Rossifari Podcast - Zoos, Aquariums, and Animal Conservation

Today, the Safari brings you the first of many interview episodes from the AZA Annual Conference in Portland Oregon! I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dan Ashe and Sarah Milberg of the AZA to talk about some recently conducted public perception polling. We discuss what the polling found, what it means, and where accredited zoos and aquariums go from here. SHOW LINKS: rossifari.com Support th...

Today, the Safari heads to Portland, Oregon, for the 2026 AZA Annual Conference! I chat with Caitlin Doggett, my boss at the Virginia Living Museum, about her time at the conference and how our facility benefitted from sending multiple people. Then I recap my conference day by day. ROSSIFARI LINKS: rossifari.com Support the pod at Patreon.com/rossifari Join the Discord at https://discord.gg/hvWZgu...

Today, the Safari heads to Portland, Oregon, for the 2026 AZA Annual Conference! I chat with multiple guests about their experiences at the conference! Guests include: Dr. Lisa Dabek of Woodland Park Zoo and the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program Dr. Jenn Torpie of the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium and SAFE Red Panda Schaneé Anderson of Sedgwick County Zoo Kaylee Doughty, Andrew Evans, Heidi Schultz...

Dateline: October 2, 2026 - Rossifari Zoo News is back with a deep dive into some surprising breaking news this week: The Indianapolis Zoo has lost the gold standard accreditation that can only be obtained through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. We talk through what we know, what we don't yet know, and what might be next for this zoo. ROSSIFARI LINKS: rossifari.com @rossifari on socials @ro...

Today, the Safari heads down to Brazil (via Zoom), to talk to Suzanne Smith, the founder of the Amazon River Dolphin Conservation Foundation. Suzanne gives a fascinating look into these incredible animals, then shares her story of falling in love with them and starting the work to save them. We talk about connecting with the local populations, how eco-tourism can drive conservation, and so much mo...

Dateline September 25, 2026: Today's episode is a deep dive into the legislation that stopped allowing cetaceans in human care, and the absolute failures of the Canadian government and the "empty the tanks" movement to help the animals further than passing that law. We look into the animals that have moved to SeaWorld San Antonio, SeaWorld San Diego, The Georgia Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium,...

Today, the Safari heads back to Baltimore to visit the Maryland Zoo. We head to the enrichment lab to discuss how modern technology is really helping us understand how to enrich the lives of animals in incredible ways in zoos, and how inspiration from the past is leading the charge today. Truly one of the most exciting episodes we've had. EPISODE LINKS: @marylandzoo marylandzoo.org ROSSIFARI LINKS...

Dateline: September 18, 2026 Rossifari Zoo News is back with an update on all things zoos, aquariums, conservation, and general animal weirdness. We start off with me talking about my new job at Virginia Living Museum, sharing more about the SAFE Red Panda initiatives for International Red Panda Day, and more! Then we have Zoo News stories from Ross Park Zoo, Zoo Knoxville, Buffalo Zoo, Henry Door...

Today, the Safari heads back to the Cincinnati Zoo for a chat with our good friend Meredith Hughes! We talk all things ambassadors, how the Cincinnati Zoo manages to be a big zoo with a small zoo vibe, share some incredible experiences, and then get into the core topic...this Saturday is International Red Panda Day, so we discuss Meredith's involvement with SAFE Red Panda, including heading up our...

Dateline: September 11, 2026 Rossifari Zoo News is back with an update on all things zoos, aquariums, conservation, and general animal weirdness. We start off with a very exciting update about my life, as well as cool stuff about SAFE Red Panda, and also what tree kangaroos and the NFL have to do with each other. There's a Headline Story about AI and technology that goes beyond the normal scope of...

Today, the Safari heads back to Buttonwood Park Zoo to talk to returning guest Sarah Henry and newcomer Kristy Kaeterle...and also a cat who almost caused this entire episode to never see the light of day! We talk about the ways Buttonwood Park Zoo is supporting various AZA SAFE Programs including SAFE Red Panda and SAFE North American Songbird, and also discuss some really cool ambassador animals...

Dateline: September 4, 2026 Rossifari Zoo News is back with an update on all things zoos, aquariums, conservation, and general animal weirdness. I start off discussing the fact that I've finally officially moved to Virginia. Then we get into a long chat about the upcoming SAFE Red Panda trading cards! There's a Headline Story about the most ridiculous investigation into Smithsonian's National Zoo...

Today, the Safari welcomes a new facility to the pod! John Kleoudis is here to welcome us to NOVA Wild! This facility, located in northern Virginia, is both a drive-through safari and a standard walk-through zoo, and features a lot of incredible behind-the-scenes animal encounters designed to encourage a love of animals and conservation! EPISODE LINKS: @novawildz00 novawild.org ROSSIFARI LINKS: Ro...

Dateline: August 28, 2026 Rossifari Zoo News is back for a bit of a ramble. I start off talking about the loss of Dolly Parton and what it's like losing an artist that I'm in the middle of playing a tribute show for. Then I talk about the devastating flooding in Nepal before touching on a few other topics of importance this week. All that plus Animal Holidays! ROSSIFARI LINKS: rossifari.com Suppor...

Today, the Safari heads back to Norfolk, VA, to visit with Bailey Goebel! You'll learn about their unique position at the zoo, why being a Swiftie has helped them in their career, and so much more! EPISODE LINKS: @virginiazoo virginiazoo.org ROSSIFARI LINKS: Rossifari.com Patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok Join the new Rossifari Discord: https://...

Dateline: August 21, 2026. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness! We start off with a detour into some info about my drumming career y'all might find interesting. If not, skip ahead, I won't be offended. In Zoo News, we have a headline story that is a spoiler alert for two initiatives that SAFE Red Panda wi...

Today, the Safari heads back to Greensboro, North Carolina, for a chat with the person who started it all for me there, Audrey Stallings. You'll get to hear her story, her incredible connection to herps and herp education, her work with venomous animals, another interruption by Bekah, why she is responsible for so much of the lore of the podcast, and so much more!  EPISODE LINKS:  greensboroscienc...

Dateline: August 14, 2026. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!     We start off with a big announcement about the podcast and its future (which is bright, my friends)! Then we get to what's going on with my life, which is crazy as can be right now. In Zoo News, we have a headline story that I just find s...

Today, the Safari finally returns to the Greensboro Science Center after way too long of an absence. We talk to Kelsey Hughes about volunteers and the incredible impact they have on zoological facilities. We also talk about the fact that she won't give me a dang hoodie, but that's a different story. EPISODE LINKS:  greensboroscience.org  @greensborosciencecenter on socials  ROSSIFARI LINKS:  Rossi...

Dateline: August 7, 2026. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!     We start off with a quick catch up on my life, which is currently taking place in California. I talk a lot about my experience of appearing on the podcast Science VS to talk about my experience with weight cycling.  In Zoo News, we have st...

Today, the Safari heads back to the Virginia Zoo to sit down with new director (and friend of the podcast) Chris Jenkins. We talk about taking on this incredible role, what his years of growth at Natural Encounters, Inc. gave him in terms of preparedness for this gig, and so much more. It was a privilege to share the start of Chris' next chapter as the start of my next season!  EPISODE LINKS:  @vi...

Dateline: July 31, 2026. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!     We start off with a quick catch up on my life, which is currently taking place in California. Then we dive into an interview with Dani Larson! We talk about what loss at a facility is like from the perspective of the teams that aren't direc...

Today, the Safari heads back to Wilmington, DE, to the only accredited zoo in the state, Brandywine Zoo. I sit down with returning guest Brint Spencer, the director of the zoo, to talk about the new animal encounters the zoo is offering, the new habitat that just opened, the incredible conservation work being done at the facility, the unique relationship Brint has with his keepers, and so much mor...

Dateline: July 24, 2026. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!     We start off with a quick catch up on my life, which is currently taking place in California. Then we dive into an interview with Dr. Heather Schwartz of the Nashville Zoo. We discuss the current data center fight taking place in Nashville,...

Today, the Safari heads down to Texas to sit down with my good friend Elizabeth Johnson! We talk about her position at Longneck Manor and catch up on the work she's been doing for The Mothering Wildlife Podcast! This interview took place during the AZA Midyear Meeting, so we talk a lot about the collaboration and work that takes place there as well!  EPISODE LINKS:  longneckmanor.com  @longneckman...