Just the Zoo of Us

Join Ellen & special guest, entomologist and animal scientist Shakara Maggitt, for a review of the gentle giants of the insect world: phasmids! You may know them as stick bugs, leaf insects or any of their other many common names.  We discuss learning to love bugs, what makes the abundantly diverse stick bug family so weird and wonderful, and even why you might want to consider incorporating bugs into your own culinary repertoire.Follow Shakara on Twitter or Instagram!Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!Cover photo: Chris Rogers via Getty images

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen wallows in the unique charm of the babirusa & Christian gives us a look into the mysteries of the Greenland shark. We discuss teeth mutiny, Icelandic food, and life in the slow lane. If this podcast has had an impact on you or your life, we want to hear from you! Send in your story or just tell us what this show means to you by emailing memberstories@maximumfun.org OR leave a voice message at (323) 601-8719. We’re working on some special episodes coming up soon, and you just might hear your message shared on the podcast! Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!Cover photo: Ellen Weatherford (babirusa), dottedhippo via Getty images (Greenland shark)

Join Ellen & special guest, fellow animal science podcaster and Cool Bug Appreciator Katie Goldin, for a review of the spectacular and delectably devious cuckoo wasps! We discuss what makes these glittering jewels of the insect world such perfectly crafted little menaces terrorizing a wasp nest near you in this exhilarating exposé of espionage, exploitation, and exoskeletons.Katie Goldin is the host of Creature Feature, which can be found wherever you get podcasts. You can also follow Katie on Twitter!Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!Cover photo: Ines Carrara, via Getty images

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's especially odoriferous episode, Christian gives high marks to the Egyptian vulture and Ellen gives props to the grandstanding, handstanding eastern spotted skunk. We discuss where the pharaoh's chicken ranks in the scavenging pecking order,  how to ACTUALLY get rid of the smell from a skunk spray using chemistry,  and why it's important to appreciate even our stinkiest friends.Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!Cover photos: Byrdyak via Getty images (Egyptian vulture) & Weber via Getty images (spotted skunk)

Join Ellen & special guest, conservation biologist Dr. Christine Wilkinson, for a review of the oft-maligned powerhouses: hyenas! We discuss the diversity of the hyena family, eating bones, girlbossing, how pop culture has missed the mark on hyena representation, and compassionate conservation.Follow Christine on Twitter and check out their website for more!Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!Cover photo: David O'Brien via Getty images

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen hangs out with the slow loris & Christian observes leg day with the southern cassowary. We discuss armpit alchemy, the pitfalls of cute animal videos, rumbles in the jungle, and real life dinosaurs.Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!Cover photos: warmer via Getty images (slow loris), Julien Viry via Getty images (cassowary)

Join Ellen & special guest Tharusha Wijewardena for a review of the charming and endangered Blanding's turtle. We discuss what to do if you see a turtle crossing the road, what cartoons get right and wrong about turtles, the perils of longevity and cute fluffy predators, and the conservation work that’s going into helping our tough-shelled friends.Follow Tharusha on Twitter and learn more about the Headstarting Project over at the Toronto Zoo's website.Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!Cover photo: Caverhill via Getty images 

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian drops in on green iguanas and Ellen reels in the blue marlin. Topics include pendulous dewlaps, frozen lizards falling from trees, the powerhouse of the cell, and flailing knives.Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!Cover photos: Christo Goosen via Pexels (green iguana) & Kelly Dalling via Getty Images (blue marlin)

Join Ellen & special guest, animal trainer Aeralyn Rudnick, for a review of the relentlessly charming turacos! They are here to tell us all about what it’s like to work with these spectacular little goofballs, how to win their hearts over with the power of berries, baby bird glow-ups and the science behind their rainbow of brilliantly pigmented colors that really do make them actual living paintings.Follow Aeralyn's work on TikTok and Instagram, and find more information at their website!Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!Cover photo courtesy of Aeralyn Rudnick

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen chills out with icefish & Christian tells us why the wombat really shines. Topics include Crystal Pepsi, secret fish cities, poop cubes and blacklights.Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!Cover photo: keiichihiki via Getty images (wombat), Marrabbio2 via Wikipedia (icefish, Chionodraco hamatus)

Join Ellen & conservation biologist Stephanie Martinez for a review of the little deceptively adorable critters tunneling through the grasslands: ground squirrels! We talk about the hazards of field work, sleeping your problems away, the science of splooting, jiu jitsu matches, squirrel romance, tippy taps and furry little neighborhood watch programs.Follow Stephanie on Twitter!Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!Cover photo: Pancaketom via Getty images

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian tells us how the bull shark gets fresh by staying salty & Ellen takes a stab at the knife-faced green heron. We discuss Jaws, the atlatl, and zoooOOOP!Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!Cover photo: Divepic, wildpix645 (via Getty images)

Join Ellen & marine biologist Rosie Steinberg for a review of some beautiful animals that you might not have even known were animals: carnation corals! We talk about the living Ship of Theseus, what a coral smells like, intense turf wars being fought in super slow motion, and life as a hivemind of squishy clones.Follow Rosie on Twitter!Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!Cover photo: johnandersonphoto via Getty Images 

Join Ellen & reptile keeper Dominique DiFalco for a review of the fabulously lashed crested gecko! Learn all about the joys of loving and caring for reptiles, the mind-blowing physics that keeps geckos clinging even to smooth glass, and what makes these wide-eyed, velvety soft lizards such special little friends.Follow along with Dominique's work on Facebook (her group is currently on pause for the holidays but will be back soon) and Instagram!Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!Cover photo:  sue29, via Getty Images

Join Ellen and special guest, science communicator & podcaster Ashley Hamer, for a review of the towering leaf-eaters of the African savannahs: the northern giraffe! We discuss how giraffes keep their tongues from getting sunburnt, built-in compression socks, the perils of necking, and more.Follow Ashley on Twitter and check out her other work on her website!Cover photo: Leo Mercon, via Getty Images

Join Ellen & special guest bat enthusiast Nate Marshall for a review of the not-so-sinister vampire bats!  In this episode, we discuss leaf noses, Pope tweets, bat friendships, and more.Follow Nate on Twitter and check out his podcast for more bat content!Cover photo: belizar73,  Getty images

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen squares up with the formidable tarantula hawk & Christian gives the buzz on vulture bees.  We discuss why you should give the tarantula hawk plenty of personal space, their video game boss fight strategy, and putting meat back on the menu for some very interesting little bees.

Join Ellen & special guest Carly Haywood for a review of the scaly, pig-snouted friends of the underbrush: nine-banded armadillos! In this episode, we discuss whether you should be afraid of getting leprosy from an armadillo, what “pancaking” is and why they do it, and little tiny clone parades scuttling through the underbrush. You can follow Carly on Twitter at @MotherOfDasypus :) Cover photo: Svetlana Foote, via Getty images

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian brings the acorn woodpecker to trial for its rampant vandalism & Ellen goes for a ride in a time machine with the West African lungfish. Along the way, we discuss the physics of using your face as a jackhammer, snot cocoons, and Sonic hedgehog. Cover photos: Luis Echeverri Urrea via Getty images (woodpeckers), voltan1 via Getty images (lungfish)

Join Ellen & special guest, science writer & naturalist Rosemary Mosco, for a review of the little grey guy strutting down a street near you: the pigeon! We discuss the history of why pigeons live alongside us, how they evade the clutches of even the world’s fastest predator, ways pigeon couples keep the romance alive, and the joy of appreciating these metropolitan doves. You can find Rosemary's work, including her brand new book A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching at her website: rosemarymosco.com Cover photo by Junichi Yamada, via Getty Images.