All Creatures Podcast

From the archives of All Creatures Podcast, we're revisiting our inspiring 2021 conversation with Dr. Paula Kahumbu, one of Africa's most influential wildlife conservationists, a National Geographic Explorer, and recipient of the prestigious Whitley Gold Award. As a leading voice in elephant conservation, Dr. Kahumbu has dedicated her career to protecting Africa's wildlife, combating the illegal i...

How did life first take to the air? In this classic interview from 2022, Chris and Angie welcome evolutionary biologist Dr. Richard Dawkins to discuss his book Flights of Fancy: Defying Gravity by Design and Evolution. From tiny flying insects to soaring birds, Dawkins explores the many ways evolution has overcome gravity—and how those solutions compare with our own flying machines. The conversati...

Chris recounts the recovery of New Zealand’s Chatham black robin (karure/keruru), an island species devastated by habitat clearing and introduced predators like rats and cats, until its range shrank to tiny Mangere Island. Numbers fell from 18 birds in 1972 to seven in 1976, then to five by 1980 with only one breeding female, “Old Blue,” paired with “Old Yellow,” leaving the species’ future depend...

What kind of animal can see light we cannot and strike with enough force to crack a crab’s shell? In this classic episode from 2022, Chris and Angie meet the mantis shrimp: a small marine predator with extraordinary eyes and one of the most powerful hunting strikes in the animal world. Some species smash hard-shelled prey, while others use sharp, spear-like limbs to catch fish. “Mantis shrimp” ref...

In this classic episode from 2019, Chris and Angie explore the cheetah’s incredible speed, from its flexible spine and gripping claws to the long tail that helps it turn during a chase. But there is much more to this remarkable cat than its sprint. Cheetahs are currently listed as Vulnerable globally, while the remaining Asiatic cheetahs in Iran are Critically Endangered. Across their range, shrin...

Chris speaks with Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Drew Kann about Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp and its new status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They explore the swamp’s blackwater wetlands, remarkable wildlife, and delicate balance of fire and water. Drew explains how a proposed titanium mine raised concerns about water loss, severe fires, and damage to nearby rivers—until public opposition...

Chris and Angie will record a special live episode of the All Creatures podcast on Sunday, October 11 at 6:00 PM at the Grosvenor Auditorium in National Geographic’s new Museum of Exploration in Washington, DC. The live 90-minute event will feature National Geographic explorer, photographer, filmmaker, and conservation storyteller Amy Vitale, whose work documents relationships between people, wild...

Chris talks with ecotherapy facilitator Shaz Audibert about how reconnecting with nature can support wellbeing, ease overwhelm, and inspire conservation. Shaz explains that ecotherapy recognizes humans as part of nature and shares accessible ways to reconnect—even in cities—through parks, street trees, houseplants, the sky, and simple practices such as a daily 10-minute mindful walk. Connect with...

Chris and Angie explore Cookiecutter Sharks, small deep-sea predators that use suction, sharp teeth, and a twisting bite to leave neat circular wounds on much larger animals. They discuss their strange appearance, warm-water range, nightly migrations, and glow-in-the-dark underside, which may help them hide or attract prey. The episode also looks at reproduction, rare reported human bites, and why...

In this classic episode from 2020, Chris and Angie explore the remarkable sun bear—the world’s smallest bear and one of Southeast Asia’s most overlooked animals. From their distinctive golden chest patch and extraordinary climbing skills to their love of insects, fruit, and honey, sun bears are perfectly adapted to life in tropical forests. But habitat loss, poaching, and the illegal pet trade con...

Ecologist Dr. Amy McEuen joins Chris to discuss How to Think Like an Ecologist and the power of seeing the world as an interconnected system. They explore ecosystem resilience, the value of nature connection, Amazon tipping-point debates, Indigenous land rights, biodiversity, freshwater, and nature-based climate solutions. Dr. McEuen also explains why misinformation spreads, why facts alone may no...

In this classic episode from 2021, Chris and Angie explore the remarkable mountain goat, a white-coated specialist built for some of North America’s steepest and most unforgiving terrain. They discuss the species’ extraordinary hooves, thick winter coat, alpine diet, social behavior, and the challenges of raising young high above the treeline. The conversation also considers the pressures mountain...

Chris explores why humans are not separate from nature, but animals embedded within (and entirely dependent on) Earth’s living systems. Inspired by ecologist Dr. Amy McEwan, he examines cities as modified ecosystems, why adaptable species thrive while specialists struggle, and how disrupted relationships can unravel whole habitats. From monarchs and milkweed to sea otters and kelp forests, this ep...

Kenyan filmmaker, producer, and director Faith Musembi joins us to discuss Nat Geo’s four-part docuseries Lion, following the remarkable journey of Keo, a male lion filmed from cub to king across four years. Faith shares the power of character-driven wildlife storytelling, the challenges and ethical decisions behind filming in the field, and why African voices must be central to stories about Afri...

In this classic episode, Chris and Angie revisit the remarkable Hawaiian monk seal, one of the world’s rarest seal species and the only seal found exclusively in the Hawaiian Islands. With a population of only around 1,600 animals, Hawaiian monk seals have faced a long history of pressure from hunting, entanglement in marine debris and fishing gear, reduced food availability, disease risk, disturb...

Chris and Angie explore the red fox, the world’s most widespread and adaptable true fox. They cover how its flexible diet, remarkable senses, seasonal coat and signature mouse-pounce allow it to thrive from Arctic tundra to city streets. The episode also examines its role as both predator and prey, its competition with Arctic foxes, its damaging impact in Australia, family life, conservation and h...

An episode from 2021. Few animals embody prehistoric power quite like the American alligator. In this episode, Chris and Angie share and explore the remarkable biology, behavior, and surprising family life of one of North America’s most iconic reptiles. Once threatened by unregulated hunting and habitat loss, the American alligator became one of conservation’s great recovery stories. These ecosyst...

Chris explores one of biology's biggest questions through emperor penguins, coral reefs, monarch butterflies and amphibians. As the planet changes faster than species can adapt, he asks whether evolution has failed...or whether we've taken away the one thing it has always relied upon: time. Along the way, he shares stories of hope, highlighting the scientists, conservationists and communities work...

A classic episode from 5 years ago, the Wildebeest!! Chris and Angie talk about how every year, more than 1.5 million wildebeest follow the rains across the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem, navigating predators, drought and dangerous river crossings in search of fresh grass and water. It is one of the most extraordinary wildlife spectacles on Earth and a journey that helps sustain an entire ecosystem. In...

Chris interviews Dr. Greg Simpson, veterinarian and co-founder of South Africa’s Wildlife Forensic Academy. Born from the rhino poaching crisis, the academy trains rangers, veterinarians, law enforcement, and conservationists in wildlife crime scene investigation, evidence collection, forensic science, and courtroom procedures. They discuss the growing threat of wildlife crime, the role of forensi...

A classic episode! Chris and Angie discuss everything Pelicans. With their enormous bills, expandable throat pouches and almost prehistoric appearance, pelicans are among the most instantly recognizable birds on Earth. But there is much more to them than their famous fishing equipment. In this classic episode, we explore the world’s eight pelican species, from plunge-diving brown pelicans to enorm...

For centuries, we believed culture was uniquely human. But what if elephants, whales, chimpanzees, birds (even bees) also pass knowledge, traditions, and behaviors from one generation to the next? In this episode, Chris explores one of the most fascinating discoveries in modern biology, from orca hunting traditions and elephant matriarchs to humpback whale songs, chimpanzee tool use, regional bird...

Brining back this class episode. Chris and Angie discuss the all too cute, hedgehog. Hedgehogs may be famous for their adorable faces and protective spines, but these remarkable nocturnal mammals are facing growing conservation pressures. The West European hedgehog is now classified as Near Threatened following significant declines driven by habitat loss, fragmented landscapes, pesticides and road...

Chris recounts how reading a scientific review paper titled “Has the Earth’s sixth mass extinction already arrived?” shifted his career from domestic animal reproduction research at the University of Florida to wildlife conservation and inspired his podcast, emphasizing that science alone isn’t enough without stories. Chris explains mass extinctions are rare, only five in ~540 million years, and c...

What if the biggest conservation question of our time isn't how we save wildlife... but whether we're willing to leave enough room for it? In this solo episode, Chris explores the global 30x30 initiative, an ambitious goal to protect 30% of Earth's land and oceans by 2030. From elephant corridors and marine reserves to David Attenborough's Ocean, this is a conversation about coexistence, hope, and...