Explore every episode of the podcast Just the Zoo of Us
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 253: Dung Beetles & Giant Moray Eel | 28 Aug 2024 | 01:04:16 | |
Ellen gets the ball rolling with dung beetles & Christian jaws away about the giant moray eel. We discuss tiny boots, field trips to the planetarium, The Mummy (1999), secret jaws, why moray eels make that face, teamwork on the reef, fact checking The Little Mermaid, and more. Links:
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| Bugs Need Heroes: The Painbow | 14 Aug 2024 | 01:32:00 | |
We're out traveling this week! In the meantime, please enjoy this episode of Bugs Need Heroes, in which Ellen joined hosts Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman to settle a debate: are shrimps bugs? Are mantis shrimps shrimps? We discuss how they may or may not be turning into crabs and what they might think of sunsets. Tangents include Godzilla, weddings, pet store stories, internet memes, Sailor Moon and anime translations. Originally aired on the Bugs Need Heroes podcast on June 23, 2024. Links:
Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 244: A Gay Animal Revue w/ Owen Ever and Laine Kaplan-Levenson! | 13 Jun 2024 | 00:52:13 | |
Join Ellen & special guests Owen Ever and Laine Kaplan-Levenson for a revue of gay animals! We discuss manatee wuzzles, elephant matriarchy, giraffes necking in more ways than one, eagle throuples, the impact of prejudice on science, and so much more. This episode is a celebration of love, family, and community in - as our guest puts it - the animal queendom. NOTE: Since a lot of this episode is about the diversity of sexual behavior in animals, naturally it does contain more discussion of sex than most of our episodes, including behaviors that aren’t just motivated by reproduction. These discussions are not graphic or explicit, but it is a focal point of the conversation so I do encourage any young listeners to please check in with your grown-ups before listening. Links:
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| 161: Rufous Hummingbird w/ Alexander Vidal | 21 Sep 2022 | 00:48:47 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, illustrator and author Alexander Vidal, for a review of a tiny bird with an ambitious itinerary: the rufous hummingbird. We discuss cottagecore nests, how wildlife moves all over our continent, birds that look like bugs and bugs that look like birds, and a lesson in confidence from the world’s littlest dinosaurs. Get Alexander's book, Wilds of the United States: The Animals' Survival Field Guide! Follow Alexander on Twitter and Instagram! Hang out with Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 160: Marine Iguana & Colugo | 14 Sep 2022 | 01:05:07 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! This week, Christian gets salty over the marine iguana & Ellen glides along with the literally treehugging colugo. We discuss archipelagos, snot rockets, Darwin's garbage takes, Godzilla, skin parachutes and baby hammocks. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord! Cover photos: Patrick_Gijsbers via Getty images (marine iguana) & Didasteph via Wikimedia commons (colugo) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 159: Moon Jellyfish w/ Sophie Wolvin! | 07 Sep 2022 | 01:03:54 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, marine biologist Sophie Wolvin, for a review of the ocean's little jello casseroles full of live bees: moon jellyfish! We’re gonna talk about what to do if you get stung by a jellyfish, what it’s like to care for the delicate jellies, their vortex of death, jellybeans and blooms, and I confess to some heinous jellyfish crimes. Follow Sophie on Twitter and learn more about her work at her website! Listen to Sophie discuss young adult fiction with biologists on the Midlight Crisis podcast! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 158: Pallas's Cat & Kiwi | 01 Sep 2022 | 01:02:12 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen lets Pallas's cat out of the bag & Christian probes into the world of the sensitive kiwi. We discuss grumpy cats, spawncamping, chilly beans, buff legs and giant eggs. Check out Benjamin Lancer's paper on dragonfly attention in Nature! Watch Wildlife Instincts: Pallas's Cat - Master of the Plains on YouTube! Learn more about how you can help the kiwi! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord! Cover photos: Radovan Zierik via Getty images (Pallas's cat), Lakeview Images via Getty (kiwi) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 157: Fleas w/ Tom Sharpe! | 24 Aug 2022 | 00:59:51 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, podcaster and invertebrate enthusiast Tom Sharpe, as we leap into the world of the tiny menace: fleas! We discuss the intersection of entomology and Pokemon, blind leaps of faith, tiny little cowboys riding their trusty steeds up cave walls, the history of fleas on leashes, and more. For more of Tom's invertebrate podcasting, check out Grubbing in the Filth: An Invertebrate Podcast! Follow along on Twitter & Instagram. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord & join Ellen for weekly video game streams on Twitch! Cover photo: Jugas via Getty images Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 156: California Sea Lion & Giant Isopod | 17 Aug 2022 | 00:59:02 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian barks about the loud wet dog of the Pacific coast, the California sea lion, and Ellen gets to know her bottomfeeding best friend, the giant isopod. In this episode, we discuss our recent trip to Monterey Bay, pinniped evolution, whale falls, and Hello Kitty Darth Vader. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord & join Ellen for weekly video game streams on Twitch! Cover photos: cwinegarden via Getty images (sea lion), Monterey Bay Aquarium via Twitter post (giant isopod) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 155: Dolphins w/ Drew Smith! | 10 Aug 2022 | 01:06:42 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, anthropologist & cetologist Drew Smith, for a review of the adorable little apex predators zipping through the waves: dolphins! We talked about animal charisma, dolphin culture and society and play, a West Side Story-style rivalry, a whale’s favorite ice cream flavor, and how these animals so different from us have flipped and whistled their way into our human hearts. Follow Drew on Twitter! Learn more about upcoming Paleolithic historical fiction novel Jih's Journey here! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord & join Ellen for weekly video game streams on Twitch! Cover photo provided by Drew Smith Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 154: Hognose Snake & Cone Snail | 27 Jul 2022 | 00:56:15 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen brings a flair for drama with the hognose snake & Christian shatters expectations with the lightning-fast strike of the cone snail. We discuss feigning death, longleaf pine forests, and stealthy assassins of the reef. For more information on longleaf pine forest conservation, check out the Longleaf Alliance. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord & join Ellen for weekly video game streams on Twitch! Cover photos: Mark Kostich (hognose snake) via Getty images, Richard Ling (cone snail) via Wikipedia Audio from Don Giovanni via Wikimedia Commons Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 153: Sandhill Crane w/ Tommy Siegel! | 20 Jul 2022 | 00:56:04 | |
Join Ellen & special guest musician from Jukebox the Ghost, comic artist behind "Candy Hearts" and "I Hope This Helps," and birder Tommy Siegel for a review of the touring musicians of the North American skies: sandhill cranes. We talk about the mental health benefits of birding, how crane couples keep the romance alive, what a musical interpretation of their iconic call might sound like, and more. Follow Tommy on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Learn more about his work on his website. Calendars, prints and stickers of Extremely Accurate Birds can be ordered here! Learn more about Jukebox the Ghost at their website & listen to their new album Cheers wherever you get your music! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord & join Ellen for weekly video game streams on Twitch! Tune in to Science & Sorcery at 2pm eastern on Friday, July 22nd for a D&D adventure! Cover photo: bookguy via Getty images Crane sound effect recorded by Tim Kahn, obtained via freesound.org Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 152: Rough-Skinned Newt & Pumpkin Toadlet | 13 Jul 2022 | 00:56:13 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's poisonous amphibian showcase, Christian takes competition to a whole new level with the rough-skinned newt and Ellen takes a leap of faith with the pumpkin toadlet. We discuss an evolutionary grappling match, the drawbacks of being too tiny, and glowing bones. Learn more about how you can help the Atlantic Forest by visiting Copaíba's website. Check out Ellen's guest appearances this week: "Don’t Go in the Water: A Guide to the Wonderful & Wacky Animals of Florida" on Pangolin: The Conservation Podcast "Manatees" on Secretly Incredibly Fascinating "Top 10 Most Popular Animals in the World" on the 10ish Podcast Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord! Join Ellen for weekly video game streams on Twitch! Cover photos: Carlos Otávio Gussoni via iNaturalist (pumpkin toadlet), randimal via Getty images (newt) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 243: Diving Bell Spider & Oarfish | 05 Jun 2024 | 01:04:18 | |
Christian bubbles over with hype for the diving bell spider & Ellen tells some fish tales about the legendary oarfish. We discuss Hotwheels sisyphus, Doordash for spiders, diving technology, Pokemon, sea serpent mythology, bioluminescence and so much more. Links:
Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 151: Nominating the National Bird w/ Nick Lund! | 06 Jul 2022 | 01:07:54 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, science writer Nick Lund, for a special episode nominating our very own top 3 candidates for the national bird of the United States of America! In addition to our bird selections, Nick gives us insight into the process that actually goes into designating official state birds, the history behind the bald eagle’s use as the country’s symbol and why the turkey was once famously suggested to be America’s Next Top Wattle. Follow The Birdist on Twitter! Check out our guest's books: The Ultimate Biography of Earth: From the Big Bang to Today! - Told in a lively, illustrated biography form to deliver its cutting-edge science in the most compelling way, here is the story of Earth, from the chaotic Hadean eon with its huge oceans of molten rock to today’s Cenozoic era, aka the Age of Mammals (and that includes us humans). Great for young curious minds! American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Maine -A photographic field guide with one bird featured per page. Each concise species account includes measurements, scientific name, identification description, voice, behavior, and the habitat it is likely to be found in. Photographs by Brian E. Small. More of Nick's writing and science communication work can be found at his website. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram & join Ellen for weekly video game streams on Twitch!
Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 150: Saiga & Alligator Gar | 30 Jun 2022 | 00:59:56 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! This week, Ellen steppes up to the plate with the saiga & Christian gar-ners support for the alligator gar. We discuss the inner workings of the saiga's bizarre nose, the funky antelope's conservation roller coaster ride, river monsters, and forbidden boba pearls. Learn more about saiga conservation & how you can support them with the Saiga Conservation Alliance! Hear about gars from Dr. Solomon David on his episode of Ologies from December of 2020: Garology (LONG CUTE ANCIENT PATIENT BOOPABLE NIGHTMARE FISH) with Solomon David Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram & join Ellen for weekly video game streams on Twitch! Cover photos: Victor Tyakht (saiga) & Bill Roque (alligator gar) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 149: Red-Tailed Hawk w/ Maya Higa! | 22 Jun 2022 | 00:45:09 | |
Join Ellen & conservationist, wildlife educator and streamer Maya Higa to talk about one of the toughest, bravest predators in the sky: red-tailed hawks! We talk about the joys of falconry and wildlife rehabilitation, the reckless raptor lifestyle, environmentally-friendly window decor, what to do if you find a baby bird on the ground, and what it’s like to work alongside these modern-day dinosaurs. Follow Maya on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter & Instagram! Learn more about Alveus Sanctuary & follow along with their work on Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok and Twitch! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram & join Ellen for weekly video game streams on Twitch! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 148: Japanese Spider Crab & Saharan Silver Ant | 15 Jun 2022 | 00:52:46 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian reads the manual to the Japanese spider crab & Ellen turns up the heat with the Saharan silver ant. We discuss optical physics, exoskeletons, and the highs and lows of arthropod life from the dunes of the Sahara desert to the bottom of the ocean. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram & join Ellen for weekly animal-themed video game streams on Twitch! Cover photo: Arrlxx via Getty images (Japanese spider crab) & Bjørn Christian Tørrissen via Wikipedia (Saharan silver ant)
Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 147: Assassin Bugs w/ Ilan Domnich! | 09 Jun 2022 | 01:30:03 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, entomologist Ilan Domnich, for a review of a fascinating family of bugs that are always one slow, methodical step ahead of the competition: assassin bugs! We discuss why their bite packs such a powerful punch, how they’re able to outsmart both predators and prey with downright machiavellian tactics like corpse armor and spawncamping and trap-setting, and what wonders you’ll find when you take a minute to stoop down and appreciate the intricacies of insects. This episode is quite long, but trust the process because this episode is PACKED with mind-blowing revelations about the cutthroat world of bugs. Visit the Bugs 101: Insect-Human Interactions course on Coursera! Follow Ilan on Instagram! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 146: Hedgehog & Bandicoot | 01 Jun 2022 | 00:53:19 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's trip to the childhood arcade, Ellen rolls around at the speed of sound with the European hedgehog & Christian crashes the party with the eastern barred bandicoot. We discuss the hedgehog's formidable defenses, the bandicoot's triumphant return from extinction, and the role these two remarkable critters played in our very own childhoods. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Email or DM us for a link to our Discord server. :) Cover photos: lostbear via Getty images (hedgehog), JJ Harrison via Wikipedia (bandicoot) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 145: Owl Monkeys w/ Alexi Grousis! | 26 May 2022 | 01:03:34 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, zookeeper & host of the We Out Here podcast Alexi Grousis, for a review of a unique and mysterious creature bouncing around rainforest canopies by the light of the moon: owl monkeys! We talk about how owl monkeys have adjusted to thriving in the twilight, what’s going on behind those big bright eyes, and what it’s like to work with these little fluffy forest sprites. Check out The We Out Here Podcast on your podcast app & follow them on Twitter and Instagram! Follow Alexi on Twitter! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 144: A Grand Scale Adventure | 20 May 2022 | 01:34:12 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a fantasy roleplaying adventure as Christian plays a Dungeons & Dragons homebrew one-shot written by Ellen! In this week's episode, Monax Tufdert takes on a clandestine mission of the reptilian persuasion from a local government official. Along the way, he seeks to befriend a dog, rescue wildlife in peril, and restore ecological balance to the wetlands. All sounds used in this episode came from freesound.org & attribution can be found here. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 143: Muskox w/ Kirsten Engeseth! | 11 May 2022 | 00:59:00 | |
Ellen & special guest, herbivore ecologist and researcher Kirsten Engeseth, who joins us all the way from Norway to review the fluffiest, softest living tank you’ve ever seen: the muskox! We talk about how these real-life Banthas keep warm in the harsh arctic winters, band together to defend their herd with unwavering honor, and do their absolute best to overcome the challenges of new environments and a changing world. Follow Kirsten on Twitter! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 142: Questions, Answers and Stories | 04 May 2022 | 01:15:14 | |
For the second and final week of the MaxFunDrive, we're answering your questions and sharing your stories! We share some deeply personal intimate details like our inspirations behind the podcast, what the journey has been like to make it over the last 3 years, and how much ham we could eat in one sitting. Be a part of the MaxFunDrive & sign up to become a supporting member of the network and get access to exclusive content and beautiful gifts! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates on our membership goals and news about upcoming livestreams. Follow @ginkgozee on Instagram for beautiful, Just the Zoo of Us inspired artwork!
Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 242: Blue Jay w/ Dara Miles Wilson! | 30 May 2024 | 00:46:38 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, naturalist and birder Dara Miles Wilson, about some of the brightest and boldest members of the corvid family: the tenacious and charming blue jays. We discuss the audacity of jays and their amazing hawk impressions, what to put in your birdfeeder and why you might want to add a little spice, why blue jays aren’t actually blue, and so much more. Links:
Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 141: Bigfoot w/ Elliot Helmer! | 27 Apr 2022 | 01:10:42 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, archaeologist and cryptid enthusiast Elliot Helmer, on a search for the truth about our most mysterious neighbor: Bigfoot. We discuss hominid evolution, cryptid ecology, the importance of oral history and traditional knowledge, and what Bigfoot can teach us about ourselves and our own relationship with nature wherever you fall on the spectrum of skepticism. Visit the Black Trowel Collective to learn more about & support their mutual aid initiative for archaeology students, as well as the Na'ah Illahee Fund to support their organization's work regenerating Indigenous communities. Follow Elliot on Twitter! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Be a part of the MaxFunDrive & sign up to become a supporting member of the network and get access to exclusive content!
Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 64: Emu & Whale Shark (REPLAY) | 20 Apr 2022 | 00:58:15 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's re-broadcast of an episode from August of 2020, Ellen explains why emus don't bother flying and Christian dives into the mysterious world of the cryptic whale shark. We discuss the evolution, de-evolution and re-evolution of flight, an actual military war between humans and birds resulting in a victory you might not expect, and eyeballs covered with teeth. Send in questions for our upcoming Q&A episode to ellen@justthezooofus.com or message us on social media! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photo: cpaulfell (emu) & Chainarong Phrammanee (whale shark), via Getty images Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 140: Pangolins w/ Jack Baker! | 14 Apr 2022 | 01:03:35 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, conservationist and podcaster Jack Baker, for a review of the charming and humble pangolin! We discuss how the pangolin’s unique adaptations tip the scales in favor of this walking pinecone and what challenges they face in the world today. Check out Pangolin: The Conservation Podcast and follow on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photo: 2630ben via Getty images Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 139: Joro Spider & Day Octopus | 06 Apr 2022 | 00:56:45 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's sixteen-legged episode, Christian weaves a web of truth about the Joro spider & Ellen pulls no punches with the day octopus. We discuss what the media hype gets wrong about the Joro spider, how to eat cephalopod ink & why octopuses and their "swift, explosive motion" are complete reef menaces. If this podcast has had an impact on you or your life, we want to hear from you! Send in your story or just tell us what this show means to you by emailing memberstories@maximumfun.org OR leave a voice message at (323) 601-8719. We’re working on some special episodes coming up soon, and you just might hear your message shared on the podcast! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photo: Arrlxx via Getty images (Joro spider) & slowmotiongli via Getty images (day octopus) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 138: Phasmids w/ Shakara Maggitt! | 30 Mar 2022 | 00:47:16 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, entomologist and animal scientist Shakara Maggitt, for a review of the gentle giants of the insect world: phasmids! You may know them as stick bugs, leaf insects or any of their other many common names. We discuss learning to love bugs, what makes the abundantly diverse stick bug family so weird and wonderful, and even why you might want to consider incorporating bugs into your own culinary repertoire. Follow Shakara on Twitter or Instagram! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photo: Chris Rogers via Getty images Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 137: Babirusa & Greenland Shark | 23 Mar 2022 | 00:51:46 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen wallows in the unique charm of the babirusa & Christian gives us a look into the mysteries of the Greenland shark. We discuss teeth mutiny, Icelandic food, and life in the slow lane. If this podcast has had an impact on you or your life, we want to hear from you! Send in your story or just tell us what this show means to you by emailing memberstories@maximumfun.org OR leave a voice message at (323) 601-8719. We’re working on some special episodes coming up soon, and you just might hear your message shared on the podcast! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photo: Ellen Weatherford (babirusa), dottedhippo via Getty images (Greenland shark) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 136: Cuckoo Wasps w/ Katie Goldin! | 16 Mar 2022 | 00:53:01 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, fellow animal science podcaster and Cool Bug Appreciator Katie Goldin, for a review of the spectacular and delectably devious cuckoo wasps! We discuss what makes these glittering jewels of the insect world such perfectly crafted little menaces terrorizing a wasp nest near you in this exhilarating exposé of espionage, exploitation, and exoskeletons. Katie Goldin is the host of Creature Feature, which can be found wherever you get podcasts. You can also follow Katie on Twitter! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photo: Ines Carrara, via Getty images Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 135: Egyptian Vulture & Eastern Spotted Skunk | 09 Mar 2022 | 00:48:25 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's especially odoriferous episode, Christian gives high marks to the Egyptian vulture and Ellen gives props to the grandstanding, handstanding eastern spotted skunk. We discuss where the pharaoh's chicken ranks in the scavenging pecking order, how to ACTUALLY get rid of the smell from a skunk spray using chemistry, and why it's important to appreciate even our stinkiest friends. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photos: Byrdyak via Getty images (Egyptian vulture) & Weber via Getty images (spotted skunk) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 134: Hyenas w/ Dr. Christine Wilkinson! | 02 Mar 2022 | 00:57:32 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, conservation biologist Dr. Christine Wilkinson, for a review of the oft-maligned powerhouses: hyenas! We discuss the diversity of the hyena family, eating bones, girlbossing, how pop culture has missed the mark on hyena representation, and compassionate conservation. Follow Christine on Twitter and check out their website for more! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photo: David O'Brien via Getty images Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 133: Slow Loris & Cassowary | 23 Feb 2022 | 01:00:24 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen hangs out with the slow loris & Christian observes leg day with the southern cassowary. We discuss armpit alchemy, the pitfalls of cute animal videos, rumbles in the jungle, and real life dinosaurs. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photos: warmer via Getty images (slow loris), Julien Viry via Getty images (cassowary) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 241: Peregrine Falcon w/ Sophie Osborn! | 23 May 2024 | 00:55:03 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, wildlife biologist and author Sophie Osborn, for a review of the skydiving champions of the animal kingdom: peregrine falcons. We discuss the adaptations that let these incredible birds tear through the sky at literally breakneck speeds, biomimicry in aircraft design and sporting goods, the plague of pesticide and how we almost lost some of our most iconic birds, and the lessons that birds can teach us about our own role in the environment. Links:
Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 132: Blanding's Turtle w/ Tharusha Wijewardena! | 16 Feb 2022 | 00:43:01 | |
Join Ellen & special guest Tharusha Wijewardena for a review of the charming and endangered Blanding's turtle. We discuss what to do if you see a turtle crossing the road, what cartoons get right and wrong about turtles, the perils of longevity and cute fluffy predators, and the conservation work that’s going into helping our tough-shelled friends. Follow Tharusha on Twitter and learn more about the Headstarting Project over at the Toronto Zoo's website. Cover photo: Caverhill via Getty images
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| 131: Green Iguana & Blue Marlin | 09 Feb 2022 | 00:54:44 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian drops in on green iguanas and Ellen reels in the blue marlin. Topics include pendulous dewlaps, frozen lizards falling from trees, the powerhouse of the cell, and flailing knives. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photos: Christo Goosen via Pexels (green iguana) & Kelly Dalling via Getty Images (blue marlin) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 130: Turacos w/ Aeralyn Rudnick! | 02 Feb 2022 | 00:54:46 | |
Join Ellen & special guest, animal trainer Aeralyn Rudnick, for a review of the relentlessly charming turacos! They are here to tell us all about what it’s like to work with these spectacular little goofballs, how to win their hearts over with the power of berries, baby bird glow-ups and the science behind their rainbow of brilliantly pigmented colors that really do make them actual living paintings. Follow Aeralyn's work on TikTok and Instagram, and find more information at their website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photo courtesy of Aeralyn Rudnick Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 129: Icefish & Wombat | 26 Jan 2022 | 00:48:51 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen chills out with icefish & Christian tells us why the wombat really shines. Topics include Crystal Pepsi, secret fish cities, poop cubes and blacklights. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photo: keiichihiki via Getty images (wombat), Marrabbio2 via Wikipedia (icefish, Chionodraco hamatus) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 128: Ground Squirrels w/ Stephanie Martinez! | 20 Jan 2022 | 00:59:26 | |
Join Ellen & conservation biologist Stephanie Martinez for a review of the little deceptively adorable critters tunneling through the grasslands: ground squirrels! We talk about the hazards of field work, sleeping your problems away, the science of splooting, jiu jitsu matches, squirrel romance, tippy taps and furry little neighborhood watch programs. Follow Stephanie on Twitter! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photo: Pancaketom via Getty images Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 127: Bull Shark & Green Heron | 12 Jan 2022 | 00:57:41 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian tells us how the bull shark gets fresh by staying salty & Ellen takes a stab at the knife-faced green heron. We discuss Jaws, the atlatl, and zoooOOOP! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photo: Divepic, wildpix645 (via Getty images) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 126: Carnation Corals w/ Rosie Steinberg! | 05 Jan 2022 | 00:53:05 | |
Join Ellen & marine biologist Rosie Steinberg for a review of some beautiful animals that you might not have even known were animals: carnation corals! We talk about the living Ship of Theseus, what a coral smells like, intense turf wars being fought in super slow motion, and life as a hivemind of squishy clones. Follow Rosie on Twitter! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photo: johnandersonphoto via Getty Images
Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 125: Crested Gecko w/ Dominique DiFalco! | 29 Dec 2021 | 00:55:33 | |
Join Ellen & reptile keeper Dominique DiFalco for a review of the fabulously lashed crested gecko! Learn all about the joys of loving and caring for reptiles, the mind-blowing physics that keeps geckos clinging even to smooth glass, and what makes these wide-eyed, velvety soft lizards such special little friends. Follow along with Dominique's work on Facebook (her group is currently on pause for the holidays but will be back soon) and Instagram! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Cover photo: sue29, via Getty Images Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 124: Northern Giraffe w/ Ashley Hamer! | 23 Dec 2021 | 00:53:14 | |
Join Ellen and special guest, science communicator & podcaster Ashley Hamer, for a review of the towering leaf-eaters of the African savannahs: the northern giraffe! We discuss how giraffes keep their tongues from getting sunburnt, built-in compression socks, the perils of necking, and more. Follow Ashley on Twitter and check out her other work on her website! Cover photo: Leo Mercon, via Getty Images Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 123: Vampire Bats w/ Nate Marshall! | 15 Dec 2021 | 00:56:02 | |
Join Ellen & special guest bat enthusiast Nate Marshall for a review of the not-so-sinister vampire bats! In this episode, we discuss leaf noses, Pope tweets, bat friendships, and more. Follow Nate on Twitter and check out his podcast for more bat content! Cover photo: belizar73, Getty images Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 240: Zebras & Honey Badger | 17 May 2024 | 01:09:28 | |
Ellen earns her stripes with zebras & Christian DOES care about the honey badger. We discuss the mysteries of stripes, video games as scientific experiments, the important role of cool jackets in wildlife rehabilitation, zebras in unusual places, viral videos from 2011, venom resistance, cheetah mimicry, and so much more. Links:
Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 122: Tarantula Hawk & Vulture Bee | 08 Dec 2021 | 00:50:08 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen squares up with the formidable tarantula hawk & Christian gives the buzz on vulture bees. We discuss why you should give the tarantula hawk plenty of personal space, their video game boss fight strategy, and putting meat back on the menu for some very interesting little bees. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 121: Nine-banded Armadillo w/ Carly Haywood! | 01 Dec 2021 | 00:52:09 | |
Join Ellen & special guest Carly Haywood for a review of the scaly, pig-snouted friends of the underbrush: nine-banded armadillos! In this episode, we discuss whether you should be afraid of getting leprosy from an armadillo, what “pancaking” is and why they do it, and little tiny clone parades scuttling through the underbrush. You can follow Carly on Twitter at @MotherOfDasypus :) Cover photo: Svetlana Foote, via Getty images Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||
| 120: Acorn Woodpecker & West African Lungfish | 24 Nov 2021 | 00:54:21 | |
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian brings the acorn woodpecker to trial for its rampant vandalism & Ellen goes for a ride in a time machine with the West African lungfish. Along the way, we discuss the physics of using your face as a jackhammer, snot cocoons, and Sonic hedgehog. Cover photos: Luis Echeverri Urrea via Getty images (woodpeckers), voltan1 via Getty images (lungfish) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo | |||