What if an artificial intelligence could translate whale song, decode elephant frequencies, and relay a very uncomfortable message from every animal on Earth?

Author Bill Wittur joins Holly B. and Rogan to explore the wild, science-backed frontier of animal communication — and how it sparked a novel. Along the way, the conversation weaves through bioacoustics, speciesism, the healing power of writing, and why the Earth hums in G sharp.

Large language models are being used to translate whale clicks and sperm whale vocalizations. Researchers have identified what may be vowels used by Caribbean sperm whale populations — a potential breakthrough in interspecies communication.

Bill’s book follows a sentient AI that learns to communicate with animals. The animals’ verdict? Humans need to back off. The novel explores speciesism, the philosophy of Peter Singer, and the question of what happens when another species finally gets a voice.

Dolphins communicate at frequencies up to 20 times beyond human hearing. Elephants and whales use ultra-low frequencies that would damage our hearing at full volume. Military sonar, Bill explains, is essentially like placing a stick of dynamite beside a dolphin’s head.

Philosopher Peter Singer coined the term ‘speciesism’ in his 1970s book Animal Liberation. Bill argues that cracking even one species’ language will force a reckoning with how humanity treats the non-human world.

From journaling through grief to forest bathing, Bill shares the rituals that keep his creative life alive. He also reveals a hidden habit: early in every novel, he writes a chapter honouring the Muses through a character’s relationship with music.

300 pages of lyrics written since COVID. Guitars, a dreamed-of mandolin, and the advice of Jeff Tweedy (Wilco): write everything, even the mundane. Bill traces the overlap between songwriting, poetry, and fiction — and why he thinks musically even when writing prose.

Bill is the author of Extinction Event and the forthcoming sequel Ecopia. He is currently completing an MFA in Fiction at King’s College. A songwriter, guitarist, former wine importer, and committed believer that AI will crack animal language long before humanity is ready for what they have to say.

Bill is also working on a non-fiction memoir about his brother’s experience living with a stroke, and maintains a stockpile of over 300 pages of song lyrics written since the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://billwittur.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bill.wittur.2025/

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Episode Summary Holly joins Rogan from the big city while he holds down the fort in his little shed. This week: eerie lakefront fog, a Tony Bennett vinyl score on Record Store Day, Holly's adventure navigating Toronto transit solo, and the Toronto Indie Author Conference. Plus: slow eating, dishwashers, and a disputed chapter count.

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Intro/Outro Music by Uppbeat - RA Let Good Times Roll

Episode Summary

In this episode, Holly and Rogan sit down with Rachael Austin — dog mom, photographer, and dog-friendly travel content creator — for a warm, wide-ranging conversation about life on the road with two very spirited hunting dogs.

Meet the Dogs

Rachael introduces us to Willow, her eight-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer and original creative muse, and Timber, her three-year-old Vizsla with a coat the color of autumn leaves. She breaks down the key difference between the two breeds — GSPs love to range (sometimes out of sight!), while Vizslas want to stay close to their people.

From Camera Novice to Content Creator

What started as snapping photos of Willow grew into a full creative practice. Rachael shares how she taught herself photography through YouTube, Skillshare, and sheer trial and error — even getting drone-certified along the way. Her dogs pushed her toward a niche she didn't expect: dog-friendly travel.

Balancing Creativity with Burnout

After a hectic fall season of paid brand work, Rachael got real about creator burnout. She shares her systems: shot lists, scheduled content-free weekends, and knowing when to leave the camera at home. Rogan gets some solid first-time backpacking advice ahead of his Algonquin trip this summer.

Book Club Moment

In a delightful twist, all three discover they're currently listening to the same audiobook — The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett— and bond over Pancakes the cat, Uncle PJ, and Holly's very particular audiobook strategy.

Find Rachael

Check out Rachel’s stunning dog-friendly travel content on social media, and keep an eye out for her upcoming website relaunch and — fingers crossed — a coffee table book.

https://roamingwithpointers.mypixieset.com/

https://www.instagram.com/roamingwithpointers/

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Intro/outro music thanks to Uppbeat - Let Good Times Roll - RA

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