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:

93: Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle w/ Alex Troutman! Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

Join Ellen & special guest wildlife biologist Alex Troutman for a review of the most dedicated beach babes of all, Kemp's ridley sea turtles! In this episode, we discuss what we can learn about life from sea turtles, why it's so important to be kind to our beaches, and how we can all make the shores a little friendlier to the wildlife that we love.

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

92: Archerfish w/ Dagmar der Weduwen! Apr 16, 2021

Show notes

Join Ellen & special guest ecologist Dagmar der Weduwen for a review of the sharpshooting archerfish! In this episode, we discuss the archerfish's unparalleled precision, cunning, and attitude as well as what it's like to work with them in the lab.

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

91: Periodical Cicadas & Portuguese Man O' War Apr 07, 2021

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Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen gives the buzz on periodical cicadas & Christian unfurls the sails of the Portuguese man o' war.

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

90: Pronghorn w/ Vinny Thomas! Mar 26, 2021

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Join Ellen & special guest, comedian Vinny Thomas, for a review of the champion of the sagebrush, the pronghorn! In this episode, we discuss how this charming little ungulate outran extinction, attempts to face modern challenges, and continues to do the absolute most at all times.

Follow Vinny on Twitter, Instagram & TikTok!

Intro & outro music: "Adventuring", Louie Zong

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

89: Vietnamese Mossy Frog w/ Gina Zwicky! Mar 19, 2021

Show notes

Join Ellen & special guest, biologist & naturalist Gina Zwicky, for a review of the amphibian master of disguise, the Vietnamese mossy frog! In this episode, Gina makes the case for frogs as simple yet refined masterpieces, shares some tricks of the frog-finding trade, and geeks out with Ellen over science communication via anime.

Intro & outro music: "Adventuring", Louie Zong

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

88: Stargazer & Pink Fairy Armadillo Mar 11, 2021

Show notes

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's very fossorial episode, Christian reveals the hidden nightmares of the stargazer fish and Ellen digs into the buried secrets of the pink fairy armadillo.

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

87: Jumping Spiders w/ Dr. Sebastian Echeverri! Mar 03, 2021

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Join Ellen & special guest, arachnologist Dr. Sebastian A. Echeverri for a review of the overpowered bards of the arachnid world, jumping spiders! In this episode, we discuss jumping spiders' incomparable processing power, hunting skill, and flair for the dramatic.

Episode cover photo by our guest himself, Dr. Sebastian Echeverri!

Intro & outro music: "Adventuring", Louie Zong

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

86: Copepods w/ Jimmy Bernot! Feb 24, 2021

Show notes

Join Ellen & special guest, evolutionary biologist Jimmy Bernot, for a review of the microscopic crustaceans truly running the world, copepods! In this episode, we discuss what makes copepods so successful at what they do, the role that parasites play in an ecosystem, and the biodiversity you can find among fish boogers.

Intro & outro music: "Adventuring", Louie Zong

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

85: Opossum & Burrowing Owl Feb 18, 2021

Show notes

Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen's heart is stolen by the trash bandit opossum & Christian digs up all the dirt on the burrowing owl.

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

84: Cheetahs w/ Gabi Fleury! Feb 10, 2021

Show notes

Join Ellen and special guest, conservation biologist Gabi Fleury, for a review of the punk nerds of the big cat family, cheetahs! In this episode we discuss how cheetahs go so fast, what sets them apart from the rest of the cats, and conflict between humans and wildlife.

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

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