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*This episode is published and ready to hear wherever you get podcasts. Let's talk about it!*

You want donkeys? We got donkeys. You beautiful babies submitted 59 PAGES OF QUESTIONS, and we lobbed as many as possible at the wonderful Dr. Faith Burden of the UK’s Donkey Sanctuary. The result is a sweet, chill, goofy conversation about your soon to be favorite equine.

The teeth. Those ears. The Celine Dion braying. Plus: milk baths, donkey kicks that will floor you, mule genetics, and what to expect if you want to add a donkey to your family. 

Did ya’ll listen? Let’s chat about it. 

-Your Father Alison Ann Podward

Ps: fun behind the scenes: I finished this episode late last night after getting up at 4am to give a talk in San Diego a few hours away from home. It’s been a particularly disturbing few weeks in the United States plus a bit of travel and I’m happy to be home for now and remind me to tell you about how much I love making rag rugs out of old socks. Also lmk if anyone has read that Heroes Die series. Ok burbye.

Files

Asinology (DONKEYS) with Dr. Faith Burden - alie ward

Tall ears. Huge teeth. Underestimated wit. And vocalizations that would make a songbird envious. Let's talk donkeys with researcher and Director at The Donkey Sanctuary, Asinologist Dr. Faith Burden. We cover pop culture donkeys, their road to domestication, how much they can carry, whether you shou

Comments

Allison Holloway

For Christmas, my family decided to do a book club; each of us recommended two books (one frivolous, one serious), and we get together (virtually, as we are all over the world) and discuss them!

Colby Evans

This episode made my day 1000% better! Very happy I didn't know it was sitting there waiting for me. Thank you!! Will be looking for Heroes Die at my LBS

Alie Ward

I love that idea! What are some books on the roster so far?

Alie Ward

Once you get past the first few excruciatingly violent scenes it gets much less violent (but still very fantasy action-hero vibes.) And it's from decades ago but it feels like it was written about modern day tech which is WILD

Allison Holloway

In the order of discussion for the year: 1. Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann 2. The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak 3. Rummage by Emily Cockayne 4. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn 5. The Humans by Matt Haig 6. Journey of Souls by Michael Newton 7. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles 8. Moral Tribes by Joshua Greene, Ologist (my recommendation 😎) 9. Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman 10. I Thought It Was Just Me by Brené Brown

Brain 🧠 Shenanigans

Can I ask a dumb question? (Better than anyone I know.) In the latter half of the episode you discussed how much weight a donkey vs mule vs horse can carry, and did I hear correctly that a horse can only carry a fraction of what a donkey can? So is load CARRYING capacity that much different from PULLING load capacity? I guess it would be bc different muscles and points of contact are involved (I hope you understand what I’m trying to say lol). Because I’m just thinking well horsepower is called horsepower for a reason lol. They didn’t have horses and oxen tilling fields and pulling wagons just out of nowhere! Haha

Jason E. Farabaugh

I cannot read this without thinking of Donkey from Shrek ... and then Dominic the Christmas donkey, hee-haw, hee-haw ... 🫏

Mads

So excited to listen to this. I grew up near the donkey sanctuary and used to drive past often!

Julia Reichelt

After listening to this episode I now must move out of the city and acquire land so that I can get a donkey!!! (Or rather two, as buddies ❤️)

Wraptile

"A donkey, a donkey my kingdom for a donkey" is a parody of Shakespeare's horse quote used in Worms Armageddon video game after which a giant donkey statue falls on to your enemies squishing them to bits. Not sure where I'm going with this but everyone loves donkeys!

Maria Andrus

The fact it's called Asinology has me cracking up! This was honestly one of my favorite episodes, second only to the Chicken 2-parter. Nothing touches my heart more than the sounds of a happy Donkey 💗🫏

Felipe Jimenez

I did like the episode, but not appreciate making fun of bible stories two weeks on a row (creationism last week and this week the talking donkey). You always pledge for respect of all, that should apply also for believers, no?

bebau

I think that was based on percentage of the animals weight. So even if a horse can only carry 15% of its weight, that’s more than 25 % of a donkey’s weight because the horse is bigger.

Rich Jester

I learned o much about donkeys, I felt like an ass.

Marc Rubin

What a great episode! Donkeys are such badass animals! The ologist saying that the hardest part of her job is saying goodbye (and the fact that Gremlin is 13) is further proof that ologies needs to do an episode on veterinary gerontology! How do you know when it's time to say goodbye? What does euthanasia entail? What's the process? How long does it take? How does it work? Is it painful for the animal? Can I feed my dog a bacon cheeseburger with fries and a milkshake beforehand? So.many.questions. for Dr Ashley Portmann of Home Together Vet! https://www.instagram.com/p/C3DakwKupvc/?igsh=MXhuYTYxOWd0MGYxZQ==

GhoulNextDoor

Loved loved loved it! Just listened and I really appreciate how much this episode delves into the social complexity and sentience that donkeys (and really most other non-human animals as well) contain! Them remembering individuals even outside of their own species is so cute 💗

GhoulNextDoor

I’m also so impressed by how strong they are! What a unit!

Staci Pinkowitz

I just need to share that you almost clocked my dogs breed!! His dad was a Bassett hound and his mom was a yorkie. He’s a dense 30 lbs of scruffy determination and built like a medicine ball

James Nance

I loved the aside on the donkey kicks versus squats study LOL

JENN 'Benthopelagic squirrel' ALVAREZ

I thought about getting a donkey as a pet but they live so long and I most likely don't have another 20-30 yrs . Whomp² but imma find one to pet. 🥰

Amy Miller

I gave my mum a donkey for her birthday once. REALLY hard to gift-wrap - we settled for a big ribbon around her belly in the end. (The donkey's belly, not Mum's belly). Mum named her Bertha and she was just lovely (both the donkey and the mum).

Katy

I binged all of Nathan For You not long ago, and noticed this is the SECOND recent episode that's had a little Nathan Fielder insert... It feels like being in on a secret when I know where the clips are from.