What Animal Names Reveal About Humanity

Why do we call an elephant an elephant? Why did the narwhal become known as the "unicorn of the sea"? How did the praying mantis help to inspire kung fu in ancient China? And what can the names we give to animals tell us about ourselves as people?

In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson sits down with bestselling author, conservationist, and WWF board member T.A. Barron to discuss his new book, Naming Nature. Drawing on languages, folklore, mythology, and cultural traditions from around the world, the book explores the fascinating stories behind the names of plants, animals, and landscapes—and what those names reveal about humanity's relationship with the natural world.

Tune in to hear how an oak tree near Oxford, England helped inspire T.A.'s passion for writing, how he developed the concept for Naming Nature, and how a run-in with a former NFL quarterback prompted him to reflect on what really matters in life.

Links for More Info:

T.A. Barron bio

Naming Nature

Chapters:

0:00 Preview

0:22 Intro

1:29 T.A. Barron on the power of storytelling

4:05 How an Oak Tree near Oxford inspired his writing career

8:27 How T.A.'s mother influenced his career

9:53 What inspired T.A. to write Naming Nature

15:03 How elephants got their name

22:06 How narwhals got their name

26:37 How hummingbirds got their name

29:11 How naming an animal can lead to its conservation

33:04 Meeting NFL quarterback Andrew Luck

36:40 Life advice from T.A.

41:22 Outro