What Now? with Trevor Noah

Episode: Bertie Gregory: Saving the Animals (Even the Ones That Are Assholes)

Date: January 29, 2026
Host: Trevor Noah
Guest: Bertie Gregory (Wildlife Filmmaker & Photographer)
Also Featuring: Eugene

Episode Overview

In this thought-provoking and humorous episode, Trevor Noah sits down with wildlife filmmaker Bertie Gregory to explore the realities, joys, and harsh truths of animal conservation in today's world. With characteristic wit and deep curiosity, Trevor (alongside co-host Eugene) digs into Bertie’s adventures, the surprising intelligence and personalities of wild animals, how nature documentaries can both help and hinder conservation efforts, and why "saving the animals" is more about saving ourselves. The discussion spans epic whale comebacks, "asshole" animal behavior, dangerous human encounters, and actionable optimism for our planet’s future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Real Stakes of Conservation (00:04–07:19)

• Mass Extinctions & Human Arrogance:
  Bertie underscores that we’re living through a mass extinction event, but "the world will be fine" in the long run; it’s humanity’s survival and quality of life that’s at risk.
  Quote:

  "We often talk about wanting to save the world, when actually in the long term, world, the planet world is fine. It's just whether or not we exist...on a place that's actually, you know, nice to be."
  — Bertie Gregory (00:04)

• Messaging and Centering Humanity:
  Trevor critiques how environmental messaging centers human saviorism, missing the point.
  Quote:

  "Do you want to save the world? And it's like, alright world, if you need me, I'll save you...No, no, my friend, no."
  — Trevor Noah (00:33, 50:53)

2. Bertie's Work and Wonders of Nature (07:19–13:16)

• Bertie’s Introduction and Impact:
  Trevor describes how Bertie can "transform a room" with his films, revealing the interconnectedness of animals, ecosystems, and humans.
• Whale Comebacks & Conservation Success:
  Bertie recounts filming the largest gathering of fin whales ever and explains their role as "carbon-capturing giants," illustrating a tangible conservation win:
  Quote:

  "We managed to film the largest gathering of fin whales ever recorded. There were 300 of them together...one of the greatest conservation success stories of our time..."
  — Bertie Gregory (08:18)

• Whale Turds Fight Climate Change:
  He explains the "whale pump": whales fertilize phytoplankton with their poop, indirectly supporting broader life and capturing carbon.
  Quote:

  "They eat at depth...then come up to the surface and that's where they poop. They fertilize that surface layer. It kicks off the food chain..."
  — Bertie Gregory (11:03)

3. Animal Behavior: Assholes, Killers, and Misunderstandings (15:11–26:59)

• Are Some Animals Just Assholes?
  Trevor questions if certain animals act maliciously or if that’s just human projection. Bertie acknowledges animal personalities and "bad days," but emphasizes that most attacks on humans are provoked or misread.
  Quote:

  "Animals have personalities and some are incredibly intelligent and they do, like, have bad days."
  — Bertie Gregory (20:55)

• Orca ‘Boat Attacks’: Sensationalism vs. Reality:
  Bertie clarifies orca “attacks” on boats are rare, localized, and likely playful or learned behaviors, not global conspiracies.
  Quote:

  "I think the idea that it's like they're like killer whales trying to attack and kill people is just ridiculous."
  — Bertie Gregory (17:58)

• Anthropomorphism Debate:
  How projecting human traits onto animals helps audiences connect but misleads too.

  "Our job is to connect people with the natural world. So to a certain extent, you have to sort of make comparisons to our world to get people engaged."
  — Bertie Gregory (24:19)

4. Filming Wild Animals: Art, Ethics, and Survival (26:59–38:44)

• Disappearing into the Wild:
  Bertie explains how filmmakers minimize disturbance, the difference between filming habituated and truly wild animals, and how animals "read" human body language.

• Personality and Animal Relationships:
  From flirty leopard seals to sketchy companions, wild animal attitudes change day-to-day and in response to human demeanor.
  Quote:

  "You can read its body language, and even cooler, it can read yours. They often mirror your state."
  — Bertie Gregory (29:17)

• Most Dangerous Animal: Humans (38:44–44:05):
  Bertie's scariest shoot involved not animals, but a drug-addicted campmate in the Arctic, emphasizing that people, not animals, cause most trouble.
  Quote:

  "The most dangerous animal on every single shoot is humans. Boo. Yeah, every single time."
  — Bertie Gregory (38:50)

5. Myths, Biases, and the Paradox of Protection (44:05–56:55)

• Demonizing Animals & History:
  Most animal fears (e.g., wolves) are rooted in myths spread for economic or cultural reasons, not actual risk.
  Quote:

  "Why does our society have this incredible hatred, you know, Little Red Riding Hood, the Big Bad Wolf?...That is exactly why...because livestock farming is a huge part of our society and wolves do sometimes kill livestock. And it’s much easier to justify the killing of a wolf if everyone hates them."
  — Bertie Gregory (46:59–47:01)

• Flaws in ‘Save the Cute Ones’ Reasoning:
  Conservation isn’t about novelty or aesthetics—it’s about preserving crucial systems for human survival.
  Quote:

  "Nature provides so many things that we need from clean water, productive soils, the air we breathe, the regulating our climate...Selfishly, we should want to look after the natural world because it’s to protect ourselves."
  — Bertie Gregory (48:25)

6. Conservation, Evolution, and Canceling Nature’s Signals (56:17–66:20)

• Tourism’s Double-Edged Sword:
  Wildlife tourism can fund protection but, if unmanaged, endangers animals—too many Land Rovers for that perfect cheetah shot can be deadly.
  Quote:

  "We're loving these animals to death...in places where tourism is badly managed, they get surrounded by vehicles...the biggest challenge cheetahs face."
  — Bertie Gregory (56:57)

• Assigning Economic Value:
  In today’s world, placing an economic value on wild animals supports their survival.

  "Conservation is as much about the animals as it is about the humans that live in that place...incentivize protecting them."
  — Bertie Gregory (59:25)

• Disconnect of Nature Documentaries/Social Media:
  Easy animal access makes people forget "this isn’t a zoo." Wild places are fragile, and our actions have direct impacts.
  Quote:

  "Actions that you take will decide whether or not this animal lives or dies. Like, the stakes are that high."
  — Bertie Gregory (65:10)

7. Life Lessons from the Animal Kingdom (68:07–79:57)

• Empathy, Mastery & Resilience:
  Wild animals’ lives are "really, really hard," but they're incredible specialists.
  Quote:

  "What I take from that is...whatever I do, I’ve gotta do my best to get really, really good at it."
  — Bertie Gregory (69:15)

• The Emotional Rollercoaster of Predation:
  Trevor and Eugene react to footage of a puma taking down a guanaco, discussing who to "cheer for" and what emotional distance is—or isn’t—possible for wildlife filmmakers.
  Quote:

  "Often...when you spend all day, every day following an individual animal for a month or two and you know the stakes...you get emotionally attached."
  — Bertie Gregory (74:29)

• Empathy via Direct Experience:
  The closer we are to animals (or people), the easier it is to care about their fates.
  Quote:

  "If we just had a little bit of that in society...we might have a little more compassion for the situation that they're in."
  — Trevor Noah (75:55)

8. Conservation Ups and Downs & The Power of Hope (80:06–94:50)

• Fish Farming & Second-Order Environmental Harm:
  Attempts to "sustainably" farm fish often cause new problems—e.g., bluefin tuna ranching requires vast quantities of other wild fish, creating new ecosystem pressures.
  Quote:

  "We were catching fish to feed fish...hoovering up the ocean."
  — Bertie Gregory (84:03)

• Success Stories: Indonesian Coral Reefs:
  The creation of no-take zones in Raja Ampat led to a 600% increase in marine life biomass and thriving local economies.
  Quote:

  "Twenty years on...the biomass...gone up by 600% and it’s one of the only places on earth where biodiversity...is actually increasing."
  — Bertie Gregory (87:13)

• Choice & Optimism:
  Individual and collective actions—big or small—can yield "quantifiable positive change."

  "Everyone can have an impact...Do a thing, gets better."
  — Bertie Gregory (54:58)

9. Personal Connection: Do the Animals Know You? (91:08–94:50)

• Bertie Reunites with Pataka the Puma:
  Bertie shares the story of following a specific puma, Pataka, from cubhood to motherhood.
• Recognition and Animal Memory:
  The ongoing relationship between observer and observed—do animals "know" their documentarians? Bertie suspects perhaps, sometimes, yes (as with a manta ray).

10. Practical Tips: Getting Close to Wildlife (96:19–98:39)

• Advice for Aspiring Wildlife Observers:
  • Spend time outside.
  • Do your homework; know your animal.
  • Observe body language to avoid disturbing them.
  • Respect the animal’s comfort and agency. Quote:

  "Knowing your subject...just spending time outside...knowing the cues...make sure when we're watching animals, it's on their terms."
  — Bertie Gregory (97:05)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Doom and Optimism:

  "There are so many good news, conservation success stories...If we focus on when we've got it right, rather than going 'naughty, naughty'...it's a more positive, proactive approach."
  — Bertie Gregory (90:29)

• Trevor on Empathy:

  "If you spend time with them, you're just more likely to be concerned about their well being and who they are and how they are. And the further we are from them, the less we're likely to consider them and their survival."
  — Trevor Noah (75:56)

• On Storytelling & Conservation:

  "Our job is to connect people with the natural world. So you have to sort of make comparisons to our world to get people engaged."
  — Bertie Gregory (24:19)

Memorable, Humorous Exchanges

• Trevor, on conservation language:

  "It’s like, 'Alright world, if you need me, I’ll save you.' And it’s like, no, no, no, no, no, no, my friend, no." (50:53)

• Eugene, after a bear attack story:

  "Now it's a single elephant with a huge memory." (21:19)

• Trevor, about getting food:

  "I just wish it would be great if I walked into a takeout place and then immediately had to get into jiu jitsu hold...It would be good for society." (71:38–72:20)

Main Takeaways

• The long-term survival of humans is tightly linked to the health of wild systems; "saving animals" is also saving ourselves.
• Conservation works best when incentives align; economic value given to wildlife can paradoxically support their protection—if managed well.
• Animal personalities, intelligence, and complex social systems challenge reductionist thinking and demand empathy.
• Hope is tangible: from rebounding whale populations to flourishing marine parks, positive environmental interventions are possible.
• Everyone—CEOs, politicians, ordinary people—can effect change, from massive policy to planting pollinator-friendly flowers.
• To authentically connect with the natural world, spend time outside, do your homework, and respect the autonomy of wild creatures.

For more of Bertie's work (and those nature show sequences discussed), check out the "Up Close" series on Disney+.

Next steps: Reflect on your own connection to nature—be it a backyard, city park, or wildlife documentary—and consider what small action you could take to make the world a little wilder, and a little healthier.