The Nightly – Drowsy History Week: Humans vs. Emus

Podcast: The Nightly
Hosts: Matt (A) & Sophia (B)
Date: January 25, 2026

Episode Overview

In this cozy, laugh-filled episode of The Nightly, Matt and Sophia dive humorously (and a bit haphazardly) into the bizarre historical event known as The Great Emu War of Australia (1932). The segment—part of their “Drowsy History” game—combines pop culture banter, gentle improvisation, and genuine curiosity, all designed to soothe listeners before bed. The hosts embrace the spirit of “barely remembered, mostly accurate” storytelling as they recount the legendary confrontation between humans and emus—with plenty of tangents, light mockery of their own knowledge, and a strong sympathy for the surprisingly victorious birds.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Western Australia, 1932

• The episode opens with the concept of “Drowsy History”—hosts retelling amusing and marginally accurate stories from history to lull listeners to sleep.
• [03:24] Matt introduces the Great Emu War, a favorite top-line history event—prompting Sophia’s faint recollection.
• [04:15] Matt: “It was 1932 in Western Australia.”
  • Post-World War I, many migrants tried to farm the tough lands of Western Australia.
  • A drought elsewhere drove flocks of emus into these new farmlands, compounding farmers’ challenges.

2. Emus vs. Farmers: The Crop Crisis

• [05:19] Emus, “deceptively ginormous,” started trampling and eating crops, especially wheat, undermining farmers’ livelihoods.
• The farmers, already struggling, pleaded with the government for help.
• Sophia: “I’m just like, what do you mean by ‘clear out’? Put them somewhere else, hopefully.” [05:53]

3. Emu Oil, Stubborn Birds, and Other Tangents

• Brief comic tangent on emu oil and Sophia’s mother’s fascination with tinctures.
• Matt: “You never know if it’s just a bottle called emu oil. It could be oil for greasing emus.” [07:02]

4. The Government’s... Bold Solution

• [07:36] The Australian government’s radical response: sending the army (with machine guns!).
• Matt: “You think this should be a fairly one-sided affair... but the emus had other plans.”
• Sophia expresses concern for the emus, wishing a nonviolent solution was tried first.

5. The Battle Itself: Humans Thoroughly Outfoxed

• [08:08] “They thought, ‘We'll just send the army in with machine guns.’ That was the idea.”
• Attempts to shoot emus prove astonishingly ineffective:
  • Their thick hides deflect bullets.
  • They scatter in unpredictable groups—immune to intimidation.
  • “They've got massive legs, so they just legged it.” [09:04], Matt
• Sophia: “The guns mean nothing to them... That’s not really their vibe.” [09:33]
• Debate on what could possibly scare or outsmart an emu (consensus: very little).

6. Emu Nature: Not Aggressive, Just Formidable

• Sophia consults their “encyclopedia”:
  • Emus “are not typically aggressive, but they can be dangerous if threatened—delivering powerful kicks with strong legs and sharp claws.” [11:09]
  • More docile than ostriches; sometimes friendly when raised by humans.
• Matt jokes: “You could domesticate an emu. In theory, you could. But you shouldn’t.” [11:41]

7. Major Meredith and the Military Fiasco

• [12:05] Matt introduces Major G.P.W.A. Meredith (“five names! Pick your favorite two”), the general tasked to defeat the emus.
• [13:17] Embarrassingly, the army brought a cinematographer to document their “victory.”
• Ambushes fail: emus scatter or shrug off bullets; even truck-mounted gunners are outpaced by fleeing emus.
  • Matt: “The emus were running quicker than the trucks.”
• Notable incident: a truck was damaged more than the emu it hit.

8. The Emu Victory and Aftermath

• [15:05] Eventually, the government gave up—the emus were officially the victors.
• In 1999, the emu received environmental protections, but Sophia notes there were decades of tension between humans and birds.
• Hosts delighted at “the underdog story,” rooting for the emus.
• Sophia: “It is kind of like... if it was championship rules or tournament rules, it means the emus won the Second World War.” [16:17]

9. Lingering Legacy: Lessons Not Learned

• [17:49]-[18:12] Recurring military aid requests in later years (1934, 1943, 1948)—all denied.
• Sophia: “This is emu town. We can give it up. They've made their place. They won. It's their territory.” [18:23]

10. Deeper Reflection (and Sleepy Good Nights)

• Matt and Sophia ultimately side with the emus, relishing their improbable win and musing on the folly of trying to control nature.
• Sophia: “I’m certainly not on the side of the people who are trying to shoot the emus.” [19:35]
• The show winds down—time for a night’s rest counting emus.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• [03:03] Matt: “If you're looking for proper historical insight and accuracy, you're not going to get it.”
• [07:02] Matt: “It could be oil for greasing emus.”
• [08:15] Sophia: “This is what I was scared of. When you said, ‘clear them out,’ I said I hope they’re putting them somewhere else— they’re not. They’re fighting them.”
• [14:33] Matt: “There was one instance where a truck hit an emu and it did more damage to the truck than the emu, which is unbelievable.”
• [15:14] Sophia: “As they should be, in my opinion” (on the emu victory).
• [16:17] Sophia: “It is kind of like... if it was championship rules or tournament rules, it means the emus won the Second World War.”
• [18:23] Sophia: “This is emu town. We can give it up. They've made their place. They won. It's their territory.”
• [19:35] Sophia: “I’m certainly not on the side of the people who are trying to shoot the emus.”

Timestamps for Highlights

• [03:24] – Introduction of the Great Emu War
• [05:19] – Emus arrive and start decimating crops
• [07:36] – Government enlists the military for “emu removal”
• [08:08] – The absurd military strategy: machine guns vs. birds
• [09:46] – Emus’ defenses and “perfect opponent” debate
• [11:09] – Emu behavior explained
• [13:17] – The major brings a cinematographer
• [14:33] – The truck that lost to an emu
• [15:05] – Emus decisively “win” the war
• [16:17] – Sophia’s championship rules analogy
• [17:49] – Later military requests denied
• [18:23] – Declaring “emu town”
• [19:35] – Hosts side with the emus

Summary & Takeaways

The Nightly’s retelling of the Great Emu War is the perfect blend of sleepy humor and absurd historical trivia—a reminder that nature can humble even the best-laid (human) plans. Through playful banter, the hosts make a strong case for the emu’s crown as Australia’s most indomitable resident, and offer listeners a cozy, amusing way to wind down and drift off—dreaming, perhaps, of victorious birds on the open plain.