The podcast episodes highlight the significant role that natural history museums have played in the advancement of various scientific fields, particularly paleontology and entomology.

For example, the episodes discuss how museums like the Smithsonian became key repositories for the fossil collections of renowned paleontologists Othniel Marsh and Edward Cope, and how the Natural History Museum's specimen collection informed the artist Isabella Kirkland's work to raise awareness about biodiversity loss.

The episodes also explore how natural history museums have served as hubs for scientific research and public engagement, providing opportunities for scientists like carcinologist Adam Wall to study and share their passion for the natural world.