That's WILD! A Little Rock Zoo Podcast

The hosts of the That's Wild podcast, Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock, spent this episode debunking famous animal myths and exploring weird wildlife facts: Susan kicks off the trivia by asking, "Supposedly sharks can smell a single drop of blood from miles away," but Joy corrects this, noting that "the single drop from miles away is a little far-fetched... it's a little heavily exaggerated. So it's n...

This episode of the That's Wild podcast features host Susan Altrui, host Joy Matlock, MC Dustin Bean, and their guest, Dr. Raffaela Lesch. Dr. Lesch is a biology professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock who specializes in animal behavior, domestication, urbanization, and bioacoustics. The conversation explores how wild animals adapt and change physically when living close to humans....

his podcast is from the That's Wild series, specifically Season 2, Episode 4, titled "The Science of Cute." Hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock from the Little Rock Zoo talk with resident animal expert Hannah about the science behind why we find baby animals cute. The episode features a live appearance by Bert, a three-month-old African penguin chick, and provides updates on various successful bree...

The episode kicks off with Susan and Joy sharing an incredible viral video of a diabetic support dog detecting its owner's shifting blood sugar levels from all the way across the street. This remarkable display of animal senses prompts a deeper conversation about how zoo veterinarians must routinely rely on intuitive care, but in reverse—interpreting the silent signals of animals that are experts...

In this episode of the That’s Wild podcast, Little Rock Zoo Director Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock dive into the complex world of "zoo matchmaking". They are joined by Debbie Thompson, the Zoo's Curator of Carnivores and Primates, who explains that managing animal populations is a sophisticated process involving long-term planning and detailed genetic histories. Thompson, who has been with the zoo...

In this episode of That’s Wild , hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock dive into the prehistoric history of Arkansas with special guest Dr. Jessica Scott , a paleoecologist. They explore how the state’s landscape has shifted from deep oceans to dinosaur-inhabited shorelines and eventually to the age of mammoths. Key Discussion Points Paleoecology Explained : Dr. Scott defines paleoecology as the stud...

In this episode, Little Rock Zoo Director Susan Altrui and co-host Joy Matlock interview Rex Nelson, Senior Editor and columnist at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . They explore Rex's deep-rooted history as an Arkansan storyteller and discuss how the state's natural beauty and cultural attractions serve as a heart for the community. Key Discussion Points Wildlife and Safety: The hosts discuss a rec...

In this episode, hosts Dustin Bean and Joy Matlock are joined by Hannah Baker to discuss the often-overlooked world of bugs. The conversation features a special appearance by Miguel, a three-banded armadillo, to illustrate the direct link between mammals and their insect-based diets. Key Discussion Points Meet Miguel the Armadillo: Miguel is a three-banded armadillo , a species from South America...

In this episode of That’s Wild , hosts Dustin Bean and Joy Matlock go to "Bug Court" with guest Jessica Briley, the Conservation Education Manager for the Little Rock Zoo. They discuss the zoo's upcoming "Bugtopia" exhibit, which features giant animatronic insects and arachnids. Jessica provides fascinating facts about the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, the Asian Forest Scorpion, the Goliath Bird E...

In this episode of That’s Wild , we go behind the scenes at the Little Rock Zoo with Erin Dauenhauer-Decota , Assistant Curator for Primates, to explore the complex world of Great Apes and the personal "calling" of conservation. From the hilarious personalities of chimpanzees like Mikey to the "original PSL" (the Pygmy Slow Loris), Erin shares what it’s really like to manage one of the most divers...

In this episode of That’s Wild , hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock celebrate the "Gentle Giants" of the animal kingdom. The conversation starts with a lighthearted look at the calming effects of capybaras—the world’s largest rodents—and the exciting news that they will be returning to the Little Rock Zoo in late 2025. The episode then dives deep into the world of elephants with special guest Kris...

In this episode of That’s Wild , hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock take a nostalgic trip back to the 1970s and 80s to explore a pivotal era of transformation at the Little Rock Zoo. Joined by Arkansas broadcasting legend and former radio DJ Craig O’Neal. The team dives into the history of the "Bring Down the Bars" campaign—a community-led movement that revolutionized animal habitats by replacing...

In this episode of That’s Wild , hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock go behind the scenes of the Little Rock Zoo’s massive transformation: Project Zoo: Wildly Reimagined . Joined by Ben Beggs , President of Flintco Inc. , the team discusses the unique challenges and fascinating details involved in building world-class animal habitats. Highlights from this episode include: Building for Animals vs. H...

Hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock speak with Little Rock Zoo's Conservation and Research Coordinator, Dr. Laura Bernstein-Curtis , about sloth bears and international conservation. The episode starts with "Wild News": celebrating the hopeful increase in the endangered Red Wolf population (supported by AZA zoos) and the rediscovery of the sailback hound shark , highlighting the vulnerability of mi...

Hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock team up with zookeeper Hannah Baker for a playful but powerful thought experiment: What if humans had the superpowers of animals? From cheetah-speed sprints to gorilla strength and kangaroo jumps, this imaginative episode uses humor to explore real conservation issues hiding beneath the “what if” scenarios. But the conversation turns deeper: What if accredited zo...

Summary Hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock celebrate conservation comeback stories and the teamwork behind them. Through a game of Two Truths and a Lie and a visit from zookeeper Hannah Baker (and ambassador ferret Hagrid ), this episode explores how AZA-accredited zoos, government agencies, scientists, and communities combine tools like captive breeding, reintroduction, habitat protection, diseas...

Hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock explore how local actions support global conservation. From hummingbird migrations to endangered pancake tortoises, this episode pulls back the curtain on AZA-accredited zoo work, Species Survival Plans (SSPs), community events like Drink Beer, Save Turtles , and simple steps listeners can take to protect wildlife. Zookeeper Hannah Baker brings Short Stack the pa...

Episode Summary: Hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock kick off with a fun audio quiz—identifying Siamang apes, ponies, capuchin monkeys, geese, and alligators by their calls—then dive into how That’s Wild animals are cared for. Learn about AZA accreditation, Species Survival Plans (SSPs), and the day‑to‑day enrichment and husbandry that keep zoo residents thriving. Zookeeper Hannah brings Iris the b...

Episode Summary: Hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock explore the “superpowers” that let wildlife hide, survive, and sustain ecosystems. From master camouflagers in the upcoming Hidden Corners exhibit to the semi-permeable skin of a smooth-sided toad, learn how animals blend in, breathe through skin, and even regenerate limbs. Zookeeper Hannah introduces a native Amazonian toad ambassador to demonst...

Hosts Susan Altruy and Joy Matlock dive into the astonishing world of lizards—exploring Komodo dragons, bearded dragons, and Arkansas’s eastern collared lizard “dragons.” Learn what makes Komodos fearsome predators and how local zoos breed and release native species to restore Ozark glade ecosystems. Zookeeper Hannah also introduces Steve the bearded dragon, a laid-back ambassador who helps famili...

Join hosts Susan Altruy and Joy Matlock on That’s Wild Podcast as they explore the myriad ways animals communicate—through dance, color changes, smells, and vocalizations. From honeybee waggle dances to skunk foot stomps, squid chromatophores, and the hoots of a great horned owl named Lincoln, this episode reveals how nonverbal and verbal signals shape survival and social bonds in the wild. Zookee...

Episode Summary: Hosts Susan Altruy and Joy Matlock explore how animals secure food—through foraging, hunting, and special tactics—and how habitat loss endangers those sources. Zookeeper Hannah then presents Monty, a Ball Python, to demonstrate snake adaptations for locating and subduing prey. Learn simple actions you can take to protect natural food chains. In this episode, you’ll learn: Foraging...

Emcee Dustin Bean, host Susan Altrui, and co‑host Joy Matlock dive into animal intelligence and tool use on this episode of That’s Wild Podcast —brought to you by the Arkansas Zoological Foundation and produced by the Little Rock Zoo. From octopuses wielding coconut shells to crows bending wires, learn how creatures across the globe employ inventive strategies to survive. Plus, special guest Hanna...

Emcee Dustin Bean welcomes you to That’s Wild Podcast , produced by the Little Rock Zoo and sponsored by the Arkansas Zoological Foundation. Hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock explore the world’s wildest “parenting” strategies—from alligator moms ferrying babies in their mouths to seahorse dads carrying eggs. You’ll hear how orangutans bond for eight years, why cuckoo birds outsource childcare, an...

Join emcees Susan Altrui, Joy Matlock, and Dustin Bean on That’s Wild Podcast as they dive into the intriguing world of sleep and animal dormancy. In this episode—brought to you by the Arkansas Zoological Foundation and produced by the Little Rock Zoo—the hosts explore the science behind hibernation, brumation, and estivation. From the ultra-slow heartbeats of hibernating bears to the unique adapt...