Nature, Nurture & Nonsense

Rutendo and her siblings continue their chat about making adventure and exploration in nature. They talk about childhood adventure role models... or the lack there of! And they discuss in further detail the importance of adventure in nature stories being told in every culture. Production & Editing by Rutendo Shackleton Sound by Izwi Wazara

This week, Rutendo is joined by her brothers, Tashinga and Izwi, and her sister Ishe for a sibling chat about adventure, adrenaline, and the outdoors. While recapping last episode's interview with filmmaker Anna Dimitriadis, the siblings explore whether they actually feel the same rush in nature that she does… and if not, whether that’s completely okay. As usual, the conversation goes in very...

This week, Rutendo chats with Anna Dimitriadis, a BAFTA-nominated wildlife filmmaker and presenter whose work takes audiences deep into some of the world’s most remote environments — from beneath Antarctic icebergs to the jungles of Central Africa. Best known for her work as a cinematographer and presenter on Big Cats 24/7, Anna combines cutting-edge technology with deep field experience to captur...

This week, Rutendo and her sisters Tadiwa, Ishe & Mbiri talk about agreeing to disagree. How do we have fruitful debates about nature, conservation and everything in-between without ending up in an echo chamber or alienating each other? How do we avoid "click bait" arguments and make space for evolution of thought? In the midst of that, they discuss the family's debating styles -...

On this week’s episode, I’m joined by artist Lee Putman. We go from his Sundays spent with his Nan and Grandad—reading nature books and exploring the woods behind their house—to building @factsandfineliners, where he explores the beauty and tension in our relationship with animals through his art. He shares how he navigates the contradictions in that relationship—caring deeply about animal welfare...

In this episode, Rutendo and her siblings, Tashinga & Mbiri, tackle one of conservation’s most complex questions: what do we really mean by human–wildlife conflict—and is true coexistence even possible? They explore the messy, nuanced reality of how people and wildlife share space, and why simple answers don’t hold up. They also reflect on Rutendo’s interview with Greta Iori, unpacking her ins...

On this week's episode, Rutendo is joined by international adviser, conservation expert, and accredited conflict mediator Greta Iori. Greta is working at the forefront of global conservation—tackling the illegal wildlife trade, shaping nature–climate policy, and navigating the complex realities of human–wildlife coexistence. As a founding fellow of Women for the Environment Africa and former l...

Aaaaannnddd we're BACK with season 2 of the pod! The Dr. Rutendo Shackleton and her siblings are together again this week reminiscing about their wild wild holidays! There is no better way to enjoy nature and the outdoors than with the people you love most. They chat about their best wild holidays... and their WORST, and of course the nonsense they got up to. You'd think they weren't s...

In this episode, Dr Rutendo Shackleton chats with veterinarian, conservationist, presenter and author  Dr Sean McCormack  — founder of the Ealing Wildlife Group and ambassador for Beaver Trust. Sean shares what it was like growing up as the only nature-obsessed child out of five, the chaos and joy of his wild allotment. He also shares his journey from clinical vet work to community-led conservatio...

This week, Rutendo is joined by her older brother, Tashinga, and sisters, Tadiwa and Mbiri, for a deep dive into wildlife storytelling. They share who in the family is the best storyteller — which naturally leads to some sibling roasting! The four also talk about their favourite wildlife films and series, recap last week’s chat with filmmaker Faith Musembi, and explore who should be telling wildli...

This week we're so excited that Rutendo is joined by natural history producer and director Faith Musembi. You know when you admire someone — you love their work and their vibe — and think, “we’d totally be friends”? That’s exactly how Faith and Rutendo met, and thankfully the feeling was mutual! Faith is a filmmaker passionate about telling stories that celebrate Africa’s natural world and her...

This week on the pod, my sibs Tadiwa, Izwi & Mbiri join me to chat about how we can make conservation our own, whereever it is we may live or come from. We’re sharing our core safari memories from growing up in Zimbabwe — some more chaotic than you’d think — and revisiting key insights from my chat with Dr. Peter Lindsey last week's episode. We also dive into what diaspora communities can...

This week Rutendo chats with  Dr. Peter Lindsey  — a fellow Zimbabwean and Director of the Lion Recovery Fund Wildlife Conservation Network. Peter’s passion for African wildlife shines through every part of his story. From his early days as a conservancy apprentice in Zimbabwe to studying at Oxford and earning his PhD at the University of Pretoria, his career has taken him across 18 African countr...

This week, it’s a sisters-only chat! Rutendo is joined by her sisters Tadiwa, Ishe, and Mbiri to talk all about  art and nature  — not just how nature inspires creativity, but how creativity can become a form of advocacy for the natural world. From painting and music to dance and filmmaking, the sisters explore how art helps us connect with, express, and protect what we love about the planet. They...

Rutendo welcomes her  very first guest ,  Alicia Hayden  — an award-winning wildlife artist and creative conservationist. They talk about art, activism, and how creativity can connect people with nature, from childhood memories to favourite animated films and Alicia’s vision for inspiring conservation through art. Alicia works across multiple disciplines - film, writing and art - to tell stories a...

In this week’s episode, Rutendo and the siblings are talking all about pets!  For many of us, our first relationship with nature begins with the animals we share our homes with. For our family, that’s meant  many  pets over the years—past and present. We chat about the difference between being a dog “parent” vs. a dog “owner,” the ups and downs of life with pets, and the lessons they’ve taught us....

Welcome to the very first episode of  Nature, Nurture & Nonsense . Meet Dr. Rutendo Shackleton and her five siblings as they launch a podcast where family banter collides with the natural world. In this pilot episode, the Wazara Six — as they like to call themselves — introduce who they are, share what life was like under one roof, and reflect on the wild family adventures they either enjoyed...

Nature, Nurture & Nonsense is a conservation podcast where family stories meet wildlife science. Hosted by Zimbabwean conservationist, Dr Rutendo Shackleton and her five siblings, it mixes wild childhood memories, expert guests, and laugh-out-loud moments to explore our personal connections to nature—without needing a science degree. It’s fun, genuine, and for everyone .