The Pondcast

Anthony, Amanda and Steve discuss the reports of a recent a troubling and unprecedented confiscation in Madagascar.

Anthony, Amanda and Steve tackle all sorts of topics in this episode, including the late Steve Irwin, Lion Fish, and Anthony's new book. The main focus of the show is discussion around a new trend in turtle values, which reflect and drive a growing demand in particular species.

Anthony and Steve have a conversation with Amanda and their guest Jordan Gray, as they cruise the road in Georgia looking for Diamondback Terrapins in need of protection. Jordan is a turtle expert who specializes in Diamondbacks, as well as education and outreach.

Amanda joins Anthony to discuss the merits of both "Hands On" and "Hands Off" husbandry techniques. The conversation includes applications to both education and conservation. So, join Anthony and Amanda for a great conversation about husbandry and "taming" reptiles.

The newest tTR staff member, Amanda, joins The Pondcast team to talk about some of her experiences and those who have influenced her personal mission. The topics covered were far and wide as the conversation took John and Amanda wherever it pleased. Come join in the fun of getting to know Amanda and also see just how bad John and Tony are at matching the "pet name" to the species.

Anthony and Steve pull a score of books off their shelves and talk about some of their favorite books about turtles. As Anthony and Steve run through these books, they also discuss their experiences with several turtle personalities they've gotten to meet over the last year, or those who have impacted their work.

Steve Rozhon subs in for John to talk chelonian health issues with Anthony, specifically the death of one of the few remaining Rafetus swinhoei and the recent listing of 201 salamander species on the Lacey Act's injurious wildlife listing due to the perceived threat of Bsal fungus. Steve R, Anthony, and Steve E also took questions from listeners on a wide range of topics from turtle farming to get...

Anthony and Steve fly without John and have a conversation focused around 10 of the species featured in the 2016 Turtle and Tortoise Calendar. This fun conversation moves from talking about the personality of a species (even individual turtles), to its status in the wild, and its status in conservation programs and private collections.

Anthony, John, and Steve focus this episode around Anthony's trip to the Turtle & Tortoise Preservation Group's conference in Phoenix. John, despite being under the weather, is his usual comedic self. Like always, they start the episode with some fascinating articles that we've found over the past month.

Anthony talks about his trip to Florida, including a behind-the-scenes visit to Gatorland, a visit to the Chelonian Research Institute to meet Dr. Pritchard, and speaking at the Clearwater chapter of the Florida Turtle and Tortoise Society; Steve recaps his trip to Tucson, Arizona to attend the TSA Conference; and John talks about the opportunity he had to swim with sea turtles and sharks in Beliz...

John and Anthony talk about our obligations to the hobby, particularly how we have an obligation to be the best we can and do the most we can to represent ourselves and other quality chelonian keepers as well as we possibly can. A moment you won't want to miss is a "The Top Ten Classified Ad Blunders That Make Us All Look Bad" as John does his best David Letterman in tribute to the final episode o...

Anthony man-crushes on our staff member, Ben. John and Anthony also highlight this TED talk from Jon Mooallem , a new blog from Anthony , and spent some time talking about everyone's favorite, tiny, elusive turtle .

Most of the discussion from your hosts, John and Anthony, centered on a controversial topic -- "If you had to pick one species to go extinct to help save other species, which species would you pick?" This topic of discussion was inspired by this article on the Devil's Hole Pupfish .

Kévin Labille joined Anthony and Steve to talk about African Chelonian Institute, which launches their first website on Monday, March 9th. Please go visit the page and sign up for their newsletter! We're excited to partner with them in the development of their new site! Kévin also challenged Anthony to identify the species in their logo - watch to see how Anthony fared, find out what species it is...

A very special guest, good friend Chris Leone, joins John and Anthony for this episode. We talked about keeping turtles and tortoises in colder climates successfully, as well as the Western Hermann's Tortoise Studbook , and many other related topics. Please visit his websites, Garden State Tortoise and Hermanni Haven to learn more about Chris, Garden State Tortoise, and Hermann's Tortoises. Also,...

Andrew Hermes of Arizona Tortoise Compound joins John and Anthony to talk about how he successfully built a business focused on raising tortoises.

Guest Kévin Labille joins John and Anthony to talk about the Chelonians of Africa. Topics include: Pelusios seychellensis never existed; Cyclanorbis elegans (Nubian Flapshell Turtle) is nearly extinct, but almost noone seems to notice; Pelomedusa being split into 10 species from 1; Lack of interest in African freshwater turtles by American keepers; and the work now being done by Tomas Diagne and t...

John and Tony bring you the The Pondcast, Episode 11: Prehistoric Connection. This show was created to tackle topics related to herpetoculture, in an educational manner, for hobbyists who are looking for some discussion related to their unique interests. John and Tony have decades of combined hands on experience with turtles, tortoises, lizards, snakes, and amphibians. Conservation, field herping,...

John and Tony bring you the The Pondcast, Episode 10: #GoGrey. This show was created to tackle topics related to herpetoculture, in an educational manner, for hobbyists who are looking for some discussion related to their unique interests. John and Tony have decades of combined hands on experience with turtles, tortoises, lizards, snakes, and amphibians. Conservation, field herping, legislature, l...

John and Tony bring you the The Pondcast, Episode 9 – The Pondcast Goes Live! This show was created to tackle topics related to herpetoculture, in an educational manner, for hobbyists who are looking for some discussion related to their unique interests. John and Tony have decades of combined hands on experience with turtles, tortoises, lizards, snakes, and amphibians. Conservation, field herping,...

John and Tony bring you the The Pondcast, Episode 8 - Studbooks and SSPs. This show was created to tackle topics related to herpetoculture, for hobbyists who are looking for some discussion related to their unique interests. John and Tony have decades of combined hands on experience with turtles, tortoises, lizards, snakes, and amphibians. Conservation, field herping, legislature, literature, capt...

John and Tony bring you the The Pondcast, Episode 7 – Conservation Daydreaming. This show was created to tackle topics related to herpetoculture, for hobbyists who are looking for some discussion related to their unique interests. John and Tony have decades of combined hands on experience with turtles, tortoises, lizards, snakes, and amphibians. Conservation, field herping, legislature, literature...

John and Tony bring you the The Pondcast, Episode 6 - Morals/Ethics. This show was created to tackle topics related to herpetoculture, for hobbyists who are looking for some discussion related to their unique interests. John and Tony have decades of combined hands on experience with turtles, tortoises, lizards, snakes, and amphibians. Conservation, field herping, legislature, literature, captive h...

John and Tony bring you the The Pondcast, Episode 5 - Southeast Asia. This show was created to tackle topics related to herpetoculture, for hobbyists who are looking for some discussion related to their unique interests. John and Tony have decades of combined hands on experience with turtles, tortoises, lizards, snakes, and amphibians. Conservation, field herping, legislature, literature, captive...

John and Tony bring you the The Pondcast, Episode 4 - What Might the Future Hold? This show was created to tackle topics related to herpetoculture, for hobbyists who are looking for some discussion related to their unique interests. John and Tony have decades of combined hands on experience with turtles, tortoises, lizards, snakes, and amphibians. Conservation, field herping, legislature, literatu...