Rossifari Podcast - Zoos, Aquariums, and Animal Conservation

Hello, lovers!  Today is Valentine's Day, and we are celebrating with an episode intended for mature audiences only! We are going to be hearing a few funny stories about the steamier side of animals...we're talking about birds getting overstimulated, the most famous sex noise in the animal kingdom, the stamina of a rhino, and more! We also revisit a favorite story from the first episode...

Dateline: February 11, 2022: Zoo News is back with a roundup of the news from the worlds of zoos and conservation!  In Zoo News, we talk about a rare bird birth, some cool grants given out at the Cincy Zoo, some of the amazing things keepers do to keep animals safe during snow storms, and more!   Then it all falls apart! We spend the rest of the episode doing a deep dive into a piece of legislatio...

Today, the Safari takes our second stop of our cross-country trip as we visit the Cincinnati Zoo to talk to Tami Ware, and interpretive keeper at the zoo! Along with this incredible first-time guest, we also have what started as a co-hosting situation with Colleen Adams, who you definitely know from her past episodes as a guest on the podcast! I say it started as a co-hosting situation, because th...

Dateline: February 4, 2022: Zoo News is back with a roundup of the news from the worlds of zoos and conservation!  In Zoo News, we talk about some cool zoo and aquarium conservation stories out of New England, share a couple cool penguin stories, and more! In Conservation News, we are talking about bears, eagles, mountain lions, and fake poop!  Other News features info about octopi, a real-life ni...

Today, the Safari starts to make its way across the country, stopping first at the Akron Zoo to catch up with Kristen Scaglione! Kristen was interviewed previously in Episode 40, so make sure you check that one out as well! Since we last talked, Kristen has taken a new position at the zoo, so we talk about what that means for her in terms of work and emotionally! We also talk about some of her for...

Dateline: January 28, 2022: Zoo News is back with a roundup of the news from the worlds of zoos and conservation!  In Zoo News, we say goodbye to Ozzie at Zoo Atlanta, celebrate a certain fifth birthday in Cincy, discuss zoo conservation projects, and more!  In Conservation News, we keep it in the water, talking about sea turtles, sharks, and more!  Other News features info about hippos, service d...

Today, the Safari hits the road in an unprecedented way! I spent an entire week traveling across the country, leaving Buffalo, New York, and ending up in La Mirada, California (right outside Los Angeles), and I'm bringing you with me on the trip! Come with me as I visit the Akron Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo, St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Aquarium, Tulsa Zoo, Oklahoma Aquarium, Oklahoma City Zoo, ABQ BioPa...

Dateline: January 21, 2022: Zoo News is back with a roundup of the news from the worlds of zoos and conservation!  In Zoo News, we say goodbye to Chester at Cincy, talk about the new CEO of Lincoln Park Zoo, discuss a few stories out of Toronto, and more!  In Conservation News, we are talking wolves, vultures, a new tarantula species, and more!  Other News features info about raven intelligence, r...

Today, the Safari is on another podcast!  You may remember that on Tuesday, I interviewed Deidre Ousterhout, the host of Weird Animal Facts Explicit, a podcast that shares weird animal facts and is...well...explicit.  I also appeared on her show that day, and now you can hear that audio right here in my very own feed!   WARNING: THE TITLE IS NOT A LIE.  THIS PODCAST HAS EXPLICIT LANGUAGE! IT IS IN...

Today, the Safari sits down for a Zoom chat with former zookeeper and fellow podcast host Deidre Ousterhout! We talk about the creation of her podcast, Weird Animal Facts Explicit, and also about her career in the zookeeping field which consisted of internships and long gigs at The Living Desert and Zoo Atlanta! You'll get some gross porcupine stories, a discussion about training an alligator...

Dateline: January 14, 2022: Zoo News is back with a roundup of the news from the worlds of zoos and conservation!  In Zoo News, we say goodbye to a few animals, talk about the amazing conservation work being done at Zoo Atlanta, and more!  In Conservation News, we share the story of four birds, some airborne DNA news, and then Rossifari goes to the dogs! Other News features A NEW SONG! Oh, and als...

Today, the Safari heads to Durham, North Carolina, to speak to Dr. Lydia Greene about lemurs! We visit the Duke Lemur Center, one of the most unique places I've ever visited. We talk about the microbiome of Sifakas, we talk about LGBTQ+ representation in STEM, we talk about being a ballet dancer...this one is all over the map, in the BEST way!  EPISODE LINKS:  @lemurscientist on Instagram for...

Dateline: January 7, 2022: Zoo News is back with a roundup of the news from the worlds of zoos and conservation!  In Zoo News, we start with a ton of sad stories, but then end it with a bunch of pure joy! In Conservation News, we're saying goodbye to another giant of the conservation world, and also talking about a different kind of animal painting than you're used to, and an important l...

Happy New Year, Rossifarians! Today, the Safari heads to Seattle, WA, to sit down with PJ Beaven, former zookeeper and creator of ZooFit and ZooNotable! ZooFit is a fitness program designed by and for zookeepers, and based on the concepts presented in animal training. ZooNotable is a podcast about books, both animal and non-animal in nature.  But don't worry! This episode isn't an infome...

Zoo News is back with a roundup of the news from the worlds of zoos and conservation!  In Zoo News, have a follow up on Johnson Park, a few sad animal deaths, some great stories out of aquariums, poop stories, a walrus tale, and more! In Conservation News, we're saying goodbye to two giants of conservation and talking about a pregnancy test for...a whale?  Other News features a prehistoric di...

Today, December 31, 2021, the world lost not only an incredible actor, comedian, and feminist icon...but also an incredible animal lover and passionate supporter of zoos.  Tune in to find out what made Betty White a true conservation hero.  ROSSIFARI LINKS: www.rossifari.com @rossifari on social media  @rossifaripod on TikTok Patreon.com/rossifari 

It's another week of new-to-the-pod content that doesn't require me doing an interview as I enjoy the holidays! Today, I'm bringing you the audio from three Instagram Live videos I have hosted, featuring pod-favorite guests Collen Adams of the Cincinnati Zoo, Katie Propp of Penguins International, and Dani Poirier-Larson of Southwick's Zoo! If you haven't watched the Lives...

Zoo News is back with a roundup of the news from the worlds of zoos and conservation!  In Zoo News, we discuss an incredible training story at the Brevard Zoo, the 50 best zoos in the country (maybe), say a sad goodbye to an orangutan and a happy goodbye to a manatee , and much more! In Conservation News, we're talking about the drought in Kenya, the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, and an excit...

Today, the Safari is bringing you new content from SO many previous episodes!  Many of my episodes have featured additional content that is available to anyone who signs up to support the pod through my Patreon! You can check out www.patreon.com/rossifari as a way to support the pod for as little as $3/month, though I'll happily take more if you are so inclined!  Not only is there a ton of am...

Zoo News is back with a roundup of the news from the worlds of zoos and conservation!  In Zoo News, we discuss a fundraising campaign that seriously paid off, a newly rescued dolphin finding a home, the final accreditation status of the Columbus Zoo, and much more! In Conservation News, we're talking about rhinos and gorillas in Rwanda and important tiger tracks in Sibera! Other News features...

Today, the Safari heads back to my home zoo, Elmwood Park Zoo, to sit down with Kara Kulak, a keeper who is working at the new, still unopened exhibit at the zoo: Harmony Hideaway! This exhibit features an absolutely sassy sloth named Liana, a red footed tortoise named Hank, and a bunch of amazing ducks you're sure to fall in love with!  The episode features a great interview and also some ti...

Zoo News is back with a roundup of the news from the worlds of zoos and conservation!  In Zoo News, we discuss a sensory friendly night at Adventure Aquarium, a new enrichment item headed to the Columbus Zoo, animal angel trees, an Eagle Scout project, and more! In Conservation News, we're talking about banning balloons, the conservation organization CVS (yes, that one),  and a visit from our...

Happy Walrus Awareness Week, y'all!  Today, I'm bringing you a look back at when I went to The Indianapolis Zoo to speak to marine mammal keeper Erika Allen. We touch on some dolphins, some sea lions, and of course, Erika's history...but this episode is all about the two walrus that live in Indy!  You'll hear all about (and from) Aku and Ginger, their history, their training, a...

Today, the Safari heads back to Knoxville, bringing back former guest Tiffany James to talk about her new position at the zoo, and also to share about an incredible in situ conservation experience she got to have in Africa!  We are talking about rhinos (in Knoxville and Africa), peccaries, poorly named monkeys, and so much more!  I also share about meeting some incredible animals including Cranber...

Zoo News is back with a roundup of the news from the worlds of zoos and conservation!  In Zoo News, we discuss a huge breaking story out of New Jersey concerning a zoo that was supposed to be closed down, and now may not be, an update on the Columbus Zoo AZA accreditation decision, and more! In Conservation News, we're talking about a huge initiative by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, sw...