2007 Press
Press for Talking Animals,
August, 2006
Posted on AUGUST 9, 2006
(in the Tampa Tribune)
X-MAN TALKS
ANIMALS
Some rock stars are animals.
Some are animal lovers. Let's assume John Doe of Los Angeles punk
greats X falls into the latter category. He'll talk with host
Duncan Strauss on today's edition of "Talking Animals"
at 11:30 a.m. on WMNF, 88.5 FM.
"Talking Animals," which focuses on animals and animal
issues, originated at KUCI, 88.9 FM, at the University of California
at Irvine. Strauss and his show have since relocated to the Bay
area. Previous guests on "Talking Animals" have included
Janeane Garafolo, Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson and Triumph the Insult
Comic Dog.
Posted on AUGUST 2, 2006
(on WeeklyPlanet.com)
ANIMAL
LOVERS ON AIR
RADIO
By Alex Pickett
If you love animals and punk
rock, be sure to check out WMNF's next "Talking Animals"
show. Hosted by Duncan Straus, the monthly radio program dives
into a jungle of animal news, songs, comedy and an interview with
some notable animal lover or another. For the next edition, Straus
interviews John Doe, the founder-bassist of legendary punk band
X, a member of the country-folk X-offshoot The Knitters, an acclaimed
solo singer-songwriter and an actor who's appeared in more than
40 films. Doe also has an equal love for animals, from the multitudes
that live with him to his work providing the narration for a documentary
on animal rights. Doe might also divulge some details about his
upcoming tour that makes an Aug. 25 stop at Jannus Landing. Wed.,
Aug. 9, 11:30 a.m.-noon, WMNF-88.5 FM, www.talkinganimals.net.
Original article posted here:
http://www.weeklyplanet.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A83837
from June 6, 2005:
Orange County Register (PDF)
Printable version
(PDF)
Story courtesty www.ocregister.com
More press coverage:
LA Times | BBC
Radio | Orange County Register | OC
Weekly
Note On LA Times Article
Even sporadic “Talking
Animals” listeners will recognize that the L.A. Times story
got a key bit of philosophy completely reversed: the show DOES
include activism--& many other elements that are far broader
than pet/vet shows, which typically do not include activism, never
mind being too heavy on it. But otherwise, we thought the reporter
did a really nice job on this piece, and we're much obliged.
Article from the LA
Times:
Running
a Zoo for the Ears (PDF)
Link to original article on
LA Times web site (membership req)
“Talking Animals”
was featured in April 2004 on the BBC Radio 4 program “A
World In Your Ear,” which their web site describes as “A
showcase for the best English language radio on the planet including
features, plays, phone-ins, music and comedy shows.” www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/aworldinyourear.shtml
(Apr.
2-8, 2004 Issue)
THIS WEEK IN PISSING OFF THE FCC
TALKING ANIMALS
Critics of gay marriage--most
notably U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and everyone’s
favorite Senator rick Santorum (R- Pennsylvania)--have warned
that allowing same-sex to marry would open the door for bigamy
and marriage between humans and animals. In that line of thinking,
Duncan Strauss’ weekly radio show Talking Animals
on KUCI-FM 88.9 should cause them some alarm, since it brings
together animals, comedy, activists, actors, scientists and music
all in the same program. (Yikes! Sounds like polygamy
and bestiality. Someone call the FCC, quick!)
Strauss, a writer and comedy
club owner, started the distinctive show in June 2003 to “celebrate
animals” and inform people about animal rights issues in
a “more palatable way.” So, you know, instead of verbally
throwing red paint on your new fur, he’ll let you know why
it’s a bad idea, and then throw in some music and comedy
skits by such comic legends as Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, Steve
Martin, and Jerry Seinfeld.
Still, the best part of Talking
Animals is the guests. Strauss has interviewed PETA’s
Dan Mathews, Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull, Greg Ginn, former
guitarist for Black Flag, Kevin Nealon from Saturday Night
Live, and actress and comedian Janeane Garofalo. On the
scientific side, guests have included Dr. Sophia Yin, a dog bark
researcher, and Dr. Dee Boersma, a penguin expert. On April 5,
his guest will be Nellie McKay, a feral young singer-songwriter
(think Tori Amos meets They Might Be Giants and the Tiger Lilies)
often played on KCRW-FM 89.9’s Morning Becomes
Eclectic.
Though the--ahem--marriage
of all these elements might seem a little odd, that’s precisely
what gives the show it’s charm. At least people in the UK
think so. Strauss was recently contacted by a producer from BBC
Radio 5, who asked about featuring Talking Animals on A
World In Your Ear, a “showcase for the best English language
radio on the planet.”
Talking Animals KUCI-FM
88.9; live webcast available at www.kuci.org. Every Mon., 9-10
a.m. Don’t miss this week’s guest, Nellie McKay www.nelliemckay.net.
For more information, log on to www.talkinganimals.net.
--Sarah Callender
view original article
(DEC. 7, 2003)
RADIO
He’s
Got A Way With Animals
Gary Lycan, Register Columnist
When Duncan Strauss
started his new radio show six months ago, he almost kept it a
secret. “I was traveling the learning curve and needed to
get much better,” he admitted.
That was then, and this is
now. Strauss’ show--”Talking Animals,” 9-10 a.m.
Mondays on KUCI/99.9 FM--doesn’t much beyond UC Irvine, but
is is live on www.kuci.org, and he’s been able to
corral some major guests, ranging from actor-comedian Kevin Nealon
to Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson.
Monday’s guest is Merrill
Markoe, creator of David Letterman’s “Stupid Pet Tricks”
and author of “The Day My Dogs Became Guys.”
“The show is singular
in format,” he said. “Interview, news, phone calls,
animal-oriented songs and comedy bits. The objective is to be
informative and
educational, yet entertaining and fun. We want to celebrate animals,”
he said.
The interviews aren’t all fluff, either. He’s talked
to Dan Mathews, who has
worked on PETA campaigns, and Dr. Sophia Yin, a pioneer in research
on dog
barks.
Locally, he’s had on
Dianna Pfaff-Martin, founder of Newport Beach-based Animal Network.
If you love animals and can pick up 88.9 on the radio or the Internet,
check it out.
view original article
