The All Creatures Podcast

To be able to impact global change it is taking education across many fronts to highlight the plight of our environment and endangered species. Educator Nicholas Petryk is one of those who has made it a mission in his life to make a difference. He shares his passion is wildlife and education. From his bio Nick graduated from Florida State University and works to educate the masses on animals and their conservation. You can learn more about Nick and Animal Tales by visiting their website HERE Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organi

Fossa are Madagascar's top predator. Yet, they are slipping away and headed towards extinction. This week we are joined with Brittany Behler who is the Fossa Species Survival Plan Program Leader and Studbook Keeper. She works with the Blank Park Zoo in Iowa and joins us to chat about everything Fossa. These animals and many like them on Madagascar need our help and understanding. Well worth a listen. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are

As Chris moves house, we wanted to release this wonderful episode on Fossa. Also look out for our interview with a Fossa expert next week. Not many are aware of this little well known predator from Madagascar, the Fossa. These cat-like animals are the dominant carnivore on the large island of Madagascar. They also are heading towards extinction as 90% of Madagascar’s forests have disappeared. We had so much fun researching and recording this episode. We know you will fall in love with this crazy critter. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conser

Making the rounds in social media are adorable videos of Marbled Polecats visiting soldiers in the trenches of Ukraine. It had us thinking, what is their story and where do they range. First, our heats go out to all those affected by the war, or any war for that matter. Not to mention to the untold devastation to all the animals in the area! Including the Marbled Polecat. These animals actually have a massive range from Mongolia and China, all the way to Eastern Europe. Yet, they are disappearing in much of their range. Like any mustelid, Marbled Polecats are full of personality, tenacity, and just plain toughness. Another great creature to learn about. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you ca

Imagine trying to set the world record for spotting the most species of birds in one year? Of the ~10,000+ known species of birds, how many do you think you could spot? Well Arjan Dwarshuis saw nearly 7000 species in a single year. He set the world record and continues to spread awareness of birds and environmental conservation. From the Netherlands, Arjan has inspired many thousands, if not millions, with his incredible journey around the world. Starting from Europe, he tells his story and just how he did it. Such a fun and inspiring interview! You can learn more about Arjan and his book The Big Year That Flew By at his website HERE We also welcome a special cohost, Jessie Golden, who has inspired not only Chris, but so many others to take up the hobby of birding. He joins in and we hope you welcome him back. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings wit

The largest invertebrates ever to live are squid. The two largest are the Giant Squid and Colossal Squid. This week we highlight what makes these giants of the deep so special. Squid as cephalopods are some of the craziest animals in the natural world. Their physiology often defies description and while we still have so much to learn, the Giant and Colossal squid are already teaching us much. You do not want to miss this episode and listen to learn more about these incredible animals. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations

To follow up on our interview with the Brevard Zoo, we are revisiting our Leatherback Sea Turtle Episode. This sea turtle dwarfs their distant relatives and can reach over 6.5 feet (2 meters) and weigh nearly a ton (900 kg). They are enormous! Not to mention they are one of the deepest diving animals (outside of fish), among many other amazing facts. Sadly, sea turtle populations continue to decline and we discuss this more in depth in this episode. We also highlight conservation efforts to protect them around the globe. We learned quite a bit about these amazing animals and hope you do too.  Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organization

The Brevard Zoo has a Special Sea Turtle Healing Center that rescues and rehabilitates some of our oceans most endangered sea creatures. Namely, sea turtles. Taken directly from their website which can can access HERE, they state: Brevard Zoo, in partnership with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society (STPS), opened its Sea Turtle Healing Center in April 2014. The facility includes two separate holding facilities with a total of 14 tanks ranging in size from six to 12 feet in diameter. This facility is not open to the public. Because the beaches of Brevard County are among the world’s most important nesting areas for sea turtles and the largest in the United States, a significant number of animals are found with injuries and illnesses each year. About 100 patients are seen at the Healing Center each year. Patients are brought to the Healing Center for a variety of reasons—they may be recovering from a boat strike, interaction with human debris such as fishing line or plastic, or debilitation. In addition to prov

Gray whales have an incredible story to tell. They also are a species that demonstrates clearly what is happening to our oceans with climate change. Once nearly hunted to extinction and knocked out of the Atlantic Ocean, Gray Whales were on the brink. They are a model species for conservation as they went from around 1000 whales to nearly 25,000 whales in 2016. However, with a rapidly changing climate and a diminishing food supply due to their incredibly unique ecologically niche, Gray Whales have suffered a setback. In 2019, thousands of Gray Whales perished and now their population is around 15,00 whales. Yet, there is hope and we do bring that up in this week's podcast. A special whale to help us promote our Plastic Free July. Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast

As we continue to celebrate our oceans in July we welcome to the podcast shark scientist and conservationist Gibbs Kuguru. Gibbs is a National Geographic Explorer who uses scientific tools to understand sharks. Working with great white sharks at a cage diving company, he has honed his shark wrangling and seafaring skills and applied them to several shark species including hammerheads, threshers, blues, and tiger sharks. Kuguru is using his research to better understand the unique elements that shape the populations of sharks in the blue wilds of the world. As a conservationist, he advocates for the stewardship of nature where people use our planetary resources in a sustainable way that enhances biodiversity in our environment. Kuguru is currently completing his Ph.D. in genomics at Wageningen University. Gibbs is one of the scientists featured in this months National Geographic Sharkfest. You can check that out HERE You can learn more about Gibbs Kuguru HERE Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We

Every July we focus on the oceans and participate in the Plastic Free July. Please join us at this link HERE to join our "All Creatures Podcast" team and learn about ways you can reduce your own plastic consumption. It really helps our oceans and all the creatures that inhabit it. We have another great interview coming your way next week on sharks with a focus on the Great White Shark. Look for that and enjoy this oldie but goodie episode on Great White Sharks. By far the most iconic fish, the Great White Shark, was made a legend by the movie Jaws. Yet, it was a play on the strongest human emotion, fear, that made this creature on of the most infamous of modern time. This week we jump into it with Great Whites and put to rest their fearsome reputation. This largest predatory fish has some incredible history and physiology, and this episode is not one to miss. Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which spec

Every July we focus on "Plastic Free July" to support our oceans and all the creatures that inhabit it. We ask that you join us and join the All Creatures Podcast team at https://plasticfree.ecochallenge.org/ . or click this link here >>>>>>> LINK Join us to help and learn more how you can make an impact on conserving our oceans. To get started we are thrilled to be interviewing Dr. Yannis Papastamatiou who is a shark scientist featured in this year's Shark Fest on National Geographic. Yannis has also been featured on National Geographic in When Sharks Attack 360 and Sharkcano: Hawaii. He is an Associate Professor at Florida International University (FIU) in the Department of Biological Sciences. He earned his B.S. in Oceanography from University of Southampton, M.S. from California State University, and Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii. Credited in countless publications and on networks like National Geographic and BBC, he has made big strides in the shark research community. You can learn more about Na

When most think of lions, their thoughts turn to the African plains with a pride of lions talking their prey. Yet, most are unware that lions once roamed most of southwestern Asia and even in parts of Europe. While these Asiatic (sub-European) lions are mostly extinct in much of their former range, in one area of India they have survived and now thrive. Once down to maybe a dozen lions left, thanks to focused efforts from India's government and conservation organizations, the Asiatic Lion is making a comeback. While they are still classified as "Endangered," they now number near 700 animals left, many in the wild. This is their story and how they have made a comeback. Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we re

Bearded vultures are one of the few animal species that survive on diets primarily of bone. How they do it fascinated us this week and know it will blow your mind away. These incredible birds also serve critical roles in the biomes they inhabit. In fact, all vulture species have proven time and again they are very critical to maintaining a healthy biome. Sadly, nearly all old-world vulture species are facing extinction. We highlight the plight of the Bearded vulture and all the other vulture species that are desperate need of help if they are to survive. Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every

We finally dive into our first ever episode discussing extinct species and boy is this a whopper. We welcome Dr. Darren Naish, the Chief Science Advisor for Apple TV+ groundbreaking series Prehistoric Planet. Season 1 of Prehistoric Planet aired in 2022 and all episodes of Season 2 are now airing as we release this podcast in 2023. This series looks, feels, sounds like an actual wildlife documentary on so many species that lived over 66 million years ago. We talk to Dr. Naish about how he and his fellow paleontologists surmise how these dinosaurs, reptiles, amphibians and other ancient species lived, traveled, raised their young and exhibit all the behaviors documented in this series. The series includes all your favorites like T Rex, Velociraptors, sauropods like Dreadnoughtus, and even the giant Devil Toad (Frog) Beelzebufo makes an appearance. Was such a fascinating interview and watch Prehistoric Planet, you will not be disappointed. The series deserves all the hype it is receiving from around the world.

You will want to listen to this episode! Out of all the species we have covered, the Horseshoe Crab has to be one of the most radical and is a proven survivor! Emerging nearly 480 million years ago, Horseshoe Crabs have survived multiple mass extinctions and what absolutely blew us away is, they have barely changed over all this time. What is also extremely important is, Horseshoe crabs are facing extinction! Because their biology is so radical, they have been found to have extremely valuable uses for the biotechnology industry. This is a species you want to learn more about, that you need to learn more about. We hope you really enjoy this podcast on Horseshoe Crabs. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures16 and use code creatures16 for 16 free meals plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. Wit

We are continuing on with another GIANT species, the Goliath Frog. This endangered amphibian lives in a tiny corner of Africa between the countries of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Often prized for their meat, and with pressure from deforestation of the area, it is driving this, the world's largest frog, to extinction. Amphibians are so critical to our ecosystems and we need to focus more on them and their plight. This was a real treat learning and chatting about such an incredible animal and how conservationists are fighting to save them. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures16 and use code creatures16 for 16 free meals plus free shipping! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each mon

To follow up on our Mega or BIG species this past few weeks we talk with film producers of Big Beasts, which is currently streaming on Apple TV+. Big Beasts tells the story of the some of the largest animals that inhabit our planet. Film producers Tom Hugh Jones and Bill Markham give insight into how wildlife films are made. As producers, they are the brains behind these projects. Both Tom and Bill are widely acclaimed, having produced some of the greatest wildlife documentaries of our age. From Planet Earth, to Tiny World, and now Big Beasts. It was a fascinating interview and insightful into the world of wildlife filmmaking. You can watch the trailer of Big Beasts HERE Check out Big Beasts on Apple TV+ steaming now. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off, plus your first box ships free! Please contact us at advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Following our episode on the Mekong Giant Catfish, we welcome Dr. Zeb Hogan. Dr. Hogan is well known for his National Geographic Series "Monster Fish," and for helping conservation efforts for the world's largest freshwater fish. Many of our mega freshwater fish are facing extinction and Dr. Hogan is leading the way on telling their stories. He also is a research biologist at the University of Nevada, Reno and the United Nations Convention on Migratory Species Scientific Councilor for Fish. He has a doctoral degree in ecology, was a visiting Fulbright scholar at the Environmental Risk Assessment Program at Thailand’s Chiang Mai University and has served as a World Wildlife Fund Senior Freshwater Fellow.  Dr. Hogan also has recently released a book called Chasing Giants: In Search of the World's Largest Freshwater Fish which can be found on Amazon or at your local bookstore. You can learn more about Dr. Zeb Hogan HERE Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off, plu

The critically endangered Mekong Giant Catfish is nearly extinct. This is arguably the largest freshwater fish on the planet. It set a world record for being the largest freshwater fish ever caught and rivals many other mega fish found throughout the world. This week we talk about just how amazing catfish are! From their "whiskers" or barberls, to their slimy skin, and so much more. We talk about mega fish and how many are facing extinction. We also chat about our latest interviews, one of which is Dr. Zeb Hogan, who stars in National Geographic's Megfish. We share some of his insight and wisdom as to why we need to save these incredible animals. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/creatures50 and use code creatures50 for 50% off, plus your first box ships free! Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. We now are hosting monthly Zoom meetings with them, answering questions and getting ideas on which species they want covered. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge