PodcastsKids & FamilyJust the Zoo of Us

Just the Zoo of Us

Ellen & Christian Weatherford
Just the Zoo of Us
Latest episode

356 episodes

  • Just the Zoo of Us

    338: Seriema

    28/05/2026 | 48 mins.
    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.

    Works Cited:

    “Observation of Claw Use and Feeding Behavior of the Red-Legged Seriema and Its Implication for Claw Use in Deinonychosaurs” - Oswald et al., Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, January 2023

    "Seriema - modern day Velociraptor?" - Dr. Brian Curtice, fossilcrates.com November 2022

    “Bird bounces golf ball on the cart path!” - Alex Baggett, YouTube

    Audio: Guilherme de Barros Brandão, XC417496. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/417496

    “Commentary: Defining Raptors and Birds of Prey” - McClure et al., Journal of Raptor Research, November 2019

    Links:

    For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!

    Follow Just the Zoo of Us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!

    Follow Ellen on Instagram or BlueSky!

    Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo
  • Just the Zoo of Us

    337: Tree Kangaroos w/ Lisa Dabek!

    21/05/2026 | 59 mins.
    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 spotlight. We discuss the diversity of Papua New Guinea’s cloud forests where dinosaurs still have the run of the place, life as a joey in the towering treetops, a look at what went into designing a tree kangaroo habitat in Woodland Park Zoo’s new Forest Trailhead exhibit, and so much more. 

    Links:

    Learn more about the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program at their website: https://treekangaroo.org/

    Learn more about the SAFE Program: https://www.aza.org/safe-species

    Check out the Woodland Park Zoo's new Forest Trailhead exhibit: https://zoo.org/foresttrailhead/

    For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!

    Follow Just the Zoo of Us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!

    Follow Ellen on Instagram or BlueSky!

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

    Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo
  • Just the Zoo of Us

    336: Crawfish w/ Jack Koch!

    15/05/2026 | 46 mins.
    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 of rocks, bugs and squishy bags, the perils of growing up under the tail of a cannibal mom, and so much more. 

    Links:

    Learn more about Jack's work at the Aquatic Germplasm and Genetic Resources Center

    Follow LSU Research on Instagram!

    For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!

    Follow Just the Zoo of Us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!

    Follow Ellen on Instagram or BlueSky!

    Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo
  • Just the Zoo of Us

    335: Sand Cat

    06/05/2026 | 58 mins.
    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.

    Works Cited:

    “The Carnivores of West Africa” - Donovan Reginald Rosevear, 1974. Page 396

    “Mammalian ear specializations in arid habitats: structural and functional evidence from sand cat (Felis margarita)” - G. T. Huang et al, Journal of Comparative Physiology A, June 2002

    “Sand cat in Iran - present status, distribution and conservation challenges” - Taher Ghadirian et al., CATnews (newsletter of the IUCN’s Cat Specialist Group), 2016

    "Sand Cat" - International Society of Endangered Cats (ISEC) Canada

    “Home ranges of African sand cats (Felis margarita margarita)” - Alexander Sliwa et al., Journal of Arid Environments, March 2023

    “Isabelline” - Paul Anthony Jones, HaggardHawks.com

    IUCN Red List: Sand Cat (Felis margarita)

    "DOMESTIC X SAND CAT AND PALLAS'S CAT HYBRIDS" - Sarah Hartwell, messybeast.com

    Links:

    For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!

    Follow Just the Zoo of Us on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!

    Follow Ellen on Instagram or BlueSky!

    Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo
  • Just the Zoo of Us

    Bonus Content Free Samples! (2026)

    30/04/2026 | 55 mins.
    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"

     If you like what you hear, head over to https://maximumfun.org/join and sign up to get access to the entire bonus content library and SO much more!

    Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinjustthezoo
More Kids & Family podcasts
About Just the Zoo of Us
Join us, Ellen and Christian Weatherford, while we review your favorite species of animals and rate them out of ten in the categories of effectiveness, ingenuity and aesthetics. More information can be found at justthezooofus.com 😊 Got a species you want us to review? Submit your animal friend to us at [email protected] and when we review your animal we'll give you a shoutout! 😊 Cover art by Mrs. Brainbow (Taylor Gordon-Wood). Theme music by Louie Zong.
Podcast website

Listen to Just the Zoo of Us, Silly Stories for Kids and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app

  • Stations and podcasts to bookmark
  • Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Supports Carplay & Android Auto
  • Many other app features
Just the Zoo of Us: Podcasts in Family