Mothering Wildlife

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! This week's episode is a little different. I wanted to bring together two moms within the zoo field who have IVF as part of their motherhood journey and let them have the opportunity to share their stories and talk to each other about their journeys. Kaitlyn Fulmer and LeShea...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week is Ricki Roemer, a Supervisor in the Mammals 2 Department at the Caldwell Zoo. At the time of our interview Ricki was freshly postpartum, and believe it or not her baby joined us in the bouncer the whole interview! Her and I had tried to set up an interview quick...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week is Alexis Fitch from Animals Anonymous Apparel! Alexis started her career as a zookeeper, however ultimately decided to leave the field with the birth of her first child and started an amazing apparel company dedicated to making the anonymous animals known.  Anim...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week is Paige Tamayo, a Lead Zoologist at the Dallas Zoo. Paige and I know each other and used to work together when I was at Dallas. She joined my team in the Middle Wilds right before I moved back to Florida. Having both gone to the same college (although many years...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week is Clare Belden-Walker, an animal keeper at the Seneca Park Zoo. Clare's great love is primates, and she tells us all about her journey into zookeeping through the world of primate conservation! Pregnant zookeepers do some amazing things at work while pregna...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week is Charley Shepherd, a Senior Mammal Care Specialist at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Jacksonville, FL.  At the time of this interview, Charley was pregnant! She and I talk about the differences between her first and second pregnancy. With both, she had to...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! This week, my guest is Loren Berry, a woman who wears many hats within the zoo and aquarium field! A former zookeeper for 17 years, Loren now serves as the Chapter Development Manager for the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK). Additionally, through the Katie Adamson Conserv...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! This week I talk to Briana Schmidt, a Lead Aquarist at the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium. Briana offers the "wet perspective" of being a working mom in the zoo and aquarium field. My guests are often of the "terrestrial" sort and today Briana...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week is Jessica Lelesch, the lead keeper over the Akrons Zoo's hoofstock and primate team.  Like the episode title suggests, Jessica and I talk about a variety of subjects that all lead into living a new “norm” once you become a mother…and especially a working mo...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! This week, I am sharing my story! As host of the Mothering Wildlife Podcast, I have been so thankful to all my guests for sharing their stories, so I thought it was about time that I shared my own.  Join me as I dive into my professional journey from zookeeper to registrar. I recou...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week is Kayla Freeman, the Large Mammal Supervisor at Blank Park Zoo. She cares for a variety of large hoofstock, including rhino, giraffe, camel, and okapi. As a working supervisor, she spends a good portion of her week out in the field, working with the animals. How...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week is Sarah Radecker, a Wildlife Connections Supervisor at the Houston Zoo. Sarah manages a team of 21 keepers while overseeing a very diverse animal collection, including reptiles, small mammals like mongoose and meerkats, and ambassador animals!   Sarah and I dive...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week is Channing Milchuck, a  Primate Swing Keeper from Zoo Atlanta. Channing and I talk about how being a zookeeper is a second career for her. She started in vet medicine and spent almost a decade doing that before transitioning into being an animal keeper.  We also...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week is Abbey Krumrie from River Valley Raptors, an awesome organization in Wisconsin dedicated to not only educating their local community about raptors and their cool adaptations, but how to protect the habitats they live in right there in their local area. She and...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! This week, I talk to Hallie Torre, Curator of Marine Mammals and Birds at the Aquarium of Niagara.  Hallie chats about life as a marine mammal trainer turned manager and mom of two—everything from working with seals and sea lions while pregnant to figuring out daycare, maternity le...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! This week, I talk to Wendy Boulger, a zookeeper from Zoo Knoxville.  Her almost 11-month-old (at the time) daughter, Marcy, even joins us for the interview!  Wendy and I touch base on a variety of topics - from the challenges of postpartum to pumping at work to trying to jump back...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! In this episode, I talk with Kim Castrucci, Curator of Animals at the Brevard Zoo,  about her journey to becoming an animal care leader — and how becoming a mom changed everything about the way she leads and lives. Kim and I talk a lot about being a leader within the zoo field and...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! This week's guest is LeShea Cochu, Animal Care Supervisor of Birds, Mammals, and Ambassadors at the Chattanooga Zoo. She is also freshly postpartum and had only been back to work for a few weeks at the time of this interview! LeShea shares how early in her career working with...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! Join me this week as I talk to Morgan Duffy, an Animal Hospital Keeper at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. As a hospital keeper, Morgan gets to see and take care of so many different species - from those entering into quarantine upon arrival at the zoo to those needing treatment d...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week is Jess Sorrentino, a Development Associate (and cheetah enthusiast!) for the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Her current role primarily involves building partnerships with zoos; however, last year, she helped to organize the Global Cheetah Summit, and she occasionall...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week is Carolyn Mikulskis, Assistant Curator at the Greensboro Science Center. Carolyn and I chat about a variety of topics, including how your priorities can change once you become a mother. One day you’re living that “zoo life”, throwing all your energy into your ca...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week is Caitlin Rodriguez, a doula who owns Blessed Mother Birth Services in the Dallas/Forth Worth area of Texas.  When I first met Caitlin, I totally fangirled over her - why, you might ask?  Well, Caitlin was not only a zookeeper but also a doula when I met her in...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week, Amie Mercado, is a Senior Herpetology Care Specialist at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.   She offers a new perspective on being a pregnant animal care specialist.  What do zoo guests think when they see a pregnant person doing "dangerous" things?  I...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! This week, my guest, Kirsti Mahon, and I dive into her journey to become a mother.  A journey that includes IVF, a hurricane, and the best outcome ever - a beautiful baby girl! Kirsti candidly shares her journey, from the support she received at work, to how pregnancy affected her...

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms! My guest this week is Chelsie Bedingfield, an ungulate keeper at the Sacramento Zoo.  Her and I really dive into what a zookeeper's daily roles and responsibilities are, and then what it is like to be a pregnant zookeeper doing those tasks.  Chelsie talks about how she really...