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:

131: Green Iguana & Blue Marlin Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

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.

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Cover photos: Christo Goosen via Pexels (green iguana) & Kelly Dalling via Getty Images (blue marlin)

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

130: Turacos w/ Aeralyn Rudnick! Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

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!

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Cover photo courtesy of Aeralyn Rudnick

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

129: Icefish & Wombat Jan 26, 2022

Show notes

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.

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Cover photo: keiichihiki via Getty images (wombat), Marrabbio2 via Wikipedia (icefish, Chionodraco hamatus)

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

128: Ground Squirrels w/ Stephanie Martinez! Jan 20, 2022

Show notes

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.

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Cover photo: Pancaketom via Getty images

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

127: Bull Shark & Green Heron Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

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!

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Cover photo: Divepic, wildpix645 (via Getty images)

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

126: Carnation Corals w/ Rosie Steinberg! Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

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!

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Cover photo: johnandersonphoto via Getty Images

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

125: Crested Gecko w/ Dominique DiFalco! Dec 29, 2021

Show notes

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

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

124: Northern Giraffe w/ Ashley Hamer! Dec 23, 2021

Show notes

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

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

123: Vampire Bats w/ Nate Marshall! Dec 15, 2021

Show notes

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

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

122: Tarantula Hawk & Vulture Bee Dec 08, 2021

Show notes

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.

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

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