Connecting People to Nature: Inside Woodland Park Zoo's New Forest Trailhead

Unlocking Nature's Secrets: Insights from 'Just the Zoo of Us' - Part 2

Send "Fan Mail" to Rick [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2557474/fan_mail/new] (This is Part 2 of 2) Most people underestimate how deep their connection to nature really is—and how the smallest action can reshape our relationship with the environment. Imagine discovering that your passion for animals and wildlife could be your pathway to influencing conservation, even if your career path didn’t follow the traditional route. Join host, Rick Schwartz for an engaging conversation with Ellen Weatherford, host of the popular podcast 'Just the Zoo of Us,' as she shares her journey from wildlife enthusiast to podcast creator, her insights on neurodivergence, and the importance of connecting with nature and community. Discover how curiosity, passion, and understanding ecosystems can inspire conservation and personal growth. Animals, Nature, and You on IG [https://www.instagram.com/animalsnatureandyou] Links mentioned in this episode: Just the Zoo of Us [https://www.justthezooofus.com/] Just the Zoo of Us on IG [https://www.instagram.com/thezooofuspod/] Just the Zoo of Us on FB [https://www.facebook.com/JustTheZooOfUs] Find Rick here: ZoologyRick.com [https://www.zoologyrick.com/] Rick's social media stuff... Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zoologyrick] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@RickSchwartz] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ZoologyRick] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@zoologyrick] BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/zoologyrick.bsky.social] Podcast Music: Positive Carefree Folk Pop Artist: Burgberg Used with Full Music Standard Lic.

Unlocking Nature's Secrets: Insights from 'Just the Zoo of Us' - Part 1

Send "Fan Mail" to Rick [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2557474/fan_mail/new] (This is Part 1 of 2) Most people underestimate how deep their connection to nature really is—and how the smallest action can reshape our relationship with the environment. Imagine discovering that your passion for animals and wildlife could be your pathway to influencing conservation, even if your career path didn’t follow the traditional route. Join host, Rick Schwartz for an engaging conversation with Ellen Weatherford, host of the popular podcast 'Just the Zoo of Us,' as she shares her journey from wildlife enthusiast to podcast creator, her insights on neurodivergence, and the importance of connecting with nature and community. Discover how curiosity, passion, and understanding ecosystems can inspire conservation and personal growth. Animals, Nature, and You on IG [https://www.instagram.com/animalsnatureandyou] Links mentioned in this episode: Just the Zoo of Us [https://www.justthezooofus.com/] Just the Zoo of Us on IG [https://www.instagram.com/thezooofuspod/] Just the Zoo of Us on FB [https://www.facebook.com/JustTheZooOfUs] Find Rick here: ZoologyRick.com [https://www.zoologyrick.com/] Rick's social media stuff... Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zoologyrick] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@RickSchwartz] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ZoologyRick] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@zoologyrick] BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/zoologyrick.bsky.social] Podcast Music: Positive Carefree Folk Pop Artist: Burgberg Used with Full Music Standard Lic.

Did You Notice? The Wildlife is Watching You.

Send "Fan Mail" to Rick [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2557474/fan_mail/new] In this 10 Minute Tuesday, Rick explores how human activity impacts wildlife behavior, highlighting recent scientific studies and personal insights. Discover how animals adapt to human presence and what this means for conservation efforts.  Rick also discusses the use of drone technology to deploy environmental monitoring tools with little human impact, giving researchers a "cleaner" read of the habitat. Animals, Nature, and You on IG [https://www.instagram.com/animalsnatureandyou] Links mentioned in the episode: Yale News: Wildlife is Watching Us Too and Changing Their Behavior In Response [https://news.yale.edu/2026/05/21/wildlife-watching-us-too-and-changing-their-behavior-response] Science.org: Interacting effects of human presence and landscape modification on birds and mammals [https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adq3396] Find Rick here: ZoologyRick.com [https://www.zoologyrick.com/] Rick's social media stuff... Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zoologyrick] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@RickSchwartz] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ZoologyRick] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@zoologyrick] BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/zoologyrick.bsky.social] Podcast Music: Positive Carefree Folk Pop Artist: Burgberg Used with Full Music Standard Lic.

Connecting People to Nature: Inside Woodland Park Zoo's New Forest Trailhead

Send "Fan Mail" to Rick [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2557474/fan_mail/new] Join Rick in a fascinating discussion with Woodland Park Zoo's Chief Engagement Officer, Rebecca Whitham as she shares the concepts, ideas and opening of the new habitat, Forest Trailhead. From community involvement and input to the importance sharing the stories of the ecosystem, you will discover how Woodland Park Zoo is telling global stories through local connections and engaging visitors in wildlife preservation. This episode builds on previous discussions with other conservationists about the powerful concept of community-driven conservation, showcasing stories from Papua New Guinea to the Eastern Himalayas, we learn how meaningful partnerships are for conservation. Rick and Rebecca also explore how involving communities transforms endangered species, like the tree kangaroo, into ambassadors for a broader global story of ecology and resilience. Animals, Nature, and You on IG [https://www.instagram.com/animalsnatureandyou] Links mentioned in this episode: Woodland Park Zoo [https://zoo.org/] WPZ's Forest Trailhead [https://zoo.org/foresttrailhead/] Woodland Park Zoo on IG [https://www.instagram.com/woodlandparkzoo/] Woodland Park Zoo on FB [https://www.facebook.com/WoodlandParkZooSeattle/] Woodland Park Zoo on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/woodlandparkzoo] Find Rick here: ZoologyRick.com [https://www.zoologyrick.com/] Rick's social media stuff... Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zoologyrick] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@RickSchwartz] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ZoologyRick] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@zoologyrick] BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/zoologyrick.bsky.social] Podcast Music: Positive Carefree Folk Pop Artist: Burgberg Used with Full Music Standard Lic. https://www.youtube.com/woodlandparkzoo

How to Coexist with Snakes: Myths, Facts, and Safety Tips

Send "Fan Mail" to Rick [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2557474/fan_mail/new] In this episode, Rick Schwartz explores the fascinating world of snakes, debunking myths, sharing interesting facts, and offering practical advice for coexisting with these vital creatures. Learn how to identify, respect, and live alongside snakes safely and responsibly. Animals, Nature, and You on IG [https://www.instagram.com/animalsnatureandyou] Find Rick here: ZoologyRick.com [https://www.zoologyrick.com/] Rick's social media stuff... Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zoologyrick] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@RickSchwartz] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ZoologyRick] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@zoologyrick] BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/zoologyrick.bsky.social] Podcast Music: Positive Carefree Folk Pop Artist: Burgberg Used with Full Music Standard Lic.