AquatiZoo podcast

Is it a great learning opportunity for students? Yes! Is it perfect? No. There are many wonderful reasons that internships exist and benefit students, institutions, and schools, but there's a lot of room for improvement. Today, we take a hard look at internships at zoos and aquariums. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

There are several common words with ambiguous meanings that we use in conversation regularly. Have you taken a moment to check if you're communicating effectively? Today we discuss how to avoid confusion and make things easier for everyone understand. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

When an animal gets sick or injured, do you know where, how, and why rehabilitation is done? Who is best equipped to deal with these wild animals in a tough spot? Today we discuss the ins and outs of animal rehabilitation. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com (Also, I'm aware of the audio anomaly that occurs roughly halfway through the episod...

Who would have thought that positivity could ever be a bad thing? It can be very sneaky, but when positive thinking is used as a weapon in the workplace, things can get complicated. Learn to recognize and react to toxic positivity! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

It's an unfortunate reality for any institution that desires to remain relevant and in top condition... we have to spruce things up sometimes! The decisions surrounding closures are weighed heavily, but we try to make the best choices for the animals, our guests, and our staff. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

If you've ever wondered why you've gotten such a strange reaction to a typical work discussion or activity, you may have accidentally uncovered some baggage carried by a coworker. Today we discuss how past experiences shape our view of the world and how they can impact the current situations in our lives. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

There are a lot of sights, sounds, and experiences that an animal will encounter at an aquarium or zoo. Did you know that we have ways of preparing animals for these challenges? Today we discuss the importance and methods to train an animal to be resilient and live their best lives. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

Businesses, institutions, and leaders are faced with the challenge of navigating through the great resignation with their integrity and practices intact. How might that be done? Who will come out on top? Today we discuss how leaders can step it up! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

It takes a rather large amount of effort for aquariums and zoos to walk the line between education and entertainment. How do we fit both into our exhibits and programs? Is one more important than the other? Today we discuss walking the line between two seemingly opposing worlds. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

It's tempting to allow only those thoughts and opinions with which we agree to enter our consciousness while rejecting all else. It's dangerous and debilitating to surround ourselves exclusively with people who think and act the same way we do. Stay curious and be ready to amend your thoughts! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

It's important that we design our exhibits, programs, and institutions for all to enjoy. Anyone who enters our institution should feel confident that they will learn, be entertained, and share an experience regardless of an ailment, injury, or disability. Just how do we do it and how do we improve?

We're often led to believe that offering forgiveness to someone who has wronged us is only of benefit to the other person. In reality, it's quite the opposite! Today we discuss the vast difficulty and subtle-but-powerful benefits of forgiveness. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

It may seem smooth and flawless when an aquarium or zoo professional appears in an interview or speaks on behalf of the institution, but there's a lot of preparation that goes into these sorts of activities. It's made to look easy! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

Despite what we're often taught when we're young, it's not necessarily a linear progression upwards through our career that should be desired or expected. Today, we discuss the many ways a person can grow in their work without attaining a new title or salary. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com  

Aquariums and zoos regularly go out into the world with educational materials, animals, and artifacts to help people learn well outside the boundaries of their institutions. Today, we discuss how and why this is done, and what impact it might carry for the community. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

It could be healthy, it could be troubled, it could be positive, it could be ineffective. There are many ways that workplace culture can be evaluated, monitored, and changed... no matter your position! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com  

Do you happen to know the organizational structure of your favorite zoo or aquarium? You may think that's an odd question to ask, but if you've never considered it before, you might find the answers interesting. Let's discuss the many ways these facilities might be running and who could be making decisions at the top! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacatio...

Have you ever had that feeling that you've somehow fooled everyone into thinking that you're capable and confident and can handle all sorts of new challenges? Most of us have, and it can be a difficult issue to handle. How we cope with this ugly inner voice can indicate just how talented we really are! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

Brought to mind by a recent story in the news, it's important to remember why zoos and aquariums must be so vigilant when bringing skilled workers and external companies into the mix to provide needed goods and services. Today, we discuss best practices in keeping everyone alert, responsible, and safe. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com  

The wild job market right now in the USA has impact on zoos and aquariums. How should we proceed? Today, we discuss evaluating our positions and how to retain and entice employees. It starts with treating one another with respect and dignity. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

Did you know that there are programs run through AZA with the help of many zoos, aquariums, researchers, business partners, and concerned citizens to address the challenges that animals face in their natural habitats? Today we discuss the AZA SAFE programs and their impact in the natural world. https://www.aza.org/aza-safe www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalva...

There are times when disagreements get pretty heated, but it's not appropriate to raise your voice at work. Some people struggle to communicate without yelling and today we discuss why it's important to maintain your calm and how you might accomplish it. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com  

People in animal care jobs are expected to hone their skills and keep up with the latest technology and practices. Today we discuss how we know where to look to find those learning opportunities and why we and our institutions should consider ongoing learning important. www.aza.org www.aazk.org www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com  

One of the most important things institutions can do for a new hire is a thorough and thoughtful onboarding process. It might sound boring, but it's time well spent for all of those involved. No one likes to be lost and uninformed at work! www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com

It can be quite a challenge to introduce animals to one another in hopes that they get along. Today we discuss the why and how we might play matchmakers. It's a more complicated process than you might expect and things don't always go according to plan. www.patreon.com/aquatizoo l.semple@magicalvacationplanner.com www.magicalvacationplanner.com