Kindred

In this episode, we are speaking with Dr. Dawn Barlow all about the biggest animal on the planet, the Blue Whale! Dawn is an assistant professor and senior researcher with the Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Laboratory at the Marine Mammal Institute of Oregon State University. Dawn’s research interests are in the ecology and conservation of pelagic predators, seabirds, and particularly ceta...

In this episode, we are speaking with Bob Lynch, or as the world knows him, the Cowboy Cat Wrangler! Bob is a cat colony carer and TNR advocate for over 100 colony cats in the Philadelphia area. And what that means is ultimately he is rescuing, fostering, vetting, TNR advocating (trap/neuter/return) for every colony he takes care of. He is also a huge advocate and educator about and for cat coloni...

In this episode, we are talking about one of the most important biomes, boreal forests! And to lead us in this conversation, we are speaking with forest ecologist, Dr. Jennifer Baltzer to introduce us to this amazing terrestrial biome!  Jennifer is a professor of biology at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada.  She is also the Canada Research Chair in Forests and Global Change at Wilfri...

In this episode, Jenn and I have the distinct pleasure of covering the exhibit Botany of Nations, at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, running from March 28th, 2026 through February 14th of 2027!  The exhibit offers a culturally layered view of specific North American plants once collected during the famous expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.  More importantly...

In this episode, we are speaking with Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman, 15th President and CEO of the Philadelphia Zoo in its 164th year. Dr. Mogerman is deeply committed to conservation, Philadelphia at large, and connecting our communities to animals in a meaningful and inspiring way. She may be a Chicago gal at heart, but we welcome her here to the City of Brotherly Love and are so excited to learn about w...

In this episode, we are speaking with range ecologist and Buffalo conservationist, Zintkala Rivera from the organisation, Tanka Fund.  Zintkala is a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation and through Tanka Fund, is working to reintroduce buffalo back to native lands, lives, and economies with Native ranchers. Zintkala has a unique combination of skills bringing policy, law, and ecology to buffalo cons...

In this week’s episode, we are speaking with Dr. Cara Clancy, senior researcher and social scientist for the Donkey Sanctuary located in Sidmouth, England.  In 1973, Dr. Elisabeth Svendsen, after buying a donkey named ‘Naughty Face’, and going on to take in many donkeys after seeing the state of them at a local market, officially started The Donkey Sanctuary. Fast forward to today, and you’ll see...

In this week’s episode, we are speaking with Ben Blom of the organization Save The Redwoods League to speak with us all about these wise and wonderful trees. Ben Blom serves as the League’s director of stewardship and restoration and has more than 15 years of restoration and forest management experience.  One of Ben’s priorities, and an initiative I was really excited to hear about, is the work he...

Originally released November 22, 2022. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in April 2026. In this week's episode from our archives, we speak with Itsaso Velez del Burgo about her work at the Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center in the Democratic Republic of Congo rescuing and rehabilitating chimps and other vulnerable species. She talks to us about how the devastating effects of extreme pov...

Originally released January 9, 2024. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in April 2026. In this week’s episode from our archives, we speak with psychologist Jill Suttie, staff writer and contributing editor for the Greater Good Science Center, at University of California, Berkeley.  Jill connects us to how being in nature helps us on a deep psychological, neurological, and overall physical lev...

Originally released June 25, 2024. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in April 2026. In this week’s episode from our archives, we are speaking with Jen Davis, the education and learning manager for The Wildlife Trusts based around the UK. Jen focuses specifically on the role nature plays in childhood and how through educational programs implemented by The Wildlife Trusts, children can access...

In this week’s episode, we are speaking with Eriel Dernager, president of the organization Indigenous Climate Action, the only Indigenous led climate justice organisation in Canada.  Eriel is from the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation located in Treaty 8 Territory, otherwise known as the Northern Alberta area, and currently resides in Treaty 6 territory also known as Edmonton, Canada.  Deranger’s w...

In this week’s episode we are speaking with Dr. Carlo Siracusa, a professor of small animal behavior and welfare at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine.  Dr. Siracusa specializes in animal behavior, stress evaluation, and canine aggression.  In a nutshell, Dr. Siracusa’s research focuses on canine and feline behavioral issues-why they develop, how humans influence those...

In this week’s episode we are speaking with Dr. Winifred Frick.  Dr. Frick is a research biologist and chief scientist at Bat Conservation International, and is an adjunct professor in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. At BCI, generally her research focuses on conservation biology and ecology of bats, but she is primarily focused on the impacts of the de...

Welcome to our End Of Year episode, where Jenn & Kate wrap up the year with what impacted us, what was challenging for us, and what inspired us. We are sharing our rose, thorn, and seed with you all in reflection of an amazing year at The Kindred Podcast. We wish you all the best and thank you so much for your years of support. We wouldn't be here without you, and we are eternally grateful...

In this week’s episode we are speaking with Kojo Baidoo,  a naturalist and ecologist, all about the incredible vulture. Kojo received his degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University where he did his senior thesis on black vultures. He is currently working with the Nature Conservancy in Nebraska on the Platte River Prairies learning about land management and conservation on...

In this week’s episode we are speaking with Dr. Catherine Macdonald, marine conservation biologist and shark ecologist. Catherine is a scientist and Research Assistant Professor at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science at the University of Miami. She is the Director of the Shark Research and Conservation Program (SRC), which focuses on shark research and public science en...

In this week’s episode, we are speaking with Chris Strub, a wildlife rehabilitator who has worked in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation for over 10 years.  Chris started out as a volunteer at the Wild Bird Fund in New York City. He then moved to The Schuylkill Center in Philadelphia as the director of their wildlife clinic, and finally to Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center on Long Island.  On...

In this week’s episode, we are diving into all things hyenas! Yep, we’re that excited. And to take us on this deep dive we have asked hyena expert and behavioral ecologist Dr. Kay Holekamp to educate us all about this amazing animal and talk to us about the 30 + years of research and data her team has been collecting.  Dr. Holekamp is head of the Department of Integrative Biology and is director o...

In this week’s episode, we are speaking with Deborah Blum, environmental journalist, Pulitzer-prize winning science writer and science columnist.  Let me explain why we have asked Deborah to join us.  In 1962, American marine biologist, science writer, and conservationist Rachel Carson writes a pivotal book in our history, titled Silent Spring, which skillfully lays out the very real life scenario...

Kindred is back, hosted by Kate Coffin and Jenn Asplundh. This season, we’re flipping the script on creatures everyone loves to hate — from hyenas and vultures to bats and possums — and showing why they’re fascinating, essential, and surprisingly lovable. Join us as we explore the hidden connections between humans, animals, and nature, and discover stories that will make you see the world in a who...

Originally released July 23, 2024. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in October 2025. In this week’s episode, we travel to Denmark and speak with author and long time marine biologist Hanne Strager about the incredible and dynamic predator the killer whale, or orca if you prefer. Hanne specializes in marine wildlife, specifically killer whales, and has recently published her new book titled,...

Originally released May 14, 2024. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in October 2025. In this week’s conversation, we are speaking with William Housty, Associate Director of the Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department in Bella Bella, British Columbia. The HIRMD are in charge of overseeing the management of all natural resources in the Heiltsuk territory, including the beautiful and...

Originally released January 26, 2025. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in October 2025. In this exclusive drop Jenn and I talk to brothers Dave Aguirre (my actual husband :) and Geoff Aguirre all about their brotherly hike across England! Sisters interviewing brothers…what could go wrong? But really, this was so much fun and really warmed our cold winter hearts. It’s full of humor, sentimen...

Originally released April 30, 2024. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in October 2025. In this week's archived episode, we are spoke with Bear Biologist Chris Servheen. We finally got to meet our grizzly bear fears head-on and dispel all the misinformation that we have been wondering about for years!   We were so lucky to have been able to speak with Chris, one of if not the leading bear...