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:

188: Brown Pelican & Przewalski's Horse Apr 12, 2023

Show notes

Ellen dives into the brown pelican & Christian goes wild with Przewalski's horse. We discuss gular pouches, aerodynamics, stud piles, and conservation success stories.

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Cover photos: David Baileys (pelican) & Irén Udvarházi (Przewalski's horses), via Getty images

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187: Mangrove Rivulus w/ Brooke Fitzwater (AKA "Oceanfilly")! Apr 05, 2023

Show notes

Join Ellen & special guest, biologist and science communicator Brooke Fitzwater, for a review of the tiny indestructible ogres of the swamp: the mangrove rivulus! We discuss parasites and their role in courtship and reproduction, what fish would put on their tinder profiles, and life as a fish who isn’t quite sure about this whole “being a fish” thing.

Links:

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Cover photo credit: Cardet co6cs CC4.0, via phys.org: https://phys.org/news/2021-06-mangrove-rivulus-fish-hints-mechanism.html

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186: Your Questions & Stories! Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

For the second and final week of the 2023 MaxFunDrive, we're answering your questions and sharing your stories! We get into all of the exciting places the podcast has taken us, how it's helped you all connect with the animal kingdom, our favorite Muppets, and more.

Links:

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!
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185: Megalodon & Thylacine Mar 22, 2023

Show notes

It's a special trip in the time machine for the MaxFunDrive! Christian chomps on the megalodon & Ellen laments for the thylacine. We ask the important questions: What were they like? Are they really gone? Should we bring them back?

Links:

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Colorized footage of the thylacine, via the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
Paper: "Resolving when (and where) the Thylacine went extinct"
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Cover photos via the Smithsonian Institution

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Planthropology: Grass-Type Pokemon & the Plants that Inspired Them Mar 15, 2023

Show notes

We're out traveling this week! In the meantime, please enjoy this episode of Planthropology, in which Ellen joined host Dr. Vikram Baliga for a conversation about grass-type Pokemon and the real-world plants that inspired them. Originally aired on the Planthropology podcast on March 1, 2022.

Links:

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184: D&D Classes w/ Eric Silver! Mar 08, 2023

Show notes

Join Ellen & tabletop roleplaying game podcaster and expert game master Eric Silver for an exploration of Dungeons & Dragons character classes and the real-world animals that embody them. We discuss animals with maxed out dexterity, charisma and strength. If you’ve never played D&D, don’t worry! We give explanations of the basics along the way so that anybody can enjoy.

Links:

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Check out Eric's podcasts: Join the Party, Games and Feelings, Tell Me About It, and more over at his website!

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183: Octopuses w/ Chelsea Bennice, the OctoGirl! Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

Join Ellen & special guest, marine biologist Chelsea Bennice, for a review of the multifunctional, multicolored, multi-armed aliens of the ocean: octopuses! We discuss octopus handshakes, donut brains, swiss army mouths, goat eyes, toxic friendships and Eiffel towers.

Links:

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Learn more about octopuses at OctoNation.com, where you can find educational resources, merch and connect with the octopus fan community!

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182: Greater Sage Grouse & Pistol Shrimp Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

Ellen struts with the greater sage grouse & Christian pops off about the pistol shrimp. We discuss what happens at a lek, whether or not the sage grouse poses a threat to the United States military, what pistol shrimps can teach you about your pressure cooker, and the Shrimp of Theseus.

Links:

Vox: "This goofy bird vs. the fossil fuel industry"

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181: Loggerhead Turtles w/ Jesse Gilbert! Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

Join Ellen and special guest, President and CEO of the Texas State Aquarium Jesse Gilbert, for a review of the living tanks of the sea: loggerhead turtles! We discuss the challenges faced by sea turtles in a changing world, the aquarium's work rescuing and rehabilitating loggerhead turtles and other marine life, and the magic of connecting with another species.

Learn more about the Texas State Aquarium at their website and follow along with their work on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter!

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Cover photo: NOAA

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180: Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle & Indian Muntjac Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

Christian throws down with the Japanese rhinoceros beetle & Ellen goes on a journey through evolutionary history with the Indian muntjac. We discuss the toxic masculinity of beetles and why the Indian muntjac's bark is just as bad as their bite.

Links:

The muntjac video shown to Christian

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