Just the Zoo of Us
Episodes
156: California Sea Lion & Giant Isopod
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
155: Dolphins w/ Drew Smith!
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, anthropologist & cetologist Drew Smith, for a review of the adorable little apex predators zipping through the waves: dolp...
154: Hognose Snake & Cone Snail
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 e...
153: Sandhill Crane w/ Tommy Siegel!
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
152: Rough-Skinned Newt & Pumpkin Toadlet
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's poisonous amphibian showcase, Christian takes competition to a whole new level with t...
151: Nominating the National Bird w/ Nick Lund!
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 Unit...
150: Saiga & Alligator Gar
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 alligat...
149: Red-Tailed Hawk w/ Maya Higa!
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & conservationist, wildlife educator and streamer Maya Higa to talk about one of the toughest, bravest predators in the sky: red-tailed haw...
148: Japanese Spider Crab & Saharan Silver Ant
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
147: Assassin Bugs w/ Ilan Domnich!
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
146: Hedgehog & Bandicoot
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 Europ...
145: Owl Monkeys w/ Alexi Grousis!
26 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, zookeeper & host of the We Out Here podcast Alexi Grousis, for a review of a unique and mysterious creature bouncing aroun...
144: A Grand Scale Adventure
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join the Weatherfords for a fantasy roleplaying adventure as Christian plays a Dungeons & Dragons homebrew one-shot written by Ellen! In this week's e...
143: Muskox w/ Kirsten Engeseth!
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ellen & special guest, herbivore ecologist and researcher Kirsten Engeseth, who joins us all the way from Norway to review the fluffiest, softest livi...
142: Questions, Answers and Stories
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For the second and final week of the MaxFunDrive, we're answering your questions and sharing your stories! We share some deeply personal intimate deta...
141: Bigfoot w/ Elliot Helmer!
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, archaeologist and cryptid enthusiast Elliot Helmer, on a search for the truth about our most mysterious neighbor: Bigfoot....
64: Emu & Whale Shark (REPLAY)
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
140: Pangolins w/ Jack Baker!
14 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, conservationist and podcaster Jack Baker, for a review of the charming and humble pangolin! We discuss how the pangolin’...
139: Joro Spider & Day Octopus
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
138: Phasmids w/ Shakara Maggitt!
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, entomologist and animal scientist Shakara Maggitt, for a review of the gentle giants of the insect world: phasmids! You ma...
137: Babirusa & Greenland Shark
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 loo...
136: Cuckoo Wasps w/ Katie Goldin!
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, fellow animal science podcaster and Cool Bug Appreciator Katie Goldin, for a review of the spectacular and delectably devi...
135: Egyptian Vulture & Eastern Spotted Skunk
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's especially odoriferous episode, Christian gives high marks to the Egyptian vulture an...
134: Hyenas w/ Dr. Christine Wilkinson!
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, conservation biologist Dr. Christine Wilkinson, for a review of the oft-maligned powerhouses: hyenas! We discuss the diver...
133: Slow Loris & Cassowary
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 so...
132: Blanding's Turtle w/ Tharusha Wijewardena!
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 turt...
131: Green Iguana & Blue Marlin
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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. Topi...
130: Turacos w/ Aeralyn Rudnick!
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
129: Icefish & Wombat
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 shi...
128: Ground Squirrels w/ Stephanie Martinez!
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & conservation biologist Stephanie Martinez for a review of the little deceptively adorable critters tunneling through the grasslands: grou...
127: Bull Shark & Green Heron
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ta...
126: Carnation Corals w/ Rosie Steinberg!
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & marine biologist Rosie Steinberg for a review of some beautiful animals that you might not have even known were animals: carnation corals...
125: Crested Gecko w/ Dominique DiFalco!
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 r...
124: Northern Giraffe w/ Ashley Hamer!
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen and special guest, science communicator & podcaster Ashley Hamer, for a review of the towering leaf-eaters of the African savannahs: the no...
123: Vampire Bats w/ Nate Marshall!
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest bat enthusiast Nate Marshall for a review of the not-so-sinister vampire bats! In this episode, we discuss leaf noses, Po...
122: Tarantula Hawk & Vulture Bee
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen squares up with the formidable tarantula hawk & Christian gives the bu...
121: Nine-banded Armadillo w/ Carly Haywood!
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
120: Acorn Woodpecker & West African Lungfish
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian brings the acorn woodpecker to trial for its rampant vandalism & ...
119: Pigeons w/ Rosemary Mosco!
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, science writer & naturalist Rosemary Mosco, for a review of the little grey guy strutting down a street near you: the pige...
118: Ocean Sunfish & Tanuki
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode inspired by Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Ellen basks in the unexpected glor...
117: Flatfish w/ Dr. Kory Evans!
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest evolutionary biologist Dr. Kory Evans for a review of the dimensionally innovative flatfish! Learn the story of why these q...
116: Painted Bat & Dracula Parrot
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's festively spooky episode, Christian kicks off the celebration with the painted bat & ...
115: Myriapods (Millipedes, Centipedes & Pauropods) w/ Dr. Derek Hennen!
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, entomologist Derek Hennen, for a review of our many-legged friends, the myriapods! We’re talking millipedes, centipedes,...
Meet the Neighbors: Just the Zoo of Us x One Bad Mother
18 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Just the Zoo of Us and One Bad Mother got together to celebrate MaxFun Block Party! If you enjoyed this conversation we had with host Biz Ellis, be s...
114: Amazon Molly & Aardvark
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Special announcement: We're joining Maximum Fun!
08 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
113: Freshwater Sponges w/ Mallory McNulty!
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest Mallory McNulty for a review of our porous friends, freshwater sponges! Get the real answers to your burning sponge questio...
112: Mexican Mole Lizard & Echidna
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian reviews the reptile disguised as an earthworm, the Mexican mole li...
111: Common Loon w/ Ivan Phillipsen!
21 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 su...
110: Backswimmers w/ Gavin Campbell!
15 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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: ...
109: Philippine Eagle & Humpback Whale
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen details what makes the Philippine eagle soar above the competition & C...
108: Great Horned Owl w/ Ashley Bray!
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
107: Thresher Shark w/ Jaida Elcock!
23 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, shark scientist & co-founder of MISS Jaida Elcock, for a review of the chronically anxious scorpion of the sea: thresher s...
106: Mudskipper & Hoatzin
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 st...
105: Fossa w/ Asia Murphy!
02 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
104: Blue-Eyed Black Lemur w/ Dr. Jen Tinsman!
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, evolutionary biologist Dr. Jen Tinsman, for a review of Madagascar's striking blue-eyed black lemurs! In this episode, we ...
103: Malayan Tapir & Lone Star Tick
20 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
102: Plants w/ Dr. Vikram Baliga!
12 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 fasci...
101: Mantis Shrimp w/ Alice Chou!
05 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, marine neurobiologist Alice Chou, for a review of the ocean's feisty boxers, mantis shrimps! In this episode, we discuss w...
100th Episode Q&A Celebration!
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & Christian for a special episode answering questions from our beautiful listeners about topics including (but not limited to): making the ...
99: Bald Eagles w/ Patch, creator of TierZoo!
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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. I...
98: Cockroaches w/ Charles Wallace!
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest entomologist Charles Wallace for a review of nature's oft-maligned rogues, cockroaches! In this episode, we bust myths abou...
97: Sea Otter & Blue-Ringed Octopus
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen reviews the ocean's most adorable monsters, sea otters, & Christian ra...
96: Orangutans w/ Dr. Lara Durgavich!
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, biological anthropologist Dr. Lara Durgavich for a review of the arboreal royalty, orangutans! In this episode, we discuss...
95: Cape Stumpnose w/ Dr. Yanasivan Kisten!
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, marine ecophysiologist Dr. Yanasivan Kisten for a review of the unassuming yet impressive Cape stumpnose! In this episode,...
94: American Black Bear & Scaly-foot Snail
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 & Ell...
93: Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle w/ Alex Troutman!
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
92: Archerfish w/ Dagmar der Weduwen!
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest ecologist Dagmar der Weduwen for a review of the sharpshooting archerfish! In this episode, we discuss the archerfish's...
91: Periodical Cicadas & Portuguese Man O' War
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
90: Pronghorn w/ Vinny Thomas!
26 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
89: Vietnamese Mossy Frog w/ Gina Zwicky!
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, biologist & naturalist Gina Zwicky, for a review of the amphibian master of disguise, the Vietnamese mossy frog! In this e...
88: Stargazer & Pink Fairy Armadillo
11 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's very fossorial episode, Christian reveals the hidden nightmares of the stargazer fish...
87: Jumping Spiders w/ Dr. Sebastian Echeverri!
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, arachnologist Dr. Sebastian A. Echeverri for a review of the overpowered bards of the arachnid world, jumping spiders! In ...
86: Copepods w/ Jimmy Bernot!
24 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, evolutionary biologist Jimmy Bernot, for a review of the microscopic crustaceans truly running the world, copepods! In thi...
85: Opossum & Burrowing Owl
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
84: Cheetahs w/ Gabi Fleury!
10 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 d...
83: Tarantulas w/ Tea Francis!
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen & special guest, artist and arachnid enthusiast Tea Francis, for a review of our fuzzy, chunky, leggy friends: tarantulas! In this episode ...
82: Olm & Maned Wolf
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! Christian returns with the secretive underground cave puppy, the olm, and Ellen reviews the uniquely...
81: Barnacles w/ Elizabeth Mills!
15 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
80: Sea Stars w/ Dr. Christopher Mah!
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
79: Reindeer (aka Caribou) w/ Olivia deBourcier!
25 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen and special guest, environmental scientist & host of the Beyond Blathers podcast Olivia deBourcier, for a review of a festive icon, the rei...
78: Ants w/ Aaron Fairweather!
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen and special guest, entomologist Aaron Fairweather, for a review of the industrious, conniving, world-conquering ants! In this episode, we d...
77: Orb Weavers & Wolf Spiders w/ Madison Bush!
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
76: Olympic Torrent Salamander w/ Travis Kurtz!
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen and special guest, herpetologist Travis Kurtz, for a review of Washington's very own Olympic torrent salamander! In this episode, we go ove...
75: Coquerel's Sifaka w/ Keriann McGoogan!
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen and special guest, conservationist & primatologist Keriann McGoogan, for a review of Coquerel's sifaka! In this episode, we chat about what...
74: Scalloped Hammerhead w/ Ryan Hegseth!
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen and special guest, marine biologist Ryan Hegseth, for a review of the scalloped hammerhead! In this episode, we review what makes this hamm...
73: Hagfish & Secretary Bird
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
72: Coyotes w/ Jazmin Murphy!
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
71: Dominican Anole w/ Chelsea Connor!
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
70: American Bison & Giraffe-Necked Weevil
23 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
69: Gopher Tortoise w/ Tori Wingerter!
16 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 min...
68: Pigeon & Banded Sea Krait
09 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
67: Sawfish w/ Jasmin Graham!
02 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 wi...
66: Pika & North American Giant Millipede
26 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 so...
64: Emu & Whale Shark
12 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 mys...
63: Waterfall Climbing Gobies w/ Kelly Diamond!
05 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
62: Golden Mole & Red-Bellied Piranha
29 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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, ...
61: Geladas w/ Patsy DeLacey!
22 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 monk...
60: Wolverine & Suriname Toad
15 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 stro...
59: Planarians w/ Prof. Oné R. Pagán!
08 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ellen and special guest, the bookworm with a worm book, Prof. Oné R. Pagán for a review of the mysterious squiggles straight out of science fi...