Episodes

  • 25 - Buddy and Morris Frank: The Story Behind the First Guide Dog School in the United States
    Apr 22 2026

    Savanna and Debbie bring you the story of Morris Frank, Dorothy Eustis, and a German Shepherd named Buddy. When dog trainer and breeder Dorthy Eustis writes an enthusiastic article for The Saturday Evening Post about seeing guide dogs lead the blind in Germany, Morris Frank's life is changed. Morris subsequently became the handler to a very unique guide dog, Buddy, who would convince an entire nation that the place of guide dogs in society was a valuable one worth advocating for.


    Let's Chat!

    @creaturemeetsculture

    creaturemeetscultures@gmail.com


    Seeing Eye School:

    https://seeingeye.org

    Assistance Dogs International:

    https://assistancedogsinternational.org/


    Sources:

    https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2016/04/post-article-launched-seeing-eye-program/

    https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2010/12/06/through-buddys-eyes/

    https://seeingeye.org/the-seeing-eyes-early-beginnings-dorothy-harrison-eustis/

    https://www.igdf.org.uk/guide-dogs/history-of-guide-dogs/

    https://www.marybakereddylibrary.org/research/women-of-history-dorothy-harrison-eustis/

    I also read The First Lady of the Seeing Eye by Morris Frank and Blake Clark, and it's kind of ahrd to come by. I got it on thriftbooks and it's not available right now but check with your local library!

    https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/first-lady-of-the-seeing-eye/13599847/#edition=20871265&idiq=35802609





    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • 24 - The Great Emu War of 1932
    Apr 15 2026

    Haley tells Savanna and Debbie all about emus and they're pretty weird. But also so fascinating. There was an actual war declared and executed in Australia in 1932 and *spoiler* THE EMUS WON. It's wild and crazy and leads to a great conversation about practical (and actually helpful) solutions to human-wildlife conflict.


    Follow us on insta @creaturemeetsculture


    Sources:

    https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-great-emu-war-australia

    https://www.britannica.com/technology/military-technology

    https://romanianjournalofhistoricalstudies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/richard-j.-cook-src491an-m.-jovanovic487-the-emu-strikes-back_an-inquiry-into-australiae28099s-peculiar-military-action-of-1932.pdf

    https://panthera.org/


    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • 23 - Sonora Webster Carver and Her Diving Horses (Part 2 of 2)
    Apr 8 2026

    Haley and Debbie are back with part 2 of Sonora Webster Carver and her incredible diving horses. This story just keeps getting wilder. Come join us as we are in true awe of these animals and this woman.


    Buy Sonora's book here:

    https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Five-Brave-Horses/dp/1891396722


    Join our book club!!!

    https://fable.co/club/cmc-book-club-with-debbie-442046716793

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • 22 - Sonora Webster Carver and Her Diving Horses (Part 1 of 2)
    Apr 1 2026

    Haley and Debbie learn about the truly wild and astonishing world of horse diving. In the late 1800s, "Doc" Carver created a an act where a diver waited for a horse to gallop up a ramp to a dving board. The diver would then jump on the horse (bareback!) and together they would dive the full 40 feet into a pool below. Initally part of a Wild West show and then it's own incredible circus finale act, horse diving took audiences around the country by storm. And within that world lived Sonora Webster, a strong willed 19 year old who would go on to become the greatest diver the act had ever seen.


    Everything from this episode came from Sonora's autobiography, written with Elizabeth Land, titled A Girl and Her Five Brave Horses. If I can give you my own review of this book, I strongly recommend it. Her writing is incredible and the subject matter brings you in and doesn't let you go. Read it! You won't regret it!


    Let's Connect!:

    creaturemeetsculture.com

    instagram: @creaturemeetsculture

    reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CreatureMeetsCulture/?type=TEXT

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583610878197

    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • 21 - Sergeant Stubby: The Unbelievable True Story of WWI's Most Famous Dog
    Mar 25 2026

    We're in person, people! and we're ALL TOGETHER! Savanna brings us the story of Sargeant Subby, who was a mascot pup during WWI and an all around hero. You're not going to want to miss this story of a dog who not only brought people together, but rescues them, fought with them, and also makes it so we have another story that is not the most depressing thing you've heard all week!


    Savanna's source was this book. Go buy it and read it!

    Sergeant Stubby: How a Stray Dog and His Best Friend Helped Win World War I and Stole the Heart of a Nation by Ann Bausum

    https://www.amazon.com/Sergeant-Stubby-Friend-Helped-Nation/dp/1426213107

    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • 20 - The Origin Story of Winnie the Pooh - Winnie the Bear, Harry Colebourn, Christopher Robin and his dad
    Mar 18 2026

    Savanna and Debbie learn about the roots of the most beloved honey-loving bear there is. The name of Winnie the Pooh comes from a very real black bear. When veterinarian Harry Colebourn was on his way to Quebec to serve in WWI, he rescued a black bear cub he ran into at the train station. Colebourn's brigade welcomed the bear as a mascot. But when the troop was taken to the frontlines, Winnie was sent to London Zoo "on loan". The journey of a friendly, gentle, treat-loving bear would make it's way to a boy named Christopher Robin, and his father, A.A. Milne.


    Let's Connect!

    insta: @creaturemeetsculture


    Sources:

    Book by Colebourn's great granddaughter, winner of Caldecott Medal: Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick, illustrated by Sophie Blackall

    https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/09/14/winnies-great-war-lindsay-mattick


    Pretty much all photos, diary entries, and documentation on colebourn's story:

    https://therealwinnie.torontomu.ca/collection/colebourn

    more:

    https://www.history.com/articles/the-true-story-of-the-real-life-winnie-the-pooh

    https://wardiaries.ca/s/operationcanada/page/harry-colebourn-diaries-winnie-pooh










    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • 19 - Ethan Almighty: The Rescue Dog Who Changed Kentucky Law
    Mar 11 2026

    Hey everyone! It's Savanna's FIRST episode, and unsurprisingly, it's a dog rescue story. Debbie and Savanna talk about the story of Ethan, a dog left to die outside the Kentucky Humane Society. Rehabilitated and living with his forever family, Ethan isn't just a gentle giant. He influences radical change as a law in his name holds animal abusers accountable for their actions.


    Let's connect on instagram @creaturemeetsculture

    Email us at creaturemeetsculture@gmail.com


    Donate and read Ethan's story here:

    https://ethanalmighty.com/ethanalmightys-blessings

    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
  • 18 - Sgt. Reckless: Kim's Dream and America's War Horse
    Mar 4 2026

    Savanna and Debbie are tired but they showed up for this horse who showed up for so many during the Korean War. Originally named Achimhae (Flame of the Morning), Reckless was purchased from a young South Korean man desperate to buy his sister a necessary prosthetic leg as a result of a war-related injury. Flame was named Reckless and carried countless artillery shells through the battlefield to the Recoilless Rifle. A war hero and a forever legend, Reckless's story is one to remember.


    Let's be friends!

    instagram: @creaturemeetsculture


    Sources:

    Main source was this book:

    Hutton, Robin L. Sgt. Reckless: America's War Horse. Regnery History, 2014.


    Other sources:

    https://www.1stmardiv.marines.mil/Units/5TH-MARINE-REGT/History/SSgt-Reckless/


    https://www.usmcmuseum.com/uploads/6/0/3/6/60364049/sgt._reckless.pdf


    https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/15/sport/sergeant-reckless-warhorse-spt


    https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/a-short-history-of-the-korean-war


    https://www.loc.gov/collections/veterans-history-project-collection/serving-our-voices/korean-war/korean-war-not-forgotten/


    https://www.warhistoryonline.com/korean-war/sergeant-reckless-marine-horse.html

    Show More Show Less
    48 mins