Just the Zoo of Us artwork

Just the Zoo of Us

248 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 16 hours ago - ★★★★★ - 327 ratings

Join us, Ellen and Christian Weatherford, while we review your favorite species of animals and rate them out of ten in the categories of effectiveness, ingenuity and aesthetics.
More information can be found at justthezooofus.com 😊
Got a species you want us to review? Submit your animal friend to us at [email protected] and when we review your animal we'll give you a shoutout! 😊
Cover art by Mrs. Brainbow (Taylor Gordon-Wood). Theme music by Louie Zong.

Natural Sciences Science science animals zoology wildlife science wildlife nature science communication
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Episodes

Bonus Content Free Samples!

March 28, 2024 13:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MB

Curious about the exclusive bonus content for Maximum Fun members? Enjoy some free samples from special episodes: "The Dewlap-Foraging Slug," Let's Learn Everything's "RATS! Cheddar Heist," "The Fakémon Lab," and "Our Favorite Animal."  If you like what you hear, head over to https://maximumfun.org/join and sign up to get access to the entire bonus content library and SO much more! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our show now by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.

233: Questions & Answers

March 27, 2024 10:00 - 56 minutes - 52.1 MB

Ellen & Christian answer questions from the audience! We discuss the podcast's humble origins, magical spells, our favorite ducks,  and more. 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, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our show now by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.

232: Chinchilla & Walrus

March 20, 2024 20:00 - 1 hour - 66.2 MB

Ellen softens up to the chinchilla & Christian breaks the ice with the walrus. We discuss Jackie Chan Adventures, fur slips, dust baths, tusks, whiskers, bells & whistles, Odysseus, and Lewis Carroll. Goo goo g'joob. Links: Get involved with the MaxFunDrive & check out this year's awesome gifts & bonus content! For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive e...

Go Fact Yourself #MaxFunDrive Kick-off Spectacular featuring Ellen and Christian Weatherford, Alex Schmidt, and Katie Goldin

March 18, 2024 13:00 - 15 minutes - 15.1 MB

This special network wide event is a celebration of the MaxFunDrive! If you’d like to support podcasts you love for just $5 a month and get bonus gifts in the process, go to maximumfun.org/join.  We’re kicking off the most exciting time of the year for the MaxFun Network with a trivia game show featuring hosts from tons of great podcasts! J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong from “Go Fact Yourself” are joined by: Ellen & Christian Weatherford - “Just the Zoo of Us”  Alex Schmidt & Katie ...

231: Remora w/ Amani Webber-Schultz!

March 14, 2024 10:00 - 42 minutes - 39.4 MB

Ellen & special guest, marine biologist Amani Webber-Schultz, suck up to the brilliant little moochers of the ocean: remoras. We discuss shark scales, suction cups, the most efficient way to eat tacos, scrapped Pokemon designs, and so much more. Links: Check out Amani's podcast, Sharkpedia! Follow Amani on Instagram and TikTok! Learn more about MISS! For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discor...

230: Solenodon w/ Owen Klessel

March 07, 2024 23:46 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MB

Join Ellen & special guest Owen Klessel for some well-deserved PR for the most bizarre and fascinating and incredible animal you’ve never heard of: solenodons. This episode, much like the animal itself, is full of surprises like nose bones, echolocation, an unexpected defense mechanism, butt nipples, and a scourge of mongooses. Links: Follow Owen's work on YouTube and TikTok! For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Face...

229: Fishing Cat & Rock Hyrax

February 29, 2024 11:00 - 50 minutes - 45.9 MB

Christian fishes for compliments about the fishing cat & Ellen goes rock climbing with rock hyraxes. We discuss cat eyes, fishing strategies, buck toothed vampires, toe shoes, Wikipedia drama, and more. For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our show now by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.

228: Chimpanzee w/ Shannon Roivas!

February 22, 2024 11:00 - 53 minutes - 48.9 MB

Join Ellen & special guest Shannon Roivas who brings us first-hand insight straight from her time spent in the forests of Tanzania studying our very own wild cousins: chimpanzees! On top of fascinating topics like the primate family tree, toe thumbs, termite popsicles and fear grimaces, our guest shares her unique experiences like naming chimpanzees, getting punched by one, and having the opportunity to watch them grow and learn in their very own home. Links: Follow Shannon on Instagram! ...

227: Trumpeter Swan & Lovebug

February 14, 2024 11:00 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MB

Romance is in the air as Ellen commits to the trumpeter swan & Christian catches the lovebug bug. We discuss clown shoe runways, air horn duets, bird monogamy, a mysterious case of missing bugs, and the true meaning of going out with a bang. Links: Trumpeter swan sound found here via freesound.org Learn more about native swan conservation & how you can help: Trumpeter Swan Society For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads...

226: Cicadas w/ Nick VanAcker!

February 08, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 61.2 MB

Join Ellen & science educator and nature hype man Nick VanAcker to sing praises for some of our favorite true bugs: cicadas! We discuss how and why cicada choruses sing the song of the summer, why they spend so much of their lives underground before emerging and what’s so special about prime numbers anyway, the real parasitic fungus that inspired a cicada-themed Pokémon, and so much more. Links: Follow Nick on TikTok! Check out more of Nick's work at his website! For more information abo...

225: Freddy Kreuger Frog & Bone-Eating Snot Flower

January 31, 2024 14:00 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MB

Christian makes some noise for the Freddy Kreuger frog & Ellen picks a bouquet of bone-eating snot flowers. We discuss life as a mouth with legs, being born into literal Hunger Games, meme lore, whalefalls, and eating the bones. Links: It Is Wednesday My Dudes Whale Fall (After Life of a Whale) by Sweet Fern Productions For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! Max...

224: Ethereal Snailfish w/ Dr. Thom Linley!

January 25, 2024 11:00 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MB

Join Ellen & special guest, deep sea biologist Dr. Thom Linley, for a literal deep dive into an animal that just might change the way you think about the creatures of the abyss: the ethereal snailfish. We discuss what it’s like to be among the first humans to ever see a species, life in the trenches - like, the actual Mariana trench, freedom from beauty norms and justice for the blobfish, slurping up meat-flavored jellybeans off the ocean floor, and the adorable side of the hadal zone. Link...

223: Tiger Beetles & Giant Siphonophore

January 17, 2024 11:00 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MB

Ellen gets the zig-zagging zoomies with tiger beetles & Christian has an existential crisis over the giant siphonophore. We discuss the REAL fastest land animal on Earth, literally blinding speed, reverse Naruto running, world record technicalities, zooids (not Zoids),  and what it means to be an organism. Links: For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ...

222: Bobcat w/ Jamison Cole!

January 11, 2024 11:00 - 51 minutes - 47.3 MB

Join Ellen & special guest, environmental educator Jamison Cole, for a review of our very own backyard apex predators: bobcats! We discuss topics including but not limited to tail nubs, ear tufts, coyote pee, the bobcat’s Final Smash, relationship tips from nature, tomcat jowls, and the interconnectedness of every member of the ecosystem from the tiniest rodent all the way up to the bald eagle. Links: Check out the Ocean Advocacy Workshop and Plastic Ocean Project For more information abo...

221: Field Notes

January 03, 2024 11:00 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MB

Ellen & Christian share stories, observations and inspiration from special guest: you! We discuss what sounds fish make, memory transfer via cannibalism, and what to do when you're attacked by a zebra.  Links: For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our show now by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.

220: Belted Kingfisher w/ Alex Troutman!

December 28, 2023 14:00 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MB

Join Ellen & returning special guest, wildlife biologist Alex Troutman, for a review of some of our favorite mohawked chatterboxes: belted kingfishers. We discuss topics including but not limited to the vicious mockery of birds who fish better than us, biomimicry in train engineering, the truth behind Hollywood bird calls and lion roars, and stories from the field including spooky sounds in the forests of Borneo. Links: Check out Alex's books, including Critters of Georgia: Pocket Guide to...

Bugs Need Heroes: Bug-Type Pokemon & the Bugs that Inspired Them

December 21, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 68.3 MB

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 for a conversation about bug-type Pokemon, the real-world bugs that inspired them, and the ecology we can learn from the world of Pokemon. Originally aired on the Bugs Need Heroes podcast on November 5, 2023. Links: Get the original full version of the episode, including additional quiz segment, over at the Bugs Need Heroes podcast! Le...

219: Star-Nosed Mole & Devil's Hole Pupfish

December 14, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 60.3 MB

Christian digs into the star-nosed mole & Ellen goes for a deep dive into the Devil's Hole pupfish. We discuss flowery tentacles, mole lore in Avatar: the Last Airbender, waves in the desert, a Supreme Court ruling, and the future ecological impacts of nuclear testing. Links: For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our sh...

218: Pacific Lamprey w/ Ralph Crewe!

December 06, 2023 14:00 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MB

Ellen is joined by a familiar voice, science communicator Ralph Crewe, back with us to review the wiggly little living fossils full of teeth and blood: Pacific lampreys. We discuss the intersection between the natural and manmade world, what lampreys can tell us about the history of vertebrate evolution, the unique adaptations that have let them thrive from riverbeds all the way to the open ocean and back for hundreds of millions of years, and why you should thank a lamprey today.  Links: ...

217: Loggerhead Shrike & Five-lined Skink

November 30, 2023 14:00 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MB

Ellen gets hooked on the loggerhead shrike & Christian makes a clean getaway with the five-lined skink. We discuss tomial teeth, impalement, dropping tails, and regeneration. Links: Check out Sparkbird and listen to their music on Spotify! For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our show now by becoming a member at maxim...

216: Sturgeon w/ Brenda Pracheil!

November 23, 2023 14:00 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MB

Join Ellen & special guest, fish biologist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Brenda Pracheil, for a review of the gentle giants that have been swimming up and down our rivers since the dinosaur age: sturgeon. We discuss being a fish lawyer, ancient genetics, scales, whiskers, caviar, woosh tubes, and more. Links: World Fish Migration Day The North American Sturgeon & Paddlefish Society Pacific Northwest National Laboratory For more information about us & our podcast, head ove...

215: Bark Scorpion & Pūteketeke

November 17, 2023 14:00 - 55 minutes - 50.7 MB

Christian leaves a glowing review for the bark scorpion & Ellen casts a vote for the pūteketeke. We discuss neurotoxin, biofluorescence,  the ghostly penguin dance,  and John Oliver's impact on the Bird of the Century. Links: For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our show now by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.

214: Pigs w/ Kendall Long!

November 09, 2023 14:00 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MB

Ellen & special guest, Bachelor star turned science communicator Kendall Long, review pigs! In this episode, we discuss pigs and their achievements in some surprising endeavors, from digging up truffles and thriving in the wilderness to playing video games and basking on the beaches of the Bahamas. Links: Check out Kendall's podcast, Little Curiosities! Follow Kendall on Instagram and TikTok! For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of U...

213: Stoat & Barreleye

November 02, 2023 13:00 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MB

Ellen falls down a rabbit hole with the stoat & Christian looks up to the barreleye. We discuss the weasel war dance, rabbit assassins, paradoxical eyes, and deep sea body horror. Links:  For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our show now by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.

212: Crowned Lemur w/ Ben Freed!

October 26, 2023 13:00 - 52 minutes - 47.9 MB

In celebration of World Lemur Day, Ellen is joined by anthropology professor Ben Freed for a look up into the treetops of northern Madagascar to review crowned lemurs. Our guest brings his insight from experience studying these charismatic primates to discuss topics like the rainforest dress code, what your cell phone has in common with lemur cognition, and the unbreakable interspecies bonds between primates that remind us humans of our own place in nature.  Links: Learn more about the com...

211: Mosquitoes w/ Kelly Zimmerman!

October 19, 2023 13:00 - 52 minutes - 47.8 MB

Ellen & special guest, ecologist and entomologist Kelly Zimmerman, review one of the world’s deadliest creatures. This killer could fit in a teaspoon, and yet humans just can’t seem to get rid of the darn things. In this episode, we discuss the humble mosquito’s formidable resilience, defend their often underestimated role in their ecosystems, and dish up a serving of girl dinner. Links: Check out Kelly's podcast, Bugs Need Heroes! Check out Kelly's YouTube channel, Nerdy Naturalists! Fo...

210: Snowy Owl & Polar Bear

October 11, 2023 13:00 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MB

Christian turns heads with the snowy owl & Ellen lands a slam dunk with the polar bear. In this arctic-themed episode, we discuss why owls turn their head so much, feather acoustics, irruptions, fur fiber optics, and polar bear basketball. Links:  For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our show now by becoming a member a...

209: Roadrunner w/ Alana Baliga!

October 05, 2023 13:00 - 58 minutes - 53.4 MB

Ellen and special guest, science communicator and educator Alana Baliga, review the iconic little birds zooming around the cactuses and tumbleweeds: roadrunners! We discuss things like the glamorous highlights of working for a science museum, what Looney Tunes got right and wrong about Mr. Runner, and how these fascinating animals are able to thrive in the extreme climates of the American southwest.  Links:  For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Jus...

208: Coati & Gharial

September 27, 2023 13:00 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MB

Ellen joins the band of coatis & Christian gives us the buzz on gharials. We discuss Star Wars names, banana wars,  animal influences on computer science, problematic age gaps, and  the funkiest crocodilian snout. Links:  For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our show now by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.

207: African Lion w/ Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant!

September 21, 2023 10:00 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MB

Join Ellen & wildlife ecologist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant for a review of savannah royalty: African lions! We discuss what it’s like to be an ecologist working in the field alongside truly awe-inspiring wildlife, what makes lions such iconic big cats from their impressive mane all the way down to their surprisingly tactical tail, and why their relationship to us is so important for inspiring passion for conservation and learning to live peacefully with our wild neighbors. Links: Learn more about ...

206: Daddy Long Legs & Vaquita

September 13, 2023 10:00 - 49 minutes - 45.7 MB

Christian does the spider shake with daddies long leg & Ellen tells the story of the imperiled panda of the sea, the vaquita. We discuss spider myths, web design, porpoises, and what happens when wildlife conservation meets organized crime. Links: Learn more about Earth League International & their efforts to save and protect the vaquita at their website. For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Dis...

24: Tardigrade & Platypus (REPLAY)

September 08, 2023 16:35 - 53 minutes - 48.7 MB

In this week's re-broadcast of an episode from October of 2019, Christian zooms in on the tardigrades & Ellen demystifies the unique platypus. Links: For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our show now by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.

205: Aardvark w/ Kailey Hart!

August 30, 2023 10:00 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MB

Ellen & special guest, zookeeper Kailey Hart, review the humble earth pig. We discuss their evolutionary loneliness, unique hodge-podge of surprising traits, tube-teeth, Pokemon, the PBS cartoon Arthur, and pro tips for planning your next zoo trip. Follow Kailey on TikTok! For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our show ...

204: Leaf Sheep & Basilisk

August 23, 2023 10:00 - 53 minutes - 48.9 MB

Ellen soaks up the sun with the leaf sheep & Christian gets biblical with the miraculous basilisk. We discuss photosynthesis, losing your head over parasites, outrunning physics, and mythology. To learn more about the All for Animals walk at the Woodland Park Zoo, visit their website & join our team if you're able! For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDriv...

203: Cuttlefish w/ Meg Mindlin!

August 16, 2023 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MB

Ellen & special guest, marine biologist and artist Meg Mindlin, review the mind-blowing rogues of the sea: cuttlefish! We discuss RNA editing, cephalopod brains, how cuttlefish are able to change their skin in the blink of an eye, use deception and disguise to win over mates, and how connecting with nature inspires art and innovation that makes the whole world a better place. Links: See Meg's art and science at their website! Follow Meg on TikTok and Instagram! For more information about...

202: Basking Shark & Glass Frog

August 10, 2023 10:00 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MB

Christian basks in the glory of the basking shark & Ellen sees right through the glass frog. We discuss the origins of gills, livers full of oil AND blood, and making little gelatin frogs for science. To learn more about protecting rainforests and the wonderful frogs that live in them, check out the Rainforest Alliance! For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFu...

201: Hoary Bats w/ Sophiane Nacer!

August 03, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 61.4 MB

Ellen & special guest, ecologist Sophiane Nacer, review the powdered donuts of the skies: hoary bats. We discuss frosted tips, tree roosters, bat memes and why you should care about bats all year long and not just for Halloween. If you haven’t fallen in love with bats yet, I think you will by the time we’re done. Follow Sophiane on Twitter or Instagram! For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discor...

200: Sockeye Salmon & Grizzly Bear

July 27, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 59.7 MB

Ellen brings it home with the sockeye salmon & Christian looks for the bear necessities with the grizzly bear. We discuss our recent relocation to the Pacific Northwest, how fish use magnets to navigate over thousands of miles, and bear safety tips to keep you - and the bears - safe while you enjoy nature. Links: For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ...

133: Slow Loris & Cassowary (REPLAY)

July 12, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 55.8 MB

In this week's re-broadcast of an episode from February of 2022, 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. Links: For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our sh...

199: Satin Bowerbird w/ Dr. Seth Coleman!

July 05, 2023 10:00 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MB

Join Ellen & special guest, evolutionary biologist Dr. Seth Coleman, for a review of the little birds with the ultimate rizz: satin bowerbirds! Anyone who’s ever tried to impress a crush can take some notes from this episode as we discuss building and decorating the ultimate bachelor pad, the value of a little practice courtship with the fellas, learning the delicate art of choosing the right mate, and so much more. One man’s trash does in fact become one bird’s treasure, and by “trash” I me...

198: California Condor

June 21, 2023 14:51 - 56 minutes - 51.4 MB

Ellen takes off with the story of the California condor and their miraculous return to the southwestern skies. We discuss how their bodies are adapted to scavenging, their unwavering dedication to parenthood, their plummet towards extinction, and triumphant recovery with a little help from their friends on the ground. Links: Article: "Inside the Race to Save a Single Condor Egg After Avian Flu Killed Its Mother" Video: "Yurok Tribe Song in Honor of Prey-go-neesh (Condor)" Yurok Tribe's Y...

197: Pterosaurs w/ Adele Pentland!

June 16, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 70.3 MB

Ellen & special guest, paleontologist Adele Pentland, review the reptiles who once ruled our planet’s skies: pterosaurs! Even though they’ve been gone for millions of years, the fossils they left behind can tell fascinating stories about how they lived. We discuss what life was like for the largest creatures to ever fly, where Pokemon got paleontology right and wrong, and how knowledge of the present can inform theories about the past. We also get some insight into what it’s like to study fo...

196: Grasshopper Mouse & Freshwater Mussels

June 09, 2023 10:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MB

Ellen howls at the moon with the grasshopper mouse & Christian lures us in with freshwater mussels. We discuss brain chemistry, an evolutionary uno reverse card, lion software on mouse hardware, tongue-feet, pretty boogers, and the worst day of a poor unsuspecting fish's life. Links: For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Suppor...

195: Gray Wolf w/ Danielle LaRock!

May 31, 2023 17:10 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MB

Ellen & special guest, podcaster and wildlife educator Danielle LaRock, review one of our world’s most misunderstood, maligned, and magical creatures: gray wolves. We’re not just talking teeth and claws and fluffy coats - we’re also discussing alliances with crows, howls that rattle your very soul, the irreplaceable ecological role of wolves, their conflicts with humans, and how we can all make peace with our wild neighbors. Links: YouTube video: "How Wolves Change Rivers" YouTube video o...

194: Antlions & Trap-jaw Ants

May 24, 2023 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44 MB

Christian explains the pitfalls of antlions & Ellen snaps back with the trap-jaw ant. We discuss metamorphosis, structural engineering, sand doodles, the Sarlacc, Darwin's thoughts on Australia, Pokémon, sticky babies, and a literal scientific arena.  Links: For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our show now by becoming...

193: Asian Water Monitor w/ Ivan Kwan!

May 18, 2023 16:34 - 1 hour - 73.7 MB

Join Ellen & special guest, naturalist Ivan Kwan, for a review of the scaly friends with the world’s most chaotic energy: Asian water monitors! We talked about the history and landscape of Singapore, smelling in stereo, Krakatoa, and the giant lizards showing up where you least expect them, from treetops to shipwrecks, racetracks and even toilets. It’s their world, we’re just living in it. Links: The photo Ivan mentioned of the water monitor in the shipwreck can be found on photographer Kr...

192: Proboscis Monkey & Sarcastic Fringehead

May 10, 2023 10:00 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MB

Ellen nose what's up with the proboscis monkey & Christian sizes up the sarcastic fringehead. We discuss the form and function of a uniquely bizarre nose, the impact memes can have on conservation, and why you might want to think twice before reaching into a hole in the sea floor. Links: The Borneo Nature Foundation For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDr...

191: Fireflies w/ Dr. Sarah Lower!

May 03, 2023 10:00 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MB

Join Ellen & special guest, biology professor and researcher Sarah Lower, for a review of nature’s very own glimmering fairy lights: fireflies! We discuss how to do the beetle dance, tips for packing a bioluminescent picnic, and the shockingly diabolical world of fireflies - from friendly fire to catfishing, thievery, and snailshakes. Links: The Lower Lab website  Dr. Lower's Twitter  Mass Audubon's Firefly Watch Community Science Project  iNaturalist  The Xerces Society's Firefly Atla...

190: Pom-Pom Crab & Mourning Dove

April 26, 2023 10:00 - 53 minutes - 48.7 MB

Christian cheers for pom-pom crabs & Ellen explains what makes mourning doves so coo-l. We discuss how crabs clone their own pets,  what type of milk pigeons order in their lattes,  and a suspicious pattern of criminal activity. For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok! MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support our show now by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.

189: Freshwater Megafish w/ Zeb Hogan!

April 19, 2023 10:00 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MB

Join Ellen & special guest, biologist and host of Nat Geo WILD’s TV series “Monster Fish” Zeb Hogan, for a review of the giants lurking in the waters of the world’s rivers and lakes: freshwater megafish. We discuss how and why fish are able to reach massive sizes, what it’s like to research and work alongside these enormous creatures in their own homes, and how we can help protect and conserve the natural habitats we all rely on to thrive. Links: Check out Zeb's book, "Chasing Giants: In S...

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