Just the Zoo of Us

Join Ellen & special guest, arachnologist Dr. Sebastian A. Echeverri for a review of the overpowered bards of the arachnid world, jumping spiders! In this episode, we discuss jumping spiders' incomparable processing power, hunting skill, and flair for the dramatic. Episode cover photo by our guest himself, Dr. Sebastian Echeverri! Intro & outro music: "Adventuring", Louie Zong Help support this sh...

Join Ellen & special guest, evolutionary biologist Jimmy Bernot, for a review of the microscopic crustaceans truly running the world, copepods! In this episode, we discuss what makes copepods so successful at what they do, the role that parasites play in an ecosystem, and the biodiversity you can find among fish boogers. Intro & outro music: "Adventuring", Louie Zong Help support this show and unl...

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen's heart is stolen by the trash bandit opossum & Christian digs up all the dirt on the burrowing owl. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join Ellen and special guest, conservation biologist Gabi Fleury, for a review of the punk nerds of the big cat family, cheetahs! In this episode we discuss how cheetahs go so fast, what sets them apart from the rest of the cats, and conflict between humans and wildlife. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join Ellen & special guest, artist and arachnid enthusiast Tea Francis, for a review of our fuzzy, chunky, leggy friends: tarantulas! In this episode we discuss why tarantulas deserve admiration, how (and why) to respect their boundaries, and what it's like to live with hundreds of tiny roommates in the Spider Room. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximu...

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! Christian returns with the secretive underground cave puppy, the olm, and Ellen reviews the uniquely stunning maned wolf. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join Ellen and special guest, marine biologist Elizabeth Mills, for a review of the often-overlooked ride-or-die friends of the sea, barnacles! Topics include (but are not limited to): barnacle reproductive anatomy, whale armor, zombie crab mechs, and whether or not geese are fruit. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join Ellen and marine biologist Dr. Christopher Mah for a review of the mysterious, complicated, many-armed predators of the deep, sea stars! In this episode, we discuss why sea stars are so important to marine ecosystems, their secret drama playing out in slow motion, and their captivatingly unfamiliar beauty. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun....

Join Ellen and special guest, environmental scientist & host of the Beyond Blathers podcast Olivia deBourcier, for a review of a festive icon, the reindeer (also known as caribou)! In this episode, we talk about what makes reindeer so lovable (spoiler alert: so many things), what it's like to work with them, and the challenges they're facing in their native habitats. Help support this show and unl...

Join Ellen and special guest, entomologist Aaron Fairweather, for a review of the industrious, conniving, world-conquering ants! In this episode, we discuss what makes ants so successful, the theatrical levels of drama going on under our feet every day, and as a special treat, a free idea for a D&D character. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.or...

Join Ellen & special guest, field biologist Madison Bush, for a review of a couple of very leggy friends, orb weavers & wolf spiders! In this episode we discuss the World Wide Web, moustaches made out of eyes, and buff Tom Holland. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join Ellen and special guest, herpetologist Travis Kurtz, for a review of Washington's very own Olympic torrent salamander! In this episode, we go over what makes salamanders so charming, the mysteries that make this little one so special, and what it's like to study them. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join Ellen and special guest, conservationist & primatologist Keriann McGoogan, for a review of Coquerel's sifaka! In this episode, we chat about what makes sifakas so special as well as what it's like to work with and study them in the wild in Madagascar. This episode was made in collaboration with the Lemur Conservation Network for the World Lemur Festival. You can celebrate World Lemur Day on F...

Join Ellen and special guest, marine biologist Ryan Hegseth, for a review of the scalloped hammerhead! In this episode, we review what makes this hammerhead shark so successful and charming in addition to some slight detours along the way, visiting topics like octopus hickeys, learning to fight fear with education, and Shark Week. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at...

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode Ellen untangles the slimebeast of the ocean floor, the hagfish, and Christian kicks it up a notch with the relentlessly stylish secretary bird. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join Ellen & special guest Jazmin Murphy (AKA Sunny) for a review of the iconic coyote! In this episode, we discuss how coyotes have adapted to thrive in a wide variety of environments and what makes them so delightfully special. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join Ellen and special guest Chelsea Connor for a review of the Dominican anole! In this episode we talk dewlaps, eyespots, and what it's like to work with these little lizards with big attitudes. Photo: Chelsea Connor Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian charges in with the American bison and Ellen explains the quirky appearance and lifestyle of the giraffe-necked weevil. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join Ellen and special guest Tori Wingerter for a review of Florida's very own dinosaur burger, the gopher tortoise! We dig in to what makes these mini tanks so special and delightful, and why they're so important to their ecosystems. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen brings it home with the common pigeon & Christian explains what makes the sea krait a real spicy noodle. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join Ellen and special guest Jasmin Graham for a review of the most dangerous snoot in the water, the sawfish! In this episode we discuss what's up with that wild saw on their face, what makes them such impressive predators, how they're affected by human activity, and what we can do to help. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian takes us on a tour of the pika's digestive system & Ellen shows some love to the North American giant millipede and its role as an unsung ecological hero. (Heads up: this episode mentions poop a lot.) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen explains why emus don't bother flying and Christian dives into the mysterious world of the cryptic whale shark. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

Join Ellen and special guest Kelly Diamond for a review of Hawaii's peculiar and charming waterfall climbing gobies, o'opu nopili! In this episode we talk about the unique adaptations that these gobies have developed to allow them to overcome some impressive obstacles, as well as the adaptations the scientists had to develop to overcome some unexpected challenges in studying these unique fish! Hel...

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian gives us the lowdown on a shimmering jelly bean, the golden mole, and Ellen sets the record straight on piranhas. Photos: Galen Rathbun (golden mole), Gregory Moine (red-bellied piranha) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo