Episodes

  • Was Darwin perfect?
    Jun 30 2026

    We discover how a downcast Charles Darwin discovered a chunky rat, there is also a problematic fossil jigsaw, and the dinosaur that became a bird.

    Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie are joined by curator Emma Bernard with three specimens all relating to the word 'Awkward'. Emma also shares their 'perfect' specimen.

    Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What's the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious? Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word.

    You can book tickets to the Jurassic Oceans : Monsters of the Deep exhibition here 👉 https://qrco.de/bglhiU

    #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast #Perfect

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    Subscribe to our channel for the latest natural history content http://www.youtube.com/naturalhistorymuseum?sub_confirmation=1 The Natural History Museum in London is home to more than 80 million objects, including meteorites, dinosaur bones and a giant squid. Our channel brings the Museum to you, from what goes on behind the scenes to surprising science and stories from our scientists.

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    39 mins
  • Are homosexual black swans more successful at raising chicks?
    Jun 16 2026

    Happy Pride Month from The 'Perfect' Specimen where we're celebrating all things queer in the collection. Get ready for swan throuples, a dual-sex grackle and poetry about trans pheasants.

    This week Josh and Natalie are joined by curator Dr. Alex Bond with three specimens all relating to the word 'proud'. Alex also shares their 'perfect' specimen.

    Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What's the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious?

    Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word.

    #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast #Perfect 

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    YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon⁠ 

    Website: ⁠http://www.nhm.ac.uk⁠ 

    Instagram: ⁠http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum⁠ 

    TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm⁠ 

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    Browse our shop: ⁠https://www.nhmshop.co.uk/

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    38 mins
  • The whale that inspired a BTS song
    Jun 9 2026

    How did a whale inspire a BTS song, and why is it lonely? Is being an endling really the end?

    Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie are joined by curator Dr Marc Jones with three specimens all relating to the word 'Lonely'. Marc also shares their 'perfect' specimen.

    Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What's the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious?Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word.

    #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast #Perfect 

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    YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon⁠ 

    Website: ⁠http://www.nhm.ac.uk⁠ 

    Instagram: ⁠http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum⁠ 

    TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm⁠ 

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    Browse our shop: ⁠https://www.nhmshop.co.uk/⁠ 

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    48 mins
  • Finding this alive is like finding a plesiosaur in your bathtub
    Apr 28 2026
    What is the real Megalodon, what have flies ever done for us and what can't help spreading diseases, aside from toddlers? Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie are joined by curator Dr Katie Collins with three specimens all relating to the word 'Misunderstood'. Katie also shares their 'perfect' specimen. Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What's the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious? Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast #Perfect  ----------------   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon  Website: http://www.nhm.ac.uk  Instagram: http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm  Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social  X: https://x.com/nhm_london  Facebook: http://fb.com/naturalhistorymuseum  Browse our shop: https://www.nhmshop.co.uk/ 
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    45 mins
  • Are unicorns real and can trees walk?
    Apr 14 2026

    Unicorns, walking trees and a frog with a surprising link to Guinness beer!Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen. This week Josh and Natalie are joined by curator, Dr Jeff Streicher, with two specimens relating to the word 'Mythical'. Jeff also shares his 'perfect' specimen.Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What's the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious? Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word.

    #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast #Perfect 

    ----------------  

    YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon⁠ 

    Website: ⁠http://www.nhm.ac.uk⁠ 

    Instagram: ⁠http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum⁠ 

    TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm⁠ 

    Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social⁠ 

    X: ⁠https://x.com/nhm_london⁠ 

    Facebook: ⁠http://fb.com/naturalhistorymuseum⁠ 

    Browse our shop: ⁠https://www.nhmshop.co.uk/⁠ 

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    43 mins
  • This beetle can survive being run over by a car!
    Mar 31 2026

    Chainmail snails, uncrushable beetles and a secret space mission manned by moss piglets?

    Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie are joined by curatorial assistant, Talay Namintraporn, with three specimens all relating to the word 'tough'. Talay also shares their 'perfect' specimen.

    Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What's the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious?

    Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word.

    #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast #Perfect 
    ----------------  
    YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon⁠ 
    Website: ⁠http://www.nhm.ac.uk⁠ 
    Instagram: ⁠http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum⁠ 
    TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm⁠ 
    Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social⁠ 
    X: ⁠https://x.com/nhm_london⁠ 
    Facebook: ⁠http://fb.com/naturalhistorymuseum⁠ 
    Browse our shop: ⁠https://www.nhmshop.co.uk/⁠ 

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    32 mins
  • Natalie tells us why kangaroos are actually terrible mothers
    Mar 17 2026

    Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week's word is 'friendly'. Josh and special guest, Dr Gavin Broad bring along their parasitic pals. Meanwhile Natalie reveals why Kangaroos and quokkas are not as cute and cuddly as they might seem!Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What's the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious? Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast #Perfect

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    YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon⁠ 

    Website: ⁠http://www.nhm.ac.uk⁠ 

    Instagram: ⁠http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum⁠ 

    TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm⁠ 

    Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social⁠ 

    X: ⁠https://x.com/nhm_london⁠ 

    Facebook: ⁠http://fb.com/naturalhistorymuseum⁠ 

    Browse our shop: ⁠https://www.nhmshop.co.uk/⁠ 

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    36 mins
  • Josh quizzes us on the colours of nature
    Mar 3 2026

    Natalie finds a use for her collection of toy frogs and Josh very carefully takes a look inside a 200 year old book!

    Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'colourful'.

    Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What's the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious?

    Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word.

    #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast #Perfect

    ----------------

    YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon

    Website: ⁠http://www.nhm.ac.uk

    Instagram: ⁠http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum

    TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm

    Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social

    X: ⁠https://x.com/nhm_london

    Facebook: ⁠http://fb.com/naturalhistorymuseum

    Browse our shop: ⁠https://www.nhmshop.co.uk/

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    41 mins