Like a Dirty Rotten Whale

Like a Dirty Rotten Whale

From Outside/In by NHPR

April 22, 2026 · 39 min

About this episode

The episode explores various intriguing questions submitted by listeners, ranging from animal behavior to environmental concerns.

We’re cleaning out the proverbial fridge, but instead of old food, it’s fantastic and forgotten questions from the Outside/Inbox. Conversation topics include Taylor’s humiliatingly old headlamp, the olfactory experience of a dead whale and, of course, the answers to the following queries… Why do dogs like to roll in dead stuff? Do humans have a mating season? Why do so many deer collisions happen in November? When did headlamps start to have red light? I live next to a highway. What can I do about the noise pollution? In the final Lord of the Rings movie, there’s a crust that forms on top of the lava that the ring is thrown onto. Is that legit? Featuring Christopher Schell, Eric Nystrom, and Erica Walker. Thanks to our listeners who called in: Dusty, Kyle, Claire, Amanda, Gretchen, Zach, and Sabrina. We’re looking for new submissions to the Outside/Inbox! Send us those questions by recording yourself on a voice memo, and emailing that to us at outsidein@nhpr.org. Or you can call our hotline: 1-844-GO-OTTER. SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member of Outside/In. Follow Outside/In on Instagram and BlueSky, or join our…

People in this episode

Host: Nate Hegyi

Guests: Christopher Schell, Eric Nystrom, Erica Walker

Topics covered

  • dogs
  • mating season
  • deer collisions
  • headlamps
  • noise pollution
  • Lord of the Rings

Keywords

  • Outside/Inbox
  • listener questions
  • environment
  • science

Mentioned in this episode

Products: headlamp

Books & works: Lord of the Rings, Shhhh! It’s the sound and silence episode

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