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:

Bonus Content Free Samples! Mar 28, 2024

Show notes

Curious about the exclusive bonus content for Maximum Fun members? Enjoy some free samples from special episodes: "The Dewlap-Foraging Slug," Let's Learn Everything's "RATS! Cheddar Heist," "The Fakémon Lab," and "Our Favorite Animal."

If you like what you hear, head over to https://maximumfun.org/join and sign up to get access to the entire bonus content library and SO much more!

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

233: Questions & Answers Mar 27, 2024

Show notes

Ellen & Christian answer questions from the audience! We discuss the podcast's humble origins, magical spells, our favorite ducks, and more.

Be a part of the MaxFunDrive & sign up to become a supporting member of the network and get access to exclusive content and beautiful gifts!
Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Facebook, Instagram & Discord!
Follow Ellen on TikTok!

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

232: Chinchilla & Walrus Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

Ellen softens up to the chinchilla & Christian breaks the ice with the walrus. We discuss Jackie Chan Adventures, fur slips, dust baths, tusks, whiskers, bells & whistles, Odysseus, and Lewis Carroll. Goo goo g'joob.

Links:

Get involved with the MaxFunDrive & check out this year's awesome gifts & bonus content!
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

Go Fact Yourself #MaxFunDrive Kick-off Spectacular featuring Ellen and Christian Weatherford, Alex Schmidt, and Katie Goldin Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

This special network wide event is a celebration of the MaxFunDrive! If you’d like to support podcasts you love for just $5 a month and get bonus gifts in the process, go to maximumfun.org/join.

We’re kicking off the most exciting time of the year for the MaxFun Network with a trivia game show featuring hosts from tons of great podcasts!

J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong from “Go Fact Yourself” are joined by:

Ellen & Christian Weatherford - “Just the Zoo of Us”

Alex Schmidt & Katie Goldin - “Secretly Incredibly Fascinating”

If you’d like to hear more hosts competing for trivia supremacy, visit Maximumfun.org for the full version of this show.

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

231: Remora w/ Amani Webber-Schultz! Mar 14, 2024

Show notes

Ellen & special guest, marine biologist Amani Webber-Schultz, suck up to the brilliant little moochers of the ocean: remoras. We discuss shark scales, suction cups, the most efficient way to eat tacos, scrapped Pokemon designs, and so much more.

Links:

Check out Amani's podcast, Sharkpedia!
Follow Amani on Instagram and TikTok!
Learn more about MISS!
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

230: Solenodon w/ Owen Klessel Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

Join Ellen & special guest Owen Klessel for some well-deserved PR for the most bizarre and fascinating and incredible animal you’ve never heard of: solenodons. This episode, much like the animal itself, is full of surprises like nose bones, echolocation, an unexpected defense mechanism, butt nipples, and a scourge of mongooses.

Links:

Follow Owen's work on YouTube and TikTok!
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

229: Fishing Cat & Rock Hyrax Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

Christian fishes for compliments about the fishing cat & Ellen goes rock climbing with rock hyraxes. We discuss cat eyes, fishing strategies, buck toothed vampires, toe shoes, Wikipedia drama, and more.

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

228: Chimpanzee w/ Shannon Roivas! Feb 22, 2024

Show notes

Join Ellen & special guest Shannon Roivas who brings us first-hand insight straight from her time spent in the forests of Tanzania studying our very own wild cousins: chimpanzees! On top of fascinating topics like the primate family tree, toe thumbs, termite popsicles and fear grimaces, our guest shares her unique experiences like naming chimpanzees, getting punched by one, and having the opportunity to watch them grow and learn in their very own home.

Links:

Follow Shannon on Instagram!
Learn more about Roots & Shoots and how you can get involved with conservation over at their 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

227: Trumpeter Swan & Lovebug Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

Romance is in the air as Ellen commits to the trumpeter swan & Christian catches the lovebug bug. We discuss clown shoe runways, air horn duets, bird monogamy, a mysterious case of missing bugs, and the true meaning of going out with a bang.

Links:

Trumpeter swan sound found here via freesound.org
Learn more about native swan conservation & how you can help: Trumpeter Swan Society
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

226: Cicadas w/ Nick VanAcker! Feb 08, 2024

Show notes

Join Ellen & science educator and nature hype man Nick VanAcker to sing praises for some of our favorite true bugs: cicadas! We discuss how and why cicada choruses sing the song of the summer, why they spend so much of their lives underground before emerging and what’s so special about prime numbers anyway, the real parasitic fungus that inspired a cicada-themed Pokémon, and so much more.

Links:

Follow Nick on TikTok!
Check out more of Nick's work at his 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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Just the Zoo of Us

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected