The Zooquarium Podcast

In the Season 1 Finale Bonus, Mike and Chanel continue their conversation with squid expert/muralist, Dr. Sarah McAnulty. They talk more about squid ink art, squid with built-in puppets, Skype A Scientist, and MORE! Sarah McAnulty is a squid biologist and street artist working to connect people with wildlife through art. She collaborates with neighborhood groups and local artists to create murals...

Patrick asks: How Much Ink Can A Squid Hold? What a GREAT question for our SEASON ONE FINALE EPISODE! Luckily, Mike and Chanel are joined by Sarah McAnulty, an artist/squid expert to answer Patrick's question. Sarah McAnulty is a squid biologist and street artist working to connect people with wildlife through art. She collaborates with neighborhood groups and local artists to create murals on phi...

Mike and Chanel continue their conversation with Chris Ballew, the brains behind Caspar Babypants and lead singer of The Presidents of the United States of America . They go deeper into Chris's music, inspiration, influence, and close things out with a fun Weird Al story. Chris sings about the animal kingdom on his children's albums under the name Caspar Babypants and in his music for grown-ups wi...

Gabriella asks: Why Do Bookworms Eat Books? That's such a fascinating question. It also makes us wonder, what is a bookworm?? Mike and Chanel get to the bottom of Gabriella's question with iconic musician Chris Ballew. Chris sings about bookworms and the entire animal kingdom on his children's albums under the name Caspar Babypants and in his music for grown-ups with The Presidents of the United S...

Mike and Chanel continue their conversation with Dr. Jann Vendetti, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County's Associate Curator of Malacology (AKA Snail & Slug expert). They discuss the difference between snails and slugs, the fascinating world of mollusk teeth, and GIGANTIC members of the snail & slug family. Dr. Jann Vendetti is the Associate Curator of Malacology (Mollusks) and...

Phoebe and Manaal ask: How Do Snails Make Slime? Not only is this an incredible question, but it's our first from the UK! It also gives Mike and Chanel an opportunity to chat with snail expert, Dr. Jann Vendetti! Jann is the Associate Curator of Malacology (Mollusks) and The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County's Twila Bratcher Chair in Malacological Research. She is a founding member of t...

Mike and Chanel continue their conversation with Gretchen and Thomas of Carol Cleveland Sings! They talk about cats, their ideal animal collaborators, and writing podcast theme songs. RECOMMENDED: WATCH this episode on Apple Podcasts , YouTube and Spotify ! Gretchen Lohse and Thomas Hughes, collectively known as Carol Cleveland Sings, are a music, video, and art duo from Philadelphia, PA. Known fo...

Leta asks: Why Do Cats Have Whiskers? We've all seen them and they look so cool, but WHY are they there? Mike and Chanel are all set to answer Leta's question and talk all about cat whiskers with Gretchen Lohse and Thomas Hughes of Carol Cleveland Sings! Gretchen Lohse and Thomas Hughes, collectively known as Carol Cleveland Sings, are a music, video, and art duo from Philadelphia, PA. Known for t...

Mike and Chanel continue their conversation with ecologist Tim Eppley about aye-ayes, all other lemurs, what it's like to study animal and plant-life in Madagascar, and they learn about his journey from animal-lover to Chief Conservation Officer at Wildlife Madagascar. Dr. Timothy Eppley is a conservation biologist and primatologist who has spent nearly two decades studying wildlife in Africa, wit...

Milo asks: Why Are the Middle Fingers of Aye-Ayes So Long? What a fascinating question about a fascinating animal! Mike and Chanel are joined by ecologist Tim Eppley, the Chief Conservation Officer for Wildlife Madagascar, to answer Milo's question and teach us more about these elusive animals! Dr. Timothy Eppley is a conservation biologist and primatologist who has spent nearly two decades studyi...

Mike and Chanel continue their conversation with author John Sazaklis about red-eyed tree frogs, Mad Magazine, the joy of animal education, and how John became a best selling children's book author! John Sazaklis is the New York Times bestselling author of over 100 titles. He has illustrated Spider-Man books for Marvel, made pop-culture props for MAD magazine, written for the BEN 10 animated serie...

Maybellene asks: Why Do Red-Eyed Tree Frogs Have Multiple Eyelids? That's such a great question. It's a good thing that Chanel has the answer, plus a few extra red-eyed tree frog facts for Maybellene, Mike, and special guest John Sazaklis, author of My Life as a Red-Eyed Tree Frog ! John Sazaklis is the New York Times bestselling author of over 100 titles. He has illustrated Spider-Man books for M...

Mike and Chanel continue their conversation with Zoologist Megan Hagedorn about tigers, what inspired her to study animals, and how she blends the classics with animals as an artist! Megan Hagedorn is a zookeeper at the Oregon Zoo. Although she has a background in Marine Biology, Megan has gotten a chance to work with almost all areas of the zoo! She is originally from southern Illinois, and moved...

Henley asks: Why Do Tigers Have Stripes? Tigers do have such a distinct look, so let's find out why! Mike and Chanel welcome tiger expert Megan Hagedorn to the Podcast to answer Henley's question and tell us all even more about our stripey feline friends. Megan Hagedorn is a zookeeper at the Oregon Zoo. Although she has a background in Marine Biology, Megan has gotten a chance to work with almost...

Mike and Chanel chat with legendary animator Chuck Duke about his background with Will Vinton Studios, observing actual dogs for Wes Anderson's Isle of Dogs, animating special characters for Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), and more! Chuck began his professional career in animation in his early twenties and has since contributed to a wide range of feature films and television productions in th...

Willa asks: Where Are Crickets' Ears Located? Are the on their heads? Their wings? Someplace else?? Chanel answers Willa's question and tells Mike more cricket information than he ever though he'd need to know. Then, they welcome back guest Chuck Duke to talk about his experience animating Sebastian J. Cricket for Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio . Chuck began his professional career in animation in...

Chanel interviews kids at Mike Bennett Studios in Portland, OR about their favorite animals & animal facts! A big thanks goes out to all of the kids who participated, as well as their families. And shout out to Goat It Solutions for letting their furry friends join in on Chanel's interviews 🐐 Be sure to visit thezooquarium.com/podcast to download quizzes, activity sheets, and bonus materials,...

Eva asks: Why Are Orcas So Deadly? Great question, Eva. Are killer whales truly KILLER WHALES? Luckily, Mike and Chanel are joined by Orca conservationist, Kendra Nelson. Kendra Nelson is a marine conservationist focued on species recovery and coastal restoration in British Columbia. She is the Board Secreary for Orca Conservancy. With a background in biology, she’s worked with sharks, coral, salm...

This bonus episode features more of Mike and Chanel’s conversation with Adam Taylor all about his experience as an animator! They continue their conversation about chickens, but also discuss octopuses, monkeys, and bunnies. Adam Taylor is a stop-motion animator from the Pacific Northwest who has animated lots of animals in quite a few movies, including Wendell and Wild (Octopus), Guillermo del Tor...

Maggie asks: Which Came First, the Chicken or the Egg? Ah yes, the age old question! Hosts Mike Bennett and Chanel Hason can certainly handle that one, along with a special guest - Adam Taylor, a stop motion animator who worked on Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget ! Adam Taylor is a stop-motion animator from the Pacific Northwest who has animated lots of animals in quite a few movies, including Wend...

This bonus episode features more of Mike and Chanel’s conversation with Jenna Lamping all about CHAMELEONS! They continue their conversation about these fascinating reptiles, including their unique eyes and hands. PLUS, they talk about other animals that can change color. Visit https://www.thezooquarium.com/podcast to download activity sheets and bonus materials, upload YOUR art, and submit YOUR a...

Bianca asks: How Can Chameleons Change Color? What an amazing question! It's pretty well known that they can change color, but how they do it is definitely a mystery. Luckily hosts Mike and Chanel know a lizard expert, Lenna Lamping from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, who can help explain this unique characteristic. Jenna has been a Reptile Keeper at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical G...

This bonus episode features more of Mike and Chanel’s conversation with Derrick Baskin all about EELS! They continue their conversation about eels, the experience of performing on stage for kids, and embodying all different types of animals. PLUS, Chanel and Mike share their own experiences acting on stage for a live audience. Visit thezooquarium.com/podcast to download activity sheets and bonus m...

Agatha asks: Why Are Moray Eels' Faces So Long? Seriously - they're SO LONG! But why? Mike and Chanel answer Agatha's question with the help of actor Derrick Baskin, who played Jetsam in Disney's The Little Mermaid on Broadway. Together, they discuss scientific facts about eels in addition to learning how Derrick embodied one of fiction's most famous eels for a live audience. Derrick Baskin is a G...

This bonus episode features more of Mike and Chanel’s conversation with Alex McInturf all about SHARKS! They continue their conversation about shark sleeping habits and talk more about sharks in pop culture (Sharknado!), how to study sharks, Alex's favorite shark, and Oregon's new "Vibrant Ocean" license plates. Visit https://www.thezooquarium.com/podcast to download activity sheets and bonus mate...