In our continuing quest to collect the entire AZA Professional Development Committee on the show, we're excited to be joined by Jennifer Charette, Zoo Community Impact Manager at Tessere! Jen shares her unique path from birthday party host to zoo industry professional, the importance of committee service and understanding your "resource engine", how defining her "horizon job" got her to where she is today, why everyone should have an IDP, and why we should probably all let people lean into what they're good at instead of having to fit inside a box. 

Also, make sure to stick around until the end to find out the answer to the question: "so....why 'hedgehog'?"

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

With Ari away having some extended Labor Day Weekend fun with family, Chris is joined by NEI's Samm Griffin! We chat about the path through the animal care field that brought Samm to NEI (take note, aspiring future animal care professionals), the importance of - and the advantages of working for - smaller zoological institutions, and how the support of her early NEI mentors kept her from spreading her wings and taking off after her seasonal stint with the company. 

And speaking of Labor Day: through the power of magic AND technololgy, we're also joined by Sean, Hunter, Johneli, Anthony, Skyler, Shay, Emily, Meg, and Laurel from our Roger Williams Park Zoo and Minnesota Zoo shows on their final day of 2024 road shows! Congrats teams, you folks are amazing!!!

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

You know what they say: you send Chris and Ari an email, you end up on the podcast. We're super happy to welcome Jeremiah Shon from John Ball Zoo to the show! Jeremiah is a recent NEI workshop attendee who reached out to share some cool training stuff that he and his team have been doing with their birds recently, so we brought him on the show to talk about how they put together their "group training program," the process of getting buy-in from people at all levels, the importance of seeing ourselves as scientists, and the value of recognizing when an idea you created doesn't belong to you anymore.    

Shout outs in this episode: Amy Fennell, Erin Moloney, Katelyn Ferringer, and Scott Trauger. Ya'll rock!

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

---------------------------------

This episode is brought to you by Magic Mind! To learn more about the world's first mental performance shot and get up to 48% off your first order, go to https://www.magicmind.com/tectalkpod and enter the code TECTALKPOD20 at checkout. Thanks, Magic Mind!

Ari and Chris are joined by one of our most frequently-requested guests: former professor and co-department chair of the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program at Moorpark College, Gary Wilson! Gary talks about his path towards becoming a student - and later a faculty member - of the program, his history with (and the EATM program's connection to) the Navy's marine mammal training program, and how the EATM program fits into today's professional animal care field. We're calling this episode "Part 1", because we're definitely going to get Gary back soon to expand on some of the stuff we got to - and hopefully dive into a lot that we didn't! 

To see some of Gary's photography on Instagram, check out @garygwhiz. 

If you have any questions for Gary - or about anything you'd like us to discuss on a future episode of the show - let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari and Chris are tired (but otherwise great!) as they share how NEI and their birds fared during Hurricane Ian, and discuss everything that transpired to get our shows up and running again.

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on a future episode of the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

It would take an act of God to keep us from bringing you a show every week.

And then one happened, and still we were like, "nah, we got this." 

It's moving day for our shows at THAT theme park as Hurricane Ian has forced us to cancel our normally scheduled programming. First, Chris uses his early-morning drive to work to share the team's plan for the day. Second, Ari uses her drive back home from work to talk about how the bird move went. Finally, our intrepid Ride Out Crew of Katelyn, Grace, Aaron, and TJ share a little of bit about their experience so far being "hunkered down" at work until all this blows over. A truly epic podcast 16 hours in the making!!!

We hope everyone in Florida is staying safe and sane during this scary time, and we'll see you all on the other side!

Have a question, topic, or severe weather event tale you'd like us to talk about on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

 

Greetings from Across the Pond! Chris does a solo-cast from the UK to talk about the great work the team back home has done in getting our birds back home from a temporary show shutdown, to detail the timeline of what he and his wife have been up to driving back and forth between Scotland and England, to give details on his experience of having the opportunity to visit Queen Elizabeth II as she was lying-in-state, and to tease some potential fun things for future episodes. 

Have a question, query, comment, or concern about the show? We're open to all of it at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

It's an "L-Squared Takeover" as Lucy and Lisa take over the podcast! Will they share insightful thoughts about our field? Share what they've got for lunch today? Sow the seeds of sedition and plan a permanent takeover of the podcast?? Listen and find out!

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to tackle on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari and Chris use two fully-functioning microphones to answer the following questions from our staff: what are you most proud of that you've accomplished in your career so far, and what are your bigger goals and ambitions in the field? It's no surprise that there's some overlap and parallels in our responses but it does give us a great opportunity to stroll down memory lane and look a bit into the crystal ball of the future. 

We would LOVE it if people wanted to write in to share the accomplishments that they are most proud of - it's something we don't get to talk about enough! If you want to share, please do so at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

One computer. Two mics. Two people. One office. 

Ari and Chris share physical space once more to talk about the subject of venting, and how to do it without ruining your career and your reputation. Big thanks to the "As We Work" podcast from the Wall Street Journal for inspiring this episode! 

Do YOU need someone to vent to? We're all ears at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

While Ari is away, Chris does his best to discuss one of the hottest topics in the companion parrot world: to free fly, or not to free fly? It's a big subject with a lot of moving parts, and it gives Chris the opportunity to discuss the challenges with dealing with absolutes, different views of what constitutes good animal welfare, the importance of flight in the early life of a bird, different definititions of what the phrase "free-flight" even means, and some things that we believe make a bird a good (or bad) candidate as a free-flier. 

We'd love to hear our listeners' thoughts on this subject - or anything else you want to talk to us about - and you share those thoughts at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Despite some challenges with our recording equipment (and we tested it and everything!), Ari and Chris sit down to review the feedback Chris has gotten from his peers and his vet-approved plan for dealing with "the Claude situation," and dig into an email about where to start when you're planning your training projects for the year.

Stupid audio challenges! 

Do you have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Keeping it short and simple this week: Chris is alone in a hotel room somewhere in the Northeast and only has one thing on his mind - "how do I stop one of my cats from peeing all over the place???" In what we hope will be an interactive experience with our listeners, Chris gives some background on the history of the behavior, shares the steps his family has taken to deal with the issue thus far, and basically begs our audience to offer any advice they may have because, ya'll, we are OVER it. 

Whether or not they're related to feline urinary health, we'd love for you to reach out to us with any thoughts or questions you might have at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

 

Our hosts dig into all forms of media - print, social, and electronic - to discuss the challenge of "cultures of silence" in the zoo field (which, we beg your pardon, involves us repeating a little salty language), and chat about some good advice about how positivity and leadership behaviors can help, courtesy of great recent articles in IAATE's publication The Flyer by NEI's own Amy Fennell and Ari Bailey!

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

References: 

Promoting Positivity in Animal Care: Thriving Amidst Challenges by Amy Fennell

Leadership for All! by Arianna Bailey - IAATE's The Flyer, Volume 31, Number 3, Summer 2024

---------------------------------

This episode is brought to you by Magic Mind! To learn more about the world's first mental performance shot and get up to 48% off your first order, go to https://www.magicmind.com/tectalkpod and enter the code TECTALKPOD20 at checkout. Thanks, Magic Mind!

---------------------------------

The TEC Talk Podcast is also proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

After a quick discussion of sea turtles and supper clubs, Ari and Chris use a recent "what do I need to buy for my first animal job?" post on the internet as a prompt to share our personal "can't live without" items for working at NEI.

Hats? Check.

Glasses? Check.

Wildly different opinions on footwear brands? Check!!!

Are there any "must have" items in YOUR collection that you'd like to share with the rest of the class? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

References: 

Ari's favorite belt from Amazon can be found here.

To learn more about Keen's footwear discount program for animal care professionals, visit http://www.keenfootwear.com/pro.

It's an Ari solo-cast focused on being flexible! With COVID numbers going up once again, being flexible is as important as ever. Ari talks about being flexible on-stage for dealing with weather, as a leader, and in training sessions, all with the goal of keeping a level head, communicating clearly and calmly, and being able to reflect on decisions made in high-stress moments. 

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on a future episode? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

 

 

Two hosts for two epsiodes in a row? Amazing! After an update from Ari about the IAATE Midyear Meeting at the Peregine Fund, Chris opens a communication can o' worms by sharing his thoughts on the intersection of extreme weather, perception, intentions (and what it really means to "assume good ones"), and personal responsibility, which leads to a discussion about labels, defining what "being passive-aggressive" looks like, and how to deal with gaslighting... it's a lot! 

We'd love to hear our listeners' thoughts on these topics and more, and if you're so inspired we've made it east - just email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Chris and Ari are back in the office and talking into the same microphone! Inspired by an insane summer schedule, the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope, and the wisdom of the Leadership Freak blog, our hosts discuss the belief that there are only three ways to "get more time" in a day. Want to know what they are? Well, guess you're just gonna have to listen to the episode then! 

Do you have a question, a topic you'd like us to discuss, a suggestion for a future guest for the show, or additional secrets about how to violate the known laws of the space-time continuum? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari sits down with NEI Supervisor Scott Trauger to tackle one of the trickiest questions that applies to everyone across our industry: how do you ask for a raise? Ari and Scott chat salaries, and how and when to ask for pay increases. They talk about how hard it can be to speak positively about yourself and how we all should practice doing that more often! They also discuss exploring other roles, jobs, or fields as a way to discover options and help put your current role in perspective. 

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Greetings from the future! Due to challenges with the space/time continuum, we're once again Ari-less this week, but it gives Chris the chance to reflect on his time in New Zealand with the awesome staff and animals of Hamilton Zoo, to dig into the ins and outs of choice paralysis during training sessions, and to discuss a fun new flow chart he built to answer that most basic (but important) of behavior questions: Is the animal doing what I want?

That's right, an audio discussion of a visual resource - woo hoo!

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Please don't hesitate to let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

 

Recorded in Los Angeles, edited in Tahiti, and posted in New Zealand, it's a special two-part episode of the TEC Talk Podcast! 

For Part 1, Chris sits down to chat with Obsidean Entertainment's Carrie Patel about her role as a Game Director and the talk he saw her give at this year's Game Developers Conference, "No Mavericks, No Martyrs: Sustainable, Collaborative Production". Carrie shares the dangers of celebrating successes without acknowledging the costs that it took to achieve them, the increasing ability that managers have to disrupt their team's processes the higher up the chain of command they grow, and the responsibility leaders have to help those they lead to clearly define their goals for future growth. 

In Part 2, Chris blindly tackles questions submitted by the team at That Bird Show We Don't Talk About. It gets a little weird in places, but hey - if you ever said to yourself, "you know, I really like this show, but I wish Chris had an Icelandic accent," then THIS is the episode you've been waiting for. (Note: apologies to the people of Iceland. You deserve better than this.) 

If you have questions or topics you'd like us to discuss on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Chris and Ari catch each other up on their recently work travels in Minnesota and the Bahamas, discuss some special upcoming trips in the works for July, and share their go-to menu items from Taco Bell. Which Chris does from a Taco Bell parking lot. While eating Taco Bell. 

Life on the road, ya'll!

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

Chris is back on the road and joined by Minnesota Zoo Interpretive Naturalist Donnie Crook! We chat about Donnie's history in the professional animal care world, the unique challenges (and opportunities) that ambassador animal programs experienced during COVID shutdowns, and reflect on the advice we'd give our younger selves when we were just getting started in the field. Spoiler alert - it involves having fun!

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

In honor of World Parrot Day, Chris is joined by Katelyn, Megan, Kamille, Keegan, Lizzi, and Aaron from NEI's Winged Encounters team to talk all the work they're doing right now to train a dozen new birds to join their free-flight macaw experience at That Major Theme Park in Central Florida That We Don't Talk About. They discuss the path from the birds' earliest training to the work being done right now onsite in the park, share the fun of being 50ft in the air during "lift training," reflect on all the changes we've made to our training practices since we first started setting up the show in 2013, and take a quick survey of the folks in the room to see which of the new birds are currently their favorite.  Have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

With Chris stuck in traffic between work locations, Ari is joined by NEI's own Brittni Rice on the eve of her first anniversary with the company! Brittni shares her history in the field, the differences between working as a show trainer and a zoo keeper, the experience of being both a learner and a teacher, why she doesn't want to go back to marine mammal training anytime soon, and the joys of being our Unofficial Official Funtime Coordinator. 

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

---------------------------------

The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

With Chris in the middle of an unexpected Round 2 with COVID, Ari loops in return guest Ray Minchy to chat about all things show related and being on stage for the first time at a new show. They talk about all the steps she took to make it to her first day of doing the "T2" role on stage, from learning lines to organizing her pockets, and Ray shares some great advice at the end for anyone who is worried about talking in front of a crowd for the first time. Join these two ladies in this awesome GirlCast episode!

Have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Fresh out of COVID quarantine, Chris harnesses the power of the internet from Minnesota to summon Ari from Texas to bring YOU another episode of TEC Talk! After comparing the relative merits of our hotel rooms (#TeamHilton), we get into a discussion of how to handle the reality of...reality, and the many and myriad ways that the pressures of life, our jobs, and our environment can throw lots of wrenches into even the best-laid training plans. We talk about the important of flexibilty, discuss our Hierarchies of Training Priorities, and learn about Ari's huge trust account in ethernet plugs.

It'll make sense when you listen to it. 

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss? Have a suggestion for someone great you'd like us to have on the show? Got a document you've been working on that you need us to proofread? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Join Ari as she chats with longtime listener and friend of the podcast Hardy Kern! They chat about Hardy's transition from the Columbus Zoo to his new role at the American Bird Conservancy. Hardy shares all that his new role entails, his thoughts on life working from home, and some great advice about how the skills you learn in the animal care field directly translate to many new things!

Have a question for a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari sits down with NEI Senior Trainers and mothers-to-be Katie and Lucy to chat about momming in the animal field. They talk about work/life balance, shifts in priorities and expectations, and balancing a family and a career in a tough field on this Mother's Day episode!

Have a question for us to tackle on a future episode? Send it our way at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari and Chris convene to talk about what it really means to "see behavior" during a training session. So many nooks and crannies to explore in this one: when your training plan can get in the way of good training, communication between trainers before, during, and after a session, how "training ettiquete" ties into the greater idea of an institutional training culture, building confidence in people that they won't "break their animals," and learning to let go of our preconceptions about our animals - and ourselves - to do a better job of seeing behavior.

Got something you'd like us to talk about on the show? Be like all the cool kids and email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Chris is in Minnesota, but through the magic of technology he is joined, live via satellite from Texas, by Ari and NEI Senior Trainer Adam Geltz to talk about the consulting work we're all doing this week and to answer a simple question: what's the coolest thing you saw today? 

Have a question for us? An idea for a future discussion topic? Want to share the coolest thing you saw today? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

After discussing scent-based side hustles and the joys of trusting strangers on the internet, Chris and Ari tackle a common belief in animal training: that you should always end a training session on a positive note. With an outdated edition of Don't Shoot the Dog as our companion, we discuss the ways in which striving to always end on a "good note" can limit an animal's voice in the training dialog, set you back in your shaping plan, and even damage relationships. Luckily, we also discuss how redefining what "a good note" looks like can also increase motivation, shorten training sessions, and improve relationships. Isn't behavior amazing?

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

This is a super exciting episiode - not because Chris and Ari are back together in the same office for the first time in over a month, but because they're joined by a super cool guest, Zoo Miami's Ron Magill! Ron shares a bunch of great stories from his history in the zoo field: meeting and becoming good friends with Jim Fowler, reflecting on the lessons learned from 27 years of being watched by 10 million people a week on the biggest TV show in the world, how an experience breaking zoo policies on live TV lead to him becoming their spokesperson, and how a very special relationship with an incredible couple had a massive impact on Ron and the zoo's conservation efforts. Not even kidding, all three of us were crying!

If you have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

The Month of Infinite Travel continues as Ari teams up with NEI Senior Trainer Meg Meyer to talk about the two flights, long drive, and boat trip that got them to a consulting project in the Bahamas. 

Yep. That's a real thing. 

In addition to recounting their long day (that almost landed them in jail), they talk about the joy of doing animal stuff with non-animal people, the difference between what we think an animal feels and and we see an animal do, and the difference between what behavior is and what behavior is not. And manta rays!

If you have a question about tortoises or anything else animal related (or not), let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

It's another GIRLCAST! This time Ari hangs out with NEI Senior Trainer Lucy Rutt at the Homewood Suites in Tyler, TX, to talk about NEI's ongoing project at Caldwell Zoo. They dive into celebrating your accomplishments with grace, building relationships with supporting departments, and being a good example for taking time off. 

Also, you can be a vegetarian in Texas, believe it or not!

Have a question you'd like us to answer or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari and Chris are back in the office together and are joined (with the recording gods on our side this time) by Jessi Krebs and Grep Lepera! Jessi and Greg share their paths in the zoo field (we're talking 95 combined years of reptile awesomeness, ya'll), their history with the Crocodilian Biology and Management Course at St. Augustine Alligator Farm, the messaging challenges that zoos continue to have with reptiles and other herps compared to more typical "charismatic megafauna", and their hopes for how zoos can embrace a broader picture of biological diversity for the benefit of their guests.  

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

---------------------------------

The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

---------------------------------

This episode is also brought to you by Magic Mind! To learn more about the world's first mental performance shot and get up to 48% off your first order, go to https://www.magicmind.com/tectalkpod and enter the code TECTALKPOD20 at checkout. Thanks, Magic Mind! 

We made it! Chris and Ari sit down with Steve Martin to chat about the history of the TEC Talk podcast, to reflect on the special contributions sent in by some of the past presenters from our TEC Talks webinars, and to share our hopes for the future of our industry. 

Big thank yous go out to Ann Brooks, Wouter Stellaard, Rick Hester, Dr Susan Friedman, Amy Fennell, Tim Van Loan, and Marty MacPhee for contributing to this episode!

Have a question or an idea for a topic for one of our next 100 episodes? Drop us a line at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

With Chris in California, Ari talks with the attendees of the IAATE 30th Annual Conference as they kick off the week at their Ice Breaker event in this special "half episode" leading up to next week's 100th episode extravaganza! 

Have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Chris takes a pause from the madness of the week to walk his dog and share some of the details of what has been a very busy, very interesting week. 

Have something you'd like to ask us or have us discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Welcome to our Lunch and Learn! After last week's questions involving the terminology and procedures that surround the use of the S-Delta, we partnered with Dr Susan Friedman (Behaviorworks.org) to jump on Zoom and invite her to speak with our staff to share her take on things to try to help us untie some of the knots we'd gotten ourselves into. We're hoping this will be the first in a series of episodes where we get to share our NEI staff presentations with you, our dear listeners! 

If you have a question, a prompt for a topic you'd like to hear about, or a suggestion for a guest you'd like us to have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

References: 

Learning and Behavior by Paul Chance

Learning and Behavior by James E. Mazur

Behavior Analysis and Learning by W. David Pierce and Carl D. Cheney

Animal Training by Ken Ramirez

Ari and Chris are joined by NEI Senior Trainer Adam Geltz to talk about talking about training. We discuss the use of jargon, knowing your audience, when to table a conversation until later, and the importance of admitting what you don't know. 

Want to share how you talk about training and behavior with other people? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari is back in town, so we play catch up using a new recording setup in our freshly renovated office - who knew taking down a wall and moving some desks around could make such a difference? Ari fills us in on her recent trip to Caldwell Zoo, which leads to a conversation about the things that have surprised us as we've taken on the role of consultants for NEI. Who knew "not working" for 12 hours a day could be so exhausting?

Have a question for us, or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

 

While Ari braves the wilds of Texas, Chris is joined by Greg Peccie, Curator of Mammals at the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens! Greg shares how his animal career started (as it does for so many of us) with a moment of awe at Sea World, how his leadership skills grew during a long stretch at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (where he became the life-long mentor to Chris' wife, Bethany) and his excitement to work with the team at his new job. Greg talks about the importance of clear expectations and accountabiliy, the dangers of "overshooting your joy," his goal of never becoming 'the creepy curator,' and helping people to become the leaders they wish they'd had. Didn't want this one to end - we'll have Greg back soon for sure!

Have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Resources from the show:

Simon Sinek resources for leadership: http://www.simonsinek.com

It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy - by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff

Strengthfinder - by Tom Rath and Don Clifton

Ari and Chris are joined by frequent podcast emailer Kaitlyn Wiktor! After chatting with Kait about the journey to her current position as Manager of Behavioral Husbandry and Welfare at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, we dive into a discussion about the mentors who've inspired and supported us, the way that those that we've taught have become our teachers, and the excitement (and thrilling discomfort) of becoming peers with the people who we used to look up to. We also chat about reviews for the show and finally get around to an email from Hardy Kern sharing a personal moment of awe. Thanks Hardy, and big thanks for Kait for joining us for the awesome discussion!

Do you have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on a future episode? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

It's "Round 2" as we welcome back studio director, video game dev consultant, and all-around rad dude Joe Quadara! Ari and Chris sit down with Joe to discuss the broad topic of growth for teams and for individuals: the awkwardness and opportunities of the interview process, things that get missed during onboarding, the importance of niches and promotions that don't lead to management roles, and the joy of being the dumbest person in the room. 

Do you have a question about behavior, animal training, or anything else very much unrelated to those two things? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari and Chris are joined by their friend, mentor, and all-around amazing guy Wouter Stellaard! Wouter tells us about how his journey into the field started with an oiled bird on a beach in Holland, his unexpected move to America for school, his history as a trainer with NEI, his work as a consultant and as a leader at the Columbus Zoo, and his new adventures as the founder of the animal training company Behavior 360! We wrap up with a big discussion of "the politics of the animal field," and how open, honest communication might just be the key to solving all our interpersonal and industry-wide challenges. 

Have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on a future episode? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

It's the return of the two-host podcast! Ari takes some time from her vacation to sit down with Chris to talk about the effects of compliments, recognition, paying attention, and the joy that comes from kindness. Awww! Get in here, everyone - group hug!

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

---------------------------------

This episode is brought to you by Magic Mind! To learn more about the world's first Productivity ShotTM and get up to 48% off your first order, go to https://www.magicmind.com/tectalkpod and enter the code TECTALKPOD20 at checkout. Thanks, Magic Mind!

---------------------------------

The TEC Talk Podcast is also proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

 

 

It's "Tales from the Trailer" time! Ari and Chris carve out a slice of the day to answer your questions about Steve Martin's feelings about Taylor Swift, our DnD character classes, and what it means to be honest in animal training. This was a fun one!

Do you have a burning question that you simply NEED us to respond to on the show? Well, don't just sit there - email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

We're back! With Ari on the mend, we get together (virtually) to assign some "Winter Break Homework" for everyone: our recommendations for articles, books, hobbies, and hopes for the new year! Bye bye 2021! 

Links for all the stuff and things: 

What's Wrong with this Picture? Effectiveness is Not Enough - by Dr Susan Friedman

Blazing Clickers - by Steve Martin and Dr Susan Friedman

What It's Like To Be A Bird - by David Allen Sibley

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking - by Susan Cain

Drinking from the Toilet (Episode 118): Reinforcing Diversity with Ken Ramirez

You Made it Weird with Pete Holmes (Episode 217): Deepak Chopra

Recommended Episodes of OUR show:

• Episode 37: Q and A and Q (with Hardy Kern)
• Episode 84: Leveling Up Your Work Culture (with Joe Quadara)
• Episode 85: Birdability! (with Virginia Rose)

Finding Your Wings: A Workbook for Beginning Bird Watchers - by Peterson Field Guides)

The Great British Baking Show - on Netflix

A Beginner's Guide to Gunpla - by Bluefin Brands

The Headspace Guide to Sleep - on Netflix

Do you have something cool to recommend for people to check out? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com

Well...it finally happened.

The OhMyCorn variant is no joke and has descended upon NEI. Ari eats some chocolate hoping that her loss of taste means she likes it (spoiler alert: she does not). The old ending makes a comeback, and the folks stuck at home share some love for those who are holding down the fort at work. 

Do you have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss while socially distanced? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!