: thylacosmilus atrox, kolponomos, gorgonopsid, and the sabertooth fish.
Patron Bonus Episode, May 1, 2017: Blue Tigers
Information about Tigers, including those colored: golden, white, black, and blue. Mentions Domestic Cat breeds (British Blue & Russian Blue) are also that same blue color; mentions blue Bobcat, Lynx, & Cheetah have been reported. Gives information about Lions, including those that are white. Describes coat variations in Cheetahs. And talks about a location where black Leopards are common.
References
Bieser, H. (2023). Lion, feline, Panthera image. Free for use [Photograph]. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/lion-feline-panthera-cat-predator-8225638/. Content License.
Freepik. Hand drawn flat podcast cover template [Vector]. Freepik. https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-flat-podcast-cover-template_27405550.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=15&uuid=bfb7257b-77b4-4aab-aedf-d3be7573d5c6
