Flightless Bird

• Autism Reveal Party

  In this week’s Flightless Bird, David talks to Lisa Didion, an Assistant Professor of Special Education at the University of Kansas. Lisa wrote in after the Fake Seizure Guy episode, saying that Flightless Bird should take a deeper dive into autism in America. With RFK Jr’s recent unhinged comments on autism, it felt like the right time to clear up some misinformation. On top of this - David got invited to an Autism Reveal Party. What is that? Well, listen to find out. - Email us your feedback to: [email protected] Merch: www.flightlessbirdpod.com - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flightlessbirdpodcast Links:- RFK Jr. exaggerates share of autistic population with severe limitationshttps://www.politifact.com/article/2025/apr/21/rfk-jr-exaggerates-share-of-autistic-population-wi/ - Kennedy announces new studies to examine environmental factors linked to autismhttps://thehill.com/homenews/5252236-kennedy-announces-new-studies-to-examine-environmental-factors-linked-to-autism/ - Trump Administration Cuts Funding for Autism Research—Even As It Aims to Find the Causehttps://time.com/7279068/trump-administration-autism-research-cuts/ - NIH autism study will pull from private medical recordshttps://www.npr.org/2025/04/23/nx-s1-5372695/autism-nih-rfk-medical-records - The Pitt’s Dr. Mel King Is a Small but Meaningful Step Forward for Neurodivergence Onscreen:https://time.com/7275814/the-pitt-mel-neurodivergence-autism-adhd/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Live in Portland: Bigfoot, Beavers, and the Oregon Trail

  This week’s episode is from our live show in beautiful Portland that happened on April 13. David and Rob share stories from their time in Portland, before turning their attention to Bigfoot - talking to Cliff Barackman, the man behind the North American Bigfoot Center. Cliff has been doing bigfoot field research since 1994. His expeditions have taken him to 46 states and five continents in search of evidence supporting the existence of undiscovered hominoids worldwide. From there, Flightless Bird turns its focus to the urban beavers of Portland, talking with Matt Guziejka, a beaver researcher from Portland State University. Matt has spent the last few years knee-deep in data and also mud studying how people feel about beavers living in cities. David and Rob then meet Philip Bouchard, the man responsible for taking the Oregon Trail video game mainstream. Plus, a special live performance from Suzzallo. SPECIAL THANKS TO: - Suzzallo - www.instagram.com/suzzallo_music - Cliff Barackman - https://northamericanbigfootcenter.com / BigfootandBeyondPodcast.com - Matt Guziejka - Philip Bouchard - Paxton Gate for sharing their beautiful taxidermied birds - Local artist Mike Bennett: www.mikebennettart.com - Steven Smith Teamaker for the custom tea and hospitality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  1:46:13
• The Cheesecake Factory

  In this week’s Flightless Bird, David and Rob visit one of America’s most iconic restaurant chains: The Cheesecake Factory. They discover its humble origins as a small cheesecake shop in 1940’s Detroit - eventually launching an empire with one of the lengthiest menus in the USA. They discuss decor, the toilets, and of course - the cheesecake. Links: Email us: [email protected] Upcoming live shows and t-shirts: www.flightlessbirdpod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  59:15
• Flights of Fancy: Cheese, Kony 2012, Hot Air Balloons, Troubled Teens, Ice Machines

  In this week's episode, David and Rob take calls from Flightless Bird listeners, who pitch the topics they want them to investigate! From a man who tells of being woken up at age 13 to two men in his room with zipties who abducted him to a controversial “Wilderness Therapy Camp”, to someone involved in competitive air ballooning, to an intern involved in the infamous “Kony2012” campaign, we hear from Birdies with stories to tell. Links: - Flightless Bird live in Portland on 4/13: https://bit.ly/lostkiwiPDX - Flightless Bird live in San Francisco on 4/18: http://bit.ly/lostkiwiSF - Flightless Bird T-Shirts: www.flightlessbirdpod.com - E-mail us with your feedback at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  1:11:16
• Deported

  In this week’s episode, David and Rob look at the recent cases of ICE and other agencies detaining and/or deporting various US residents who are in the US 100% legally. David interviews Canadian Jasmine Mooney, who found herself imprisoned for two weeks after arriving in the US for her job. David wonders how safe he is being critical of the current US administration while here on an 01 Visa, and the practical dangers of even doing this episode. Links: Flightless Bird live shows and merch: www.flightlessbirdpod.com Email us: [email protected] News Articles and References: - Detained Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil: https://apnews.com/article/columbia-protests-immigration-detention-mahmoud-khalil-755774045e5e82849e3281e8ff72f26d - Documentary voiced by Mahmoud: https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/columbia-protest-documentary-narrated-by-mahmoud-khalil-has-us-premiere-thursday - What we know about the Tufts University PhD student detained by federal agents: https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/27/us/rumeysa-ozturk-detained-what-we-know/index.html - Academic groups sue Trump administration for arresting students: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/academic-groups-sue-trump-administration-arresting-students-faculty-li-rcna198139 - Jasmine Mooney’s essay: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/canadian-detained-us-immigration-jasmine-mooney - The Guardian on Jasmine’s situation: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/18/canadian-actor-jasmine-mooney-detained-mexico-border - Canadian woman detained by ICE being used as ‘example,’ immigration experts warn: https://globalnews.ca/news/11080371/canadian-woman-detained-ice-example-immigration-border/ - University of Washington lab technician and green card holder detained: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/green-card-holder-50-years-detained-ice-rcna198044 - He voted for Trump. Now his wife sits in an ICE detention center. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/03/16/mass-deportation-ice-detains-non-criminals/82304354007/ - Yes, border control can go through your phone. Here's what travelers should know. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2025/03/21/border-control-phone-search/82594653007/ - David Farrier write on Webworm on speaking up during these Crazy Times: https://www.webworm.co/p/missionstatement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  1:16:20

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