The 'Perfect' Specimen

The Natural History Museum, London

Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What's the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious?

We're taking a look through 80 million specimens to find the 'perfect' examples for you. Join us each episode as Josh and Natalie try to surprise each other with their choices from the collections, their only prompt? A single word.

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30 episodes
Updated July 14

Episodes30

Newest first

Sep 16, 2025 · 43 min
Natalie brings a very venomous golf ball with legs
How are scientists redefining venom, and why is Josh breaking the rules? 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 'noxious'. 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 ---------------- YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon⁠ Website: ⁠http://www.nhm.ac.uk⁠ Instagram: ⁠http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm⁠ Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social⁠
Sep 2, 2025 · 38 min
Josh carries a fish like a clutch bag!
Does Josh really know the best way to carry a fish specimen through the Museum, and what's sent Natalie down a wormhole? Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'Tacky'. 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: https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon Website: http://www.nhm.ac.uk Instagram: http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social X: https://x.com/nhm_london Facebook: http://fb.com/naturalhistorymuseum Browse our shop: https://www.nhmshop.co.uk/
Aug 19, 2025 · 40 min
Natalie has an excuse to talk about space monkeys
Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'reliable'. 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: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon⁠ Website: ⁠http://www.nhm.ac.uk⁠ Instagram: ⁠http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm⁠ Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social⁠
Aug 5, 2025 · 36 min
Are there really that many ants in the world?
Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'incomplete'. 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: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon⁠ Website: ⁠http://www.nhm.ac.uk⁠ Instagram: ⁠http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm⁠ Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social⁠
Jul 22, 2025 · 41 min
Josh doesn't care about T. rex lips
Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'overrated'. 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: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon⁠ Website: ⁠http://www.nhm.ac.uk⁠ Instagram: ⁠http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm⁠ Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social⁠ X: ⁠https://x.com/nhm_london⁠
Jul 8, 2025 · 34 min
Mistaking a marine reptile for a communist
Join us for another episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'fresh'. 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: https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon Website: http://www.nhm.ac.uk Instagram: http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social X: https://x.com/nhm_london Facebook: http://fb.com/naturalhistorymuseum Browse our shop: https://www.nhmshop.co.uk/
Jun 24, 2025 · 35 min
That time Natalie really annoyed a chameleon
Join us for the third episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'Exuberant'. 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: https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon Website: http://www.nhm.ac.uk Instagram: http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social X: https://x.com/nhm_london
Jun 10, 2025 · 34 min
Natalie totally thought that was its butt
Join us for the second episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought four specimens all relating to the word 'squishy'. Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What's the tackiest? 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 #Squishy ---------------- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon Website: http://www.nhm.ac.uk Instagram: http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social X: https://x.com/nhm_london Facebook: http://fb.com/naturalhistorymuseum
May 27, 2025 · 41 min
Josh has questions about waxy whale earplugs...
Join us for the first episode of The 'Perfect' Specimen, this week Josh and Natalie have brought 4 specimens all relating to the word 'perfect'. 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. ---------------- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon Website: http://www.nhm.ac.uk Instagram: http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social X: https://x.com/nhm_london Facebook: http://fb.com/naturalhistorymuseum Browse our shop: https://www.nhmshop.co.uk/
May 27, 2025 · 1 min
Introducing The 'Perfect' Specimen
Welcome to The 'Perfect' Specimen, a podcast from the Natural History Museum, London. 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. ---------------- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NaturalHistoryMuseumLondon Website: http://www.nhm.ac.uk Instagram: http://instagram.com/natural_history_museum TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@its_nhm Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nhm-london.bsky.social X: https://x.com/nhm_london Facebook: http://fb.com/naturalhistorymuseum Browse our shop: https://www.nhmshop.co.uk/