Zoo-notable

We're celebrating Earth Month throughout April to promote environmental activism and conservation action. Today we dive into Al Gore's follow-up to his Inconvenient Truth with his 2009 book Our Choice. Learn more about how to make the connections between our conservation efforts and seeing success in our own lives by visiting me on ZooFit.net , and support our work on Patreon . Other Zoo-notables...

Sandi Schwartz has written the book I dream of writing myself. So naturally, I was super excited to have her on Zoo-notable to talk about her new book coming out May 3, Finding Eco-Happiness. Raise calmer, happier, healthier children with these fun, hands-on nature activities for parents and kids to enjoy together. Even if you don't have children, this book is incredible for helping you deal with...

This is a special episode, talking to author Bonni Goldberg about her new book, The Write Balance. We discuss how percolating leads to exceptional writing and productivity (this is not JUST for writers), some scary and helpful exercises Bonni encourages us to take to help with revisions and going public, and how to share our creative spirit without breaking your balance. Connect with Bonni and gra...

Jan spent more than 30 years as a teacher, and shares her insights as she started her journey, and ended her journey as a teacher for youth. Jan shares what it means to be a teacher, how to be a good teacher, and her favorite moments as a teacher. Grab a copy yourself, connect with Mrs. Wright, and share your thoughts with the author: DearMrsWright.com Give the best gift an author can receive, lea...

Sy Montgomery is an award-winning author who lives in New Hampshire with their border collie Thurber and a flock of hens, known as the ladies. You can visit her online at symontgomery.com , on Instagram @sytheauthor , and on Twitter @sytheauthor. "Understanding someone who belongs to another species can be transformative. No one knows this better than author, naturalist, and adventurer Sy Montgome...

I'm revisiting an older Zoo-notable with A Year of Living Kindly by Donna Cameron, because, right now, I feel the world could use a little kindness, compassion, and love. You can view the old interview with Donna on YouTube Check out her book and grab your own copy: https://ayearoflivingkindly.com/the-book/ And find out more ways we can spread kindness around the world: - Project Hope - World Cent...

In this special Zoo-notable, I speak with author Seán Dwyer and his remarkable story A Quest for Tears, about surviving and learning to thrive after a traumatic brain injury. We discuss his Seán 2.0, and how, after a traumatic life event, we will never be the same person we were, and how this is OKAY.  If you are struggling with TBI, medical issues, or life events, know that you aren't alone,...

Celebrating a true conservation hero in every sense of the word, I'm delving into the book Wildlife Warrior about the life and tragic death of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, by Richard Shears. We discuss ideas such as BEING passionate about your work rather than just following your passion, meeting people where they are at, awareness, and your legacy to change the world. Want more books about...

It's time to upgrade what we think about love, and celebrate positive connections with others to create happiness, hopefulness, and health in our lives and those around us! Learn more about Love 2.0, and Barbara's amazing research into what she calls our "supreme emotion": https://www.positivityresonance.com/ Find this book and more at your local library: https://www.worldcat.org/libraries Support...

Celebrating Black History Month with my favorite conservation hero, Wangari Maathai. She is the Nobel Peace Prize winning founder of the Green Belt Movement, and an activist for women's rights as well as environmental protection. Wangari is also where I first heard the remarkable Hummingbird story that shaped a lot of my conservation behavior, including my ideas about conservation fitness (connect...

When I heard of Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh's passing on January 22, I knew I needed to share some of his wisdom as a way to honor this wonderful teacher in mindfulness and peace. Miracle of Mindfulness is one of his earliest works, and packs a lot of wisdom in a short amount of pages. Find this book and others by Thich Nhat Hanh at your local library: https://www.worldcat.org/librari...

We're discussing the king of self-improvement books today with The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. There's a reason this is the #1 self-improvement book in the world, it is chock-full of wisdom gems. I'm sharing the big ideas that jumped out at me the most while reading this incredible tome. Grab a copy here or visit your local library Be a part of ZooFit Tribe and support al...

It may not be your typical Zoo-notable, but Words to Live By is still a fascinating and insightful book that can change how we view meditation, and help us reap all the potential benefits!  Want to learn more? Grab a copy of Words to Live By Learn more ways to improve your life with Optimize FOR FREE Join the ZooFit Pride on Patreon for bonus material, including bonus insights on Words to Liv...

Have goals and big dreams for 2022? Then THIS is definitely the Zoo-notable for you. We're going to delve into the new science of motivation so we can rock out our resolutions, goals, and hopes for the coming year.  Gabrielle Oettingen has been a researcher on motivation for more than 20 years, and her book Rethinking Positive Thinking will change your life as you WOOP your life. Interested i...

For this special Christmastime episode of Zoo-notable, I'm sharing my absolutely favorite book series of all time, the Harry Potter books by JK Rowling.  This series is one of the best-selling series of all time, and for a good reason. They are masterfully written and tell one helluva a hero's story. Rather than pick one book within the series, I chose an idea from each of the books. Let me k...

How do you get your dream job, or achieve success in all your endeavors? You get so good "they" can't ignore you! Let's dive into this insightful book discussing Craftsman Mindset, Deep Work, and gaining the attention you seek in your career, life, and fitness. So much goodness, but if you would like to learn more about Optimize, and sign up for FREE lifetime membership , check it out here. If you...

This was hands down one of my favorite interviews I've done all year. Lynn is an inspiration to all those who wish to dedicate their lives to caring for animals and inspiring conservation of endangered species. Throughout her zoo career, Lynn Killam has experienced everything from witnessing the birth of a baby orangutan to chasing down an escaped tapir in the middle of the night. She has spent fo...

It's NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and I thought I'd share some deep wisdom from a master on the craft of writing, Stephen King and his fantastic memoir On Writing.  Find this book and other great books from Zoo-notable at your local library: https://www.worldcat.org/libraries Support ZooFit and future projects and stay updated with exciting offers and opportunities: Join the ZooFi...

Clare Meeker is a great friend to ZooFit, having written books about Woodland Park Zoo, where I spent 6 wonderful years caring for animals. Clare is a children's author of several books. She stopped by Zoo-notable to discuss her AWARD-WINNING BOOK Growing Up Gorilla . We talked about gorillas, conservation, and how to turn your passions into meaningful endeavors. Want to learn more, or get Growing...

In honor of Orangutan Caring Week (because Awareness isn't enough, we have to CARE, folks!) I finally got my hands on a copy of Planet Palm by Jocelyn C. Zuckerman. Let's help our "people of the forest" by learning all we can about how our consumer choices impact our health, other humans, the environment, and our wonderful wildlife.  Want to grab your own copy of Planet Palm to learn more? Ch...

I cannot speak highly-enough about Brené Brown and her work to be vulnerable, courageous, and transform our lives-- to shine bright as radiant exemplars. She is an amazing person, and her latest book Braving the Wilderness exemplifies her passion and life's work. There are so many resources to look more into Brené's work, but here is just a sampling:  Ted Talk: The Power of Vulnerability Opti...

Merlin Tuttle is the real life Batman. His mission to save bats around the world has led on extraordinary journeys, making friends along the way from some of the most unlikely allies. His book The Secret Lives of Bats details some of those adventures, and shares interesting insight on these mysterious and misunderstood creatures of the night. Want to learn more: Visit merlintuttle.org for more inf...

What could go wrong if you do backflips on the school bus? How exactly does a potato cannon become a flamethrower? Are bananaberries real? The answers to these questions and so much more await you inside this hilarious collection of short stories from the life of Chris Loper. It’s a lighthearted mix of '90s nostalgia, teenage hijinks, and mountain adventures, with a few actual life lessons thrown...

Does your fear hold you back from accomplishing your dreams and being the best version of yourself? Let Do It Scared show how to conquer your fears by naming them, taking action, and become the hero or heroine of your own story. Like this Zoo-Notable? You'll LOVE the book-- grab a copy of it here Previous Zoo-Notables: Erin Brockovich Superman's Not Coming The Flight of the Hummingbird Tal Ben-Sha...

The Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change is a well-informed and easy-to-understand look at what climate change is and isn't, how to discuss it with others, and the impact it has on the planet. We look at Big Ideas such as Living Like Americans, Tragedy of the Commons, and Finding Your Way to Make a Difference.   Find this book and other influential books from Zoo-notable at your local...