The Podcast Aquatic

This One's All About SCUBA, Steven Jun 04, 2025

Considering it's one of the building blocks of life, it's ironic how dangerous water can be to the ill-equipped. And when it comes to deep water, humans are about as under-prepared for survival as it's possible to be.

Fortunately, despite our pitiful lung capacity and lack of fins, we're blessed with a heap of curiosity and ingenuity, which has given rise over the millennia to a variety of methods to explore beneath the surface. Absent a submarine in your backyard, the most accessible means of spending time underwater is the self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (aka SCUBA).

Here at the Aquarium, we dive all the time, whether it's to clean or enact repairs to our massive exhibits, to feed the animals or just to engage with the public. On this episode of the podcast, two of our senior dive specialist join one of our newest certified staff divers to explain what it's like experiencing the Aquarium from the other side of the acrylic and why it's worth all the work to earn your fins.

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, senior communications specialist, host-captain and certified landlubber Mark Craven, manager of dive operations and dive safety officer Chris Tucker, assistant dive safety officer Doug Strickland, communications content creator II

Want to dive with us?

Learn more about how to become a volunteer diver and apply at: ⁠https://tnaqua.org/volunteer/scuba-diver/

Resources

Watch our aquarist dive to feed Ripsaw Catfish: https://youtube.com/shorts/jJFw3gAnIAU How we safely dive alongside sharks: https://youtube.com/shorts/dkVRsM23-FM Diving to help cull Lionfish in Florida during the Lionfish Invitational: https://youtu.be/_FW_M_ebFZM Putting on a show cleaning alongside Paddlefish and Crappie: https://youtu.be/TWJ2-ly5e7M

🎶 Like A Sturgeon, Lost For A Very Long Time 🎶 May 21, 2025

The world's smallest sturgeon species, the Syr Darya Shovelnose Sturgeon, is found in muddy rivers flowing through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other parts of Central Asia. It tops out at a diminutive 9 inches long.

But the thing is, it hasn't been seen in more than 60 years.

In this episode of the podcast, two of our scientists, Dr. Bernie Kuhajda and Dr. Dave Neely, and graduate student Christian Swartzbaugh discuss a recent trip they made to Uzbekistan as part of the Search for Lost Species. Their quest? To ascertain whether the Syr Darya Shovelnose Sturgeon is still around or if it has gone extinct.

From clandestine show-and-tells of preserved specimens in back alleys to adhesive catfish to self-destructing dirty diapers, this one's got it all.

Episode Cast

Casey Phillips, senior communications specialist, host and sturgeon stan
Dr. Bernie Kuhajda, aquatic conservation biologist
Dr. Dave Neely, adjunct scientist
Christian Swartzbaugh, graduate student, University of Georgia

Legacy Of A Bold Vision (Feat. Senator Bob Corker) May 16, 2025

In the early 2000s, the Tennessee Aquarium was closing out its first decade on the river with plans underway for a major expansion: the Ocean Journey building. At the same time, two other nearby institutions were in the midst of their own major expansions. The three joined forces, under the leadership of former U.S. Sen. Bob Corker (then mayor of Chattanooga) to embark on a combined campaign for funding.

The plan worked, and these expansions were important facets of an even larger plan to transform Chattanooga's riverfront experience: the 21st Century Waterfront Plan.

Twenty years later, Sen. Corker popped by the Studio Dive Cage to talk about the origins of the Plan, the perpetual optimism with which it was realized and the continuing impact it's having on the Aquarium's hometown so many years later.

Episode Cast

Casey Phillips, host, senior communications specialist, resident of Chattanooga
Bob Corker, former mayor of Chattanooga and two-term U.S. Senator
Todd Womack, Corker's former senatorial chief of staff, current president/CEO of Bridge Public Affairs

Introducing the Aquarium's New President & CEO May 07, 2025

After eight years under the leadership of former president & CEO, Keith Sanford, the Tennessee Aquarium has welcomed a new chief executive: Andy Wood. With more than 14 years of leadership experience at the Florida Aquarium and Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, Wood is bringing a wealth of knowledge of the zoo and aquarium world to bear in his new role.

In this episode, we get to know a lot more about him, from the animal that best reflects his personality and how he thinks the aquarium benefits the community (and vice versa) to why working in a land-locked state reminds him how interconnected all water -- and life -- on earth really is.

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, senior communications specialist and host
Andy Wood, president & CEO

For The Bird(er)s Apr 30, 2025

From much-maligned pigeons and purportedly "wise" owls to noble raptors and cereal hawking toucans, birds are one of the world's most diverse, widespread class of animals.

To many of us, birds are so much a part of our lives that we often fail to notice or appreciate them. Such is definitely not the case for the special guest of this episode, the Aquarium's curator of forests, Kevin Calhoon.

In this episode, we chat about all things birding, from how to do it and what equipment to invest in to Kevin's far-flung adventures in search of rogue swans and other rare or out-of-place avians.

Additional resources:

The Christmas Bird Count 101 and winter birds in Chattanooga: https://youtu.be/Xqk8gCmpqbc?si=jZVzxV_7lnZ8YmKf

Kevin Talks About The Joy of Birding:

https://youtu.be/aReP4q4uYE0?si=MbwNHWSClqo3wLmI

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, senior communications specialist, host and bird appreciator Kevin Calhoon, curator of forests

Earth Day Special: Conservation Science Is A Relay Marathon Apr 22, 2025

For our first Earth Day special on The Podcast Aquatic, we're focusing in on the important work being done by the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute (TNACI), not only to raise freshwater fish but also freshwater scientists.

As a nexus for a great deal of conservation science in the Southeast, TNACI is carrying forward long-term species restoration efforts while also attracting new generations of researchers who will carry on this work in years to come.

Learn more about the work of TNACI at https://tnaqua.org/conserve/what-we-do/

See our scientists in action:

Episode Cast

Casey Phillips, senior communications specialist, host and thankful resident of Planet Earth
Dr. Anna George, vice president of conservation science & education
Teresa Israel, reintroduction biologist II
Sarah Kate Bailey, reintroduction biologist II

You Herd It Here - Chatting with The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee Apr 16, 2025

Smack dab in the middle of Tennessee in Hohenwald is a population that would probably surprise must residents of the Volunteer State: a dozen African and Asian Elephants.

This year, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is celebrating 30 years of serving as a sprawling "retirement community" for elephants that lived most of their life in human care. In this episode, we chat with the sanctuary's education manager, Laura Roddy, who will be visiting the Aquarium to help launch a new IMAX film, Elephants: Giants of the Desert 3D.

Together, we cover a lot of ground, from what working "on elephant time" means and how elephants modify their environment. In addition, this episode launches on Save the Elephant Day (April 16), and Laura discusses several ways everyday people can do their part to help elephants all over the world!

Check out the trailer for Elephants: GIants of the Desert 3D: https://youtu.be/VpsEBQyNfmo?si=PSOsyIlX5Ki5fIZh

Learn more about The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee at https://www.elephants.com

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, senior communications specialist, host and pachyderm pal
Laura Roddy, education manager, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee

An Extremely Ribbiting Discussion Apr 09, 2025

April is National Frog Month, and what better way to celebrate these boisterous, shape-shifting amphibians than hearing from the experts who care for them here at the Aquarium?

In this episode, our ambassador animal coordinator and senior herpetologist wax poetic about frog calls, explain why our poison dart frogs actually aren't poisonous and talk about the incredible survival strategies that allow frogs to survive in places you probably wouldn't believe.

Learn more about the Poison Dart Frogs' Malagasy cousins, the Mantellas: https://youtu.be/QjDMz8yLR3g

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, senior communications specialist, host and foster frog parent
Charlie Olson, senior herpetologist
Tanisha La Guardia, ambassador animal coordinator

Everybody Loves Rays, Man Mar 26, 2025

Whether you think of them as the horizontally compressed cousins of sharks or "majestic underwater flap-flaps," there's no denying that stingrays are some of nature's most interesting aquatic animals.

This listener-request special episode features a panel of aquarists whose job it is to care for the many species of stingrays that live at the Aquarium. We chat about the different types of rays that reside in our exhibits, how they reproduce, their capacity to learn and their perhaps-surprising love of bubbles.

Watch the don't-do-this-if-you-like-your-clothes-dry approach we take to feeding our Cownose Rays at https://youtu.be/3XWg13Yszk4

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, communications specialist, host and amateur stingray-watcher Kyle McPheeters, life support system lead aquarist Cody Beavers, aquarist II Brenda Salgado, aquarist II

Dishing Dolphins With Filmmaker Jonathan Bird Mar 12, 2025

Few people are as well-versed in documenting the underwater world as giant-screen filmmaker Jonathan Bird. The charismatic producer and host of award-winning web series, Jonathan Bird's Blue World, he's plumbed the depths of sites all over the world, from diving alongside Whale Sharks in the Galapagos and dodging Barracuda in Portugal to navigating flooded caves in Mexico.

In 2023, Bird paid a visit to Chattanooga to document our work raising marine fish species from eggs laid in our own exhibits as well as our role as one of the world's leading freshwater aquariums. In this episode, he joins us in the studio dive cage to chat about that experience as well as to promote his fourth giant-screen film, Call of the Dolphins 3D.

Check out the Tennessee Aquarium specific episodes of Blue World at:

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, senior communications specialist, host and longtime Blue World fan Jonathan Bird, underwater filmmaker

It's An Invasion! Feb 26, 2025

All over the world, otherwise inoffensive plants and animals are wreaking havoc on ecosystems just by ... well, existing. Often (if not usually) through no fault of their own, invasive species upend the natural order by reproducing with wild abandon, outcompeting or preying on native species and disrupting entire economies dependent on healthy fisheries and eco-tourism.

In this episode, three Aquarium experts with experience either caring for or dealing with the impacts of invasive species visit the studio dive cage to discuss how these plants and animals ended up where they shouldn't be, how they're impacting native wildlife and what, if anything, can be done about it.

Check out a three-part video series discussing the impact of Asian Carp on American river systems and approaches to stemming their spread: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjkmEccUchZbEYwxDE1KrxGauykYlGm4_&si=nYeLRKHHV7MnMpZV

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, senior communications specialist, host and invasive homo sapien
Ben Stenger, River Journey lead aquarist
Sharyl Crossley, Ocean Journey lead aquarist
Matt Hamilton, curator of fishes

A Galentine's Day Shell-ebration Of Mussels Feb 11, 2025

Comedian Jim Gaffigan may have famously described them as "rocks with snot in them," but mussels (along with oysters, clams and other bivalve molluscs) are incredible — and incredibly important — animals.

Freshwater mussels' filtration of water as they feed helps to ensure the health of our rivers, lakes and streams. Their reproductive strategies are awe-inspiringly cunning, not to mention a little bit horrifying. And most importantly, they're a homegrown biological treasure, with the Southeastern United States sporting a greater diversity of freshwater mussels than almost anywhere else on Earth.

So in honor of International Day of Women and Girls In Science (and Galentine's Day), we've invited four Aquarium mussel fans and experts on the show to put the notion of mussels being underwhelming well and truly to bed.

Check out a hotspot of freshwater mussels diversity in Tennessee's Duck River:https://youtu.be/IcBSk6WnGY0?si=z-Hj5aPuLoJxggVE

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, senior communications specialist, host and amateur mussel-man Dr. Anna George, VP of conservation science and education Stephanie Chance, conservation manager Avery Millard, senior aquarist

Going One-On-One With An Angel Feb 05, 2025

When it comes to displays of aerial prowess, few pilots can match the razor-sharp skills of the Navy and Marine Corps selectees for the Blue Angels. The Navy's storied Flight Demonstration Squadron has been going strong for 79 years, and Capt. Greg "Boss" Wooldridge was the team's flight leader and commanding officer for an unprecedented three terms.

Wooldridge is also one of the executive producers of a thrilling new giant-screen film, The Blue Angels 3D, which will be playing at the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater beginning late January and throughout February 2025.

In this episode, Boss joins us in the studio to talk about blacking out on his first flight with the Blues and the importance of iron-clad team building to safely piloting multi-million-dollar jets at hundreds of miles an hour with only 18 inches separating them.

Watch a trailer for The Blue Angels 3D at https://youtu.be/B5dSYSDOk_U?si=WYipr5yMlO6Cbm9b

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, senior communications specialist, host and long-time Blue Angels fan

Capt. Greg "Boss" Wooldridge, former Blue Angels flight leader and executive producer for The Blue Angels 3D

Paging Dr. Do-LOTS Jan 22, 2025

Millions (tens of millions, even) of families in the U.S. have pets, and all the love and comfort they give us comes with a heaping helping of responsibility for their care and well being. Fortunately, there are more than 125,000 veterinarians around the country that can lend a practiced hand to ensuring our four-legged, winged, scaly and finned companions lives are healthy and happy.

Imagine how much more fulfilling and difficult the job of a veterinarian becomes, though, when they're charged with seeing to the needs of thousands of animals representing hundreds of species.

In this episode of the podcast, we'll chat with the Tennessee Aquarium's long-time vet, Dr. Chris Keller, and veterinary assistant II Shelby Ferguson, about the challenges and rewards of tending to penguins, alligators, sharks and lemurs (among many, MANY other animals).

After you're done, check out videos showing a vet's eye view of ⁠a Sea Turtle check up⁠, a cutting-edge ⁠cold laser therapy session⁠ and the new avenues of treatment made possible through ⁠wireless x-ray technology⁠.

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, senior communications specialist, host and ardent feline fan Dr. Chris Keller, veterinarian Shelby Ferguson, veterinary assistant II

We're ALL Plant People Jan 08, 2025

The Aquarium requires the work of a lot of people to function. Some might not surprise you — animal care specialists, veterinarians, housekeeping, plumbers — but did you know our team also includes a pair of horticulturists?

It's thanks to the tireless efforts of these plant experts that our exhibits mimic, as closely as possible, the natural environments our residents would call home in the wild. Normally, their work goes largely unnoticed by guests, but in this episode, we're giving them a much-deserved moment in the spotlight!

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, senior communications specialist, host and slayer of orchids
Austin Prater, senior horticulturist
Jenna Paler, horticulturist II

Thinking Local, Going Global Dec 26, 2024

Whether it's just a pop across the border into Tijuana, a cruise along the Rhine, backpacking through Nepal or visiting relatives in Uganda, there's nothing quite like the full-body culture shock of international travel.

In this episode, three Aquarium adventurers share life-altering experiences from their international sojourns. We'll chat about the joy of watching cheetahs learning to hunt in Kenya, visiting sustainable fisheries in the Amazon and the stark, otherworldly beauty of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Grab your passport, pack a toothbrush, and let's go!

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, communications specialist and tour guide
Thom Benson, vice president and chief communications/marketing officers
Claudia Mendez-Marti, community engagement educator
Elaine Robinson, senior aquarist

How To Science For Non-Scientists Dec 11, 2024

With all the talk about lab coats, beakers, bunsen burners and such, science can seem awfully intimidating, but these days, the barrier to participation in science is lower than ever.

In this episode of the podcast, Aquarium Educator II Stephanie Soto talks about how you — yes, YOU — can help a brother or sister researcher out through citizen science projects. This egalitarian approach to academic studies opens the door for laypeople to make meaningful contributions by recording and reporting their observations and other data to a project creator.

Check out Stephanie’s iNaturalist page, including her ongoing project to document plant and animal species found in downtown Chattanooga at ⁠https://www.inaturalist.org/users/101301⁠

Looking for a citizen science opportunity that’s coming up soon (or will happen predictably each year)? Learn how you can take part in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count at ⁠https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count/join-christmas-bird-count⁠

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, senior communications specialist and host-captain
Stephanie Soto, educator II and citizen scientist extraordinaire

Citizen Science Resources

NASA's Citizen Science projects: ⁠https://science.nasa.gov/citizen-science/⁠
Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird: ⁠https://ebird.org/home⁠

FrogWatch USA: ⁠https://www.akronzoo.org/frogwatch⁠
National Weather Service SKYWARN program: ⁠https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/fish/sturgeon.html⁠
Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute Freshwater Information Network: ⁠https://tnacifin.com/⁠
BugGuide.net: ⁠https://bugguide.net/node/view/15740⁠
Zooniverse: ⁠https://www.zooniverse.org/projects⁠
iNaturalist: ⁠https://www.inaturalist.org⁠

The Race For The Laurel Dace Nov 27, 2024

Even among other imperiled aquatic species, the Laurel Dace probably gets winces of sympathy. This little fish is the quintessential hard-luck story. In the last ten years, its numbers have dramatically dwindled thanks to a take-your-pick collection of challenges: invasive species, dirt choking its streams, a plague of cyst-causing grubs and (most recently) catastrophic drought.

To say this little fish needs help is a dramatic understatement, but our scientists are doing their level best to keep this plucky survivor around. In this episode, two of these champion biologists join us to discuss our ongoing efforts to save a fish that desperately needs the assist.

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, communications specialist and host
Dr. Anna George, vice president of conservation science and education
Abbey Holsopple, recovery biologist

It's Turtles All The Way Down Nov 13, 2024

Did you realize the Tennessee Aquarium is home to the largest collection of freshwater turtles at a public institution in North America? Yessiree, we're really fond of our chelonians (read: tortoises and turtles) here, so we invited our resident herp expert to help us shellebrate these amazing reptiles.

(And no, we can't promise those are the last puns you'll encounter during this slightly-longer-than-normal episode.)

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, communications specialist and host
Bill Hughes, herpetology collection coordinator

In Defense of Spookies Oct 30, 2024

With Halloween just around the corner, many of our minds are drawn to all things spooktacular. To many people, the spookiest of spooks — and the source of the most common animal-centric phobias — are snakes and spiders. But do these creepy, slithery, jittery critters deserve their bad reputation or are they just the victims of bad PR?

In this episode, two Aquarium experts and resident spider- and snake-friends delve into the how and why of arachnophobia and ophidiophobia and explain why these legless and (some would argue) too-many-legged animals deserve more respect than fear.

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, communications specialist and host
Rose Segbers, entomologist II
Charlie Olson, herpetologist II

Resources

Scary and nasty beasts: Self-reported fear and disgust of common phobic animals: https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/bjop.12409
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency guide to snakes of Tennessee: https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/reptiles/snakes.html
Seriema prey-thrashing behavior: https://youtu.be/mg7Qxr70IR0?si=GunddScc7l1Bb7c4

Pet Lemurs? Just Don't Oct 16, 2024

Did you realize it's legal to keep lemurs as pets in Tennessee (and several other American states)? Yeah, we were shocked, too. Trust us, though, you don't want to go down that path for a lot of reasons.

In this week's episode, we've brought in one of our lemur caretakers to explain why these prosimians are like furry little fireworks displays. They're beautiful and fun to watch, but you wouldn't want one in your living room.

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, communications specialist and host
Maggie Sipe, senior animal care specialist

Meet Our Head Animal Diplomat Oct 02, 2024

Every day, Aquarium educators present programs to the public, both on site and at schools or other facilities, accompanied by assistants of the furry, scaly or feathered variety. The animals who take part in these outreach presentations are known as "ambassador animals," and Tanisha La Guardia is in charge of caring for them.

Before she became a lover of snakes and lizards of all sorts, however, Tanisha was scared with a capital "S" of reptiles. Find out how she overcame that discomfort and the delight she takes in winning others over to the herpetological camp.

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, communications specialist/host
Tanisha La Guardia, lead animal ambassador coordinator

The ABCs of the ESA (Endangered Species Act) Sep 18, 2024

For more than 50 years, the Endangered Species Act has provided the mechanisms to protect imperiled species in the United States. But like most legislation, understanding how it actually works can be a pretty daunting task. No worries! We've got just the scientists for that.

In this episode, our vice president of conservation science and education and resident aquatic conservation biologist swoop in to offer reams (REAMS) of knowledge to help you understand how the ESA helps protect our nation's most at-risk species and why landing on the list of endangered species isn't the death sentence some may assume it to be.

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, communications specialist and host
Dr. Anna George, vice president of conservation science & education
Dr. Bernie Kuhajda, aquatic conservation biologist

Let's Time Warp to Ancient Appalachia, Y'all Sep 04, 2024

The Tennessee Aquarium's home in Chattanooga sits in the heart of some of the oldest mountains on Earth (the Appalachians), but what was life like in our neck of the woods, say, 5 million years ago? How about 65 million?

In honor of the latest film now playing at the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater, T. REX 3D, we've called up paleontologist and mammalogist Dr. Steven "Wally" Wallace to offer up some expert insights into life in ancient (and REALLY ANCIENT) Appalachia.

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, communications specialist and host
Dr. Steven "Wally" Wallace, paleontologist and professor at East Tennessee State University

Entomophagy: It's a Bugs Lunch Aug 21, 2024

To many residents of the United States, the thought of eating an insect is probably enough to turn them off the idea of food entirely, but for cultures around the world, entomophagy is not only common; it's just common sense.

In light of this summer's headline-grabbing 13-year cicada brood emergence, we've called on the Aquarium's resident entomologist — who has eaten insects before — to make the case for why bugs SHOULD be on your menu.

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, communications specialist and host
Rose Segbers, entomologist II

Doing Science at the Aquarium Aug 07, 2024

They may be a lot more fun to visit than a lab, and their employees may not walk around in white coats, but aquariums and zoos are important contributors to scientific research. The combination of ready control of environmental conditions and the opportunity to observe animals without interruptions caused by inclement weather or other factors make them an ideal place for studies to be conducted.

In this week's episode, we'll chat with our assistant curator of fishes to learn more about her study into the impacts of ocean acidification on jellyfish and what it was like overcoming her feelings of scientific "imposter syndrome."

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, communications specialist and host
Rachel Thayer, assistant curator of fishes

Lookin' Out Our Back Door Jul 24, 2024

Did you realize the Southeastern United States is home to more species of aquatic life than anywhere else in the temperate world? A lot of people, even those who live here, don't realize they live in the midst of an underwater rainforest that rivals celebrated ecosystems like the Amazon Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef.

In 2023, the Aquarium decided to shine a light on the abundance in its own backyard with its newest gallery, Ridges to Rivers. In this week's episode, meet the aquarists who overcame seemingly endless challenges when designing the centerpiece of the gallery, an 18-foot-long artificial stream. This exhibit is so true-to-the-wild that its residents recently engaged in an unprecedented mating display, but getting to this point was no easy feat.

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, communications specialist and host
Avery Millard, senior aquarist (an aquarist II at time of recording)
Ben Stenger, senior aquarist

Sharks: Friends NOT Foes Jul 10, 2024

Next year is the 50th anniversary of the movie Jaws, which means Hollywood has been hard at work painting sharks as villains of the deep for half a century.

In honor of Shark Week, we're celebrating the launch of The Podcast Aquatic by gathering together a trio of resident shark experts to set the story straight and explain why these marine predators are really just the victims of exceptionally bad PR.

Episode cast

Casey Phillips, communications specialist and host
Kyle McPheeters, senior aquarist
Adam Johnson, animal care facility lead
Thom Demas, vice president and chief husbandry and exhibits officer

Introducing The Podcast Aquatic Jun 26, 2024

Suit up, check your tank, cinch up your dive belt and prepare to plunge into interesting discussions with experts from one of the world's largest and most-popular freshwater aquariums.

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