Podcast: Love, Lust, and Lunch: Valentine’s Day in the Animal Kingdom

Forget roses and chocolate. In the animal kingdom, love looks more like sand art, strategic cannibalism, and the occasional detached body part.

In this Valentine’s Day mini-episode, Dr. Stephanie Clark and Jordan Tyler explore the animal kingdom’s most outrageous mating rituals, surprising love stories, and a few lessons humans might want to take notes on.

From the San Antonio Zoo’s hilariously cathartic “Cry Me a Cockroach” fundraiser to the parasitic clinginess of anglerfish and the detachable reproductive strategy of the Argonaut octopus, this episode leans into the weird, the wonderful, and the wildly unhinged side of nature. But it’s not all chaos! Listeners will also meet devoted prairie voles who mate for life, white-spotted puffers who craft intricate underwater love nests, and Gentoo penguins who woo their partners with stones and unwavering commitment.

Equal parts comedy and curiosity, this episode is a lesson in love, and a reminder that your pet might just be your most loyal Valentine of all.

What You’ll Learn 🔍

• How zoos are turning heartbreak into conservation fundraising with cockroach-naming campaigns
• The shockingly extreme mating behaviors of anglerfish, octopuses, and praying mantises
• Why some species, like prairie voles and Gentoo penguins, model long-term devotion and shared parenting
• The creative courtship rituals of white-spotted puffer fish—and what they signal to potential mates
• Why animal relationships prove that love doesn’t always look the way we expect

Whether you’re celebrating romance, independence, or simply the unconditional love of your dog, this episode delivers laughs, wild biology, and a sweet musical tribute you won’t want to miss. Tune in and tell us which animal best represents your dating history.

🎧 Find Barking Mad on the BSM Partners website, as well as on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and Podlink.

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About the Author

Jordan Tyler is the Director of Media at BSM Partners and co-host of the Barking Mad podcast. She has more than seven years of experience reporting on trends, best practices and developments in the North American pet nutrition industry. Jordan resides in Bentonville, Arkansas, with her husband and their three furry family members.