Explore every episode of the podcast Fancy Scientist with Dr. Stephanie Manka
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Ecotourism Careers: Finding the World’s Rarest Wolf - Interview with Aspen S. | 20 oct. 2026 | 01:10:52 | |
A lot of you have told me you're interested in ecotourism, and I had been wanting to talk to someone who does it professionally and does it ethically. So, when I came across Aspen S. and her red wolf guiding work, I knew she was the perfect person to ask how a career like this actually gets built, from the first idea to paying clients. In today's episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast, I sat down with Aspen S., known on Instagram as @wildlifewithaspen. Aspen is an ethical guide and educator who made the transition from working with the nonprofit Wildlands Network to owning her own ecotourism company guiding visitors to see the critically endangered red wolf and other fun critters that live in Eastern North Carolina. She is also an amazing wildlife photographer with over 55,000 followers on Instagram, and a great fit for this episode because she has built a career on her own terms and doing what she loves. You’ll learn how Aspen was drawn to large carnivores from the start, beginning with coyotes in college. You’ll follow along her journey as a trail camera technician with the nonprofit Wildlands Network, where she learned how to tell red wolves from coyotes on camera (something very difficult for most people to do, even those in the wildlife field) and got to know the animals and the refuge. After several people suggested she try guiding, she did, and she has now been doing it for a few years! Aspen is also a fancy scientist. She doesn't look like a typical scientist or wildlife professional, and on her Instagram she describes herself as the swamp witch. You'll hear where that nickname came from, and we even talk about her animal jewelry and her apartment decor. You’ll learn exactly how she started guiding, set up her business, and what a day in her life looks like in her job. I also ask her how she exactly finds red wolves, a species with only about 30 individuals left! We go deep into red wolf conservation, including how red wolves differ from gray wolves, and what she has learned about running a social media account of her size. We also talk about ethical wildlife tourism and ecotourism in general. If you want to see animals you love, how can you do it without causing them harm? Aspen shares tips you can use on your next trip. At the end of the episode, I share some takeaways on how you can follow your own passion, because it can be something you transition into bit by bit. Specifically, we go over:
Jump Links 5:20 Meet Aspen: Ethical Red Wolf Guide 11:54 Finding Wolves Without GPS 12:35 Red Wolf Crisis: Fewer Than 30 Left 14:38 #1 Threat: Vehicle Strikes 27:00 Building a Wildlife Guide Business 28:57 Social Media & Mental Health 30:32 Why Red Wolves Look 'Skinny' 33:57 Red Wolf Conflicts: Politics & Myths 37:15 A Day in the Life of a Wolf Guide 43:49 Ethical Wildlife Watching Tips 47:04 Fear of Going Full-Time as a Guide 51:02 Favorite Wolf Moment: Pups & Howling 54:00 Wildlife Photography Tips 58:31 Saving Wolves Through Ecotourism 1:00:28 How Her Alligator Video Went Viral Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… 🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-161-aspen-s/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Building a Wildlife Career Without Breaking the Bank: Real Talk on Money, Salaries and Spending | 29 sept. 2026 | 00:49:04 | |
If you're considering a career in wildlife, conservation, or environmental sciences, you've probably heard that these fields don't pay well and even that you have to be wealthy to make it. But surely, there must be regular folks making it in wildlife careers? Can you really make a living? Pay your bills and raise a family? Or are you doomed to be broke forever if you pursue a career you love in this field? Making wildlife and related careers work financially is one of those topics that we don't talk about enough (if at all?). We talk about passion, research, saving wildlife, and making a difference but at the end of the day, we also need to pay our bills so… That's exactly what this episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast is all about! Money is an essential part of our lives and our careers, and we shouldn’t feel bad about not only needing it, but wanting it. It’s essential for us to pursue our calling of working with wildlife and helping the environment. We can’t do this without it. This week’s episode is all about money. I've worked as a researcher for 17 years and now as a career mentor for the past six, and I’m here to tell you that none of the people I worked with, that’s right, NONE, were innately wealthy, yet they landed jobs. My friends who I went to graduate school with, some of whom were skating the poverty line at the time, now have jobs as professors, wildlife biologists, researchers, and more. I'm going to give you the real deal on the financial realities of working in wildlife and related fields, and maybe even blow your mind (hopefully!) by discussing jobs where you can actually be financially comfortable, and even end up wealthy. I start with a mindset shift I learned long before I ever became a wildlife biologist, back when I wanted to be an actress. From there, I get into how you can build experience without spending any money at all, and that you don’t need to sacrifice daily 9-5 life volunteering with unpaid experiences. I break down where it actually makes sense to spend money in this field, and where it doesn't: whether paying for programs abroad are necessary, if certificates are worth it, how to think about getting degrees, and why paying for a Master's degree without a clear plan can actually waste tens of thousands of your hard-earned dollars (I’ve seen it happen). Finally, I go over the fields and job types that do tend to pay well, and how to think about where the money actually is in this field. By the end of this episode, my intention is that you walk away with a much clearer, more realistic picture of what's actually possible financially in this field, to surprise and delight you, and bust the misconception that you need to be wealthy or willing to go broke to build a real wildlife career. It doesn't matter who you are or what background you come from, I strongly believe this field is for everyone, and I want to help you make a change in your community so that together, we can change the world. Specifically, we cover:
Jump Links 0:00 Introduction 4:14 The Real Deal on Money in Wildlife Careers 6:12 First an Essential Mindset Shift 15:00 How to Get Experience Without Breaking the Bank 19:34 Citizen Science as Free Experience 21:21 It's Not Always About More Experience 23:00 Spending & Saving Money on Degrees 26:56 Master's Degrees & PhDs 30:22 Certificates: Worth It or Not? 35:53 Jobs That Pay Well: How to Think About It 43:04 Job Types That Pay Well 45:41 Environmental Sciences Careers 46:31 Fisheries, Agriculture & Forestry 48:34 Corporate & Sustainability Jobs 50:32 Closing Remarks Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… 🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-160-wildlife-career-money-salaries-spending/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Landing a Permanent Wildlife Job with Steve Irwin x Tupac Energy: Interview with José Juan Rodriguez Gutierrez | 08 sept. 2026 | 01:04:11 | |
One day I was mindlessly scrolling on Instagram and a video stopped me in my tracks. This reel was from a 26-year old with a permanent job, offering some excellent career advice, well beyond his years. I was intrigued, but when I read his bio, saying “Steve Irwin X Tupac,” I was instantly hooked! Landing a permanent job is tough when you are first starting out, so this is an accomplishment in itself. Some of my friends with Master’s degrees didn’t get theirs until their late 20s or early 30s, and here was this young man without an advanced degree in one at 26. But what also struck me was the advice he was giving. A lot of the things are not necessarily hard or complicated, but simply what most people don’t do because it does involve stepping out of your comfort zone. These are the kinds of things that actually get results, and the same kinds of things I tell my students to do, but that most people aren’t willing to do…(cough cough intentional networking)... And of course his style of science communication really captured my attention! With an Instagram bio that read “Steve Irwin X Tupac," I had to learn more. And what better place than the Fancy Scientist podcast? José Juan Rodriguez Gutierrez works on threatened and endangered species in rural Humboldt County, California (he prefers to keep the organization he works for private). His job sounds like a nature lover’s dream: getting to conduct wildlife surveys out in the forest, often setting up camera traps to understand the population dynamics of endangered species like the Humboldt marten. He’s also worked on the California Condor Recovery Program, prairie, stream, and other restoration initiatives, as well as salmon research to name a few. José spends most of his time in the forest and lives in a small town of less than 20,000 people, yet he grew up in Long Beach, California, a big city with millions of people and stores at every corner! I ask José how he was able to land a permanent job at the young age of 26 and his personal path into place that looks so different from how he grew up. We get into practical tips for starting wildlife careers as José shares his unconventional approach to networking, starting with classmates and peers rather than jumping straight to established professionals, the mentors who went beyond their job description to make a real difference for him, and how he kept his career moving during the pandemic by teaching himself GIS when fieldwork wasn't an option. There are also some more unexpected parts of José’s journey, including one of the ways he's passionate about getting conservation messages out: combining his love of hip-hop with the wildlife world. As a kid, he was shy and self-conscious about his accent, never picturing himself in front of a camera or a crowd. But his passion for communicating conservation superseded that, causing him to step out of his comfort zone, pursue a communication degree, practice, and hone his skills. And the results are incredible: He’s grown his Instagram to nearly 20,000 followers since I first came across him and his posts reach hundreds of thousands of people! José opens up about how this wasn’t always easy, and the more uncomfortable parts of building confidence and communication skills, something he had to work on early in his career. His passion for conservation overrode his insecurities, as well as his desire to reach all kinds of communities, especially the ones he is a part of. He’s especially intentional about communicating conservation back to his own community and other underrepresented groups historically excluded from science and nature education. As the child of immigrant parents, he felt isolated growing up, not speaking English at first, and rarely seeing anyone who looked or sounded like him in the wildlife field. Instead of leaving that part of himself behind, he wants Latino kids to see themselves in this work too. He believes they (and you!) belong in nature, even if you have not spent much time in it yet. You’ll see that one way José does this as well as sets himself apart from other wildlife professionals on social media is through blending messages of conservation with hip-hop culture music, lending to his "Steve Irwin X Tupac" tagline on his Instagram bio. When he received a grant from Save the Redwoods League to study California condor reintroduction, he even made one of his three deliverables a hip-hop song about the species. You're going to walk away from this interview inspired, excited, and with a huge smile on your face, because not only is José’s journey inspirational, but he's also super funny, has a diverse range of interests, and is beyond passionate about this field. He provided so many amazing tips, many of which I share with my own students, so make sure you stay tuned to the end, where I break down the most important concepts to take away to give yourself the competitive edge in this field. I’m so inspired by this episode that maybe I’ll add “Elle Woods x Jane Goodall” to my Instagram bio. Specifically, we go over:
Jump Links 5:13 Working in wildlife: camera traps, condors, and field life 13:52 The reality of seasonal jobs and low pay in conservation 15:00 Optimism amid a competitive job market 16:39 How José got into wildlife (from TV to career) 17:36 Family, toys, and childhood influences 20:22 Blending hip-hop and conservation 26:22 Curiosity as the core scientific skill 30:47 Landing a permanent job (after 3 tries) 32:27 Internships, mentors, and getting a foot in the door 39:29 Networking tips that actually work 50:51 His social media process and mindset 53:45 Outro and key takeaways Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… 🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-159-jose-juan-rodriguez/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| When Your "Dream Job" Isn't What You Thought: Finding Career Alignment in Wildlife Conservation: Interview with Dylan Karl | 25 août 2026 | 00:59:38 | |
Have you been applying and applying to wildlife jobs or experiences only to hear nothing back? That’s exactly what happened to Dylan Karl despite having a degree from a prestigious university specializing in wildlife, a Master’s degree, years of experience, and a wildlife biologist certification from The Wildlife Society. Dylan had seemingly everything, yet, he was applying to 30-50 jobs every season, but nothing was landing. Dylan’s story is even more unique. Dylan was one of my Successful Wildlife Professional students, and when I first started working with him, he was working in a wildlife job, but unhappy. He felt that although he was technically involved in wildlife work mitigating damage at airports, he wasn’t having the impact he wanted, and felt like he was spending a lot more time killing wildlife rather than saving it. So Dylan decided to join the Successful Wildlife Professional program and get help. And it paid off almost instantly! Within two months of the program, he applied for and got his dream job of working with Mexican wolves. This was a huge win and we were both so excited for his future! Because of these incredible results, I knew I had to have him on the Fancy Scientist podcast to share. But when I interviewed him, I was surprised he was no longer working there! It turns out that his story took an unexpected turn. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for reality to not match up with expectations in our field… Dylan had always imagined himself as a bridge between wildlife and people, helping manage conflict and promote coexistence. But what he thought was a non-lethal position in Arizona turned out to not be so non-lethal after all, due to pressure from ranchers pushing for the lethal removal of federally protected wolves. This didn't sit right with him, and that misalignment caused him to rethink what he actually wanted out of his career. Luckily, he had the tools he learned from the Successful Wildlife Professional to lean back on. He used the trainings on understanding the jobs and workplaces and personal exercises to uncover his own desires and strengths to re-identify his dream job. He combined this with the wildlife-specific protocols in the application section to write competitive cover letters and resumes for his new dream path. He now works as a Preserve Management Assistant for the prestigious The Nature Conservancy in northwestern Minnesota, helping to manage approximately 300,000 acres of tallgrass aspen parklands through tools like prescribed burns and seed spreading. Every morning he wakes up feeling like he's taking care of the animals he loves’ homes. Dylan also gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to work at the Nature Conservancy and what prescribed fire management actually looks like, including how burning 400 acres of land can transform a smothered wetland into one teeming with native wildflowers, frogs, fish, and water birds just a month later. After the interview, I break down the key takeaways so you can apply them to your own path, including why "proven experience" beats just experience, why knowing your end goal changes everything, and why the workplace you choose matters just as much as the work itself. Specifically, we talk about:
Jumps Links 3:28 Meet Dylan Karl 4:50 Dylan's Winding Career Path 5:24 Working at The Nature Conservancy 6:26 Prescribed Fire & Conservation 11:40 Dylan's Education & Background 15:25 Peace Corps, Zoo Work & Master's Degree 18:45 Working for USDA Wildlife Services 22:51 The Non-Lethal Wolf Job That Wasn't 24:19 Landing at The Nature Conservancy 27:37 Is There a Bait & Switch in Wildlife Careers? 31:46 Why Dylan Joined Successful Wildlife Professional 32:36 Carpet Bombing Applications & Career Misalignment 35:32 Finding His Dream: Habitat Management 40:31 A Moment of Success in the Field 42:36 What Makes Dylan a Fancy Scientist 45:20 The Owl That Defended Her Mate 46:49 How to Get a Job at The Nature Conservancy 49:18 Is the SWP Program Worth It? Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… 🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-158-dylan-karl/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| What are Wildlife Research-Adjacent Jobs and Should You Take One? | 28 juil. 2026 | 00:39:43 | |
What if I told you that most jobs in wildlife, conservation, and environmental science aren't directly in research? Would you be shocked? Well, it's true! And that's exactly what I talk about in this episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast. When most people think of wildlife work, they think of jobs in wildlife research. Those are jobs where you pose questions or objectives, and then collect, process, and analyze data to address them. But when you compare these jobs to all of the others in the realm of wildlife, conservation, and environmental sciences work, they are actually in the minority. I am calling these non- ”traditional” jobs wildlife research-adjacent work or even just wildlife-adjacent jobs, even though they relate to conservation and the environmental sciences, and some are definitely in the wildlife field. This was a topic suggested by members of my Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook group a couple of years ago because there is strong interest in them, so I thought it would be the perfect topic to take a deep dive into for the podcast because it is a big one. In fact, it’s WAY too much to cover in just an episode. This is by no means a full list, and there’s not enough time to go into them in-depth. For example, in my group mentoring program, the Successful Wildlife Professional, we spend at least 30 minutes for each job and organization type. I’ll walk you through the major categories: data analytical and processing roles like GIS, statistics, lab work, and computer science; communications, outreach, fundraising, and education jobs; wildlife health careers, rehab, and vet work; zookeeping; more environmental science roles in water quality, forestry, and agriculture; corporate sustainability positions; and outdoor recreation jobs. But first, before you even consider a wildlife-adjacent job, I ask you to question WHY you’re pursuing one of these jobs in the first place. Is it because it is truly a job you want? Or is it because you feel like you can’t get the job you really do want? In my experience working with individuals seeking these kinds of jobs, it’s usually the latter, and if that’s the case, I encourage you to go after what it is you really want because this is a fixable problem. I identify the two big reasons that people can’t get wildlife jobs in the first place and what you can do about them. Finally, I'll leave you with this: wildlife jobs have a reputation for being competitive and low-paying, but that's not universal, especially when you consider adjacent jobs. In a recent podcast interview with Patrick Rainey of Ducks Unlimited, we talked about some wetlands restoration jobs that are in demand and also well-paying. So if getting a high salary is important to you, you might want to explore wildlife-adjacent work. Specifically, we cover:
Jump links: 2:21 What Are Wildlife Research-Adjacent Jobs? 4:25 Common Job Search Mistakes 16:19 Data & Analytics Jobs 21:39 Communications & Education Jobs 28:19 Wildlife Rehab & Vet Careers 30:51 Zookeeping & Aquariums 35:11 Forestry, Agriculture & Museums 37:05 Private Sector and Corporations 37:47 Final Takeaways Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… 🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-157-wildlife-adjacent-jobs/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Do Zoos Help Conservation? Research, Ethics, and Careers | 14 juil. 2026 | 00:33:49 | |
Do zoos actually help conservation? Contribute to wildlife research? Or are they mostly to entertain people? A couple of years ago, I did a podcast interview all about zoos, and I thought this would be a great topic for my own podcast due to the complexity. It’s not a straightforward answer… In fact, during the pandemic, when we were all watching The Tiger King, I did a whole blog post series on the ethics and research impacts of zoos, and these are still some of my most popular posts! Zoos were originally built purely for entertainment and were the only way most people could see an exotic animal. Placed in cement cages or concrete pits, animals were there to fascinate, but at the expense of their well-being. But as scientists and the public have learned more about animals, some zoos began to change. There are now high-quality institutions running genuine conservation science, captive breeding programs, and research on wild animal populations. But unfortunately, not all zoos have stepped up. There are still dilapidated roadside attractions where animals are locked in cement cages, might be forced to do unnatural and harmful tricks, or be bred to have a constant supply of babies for tourists to pose with for photos, and with nowhere to go once they get older. These zoos might do things that they call research, but really, this is a form of greenwashing so that they can use these small projects to justify their money-making operations from animals. On the flip side, I talk about how zoos genuinely contribute to conservation. For example, conducting real research on animals outside of their zoo population, providing genetic safety nets, and captive breeding animals like the black-footed ferret and golden lion tamarin from the brink of extinction. In this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I’m going to walk you through zoos so that you can understand these differences, as well as offer some guidelines so that you can make an informed decision for yourself. I break down what separates a good zoo from a bad one, and the gray areas in between. I also address the harder question of whether zoos change people's minds. Many claim that zoos educate the public about wildlife, but just because they present information doesn’t mean that people take it in or take conservation actions…Those are much harder to change. I talk about a meta-analysis of 56 studies on visitor attitudes after zoo visits, plus how zoos like Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are trying to close the gap between education and action with things like their sustainable palm oil initiative. And because this podcast is always about helping you build a wildlife career, I offer an overview of the different kinds of roles that you can obtain for employment, as well as my own behind-the-scenes experience, where I monitored elephant pregnancy hormones and worked on reproductive research for cotton-top tamarins. You’ll get a rundown of the career paths zoos actually offer: zookeeping, education, communications, research, and creative roles like videography, plus wildlife-adjacent jobs in finance, fundraising, and law. I also explain what kinds of zoo work won’t help your wildlife career, no matter how much hands-on animal experience it seems to offer. Specifically, we talk about:
Jump links: 1:52 Tiger King during COVID 4:59 History of zoos: from pure entertainment to modern standards 7:28 Roadside zoos & Tiger King-style operations 8:08 Signs of an ethical zoo: no touching wild animals, enrichment, barriers 13:00 Captive breeding & maintaining genetic diversity 15:10 Reintroduction programs & minimizing human contact 16:37 Personal experience at Disney's Animal Kingdom (elephant endocrine research) 20:31 Zoos & education: Do they change attitudes toward wildlife? 23:47 The argument against zoos 25:49 AZA accreditation & evolving zoo standards 27:56 Careers in zoos overview 33:02 Outro & upcoming free training: The Four Faux Paws Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… 🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-156-zoos/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| My WILDEST Wildlife Biologist Moments | 23 juin 2026 | 00:44:59 | |
As a wildlife biologist, you have incredible moments with animals that are nearly impossible for other people to experience. But you also do some pretty crazy, strange, and downright WEIRD things. In my 17 years working in the field across four continents and for a variety of organizations, I've had experiences that range from terrifying to awe-inspiring to disgusting. So in this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I'm sharing my top ten with you! Plus, you’ll get a couple of bonus memories. The show notes for this episode will be really short because I don’t want to give away too much, but I’ll take you on my adventures from Central Africa to Central Missouri, and from the suburbs to remote mountaintops. You’ll learn about the most dangerous things that I did, the (multiple) scary animal encounters that I had, and how I felt like I was living in an Indian Jones movie at times. You’ll hear about encounters with lions and tigers and (no bears, sorry), but other animals! Specifically, I go over:
Whether you want to work in wildlife professionally, you're already in the field, or you simply love wild animals and wild places, you'll walk away from this episode inspired to go explore the natural world, whether it’s traveling to a new country or taking a deep dive in the green spaces in your neighborhood. Nature is everywhere and ready for you to explore. Jump Links: 00:00 Intro and why I'm doing superlatives 03:42 Most scary, early career 09:17 Most awe-inspiring 12:58 Most psychologically scary 15:03 Feeling most like a wildlife biologist 17:53 Most Indiana Jones 21:55 Closest animal encounter 23:59 Most rare and unique 26:12 Most dangerous 29:28 Weirdest 32:21 Scariest moment of my life 39:33 Bonus moment 1 41:42 Bonus moment 2 Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… 🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-155-wildest-wildlife/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Don't Shoot the Messenger: Navigating AI in Wildlife Conservation Work | 09 juin 2026 | 00:48:10 | |
AI seems like it’s EVERYWHERE nowadays, and I know if you’re a conservationist like me, you’re concerned about its environmental impacts, and maybe even avoiding it because of them… But I recently read an article that scared the bejesus out of me. It basically stated: AI is here, and those who don’t know how to use it well, WILL be left behind. And then I realized, AI is already here, not just in our everyday lives (you can’t run a Google search without it), but it’s also here in wildlife work. Big conservation organizations all over the globe are using AI to document, assess, and analyze biodiversity to combat huge losses. Platforms like iNaturalist, Merlin Bird ID, and Wildlife Insights all use AI models. And now I’m starting to see it pop up in wildlife job advertisements. Posts are now asking for applicants to know how to use and run AI effectively in wildlife work by integrating Claude and ChatGPT in their workflow and processes. This episode is NOT about the environmental impacts of AI, but rather that it’s that AI is here, hard to avoid to some extent, and that organizations are already using it. If you’re pursuing wildlife work, they are now also asking you to adopt it. And just like the article I read, I’m concerned that if you don’t adopt it, you’ll be left behind. So in this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I am talking all about AI in wildlife work. I'll be honest, I was a little nervous to record this one. It's a topic that can ruffle some feathers, and as you’ll learn in the episode, there is a lot of real pushback from not just environmentalists, but society as a whole. My goal in providing you with this episode isn't to tell you whether to use AI or avoid it. I’ll leave that up to you. Rather, it's to provide you with my perspective using 20+ years in wildlife work, and actually having worked on a large AI conservation project, on how it's already being used in nature and conservation research, how I expect it to be used in the future, and what it means for your career. In this episode, I walk you through how large conservation organizations are using AI with examples across different species and systems, and what it means for you as a job-seeker. Should you use AI to write your cover letters and resume? Is AI messing up the system so that your applications can’t get through? I’ll cover all of that for you. So if you're worried about what AI means for wildlife careers, or maybe you're curious and didn’t realize the extent to which it is being used in conservation research right now, or just want to get the competitive edge when it comes to wildlife, conservation, or environmental careers, this episode is for you. Specifically, we talk about:
Jump Links: 00:00 Welcome and Topic 04:25 AI Environmental Impact and Context 08:54 AI Is Already Here in Wildlife Work 12:57 AI Tools in Conservation 17:31 Research Automation Examples 22:00 Jobs and Skills Shift 26:21 Data Heavy Future 30:10 Regular Job Postings Seeking AI Skills 34:18 Authenticity Over Automation for Job Applications 43:26 AI in the Hiring Process 47:02 Final Thoughts and Next Steps Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… 🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-154-ai-in-wildlifework/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Not Accepting No! Succeeding at Wildlife Careers with a Disability: Interview with Grace O’Dea | 26 mai 2026 | 00:44:27 | |
Do you want a wildlife, conservation, or environmental sciences career, but feel that it is not physically possible for you? Do you have health challenges or a condition that limits you and are worried that it prevents you from working in a field that is notoriously demanding? Or do you feel discriminated against because of these circumstances? You are not alone! I have heard from aspiring wildlife biologists all over the world that they struggle with conditions like chronic fatigue, anxiety, sight disabilities, strokes, ADHD, and more and are concerned that they can’t work in this field, which they love so much. I, myself, struggle with an autoimmune condition that greatly slows down my metabolism, and has made me heavily fatigued at key points in my career. Well, in this week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast, I’m showing you that it’s possible for you with an interview with a young conservationist who blew me away with her unstoppable attitude. When I first heard Grace O’Dea speak on a Green Jobs webinar event, I was so inspired by her story that I knew I had to have her on the podcast. Grace has cerebral palsy, and at 17, she was told by someone that her lack of upper-body strength meant that she could never work in an animal career. But that’s not where her story ended… In fact, she used that “no,” as ammunition to propel her wildlife career. Today she is a permanent educator at a major aquarium and has previously worked in physically demanding jobs at farms and zoos, proving that naysayer wrong. This week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast is all about NOT accepting no as an answer when it comes to pursuing your dreams or whatever conservation goal you want to accomplish no matter what your circumstances are. If you want to work in the wildlife field, you'll want to listen for sure, but this episode is for everyone. No matter what you were going after in your career or even your life, the lessons that Grace shares will apply to the seemingly impossible situation that you are going through. Through our conversation, you’ll learn how Grace navigated her path by refusing to let her disability define her. She didn't let being questioned stop her; instead, she purposely built her physical strength at the gym. She didn’t hide her disability either. Rather, she voiced her concerns to employers so that they could find ways to work with her condition rather than around it. Grace shares her experience working with everything from hedgehogs to wild deer, and how she uses positive messaging and hope to impact the public rather than the typical conservation messages of doom and gloom. She explains how she handles the physical aspects of her current and past jobs and why being "ballsy" and confident is your greatest asset, even if you are naturally shy or introverted. And the results of her boldness are incredible! Grace started as a seasonal employee, but she didn't just wait for it to end and look for something else. Instead, she took the initiative to email her bosses and ask if her position could be made permanent. And it worked! She now has a full-time permanent position as a conservation educator delivering daily talks to aquarium guests and teaching the next generation about ocean conservation. Grace also excels at networking. She lets us in on her strategies, which led to her being invited as a guest speaker for her university’s graduation and connecting with influencers in the green jobs space. We talk about how she leverages LinkedIn by active and intentional posting, using hashtags strategically, and attracting professionals to her profile through sharing her personal and professional achievements. I also noticed that Grace is a fancy scientist herself. We discuss her fancy side and how she owns her personal style and unique comedic value to be an unconventional, yet highly effective educator. After the interview, I break down key take-home points for you to apply to your own career or situation, including sharing resources helping you adopt Grace's unstoppable mindset, using LinkedIn as a search strategy, and why you should never be afraid to ask for a job extension or a permanent role. If you ever thought you couldn’t pursue conservation because of a health condition, your background, or a lack of financial resources, Grace is living proof that it’s all possible! After listening to this episode, I know you’ll walk away filled with hope, and ready to face the challenge in your career head on. Specifically, we talk about:
Jump links: 03:53 Meet Grace O’Day 06:02 Told No at 17 07:54 Finding Her Why 08:42 Aquarium Career Path 11:55 Turning Seasonal Permanent 16:14 Impact Through Education 19:20 Navigating Cerebral Palsy at Work 25:52 Networking With LinkedIn 29:50 LinkedIn for Wildlife Careers Masterclass 31:33 Hedgehog Sanctuary Stories 34:08 Being A Fancy Scientist 35:25 Advice And Future Plans 38:00 Key Takeaways And Wrap Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… 🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-153-grace-odea/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Age is Just a Number! Breaking into the National Park Service in Your 50s: Interview with Lynda Moore | 12 mai 2026 | 00:56:07 | |
Do you have a lingering desire to start a wildlife career, but feel like it might be too late for you? Or maybe you’re working on a wildlife career, but it isn’t working for you, and time just keeps passing by? You got the degree, but then life got in the way, and you even had to get a non-wildlife job to pay the bills… Well, I’m here to tell you that whether you’re 25, 45, or older, a wildlife career IS still possible for you (and yes, I get by 25-year-olds who think they are too late), and this week’s Fancy Scientist podcast episode really proves it! I interviewed Yellowstone Park Ranger Lynda Moore about her journey from Radiologic Technologist to environmental educator and what it’s really like to work in one of the most famous protected areas. Lynda first spent 28 years working in healthcare before deciding to return to school in 2017. She graduated with her degree in wildlife conservation biology in 2021, just two weeks before her 58th birthday! Now, she is working in one of the most coveted locations in the world for wildlife job seekers: Yellowstone National Park. Through our conversation, you’ll learn how Linda navigated the challenges of being a non-traditional student and successfully landed a position with the National Park Service. She didn't let age hold her back or fears about ageism in the workplace. In fact, she embraced her past experiences and used them to her advantage, leveraging her work as a Radiologic Technologist to her new career while focusing on new strategies to land her a park service job. You’ll learn that Lynda emphasized networking and learning from others, building relationships with professors and graduate students while getting her degree. She shares how she willingly raised her hand for new opportunities, including counting bee behaviors in a lab and driving across the country for internships. You’ll also get an insider’s perspective on the fascinating, and sometimes dangerous, reality of working in America’s first National Park. Lynda discusses her role as an interpretive ranger, educating the public on everything from the park’s unique thermal geology to the "Big Five" wildlife species in the United States. She shares eye-opening stories about "babysitting" a 2,000-pound bison and the constant struggle to keep tourists at a safe distance from unpredictable wild animals. I also asked Lynda about the technical side of landing a federal job. She credits her success to having a mentor help her navigate the notoriously difficult federal resume process. You’ll learn about the new federal resume requirements and how she transitioned from the "healthcare brain" to the "biologist brain," and how she carried over the work ethic and supervisory skills from her previous career that made her a standout candidate. After the interview, I break down the take-home points that you can apply to your own journey, regardless of your age. I explain how previous "unrelated" career experience can actually contain a variety of transferable skills for wildlife jobs, how to network with people who are decades younger (or older) than you, and how seeking outside help from professionals can help you navigate something like the frustration of the federal application system. If you’ve ever told yourself you’re "too old," that "it’s too late," or that "employers won't hire someone my age," Linda is living proof that the National Park Service, and the wildlife field at large, needs your experience and your passion! And even if you aren’t working towards a wildlife career, in this episode, you’ll be fascinated by what it’s like to work inside one of the world’s most iconic parks. Specifically, we talk about:
Jump Links: 02:56 Meet Ranger Linda 04:13 Career Switch Story 05:36 Internships And Mentors 07:38 Landing Yellowstone Job 08:24 Seasonal Life Logistics 10:41 Ranger Duties Explained 13:32 Visitor Questions And History 15:24 Expectations Versus Reality 18:08 Wildlife Safety Lessons 19:52 Craziest Tourist Encounters 25:04 Bison Babysitting And Bears 27:44 Choosing Biology Later 32:23 Networking in School 34:09 Ageism and Confidence 37:06 Federal Resume Tips 39:40 Unforgettable Animal Moments 43:52 Teaching Predators Balance 45:39 How to Get Hired 49:32 Key Takeaways Wrap Up Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… 🐾 Get my FREE Weekly Wildlife Wrap-Up where every Friday, I share strategies on how to stand out and get hired in wildlife, conservation, and environmental careers using a framework that's landed my students permanent jobs, internships, and more: https://stephanieschuttler.podia.com/wildlife-wrap-up 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-152-lynda-moore/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| From Passive to Proactive: Making Your Wildlife Career Happen When You Feel Stuck: Interview with Makeela Mogomolla | 23 mars 2026 | 00:54:04 | |
How do you actually make your wildlife career happen when you feel like you’ve missed your window? You got the degree, maybe even got some temporary jobs here and there, but you felt like you weren’t getting traction. Or couldn’t see how it could all come together. And time just keeps ticking away… That’s exactly how my former Successful Wildlife Professional student, Makeela Magomolla, was feeling before she joined my group mentoring program. Even though she was young at 25, the world was taken over by a pandemic, halting opportunities for young wildlife professionals left and right, and she felt powerless to move forward in her wildlife career and contribute to making a difference in the world. But in this week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, you’ll discover how we turned that around for her! After graduating in 2020 in the midst of the COVID pandemic, when the world shut down, Makeela found herself in a lab job, feeling like she had missed her chance and questioning if she was “too old” for a wildlife career. Today, she is a Master’s student leading acoustic surveys and collaborating directly with state DNR biologists on the animals she is most passionate about: bats. Through our conversation, you’ll learn how Makeela moved out of a “dark space” by taking the advice to be intentional. She didn’t just wait for luck; she went on a “rampage” to find opportunities. You’ll learn how she started to make things happen for her: she volunteered in wildlife rehabilitation and reached out to a campus group called the “Bat Brigade” that had been dormant since the pandemic. She even took the preemptive step of paying for her own rabies vaccinations, an expensive and painful preventative needed for bat work, to ensure she was ready for any hands-on opportunity that came her way. You’ll hear how Makeela mastered networking through cold emailing professionals she wanted to work with and learn from. Despite being shy using the methods and templates provided in the Successful Wildlife Professional program, she reached out to graduate students, professors, and other researchers.She even connected with a former podcast guest of mine, Dr. Seth Magle, which led to an introduction that helped her find a graduate advisor and a project she truly cared about. The results of her networking were so effective, that when she was invited to an important meeting with bat specialists in the area, she realized that she already had met everyone in the room prior! Her dedication even led to a generous donation from a sponsor, allowing her to start her first semester of graduate school while she applied for teaching assistantships. Makeela shares the details of her Master’s research, which includes analyzing the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources data sets, tracking rehabilitated bats post-release, and studying the effectiveness of community science as a tool in wildlife research, as well as the importance of science communication and getting the community involved in nature right where they live. You’ll walk away from Makeela’s story excited about what is possible when you decide to be intentional about your career path. Makeela proves that even when you are at your “wits’ end,” small shifts in mindset, strategy, and more led her to incredible results! Finally, after the interview, I break down the main points Makeela covered and how you can apply them to your own career, including the importance of mindset, why you should lead with the job you want rather than the degree, and how to build a community in this field, no matter your background. Specifically, we talk about:
Jump links: 01:13 Meet Mikayla And Big Lessons 04:34 Early Passion For Wildlife 05:55 Pandemic Graduation Detour 09:23 Quarter Life Crisis 11:05 Choosing Bats On Purpose 14:30 Bat Brigade Leadership 17:22 Networking Into Grad School 23:40 Funding And TA Path 25:59 Masters Project Overview 29:45 Citizen Science Impact 30:36 Career Goals and Tanzania 32:08 Local Nature Appreciation 36:19 Gorillas and Wildlife Highlights 40:20 Being BIPOC Outdoors 44:29 Networking and Cold Emails 48:23 Host Recap and Resources Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-151-makeela-magomolla/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| No Experience, No problem! Building a Wildlife Career from Scratch: Interview with Christina Weber | 14 mars 2026 | 00:57:22 | |
Christina Weber did what most aspiring wildlife professionals think is impossible: she got every single offer she applied to with absolutely NO EXPERIENCE! How did she do it? That’s what this week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast is all about. After listening to this episode, I know you’ll walk away inspired, ready to take action, and make things happen in your career so that you can work towards having a real impact on the species that need our help. I invited my former Successful Wildlife Professional student, Christina Weber, to come on the podcast because I have been so impressed by all the success she has achieved despite having no wildlife or environmental experience to get her foot in the door. When Christina began in the program, she was running a dog-walking business and had volunteered with horses, and needed help breaking into wildlife, conservation, or environmental work. Now she is working on a NASA-funded project and getting ready to start a summer internship at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC! Throughout our conversation, you’ll learn exactly what Christina did to gain traction fast in her career. She took the program’s advice and ran with it. And it WORKED. It worked so well that I honestly can’t believe her results! She took experience into her own hands and started with citizen and community science (including regularly conducting eBird surveys). She took advantage of and attended one-off hands-on volunteer opportunities such as beach cleanups, seal monitoring, and horseshoe crab monitoring to start somewhere and meet people in the field. You’ll hear how Christina maximized opportunities to network, including creating her own connections by cold emailing professionals with the templates provided in the Successful Wildlife Professional program, even though she describes herself as shy and introverted. Her networking efforts led to referrals, informational conversations, and REAL job opportunities. The results were incredible: Christina applied to four seasonal positions over the summer and was offered every one of them. She was even offered an AZA-accredited aquarium internship that she didn’t apply for! The employer received her resume through a cold email and decided to put it in the internship pile! Christina was shocked when she received a call asking if she wanted to interview. Christina shares that now she’s conducting research through a NASA-funded New Jersey Space Grant Consortium project on microplastic bioaccumulation in marine copepods. She explains how she designed a project connected to her ultimate goal of working with whales by studying what whales eat. When facing obstacles, she didn’t let anything stop her, and she describes being “scrappy” in her community college setting by building equipment, culturing phytoplankton, and managing the costs and logistics of an ambitious project. We also talk about how much wildlife work involves working with people. Christina was even able to bring her past dog-walking experience into her wildlife work! She shares that she educated dog owners on responsible beach behavior around endangered piping plovers, using common ground from her dog walking business to communicate conservation messages effectively. After the interview, I offer you take-home points that you can apply right away to your own situation right now, no matter who you are, including how to volunteer without giving up your whole life or going into debt, using citizen/community science to build legitimate experience, get on LinkedIn strategically, and focus on quality over quantity in your job applications. If you ever thought you couldn’t do something because you didn’t have enough experience, go to the right school, or know the right people, Christina is living proof that you can do it on your own! There are NO excuses! Specifically, we talk about:
Jump links: 03:52 Christina’s Nontraditional Start 06:24 First Steps in Wildlife 07:22 Landing Job Offers 10:30 Volunteering That Counts 13:24 Networking for Introverts 16:12 LinkedIn Career Boost 17:49 Cold Email Aquarium Win 19:15 Dream Job and Research Path 21:13 NASA Microplastics Project 27:01 Finding Your Field Fit 29:23 Humbling Field Moments 30:29 Protecting Piping Plovers 31:06 Finding Common Ground 32:28 Career Wins and Strategy 35:01 Horseshoe Crabs and Policy 38:42 Wildlife Moments and Whales 40:13 Program Lessons and Mindset 51:05 Post Interview Takeaways Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/fancy-scientist-podcast-150-christina-weber/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| From Flour Beetles to Forest Elephants: My 20 Year Wildlife Career | 08 mars 2026 | 01:09:02 | |
I’ve recently gained a lot of new followers, so for this week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast, I wanted to share with you my vast experience that I’ve had working as a wildlife biologist for nearly twenty years, so that you can fully understand what this field is like. My career has taken me all over the world, and I’ve been on all different kinds of adventures: from hiking the deserts of Utah to the top of Mount Kenya, and from flour beetles to forest elephants. I have worked across four different continents and in almost every type of organization that you can think of: the government, zoos, museums, universities, and alongside nonprofits. In this episode, I break down each one of the positions that I have had in the past, telling you what they’re like and what I did, but more importantly, how I felt about the position emotionally, mentally, and what it did for my career. This is a comprehensive, yet fun overview of my journey. It’s you and me hanging out, sharing the raw reality of these different places, so you can see the truth behind the resume. I do not shy away from discussing real challenges, like navigating toxic work environments and the “sink or swim” nature of graduate research. Chances are, you’ll find it refreshing how I don’t hold back, but also share how I pulled through. I started my wildlife career officially in 2003 when I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree. My first position was an internship with the Bureau of Land Management in St. George, Utah, where I searched for water catchments to help wildlife combat drought and started some preliminary bat research in the Grand Canyon. This got me started in my wildlife career, but this was a challenging internship, and I almost quit! I’m so glad I didn’t because that experience led me to a dream internship at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where I worked in a glass-walled lab doing endocrine research on the captive animals there, including African savanna elephants and the critically endangered cotton-top tamarin monkey. This was a total 180 from my experience in the desert! I loved Disney World and spent my days catching tamarin poop and helping to monitor elephant pregnancies. It was a supportive environment that showed me how much I loved combining science with outreach. From there, my journey took me to Kenya as an intern for the School for Field Studies, which was also enriching but challenging. Again, I almost quit! But here I showed that I could work at a field station internationally long-term, which was a major flex for my upcoming Ph.D. research. It also gave me the invaluable experience of publishing. My Kenya internship led me into a six-and-a-half-year Ph.D. program studying African forest elephants in Gabon. I loved my Ph.D., but each step was a mix of incredible highs like observing wild elephants for months on end in Central Africa and the lows of being lonely in a field station or figuring out how to do something that has never been done before! Here, I fully understood what scientific research was really all about. This episode is a must-listen to one if you are interested in going into wildlife fields, want to get to know me better, or are just curious to know what it’s like to be a wildlife biologist! Specifically, we go over:
Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🐾 Get my FREE Job Tracker: https://stephanieschuttler.com/job-tracker/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose, and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/149-my-wildlife-career/ Jump links: 01:37 First Field Internship 08:09 Loneliness and Resilience 11:57 Disney Internship Begins 14:20 Repro Lab and Zoo Science 20:44 Wildlife Surveys and Extras 24:43 Career Tips and Perks 27:45 Kenya Internship Overview 29:32 Field Cred and Publications 33:07 Tourism Research in Kenya 34:51 East Africa Travels 35:20 Almost Quitting Kenya 40:04 Publishing Initiative 42:52 PhD Ups and Downs 44:55 PhD Research Reality 53:07 PhD Advice 54:38 Raccoon Disgust Postdoc 59:44 Museum Postdoc Dream Job 01:01:16 Camera Traps in Classrooms 01:04:43 Global Expansion and Expeditions 01:07:39 Wildlife Insights AI 01:08:23 Final Career Takeaways Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Building a Wildlife Career on Your Own Terms: Interview with ME! Dr. Stephanie Manka | 21 févr. 2026 | 01:05:13 | |
Normally when I do an interview for the Fancy Scientist podcast, it’s me interviewing a guest. But for this week’s episode, I’m flipping the script and the guest is….yours truly: Me!! You see, last year I was interviewed by my friend and fellow podcaster Andrew Lewin, who hosts the How to Protect the Ocean Podcast. Because I had such a great time chatting with him and my audience has grown so much recently, I thought It would be a great opportunity for you to get to know me more so that you can learn about how I got to where I am today and learn from my experiences and path from traditional research scientist to online business owner in content creation for wildlife careers and science, conservation, and nature education. I have a very unconventional career path with many unexpected twists and turns. For the first 17 years of my career, I went about this career through the traditional research route, but even this choice itself was unexpected. To be honest, I didn’t even know wildlife biology was a viable career path until I took a study abroad program in Kenya focused on wildlife management. You’ll learn how I stumbled upon this program and why I chose it. From there I participated in multiple internships, got a Ph.D. studying forest elephants, and had multiple postdocs. Andrew and I get real about what it’s like to have a lasting career in this field. I talk about the hardships of trying to find a permanent position while working to stay in a place that I loved (Raleigh, North Carolina) and navigating an oversaturated wildlife job market. I truly was shocked by how few permanent jobs I was truly qualified for, how closely job experience needs to match job descriptions, and how competitive the field is, even for people with PhDs. I was told I would not be pigeon-holed, but I was. We spend some time discussing the competitiveness of this career and what I teach students: that finding clarity, being strategic about experience and networking, and improving job applications, are the keys to success through a proven framework that I’ve now tested with dozens of students. I thought I was going to be a researcher for life, but my journey took me in another direction. The difficulties I had in landing a permanent job after my Ph.D. combined with the science communication experiences from years of postdocing at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences opened my eyes to my true fashion: science communication and career mentoring. I decided to do this through entrepreneurship - something I never thought I would do! As a young girl, I grew up watching my dad run his jewelry business and never wanted that for myself, but over time I realized that I could only have the impact I wanted on conservation and the natural world through opening my own business. Andrew and I have an honest discussion about what it takes to run a business in this field, including the financial pressures and mindset. If you’ve ever thought about starting your own business or side hustle, which I truly believe is something anyone can do in this field, and to be honest should do, this episode is for you. You’ll get my advice on how to get started and earn revenue by teaching your expertise in science and nature fields (or any other area of expertise!). As podcasters, Andrew and I are both passionate about science communication and we take a deep dive into how to effectively communicate science with the public. We talk about how my work at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, blogging, and public speaking, led me to recognize how much conservation solutions ultimately came down to reaching people and not through studying a species or its habitat (this is important, but not what it going to solve most conservation problems). I realized through studying a critically endangered species that no amount of research on this animal would save this species - rather, the solutions were all economic, political, or related to education. Getting others to care or have behavioral change would have a more profound impact on conservation for most problems and this was a big motivation for my career change. Finally, Andrew and I discussed my work on TV shows, including how I first appeared on Science Channel’s What on Earth through a professional connection, and then later joined History Channel’s The Proof Is Out There after producers found my YouTube video explaining why “black panthers” aren’t present in the U.S. I go over what it’s like to prepare for filming a television, how often it happens, and what I’ve learned about what audiences find fascinating when it comes to wildlife and nature, like bigfoot and other cryptids - a total surprise to me! Whether you are a new friend here to the podcast or a longtime listener, this is a really great episode to get a behind the scenes look at what I do professionally, as well as what it's like to be both a researcher working many different kinds of jobs in the wildlife profession. More specifically, I reveal:
Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/148-stephanie-manka-wildlife-career/ Jump links: 00:43 What You’ll Learn: From Researcher to Small Business Owner + TV & Bigfoot 06:39 Stephanie’s Origin Story: Business Owner Dad, Acting Dreams, Biology Backup 08:47 The Kenya Study-Abroad That Sparked a Wildlife Biology Career 12:21 PhD & Postdocs: Forest Elephants, Job-Market Reality Check, and Not Wanting to Move 15:28 Pivot to Science Communication: Blogging, Museum Work, and Going Full-Time 16:41 Do You Miss Research? Impact, Education, and the ‘People Problem’ in Conservation 19:31 Starting the LLC in 2020: Ads, Programs, Book Income, and Making It Work 26:22 Wildlife Careers Are Saturated: Clarity, Strategy, Networking, and Strong Applications 32:20 Paid Help vs DIY: Free Resources, Resume Reviews, and Why Investing Changes Commitment 38:48 Creating a Supportive Mentoring Space in a Tough Science Culture 45:09 From YouTube to History Channel: Landing TV Science Communication Gigs 49:00 What TV Taught Me: Curiosity, Cryptids, and Explaining the Unknown 52:26 What’s Next: Refocusing on Science Communication + Kids/Nature Programs 57:24 One Big Business Tip: Teach What You Know and Start Small Online Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Observing Nature Through TOUCH | Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | 16 févr. 2026 | 00:07:16 | |
Making observations in nature isn’t just about what we see. Scientists use (almost) all of their senses to make observations, and in this video, we are focusing on the sense of touch. After exploring nature through sight, sound, and smell, it’s now time to focus on the textures of nature and discover how different plants, surfaces, and organisms actually feel. Make sure to watch the ENTIRE video and read ALL of the text here for best practices for you and wildlife, as well as helpful apps to identify organisms. In this activity, I challenge you to head outside and search for as many different textures as you can find in nature. Can you find something rough like bark? Soft like moss? Fuzzy, smooth, or prickly? Even in wintertime, you'll find lots of different textures to explore! IMPORTANT: Before touching anything, make sure you know what wildlife in your area could be harmful, such as poison ivy or venomous animals. If you’re ever unsure about an organism, don’t touch it. Some organisms may surprise you! For instance, I talk about the cup plant, which has leaves that feel like tough sandpaper. Even in wintertime, you'll find lots of different textures to explore! IMPORTANT: Before touching anything, make sure you know what wildlife in your area could be harmful, such as poison ivy or venomous animals. If you’re ever unsure about an organism, don’t touch it. Tools like the Seek by iNaturalist app can assist with identifications through their built-in AI system. IMPORTANT: When it comes to animals, completely avoid touching mammals and birds, as this can harm them. Some amphibians, reptiles, and insects may be handled carefully if they are safe and non-venomous, and any animal you handle should be handled minimally and released afterward to reduce stress on the animal. Wear gloves when handling amphibians to protect their sensitive skin. Observing nature through touch and the other senses helps kids slow down and mindfully engage with their surroundings. I invite you to ask your children to reflect not only on WHAT they feel, but HOW they feel. For instance, how does being in nature make your child feel? Calm? Curious? Excited? Join us as we step outside, explore textures, and practice observing the natural world with fresh curiosity! Does your child love animals? Support and grow your child's passion for wildlife in my free training, Animals Everywhere! Parents, caretakers, and educators: You'll discover how to get your child outside, curious, and engaged in REAL science for a lifetime of experiential learning...without one-off kits, a lot of time, or complicated instructions. Enroll here to reserve your spot: https://stephanieschuttler.com/animals-everywhere/. Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! Every week, you'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://stephanieschuttler.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ Resources mentioned in this video: 👉 Seek app: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Resources mentioned in this video: 👉 Seek app: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/147-touch Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| SMELL of the Wild: Observing Nature with Your Nose | 05 févr. 2026 | 00:06:08 | |
Scientists use most of their senses to conduct observations, a critical step in conducting research, and one of those senses is SMELL. We might not think of nature as being smelly, but we get so many of our everyday smells from nature. From the scents in our perfumes, deodorants, or candles to bringing nature into our homes to change the smell (think flowers or pine branches during the holidays) to our cleaning products, nature provides an abundance of smells. In this video, you'll learn about the different smells in nature and be prompted to step outside and start observing the natural world, focusing on your sense of smell to discover things you've never noticed before. Go on a "Smelling Safari" and see how many different scents your nose can pick up! In addition to the good smells of nature, there are also many that aren't so good. Discover interesting plants like the corpse plant and skunk cabbage, and why these plants have stinky smells to begin with. Explore how animals use scents for communication. Does your child love animals? Support and grow your child's passion for wildlife in my free training, Animals Everywhere! Parents, caretakers, and educators: You'll discover how to get your child outside, curious, and engaged in REAL science for a lifetime of experiential learning...without one-off kits, a lot of time, or complicated instructions. Enroll here to reserve your spot: https://stephanieschuttler.com/animals-everywhere/. Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! Every week, you'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://stephanieschuttler.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ Resources mentioned in this video: 👉Merlin BirdID app ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/146-smell Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| LISTEN Like a Scientist: Tips & Tools | Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | 21 janv. 2026 | 00:05:50 | |
Today, we’re tuning into the world of animal sounds and learning to observe nature like true scientists. We’ll sharpen our sense of SOUND, and I’ll introduce an activity to close your eyes and listen to the natural world around you. Once you start REALLY listening, you’ll be amazed at how noisy our world really is. You’ll likely hear birds, mammals, and, depending on the time of year, insects and maybe even herps like amphibians! You'll also notice how much noise HUMANS make. Planes flying overhead, cars driving by, the sounds of lawnmowers, and leafblowers are just a few things you are likely to hear. How do these sounds affect animals? Called noise pollution, these sounds can actually impact an animal's survival. Through this video and activity, you'll be exploring how and why. Learn how to document these sounds in a nature journal and discover how different times of the day and seasons influence what you hear. I'll also introduce you to the Merlin ID app, which helps identify bird species by their calls. Once you start REALLY listening, you’ll be amazed at how noisy our world really is. You’ll likely hear birds, mammals, and, depending on the time of year, insects and maybe even herps like amphibians. Does your child love animals? Support and grow your child's passion for wildlife in my free training, Animals Everywhere! Parents, caretakers, and educators: You'll discover how to get your child outside, curious, and engaged in REAL science for a lifetime of experiential learning...without one-off kits, a lot of time, or complicated instructions. Enroll here to reserve your spot: https://stephanieschuttler.com/animals-everywhere/. Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! Every week, you'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://stephanieschuttler.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ Resources mentioned in this video: 👉Merlin BirdID app ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/145-listen Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Learn Animal Behavior with Squirrels | Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | 13 janv. 2026 | 00:07:42 | |
Animal behavior is one of my FAVORITE topics, and we’re studying it through an animal you’ve probably seen a thousand times but never truly observed: squirrels! Why squirrels? They’re abundant, easy and fun to watch (one of my friends called them “our” monkeys), and perfect for learning how scientists study behavior in the real world. In this video, I talk about:
📓 The bonus animal behavior ethogram activity you’ll get inside the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club, as well as worksheets on using squirrels to conduct observations on foraging, communication, habitat use, and personalities In Project Squirrel, you’ll help scientists figure out where different species live, why they live there, and how human activity impacts them. Even if you don’t see squirrels, your observations still help real researchers! Understanding where squirrels don’t live is just as important as understanding where they do live. Plus: 🐦 If squirrels aren’t in your area, you can conduct the same exercises with birds and submit your observations to help scientists at eBird. 🦅 We’ll also preview upcoming winter bird-focused projects, so start sharpening your bird observation skills. Whether you’re a curious kid, parent, teacher, or nature lover, this video and the downloadable activities in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club will get you outside, observing, asking questions, and contributing to community science. Let’s explore animal behavior squirrel-style! 🐿️✨ Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://stephanieschuttler.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to connect people with nature so that we can restore our planet while rediscovering who we really are. Full Show Notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/144-project-squirrel/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| OBSERVE Like a Scientist: Tips & Tools | Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | 13 nov. 2025 | 00:04:10 | |
Conducting accurate and meaningful observations are a CRITICAL part of being a scientist. In this video, learn how to conduct DETAILED observations in nature. Discover the benefits of nature journaling and using a camera to capture intricate things you wouldn't notice. Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/143-observe-like-a-scientist/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Plentiful Work in a Competitive Field: Wetland Conservation and Restoration with Patrick Raney | 06 nov. 2025 | 00:51:44 | |
It’s well known that careers in wildlife, conservation, and the environment are incredibly competitive. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a job to have hundreds of applicants. So you might be surprised to hear that there are jobs that are difficult for employers to fill. Yes, difficult! (insert mind blown emoji here). To be honest, I was surprised too. Today’s episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast is inspired by this recent insight, and it came about through a new connection on LinkedIn. Dr. Patrick Raney, the Director of Conservation Programs in the Great Lakes Atlantic region of Ducks Unlimited, and I were messaging each other about conservation jobs, and he mentioned that it had actually been difficult for him to find qualified applicants to fill certain positions Given that so many people are struggling to get jobs, I immediately thought that this was wonderful news and that I needed to have him on the podcast to learn more and help those in need. As the Director of Conservation Programs in the Great Lakes Atlantic region of Ducks Unlimited, Patrick leads wetland restoration and mitigation efforts to restore habitat, protect biodiversity, and ensure that long-term conservation wins for both wildlife and communities. In this episode, you’ll learn about Patrick’s winding career path to Ducks Unlimited and early interest in conservation. We also talk a lot about what I am now calling “wildlife adjacent careers,” that is, careers that are related to wildlife work, but are not necessarily directly involved in research. This includes fields that you might not think of when it comes to helping wildlife, in this case, careers in engineering that rebuild wetland habitats. Patrick initially trained as a plant biologist and started his journey at the early age of 16 with a summer camp job that he demanded (yes, demanded!). It’s a great story that you won’t want to miss. In it, he demonstrates his unstoppable attitude towards going after your wildlife career, which is CRITICAL in this field. We also follow his career progression through various roles in environmental science and research. We talk in-depth about Patrick’s work at Ducks Unlimited, how he uses different strategies to support wetland species, and especially ducks. You’ll learn how Ducks Unlimited approaches wetland conservation, working with stakeholders, and achieving results that are a win-win for wildlife and partners. Throughout the conversation, Patrick offers a lot of valuable advice for early professionals in wildlife careers. We cover the importance of volunteering and building experience, and that a little goes a long way, as well as the value of transferable skills from non-wildlife jobs in environmental careers. Patrick shares advice on the importance of networking and even making proactive job applications. He mentions that he occasionally hires candidates who reach out directly, even if there are no immediate positions available! Given that we met each other over LinkedIn, we also go into the importance of this platform, which I have become obsessed with recently. Ever since I took some training and developed my own LinkedIn for Wildlife Careers Masterclass, I have been using and loving LinkedIn. He talks about how he believes it is a powerful career tool, and uses it for job recruitment offering you tips on how you can use LinkedIn to your advantage. If you’re interested in wildlife careers, you’re going to get a lot of specific and concrete advice on how to approach your career, as well as creative ideas to think differently than others to set yourself apart. And if you’re not on a wildlife career track, you’re going to learn about important conservation practices that work and successful wetland restoration efforts. Specifically, we go over:
Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/142-patrick-raney/ Jump Links: 00:00 Introduction and Inspiration 02:19 Meet Camilla Price 02:38 Camilla's Background and Career Path 07:07 The Journey to the NSF GRFP Grant 10:07 Developing the Research Proposal 13:44 Methodology and Broader Impacts 18:27 Seeking Help and Finalizing the Application 22:48 The Joy of Receiving the Grant 23:57 Choosing the Right Program 24:26 Reaching Out to Professors 26:50 Advisors and Research Projects 29:43 Backup Plans and Career Strategies 33:32 Final Tips and Reflections 38:18 Networking and Taking Initiative Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Leave the Leaves: Fall Leaf Science & How Leaves Help Animals | Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | 02 nov. 2025 | 00:11:13 | |
t’s fall, which means the leaves are falling off the trees and soon they’ll be on the ground. But don’t throw those leaves out! Here you’ll learn how leaves are a valuable resource for wildlife. In this video, we’re going to get curious about and explore the beautiful transformation of leaves from their normal green into shades of red, orange, and yellow. Have you ever wondered why this happens? And why, after this color change leaves eventually fall off? Then, I’ll talk about why leaves are so important for wildlife and give you tips on what you can do with your leaves to help the animals out around you. You’ll learn that animals like frogs, salamanders, turtles, butterflies, moths, chipmunks, and more use fallen leaves to not only survive, but thrive. As always, I'll provide an activity for you to contribute to real science. You’ll learn how to help scientists track leaf color changes, and when you join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club, you’ll get access to this activity with downloadable worksheets and step-by-step instructions, as well as a leaf scavenger hunt to find all of the colors in the canopy. Join me in making a difference for our wildlife! Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/141-leave-the-leaves 00:00 Introduction: The Magic of Fall Leaves 01:51 Why Trees Lose Their Leaves 03:14 The Science of Leaf Color Change 04:57 How You Can Help Scientists Track Leaf Changes 06:22 How Leaving the Leaves Benefits Animals 08:36 Simple Actions to Help Wildlife Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Get to Know Your Trees | Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | 25 sept. 2025 | 00:08:30 | |
Did you know that by modern definitions, trees ARE wildlife? Often overlooked, trees are actually living, breathing beings. In this video, we’ll explore how magnificent they are, and I’ll give you some tips to get you started with identifications so that you can get to know the trees around you! We’ll dive into the crucial role that trees play in our survival and the survival of the animals we love. As the northern hemisphere transitions from summer to fall, it's the ideal time to study deciduous trees as they lose their leaves. I'll guide you through the process of identifying trees by examining their leaves and bark. You'll discover why knowing plants is essential for wildlife biologists, as many animals depend on specific types of trees for food and shelter. As a special challenge for this week, I encourage you to not only identify the trees around you but also thank and hug a tree, embracing a practice known as forest bathing. This mindfulness activity helps us appreciate the profound impact trees have on our lives and the environment. Join me on this journey to deepen your connection with nature and become more aware of the incredible importance of trees. Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/140-know-your-trees/ Jump Links: 00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Trees 01:18 Why Study Trees in Wildlife Biology? 01:43 Trees and Their Role in Animal Habitats 03:01 Appreciating Trees: Oxygen and Climate Change 03:45 How to Identify Trees: Leaves and Bark 05:19 Using Technology for Tree Identification 05:53 Mindfulness and Gratitude: Thanking Trees 06:24 Conclusion: Your Tree Challenge Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Increase Your Bird Life List | Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | 20 sept. 2025 | 00:05:30 | |
Learn my 5 BEST and super easy tips to maximize your bird life list. That is, the number of bird species you see over your life! Birds are amazing because they are everywhere and a fantastic way to get hooked on nature. In this podcast, you'll discover things like how different habitats, times of day, expert-led walks, and the power of the Merlin Bird ID app can get you finding new species. In fact, during spring migration, I saw 10 new species using these tips. Perfect for both kids and adults alike, these tips will get you birding like a scientist. Bird watching is fun and educational! Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/139-bird-life-list/ Jump Links: 00:00 Introduction to the Fancy Scientist Podcast 00:06 Wildlife Biology for Kids Club Overview 00:49 The Importance of Community Science 01:11 Bird Watching Tips and Tricks 01:59 Exploring Different Habitats 02:46 Birding with Experts 03:29 Using Technology for Bird Identification 03:49 Traveling and Bird Watching 04:07 Conclusion and Next Steps Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Bird for Science with eBird | Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | 11 sept. 2025 | 00:07:11 | |
Learn how to conduct a real bird survey just like wildlife biologists and provide invaluable data for REAL SCIENCE. In today's episode of the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club, I take you through the steps of using eBird, showing you how to contribute important bird data - no matter where you are located in the world. I will guide you through the process of setting up and conducting your own survey, whether from a single spot or while walking, and show you how to use the eBird app. You'll also the use the Merlin Bird ID app to help you find and identify more birds. Don't forget to subscribe for more fun and educational content, and join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club for exclusive worksheets and interaction with me and like-minded parents! Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/138-ebird/ Jump Links: 00:00 Introduction to the Fancy Scientist Podcast 00:06 Wildlife Biology for Kids Club Overview 00:49 The Importance of Community Science 01:11 Conducting a Real Bird Survey 02:00 Using eBird and Merlin Bird ID Apps 03:24 Bird Watching Tips and Observations 04:34 Submitting Your Bird Survey Data 05:47 Encouragement and Next Steps 05:57 Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club 06:26 Conclusion and Call to Action Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Identify Birds by Song EASILY! | Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | 04 sept. 2025 | 00:06:46 | |
When studying birds, you can use two different observational skill sets: sight and SOUND. In today’s episode of the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club, I teach you how to find and identify bird songs with one of my favorite nature apps, Merlin Bird ID developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I'll show you how easy it is to use and challenge you to find five new bird species using the app's sound identification feature. Don't forget to subscribe for more fun and educational content, and join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club for exclusive worksheets and interaction with me and like-minded parents! Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/137-bird-song/ Jump Links: 00:00 Introduction & Podcast Overview 01:11 Using Sight and Sound to Identify Birds 01:33 Why Bird Song Matters in Surveys 02:19 Challenges of Learning Bird Songs 02:59 Introducing the Merlin Bird ID App 03:23 How Merlin Bird ID Works 03:54 Live Demo: Using the App 04:33 Why Bird Song Is Key for Similar Species 04:55 Tips for Using Bird Song Recordings Responsibly 05:24 Confirming Bird Song IDs & Challenge 05:48 Migration Season & Upcoming Activities 06:16 How to Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Beginner Birding Tips for Migration | Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | 27 août 2025 | 00:07:35 | |
Birds are around us every day, but during migration you have the opportunity to see species that are here for only short windows of time! Once you start looking for birds, you'll realize how many species there are, and you'll want to keep finding more. In this week's episode of the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club, I teach you basic tips on how to find a variety of bird species and the key characteristics to start identification. You’ll learn about why birds migrate for thousands of miles, the best times and places to find them, and tips on using your observation and listening skills. Join me in the challenge to find at least five unique bird species and dive into the wonderful world of birdwatching! Don't forget to subscribe for more fun and educational content, and join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club for exclusive worksheets and interaction with me and like-minded parents! Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/136-bird-migration/ Jump Links: 00:00 Introduction to the Fancy Scientist Podcast 00:06 Wildlife Biology for Kids Club Overview 00:49 The Importance of Community Science 01:29 Bird Migration Insights 02:56 Bird Watching Challenge 03:22 Tips for Bird Watching 04:40 Identifying Bird Species 06:27 Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club 06:50 Conclusion and Call to Action Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| FULLY Fund Yourself for Graduate School: Interview with NSF GRFP Winner Camilla Price | 22 août 2025 | 00:42:18 | |
Today’s podcast episode idea was inspired by an incredible success that I recently discovered from one of my students that I know you’ll be interested in. This episode is highly relevant if you want to go into wildlife careers, especially graduate school, but the lessons that you’ll learn from my student’s experience apply to ANY situation. You’ll learn a winning process that I regularly use with my students that will get you results. In her case, it was an extremely prestigious grant that enabled her to go to basically any graduate school in the US! You see, I was recently on LinkedIn and happened to notice that one of my former students, Camilla Price, is now going to graduate school. I was so excited for her and ready to congratulate her, when I noticed something even more exciting: that she was the recipient of a prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP) grant. But even more exciting than this…she was the recipient after applying to the grant just one time and without having an established advisor to work with. Keep reading to understand why this is such a big deal… The NSF GRFP grant is a super competitive grant and a HUGE honor. I’ve known people who’ve received the grant and I was even awarded an honorable mention myself when I applied, but I didn’t know anyone who got it BEFORE they started working with an advisor in graduate school, meaning that they did it all on their own! I cannot emphasize enough what a big deal this is for aspiring students wanting to go to graduate school: if you get it, you can go pretty much wherever you want for graduate school. You have your choice! This NSF grant provides all of your funding and a lack of funding is one of the biggest reasons why so many people seeking to go to graduate school can’t get in. They approach potential graduate advisors and even if the advisors are interested in having another student, if they don’t have the funding, then they can’t take on that student for a Master’s or Ph.D. This was a problem that Camilla was facing. I was so excited for Camilla – the last we had talked, Camilla had been trying to get into graduate school for a year or more. And I was super intrigued by how she went about writing the NSF GRFP. When I wrote my grant applications, I knew the advisor I would be working with and I had a specific Ph.D. project in mind. Without having a specific advisor to work with and therefore a lab and research area to focus on, how did she know what to write about? How did she do this all on her own? Without the help of an advisor to give her feedback and guidance? After extending my congratulations to Camilla, I knew I had to invite her to be on the podcast so that we could all share her success and learn the process that she took to gain this great honor. So many of my followers and students are interested in going to graduate school, and when you listen to Camilla’s tips and tricks, you’ll learn a ton from this episode. Even if you’re not ready to go to graduate school, if you’re looking to get into a wildlife career, you’re going to benefit a lot. And if you’re not interested in wildlife careers, that’s okay too – there’s still so much you can learn from Camilla’s approach to receiving this grant. The strategy that she used is something that I teach in my Successful Wildlife Professional Program: start with the end in mind and work backwards. Tune in and hear about the strategies Camilla used in order to pick the graduate school of her dreams, and learn about how she settled upon the University of Colorado and chose to study wolverines. Along with Camilla’s advice, I offer some additional tips and key takeaways to really solidify those points, no matter where you are in your career and what you’re going for. These tips work! Specifically, I go over:
Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/135-camilla-price/ Jump Links: 00:00 Introduction and Inspiration 02:19 Meet Camilla Price 02:38 Camilla's Background and Career Path 07:07 The Journey to the NSF GRFP Grant 10:07 Developing the Research Proposal 13:44 Methodology and Broader Impacts 18:27 Seeking Help and Finalizing the Application 22:48 The Joy of Receiving the Grant 23:57 Choosing the Right Program 24:26 Reaching Out to Professors 26:50 Advisors and Research Projects 29:43 Backup Plans and Career Strategies 33:32 Final Tips and Reflections 38:18 Networking and Taking Initiative Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Native Bee Diversity and Pollination | Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | 13 août 2025 | 00:09:02 | |
Bees are the heavy lifters in the pollination world, but NOT the honey bees that so many of us think of! It’s native bees, with over 20,000 species worldwide, that are CRITICAL pollinators. Here we explore bee diversity including bumblebees, carpenter bees, longhorn bees, mining bees, sweat bees, and leaf-cutter bees - each with unique characteristics and roles in nature. Also, you’ll learn that you can contribute to REAL science by using Project BudBurst to understand the impacts of climate change on pollinators and plants. Don't forget to subscribe for more fun and educational content, and join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club for exclusive worksheets and interaction with me and like-minded parents! Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/132-native-plants-and-pollinators/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ Jump Links: 00:00 Introduction to Pollination and Native Plants 01:11 Introduction to Bee Diversity 02:13 The Importance of Observing Bees 03:28 Bumblebees 03:53 Carpenter bees 04:21 Longhorn bees 04:50 Squash bees 05:09 Mining bees 05:44 Sweat bees 06:05 Leafcutter bees 06:18 Citizen Science and Bee Observations 08:02 Conclusion and Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | |||
| Maximizing Mental Health in Wildlife Work: How I Went Off Anti-Depressants | 06 août 2025 | 00:44:52 | |
If you’re involved in the wildlife or conservation field in any capacity, whether you are a current or aspiring career professional, someone volunteering their time to make the world better for wildlife, or simply just want to learn more to help out, chances are, you’ve struggled with the emotional toll that comes with trying to save a species, cope with the climate change crisis, get plastic out of our system, and the list goes on and on… Unfortunately, the nature of the conservation field (no pun intended) is inherently dealing with loss. And without giving ourselves the care and attention that we need, in addition to the Earth, these emotions can evolve into chronic conditions. Anxiety and depression are two such conditions that I have personally struggled with, have learned a lot about over the years, and now have largely overcome (although you’ll notice in this episode I’ve had a lot of ups and downs). Also, I know that I’m not alone. Today I’m talking about my journey going on and now off of anti-depressants because I know many people in the wildlife field are struggling. I read Facebook posts from my friends who are struggling desperately in graduate school, and of course, I remember my own experiences while getting my PhD. Now, aspiring wildlife professionals are expected to work all the time, constantly put in their all, while their personal health and well-being take a backseat. Even major scientific journals like Nature and Science have started to take notice and publish many articles about graduate students struggling with mental health disorders. In addition to the challenges associated with biodiversity loss, those working towards becoming wildlife professionals are suffering due to the increased demands put on them driven by intense competition. This includes more papers to publish, more grant money to bring in, and the pressures of landing a job in this ultra-competitive field. It’s tough for people to deal with. Even for entry-level jobs, expectations are much higher than they were just a couple of decades ago. In my decades of being in a wildlife and conservation field professional, I used anti-depressants really at the beginning of my career journey to help me cope. I thought there was something wrong with me that I just couldn’t be happy without them. Although they have been a valuable resource for me, in the past few years, I’ve learned so much about my mind and have developed tools, practices, and more that have allowed me to go off of them completely – something I was told by several doctors that I would not be able to do. For today’s podcast episode, I wanted to share this journey with you. Here, I detail my long and ongoing journey of dealing with anxiety and depression, and what I did to support my mental health to the point of no longer needing antidepressants.I recognize the value of antidepressants, and if you’re currently on antidepressants, I’m not trying to convince you to go off them; rather, this is an episode about engaging in self-care. I provide you with the tools and mindset work that I’ve learned over the years. It’s been truly effective, and the reason behind how I was able to go completely off my antidepressants. Specifically, I go over:
Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/133-mental-health-wildlife/ Jump Links: 00:00 Introduction to Mental Health in Conservation 02:07 The Struggles of Mental Health in the Scientific Community 04:18 Personal Journey: Overcoming Antidepressants 10:43 The Importance of Self-Care and Mindset 20:27 Practical Tips for Mental Wellbeing 24:42 The Role of Nature and Exercise 26:35 Mindset Strategies and Emotional Management 37:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Thank you to our sponsor Magic Mind! 60% off First Magic Mind Subscription and 20% off one-time purchase with code FANCYS20 Link to all 200 studies for Magic Mind ingredients Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Native Plants and Pollinators | Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | 30 juil. 2025 | 00:07:01 | |
Pollinators NEED native plants because of their closely tied relationships that are at times millions of years in the making! In this podcast episode, you'll learn why native plants are crucial for pollinators and how non-native plants fall short. Tune in to discover how plant-pollinator co-evolution was predicted and discovered through incredible examples of plant-pollinator relationships. At the end, I'll challenge you to a fun mini-experiment to see which attracts more pollinators: native or non-native plants. Don't forget to subscribe for more fun and educational content, and join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club for exclusive worksheets and interaction with me and like-minded parents! Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/132-native-plants-and-pollinators/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ Jump Links: 00:00 Introduction to Pollination and Native Plants 01:02 The Importance of Native Plants for Pollinators 01:50 Unique Plant-Pollinator Relationships 02:43 Historical Discoveries in Pollination 03:26 Native vs. Non-Native Plants: A Challenge 04:23 Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | |||
| What Is a Fancy Scientist? Embracing Diversity in Science Beyond Gender and Race | 23 juil. 2025 | 00:32:01 | |
Since 2017, I decided to change my social media handles from @StephSchuttler to @FancyScientist. I was given this name and I loved it! But have you ever stopped and wondered, when coming across my content, what exactly is a Fancy Scientist? Well, that is what this podcast episode is all about! Despite running this blog for 7 years, changing all of my social accounts, and forming my small business under the same name, I realized I never really told the story of HOW I became known as the Fancy Scientist… And it’s important to me because over the years, I’ve received emails from numerous members of my audience who’ve read my story and told me that it really resonated with them, that they also didn’t feel like they quite fit in in the wildlife biology field. My nickname goes back to when I was a postdoc, working on the eMammal project with middle school teachers. To them and their students, I didn’t look like the stereotypical scientist, especially a wildlife biologist. For starters, I’m a woman, and I showed up to work in makeup, high heels, and with sparkly jewelry. Proudly defying these norms, I became known as the Fancy Scientist. But I didn’t always proudly defy these norms… Diversity is undoubtedly important in science, and recently, much attention has been given to increasing gender and racial diversity within the sciences. But in this episode, I share how increasing diversity can go even deeper than that and why it’s so important. When I was in graduate school, my peers tended to have a specific look that I didn’t fit into: field clothes, no makeup, and Chaco sandals. For a while, I dulled my sparkle (literally and figuratively) and toned down my look to fit in. To be honest, suppressing who I was didn’t feel good because I was no longer being true to myself. I just felt down. But later, when I fully embraced being a Fancy Scientist, and working in the eye of the public in bright colors and glitter, I served as a reminder to both myself and the future generation that you can be both fancy AND a scientist. As a business owner, I also defined what being a Fancy Scientist means through my company values. And I didn’t want it to be exclusive. What about people who aren’t fancy in the traditional sense that we think of? Can they be Fancy Scientists too? The answer is yes! What you’ll learn from this episode is that being fancy is more than just makeup and sparkles; it’s about being unexpected, unconventional, and apart from the norm. But most importantly, it’s about the courage to be yourself loudly and proudly! Specifically, I go over:
Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/131-what-is-a-fancy-scientist/ Jump Links: 00:00 Welcome to the Fancy Scientist Podcast 01:39 Defining the Fancy Scientist 02:25 The Origin of the Fancy Scientist Name 03:36 Citizen Science and Classroom Integration 07:25 Breaking Stereotypes in Science 11:38 Embracing the Fancy Scientist Identity 12:55 The Fancy Scientist Definition 21:19 The Importance of Representation 25:44 Blending Science with Other Passions 29:31 Encouragement to Embrace Your Unique Self 31:13 Conclusion and Call to Action Thank you to our sponsor Magic Mind! 60% off First Magic Mind Subscription and 20% off one-time purchase with code FANCYS20 Link to all 200 studies for Magic Mind ingredients Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Animal Pollinators Beyond Bees | Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | 16 juil. 2025 | 00:08:28 | |
There’s a huge diversity in the number of animal species that pollinate plants - it’s way more than bees! And most people think of honey bees when it comes to pollination, but they are actually poor pollinators and not native to North America. In this podcast episode, you’ll learn about native pollinators all over the world. You’re going to be surprised to learn how many there are - from small insects to large mammals and even carnivores. Pollinators are everywhere! I challenge you to watch a plant or scan an area and see how much pollinator diversity you can find. Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/130-animal-pollinators/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Launching a Successful Wildlife Career After Losing Your Job: Interview with Wildlife Biologist Jamie Bowles | 09 juil. 2025 | 00:48:23 | |
Sometimes, when you think the worst happens, it can actually be the best thing. For wildlife biologist Jamie Bowles of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, losing her job in the medical field launched her wildlife career… I met Jamie through LinkedIn. She has been so supportive of my posts, and I quickly recognized that, like me, she prioritized and loved mentoring. With her ample and sage advice about getting into wildlife careers, I knew she would be the perfect guest for the podcast. Throughout this interview, Jamie calls herself lucky. I don’t think she’s lucky at all. Rather, she did the RIGHT things to set herself up so that when opportunities were available, they were GIVEN to her. As the Roman philosopher Seneca once said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Jamie set herself up for success. Now having worked at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for nine years, Jamie has held a multitude of different jobs. She started out working in fish, but later moved on to work on everything from habitat, to wolves, to now porcupines, and working with the public. She also did this while being a mom of four! As you’ll find out from our interview, Jamie had children when she was 18 and went to college after she became a mom. In her wildlife career, she was always going to school and working towards getting this career while balancing it with motherhood, and she has some amazing wisdom about how she did it. However, Jamie’s story is not without its challenges–she got a later start in her career than more traditional students, having turned to wildlife biology after losing her job in the medical field amidst the COVID-19 pandemic (which she later realized was a blessing in disguise!). She returned to school as a non-traditional student, being older and also a mom. Although Jamie was aware of these challenges, she didn’t let them hold her back. She was strategic. Through networking, flexibility, and operating with knowledge of a long-term career plan, Bowles was well-prepared when opportunity presented itself. Luck alone would not have gotten her to where she is today! I have worked with hundreds of students, sharing my over 20 years of knowledge as a wildlife biologist to help them land permanent careers in this field, and I know for a FACT that you don’t need luck to land your dream job – you make it happen. Jamie’s hard work has led her all over Oregon, working with numerous species of wildlife. From backpacking up the mountains as an intern with fish in bags (yes, fish in bags!), to managing wolf-human relationships, to launching a community science project to document North American porcupine presence, Jamie Bowles has truly done it all! I can’t wait for you to listen to this episode and hear all about the exciting, fun, and crazy stories she has to tell. Jamie also recognizes that success is not a path that is walked alone. She stresses the importance of mentorship, and we talk all about how to find a mentor, what you can gain from mentorship, and the role it played in her career. Once a mentee, and now a mentor herself, check out Jamie Bowles’ LinkedIn for great advice about wildlife careers! If you’re interested in wildlife biology, especially as a non-traditional student or career switcher, you will be left inspired following along with Jamie Bowles’ journey and how she got to where she is today. Her resilience will motivate you, and her wisdom will leave you feeling like you, too, can conquer not only the challenges that this field presents but whatever personal obstacles you’re facing as well. You will learn that Jamie put herself out there, that she was actively networking, and she made opportunities happen for her. Specifically, I go over:
Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/129-jamie-bowles/ Jump Links: 00:00 Introduction to the Episode 01:34 The Fancy Scientist: Embracing the Title 03:44 Jamie’s Role at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 04:58 Career Path: From Intern to District Wildlife Biologist 13:44 The Importance of Networking in Wildlife Careers 14:53 Volunteering and Gaining Experience 18:04 LinkedIn for Wildlife Careers Masterclass 21:51 Fisheries: A Gateway to Wildlife Careers 23:47 Pursuing a Master's Degree in Wildlife 25:13 Overcoming Educational Gaps in Wildlife Careers 25:50 The Sierra Nevada Red Fox Project 26:15 Pursuing Higher Education in Wildlife Management 27:19 Career Opportunities Without a Master's Degree 28:38 The North American Porcupine Project 31:14 Working as an Assistant Wolf Biologist 34:12 Balancing Motherhood and a Wildlife Career 39:29 Unusual and Memorable Wildlife Experiences 41:32 The Importance of Mentorship in Wildlife Careers 45:56 Final Thoughts and Encouragement Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| What is Pollination? | Wildlife Biology for Kids Club | 02 juil. 2025 | 00:07:07 | |
You’ve heard about the importance of pollinators, but what exactly is it? When you learn what pollination consists of, you’ll quickly realize it truly is a miracle of nature! This week on the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club, we’re diving into the fascinating world of pollination—how it happens, who some pollinators are, and why it's essential for our survival. You'll discover how pollen travels from the anthers to the stigma to create seeds, and why this process is vital for the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and even the medicines we take. I’ll challenge you to find pollination in action right in your own backyards! Are you a parent wanting to get your kids outside and learning about wildlife? Join the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club! You'll receive exclusive access to the accompanying downloadable activities, printables, get connected with a community of like-minded individuals, and more. 🦊 Enroll in the Wildlife Biology for Kids Club here: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-biology-kids-program/ Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/128-pollination/ Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| From Nature to Novels: Writing Children’s Books with Rosanne Parry | 25 juin 2025 | 00:42:58 | |
When we think about saving the environment, kids aren’t typically the first thing that comes to mind for most people – especially when it comes to fiction books written for children. But maybe that’s an important missing link… I’ve been seeing more and more scientists coming out with children’s books, and to be completely honest, it’s something I’ve thought about myself! In fact, I remember reading the book 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth, and it had a profound impact on me. You see, over my 20 years of working in science, first as a researcher and then leading a citizen science program focused on middle school kids, I realized that science alone cannot save a species. For most species, the solutions to their conservation challenges are embedded in how people view wildlife whether it’s from an educational, political, economic, or cultural lens. And it’s difficult to change adults’ minds. By working on such conservation issues over the years and understanding their root cause, the importance of keeping children interested in nature from a young age has become more and more clear to me. When kids love nature early on, it sets them up to be lifelong environmental advocates, stewards of nature, and conservationists. While adults tend to have their minds made up, kids are still curious; they’re still learning about the world and how it works. That’s where children’s author Rosanne Parry comes in. She connects children to nature through the fiction novels that she writes. Rosanne has authored books such as A Wolf Called Wander, a #1 Indie Best Seller, A Wolf Called Fire, a 2025 Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, and A Horse Named Sky, which debuted on the New York Times Middle Grade Hardcover Best Sellers List at #4, continuing on the list for over 30 weeks. Rosanne's books are written from the perspective of different animals, including orcas, mustangs, and more. She conducts thorough research on the species to ensure scientific accuracy, but crafts stories from fiction, allowing children to view the world and understand it from an animal’s perspective, ultimately creating empathy. If you’re interested in publishing, reaching a younger audience, or learning about how kids are key to saving and supporting our environment, you won’t want to miss this interview with Rosanne Parry. I finished this podcast feeling inspired by her story. She has great advice not just for aspiring authors, but also for how getting interested in nature. Specifically, I go over:
Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/127-rosanne-parry/ Jump Links: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview 02:15 The Journey to Becoming a Children's Author 03:55 Balancing Writing and Family Life 07:05 The Inspiration Behind Animal-Centric Stories 09:47 Writing Process and Research 16:18 Publishing Children's Books: A Guide 22:29 Exploring Middle Grade Books 22:47 Challenges of Writing for Young Children 23:47 Inspiring Young Readers and Writers 26:40 Citizen Science and Nature Exploration 29:16 Female Perspectives in Science 35:19 The Financial Realities of a Writing Career 39:51 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| The Science and Ethics of De-extinction: The Case of the Dire Wolf | 17 avr. 2025 | 00:48:45 | |
Chances are, you've seen the headlines that the dire wolf is no longer extinct. The company Colossal Biosciences claims to have brought it back from extinction in the form of three living, breathing dire wolf pups. But my headlines have actually been flooded with scientists saying “not so fast…” so what is really going on here? Having studied African forest elephants using genetics during my Ph.D., a species related to the extinct woolly mammoth and a target of de-extinction efforts, this topic has long been on my mind to discuss on the podcast. Given the recent dire wolf news, I’ve been getting so many questions about this, that I thought it would be a great time to discuss this and prepared this episode as soon as I could (despite a myriad of technical difficulties). De-extinction is the concept of bringing back a fully extinct species back to life and as you’ve seen now as evidenced from the dire wolves, scientists are actively working on it. But should they be? And why? First, I break down the dire wolf headlines, offering insight into the scientific process of de-extinction as a whole, how the team at Colossal Biosciences approached de-extinction and why, and how most scientists feel about their result: Are these really dire wolves? I then open up to a larger conversation about de-extinction: why are scientists attempting to de-extinct species at all? Is there conservation merit in doing so? Which species are being considered? I address a plethora of topics as well as moral and ethical considerations. Specifically, I go over:
Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/126-de-extinction/ Jump links: 01:14 My Scientific Background and Expertise 03:07 Understanding De-Extinction 04:28 How De-Extinction Works, & Why It’s So Hard to Do 09:27 Woolly Mammoth and Tasmanian Tiger De-Extinction Challenges 12:01 The Dire Wolf Project by Colossal Biosciences 15:27 Scientific Skepticism and Ethical Considerations 22:15 Why Colossal Chose the Dire Wolf 24:41 Species Concepts and Controversies 27:49 More Than Genetics: What Makes a Species a Species 31:39 Why Bring an Extinct Species Back 32:39 Argument of Ecological Restoration of Resurrected Species 39:13 Ethical and Moral Considerations 40:45 Is De-extinction Good for Conservation? 46:11 De-extinction and the Endangered Species Act Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Facts Don’t Change Minds: What Actually Works in Science Communication | 08 avr. 2025 | 00:35:30 | |
Are you somebody who really cares about wildlife and conservation and you're trying to get people to change their behavior? Reduce their carbon footprint? Get them to not litter? Or keep their cats indoors to save birds? Whether it’s getting people to switch to clean energy sources or eating less meat to help save the planet, all of these things all require human behavior change, and the foundation of such change is communication. A lot of people tend to think we just need to educate people more - that people have a deficiency in knowledge, and that if only we could get people to understand the data and studies like we do, then they would see the error in their ways. But as we've seen with well-researched topics with lots of supporting data and studies like climate change and vaccines, this is not true. There is more to it! We need effective communication, which requires dialogue. This week’s podcast is inspired by two events: (1) the results of the 2024 election here in the United States where we saw the public vote for an administration that is anti-environment and science and (2) the aftermath of me reading an eye-opening, enlightening, and highly entertaining book on the subject of rethinking by social scientist Adam Grant: Think Again. In this episode I talk about how to be a more effective communicator, get people to rethink their opinions and values (including yourself!), and teach you how to have productive, engaging, and useful debates with people who think, at times, very differently than you. I am living proof it is possible! The lessons shared largely come from the book Think Again, but also my own personal experience engaging with and even being friends with people from “the other side.” You’ll learn how to reframe your perspective on arguments so you don’t feel exhausted, angry, or drained, how effective listening is critical in debate, and how providing nuance, multiple perspectives, and humility can make you more effective in changing minds. Often when we talk about working with wildlife, we think about it from the animal's perspective and studying the species, but in reality, almost all of the conservation solutions with declining biodiversity have to do with interventions on the human side. Want to save wolves? We need to reduce poaching. Want to save monarchs? We need to get people to plant more milk weed and reduce habitat loss. These things require interventions on the human side. So if you are someone who works in science or conservation, or are simply someone who wants to create more positive change in the world, then this episode is for you! Specifically I talk about:
Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://stephanieschuttler.com/125-facts-dont-change-minds/ Jump links: 00:22 Challenges in Science Communication 01:19 The Role of Personal Experience and Think Again book 01:53 Human Interaction in Wildlife Conservation 03:40 Why Engage in Debate 09:00 Changing Perspectives on Arguing: The Dance of Debate 10:08 Don'ts in Science Communication 12:40 Building Relationships Outside the Screen 14:24 Engaging with the Opposition 16:39 Finding Common Ground with Wildlife Enthusiasts 16:55 Managing Emotions in Heated Discussions 17:50 The Power of Genuine Compliments 18:31 Engaging with Curiosity and Questions 21:43 The Art of Motivational Listening 22:35 Building Trust and Empowering Others 29:23 Introducing Nuance and Gray Areas 32:55 Avoiding Jargon and Being Approachable 34:50 Next Steps and Call to Action Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Wildlife Careers in Crisis: Surviving Trying Times | 04 mars 2025 | 00:35:25 | |
I’m not going to lie…things seem pretty dire here right now in the United States for the environment, conservation, and wildlife. Because of what the current administration is doing, people are worried and understandably so. Things are quite honestly in chaos right now and there have already been severe consequences for those who work in wildlife. Over the past couple of weeks, my social media feeds have been flooded with images of the thousands of federal workers who have unfairly lost their jobs in the name of government budget cuts. Funding for conservation, research, and protections is and will continue to be slashed, and even whole organizations within our federal government are under threat of being taken away. Although it’s not quite clear yet what things are going to hold up legally in court, the results have already impacted people who work in wildlife. Entire livelihoods have been shattered from people losing their critical paychecks doing what they loved while serving and protecting our wildlife, land, and environment. In the previous episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I talked about what we can do as individuals to continue to stand up for what we believe in while bridging the gap to others who voted differently than us so that we can reclaim the necessary political power to enact pro-wildlife legislation. But when scrolling through my social media feeds and seeing the faces of those who lost their jobs, I realized people really needed help. One post on Instagram left a particularly strong impact on me. It was a post that offered some hope by someone who secured a wildlife job under the first Trump administration. And what I could see from this post was that it was really needed by people out there. Some said they read the post and left crying because they desperately needed some help and encouragement during these unprecedented times. This post really inspired me. If you are not new to this podcast, you’ll know that a huge focus of mine is those in wildlife careers, so if this is you, then you’ll definitely want to listen to the whole episode. Here I take the time to address the concerns of those who may have lost their job, are worried about losing their job, or are feeling anxiety about the increasing competition from fewer now being offered in our field. Honestly, no matter where you are in your career, the advice today is going to apply to you. So for those of you who are in wildlife, environmental, or conservation careers and are feeling panicked, maybe wondering, “How do I handle this new administration? How do I handle this new landscape?” This episode is for you! I know you don’t want to give up your lifelong dream of having a wildlife career, but the reality is, I know some of you are thinking about it. As I read that Instagram post, I read numerous comments from people saying they felt like they had to give it all up considering what is going on. But you DON’T. In this episode, I give you hope, concrete tips on what you can do if you are in a wildlife profession, how you can navigate this new administration and landscape, and reassure you that there’s going to be jobs for you, that you are needed, that your work is important and valuable. Specifically I go over:
Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://fancyscientist.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Full show notes: 👉https://fancyscientist.com/124-wildlife-careers-in-crisis/ Jump links: 00:00 Introduction: Current Environmental Concerns 00:45 Finding Hope in Uncertain Times 01:19 Career Advice for Wildlife Professionals 03:05 The Illusion of Permanent Jobs 06:58 Navigating the New Administration 10:14 Mindset and Career Development 19:44 Concrete Steps for Job Seekers 27:34 Creative Solutions and Side Hustles 32:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Conversations and Connections: Tips for Navigating Conservation Post Election | 09 févr. 2025 | 00:41:29 | |
We recently had an election here in the United States, and now have just started this new administration. For so many of us out there, especially in the conservation and environmental space, this one was and is going to be TOUGH. I normally don't talk about politics on the Fancy Scientist podcast because I want to be as inclusive as possible and that STILL stands for today's episode - you are welcome no matter how you voted. In fact, a big part of this week’s episode is about how to keep connections and conversations going with others in spite of huge political differences. The reality is that wildlife research, science, and conservation are HEAVILY dependent on politics; they are innately intertwined. There are several goals I want to accomplish with this week’s podcast. First, I want to help others, like myself, who were deeply affected by the results of this election. I discuss why this election is so different from others, even from the 2016 election, and why it has affected people in such a heavy way. Sharing my personal experience, I offer tips on how I'm dealing that you can apply to your own life. My next goal is to encourage, inspire, and hopefully motivate you to keep connections and the importance of doing so, as well as potentially having uncomfortable conversations. The core premise of this podcast and the mission of my brand is conservation and we can't do that with just the people who think like us. If we stay isolated and in our own bubble, we will keep repeating the results we got with this election. It is possible to maintain positive connections with people who vote differently than you and this is incredibly important for our conservation efforts to persist. I’ve created and maintained friendships with people who have very different opinions on topics that I care deeply about a lot. In fact, some of my biggest social media fans are Trump voters! In this episode, I share with you strategies and ways of thinking that you can use for talking to people that are not draining, antagonistic, or make you feel like you have to convince the other person. Finally, I've gotten the sense and actual feedback from people that they are afraid to speak out for the things that they believe in and before felt comfortable talking about. I was amazed to hear that some of my friends in science communication who are normally vocal about the issues that they care about, like climate change, were starting to feel uncomfortable discussing the same issues they regularly talked about before the election. Using the results of the election and a new perspective in looking at them, I hope to give you some inspiration that we can't give up, won't give up, and that there’s more people than you may think right now supporting our goals for the environment. Before you listen to this episode, I want to acknowledge that not everyone may feel safe, be in the right mental space, or be in a safe environment to speak up or associate with certain people. If that is you, please take all precautions to put barriers in place, keep yourself safe, and healthy. I am in NO way saying that everyone needs to do the things I go over in this podcast. I also want to acknowledge that this election has huge consequences for many people and issues across the board, many of which are deeply important to me. This podcast episode will only focus on those related to conservation and the environment though, as this is the theme of the Fancy Scientist podcast, and I am in no way saying that other issues are not as important. So, if you feel like you are in a safe environment, like I do, want to connect, and are willing to have some potentially uncomfortable conversations to make a difference, then you're going to benefit from this episode Specifically I go over:
Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/123-conversations-and-connections Jump links: 00:00 Introduction and Election Aftermath 03:13 Disclaimer 04:36 Reflecting on the 2024 Election 06:18 Climate Change Urgency 13:06 Personal Resolve and Moving Forward 14:13 Standing in Your Power 15:11 Nuances of the Trump Voter and Pendulum Swings 19:26 Choosing Your Hard 21:13 Tuning into Political Discussions 22:17 Voter Perspectives and Motivations 24:47 The Importance of Communication 25:39 Building Connections Across Differences 28:09 The Role of Personal Relationships in Social Change 30:02 Engaging in Difficult Conversations 37:46 Creating Joy and Local Impact 40:41 Conclusion and Resources Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Wildlife Internships: What They Are and How to Get Them | 23 janv. 2025 | 00:39:10 | |
I’ve been seeing a ton of great PAID wildlife internships being posted so I thought it would be a great time to go over how to get an internship for wildlife biology, ecology, zoology, and conservation careers. So for this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I am talking about everything to do with internships in wildlife careers. This includes ecology, conservation biology, zoology, and environmental sciences. In the first part of this podcast, I talk about what is an internship in wildlife biology and how it differs from other experiences such as temporary field assistant positions and volunteering because internships are supposed to be a more unique experience. Also, I get the impression from talking to literally hundreds, probably even thousands of struggling and aspiring wildlife biologists that internships are really coveted or desired. A lot of people actually think that you need internships to succeed. Why is this? Although they are unique and different from other experiences, is this true for wildlife careers? Next I talk about how to find internships. I go over the important wildlife job boards, but also discuss having to look elsewhere and why, including individual organization websites and maximizing your search by following organizations on LinkedIn and connecting with wildlife professionals there. In this ultra competitive field to make sure you’re not missing opportunities, I go over the importance of cold networking and using social media to cast your net even wider. Lastly, I cover all the different types of wildlife internships: paid, unpaid, and those that you pay for (yes! This is a real thing in our field). Besides payment, what are the differences in those experiences in terms of the outcomes you get? Do they prepare you and give you the experience you need to get you on track for your wildlife dream job? Of course you want to get paid, and although those are becoming more common, they are more competitive, so this may not be possible for you at the moment. Is it worth it to take an unpaid internship? What about those that you pay for? Once you find internships to apply to, it’s essential that your application stands out. As I mentioned above, this field is super competitive and wildlife internships, like almost all wildlife jobs, are not easy to get! You are going to be amongst dozens, and it’s not uncommon to be amongst even hundreds of other applications. I talk about the key principles needed to ensure that your application gets put into the “yes” pile. For instance, you want to make sure that you qualify for the internship, have a wildlife resume – not a regular resume, and write a compelling cover letter. To increase your chances, you want to be networking – and you don’t have to do this in person. Online is an extremely effective way to network! You might be surprised by what you learn. In fact, you might not even need an internship at all! Even if you are not looking for internships, but are interested in working in the wildlife field, what you’re going to learn in this episode is definitely going to apply. Make sure you stay tuned and listen to this whole episode. And the most important part is I want to help you get those internships or whatever experiences you are applying for. So the tips you are going to learn today are going to raise your game.My goal is to equip you with the knowledge and tools to successfully navigate the internship landscape and ultimately secure your dream wildlife job wildlife. Specifically I go over:
Full show notes: 👉 https://stephanieschuttler.com/122-wildlife-internships Jump links: 01:39 Introduction to Wildlife Internships 03:00 Understanding Internships vs. Other Opportunities 04:28 The Importance of Experience Over Titles 12:29 Finding and Securing Internships 15:27 Networking and Leveraging LinkedIn 18:42 Steps to Secure Internships 19:56 Crafting a Wildlife Resume 24:21 Paid vs. Unpaid Internships 27:38 Evaluating Internship Value 36:33 Next Steps and Final Advice Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?🌿🐘 Then… ✍️ SIGN UP for my next FREE training: https://fancyscientist.com/3-pillars-to-success/ 🗺️ Get my FREE wildlife career guide: https://fancyscientist.com/wildlife-career-success-guide/ 📚 Read Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/ 🚀 Work with me! Programs: https://stephanieschuttler.com/work-with-me/ I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of 20 yrs who is on a mission to empower wildlife professionals and break stereotypes of scientists so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. 🎥 How I became a wildlife biologist: https://youtu.be/zBvHRDO7gIg Let’s connect! 🤝✨ Website: https://fancyscientist.com/ Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgschuttler/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Threads: https://www.threads.net/@fancy_scientist Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fancyscientist.bsky.social Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/ | |||
| Becoming a Wildlife Professional: Your Free Guide to Landing Your Dream Career | 05 nov. 2024 | 00:11:14 | |
As someone who has spent two decades in the wildlife field, published nearly 30 peer-reviewed papers, and worked across multiple continents in various wildlife roles, I know firsthand the challenges and opportunities in this field. And I'm here to help you navigate them! What started as a single webinar has evolved into something much more powerful - a robust 3-part training series packed with real-world insights and actionable strategies. Why? Because I realized there was so much valuable information that couldn't be condensed into just one session! Whether you're a:
This training is designed for YOU! I'm pulling back the curtain on the essential processes that nobody else is talking about. Drawing from my experience working in government, academia, museums, zoos, and alongside nonprofits worldwide, I'll share:
In my 20 years in wildlife biology, I've seen countless passionate individuals struggle to break into the field - not because they weren't capable, but because they didn't have access to the right guidance. I've watched my own students transform their careers once they understood these key principles. Now, I'm sharing these insights with you, completely FREE. This isn't just another wildlife career webinar. It's a comprehensive training built on real experience, real results, and real strategies that work. This training will give you the clarity, direction, and practical steps you need to make your wildlife dreams a reality. Get your sneak peek now! I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/3-pillars-to-success/ Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/ #wildlifebiology #wildlifebiologist #wildlife #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #zoology #zoologist #ecology #ecologist #scientist #animals #science #graduatestudent #graduateschool #wildliferesearch #animalcareers #animaljobs | |||
| Wildlife Crossings and Conservation: Interview with Natural Resources Manager Matt Howard | 23 oct. 2024 | 00:58:57 | |
In the fiercely competitive world of wildlife biology and conservation, insider knowledge isn't just an advantage—it's a game-changer. That's why this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, featuring Matt Howard, is an absolute must-listen for anyone dreaming of a career in this field. Interestingly, my connection with Matt began in an unexpected place: the comments section of one of my career posts. Matt was leaving insightful comments filled with great advice for aspiring wildlife professionals. His willingness to share knowledge immediately caught my attention, and I knew I had to invite him onto the podcast to share his wisdom with a wider audience. Matt Howard isn't just any wildlife professional. As a natural resource manager for Utah's Department of Transportation, he's at the forefront of road ecology—a fascinating niche where wildlife conservation meets infrastructure development. His work involves analyzing the impacts of roads on threatened and endangered species, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, and finding innovative solutions to minimize human-wildlife conflicts. But Matt's experience extends far beyond his current role. Having navigated through various facets of the wildlife field, including state agency jobs and environmental consulting, he brings a panoramic view of the industry. This diverse background allows him to offer nuanced advice on aligning personal values with professional goals—a crucial aspect often overlooked in career discussions. But that's just the tip of the iceberg! What makes Matt's advice so compelling is that it comes from years of hands-on experience. He's not just theorizing – he's sharing what has actually worked for him and others in the field. From his experience hiring countless professionals to build an impressive social media following of over 100,000 on Instagram, Matt shares golden nuggets of wisdom you won't find in any textbook or career guide. In this episode, we dive deep into:
So, whether you're a student plotting your entry into the wildlife field, a professional looking to pivot into conservation, or simply someone fascinated by the inner workings of wildlife careers, this episode is your backstage pass to the industry. Tune in, take notes, and prepare to transform your approach to wildlife career planning. Your future self will thank you for it! I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/3-pillars-to-success/ Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/ #wildlifebiology #wildlifebiologist #wildlife #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #zoology #zoologist #ecology #ecologist #scientist #animals #science #graduatestudent #graduateschool #wildliferesearch #animalcareers #animaljobs | |||
| Managing Eco-Anxiety: Finding Strength in the Face of Environmental Challenges | 08 oct. 2024 | 00:36:50 | |
This Fancy Scientist podcast episode is quite literally years in the making. I first got the idea when one of my students in the Successful Wildlife Professional, which is my signature wildlife career group mentoring program, asked me about dealing with the feelings of depression involved in her work. Alanna Street was conducting research on the Great Barrier Reef, which has lost some estimates, up to 50% of its coral cover and might even completely disappear within decades, Alanna asked me how to maintain hope and a positive outlook while working amidst such negativity. When I answered this question in the mentoring session, I realized my answer was long and complex. In fact, I even wrote it down first with bullet points of the things that I wanted to cover. Across the years of running the Successful Wildlife Professional, I realized other students had similar feelings and were suffering in the same way. Therefore, I thought this would be a great podcast episode for so many people too. Eco-anxiety, often described as a feeling of chronic fear of environmental doom, conservation depression, and/or hopelessness in the face of environmental challenges, is increasingly common in our field, not only in our field but amongst the general population, especially younger generations. Eco-anxiety is not just an academic concept; it affects people's daily lives. It's a distress caused by a perception of loss and destruction in nature. These emotions can be debilitating, but the good thing is that they're also a testament to how deeply many people care about this state of the planet and what’s going on. Throughout this episode, I'll unpack some of these emotions and offer you tips and perspectives on how to take care of yourself, not let eco-anxiety weigh you down, but still care about the planet enough to take action and inspire others. If you have been following me for some time, you know that I'm huge on mindset. Growing up in what I thought was a normal household, I later realized I had been programmed with a negative outlook. I've worked hard to reverse this programming and overcome depression. Having been diagnosed with depression and anxiety since my early 20s, I understand how debilitating these feelings can be in general - even independent of eco-anxiety. But I recently learned that it doesn’t have to be this way. For the past seven years, I’ve worked intentionally on my mindset and worked hard to overcome my own negative thought patterns, and it works. I'm here to tell you that you have a choice in what you choose to focus on, that there's hope, and that there are ways to cope. Remember, your passion for nature and wildlife is a strength, not a burden. The Earth needs your passion, your dedication, and your hope. By addressing these emotions head-on and equipping yourself with coping strategies, you are not only taking care of yourself, but you are becoming an even more effective advocate for the planet. I encourage you to listen to this episode, reflect on your own experiences, and try out some of the strategies I discuss. Specifically, I go over:
I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/ Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/ Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW #wildlifebiology #wildlifebiologist #wildlife #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #zoology #zoologist #ecology #ecologist #scientist #animals #science #graduatestudent #graduateschool #wildliferesearch #animalcareers #animaljob | |||
| Why Conservation Needs Optimism: Interview with Conservation Optimism Director Jon Taylor | 24 sept. 2024 | 00:46:19 | |
Working in the conservation field innately involves loss from which is often accompanied by feelings of sadness, grief, anger, and even depression. The whole point of our field is to save species and ecosystems that are facing, often massive, declines and even extinction! As conservationists, we are compelled to help out because we love nature, often stemming from personal experiences and connections. This love is so great that we are often willing to dedicate our precious time, money, and energy towards this cause. But we currently live in a time where we are going through a massive extinction event, and unlike others, it’s all because of us - human beings. We are constantly being bombarded with negative news of our changing planet: deforestation, climate change, pollution, wildfires, drought, and the list goes on and on! No wonder this takes a toll on us. For a long time, conservation organizations have used “doom and gloom” to activate people to change and to some extent have been successful, but it can also cause people to turn away and tune out with feelings of helplessness or apathy. And for those of us working, it can simply be draining and just downright depressing to see these images and read these stories over and over again! One of my favorite things to ask when facing a seemingly insurmountable problem is to ask “what can I do?” So what can we do? Well, we can turn to optimism in conservation. It can make us feel better and work as a catalyst for change. I have long been saying this so when I saw the organization Conservation Optimism, I was hopeful and relieved to see others who felt the same way. Conservation Optimism is a movement that emerged from Oxford University in 2017, born out of the desire to shift the narrative in conservation from despair to hope. It came about as a response to the overwhelming "doom and gloom" messaging often associated with environmental crises, which can lead to feelings of helplessness and inaction. The movement aims to bridge the gap BETWEEN conservation science and public engagement by providing a message of hope and agency. It's not about downplaying the severity of our environmental challenges, but rather about empowering people to take action. I have been following Conservation Optimism for a long time as I have been drawn to their impactful work. Given the challenges we face in our field, I knew that doing this interview with their director, Jon Taylor, would be an invaluable resource for our community! Jon Taylor is a seasoned wildlife conservation leader with over 30 years of experience working on conservation and sustainable development projects across Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. His career has spanned a variety of roles, including managing projects focused on climate change at WWF, tigers and elephants at the Zoological Society of London, and coral reefs and cetaceans in different parts of the world. Before joining Conservation Optimism in 2024, Jon served as the Managing Director at Save the Rhino International. With a deep passion for wildlife sparked in childhood, Jon has become an expert in conceptualizing and leading conservation initiatives, and he's dedicated to guiding the next generation of conservationists. Despite his extensive experience, he remains in awe of the natural world and continues to be motivated by its beauty and wonder. Conservation Optimism aims to bridge this gap by providing a message of hope and agency. It's not about downplaying the severity of our environmental challenges, but rather about empowering people to take action. It's clear that while the challenges in conservation are significant, there's ample reason for hope. Jon's passion for his work and his belief in our collective ability to make a difference is truly inspiring. His message reminds us that every action counts and that we're all part of a global community working towards a healthier planet. Despite the challenges we face, he believes in our collective ability to address environmental issues. In our conversation, Jon emphasizes the need to articulate the value of nature in ways that resonate with people emotionally, not just intellectually. He points out that while ecosystem services are important, we also need to tap into the spiritual, cultural, and emotional connections people have with nature. This approach can help make conservation efforts more relatable and meaningful to a broader audience. For those aspiring to work in conservation, Jon's career journey offers valuable lessons. He stressed the importance of perseverance and curiosity, sharing how his path took him from a poor part of North London to working on projects across Africa and Asia, and eventually to his current role at Oxford. In this episode, we discussed:
I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/ Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/ Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW #wildlifebiology #wildlifebiologist #wildlife #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #zoology #zoologist #ecology #ecologist #scientist #animals #science #graduatestudent #graduateschool #wildliferesearch #animalcareers #animaljobs | |||
| Language Justice in Conservation: Interview with Ana Yi Soto | 10 sept. 2024 | 00:51:11 | |
I first came across Ana Yi Soto's work through a LinkedIn post she created on language justice that went viral and due to its importance, she later decided to repost in the Society for Conservation Biology forum. In her post, she shared a meme from the television show Modern Family, in which Gloria, a native Spanish-speaking character from Colombia (the actress playing Gloria, Sofia Vergara is also from Colombia) says, “Do you even know how smart I am in Spanish?” Her powerful message about what language you happened to grow up speaking and how it can affect your career in conservation resonated deeply with me, especially given my own experiences conducting fieldwork in Kenya and particularly Gabon, where the national language is French and almost no one speaks English. I remember not being able to fully express myself and feeling dumb. Currently, I, am learning Portuguese and when speaking in Brazil, I even feel like I take on a different personality due to language limitations. I knew immediately that I had to invite Ana to share her insights with our Fancy Scientist community on how conservation being dominated by the English language when it comes to published research affects those who did not grow up as native English speakers, but still want to have a career that can make an impact. In this episode, we dive into the critical issue of language barriers in conservation work. We explore how the dominance of English in scientific research and conservation efforts can inadvertently exclude vital voices and perspectives from local communities. This conversation is essential for anyone passionate about creating more equitable, effective, and inclusive conservation strategies worldwide. Language barriers in conservation go far beyond simple translation issues. They can significantly impact the effectiveness of conservation efforts, limit the participation of local experts, and lead to misunderstandings that can derail well-intentioned projects. There are some words that have no meaning in other languages or do not fully translate. Ana and I discuss the frustrations of not being able to fully express complex ideas in a non-native language and the importance of creating spaces where all voices can be heard and valued. Ana's journey from a communication specialist in Peru to a global conservation leader working in Madagascar is truly inspiring. She shares valuable advice on maintaining curiosity and humility in conservation work, emphasizing the need for co-creation rather than imposing solutions. We also delve into her current roles with the Global Landscape Forum and CREA Planeta, showcasing how she's putting language justice principles into action. This conversation with Ana Yi Soto highlights the urgent need for a shift in how we approach conservation work globally. By prioritizing language justice and inclusivity, we can tap into a wealth of local knowledge and create more sustainable, community-driven conservation solutions. I encourage all of you, whether you're a seasoned conservationist or just starting your journey, to reflect on how language impacts your work and interactions. How can we all contribute to creating a more inclusive environment in conservation? Specifically, we go over:
I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/ Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/ Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW #wildlifebiology #wildlifebiologist #wildlife #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #zoology #zoologist #ecology #ecologist #scientist #animals #science #graduatestudent #graduateschool #wildliferesearch #animalcareers #animaljobs | |||
| The Ethics of Scientist-Animal Selfies: An Eye-Opening Conversation with Dr. Cassie Freund | 27 août 2024 | 00:52:07 | |
As early as the second episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I’ve been talking about the negative impacts of "animal selfies.” This refers to when people post photos of themselves with an exotic animal. Although selfies are new in the digital age of photography, photos like these are not. For decades, private zoos and individuals have made money by keeping exotic animals often in horrific conditions and getting people to pose with them for photos. These are most often baby mammals (think tiger, lion, and bear cubs ala Tiger King), but can also be birds, reptiles, and fully adult mammals. While operations like these are clearly bad for animals and have nothing to do with conservation once you understand how they work (read Is Cub Petting Conservation for Big Cats?), what’s less clear is when scientists pose with their study species for photos. I totally get it! Being with a wild animal is an amazing opportunity and you want to capture it in a photograph (I am guilty of this myself), but what happens when we share those images? We've all seen those images of researchers posing with their study subjects, and while it might seem harmless, research has shown that this can actually encourage people to engage in unethical or even illegal wildlife interactions. It’s safe to say that this has been a pet peeve of mine for some time. Photos like those are pervasive throughout the scientific community, even when advertising our career to others and I’ve been trying to spread the word. . A couple of months ago, a story went viral on X (formerly Twitter) where people took wild bear cubs from a tree just for selfies. I tweeted not only about this, but about how scientists need to stop posting photos of themselves with wildlife so people don’t get the misconception that it’s ever okay to do something like this. I also emphasized that studies show that photos like those make people want to engage in animal selfies. This tweet gained considerable attention, one of which was from Dr. Cassie Freund, the director of science communication at the Frost Science Museum in Miami, who tweeted back that that was her research! . This fortuitous interaction led me to ask her for an interview in this podcast to talk about her research on scientists taking selfies with animals, especially primates, and how it has been shown to negatively influence public behavior and perceptions, making people less likely to understand the endangered status of these animals. On this podcast, she discusses the results of her and other studies, which found that even providing captions trying to explain the "proper permissions" obtained to handle animals with research permits and as a professional don’t mitigate the negative impact of those kinds of photos on the public. Additionally, Cassie has a fascinating background in primate behavioral research, and is a strong science writer and editor with over five years of experience telling engaging stories about the world around in outlets like Mongabay, Massive Science, and Hakai Magazine. Cassie's insights were so valuable, and I know this is a topic that many of you are passionate about as well. I encourage you to share this episode with your scientist friends and colleagues - let's all do our part to raise awareness and change the narrative around how we present wildlife on social media. Specifically, we go over:
I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/ Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/ Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW #wildlifebiology #wildlifebiologist #wildlife #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #zoology #zoologist #ecology #ecologist #scientist #animals #science #graduatestudent #graduateschool #wildliferesearch #animalcareers #animaljobs | |||
| Shifting the Scarcity Mindset: Thriving in Wildlife Careers on Limited Resources | 13 août 2024 | 00:34:25 | |
As someone who's been in this field for 20 years, I know what it’s like to be in your shoes - from struggling graduate students to successful wildlife professionals - I understand the rollercoaster of emotions and challenges you're facing in this competitive field. In this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I’m tackling two of the biggest elephants in the room when it comes to getting a job, and even maintaining a job in wildlife careers: time and money – These are the two things most of us never seem to have enough of! I vividly remember the days of feeling overwhelmed, especially in graduate school, juggling all aspects of research - from understanding how to set up an entire project by myself, run it internationally, collect and analyze data, and write up the results to publish all while maintaining other responsibilities such as classes and attending seminars. There never seemed to be enough time! But the thing is, if you don’t invest in yourself, through time and money or both when it comes to your career, you’re likely going to struggle later on, costing you even more time and money. Let me give you an example. If I had taken the time to really study and even just look at jobs that I would have eventually been applying for, I would have been a lot more competitive for them because I would have known exactly what they wanted. For investing in your career, you may need to raise funds to support a volunteer opportunity you need to do to gain more experience or into professional development like the programs that I offer, attending conferences, or participating in societies. So many people let these obstacles stop them and just throw their hands up - like I did (“I don’t have time to look at the jobs - I am working on my dissertation!”) But I’ve learned through a lot of amazing mentors and mindset work that these are stories that we just tell ourselves and when we really want something, we can go after it and make it happen. I've learned that it's not about having more time or money - in fact, no one has more time. You and I have the same amount of hours in the day as Oprah Winfrey, Jane Goodall, and Beyoncé (and none of them started off wealthy either). It's about how you THINK about time and money, and maximizing what you have. That's exactly what I'm here to share with you today. I'll take you on a journey through my own experiences where I realized I was spending way too much time on the wrong things and how I changed my approach to time and money in my career. I’ll offer you practical strategies that have not only helped me but have also transformed the careers of many wildlife professionals I've had the privilege to coach. Whether you're an aspiring wildlife biologist still in school, an early-career professional feeling stuck in seasonal positions, or a seasoned expert looking to make a bigger impact, this episode has something for you. We'll challenge the scarcity mindset that's so common in our field and explore how to adopt an abundance perspective - even when resources seem limited. I'll share candid stories about my own financial journey, influenced by my family background, and how it shaped my approach to managing money in this field. We'll talk about creative ways to boost your income that you might not have considered before, and I'll give you a peek into some unconventional fundraising strategies that have worked wonders for conservation projects. By the end of this episode, I promise you'll have a toolkit of practical strategies to better manage your time and money. But more than that, I hope you'll feel inspired and empowered. Because here's the truth - you don't need to wait for more time or money to start making a difference. You have everything you need right now to take the next step in your wildlife career. Specifically, I go over:
So, are you ready to transform how you think about and use your most precious resources? Dive in and unlock your potential to make a real impact in the world of wildlife biology and conservation! I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/ Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/ Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW #wildlifebiology #wildlifebiologist #wildlife #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #zoology #zoologist #ecology #ecologist #scientist #animals #science #graduatestudent #graduateschool #wildliferesearch #animalcareers #animaljobs | |||
| Becoming Unstoppable: Traits of a Successful Wildlife Professional | 01 août 2024 | 00:36:16 | |
What does it take to be successful in wildlife careers? You might be thinking:
Some of those things *do* help (others don’t even help much!), but they still are not getting at the core of what it REALLY takes to be successful in a wildlife career. You see, those things are the results of first having the mindset that this career is not just possible for you, but what you are destined and dedicated to do. In other words, even if you have the things listed above, but don’t have the strong mindset, you won’t have the wherewithal to keep going when things get hard. And this career is HARD. One thing I don’t do is shy away from the realities of this career (but that also doesn’t mean I don’t think you can’t do it!) I first started out wanting to become an actress, but was always uncomfortable with the high level of risk and rejection associated with acting careers. I was relieved to find wildlife biology, not only because I loved it, but I felt a huge weight lifted off of me knowing that I could get a “regular” job that paid a steady income instead of waiting tables by day and getting unpaid in community theater while trying to break through after an endless amounts of auditions. But it turns out, careers in wildlife are a lot like those in acting! Compared to how many people are out there, positions are few and competition is therefore high. Rejection from not only jobs, but also grants and publications is part of many careers. To gain experience, people work for years in unpaid or poorly paid temp work. To deal with all of those realities, your mindset, combined with other factors outlined in this podcast, is truly key for success in getting a permanent job that you love. When you have the right mindset in place to be able to handle all of the competition and rejection, you will succeed no matter what because you will find a way. In this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I dive deep into the core attitudes and mindsets that separate those who thrive in wildlife careers from those who struggle and never secure permanent jobs or are unhappy with the jobs that they have. I talk about developing an unstoppable mindset, being willing to invest in yourself, and how to creatively overcome obstacles. I share personal stories - like my experiences at Disney World and working with elephants - to illustrate these points. Specifically, I go over:
Remember, success in wildlife careers isn't just about technical skills - it's about who you BECOME in the process. I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/ Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/ Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW #wildlifebiology #wildlifebiologist #wildlife #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #zoology #zoologist #ecology #ecologist #scientist #animals #science #graduatestudent #graduateschool #wildliferesearch #animalcareers #animaljobs | |||
| Breaking through Wildlife Career Despair: Why Helpless Thinking Won’t Actually Help | 16 juil. 2024 | 00:38:38 | |
If you’re like most people pursuing a wildlife career, at some point, you’ve felt like you’re giving it your all, but going nowhere. Like a field vehicle stuck in the mud, you’re pressing the gas pedal as hard as you can, but the wheels are just spinning, flinging mud (maybe even in your face - I’ve been there!) and you’re in the exact same spot. Or maybe you’ve felt like you’re furiously treading water, moving your body as fast as you can, you're exhausted just trying to keep up, but no matter what, despite all of this effort, you’re still in the same place - or even worse, sinking. Maybe things seem so bad for you that you feel like you’ve reached a dead end in the road with no way out…Maybe you’re ready to scream or cry or both. Or have already cried all of your tears and just don’t know what to do. Chances are you feel helpless, bitter, upset, disappointed, and just plain sad. The rejections seem to be piling up, but you don’t know where you went wrong. When you’re feeling like this, it’s so easy to point to all of the reasons why this is happening to you. It’s so easy to find all of the reasons why you can’t and why it won’t work out. Maybe you’re telling yourself:
But the thing is, this kind of thinking won’t get you to where you want to go. It won’t get you your permanent dream job in a wildlife career. And in fact, it will actually keep you stuck. How do I know this? In the eight years of being on and off the job market after my PhD, I found out first hand how competitive it was. In my nearly seven years of graduate school, no one told me this. As long as I didn’t do academia, which I knew was super competitive, I thought I would be all right and easily get a permanent job. I did everything right and was even getting interviews, however, I was still watching others with more experience (in one case 10 years!) get the job over me, even though I had already had 12-17 years of experience myself (depending at what point I applied for jobs). I was caught in a cycle of job rejections, grew bitter, blamed the system, and felt like I was never going to break through. It was so easy to fall into this helplessness mentality, And it felt good - because it wasn’t my fault - I could blame someone or something else. Every time someone would ask me about how it’s going when applying for jobs and what my next job would be, I would have this big story and gigantic disclaimer about my situation and the state of wildlife careers. And even though it wasn’t my fault, I realized that there were things I could do and looking back, things I should have done. We can’t change the past, but like the Maya Angelou quote goes, “when we know better, we do better.” In this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I’m getting deep and vulnerable with the experiences that I’ve gone through and sharing with you what I’ve learned from thinking this way, as well as showing you that there’s a much better way to think that will actually get you results. It might get a little uncomfy here (but it will be worth it!): I’m asking you to go deep and be truly honest with yourself. Are you commiting to the story of why things aren’t possible for you? Why they are difficult and hard? Why you can’t do it or why things aren’t working out for you? Or are you willing to commit yourself to the equally possible story that you can do this and that things are possible for you, you just need to find the way? I'll share some real talk about money (because let's face it, this career doesn’t pay well, especially in the beginning, and you’ll probably have to make sacrifices)), dealing with imposter syndrome, and how to keep pushing forward when it feels like everything's against you. And for those of you thinking, "But Stephanie, you don't understand my situation," - I hear you. We'll talk about overcoming all sorts of obstacles, whether you're a person who’s been historically excluded from wildlife careers, dealing with a chronic illness, or feeling like you're too old to begin your wildlife career. The best part? You'll hear stories about real people who've made it work despite everything that was working against them. Trust me, if they can do it, so can you. Specifically, here's what I cover in this episode:
And if you're feeling fired up after this episode and want more support, I've got your back. Check out my free job tracker and my course on Winning Wildlife Job Applications. These are the exact tools I wish I had when I was struggling. Remember, you're not alone in this. I’m here to help you strategize the path to your dream career to make a better world for wildlife and yourself. So take a deep breath, let go of the bitterness and disappointment, start believing again that you can do this, and start making things happen. You've got this, and I'm here to help every step of the way. I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/ Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/ Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW #wildlifebiology #wildlifebiologist #wildlife #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #zoology #zoologist #ecology #ecologist #scientist #animals #science #graduatestudent #graduateschool #wildliferesearch #animalcareers #animaljobs | |||
| Wildlife Career Salaries: The Hidden Costs Behind Job Postings | 02 juil. 2024 | 00:35:59 | |
On the surface, it seems like careers in wildlife are pretty financially solid. If you search online for how much wildlife biologists make, you’ll discover it’s about $70K here in the US. In fact, when I discovered wildlife biology as a career option, I was incredibly relieved to see a solid salary posted! I was previously pursuing a career in acting, which is notorious for having low salaries, lots of unpaid work, uncertainty, and risk. But after 20 years of being in this field working in internships, going to graduate school, postdocing, and then applying for permanent jobs, I realized there are many parallels to theater and wildlife careers, and there’s more to that $70K salary than it seems. In fact, when I was applying to jobs, most of the jobs I was competitive for had salaries around the $50-$55K range even with having a Ph.D. and having been in the field for 15 years. So what gives? Why is there such a disparity? In this episode of the Fancy Scientist podcast, I talk about just that: what goes into getting that $70K salary and what jobs are most likely to lead you there. I'm pulling back the curtain on what it REALLY takes to make it in wildlife careers, and trust me, it's not what your college career counselor told you or what you read on the Internet. I talk about how it’s incredibly difficult to generalize careers in wildlife and that you have to be careful of the images you see and the information you read - as it often doesn’t apply to most wildlife careers! Remember that shiny $70,600 median salary figure from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics? Well, I hate to break it to you, but it's about as realistic as expecting to cuddle pandas on your first day on the job. If you're someone who's been applying for wildlife job after wildlife job, but hearing nothing back, you're about to GET the truth about our field that no one else is talking about. But don't worry, I'm not here to crush your dreams. I 100% believe that you can do this! And to make that happen, you need a realistic understanding of what these careers in wildlife are like so that you can prepare. I'm here to arm you with the knowledge you need to beat the system and thrive in this amazing field. Using my own experiences and those of colleagues, I paint a realistic picture of what aspiring wildlife biologists can expect in this competitive field. By the time you finish this episode, you'll understand the hidden factors that go into getting a $70K salary, what kinds of jobs are more likely to be lucrative, and how some jobs may never pay that much. So, if you're ready to start taking charge of your career and become the successful wildlife professional that you know you are deep down inside, this episode is for you. Specifically, I go over:
I’m Dr. Stephanie Manka (formerly Schuttler), a wildlife biologist of nearly 20 yrs with 20+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, author of the book Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology: What It’s Like and What You Need to Know (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Job-Wildlife-Biology-What/dp/B08JDYXS4G/) and founder of Fancy Scientist. My channel and the Fancy Scientist LLC is dedicated to connecting people to science and nature, breaking stereotypes of, and empowering scientists. I help aspiring and struggling wildlife biologists get the right training so they can get jobs, live out their life’s purpose and make a difference in this world. Sign up for my next free job training: https://stephanieschuttler.com/trainingwaitlist/ Want to learn about cool animals, conservation, and get tips about careers in wildlife biology, science, and more? Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/StephanieSchuttler and join my email list: https://stephanieschuttler.com/ I’d love to meet you. Connect with me on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FancyScientist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fancyscientist/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fancyscientist/pins/ Join the “Getting a Job in Wildlife Biology” Facebook group to connect with other aspiring wildlife biologists, post your questions and get free advice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gettingajobinwildlifebiology Listen to the Fancy Scientist Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29swiuHG4TWKbS9gRZrORW #wildlifebiology #wildlifebiologist #wildlife #conservation #wildlifemanagement #wildlifeconservation #zoology #zoologist #ecology #ecologist #scientist #animals #science #graduatestudent #graduateschool #wildliferesearch #animalcareers #animaljobs | |||