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Natalie gets schooled on tentacles

The 'Perfect' Specimen

Release Date: 09/30/2025

Why can no-one remember the time they used fish as candles? show art Why can no-one remember the time they used fish as candles?

The 'Perfect' Specimen

Is it fat catfish or fatcat fish? Josh and Natalie debate the important issues in this episode, and do not go down any rabbit holes... With two of the specimens, stories of nefarious ichthyology abound! Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'elusive'. Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What’s the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious? Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only...

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Natalie finds herself doing an impression of a pufferfish show art Natalie finds herself doing an impression of a pufferfish

The 'Perfect' Specimen

Josh brings the podcast's first mineral specimen and our second guest shares a look at some very special books. Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'artistic'. Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What’s the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious? Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast #Perfect ...

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Josh debunks the myth of ancient cyclopses show art Josh debunks the myth of ancient cyclopses

The 'Perfect' Specimen

Josh weighs up the benefits of giant swans and miniature elephants, whilst Natalie is salivating over one plant that produces many vegetables. Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'wild'. Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What’s the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most reliable? Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast #Perfect...

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Natalie is not allowed to pick up our most delicate specimen yet show art Natalie is not allowed to pick up our most delicate specimen yet

The 'Perfect' Specimen

Josh and Natalie have gifts for each other and we learn how competitive carving radishes can be. Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'festive'. Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What’s the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious? Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word.  #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast #Perfect  ----------------  ...

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Josh would rather have a cough than a salamander smoothie show art Josh would rather have a cough than a salamander smoothie

The 'Perfect' Specimen

Josh brings a specimen that started life in a car park, and Natalie isn't being rude when she talks about big noses. Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'young'. Keep an eye out, there may even be some bonus specimens too. Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What’s the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most reliable? Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single...

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Our first guest brings a powderpuff with wings show art Our first guest brings a powderpuff with wings

The 'Perfect' Specimen

We welcome our first guest to discuss their perfect specimen, Josh brings a very unique fossil and we take a look at some fascinating flies. Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie are joined by Dr Erica McAlister to discuss a new proposal for the 'perfect' specimen, as well as some other specimens all relating to the word 'spiky'. Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What's the squishiest? The most exuberant? or even the most reliable? Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the...

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What's beautiful and smells like vomit? show art What's beautiful and smells like vomit?

The 'Perfect' Specimen

This is our thirteenth episode. Are we lucky, or unlucky to have got this far? Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'unlucky'. Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What’s the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most reliable? Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast #Perfect ---------------- The Natural History Museum in London is home...

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Josh says don't research ostrich penises show art Josh says don't research ostrich penises

The 'Perfect' Specimen

For our Halloween special, Natalie possibly has the wrong crab and Josh has brought our oldest specimen (if you don't count fossils) - but they have both dressed for the occasion. Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'spooky'. Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What’s the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most reliable? Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word....

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How loud is that penis? show art How loud is that penis?

The 'Perfect' Specimen

Natalie shares an unusual world record, and Josh tries to get his head around shrimp claw physics. Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens, and maybe even a bonus specimen, all relating to the word 'loud'. Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What’s the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most reliable? Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word.    #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast...

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Natalie gets schooled on tentacles show art Natalie gets schooled on tentacles

The 'Perfect' Specimen

What's been the best specimen so far? How do Josh and Natalie choose their specimens? And are we being biased towards mammals? Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie are answering your questions.Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What’s the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious? Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word.   #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast #Perfect ----------------   YouTube:...

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More Episodes

What's been the best specimen so far? How do Josh and Natalie choose their specimens? And are we being biased towards mammals?

Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie are answering your questions.Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What’s the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious?

Each episode, our hosts take their pick from 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum to find the 'perfect' specimen. Their only prompt? A single word.

 

#NaturalHistoryMuseum #Podcast #Perfect

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