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 reveal the surprising truth about animal behavior, debunk common misconceptions, and explore what science really tells us about the creatures we think we know.
From misunderstood wildlife to unexpected animal facts, every episode challenges what you thought you knew. And every episode ends with a twist you won't see coming.
Spiders: The Creepy, the Crazy & the Completely True
Send us Fan Mail Why can a tiny spider send an otherwise fearless person into a full-blown panic? Little Miss Muffet was driven away by a spider. But Peter Parker got his Spiderman superpowers from one. Somewhere between the nursery rhyme and Marvel Comics, spiders became both creatures to fear and creatures to envy. From intricate spider webs and extraordinary hunting techniques to venom and sensory systems that help spiders navigate their world, these arachnids are f...
29 Sept 2026
What We’ve Gotten Right and Wrong About Bunnies
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 Lubansky, 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...
15 Sept 2026
Who's the ass: us or donkeys? (w/ Bill & Ted's Alex Winter)
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...
1 Sept 2026
Wile E. vs. real coyotes: What's the science? (w/Looney Tunes Eric Bauza)
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...
18 Aug 2026
Owls: Whooo said we're wise? (w/ Criminal Minds Kirsten Vangsness)
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 ...
4 Aug 2026
Are birds and bees the right "sex talk" mascots? (w/ Dr. Cara Natterson)
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...
21 Jul 2026
The Wolf : Fact Or Fang Fiction? (w/ Teen Wolf's Melissa Ponzio)
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...
7 Jul 2026
Snakes Tired Of Being Typecast (w/ Hollywood Snake Wrangler Jules Sylvester)
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...
23 Jun 2026
How Did Pigs Get Screwed? w/Eric Bauza (voice of Porky Pig)
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...
20 Jun 2026
Framed by Fables: Trailer — The Animals Fairy Tales Got Wrong
Send us Fan Mail FIRST EPISODE DROPS JUNE 23 -- How Pigs Got Screwed Fairy tales have been lying about animals for centuries and we’re finally calling them out. Framed by Fables is a comedy‑meets‑zoology podcast hosted by comedian Helen Hong and zoologist Dr. Jo Wimpenny, joined each episode by a special guest. This short promo gives you a feel for the show’s playful tone and the humor at the heart of every episode. No previews, no spoilers just a taste of t...
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
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