Nature

Just the Zoo of Us

Join us, Ellen and Christian Weatherford, while we review your favorite species of animals and rate them out of ten in the categories of effectiveness, ingenuity and aesthetics.
More information can be found at justthezooofus.com 😊
Got a species you want us to review? Submit your animal friend to us at ellen@justthezooofus.com and when we review your animal we’ll give you a shoutout! 😊
Cover art by Mrs. Brainbow (Taylor Gordon-Wood). Theme music by Louie Zong.

Latest Episodes:

270: Hazel Dormouse w/ Holly Daniels! Jan 09, 2025

Show notes

Join Ellen & special guest, ecologist and wildlife photographer Holly Daniels, for a review of a real small wonder: the hazel dormouse. This extra-cozy episode pairs well with curling up in a soft comfy nest as we discuss fluffy tails, treetop snoozing, charming little forest bridges, exploding nests, the joy of finding beauty in your own backyard, and so much more.

Links:

Follow Holly on Instagram and YouTube!
See more of Holly's work on her website!
For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!
Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!
Follow Ellen on TikTok!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

269: Christmas Island Red Crab & Elf Owl Dec 25, 2024

Show notes

Christian leaves out milk and cookies for the Christmas Island red crab & Ellen goes for a silent night flight with elf owls. We discuss inside-out lungs, crab plows, yellow crazy ants, special eyes, silent feathers, TikTok trends, and so much more.

Links:

For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!
Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!
Follow Ellen on TikTok!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

268: Sea Turtles w/ Rushan bin Abdul Rahman! Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

Join Ellen & sea turtle ecologist Rushan bin Abdul Rahman for a review of everyone’s favorite hamburger-shaped reptiles. We discuss the life of a sea turtle nurse at a beach resort in the Maldives, planes that shoot lasers for science, D&D character ideas, questionable parenting, turtle exorcism, cool scars, a surprise appearance from Kylo Ren, candy corn, and a great big compliment sandwich for sea turtles.

Links:

Follow Rushan on Instagram: @rushanicus_singaporensis
Follow along with the Olive Ridley Project: @oliveridleyproject
Follow James Cook University: @jamescookuniversity
For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!
Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!
Follow Ellen on TikTok!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

267: Wood Frog & Titan Triggerfish Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

Ellen chills out with the wood frog & Christian goes ballistic with the titan triggerfish. We discuss cryostasis, the dark forest hypothesis, going Super Saiyan, a toxic mystery, and so much more.

Links:

For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!
Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!
Follow Ellen on TikTok!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

266: Thomas Green's Top 3 Animal Mating Relationships Dec 06, 2024

Show notes

Join Ellen & special guest, behavioral zoologist and science communicator Thomas Green, for a look at some of the fascinating ways animals get close to each other. We’ll talk about the diversity of affections between animals, lessons we should learn from the way animals mate and some lessons we probably shouldn’t, bust some myths, make a REALLY good pun about cricket song frequencies, and so much more.

HEADS UP: This episode is about courtship and mating behaviors, so naturally a lot of this conversation is about sex. As usual for this podcast, the discussion isn’t graphic or explicit or anything, but sex is mentioned frequently throughout the episode, so please join us for this one only if that’s something you’re comfortable hearing about.

Links:

Follow Thomas on TikTok or Instagram!
For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!
Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!
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Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

265: Leafcutter Ants Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

Ellen gets carried away by leafcutter ants. We discuss Disney mistakes, power scaling, farming, domestication, obligate symbiosis, air conditioning, existential crisis, and so much more.

Links:

For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!
Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!
Follow Ellen on TikTok!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

264: Orcas w/ Fred the Orca Man! Nov 21, 2024

Show notes

In this week’s episode, we are joined by science communicator Fred the Orca Man for a review of the iconic wolves of the sea. We discuss whale taxonomy, menopause and motherhood, hunting strategies using fluid dynamics and straight-up lying, what’s up with the yacht thing, the dead fish fashion trend that’s taking the marine world by storm, and so much more.

Links:

Fred's website: https://www.theorcaman.com/
Follow Fred on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Threads
For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!
Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!
Follow Ellen on TikTok!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

263: American Lobster Nov 13, 2024

Show notes

Christian gets snippy with the American lobster. We discuss New England, split colors, immortality, flirting with pee, big meaty claws, grocery store tanks, and so much more.

Links:

For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!
Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!
Follow Ellen on TikTok!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

97: Sea Otter & Blue-Ringed Octopus (REPLAY) Nov 06, 2024

Show notes

In this week's re-broadcast of an episode from May of 2021, Ellen reviews the ocean's most adorable monsters, sea otters, & Christian rates the dazzling blue-ringed octopus.

Links:

For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!
Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!
Follow Ellen on TikTok!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

262: Jumping Slugs w/ Meaghan Wetherell! Nov 01, 2024

Show notes

Ellen is joined by biologist/paleontologist Meaghan Wetherell for a review of the slimiest breakdancers in the world: jumping slugs. We discuss science communication through video games, how slugs flirt, confusing Darwin, why a biologist’s fridge might be filled with mossy little salsa containers, and so much more.

Links:

Listen to Meaghan's podcast, Weird and Dead! (Heads up: explicit language is used)
Find more of Meaghan's work at her website here!
Meaghan's games can be found on this page!
Check out Meaghan's art and clothing for sale on her website, geopetalfabric.com!
For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!
Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!
Follow Ellen on TikTok!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo

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