Parent info: Just the Zoo of Us is recommended for ages 6-10 and 11 plus. It's an Episodic show that can be listened to in any order. Made in the USA, it's about Nature and Talk for kids. Launched in 2019, it has 1 season.
Ellen & special guest, science journalist and host of Radiolab and Terrestrials Lulu Miller, discuss the lifelong impact of science communication, review bald eagles, and share a very special podcast treat. Terrestrials: The Trio originally aired on July 26, 2β¦
Join Ellen & special guest science communicator, infectious disease researcher, and the Khaleesi of Mosquitos for a review of some of the animal kingdomβs most controversial creatures. We discuss whether our guest would rather fight 10,000 mosquitos or a gorilβ¦
We add another string to our bow by learning about the fiddler crab. We discuss the arc of history bending towards crab, the MogBot 2000, bad dating advice, non-orientable wormholes, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest science communicator and ambassador for wildlife Rick Schwartz for a review of the wise old wizards of Asian forests: binturongs. We discuss career paths for yappers, monkey software on weasel hardware, the chemical coincidence that β¦
Ellen gets her claws out for seriemas. We discuss terror birds, reverse mullets, sickle claws, weird scenes from Jurassic Park, golf ball physics, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, senior conservation scientist at Woodland Park Zoo and founder of the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program Lisa Dabek, as we celebrate World Tree Kangaroo Day by putting these charming ghosts of the forest in the well-deserved spotligβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, technobiologist and professor Jack Koch, for a review of the iconic crustacean known and loved by many names: the crawfish. We discuss sea hare ink, a genetically modified super-soldier kaiju battle, the taxonomic classifications ofβ¦
Ellen lets the sand cat out of the bag. We discuss dangerously approaching Hey Arnold, refusal to poop on unfamiliar toilets, blood gushers, a myth of dirty underwear, Cat Premium, and so much more.β¦
Curious about the exclusive bonus content for Maximum Fun members? Enjoy some free samples from special episodes: "All Fun and Games with Isaac," "Just the Two of Us," and Let's Learn Everything's "Frogs! II A Royal Rescue"β¦
Ellen & special guests, Ella Hubber and Tom Lum of Letβs Learn Everything, turn our gazes to the skies and talk animals in space. We discuss the fruit fly fan club, the great big farm on the moon, which earthlings were ACTUALLY the first to make the trip arounβ¦
Ellen jaws away about the great white shark. We discuss making our own planetary rings, performance-enhancing Speedos, how sharks sleep, the White Shark CafΓ©, IRL baby shark, and so much more.β¦
It's MaxFunDrive. And here, for the first time, we give you an exclusive look (well, listen) at the craft of podcasting: presenting Casters on Casters.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, co-founder and CEO of conservation organization Wildlife SOS Kartick Satyanarayan, for a review of Asian elephants. We discuss the harm caused by wildlife exploitation, how they protect animals by uplifting human communities, how edβ¦
Follow Ellen down the jackrabbit hole. We discuss facial tilt, satellite dish ears, evolutionary ghosts of predators past, touchdown dances, jackalopes, Easter, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & the Cryptonaturalist (Jarod K. Anderson) to talk about the ways that nature and wildlife can inspire our creativity and shape our stories, particularly the enticingly unknowable cryptids. We discuss being raised by a witch, the natural poetry in sβ¦
Don't call it a comeback, coelacanth's been here for years. We discuss life on Earth 400 million years ago, a military escort mission, our own fish ancestors, five year pregnancies, underwater handstands, an unnecessarily complicated puzzle in the third generaβ¦
Join Ellen & Dalton Mason, creator and bird parent behind Apollo and Frens, for a look into life alongside the world-famous African grey parrot. You may have seen their videos on social media showing off Apolloβs incredibly impressive vocabulary, answering queβ¦
Ellen falls in love with the Mandarin duck. We discuss why waterfowl's webbed feet don't freeze in the winter, the evolutionary arms race between male and female ducks, New York City's local celebrity Hot Duck, your new favorite coffee order, and more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, science communicator and Certified Bug Friend Emily, for a review of the tiny little bugs that fly around your nearest kitchen sink. We discuss what Big Pest doesnβt want you to know, convergent evolution between bugs and fish, the β¦
Ellen goes on a journey through time and space with Triops, the tadpole shrimp. We discuss book fairs, vernal pools, whether saltwater or freshwater came first, trips to space, prehistoric scampi, surprise guests at Burning Man, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest artist and reptile keeper Lyn for an up close and personal look at a little snake with a big appetite. We discuss how it feels to handle a snake, stress dreams specific to pet owners, gastoning it, spine teeth, snacktivities, how snaβ¦
Ellen takes things slow with the iconic banana slug. We discuss mobile slip 'n' slides, recreationally poisoning yourself, liquid crystals, oobleck, robosnail, slime trains, moisture farming, apophallation, college mascots, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guests, power couple Shannon Hackett and John Bates from the Field Museum, here to talk about the intersection of science, history, and of course, birds in a love letter to the natural history museum. We discuss working alongside SUE the Tβ¦
Ellen sets the record straight on Norway lemmings, busting over 400 years of myths. We discuss rodent audacity, ecological impacts that can be seen from space, spontaneous generation, Ole Worm, Atlantis, a Disney lie, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest comedian, writer, and nature enthusiast Vinny Thomas for a review of some of the furry, feathered, and scaly neighbors making themselves at home rightΒ in our very own cities. We discuss domestication, dogs with human feet, inflatableβ¦
Ellen gives the Tasmanian devil his due. We discuss mythbusters, cranial real estate, the masculine urge to bite your fingers off, which came first: the chicken or the egg, dump stats, contagious cancer, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, wildlife educator and zookeeper Jungle Jordan, as we round up his top 3 friend-shaped carnivores, all the cutest critters that could absolutely wreck you. We discuss hidden mickeys, toxic friend groups, modern-day sabertooths, delicβ¦
Ellen gets into the festive spirit with sea angels. We discuss Christian's beachfront disaster, secret tentacles, teeny titan battles, undismissable companions, Hello Kitty merch, and so much more.β¦
Joined Ellen & special guest wildlife ambassador and care specialist Marco Wendt from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park for a review of the towering birds that are ready to literally rumble: cassowaries. We discuss short kings and feminine rage, a secret bird langβ¦
Ellen irons out the kinkajous. We discuss Thomas Jefferson's giant moose sidequest, the dessert hypothesis, bad pets, who the real Frankenstein monster is, Β and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & host of Bizarre Beasts Sarah Suta for a lineup of some animals sheβd like to see get a second chance, whether theyβre species weβve already lost or ones that might still have a shot. We discuss foreign exchange student accents, the ecological impaβ¦
Ellen has a bone to pick with turkey vultures. We discuss aura farming, our gripes with the pH scale, a check-in with our resident Dragon Ball Z correspodent, screaming inside your heart, laser harassment campaigns, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest from the world of wildlife rehabilitation Emma Ratway for a review of the chompy rogues lurking at the bottom of ponds all over the country: snapping turtles. We discuss working with wildlife and getting to raise and release baby snaβ¦
Ellen comes clean about the bluestreak cleaner wrasse. We discuss trust, cheating, fish patriarchy, manipulation, deception, game theory, the prisoner's dilemma, marketing, the mirror test, the horrors of self-awareness, and so much more. Christian drinks a Caβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, zoology and science communication powerhouse Lindsay Nikole, for a review of some of the animal kingdomβs greatest hits throughout the history of the Earth. We discuss ecological gossip, mass extinctions, the Cambrian explosion and β¦
Ellen gets her claws out for the hairy frog. We discuss what the tooth fairy dispatch system is doing with all those teeth, frog gigging, Wolverine lore, the scariest horror of all: Chytridiomycosis, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, writer and science journalist Cara Giaimo, for a highlight reel of some of the animal kingdomβs biggest surprises. We discuss Lego trebuchets, the scifi potential of a projectile-based language, endangered relationships, biofluorescβ¦
Ellen jumps to conclusions about jack jumper ants. We discuss Metazooa, is it cake, a menace to public health, lime in the Coke, gamergate, casual abductions, learning walks, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest artist and science communicator behind Nature Disturbed for an appropriate kickoff to the month of all things wretched with a review of disgust. We talk about phobias and ways that we can relate and empathize with even our most feareβ¦
Ellen comes along for the ride with GalΓ‘pagos tortoises. We discuss how giant tortoises crossed 600 miles of ocean, the superpowers built into their DNA that let them live for over a century, extinction and restoration, Charles Darwin's boat snacks, Kung Fu Paβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, primatologist and author Dr. Keriann McGoogan, for primatology storytime! Our guest shares experiences from her time working with lemurs in Madagascar and howler monkeys in Belize, like kind gestures from people helping out their loβ¦
Join Ellen & birder and science communicator Jason Hall for a review of a little bird full of big surprises: the American dipper.Β We discuss birding pre-smartphone, Philadelphiaβs role in ornithological history, the wild physiological adaptations that let thiβ¦
Ellen demystifies the deep sea-dwelling bigfin squid. We discuss hunting for shipwrecks, life in the trenches, spaghetti noodle fingers, unintentional cinematography, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, wildlife veterinarian, filmmaker and science communicator Dr CΓ©sar Puechmarin, for a review of Australiaβs masters of song: the lyrebird.Β We discuss birdwatching drama, the ancient origins of songbirds, vocal anatomy, secret passwoβ¦
Ellen & Christian team up as a coyote and badger in a cozy duet TTRPG adventure. When a family of skunks accuse a reclusive bobcat of disturbing their peaceful home, the woodland's finest pair of peacekeepers are on the case. We use the Badger + Coyote game syβ¦
Ellen gives the mysterious wing-clapping nightjars a round of applause. We discuss Pliny the Elder, bird whiskers, what it really means to "raise one's standards," ecologically accurate sound effects in The Legend of Zelda, an acoustic mystery, El Chupacabra, β¦
Join Ellen & returning guest, science communicator and comedy writer Katie Goldin, for a roundup of her 3 weirdest facts about sharks. We discuss cage-free uranium, possible mermaid configurations, why sometimes people poop themselves when theyβre scared, how β¦
Ellen explains what the red fox REALLY says. We discuss a chicken shakedown, the Siberian fox domestication experiment, aim assist, quantum entanglement, genetic surprises, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, marine biologist and seabird wrangler Melina Watson, for a review of the oceanβs bravest little walkerwalkers: Leachβs storm petrel. We swap whalewatching stories, discuss snot gutters and lost feet and baby chicks that look like soβ¦
Ellen pokes her nose into the giant anteater's business. We discuss Fun Dip, sleeper builds, optical illusions, blankies, the shirshu, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, digital artist and character designer Roxy Valdez, for a multimedia exploration of the intersection where real-world biology and ecology meets the imagination: speculative evolution! We discuss the world of the Amphiterra Project, tβ¦
Christian takes charge of rhinoceroses & Ellen gives bird-eating tarantulas a hair-raising review. We discuss unicorns, mmwonk, dragon calls, Ace Ventura, becoming the Thumbtacks Guy, recipes for a bag of spiders, and more.β¦
Join Ellen and acclaimed naturalist Ivan Phillipsen to round up his top 3 weirdest birds. We discuss what makes a bird truly βweird,β the distinct silhouette of a style icon, never letting a perfectly good placenta go to waste, birds getting tipsy on fermentedβ¦
Ellen & special guest Isaac answer questions from young listeners! We discuss albinism, whales and dinosaurs, what makes an organism an animal, raccoon stripes, the puppification of foxes, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, veterinarian and rabbit parent Zoe Feigen, for an exposΓ© on rabbits and the secret horrors theyβre hiding underneath all that adorable fluff. We discuss biological warfare on an ecological menace, self-sharpening glass crunchers, eaβ¦
Ellen bites off more than she can chew with parrotfish. We discuss the Mohs scale, Korn corn, throat teeth, crystal chainmail, sleeping bags made of snot, being terminally male, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, champion of the reef Jessie Palmer, as we try to save the world one polyp at a time. We discuss coral wars and neural nets, aliens from a different version of our own planet, literally re-inventing the wheel with coral-inspired biomβ¦
Ellen's thinking about those Mexican jumping beans & Christian takes things slow with the slow worm. We discuss bean details, the strategic value of random movement, hair pencils, the difference between snakes and legless lizards, autotomy, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, evolutionary biologist and herpetologist Dr. Mark D. Scherz, for a look through the magnifying glass at miniaturized animals. Our guest studies species who have shrunk down to incredibly small sizes, like frogs and chameleons who coβ¦
Christian walks to the beat of the American woodcock & Ellen throws shade at camel spiders. We discuss peent, walking with rhythm to attract the worm, beak smooches, chain e-mails, girl dinner, ant massacres, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, animal care educator and advocate Sarah Bessie (the "Hedge Chef") for a review of the prickly little roly polies: African pygmy hedgehogs. We discuss built-in hoodie strings, standing jeans, biomimicry in sports equipment, mobile chβ¦
Christian is up a creek without a paddlefish & an unusual deep-sea worm becomes the butt of Ellen's jokes. We discuss a previous guest getting electrocuted for shark science, hot takes on the whole direwolf de-extinction thing, the unexpected hybridization of β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, author Brooke Hartman, for a look at some of the animal kingdomβs most deceptively adorable assassins. We discuss evolutionary arms race, hot ones for mice, Mr. Yuck, an insect isekai, a toxic honeypot, and so much more. These cutieβ¦
Ellen & Christian share stories, observations and inspiration from special guest: you! We discuss Benedict Cumberbatch's turkey gang, my squirrel mech grandma, Twitch plays deep sea ROV dives, hear me out cakes, smuggling budgies, house vultures, and more.β¦
Ellen goes nuts for the eastern gray squirrel & a little bird told Christian about the budgerigar (AKA parakeet). We discuss the MaxFunDrive, Pikachu, the e-nut, squirrel crime, fluorescent feathers, spicy air, Bluey, and so much more.β¦
In a continuation of our dinosaur double-feature, Ellen is joined by a paleoartist and marine biologist for a review of the ancient giants that towered over the late Jurassic world: Brachiosaurus.β¦
Ellen & special guest, paleontology educator Christian Flores, review the towering icons of the dinosaur world: Tyrannosaurus rex. We discuss what we can learn about T. rex from the fossils they left behind and the similarities we can see in their modern dinosβ¦
Christian gives a hoot about the owl-faced kΔkΔpΕ & Ellen draws a line in the ocean over flying fish. We discuss ghosts of selection past, jug band beats,Β Pliny the Elder, pyramid eyeballs, Rihanna's nod to an international maritime dispute, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & marine biologist Jules LΓ©on for a review of his top 3 favorite pinnipeds. We discuss galumphing, Prada eels, a species made up entirely of geminis, walkout songs, beachmasters, super weaners (don't worry, it makes SO much more sense in context) anβ¦
Love is literally in the air as Ellen locks in with albatrosses. We discuss aspect ratios, snot gutters, dynamic soaring, romance, divorce, 18th century poetry, Taylor Swift, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, bat biologist Dr. Alyson Brokaw, for an up-close look at some of the furry friends fluttering through our night skies. We discuss tortilla chip aroma, anatomically accurate Edward Cullen, screaming into the void, butt blankies, and β¦
Christian takes to the skies with flying snakes. We discuss the beginning of the Year of the Snake, collapsible teeth, the physics of flight, Dragonology, and so much more.β¦
Ellen pulls no punches with the box jellyfish. We discuss jellyfish venom, kingslayers, emergency vinegar, what not to do when you get stung, Snell's window, learning, balance, ocean jellification, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, ecologist and wildlife photographer Holly Daniels, for a review of a real small wonder: the hazel dormouse. This extra-cozy episode pairs well with curling up in a soft comfy nest as we discuss fluffy tails, treetop snoozing, charmiβ¦
Christian leaves out milk and cookies for the Christmas Island red crab & Ellen goes for a silent night flight with elf owls. We discuss inside-out lungs, crab plows, yellow crazy ants, special eyes, silent feathers, TikTok trends, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & sea turtle ecologist Rushan bin Abdul Rahman for a review of everyoneβs favorite hamburger-shaped reptiles. We discuss the life of a sea turtle nurse at a beach resort in the Maldives, planes that shoot lasers for science, D&D character ideas, queβ¦
Ellen chills out with the wood frog & Christian goes ballistic with the titan triggerfish. We discuss cryostasis, the dark forest hypothesis, going Super Saiyan, a toxic mystery, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, behavioral zoologist and science communicator Thomas Green, for a look at some of the fascinating ways animals get close to each other. Weβll talk about the diversity of affections between animals, lessons we should learn from the wβ¦
Ellen gets carried away by leafcutter ants. We discuss Disney mistakes, power scaling, farming, domestication, obligate symbiosis, air conditioning, existential crisis, and so much more.β¦
Christian gets snippy with the American lobster. Β We discuss New England, split colors, immortality, flirting with pee, big meaty claws, grocery store tanks, and so much more.β¦
In this week's re-broadcast of an episode from September of 2022, Ellen lets Pallas's cat out of the bag & Christian probes into the world of the sensitive kiwi. We discuss grumpy cats, spawncamping, chilly beans, buff legs and giant eggs.β¦
Get your seeds and suet ready because it's time for a feed drop: Ellen joins birding musicians Tommy Siegel and Billy Libby for the debut episode of Extremely Accurate Bird Songs (The Podcast) on the mourning dove.β¦
Itβs not MaxFunDrive without a wild kickoff spectacular! Former real-life VJ and host of MTV's Spring Break 1999, Dave Holmes, takes your favorite MaxFun hosts through some wacky β90s- and Spring Break-themed mini games!!β¦
Join Ellen & parasite ecologist Dr. Chelsea L. Wood for a review of some bizarre and fascinating creatures that, despite their tiny size, impact our world and even our very selves in more surprising ways than you might expect. We discuss Osmosis Jones, frogs wβ¦
In this weekβs episode, we are joined by science communicator Fred the Orca Man for a review of the iconic wolves of the sea. We discuss whale taxonomy, menopause and motherhood, hunting strategies using fluid dynamics and straight-up lying, whatβs up with theβ¦
Ellen is joined by biologist/paleontologist Meaghan Wetherell for a review of the slimiest breakdancers in the world: jumping slugs. We discuss science communication through video games, how slugs flirt, confusing Darwin, why a biologistβs fridge might be fillβ¦
Ellen gets a really good look at the ogre-faced spider & Christian gets cozy with Honduran white bats. In this festively themed episode, we discuss ephemeral eyes, hearing with legs, casting nets, rowing through the air, huddling under leaves, navigating with β¦
In this week's re-broadcast of an episode from November of 2022, Ellen goes on an odyssey through history with the wild turkey. We discuss their path alongside humans for thousands of years, from prehistoric America to praise from Benjamin Franklin, the brink β¦
In this week's re-broadcast of an episode from May of 2021, Ellen reviews the ocean's most adorable monsters, sea otters, & Christian rates the dazzling blue-ringed octopus.β¦
A free sample of October's bonus episode: a review of vampires! Β Head over to https://maximumfun.org/join/ to sign up and get ALL of our bonus content!
In this weekβs episode, we are joined by comedy podcasting and tabletop roleplaying legend Griffin McElroy for a review of the squishy pugs of the Antarctic seas: Ross seals. We discuss which ninja turtle we are, the Victorian era magnetic crusades, haunting sβ¦
Christian gets toxic with strawberry poison dart frogs & Ellen just keeps swimming with clownfish. We discuss the final evolution of oof, Β extreme motherhood, matching blue jeans, the conservation status of clowns, fact checking Finding Nemo, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, podcasting powerhouse Steven Ray Morris, for a long-anticipated review of those furry little predators that have inspired devotion and admiration for thousands of years: the cat. We discuss the history of humansβ relationship to catβ¦
Ellen fawns over the viral pygmy hippopotamus & Christian goes big with the harpy eagle. We discuss the evolution of hippos, blood sweat, poocoptering, Moo Deng, smooch breaks, sloth staredowns, and so much more.β¦
Spider scientist Dr. Sebastian Echeverri returns to share with us his top 3 favorite spiders. We discuss spiders who go from moving like shadows to soaring through the air, spider cowboys with sick lasso moves, wife guy spiders who move in on the first date, hβ¦
Christian hoots with siamangs & Ellen hollers with laughing kookaburras. Β We discuss defying gravity, how screaming fits into any good morning routine, birds' double-barreled voices, the true identity behind the SpongeBob dolphin sound, and more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, science communicator Lucca of Lucca's Β BioHub, for a look back on the half-a-billion year history of bugs. We discuss ancient millipedes as long as a horse, whether weβd rather fight 2 million ant-sized humans or one human-sized antβ¦
Ellen gets the ball rolling with dung beetles & Christian jaws away about the giant moray eel. We discuss tiny boots, field trips to the planetarium, The Mummy (1999), secret jaws, why moray eels make that face, teamwork on the reef, fact checking The Little Mβ¦
We're out traveling this week! In the meantime, please enjoy this episode of Bugs Need Heroes, in which Ellen joined hosts Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman to settle a debate: are shrimps bugs? Are mantis shrimps shrimps? We discuss how they may or may not be β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, biodiversity champion Kai GΓ³mez D'hers, for a journey through the skies of Argentina on some of the biggest wings in the world. Weβre talking about the important role of scavengers as natureβs sanitation engineers, the cascading impβ¦
Christian chews on the Gila monster & Ellen struts her stuff with the Indian peacock. We discuss Christian's Duolingo streak, lizard venom, yet another hot take from Charles Darwin, how to haze a peacock, and so much more. Real G's move in silence like the Gilβ¦
Join Ellen & wildlife educator Sarah Skebba for a review of a modern-day dinosaur with some pretty extreme approaches to life: the rhinoceros hornbill. Weβre talking about bizarre beaks with built-in resonance chambers, the most unpleasant nesting situation I β¦
Ellen gets back in the saddle with seahorses & Christian goes dumpster diving with raccoons. Β We discuss why seahorses are the chameleons of the ocean, how males give birth, corn etiquette, a surprisingly common myth about America's most iconic furry bandits, β¦
Ellen & special guest, marine biologist Jasmin Graham, review some of the coolest, cutest and sometimes the goofiest sharks in the ocean: hammerheads. We discuss what itβs like to study sharks in the wild, shark evolution and the huge questions scientists stilβ¦
Christian keeps an eye out for sand boas & Ellen clears her cache with black-capped chickadees. We discuss googly eyes, troubleshooting reptile poop, skin of Theseus, borbs, inventory management, brain barcodes and factory resets, and so much more.β¦
join Ellen & special guest, naturalist and author of Secrets of the Octopus Sy Montgomery, for a look into the life and mind of some of the oceanβs most mystifying aliens: the giant Pacific octopus. We discuss an octopusβs least favorite texture, what happens β¦
Ellen comes out of her shell with hermit crabs & Christian is tickled pink by flamingos. In this week's beach episode, we discuss vacancy chains, shell economies, crustacean diss tracks, Florida postcards, and making new enemies in a flamboyance.β¦
Join Ellen & special guests Owen Ever and Laine Kaplan-Levenson for a revue of gay animals! We discuss manatee wuzzles, elephant matriarchy, giraffes necking in more ways than one, eagle throuples, the impact of prejudice on science, and so much more. This epiβ¦
Christian bubbles over with hype for the diving bell spider & Ellen tells some fish tales about the legendary oarfish. We discuss Hotwheels sisyphus, Doordash for spiders, diving technology, Pokemon, sea serpent mythology, Β bioluminescence and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, naturalist and birder Dara Miles Wilson, about some of the brightest and boldest members of the corvid family: the tenacious and charming blue jays. We discuss the audacity of jays and their amazing hawk impressions, what to put in β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, wildlife biologist and author Sophie Osborn, for a review of the skydiving champions of the animal kingdom: peregrine falcons. We discuss the adaptations that let these incredible birds tear through the sky at literally breakneck spβ¦
Ellen earns her stripes with zebras & Christian DOES care about the honey badger. We discuss the mysteries of stripes, video games as scientific experiments, the important role of cool jackets in wildlife rehabilitation, zebras in unusual places, viral videos β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, biologist Dr. Chris Anderson, for a review of the funkiest lizards in the world: chameleons! We discuss Β ballistic tongue projection, color changing and how cartoons get it wrong, eyes that move independently of each other, prehensiβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, conservationist and co-host of Mutual of Omahaβs Wild Kingdom Peter Gros, to talk about the iconic red wolf and their ongoing recovery from the brink of extinction. We discuss the shifting landscape and attitudes in wildlife conservβ¦
Ellen & special guest Isaac answer questions from young listeners! We discuss the smallest animals, giraffe sounds, polar bear buoyancy, sturgeon skin, metabolism, and more.β¦
Join Ellen & corvid scientist Dr. Kaeli Swift for a review of the clever little goths rummaging through a trash can near you: American crows. We discuss the twists and turns of a career in science, what crows can learn from funerals, how to tell a crow from a β¦
Christian explains why not to mess with the coral snake & Ellen puts the common cuckoo on blast. We discuss deadly neurotoxin, microfarts, what's up with those annoying flickering lightbulbs, sneaky disguises, evolutionary arms races, brood parasitism, bird geβ¦
Join Ellen & evolutionary morphologist Dr. Kassandra Ford as we get amped up about electric fishes. We discuss fish who use electricity to make mind maps, sabotage each other by jamming their signals, starve themselves with their own teeth, and ask the importaβ¦
Curious about the exclusive bonus content for Maximum Fun members? Enjoy some free samples from special episodes: "The Dewlap-Foraging Slug," Let's Learn Everything's "RATS! Cheddar Heist," "The FakΓ©mon Lab," and "Our Favorite Animal."β¦
Ellen & Christian answer questions from the audience! We discuss the podcast's humble origins, magical spells, our favorite ducks, Β and more.β¦
Ellen softens up to the chinchilla & Christian breaks the ice with the walrus. We discuss Jackie Chan Adventures, fur slips, dust baths, tusks, whiskers, bells & whistles, Odysseus, and Lewis Carroll. Goo goo g'joob.β¦
This special network wide event is a celebration of the MaxFunDrive! If youβd like to support podcasts you love for just $5 a month and get bonus gifts in the process, go to maximumfun.org/join.β¦
Ellen & special guest, marine biologist Amani Webber-Schultz, suck up to the brilliant little moochers of the ocean: remoras. We discuss shark scales, suction cups, the most efficient way to eat tacos, scrapped Pokemon designs, and so much more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest Owen Klessel for some well-deserved PR for the most bizarre and fascinating and incredible animal youβve never heard of: solenodons. This episode, much like the animal itself, is full of surprises like nose bones, echolocation, an unβ¦
Christian fishes for compliments about the fishing cat & Ellen goes rock climbing with rock hyraxes. We discuss cat eyes, fishing strategies, buck toothed vampires, toe shoes, Wikipedia drama, and more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest Shannon Roivas who brings us first-hand insight straight from her time spent in the forests of Tanzania studying our very own wild cousins: chimpanzees! On top of fascinating topics like the primate family tree, toe thumbs, termite pβ¦
Romance is in the air as Ellen commits to the trumpeter swan & Christian catches the lovebug bug. We discuss clown shoe runways, air horn duets, bird monogamy, a mysterious case of missing bugs, and the true meaning of going out with a bang.β¦
Join Ellen & science educator and nature hype man Nick VanAcker to sing praises for some of our favorite true bugs: cicadas! We discuss how and why cicada choruses sing the song of the summer, why they spend so much of their lives underground before emerging aβ¦
Christian makes some noise for the Freddy Kreuger frog & Ellen picks a bouquet of bone-eating snot flowers. We discuss life as a mouth with legs, being born into literal Hunger Games, meme lore, whalefalls, and eating the bones.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, deep sea biologist Dr. Thom Linley, for a literal deep dive into an animal that just might change the way you think about the creatures of the abyss: the ethereal snailfish. We discuss what itβs like to be among the first humans to β¦
Ellen gets the zig-zagging zoomies with tiger beetles & Christian has an existential crisis over the giant siphonophore. We discuss the REAL fastest land animal on Earth, literally blinding speed, reverse Naruto running, world record technicalities, zooids (noβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, environmental educator Jamison Cole, for a review of our very own backyard apex predators: bobcats! We discuss topics including but not limited to tail nubs, ear tufts, coyote pee, the bobcatβs Final Smash, relationship tips from naβ¦
Ellen & Christian share stories, observations and inspiration from special guest: you! We discuss what sounds fish make, memory transfer via cannibalism, and what to do when you're attacked by a zebra.β¦
Join Ellen & returning special guest, wildlife biologist Alex Troutman, for a review of some of our favorite mohawked chatterboxes: belted kingfishers. We discuss topics including but not limited to the vicious mockery of birds who fish better than us, biomimiβ¦
We're out traveling this week! In the meantime, please enjoy this episode of Bugs Need Heroes, in which Ellen joined hosts Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman for a conversation about bug-type Pokemon, the real-world bugs that inspired them, and the ecology we caβ¦
Christian digs into the star-nosed mole & Ellen goes for a deep dive into the Devil's Hole pupfish. We discuss flowery tentacles, mole lore in Avatar: the Last Airbender, waves in the desert, a Supreme Court ruling, and the future ecological impacts of nuclearβ¦
Ellen is joined by a familiar voice, science communicator Ralph Crewe, back with us to review the wiggly little living fossils full of teeth and blood: Pacific lampreys. We discuss the intersection between the natural and manmade world, what lampreys can tell β¦
Ellen gets hooked on the loggerhead shrike & Christian makes a clean getaway with the five-lined skink. We discuss tomial teeth, impalement, dropping tails, and regeneration.β¦
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 β¦
Christian leaves a glowing review for the bark scorpion & Ellen casts a vote for the pΕ«teketeke. We discuss neurotoxin, biofluorescence, Β the ghostly penguin dance, Β and John Oliver's impact on the Bird of the Century.β¦
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 andβ¦
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.β¦
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 β¦
Ellen & special guest, ecologist and entomologist Kelly Zimmerman, review one of the worldβs deadliest creatures. This killer could fit in a teaspoon, and yet humans just canβt seem to get rid of the darn things. In this episode, we discuss the humble mosquitoβ¦
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.β¦
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 Tunesβ¦
Ellen joins the band of coatis & Christian gives us the buzz on gharials. We discuss Star Wars names, banana wars, Β animal influences on computer science, problematic age gaps, and Β the funkiest crocodilian snout.β¦
Join Ellen & wildlife ecologist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant for a review of savannah royalty: African lions! We discuss what itβs like to be an ecologist working in the field alongside truly awe-inspiring wildlife, what makes lions such iconic big cats from their impreβ¦
Christian does the spider shake with daddies long leg & Ellen tells the story of the imperiled panda of the sea, the vaquita. We discuss spider myths, web design, porpoises, and what happens when wildlife conservation meets organized crime.β¦
Ellen & special guest, zookeeper Kailey Hart, review the humble earth pig. We discuss their evolutionary loneliness, unique hodge-podge of surprising traits, tube-teeth, Pokemon, the PBS cartoon Arthur, and pro tips for planning your next zoo trip.β¦
Ellen soaks up the sun with the leaf sheep & Christian gets biblical with the miraculous basilisk. We discuss photosynthesis, losing your head over parasites, outrunning physics, and mythology.β¦
Ellen & special guest, marine biologist and artist Meg Mindlin, review the mind-blowing rogues of the sea: cuttlefish! We discuss RNA editing, cephalopod brains, how cuttlefish are able to change their skin in the blink of an eye, use deception and disguise toβ¦
Christian basks in the glory of the basking shark & Ellen sees right through the glass frog. We discuss the origins of gills, livers full of oil AND blood, and making little gelatin frogs for science.β¦
Ellen & special guest, ecologist Sophiane Nacer, review the powdered donuts of the skies: hoary bats. We discuss frosted tips, tree roosters, bat memes and why you should care about bats all year long and not just for Halloween. If you havenβt fallen in love wβ¦
Ellen brings it home with the sockeye salmon & Christian looks for the bear necessities with the grizzly bear. We discuss our recent relocation to the Pacific Northwest, how fish use magnets to navigate over thousands of miles, and bear safety tips to keep youβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, evolutionary biologist Dr. Seth Coleman, for a review of the little birds with the ultimate rizz: satin bowerbirds! Anyone whoβs ever tried to impress a crush can take some notes from this episode as we discuss building and decoratiβ¦
Ellen takes off with the story of the California condor and their miraculous return to the southwestern skies. We discuss how their bodies are adapted to scavenging, their unwavering dedication to parenthood, their plummet towards extinction, and triumphant reβ¦
Ellen & special guest, paleontologist Adele Pentland, review the reptiles who once ruled our planetβs skies: pterosaurs! Even though theyβve been gone for millions of years, the fossils they left behind can tell fascinating stories about how they lived. We disβ¦
Ellen howls at the moon with the grasshopper mouse & Christian lures us in with freshwater mussels. We discuss brain chemistry, an evolutionary uno reverse card, lion software on mouse hardware, tongue-feet, pretty boogers, and the worst day of a poor unsuspecβ¦
Ellen & special guest, podcaster and wildlife educator Danielle LaRock, review one of our worldβs most misunderstood, maligned, and magical creatures: gray wolves. Weβre not just talking teeth and claws and fluffy coats - weβre also discussing alliances with cβ¦
Christian explains the pitfalls of antlions & Ellen snaps back with the trap-jaw ant. We discuss metamorphosis, structural engineering, sand doodles, the Sarlacc, Darwin's thoughts on Australia, PokΓ©mon, sticky babies, and a literal scientific arena.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, naturalist Ivan Kwan, for a review of the scaly friends with the worldβs most chaotic energy: Asian water monitors! We talked about the history and landscape of Singapore, smelling in stereo, Krakatoa, and the giant lizards showing β¦
Ellen nose what's up with the proboscis monkey & Christian sizes up the sarcastic fringehead. We discuss the form and function of a uniquely bizarre nose, the impact memes can have on conservation, and why you might want to think twice before reaching into a hβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, biology professor and researcher Sarah Lower, for a review of natureβs very own glimmering fairy lights: fireflies! We discuss how to do the beetle dance, tips for packing a bioluminescent picnic, and the shockingly diabolical worldβ¦
Christian cheers for pom-pom crabs & Ellen explains what makes mourning doves so coo-l. We discuss how crabs clone their own pets, Β what type of milk pigeons order in their lattes, Β and a suspicious pattern of criminal activity.β¦
JoinΒ Ellen & special guest, biologist and host of Nat Geo WILDβs TV series βMonster Fishβ Zeb Hogan, for a review of the giants lurking in the waters of the worldβs rivers and lakes: freshwater megafish. We discuss how and why fish are able to reach massive siβ¦
Ellen dives into the brown pelican & Christian goes wild with Przewalski's horse. We discuss gular pouches, aerodynamics, stud piles, and conservation success stories.β¦
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 tβ¦
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 β¦
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?β¦
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 Eiffelβ¦
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,β¦
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 rehβ¦
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.β¦
Ellen & special guest, primatologist and biological anthropologist Dr. Michelle Rodrigues, review the ballerinas of the Central and South American rain forests: spider monkeys. We discuss what life in the treetops looks like through a spider monkeyβs big beautβ¦
Ellen luxuriates in the vicuΓ±a & Christian takes a bite out of crime with the cookie cutter shark. We discuss adaptations to life in the Andes, vicuΓ±a wool as political bribery, suctorial lips, and how to play an Uno Reverse card on some of the ocean's top preβ¦
Join Ellen & paleontology researcher and fellow Floridian Alec Baines for a review of the saltwater guardians, American crocodiles. We discuss the archosaur family tree, flower-picking and other crocodilian leisure activities, what to do if you find yourself iβ¦
Join Ellen & science journalist Bethany Brookshire for a review of the lumpy little tide pods disrupting ecosystems all over the globe: cane toads. We discuss toxic shoulder pads, retro nature documentary excellence, poison butts and teacher toads, ugly animalβ¦
Ellen dives into the magical world of narwhals & Christian warms up to Japanese macaques. We discuss inside-out teeth, hot tub parties, and how misunderstandings and scams shaped unicorn mythology.β¦
Christian sticks to velvet worms & Ellen hangs out with binturongs. We discuss sticky situations, some unconventional means of reproduction, prehensile tails, and popcorn-scented pee.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, invertebrate photographer, zookeeper and science communicator behind "She's Got Legs" Caitlin Henderson, for a review Β of the best huggers of the arachnid world: huntsman spiders. Weβll discuss why your yard glitters at night, fake β¦
Ellen has a bone to pick with the Iberian ribbed newt & Christian channels the spirit of the Australian ghostshark. We discuss insides becoming outsides, amphibian space flight, living fossils, and reset the "episodes since last Naruto reference" counter to zeβ¦
Christian shreds on the bowmouth guitarfish & Ellen shakes things up with the timber rattlesnake. We discuss the shark-ray spectrum (which is not a laser beam that turns you into a shark), Β weird teeth, how a snake's rattle works, and why you should peacefullyβ¦
In this week's re-broadcast of an episode from February of 2022, Ellen hangs out with the slow loris & Christian observes leg day with the southern cassowary. We discuss armpit alchemy, the pitfalls of cute animal videos, rumbles in the jungle, and real life dβ¦
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 Planthroβ¦
Join Ellen & Β 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 β¦
Christian attends the caecilian cotillion & Ellen gets friendly with the rubber boa. We discuss life as a humble amphibian wiggling around in the mud and explain how even limbless creatures can still throw hands.β¦
Ellen is joined by the hosts of fellow Maximum Fun podcast Let's Learn Everything for a review of the little furry guys leaving tiny pawprints all over human history: rats! We discuss their role in the black plague, the intricacies of rat intelligence and emotβ¦
Christian chews on some facts about the American beaver & Ellen celebrates the festive Christmas tree worm. We discuss giant rodents, ecological engineering, coral reef symbiosis, and the prettiest worm.β¦
Join Ellen & science communicator, birder and professional nerd Ralph Crewe for a review of a little bird with the loftiest ambitions: chimney swifts. We talk about competitive birding, planetariums, and what itβs like to eat, sleep, and bathe entirely midair.β¦
Ellen goes on an odyssey through history with the wild turkey. We discuss their path alongside humans for thousands of years, from prehistoric America to praise from Benjamin Franklin, the brink of extinction and nets fired out of cannons.β¦
Join Ellen & shark scientist Melissa MΓ‘rquez for a review of the giant garbage disposals of the ocean: tiger sharks. We discuss sharks as links to our worldβs past, what it's like to work with the ocean as your office and wild sharks as your colleagues, teeth β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, entomologist Johanna Schwartz, for a review of animals you may not have thought to appreciate before: wasps. From the worldβs smallest insect, the fairyfly, to the infamous giant hornet, the wasp world is full of imposters, cockroacβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, ecologist and history podcaster Natalie Sabin, for a post-mortem of the dearly departed dodo. We discuss the unique traits that allowed the dodo to thrive in its island home, what went wrong for them when humans appeared, and why thβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! This week, Ellen puts the spotted lanternfly in the spotlight & Christian spills his guts on the crown-of-thorns starfish. We discuss stinky trees, winged invaders, crunching up corals, and eyes where you leastβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, illustrator and author Alexander Vidal, for a review of a tiny bird with an ambitious itinerary: the rufous hummingbird. We discuss cottagecore nests, how wildlife moves all over our continent, birds that look like bugs and bugs thaβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! This week, Christian gets salty over the marine iguana & Ellen glides along with the literally treehugging colugo. We discuss archipelagos, snot rockets, Darwin's garbage takes, Godzilla, skin parachutes and baβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, marine biologist Sophie Wolvin, for a review of the ocean's little jello casseroles full of live bees: moon jellyfish! Weβre gonna talk about what to do if you get stung by a jellyfish, what itβs like to care for the delicate jellieβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen lets Pallas's cat out of the bag & Christian probes into the world of the sensitive kiwi. We discuss grumpy cats, spawncamping, chilly beans, buff legs and giant eggs.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, podcaster and invertebrate enthusiast Tom Sharpe, as we leap into the world of the tiny menace: fleas! We discuss the intersection of entomology and Pokemon, blind leaps of faith, tiny little cowboys riding their trusty steeds up caβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian barks about the loud wet dog of the Pacific coast, the California sea lion, and Ellen gets to know her bottomfeeding best friend, the giant isopod. In this episode, we discuss β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, anthropologist & cetologist Drew Smith, for a review of the adorable little apex predators zipping through the waves: dolphins! We talked about animal charisma, dolphin culture and society and play, a West Side Story-style rivalry, β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen brings a flair for drama with the hognose snake & Christian shatters expectations with the lightning-fast strike of the cone snail. We discuss feigning death, longleaf pine forestsβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest musician from Jukebox the Ghost, comic artist behind "Candy Hearts" and "I Hope This Helps," and birder Tommy Siegel for a review of the touring musicians of the North American skies: sandhill cranes. We talk about the mental health β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's poisonous amphibian showcase, Christian takes competition to a whole new level with the rough-skinned newt and Ellen takes a leap of faith with the pumpkin toadlet. We discuss an evolutionary graβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, science writer Nick Lund, for a special episode nominating our very own top 3 candidates for the national bird of the United States of America! In addition to our bird selections, Nick gives us insight into the process that actuallyβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! This week, Ellen steppes up to the plate with the saiga & Christian gar-ners support for the alligator gar. We discuss the inner workings of the saiga's bizarre nose, the funky antelope's conservation roller coβ¦
Join Ellen & conservationist, wildlife educator and streamer Maya Higa to talk about one of the toughest, bravest predators in the sky: red-tailed hawks! We talk about the joys of falconry and wildlife rehabilitation, the reckless raptor lifestyle, environmentβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian reads the manual to the Japanese spider crab & Ellen turns up the heat with the Saharan silver ant. We discuss optical physics, exoskeletons, and the highs and lows of arthropoβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, entomologist Ilan Domnich, for a review of a fascinating family of bugs that are always one slow, methodical step ahead of the competition: assassin bugs! We discuss why their bite packs such a powerful punch, how theyβre able to ouβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's trip to the childhood arcade, Ellen rolls around at the speed of sound with the European hedgehog & Christian crashes the party with the eastern barred bandicoot. We discuss the hedgehog's formidβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, zookeeper & host of the We Out Here podcast Alexi Grousis, for a review of a unique and mysterious creature bouncing around rainforest canopies by the light of the moon: owl monkeys! We talk about how owl monkeys have adjusted to thβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a fantasy roleplaying adventure as Christian plays a Dungeons & Dragons homebrew one-shot written by Ellen! In this week's episode, Monax Tufdert Β takes on a clandestine mission of the reptilian persuasion from a local government offiβ¦
Ellen & special guest, herbivore ecologist and researcher Kirsten Engeseth, who joins us all the way from Norway to review the fluffiest, softest living tank youβve ever seen: the muskox! We talk about how these real-life Banthas keep warm in the harsh arctic β¦
For the second and final week of the MaxFunDrive, we're answering your questions and sharing your stories! We share some deeply personal intimate details like our inspirations behind the podcast, what the journey has been like to make it over the last 3 years,β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, archaeologist and cryptid enthusiast Elliot Helmer, on a search for the truth about our most mysterious neighbor: Bigfoot. We discuss hominid evolution, cryptid ecology, the importance of oral history and traditional knowledge, and β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, conservationist and podcaster Jack Baker, Β for a review of the charming and humble pangolin! We discuss how the pangolinβs unique adaptations tip the scales in favor of this walking pinecone and what challenges they face in the worlβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's sixteen-legged episode, Christian weaves a web of truth about the Joro spider & Ellen pulls no punches with the day octopus. We discuss what the media hype gets wrong about the Joro spider, Β how β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, entomologist and animal scientist Shakara Maggitt, for a review of the gentle giants of the insect world: phasmids! You may know them as stick bugs, leaf insects or any of their other many common names. Β We discuss learning to love β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen wallows in the unique charm of the babirusa & Christian gives us a look into the mysteries of the Greenland shark. We discuss teeth mutiny, Icelandic food, and life in the slow lanβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, fellow animal science podcaster and Cool Bug Appreciator Katie Goldin, for a review of the spectacular and delectably devious cuckoo wasps! We discuss what makes these glittering jewels of the insect world such perfectly crafted litβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's especially odoriferous episode, Christian gives high marks to the Egyptian vulture and Ellen gives props to the grandstanding, handstanding eastern spotted skunk. We discuss where the pharaoh's cβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, conservation biologist Dr. Christine Wilkinson, for a review of the oft-maligned powerhouses: hyenas! We discuss the diversity of the hyena family, eating bones, girlbossing, how pop culture has missed the mark on hyena representatiβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen hangs out with the slow loris & Christian observes leg day with the southern cassowary. We discuss armpit alchemy, the pitfalls of cute animal videos, rumbles in the jungle, and reβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest Tharusha Wijewardena for a review of the charming and endangered Blanding's turtle. We discuss what to do if you see a turtle crossing the road, what cartoons get right and wrong about turtles, the perils of longevity and cute fluffyβ¦
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 knivβ¦
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 itβs like to work with these spectacular little goofballs, how to win their hearts over with the power of berβ¦
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.β¦
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, β¦
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!β¦
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 β¦
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-eβ¦
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, β¦
Join Ellen & special guest bat enthusiast Nate Marshall for a review of the not-so-sinister vampire bats! Β In this episode, we discuss leaf noses, Pope tweets, bat friendships, and more.β¦
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. Β We discuss why you should give the tarantula hawk plenty of personal space, their video gβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest Carly Haywood for a review of the scaly, pig-snouted friends of the underbrush: nine-banded armadillos! In this episode, we discuss whether you should be afraid of getting leprosy from an armadillo, what βpancakingβ is and why they dβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian brings the acorn woodpecker to trial for its rampant vandalism & Ellen goes for a ride in a time machine with the West African lungfish. Along the way, we discuss the physics β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, science writer & naturalist Rosemary Mosco, for a review of the little grey guy strutting down a street near you: the pigeon! We discuss the history of why pigeons live alongside us, how they evade the clutches of even the worldβs fβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode inspired by Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Ellen basks in the unexpected glory of the ocean sunfish & Christian pays respect to the mischievous tanuki. You'll learn what to bring to a sunβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest evolutionary biologist Dr. Kory Evans for a review of the dimensionally innovative flatfish! Learn the story of why these quirky fishes developed such peculiar body plans and how their bizarre adaptations help them live their best liβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's festively spooky episode, Christian kicks off the celebration with the painted bat & Ellen counts up points for the iconic Dracula parrot.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, entomologist Derek Hennen, for a review of our many-legged friends, the myriapods! Weβre talking millipedes, centipedes, and pauropods: what the difference is between these long guys, how they manage to scurry around without trippinβ¦
Just the Zoo of Us and One Bad Mother got together to celebrate MaxFun Block Party!β¦
Ellen inspects an army of fish clones, the Amazon molly, and Christian finally digs in to the details of the inimitable aardvark. Learn how clones are made in nature, what's going on inside the aardvark's porcine snout, and why it's so crucial to never leave hβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest Mallory McNulty for a review of our porous friends, freshwater sponges! Get the real answers to your burning sponge questions, like what a sponge feels like in your hands, how a completely stationary animal gets to new places, what kβ¦
We've got big, exciting, great news! Just the Zoo of Us is joining the Maximum Fun network! Listen to our announcement for more information about the network, the date of our first episode as members, and a very special treat if you stick around to the end (itβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian reviews the reptile disguised as an earthworm, the Mexican mole lizard, and Ellen evaluates the eclectic, enigmatic echidna.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, naturalist Ivan Phillipsen, for a review of the iconic common loon! In this episode, we discuss why they got stuck with such a rude name, how theyβve managed to master both water AND air, and the hidden meanings behind those ethereaβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, ecologist Gavin Campbell, for a review of the surprising little bugs zipping just beneath the surface of a pond near you: backswimmers! In this episode, Gavin tells us his stories of raising dragons, a mysterious entomological cold β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen details what makes the Philippine eagle soar above the competition & Christian sings praises for the humpback whale.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, wildlife biologist Ashley Bray, for a review of the tigers of the sky: great horned owls! In this episode, we discuss fake ears, silent feathers, tactical pantaloons, and more.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, shark scientist & co-founder of MISS Jaida Elcock, for a review of the chronically anxious scorpion of the sea: thresher sharks! Topics include the unique features that make thresher sharks particularly amazing, what it's like to stβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian reviews how the mudskipper gets the best of both worlds & Ellen strongly relates to the smelliest living dinosaur, the hoatzin.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, ecologist Asia Murphy, for a review of the fossa! In this episode, we discuss their catlike (but not feline!) features, an unusual bachelor-deterring disguise, and what makes the buffed-up fossa such a unique and gorgeous animal.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, evolutionary biologist Dr. Jen Tinsman, for a review of Madagascar's striking blue-eyed black lemurs! In this episode, we discuss Madagascar's incredible biodiversity, the relationships between humans and lemurs, and just how charmiβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen takes a look at the long-snouted Malayan tapir & Christian checks every nook and cranny for lone star ticks.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, horticulturist Dr. Vikram Baliga, for a review of... plants! We left the animal kingdom for this look at some of the fascinating adaptations that plants have made to stay thriving. In this episode, we discuss millenia-old trees, diaβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, marine neurobiologist Alice Chou, for a review of the ocean's feisty boxers, mantis shrimps! In this episode, we discuss why the mantis shrimp is so good at punching stuff, what's up with their funky disco eyes, and other delectableβ¦
Join Ellen & Christian for a special episode answering questions from our beautiful listeners about topics including (but not limited to): making the podcast, things we've learned about animals and nature, our favorite video games, and more!β¦
Join Ellen & special guest Patch, creator of zoology-meets-gaming web series TierZoo, for a review of North America's iconic raptor, the bald eagle. In this episode we discuss the intersection between ecology and video games as well as how the bald eagle measuβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest entomologist Charles Wallace for a review of nature's oft-maligned rogues, cockroaches! In this episode, we bust myths about the roaches that cozy up to human spaces, learn about some of the fascinating strategies that different typeβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen reviews the ocean's most adorable monsters, sea otters, & Christian rates the dazzling blue-ringed octopus.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest, biological anthropologist Dr. Lara Durgavich for a review of the arboreal royalty, orangutans! In this episode, we discuss how orangutans have adapted to make themselves at home in the tree tops, how we see ourselves reflected in thβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, marine ecophysiologist Dr. Yanasivan Kisten for a review of the unassuming yet impressive Cape stumpnose! In this episode, we discuss the crucial role that estuaries play in a healthy ecosystem & spotlight how this little silver fisβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian teaches us why you should resist that urge to feed the bears & Ellen takes a deep dive into the heavily fortified extremophile, the scaly-foot snail.β¦
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 beaβ¦
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.β¦
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.β¦
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 absoluβ¦
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-findiβ¦
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 dramβ¦
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.β¦
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 ecβ¦
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.β¦
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 anβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, artist and arachnid enthusiast Tea Francis, for a review of our fuzzy, chunky, leggy friends: tarantulas! In this episode we discuss why tarantulas deserve admiration, how (and why) to respect their boundaries, and what it's like toβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! Christian returns with the secretive underground cave puppy, the olm, and Ellen reviews the uniquely stunning maned wolf.β¦
Join Ellen and special guest, marine biologist Elizabeth Mills, for a review of the often-overlooked ride-or-die friends of the sea, barnacles! Topics include (but are not limited to): barnacle reproductive anatomy, whale armor, zombie crab mechs, and whether β¦
Join Ellen and marine biologist Dr. Christopher Mah for a review of the mysterious, complicated, many-armed predators of the deep, sea stars! In this episode, we discuss why sea stars are so important to marine ecosystems, their secret drama playing out in sloβ¦
This episode originally aired on December 25, 2020. This version of the episode includes minor updates and audio edits.β¦
Join Ellen and special guest, environmental scientist & host of the Beyond Blathers podcast Olivia deBourcier, for a review of a festive icon, the reindeer (also known as caribou)! In this episode, we talk about what makes reindeer so lovable (spoiler alert: sβ¦
Join Ellen and special guest, entomologist Aaron Fairweather, for a review of the industrious, conniving, world-conquering ants! In this episode, we discuss what makes ants so successful, the theatrical levels of drama going on under our feet every day, and asβ¦
Join Ellen & special guest, field biologist Madison Bush, for a review of a couple of very leggy friends, orb weavers & wolf spiders! In this episode we discuss the World Wide Web, moustaches made out of eyes, and buff Tom Holland.β¦
Join Ellen and special guest, herpetologist Travis Kurtz, for a review of Washington's very own Olympic torrent salamander! In this episode, we go over what makes salamanders so charming, the mysteries that make this little one so special, and what it's like tβ¦
Join Ellen and special guest, conservationist & primatologist Keriann McGoogan, for a review of Coquerel's sifaka! In this episode, we chat about what makes sifakas so special as well as what it's like to work with and study them in the wild in Madagascar.β¦
Join Ellen and special guest, marine biologist Ryan Hegseth, for a review of the scalloped hammerhead! In this episode, we review what makes this hammerhead shark so successful and charming in addition to some slight detours along the way, visiting topics likeβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode Ellen untangles the slimebeast of the ocean floor, the hagfish, and Christian kicks it up a notch with the relentlessly stylish secretary bird.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest Jazmin Murphy (AKA Sunny) for a review of the iconic coyote! In this episode, we discuss how coyotes have adapted to thrive in a wide variety of environments and what makes them so delightfully special.β¦
Join Ellen and special guest Chelsea Connor for a review of the Dominican anole! In this episode we talk dewlaps, eyespots, and what it's like to work with these little lizards with big attitudes.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian charges in with the American bison and Ellen explains the quirky appearance and lifestyle of the giraffe-necked weevil.β¦
Join Ellen and special guest Tori Wingerter for a review of Florida's very own dinosaur burger, the gopher tortoise! We dig in to what makes these mini tanks so special and delightful, and why they're so important to their ecosystems.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen brings it home with the common pigeon & Christian explains what makes the sea krait a real spicy noodle.β¦
Join Ellen and special guest Jasmin Graham for a review of the most dangerous snoot in the water, the sawfish! In this episode we discuss what's up with that wild saw on their face, what makes them such impressive predators, how they're affected by human activβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian takes us on a tour of the pika's digestive system & Ellen shows some love to the North American giant millipede and its role as an unsung ecological hero. (Heads up: this episoβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's re-broadcast of an episode from August of 2020, Ellen explains why emus don't bother flying and Christian dives into the mysterious world of the cryptic whale shark. We discuss the evolution, de-β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen explains why emus don't bother flying and Christian dives into the mysterious world of the cryptic whale shark.β¦
Join Ellen and special guest Kelly Diamond for a review of Hawaii's peculiar and charming waterfall climbing gobies, o'opu nopili! In this episode we talk about the unique adaptations that these gobies have developed to allow them to overcome some impressive oβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian gives us the lowdown on a shimmering jelly bean, the golden mole, and Ellen sets the record straight on piranhas.β¦
Join Ellen and special guest Patsy DeLacey for a review of the "bleeding heart" monkey, the gelada! In this episode we talk about what makes this monkey so unique AND so beautiful, as well as what it's like to work with them in the Simien Mountains.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen squares up with the wolverine & Christian takes us on a leisurely stroll down Nightmare Lane with the Suriname toad. Check it out!β¦
Join Ellen and special guest, the bookworm with a worm book, Prof. OnΓ© R. PagΓ‘n for a review of the mysterious squiggles straight out of science fiction, planarians! In this episode we learn about what makes these worms so fascinating and how they serve as reβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian leaps to new heights with the bold jumping spider & Ellen desperately resists giving the North American porcupine a great big hug.β¦
Join Ellen and special guest Charlotte Hacker for a review of the elusive fluffball of the mountains, the snow leopard! In this week's episode we talk about what makes these beautiful cats so hard to find and so worth protecting.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen takes us to the GalΓ‘pagos Islands to learn about the vampire finch & Christian tells us what makes the Eastern indigo snake really shine.β¦
Join Ellen & special guest Benjamin Lancer for a review of the sand puppy, AKA the naked mole rat! In this week's episode, we dig in to what makes these wrinkly little guys such marvels of nature and what unexpected adaptations they've developed that lets themβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode Ellen reviews the spiciest pancake in the desert, the Texas horned lizard, and Christian dives deep into the world of the sperm whale.β¦
Join Ellen and special guest Dr. Catherine Macdonald for a review of... sharks! In this episode, we tour the diversity of sharks, learn about some of the incredible ways they have adapted to excel, and examine the relationships humans have with sharks & how yoβ¦
As of the day this episode airs, Just the Zoo of Us will have been broadcasting for one full calendar year! In this episode, we celebrate by answering fun and thoughtful questions from our listeners and friends. We're incredibly thankful for everyone who has jβ¦
Join Ellen and special guest Yi-Kai Tea for a review of the mind-blowingly diverse and impressive wrasse family! In this episode we go over the crucial roles wrasses play in their ecosystems, how expertly they've adapted to excel in those roles, and of course β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian reviews the towering moose & Ellen squeals over the desert rain frog.
Join Ellen and special guest Dr. Sarah McAnulty for a review of the sparkly dumpling of the sea, the Hawaiian bobtail squid! In this episode we talk about the amazing inner workings of these soft round friends, their complex relationship with very special bactβ¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen warns you not to touch the deceptively fuzzy caterpillar of the southern flannel moth & Christian waxes poetic about the chambered nautilus.β¦
Join Ellen and special guest Tyus Williams for a review of the strikingly striped tiger! In this episode, we basically just gush about how amazing tigers are for an hour. It's wonderful.β¦
Join Ellen and a special guest for a very serious and definitely completely true review of an incredible animal so rare that only one person on Earth has ever studied it: 6-year-old Isaac.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian treats us to some delightfully absurd hippo facts and stories & Ellen sings praises for the northern mockingbird.β¦
Join Ellen and special guest Emily Bell for a Florida native wildlife review! In this week's episode, Emily deepens our appreciation for a Florida icon, the green anole, as well as the native ecosystem, impacts of invasive species, adaptability in the face of β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen clacks her beak over roseate spoonbills & Christian climbs to new heights with Matschie's tree kangaroo.β¦
Join the Weatherfords and special guest Thomas Rillstone from the History of Aotearoa New Zealand podcast for a review of the tuatara! In this episode we get educated on what makes this ancient reptile and other New Zealand wildlife so special, with a few fun β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian hypes up the showstopping fashion sense of the red velvet ant and Ellen recounts what makes the Solomon Islands skink a very unique friend.β¦
Join Ellen and special guest Corina Newsome for an animal review! In this week's episode, Corina shares her insight on Harris's hawk, with sharp talons and even sharper minds, as well as birding, wildlife education and science communication.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen explains the special ears of the fennec fox & Christian gives us the story about the Atlantic horseshoe crab's blue blood.β¦
Join the Weatherfords and special guest Kattie Stoneman for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Kattie shares insight into the giraffe world from her experience working with these very tall friends.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's mollusc mania, Christian hypnotizes us with cuttlefish wisdom and Ellen confronts some biases against snail intelligence.β¦
Join the Weatherfords and special guest Corbin Maxey from Animals to the Max for an animal review! In this week's episode, we get to know our wildlife expert friend and Corbin takes the reigns to rate and review the Burmese python.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen whistles a tune about the antelope fairy, Kirk's dik dik, and Christian brings us back to the abyss of horrors with the Bobbitt worm!β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian lights the way with the humpback anglerfish & Ellen kicks back with the desert kangaroo rat.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen reviews the spectacular real-life fairy, the luna moth, and Christian rates the grey bag bear, the koala.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian gives us a lesson on the role of the Inca tern's droppings in United States history & Ellen tells the story of the European eel doing the absolute most.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's special live episode at Cultivate in Jacksonville Florida, Ellen meets a Sudan plated lizard face-to-face and Christian tells us why we would not want to meet an orca face-to-face.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian explains where the supremely elegant blue-footed booby gets its very serious and dignified name and Ellen howls about the controversial dingo.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen reviews Vietnam's best-dressed citizens, Delacour's langur, and Christian backs up the Komodo dragon's swagger.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian does a spot-on impression of a potoo & Ellen drops some knowledge bombs about the African giant pouched rat.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's dragon-themed episode, Ellen focuses her complete attention on the sentry dragonfly and Christian spotlights the decorated diva of the sea, the leafy.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's very special very spooky episode, Christian debunks some myths about the black widow spider & Ellen illuminates the mysterious vampire squid.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen chills out in the capybara language & Christian begs you not to touch the Gaboon viper.β¦
In this week's re-broadcast of an episode from October of 2019, Christian zooms in on the tardigrades & Ellen demystifies the unique platypus.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian zooms in on the tardigrades & Ellen demystifies the unique platypus.
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this episode, Ellen conglobates with the roly poly and Christian revels in the fabulous keel-billed toucan.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian educates us on the mata mata turtle and Ellen praises the world's most dedicated dad bod, the emperor penguin.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen sings the song of the coquΓ and Christian blasts us with some hot & spicy knowledge on the bombardier beetle.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this week's episode, Christian spots South America's greatest overachiever, the jaguar, and Ellen "falls" in love with the clever bearded vulture.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen poses for a selfie with the world's worst mom, the quokka, and Christian sees the true colors of the peacock mantis shrimp.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode inspired by the Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta, Christian reviews the alien spaceship of the sea, the giant manta ray, and Ellen gushes over the "original" panda.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen explains how and why the chameleon changes its colors and Christian educates us on the Punk Rock Icon of New Zealand, the kea.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode all about dismantling unfair animal prejudices, Christian caves to peer pressure and sets the record straight on the blobfish, and Ellen shifts the narrative on the three-toed sloth.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this episode, Ellen cuddles up to the fluffy Malayan sky puppies and Christian gives us the buzz about western honey bees.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this week's episode, Christian profoundly disturbs literally everyone by talking about the human botfly, and Ellen lightens the mood with some adorable sea puppies, the cownose rays.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's very superstitious 13th episode, Ellen demystifies Madagascar's tree goblin the aye-aye, submitted by Dustin Barnett, and Christian sings some praises for our spooky bird friend, the raven.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this week's episode, Christian gives us a cellular biology lesson about the golden poison frog & Ellen tells youexactly why you do not want to come at the tamandua, bro.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen & Christian review the problem-free philosophies of the famous meerkat and warthog.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this week's episode, Christian gushes over the Atlantic puffin & Ellen sheds a little light on the mysterious aardwolf.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen illuminates the axolotl's superpowers and Christian trashes the nightmarish horror of the deep, the goblin shark.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this week's episode, Christian teaches us about the Florida panther and Ellen publicly calls out the lionfish for its egregious crimes.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this episode, Ellen fawns over the Asian elephant and Christian introduces us to a true hero, Mr. Immortal Jellyfish Man.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this episode, Β Christian respects the lynx's magnificent beard & Ellen has a few hot takes for the world's spiciest bird.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this episode, Ellen warns us not to touch the blue dragon sea slug & Christian defends our plump pals, the water moccasins.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this episode, Christian teaches us all the osprey swoop & Ellen projectile vomits her very strong feelings about the Arabian camel.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this episode, Ellen kinkshames praying mantises and Christian exposes the truly limitless laziness of the giant panda. LISTENER DISCRETION: We talk about reproduction in this episode.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this episode, Christian lays down some eelectrifying knowledge and Ellen talks about the mysterious, secretive okapi.β¦
Join the Weatherfords for an animal review! In this episode, Ellen recalls her gator coven and Christian rejects the cetology of sea pigs.
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