Forget the Camel: The Madcap World of Animal Festivals and What They Say about Being Human, with Elizabeth Melampy

About this Episode

In this episode of Give and Take, Scott talks with Elizabeth MeLampy, author of Forget the Camel: Animals, Symbols, and the Stories We Tell. From rattlesnake roundups in Texas to lobster boils on the Maine coast, and the curious case of a certain Pennsylvanian groundhog, MeLampy explores the surprising ways animals help us build communities, confront our fears, and make meaning in a messy world. Together, they discuss how rituals involving creatures both wild and domestic reveal our deepest cultural myths—about nature, class, history, and ourselves.

What do sled dogs say about heroism? How does killing a rattlesnake become a rite of regional pride? And why do we still care what a groundhog sees in February? Tune in for a conversation that’s as thought-provoking as it is unexpected.