Just the Zoo of Us

Join Ellen & special guest, marine biologist Chelsea Bennice, for a review of the multifunctional, multicolored, multi-armed aliens of the ocean: octopuses! We discuss octopus handshakes, donut brains, swiss army mouths, goat eyes, toxic friendships and Eiffel towers. Links: Follow Chelsea on Facebook or Instagram ! Learn more about octopuses at OctoNation.com , where you can find educational reso...

Ellen struts with the greater sage grouse & Christian pops off about the pistol shrimp. We discuss what happens at a lek, whether or not the sage grouse poses a threat to the United States military, what pistol shrimps can teach you about your pressure cooker, and the Shrimp of Theseus. Links: Vox: "This goofy bird vs. the fossil fuel industry" Follow Just the Zoo of Us on  Facebook ,  Twitter , I...

Join Ellen and special guest, President and CEO of the Texas State Aquarium Jesse Gilbert, for a review of the living tanks of the sea: loggerhead turtles! We discuss the challenges faced by sea turtles in a changing world, the aquarium's work rescuing and rehabilitating loggerhead turtles and other marine life, and the magic of connecting with another species. Learn more about the Texas State Aqu...

Christian throws down with the Japanese rhinoceros beetle & Ellen goes on a journey through evolutionary history with the Indian muntjac. We discuss the toxic masculinity of beetles and why the Indian muntjac's bark is just as bad as their bite. Links: The muntjac video shown to Christian Follow Just the Zoo of Us on  Facebook ,  Twitter , Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok ! Help support...

Ellen & special guest, primatologist and biological anthropologist Dr. Michelle Rodrigues, review the ballerinas of the Central and South American rain forests: spider monkeys. We discuss what life in the treetops looks like through a spider monkey’s big beautiful eyes, the latest innovations in butt-scratching technology, and the power of friendship. Follow Michelle on Twitter and Instagram , and...

Ellen luxuriates in the vicuña & Christian takes a bite out of crime with the cookie cutter shark. We discuss adaptations to life in the Andes, vicuña wool as political bribery, suctorial lips, and how to play an Uno Reverse card on some of the ocean's top predators. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on  Facebook ,  Twitter , Instagram & Discord! Follow Ellen on TikTok ! Cover photos: Tadas Jucys via Gett...

Join Ellen & paleontology researcher and fellow Floridian Alec Baines for a review of the saltwater guardians, American crocodiles. We discuss the archosaur family tree, flower-picking and other crocodilian leisure activities, what to do if you find yourself in the chompin’ zone, and falling in love at a punk croc concert. Follow Alec on Instagram and Twitter ! Learn more about their science commu...

Christian attends the caecilian cotillion & Ellen gets friendly with the rubber boa. We discuss life as a humble amphibian wiggling around in the mud and explain how even limbless creatures can still throw hands. The Caecilian Cotillions Song: https://youtu.be/xxsUQtfQ5Ew Follow Just the Zoo of Us on  Facebook ,  Twitter , Instagram & Discord! Cover photos: Chris Harrison via kingsnake.com (caecil...

 Join Ellen & science journalist Bethany Brookshire for a review of the lumpy little tide pods disrupting ecosystems all over the globe: cane toads. We discuss toxic shoulder pads, retro nature documentary excellence, poison butts and teacher toads, ugly animals, and the complicated relationships humans have with the wildlife around us. Further viewing: Cane Toads: An Unnatural History (1988) Cane...

Ellen dives into the magical world of narwhals & Christian warms up to Japanese macaques. We discuss inside-out teeth, hot tub parties, and how misunderstandings and scams shaped unicorn mythology. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on  Facebook ,  Twitter , Instagram & Discord! Cover photos: dottedhippo via Getty images (narwhal) & sorincolac via Getty images (snow monkeys) Help support this show and unlo...

This episode originally aired on December 25, 2020. This version of the episode includes minor updates and audio edits.  Join Ellen & special guest, ecologist and science communicator Olivia deBourcier, for a festively themed review of reindeer! We talked about what makes them so well suited to the chilly climates they thrive in, from the tips of their impressive antlers all the way down to their...

Ellen is joined by the hosts of fellow Maximum Fun podcast Let's Learn Everything for a review of the little furry guys leaving tiny pawprints all over human history: rats! We discuss their role in the black plague, the intricacies of rat intelligence and emotions, and how they’ve been represented in folklore and pop culture. We’ll set historical records straight, display our best teamwork behavio...

Christian chews on some facts about the American beaver & Ellen celebrates the festive Christmas tree worm. We discuss giant rodents, ecological engineering, coral reef symbiosis, and the prettiest worm. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on  Facebook ,  Twitter , Instagram & Discord! Cover photos: photographybyJHWilliams via Getty images (beaver), johnandersonphoto via Getty images (Christmas tree worm) H...

Join Ellen & science communicator, birder and professional nerd Ralph Crewe for a review of a little bird with the loftiest ambitions: chimney swifts. We talk about competitive birding, planetariums, and what it’s like to eat, sleep, and bathe entirely midair. Links: Check out Ralph's YouTube channel, Isn't That Something , and his work on Practical Engineering . Local to Pittsburgh? Check out Ner...

Ellen goes on an odyssey through history with the wild turkey. We discuss their path alongside humans for thousands of years, from prehistoric America to praise from Benjamin Franklin, the brink of extinction and nets fired out of cannons.   Further viewing: Rocket Netting Turkeys , a video demonstration by the LSU AgCenter  Paul Kelly's Gobbling Demonstration Follow Just the Zoo of Us on  Faceboo...

Join Ellen & shark scientist Melissa Márquez for a review of the giant garbage disposals of the ocean: tiger sharks. We discuss sharks as links to our world’s past, what it's like to work with the ocean as your office and wild sharks as your colleagues, teeth and slime and jelly-filled pores. Melissa's books: Mother of Sharks , a picture book for ages 5 to 8 Swimming with Sharks (Wild Survival #2)...

Christian sticks to velvet worms & Ellen hangs out with binturongs. We discuss sticky situations, some unconventional means of reproduction, prehensile tails, and popcorn-scented pee. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on  Facebook ,  Twitter , Instagram & Discord! Cover photos: Geoff Galice via Wikipedia (velvet worm) & exs via Getty images (binturong) Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Beco...

Join Ellen & special guest, invertebrate photographer, zookeeper and science communicator behind "She's Got Legs" Caitlin Henderson, for a review  of the best huggers of the arachnid world: huntsman spiders. We’ll discuss why your yard glitters at night, fake webs for real spiders, cartwheels, backflips, spider unions, spider spaghetti, and why the most dangerous thing about these little guys is h...

Ellen has a bone to pick with the Iberian ribbed newt & Christian channels the spirit of the Australian ghostshark. We discuss insides becoming outsides, amphibian space flight, living fossils, and reset the "episodes since last Naruto reference" counter to zero. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on  Facebook ,  Twitter , Instagram & Discord! Cover photos: Peter Halasz via Wikipedia (Iberian ribbed newt)...

Join Ellen & special guest, entomologist Johanna Schwartz, for a review of animals you may not have thought to appreciate before: wasps. From the world’s smallest insect, the fairyfly, to the infamous giant hornet, the wasp world is full of imposters, cockroach brain surgery, pollination and pest control. Check out Nature Check on YouTube & Twitch ! Our appearance can be found here . Follow Johann...

Christian shreds on the bowmouth guitarfish & Ellen shakes things up with the timber rattlesnake. We discuss the shark-ray spectrum (which is not a laser beam that turns you into a shark),  weird teeth, how a snake's rattle works, and why you should peacefully leave them alone. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on  Facebook ,  Twitter , Instagram & Discord! Cover photos: Tomas Kotouc via Getty images (bow...

Join Ellen & special guest, ecologist and history podcaster Natalie Sabin, for a post-mortem of the dearly departed dodo. We discuss the unique traits that allowed the dodo to thrive in its island home, what went wrong for them when humans appeared, and why they left such big heavy footprints in our hearts. Listen to Across the Ages wherever you get podcasts! Follow Natalie on Twitter for more wil...

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! This week, Ellen puts the spotted lanternfly in the spotlight & Christian spills his guts on the crown-of-thorns starfish. We discuss stinky trees, winged invaders, crunching up corals, and eyes where you least expect them. Learn more about what to do if you see spotted lanternflies in the USA: https://www.phila.gov/2018-08-31-spotted-lanternfly-in...

Join Ellen & special guest, illustrator and author Alexander Vidal, for a review of a tiny bird with an ambitious itinerary: the rufous hummingbird. We discuss cottagecore nests, how wildlife moves all over our continent, birds that look like bugs and bugs that look like birds, and a lesson in confidence from the world’s littlest dinosaurs.  Get Alexander's book, Wilds of the United States: The An...

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! This week, Christian gets salty over the marine iguana & Ellen glides along with the literally treehugging colugo. We discuss archipelagos, snot rockets, Darwin's garbage takes, Godzilla, skin parachutes and baby hammocks. Follow Just the Zoo of Us on  Facebook ,  Twitter , Instagram & Discord! Cover photos: Patrick_Gijsbers via Getty images (marin...