Songs of the Humpback Whale: How one record helped save the whales

Summary

Forever Ago® Episode Summary: "Songs of the Humpback Whale: How One Record Helped Save the Whales"

Release Date: December 18, 2024

Introduction: The Underwater Sandwich Venture

The episode kicks off with a whimsical conversation between Joy Dolo and her new employee, Mina, about Joy’s innovative submarine sandwich shop, "Hold the Mayo." Positioned underwater and uniquely banning mayonnaise, the shop serves as a creative backdrop to delve into the fascinating history of humpback whales and their unexpected role in marine conservation.

Meeting Hugh Humpback: A Whale with a Story

Shortly after introducing the submarine sandwich shop, Joy and Mina are visited by Hugh Humpback, a charismatic humpback whale who becomes the central figure in unraveling the episode's main narrative.

• Hugh Humpback [04:34]: "In my nearly 75 years in this big blue ocean, I've seen lots of things, including a set of laminated encyclopedias, which helped me learn to read."

Hugh's ability to communicate in English bridges the gap between humans and whales, setting the stage for an enlightening discussion on whale conservation.

The Plight of Humpback Whales: Historical Context

Hugh delves into the dire circumstances humpback whales faced due to relentless hunting:

• Hugh Humpback [05:37]: "But whale hunting is much less common these days. So humpback whales are doing much better. They're unlike any 80,000 of us now."

He explains how, by the 1950s, whaling had decimated whale populations, pushing species like the humpback to the brink of extinction.

Marie Fish and the Discovery of Ocean Sounds

A pivotal moment in whale conservation history is introduced through a video played by Hugh, featuring biologist Marie Fish:

• Marie Fish [08:19]: "The year was 1946... I recorded and cataloged everything from the sounds of seahorses to spotted goatfish. Overall, I was able to identify the sounds of 180 different kinds of fish."

Marie Fish's groundbreaking work in marine acoustics revealed the vibrant and noisy underwater world, challenging the previously held belief that oceans were largely silent.

Roger Payne and the Birth of Whale Music

The narrative shifts to Roger Payne, a biologist inspired by Marie Fish's recordings:

• Roger Payne [09:48]: "Roger wanted to help the dwindling population of whales listen in to what he told Science Friday's podcast, Undiscovered in 2018."

Roger Payne utilized hydrophones to capture the intricate songs of humpback whales, recognizing their potential to resonate with humans on an emotional level.

"Songs of the Humpback Whale": A Record That Changed History

Roger Payne's initiative culminated in the creation of the iconic record "Songs of the Humpback Whale," released in 1970. This album became a bestseller, selling over 125,000 copies and reaching over 10 million National Geographic subscribers.

• Hugh Humpback [06:19]: "Yes. Us humpback whales have been singing songs like that for the last, I don't know, 50 million years. So we've had a lot of time to practice."

The record played a crucial role in humanizing whales, fostering empathy, and sparking widespread support for their conservation.

• Hugh Humpback [22:27]: "In fact, it was so popular, a couple songs from the record were repackaged and mailed to over 10 million National Geographic magazine subscribers. And it really changed how people think about us whales."

Legislative Impact and Conservation Victory

The emotional connection forged through the whale songs led to significant legislative changes:

• Hugh Humpback [22:51]: "And not long after it came out, Congress passed regulations that began to stop or slow down whaling."

This shift in public perception and policy effectively curbed the practice of whaling, allowing humpback whale populations to recover.

Interactive Segment: "First Things First"

Joy and Mina engage listeners with a fun quiz segment, challenging them to chronologically order literary works featuring whales: Moby Dick (1851), 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas (1870), and Pinocchio (1883). Mina accurately places them in historical order, reinforcing the episode's theme of understanding history's impact on the present.

Conclusion: The Lasting Legacy of Whale Songs

In wrapping up, Joy and Mina summarize the transformative journey of humpback whales from near extinction to thriving populations, thanks largely to the influential "Songs of the Humpback Whale" record.

• Mina [23:40]: "And another scientist, Roger Payne, heard music in the sounds of humpback whales. Roger made a whole record of their music, and those sounds inspired millions to change their attitudes and help save the whales."

The episode concludes on a hopeful note, celebrating the success of conservation efforts inspired by the harmonious songs of humpback whales.

Notable Quotes

• Joy Dolo [00:26]: "It's also the first submarine shop housed in an actual submarine under the ocean."

• Hugh Humpback [05:37]: "But whale hunting is much less common these days. So humpback whales are doing much better."

• Marie Fish [08:19]: "Far from quiet, the ocean was alive with chatter."

• Roger Payne [21:32]: "Whales were singing songs."

• Hugh Humpback [22:51]: "Congress passed regulations that began to stop or slow down whaling."

Final Remarks

The episode masterfully intertwines a creative narrative with historical facts, making the complex subject of marine conservation accessible and engaging for the whole family. Through vivid storytelling and interactive elements, "Forever Ago®" not only educates but also inspires listeners to appreciate and protect the natural world.

Transcript

[Mina]

Joy, it's so nice of you to give me my first job as a sandwich maker, but why did you decide to set up your shop underwater?

[Joy Dolo]

Oh, hey, Mina. I'm so happy to have your help. I'm expecting huge crowds for the grand opening of hold the Mayo. Joy's Sub Sub Shop. It's a submarine sandwich shop that does not allow mayonnaise on anything. And it's the first of its kind.

[Mina]

Do you mean the first not to give its customers the option of the popular condiment mayonnaise?

[Joy Dolo]

Yes, but that's not all. It's also the first submarine shop housed in an actual submarine under the ocean.

[Mina]

Yeah, about that. Is there a lot of interest in underwater sandwiches without mayo? Right, underwater sandwiches without mayo. But won't the sandwiches get soggy and fall apart?

[Joy Dolo]

Listen to this, Mina. Okay, lean in. Scientists know more about the surface of the moon than they do about what lies on the ocean floor. There is so much untapp sandwich potential down here.

[Mina]

But Joy, how many passersby are really going to want a sandwich as soon.

[Joy Dolo]

As they find out about the strict no mayonnaise policy? Probably all of them. We just need a way to tell the locals how delicious our food is.

[Mina]

So you mean we need to talk to fish?

[Joy Dolo]

Exactly. If we can crack the code, we'll be swimming in money. Get it? Swimming underwater. I cracked myself up. But seriously, we're going to be so rich.

[Mina]

One problem. I don't think fish actually have money.

[Joy Dolo]

Oh. Minor details. You're listening to Forever Ago from APM Studios. I'm your host, Joy Dolo, and I'm here today with my co host and new submarine sandwich shop partner, Mina from Albany, California. Hey, Mina.

[Mina]

Hi, Joy.

[Joy Dolo]

Mina, what's your favorite sandwich?

[Mina]

Um, probably just a basic PB and J. Or a. I don't know, basic things.

[Joy Dolo]

Okay, so the PB and J. I mean, there's so many options that you can have with that. Like the pb. Is it crunchy? Is it smooth?

[Mina]

Um, smooth.

[Joy Dolo]

You like the smooth peanut butter?

[Mina]

Yeah.

[Joy Dolo]

Yeah. And is there a favorite kind of jelly that you have?

[Mina]

Not really any. Anything that's sweet?

[Joy Dolo]

Anything that's sweet. You know what? When I was younger, I grew up on that grape jelly. Like that Concord grape purple jelly, you know? Have you had that before?

[Mina]

Maybe? I've had a lot of grape jellies.

[Joy Dolo]

Lots of different kinds of jellies. I got you. Okay. Mina, have you ever. Have you ever worked in a sandwich shop before? Mina, are you sure you never accidentally put on an apron and got behind A counter and threw together some turkey and cheese on a little rye.

[Mina]

Oh, yeah. There was this one time. No.

[Joy Dolo]

All right, well, you know. Have you made a sandwich for someone before?

[Mina]

Yes, only like my brother, when he just wants food.

[Joy Dolo]

All right, so since you have so much experience not in a restaurant setting, what do you think will be a great menu item down here in the sub Sub shop?

[Mina]

A replacement for mayonnaise, considering that there's no mayo. Like ketchup?

[Joy Dolo]

Yes. Ketchup? Yes. Mustard?

[Mina]

Yes.

[Joy Dolo]

Maybe a nice taco sauce.

[Mina]

Maple syrup.

[Joy Dolo]

Nothing like a hot bologna and maple syrup sandwich. Would you eat that? We still got a lot of work to do. Speaking of, I wonder when we're gonna get our first customer.

[Mina]

Is that a whale?

[Joy Dolo]

Uh, yeah, and he looks hungry. Okay, dolo, focus. You can understand whale. You can understand whale. Welcome to hold the Mayo Sandwich shop. What can I get for you?

[Hugh Humpback]

Hello, Hugh Humpback here. I just wanted to swing by and welcome you to the neighborhood.

[Joy Dolo]

Whoa. I can understand whale. I mean, yes. Yes, of course I can. Whales are mammals. I'm a mammal. Of course, it's not too different, right?

[Mina]

Hi, Hugh. I'm Mina and this is Joy. Thanks for stopping by. Is it this easy to communicate with all undersea creatures?

[Hugh Humpback]

Does an octopus lose at hide and seek? Are shrimp allergic to shellfish? Are clownfish funny? No. No. And surprisingly, no. And you, my friends, do not speak whale. I speak English.

[Joy Dolo]

Gotcha.

[Mina]

Ah, makes sense.

[Hugh Humpback]

In my nearly 75 years in this big blue ocean, I've seen lots of things, including a set of laminated encyclopedias, which helped me learn to read. Then I spent a decade or so swimming next to cruise ships and eavesdropping on the humans conversations. I picked up the language pretty quick, actually.

[Joy Dolo]

Hugh, you look familiar to me. Did you pose for a line of T shirts back in the early 1990s?

[Hugh Humpback]

Let me think.

[Joy Dolo]

It was baby blue and it said save the whales on it.

[Mina]

Oh, I've seen that phrase all over the place.

[Joy Dolo]

Yeah, the shirt had a picture of a whale majestically jumping out of the water. It looked just like you.

[Hugh Humpback]

That was totally me. Those were my whale modeling days. Ah, what a trip.

[Mina]

So, Hugh, have people always been obsessed with whales?

[Hugh Humpback]

Yes, but not always in a good way. Whales used to be hunted. It's estimated that there were only a few thousand humpback whales left in the world at one point.

[Joy Dolo]

Whoa. Seriously?

[Hugh Humpback]

Seriously. But whale hunting is much less common these days. So humpback whales are doing much better. They're unlike any 80,000 of us now. Anyway, I.

[Joy Dolo]

What's with all the angelfish?

[Hugh Humpback]

Just some adoring fans. They want me to sing a little. Hold on. This will only take a sec.

[Mina]

That was beautiful.

[Joy Dolo]

Yeah. Your voice is amazing.

[Hugh Humpback]

Yeah. Us humpback whales have been singing songs like that for the last, I don't know, 50 million years. So we've had a lot of time to practice. Of course, you may recognize my voice from the record I was on in the 1970s. Songs of the Humpback Whale.

[Joy Dolo]

Hold the mayo. You were on a record?

[Mina]

Those flat pizza sized discs with little grooves on them that people use to listen to music?

[Hugh Humpback]

Yes. That record is one of the main reasons us whales have survived on this planet. After a human scientist named Roger Payne heard our voices, he tried to get as many people as possible to listen. And it was such a hit, it inspired humans to come up with phrases like save the whales and make new laws to protect us.

[Mina]

Okay, now I have to know everything.

[Hugh Humpback]

Done and done. I love to hear myself talk. Say, Joy, do you have WI fi on this sub? I want to connect my phone.

[Joy Dolo]

Of course. And you have a phone.

[Hugh Humpback]

There are so many doubt here. People drop them all the time. Trying to get my pick on whale watching tours. Now I have a little video I want to play. It's about Marie Fish.

[Mina]

A fish named Marie?

[Hugh Humpback]

Actually, she was a human like you. She was a real historical person, and her last name just happened to be Fish.

[Joy Dolo]

Oh, okay.

[Mina]

That makes much more sense.

[Hugh Humpback]

Marie let the world in on a secret. The oceans are full of sounds. And speaking of secrets, Joy, the WI fi password.

[Joy Dolo]

Oh, yeah, it's Lowercase M A Y0, underscore, capital H, the number 8, lowercase T, number 3, lowercase R. Sheesh, Joy.

[Mina]

You really don't like mayo.

[Hugh Humpback]

Okay, I'm connected. Check it out.

[Marie Fish]

The year was 1946. The skies were filled with commercial airplanes, and people dressed up in real fancy clothes to fly. Big band jazz ruled the radio. The US and its allies had just won World War II, a huge war where lots of battles were fought using submarines. Even though the war was over, the US Navy was still on high alert. They were on the lookout for enemy submarines. Enter biologist Marie fish.

[Roger Payne]

Hello. Yes. 1946 was when the Navy asked for my help to tell the difference between submarine sounds and sea creature sounds. Until then, most people didn't think there was much noise under the surface of the ocean at all. I used special underwater microphones called hydrophones to record the deep. And what I heard was astounding. Far from quiet, the ocean was alive with chatter. I recorded and cataloged everything from the sounds of seahorses to spotted goatfish. Overall, I was able to identify the sounds of 180 different kinds of fish.

[Hugh Humpback]

Splish, splash. I just got a notification that there's a new episode of Bright Brains on and it's all about whales.

[Joy Dolo]

Good timing.

[Mina]

Looks like their episode is all about whale communication.

[Hugh Humpback]

Glad I'm subscribed.

[Joy Dolo]

So, did biologist Marie Fish help record the album you were on?

[Hugh Humpback]

No, that didn't happen for another couple decades with the help of Roger Payne.

[Joy Dolo]

Oh, yeah, of course. Famous music producer Roger Payne. I've totally, totally heard of him before, actually.

[Hugh Humpback]

He was another biologist looking for a way to help whales.

[Joy Dolo]

Ah, yes, I. I meant Roger Payne, the famous biologist. Of course. Yes, of course.

[Mina]

Why did whales need help?

[Hugh Humpback]

Well, around the time Marie Fish was recording all those sea creatures with her underwater microphone, things weren't looking too good for us whales. As I mentioned, humans had been hunting whales for thousands of years. They called it whaling. Honestly, I don't even like saying that word.

[Mina]

Oh, I've heard about this. They would use whale fat or blubber to make oil. And oil was used in all sorts of things like soap and margarine.

[Joy Dolo]

And it was an especially big deal before natural gas and electricity were discovered in the 1800s. People also used the blubber oil to make candles and oil burning lamps.

[Hugh Humpback]

Yes. Like I said, not good. By the 1950s, whaling had become a huge business for countries like the United States, Japan, Norway and Iceland.

[Joy Dolo]

I'm guessing this is before the phrase save the whales became popular.

[Hugh Humpback]

That's right. Those were some dark days for us whales. Humans needed to see whales as more than oil making blubber machines before they would stop hunting us. Roger Payne knew this, and he knew humans were suckers for a great song.

[Joy Dolo]

Oh, who doesn't love a great song? I do. I love a good song. Song made me in the mountain whales. But before we get to that, let's take a break and play this is the game where we take three things from history and try to put them in order of which came first, second, and most recent in Time. Today we have three stories with whales in them. We've got Pinocchio, Moby Dick, and 20,000 Leagues under the Seas. Mina, have you read any of these stories?

[Mina]

Not many of them, but I know the main plot for some of them.

[Joy Dolo]

Yeah, yeah, that's cool. That's all right. I know Pinocchio. I know that one because of Disney. And then Moby Dick and 20,000 leagues under the Seas. I've never Read it, but I've heard of it before. Out of these three, which do you think came first, which came second, and which came most recently in history?

[Mina]

Well, I know they're all very old. Like.

[Joy Dolo]

Yes.

[Mina]

Because they seem old. Probably Moby Dick first, because it includes. I think it includes whale hunting, and that seemed a while ago.

[Joy Dolo]

Yeah, yeah.

[Mina]

Then probably 20,000 leagues under the Sea, because not that much logic behind it, but probably that is. Second, they're all really old. And most recently, Pinocchio, because it's a doll that comes to life, which seems sort of recent and stuff. Also, there's, like, lots of Disney productions or whatever about that, so that seems sort of recent. Ish.

[Joy Dolo]

Yeah, yeah, I totally. I'm on board with that. Pinocchio does seem the most recent because we got a wooden doll, and that just seems like something that's kind of modern in a way. And then, you know, whale hunting as being the first. That makes sense, too. Track it and 20,000 leagues. We don't know much about it, but we'll find out.

[Mina]

Yep.

[Joy Dolo]

We'll hear the answers at the end of the episode, right after the credits, so stick around. Mina, if you could communicate with any type of animal, which would you want to talk with?

[Mina]

Hmm. Probably cats. Or more specifically, my cats, Indigo and Olive. That seems like we could get a lot more comfortable with each other if there were. If we were able to communicate.

[Joy Dolo]

Ah, yes. All the cat people of the world, rejoice. Oh, that's great, listeners. We asked you the same thing, and here's what you had to say.

[Mina]

If I could talk to any animal, it would be a cheetah, because then I could ride the cheetah and be able to race the cheetah. Hi, my name is Fiona from Bar Harbor, Maine, and I think if I could talk to any animal, it would be a koala or a dog. If I could communicate with any animal, I would communicate with, like, a bird, because I can ask the bird, hey, do I need to ride on you? And the bird will be so. And then I'll ride on him. An animal that I would like to communicate is a fox, because they're just so beautiful. And also there is a song called what does the Fox say? And I just really want to know what they're saying because of that song. And also, they probably have some interesting story.

[Joy Dolo]

Thanks, Teddy, Fiona, Max, and Caroline for sending in your awesome animal ideas, listeners. If you have episode ideas or questions, send it to [e-mail] contact.

[Mina]

You can also send fan art.

[Joy Dolo]

Yes, like a Drawing of our underwater submarine sandwich shop or hold the mayo.

[Mina]

Keep listening.

[Joy Dolo]

Hey, friends, Molly Sandon and Mark here with some very big news. Drumroll, please. We're hitting the road in search of adventure, fresh air, and you.

[Marie Fish]

That's right. We're gonna be live at the Boulder Theater in Boulder, Colorado on Sunday, April 27.

[Joy Dolo]

Our science themed live stage show takes the audience on an adventure through the brain, complete with magic tricks, dance moves, out of body experiences, mystery sounds, and a game show.

[Hugh Humpback]

Molly, you almost left out the most important part.

[Marie Fish]

Yeah, Molly, don't forget the big party.

[Joy Dolo]

Oh, right after the shows, we're throwing a brain Tastic bash. Join us afterward for a VIP party where we'll play games, guess mystery sounds, pose for photos, and give as many high fives as humanly possible. Snag a spot by purchasing a VIP pass when you buy your show ticket. Oh, that reminds me, I've gotta start training. These hands aren't gonna high five by themselves.

[Marie Fish]

Good idea. And remember, spots are limited, so grab your tickets [e-mail] events.

[Roger Payne]

The Soul to Story podcast is about how teaching kids to read went wrong. But now we have a story about a school district where things are going very right.

[Mina]

Let me make sure my friends are.

[Joy Dolo]

Sitting crisscross applesauce, hands in their lap. I've never had a child that couldn't read.

[Roger Payne]

How did they do it?

[Joy Dolo]

When I tell some of my other colleagues that may be at other schools that this is what I do, and they would say, you kidding me?

[Roger Payne]

New episodes of Sold a Story are available now in your podcast app. Brains on Universe is a family of podcasts for kids and their adults. Since you're a fan of Forever Ago, we know you'll love the other shows in our universe. Come on, let's explore.

[Joy Dolo]

Forever Ago. I'm their biggest fan. I also love smashboom Best, a fun debate podcast for kids and families. Listen, I will play you smashboom Best. You will love.

[Hugh Humpback]

To refresh your memory. The ugly duckling goes like this. A bunch of duck eggs hatch and the cute little ducklings go quack, quack, quack. Mother duck is super happy with her eggs. When quack. The last one explodes and out comes this zorp.

[Joy Dolo]

Where did the signal go? Must find smash spoon Best.

[Hugh Humpback]

Now.

[Roger Payne]

Listen to smashboom Best. Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Joy Dolo]

You'Re listening to Forever Ago. I'm Joy.

[Mina]

And I'm Mina.

[Hugh Humpback]

Are we saying our names? Is that it? Okay, this is fun. I'm Hugh, the humpback whale.

[Mina]

We just heard all About Marie Fish. A biologist, not an actual fish.

[Joy Dolo]

Marie made underwater recordings that help people understand that sea creatures are far from quiet.

[Hugh Humpback]

She didn't record me, though, because I'm sure she would have remembered this. Here, let me play a clip from that video again. Roll the tape.

[Marie Fish]

The year was 1967. There were no mobile phones or laptop computers. A Little restaurant named McDonald's had just sold the first Big Mac hamburger. Rock and roll ruled the airwaves. And a curious scientist named Roger Payne wanted to make sure the Beatles weren't the only animals topping the charts.

[F]

I'm Roger Payne. I'm a biologist. I study whales and the oceans. And my specialty, really, I guess, is ocean acoustics.

[Marie Fish]

Acoustics, the study of sound. Roger wanted to help the dwindling population of whales listen in to what he told Science Friday's podcast, Undiscovered in 2018.

[F]

It was known at the time that whales make noises, lots of them. And I figured if I could find something that would interest people, capture their fancy, that maybe I would have a chance to have some sort of effect. People were killing about 33,000 baleen whales, the big ones a year, and that was causing just absolute disaster.

[Marie Fish]

Around the same time, a guy named Frank Watlington got in touch with Roger. Frank was monitoring ocean sounds for the US Navy. From time to time, while he was listening for enemy submarines, he recorded what he thought were whales. Frank invited Roger aboard his ship to have a listen.

[F]

He had made a spectacular tape he played for me in the engine room of his research vessel, and he took a tape out of his pocket and put it onto an old tape recorder that was in the corner. And as he did so, he shouted, saying, I think it's a humpback whale. The sounds that I heard were absolutely transforming. And I thought to myself immediately, at that point, if we could get humanity to hear these sounds, we could get them interested in whales.

[Hugh Humpback]

Oh, this is the part where Roger becomes obsessed with these sounds. He even rigged an alarm clock to play them when he woke up every morning.

[Mina]

Oh, I want a whale alarm.

[Hugh Humpback]

There's no snooze button on this whale.

[F]

And as I listened, I realized this thing is repeating itself. And when any animal repeats itself in a rhythmic way, it is said to be singing, whether it is a cricket or a frog or a bird. And it was perfectly clear that by any definition at all of what a song is, whales were singing songs.

[Hugh Humpback]

Roger put together a playlist of his favorite whale songs and released the record called Songs of the humpback whale in 1970. It was pretty much an instant hit. It was released on the same record label as the Beatles, and it sold over 125,000 copies. It's still the best selling nature sound recording of all time.

[Joy Dolo]

Wow.

[Hugh Humpback]

In fact, it was so popular, a couple songs from the record were repackaged and mailed to over 10 million National Geographic magazine subscribers. And it really changed how people think about us whales. Instead of thinking of whales as gigantic, unknowable sea creatures, the millions of people who heard our song could imagine us in a new way.

[Mina]

Yeah, Roger kind of humanized whales.

[Hugh Humpback]

People really connected with it on an emotional level. The record made a big splash. Pun intended. And not long after it came out, Congress passed regulations that began to stop or slow down whaling.

[Mina]

I guess you could say the tide was turning. Pun also intended.

[Joy Dolo]

Nice one. And all we had to do was listen to these gentle giants. Wow, Hugh, I'm so glad you swam by. We learned so much from you.

[Mina]

Yeah. Whales used to be hunted for their blubber, which people used to make soap and candles.

[Joy Dolo]

People hunted so many whales that by the 1960s, some whale populations were nearly extinct.

[Mina]

A biologist named Marie Fish helped humans hear a new world of underwater sounds.

[Joy Dolo]

And another scientist, Roger Payne, heard music in the sounds of humpback whales.

[Mina]

Roger made a whole record of their music, and those sounds inspired millions to change their attitudes and help save the whales.

[Hugh Humpback]

Well put, Joy and Mina. Now, speaking of saving the whales, what's a guy gotta do to get a sandwich around this joint?

[Joy Dolo]

Oh, right. I totally forgot. I'm not just Joy Dolo the heartbreakingly talented award winning actor anymore. I'm also Joy Dolo, small business owner. I'm so excited. Okay, Hugh, what do you want on your sandwich?

[Hugh Humpback]

Grilled krill on kelp bread. And don't forget, hold the mayo.

[Joy Dolo]

This episode was written by Mark Sanchez. It was produced by Nico Gonzalez Whistler and Ruby Guthrie. Our editors are Sandon Totten and Shayla Farzon. Fact checking by Jess Miller. Engineering help from Derek Ramirez, Ben Wilson and Brian Matheson. With sound design by Rachel Breese. Original theme music by Mark Sanchez. We had additional production help from the rest of the brains on Universe team.

[Roger Payne]

Molly Bloom, Rosie Dupont, Anna Goldfield, Lauren Humphert, Joshua Ray, Charlotte Traver, Anna Weigel.

[Joy Dolo]

And Aron Walda Selassie. Beth Pearlman is our executive producer, and the executives in charge of APM Studios are Chandragavati and Joanne Griffith. Special thanks to John Dinkowski, Charles Burkhart Miller, Vicki Creckler, Coco, Wes Carroll, Audrey Cooner and Milo. This episode includes recordings from whale.org, ocean alliance, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library.

[Mina]

And if you want access to ad free episodes and special bonus content, subscribe to our SmartyPass.

[Joy Dolo]

Okay, Mina, ready to hear the answers for First Things First?

[Mina]

Yeah.

[Joy Dolo]

Awesome. Okay, as a reminder, we're putting these three stories in order of when they were written. And so you said Moby Dick, 20,000 leagues under the Seas, and Pinocchio. Is that your final answer? Yes. All right, let's see what the answer is. Oh, no.

[Mina]

Is it the opposite?

[Joy Dolo]

You got them. All right.

[Hugh Humpback]

Yay.

[Joy Dolo]

You nailed it. Good job. What wonderful guessing skills you have.

[Mina]

Thank you.

[Joy Dolo]

So, first up, we have Moby Dick, which was written in 1851 by American Herman Melville. And so the story is about sailors, including a captain who's obsessed with seeking revenge against a giant sperm whale who bit off his leg. And the name Moby Dick was inspired by a real sperm whale from the 1800s called Mocha Dick. Sailors encountered Mocha in Chile, where the whale reportedly destroyed over 20 ships. Mocha Dick. Why'd you do that? Silly whale. And then next up, we have 20,000 Leagues under the Seas, and that was in 1870. So this science fiction novel was written by a Frenchman, Jules Verne, and the book is about three men who go out to sea in search of a giant sea monster, possibly a whale. They soon discover the sea monster is actually a submarine called the Nautilus, where they are taken captive by an eccentric captain. Ooh, that sounds like a roll of a lifetime for me. Many of Verne's details in the book predate their actual discovery or invention, including electric powered submarines and giant squids. Oh, that sounds terrifying.

[Mina]

There's also colossal squids.

[Joy Dolo]

Oh, there's giant and colossal. Oh, giant colossal squids. Can you imagine a world? And then last but not least is Pinocchio. The Adventures of Pinocchio was written by Italian writer Carlo Collodi in 1883. So the story follows Pinocchio, a wood puppet, which we were right about that. Who wants to become a real boy. And at one point in the story, Pinocchio was swallowed by a dogfish, which is a type of a small shark. And this was changed to a whale in the Disney adaptation of the story. So he was originally eaten by a shark.

[Mina]

I'd much prefer to be eaten by a whale.

[Joy Dolo]

Yeah, me too. Me too. Sharks sound like it's a lot of teeth involved and wouldn't end well. Well, now we know that they get eaten by a whale or a dogfish that was a shark and then turned into a whale. Thanks, Disney. Yeah, great job guessing. First things first, Mina. Listeners, this is our last episode of the season, but we'll be back with new episodes next May. Thank you so much for listening to our show. If you have a question about history, send it to [e-mail] contact. Who knows, maybe it will inspire an episode for next season. See you then.

[Mina]

Thanks for listening. Ciao for now.

[Joy Dolo]

You've been promoted Employee of the Month, Mina.

[Mina]

Aren't I your only employee?

[Joy Dolo]

Okay, that's enough sass out of you.

[Roger Payne]

The Soul to Story podcast is about how teaching kids to read went wrong. But now we have a story about a school district where things are going very right.

[Joy Dolo]

Let me make sure my friends are sitting criss cross applesauce hands in their lap. I've never had a child that couldn't read.

[Roger Payne]

How did they do it?

[Joy Dolo]

When I tell some of my other colleagues that may be at other schools that this is what I do, and they would say, are you kidding me?

[Roger Payne]

New episodes of Sold a Story are available now in your podcast app.