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:

216: Sturgeon w/ Brenda Pracheil! Nov 23, 2023

Show notes

Join Ellen & special guest, fish biologist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Brenda Pracheil, for a review of the gentle giants that have been swimming up and down our rivers since the dinosaur age: sturgeon. We discuss being a fish lawyer, ancient genetics, scales, whiskers, caviar, woosh tubes, and more.

Links:

World Fish Migration Day
The North American Sturgeon & Paddlefish Society
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
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215: Bark Scorpion & Pūteketeke Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

Christian leaves a glowing review for the bark scorpion & Ellen casts a vote for the pūteketeke. We discuss neurotoxin, biofluorescence, the ghostly penguin dance, and John Oliver's impact on the Bird of the Century.

Links:

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214: Pigs w/ Kendall Long! Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

Ellen & special guest, Bachelor star turned science communicator Kendall Long, review pigs! In this episode, we discuss pigs and their achievements in some surprising endeavors, from digging up truffles and thriving in the wilderness to playing video games and basking on the beaches of the Bahamas.

Links:

Check out Kendall's podcast, Little Curiosities!
Follow Kendall on Instagram and TikTok!
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213: Stoat & Barreleye Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

Ellen falls down a rabbit hole with the stoat & Christian looks up to the barreleye. We discuss the weasel war dance, rabbit assassins, paradoxical eyes, and deep sea body horror.

Links:

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212: Crowned Lemur w/ Ben Freed! Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

In celebration of World Lemur Day, Ellen is joined by anthropology professor Ben Freed for a look up into the treetops of northern Madagascar to review crowned lemurs. Our guest brings his insight from experience studying these charismatic primates to discuss topics like the rainforest dress code, what your cell phone has in common with lemur cognition, and the unbreakable interspecies bonds between primates that remind us humans of our own place in nature.

Links:

Learn more about the community-based conservation & ecotourism programs at Bobaomby Nature Conservation.
Ben also recommends checking out the Lemur Conservation Foundation to learn more about conservation in Madagascar.
Visit the Lemur Conservation Network's website for more opportunities to celebrate lemurs for World Lemur Day!
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211: Mosquitoes w/ Kelly Zimmerman! Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

Ellen & special guest, ecologist and entomologist Kelly Zimmerman, review one of the world’s deadliest creatures. This killer could fit in a teaspoon, and yet humans just can’t seem to get rid of the darn things. In this episode, we discuss the humble mosquito’s formidable resilience, defend their often underestimated role in their ecosystems, and dish up a serving of girl dinner.

Links:

Check out Kelly's podcast, Bugs Need Heroes!
Check out Kelly's YouTube channel, Nerdy Naturalists!
Follow Kelly on Instagram!
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210: Snowy Owl & Polar Bear Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

Christian turns heads with the snowy owl & Ellen lands a slam dunk with the polar bear. In this arctic-themed episode, we discuss why owls turn their head so much, feather acoustics, irruptions, fur fiber optics, and polar bear basketball.

Links:

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209: Roadrunner w/ Alana Baliga! Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

Ellen and special guest, science communicator and educator Alana Baliga, review the iconic little birds zooming around the cactuses and tumbleweeds: roadrunners! We discuss things like the glamorous highlights of working for a science museum, what Looney Tunes got right and wrong about Mr. Runner, and how these fascinating animals are able to thrive in the extreme climates of the American southwest.

Links:

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208: Coati & Gharial Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

Ellen joins the band of coatis & Christian gives us the buzz on gharials. We discuss Star Wars names, banana wars, animal influences on computer science, problematic age gaps, and the funkiest crocodilian snout.

Links:

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207: African Lion w/ Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant! Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

Join Ellen & wildlife ecologist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant for a review of savannah royalty: African lions! We discuss what it’s like to be an ecologist working in the field alongside truly awe-inspiring wildlife, what makes lions such iconic big cats from their impressive mane all the way down to their surprisingly tactical tail, and why their relationship to us is so important for inspiring passion for conservation and learning to live peacefully with our wild neighbors.

Links:

Learn more about Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant and her work on her website!
Check out our guest's podcast, Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant!
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