Mothering Wildlife
Telling the stories of moms who work in zoo, wildlife, vet, and conservation organizations. Working with wildlife brings a unique set of challenges for working mothers. Join me weekly as I interview moms working primarily in the zoo field as we discuss their journey as moms, navigating the mental, emotional, and often physical challenges that come with caring for wildlife and caring for kids.
Episodes
51 episodes
Zookeeper Doula with Caitlin Rodriguez from Blessed Mother Birth Services
My guest this week is Caitlin Rodriguez, a doula who owns Blessed Mother Birth Services in the Dallas/Forth Worth area of Texas. When I first met Caitlin, I totally fangirled over her - why, you might ask? Well, Caitlin was not only...
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Episode 51
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1:01:15
How To Be A Herpetologist Hero and Raise Children with Amie Mercado from the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
My guest this week, Amie Mercado, is a Senior Herpetology Care Specialist at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. She offers a new perspective on being a pregnant animal care specialist. What do zoo guests think when they see a ...
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49:07
An IVF Journey While Being a Zookeeper with Kirsti Mahon of the Naples Zoo
This week, my guest, Kirsti Mahon, and I dive into her journey to become a mother. A journey that includes IVF, a hurricane, and the best outcome ever - a beautiful baby girl!Kirsti candidly shares her journey, from the support she...
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Episode 49
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59:34
Advocating While Pregnant and Navigating Upon Your Return to Work with Chelsie Bedingfield from the Sacramento Zoo
My guest this week is Chelsie Bedingfield, an ungulate keeper at the Sacramento Zoo. Her and I really dive into what a zookeeper's daily roles and responsibilities are, and then what it is like to be a pregnant zookeeper doing those tasks...
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Episode 48
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1:10:03
Patiently Waiting, Observing, Validating Feelings, and Then Finding Solutions - At Home and at the Zoo with Katie Hall from Minnesota Zoo
Join me this week as I talk to Katie Hall, the Director of Animal Behavior and Wellbeing at the Minnesota Zoo. The first part of our conversation really dives into the responsibilities of her role at the zoo. Roles like hers have be...
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Episode 47
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58:56
Nothing Can Really Prepare You for Motherhood or Even the Feelings of Postpartum with Andrea Porch of Sedgwick County Zoo
This week my guest, Andrea Porch, and I have a great conversation about the postpartum period. So much about the postpartum period is not discussed openly but it can be such an important conversation to hold publicly. Women can feel alone in th...
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Episode 46
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1:03:55
From Crustacean Enthusiast to Aquarist Mom with Caroline Dyer of Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
My guest this week, Caroline, is not only a crustacean enthusiast but an amazing aquarist mom from Canada! Her and I talk about all things aquarist, including what it's like to be a pregnant aquarist and the restrictions she had during he...
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Episode 45
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59:19
Can Being a Zookeeper Help You Find Balance as a Mom? with Leanne Parker of Niabi Zoo
We talk a lot about the “zookeeper identity” on this podcast - how being a zookeeper can infiltrate into so many areas of your life. My guest this week, Leanne, and I talk about this and about how to balance that with a “mom identity” as ...
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Episode 44
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41:42
My Job is Such a Huge Part of My Life, Could I Be a Mom and Do This Too? with Kaylee Franklin of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
As a working parent, you might have asked yourself the question, "Can I be a mom and do this job too?" My guest this week, Kaylee, asked herself that question before becoming a mom. It's a valid question to ask and one that is also ...
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Episode 43
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50:52
Everything is a Season; Seasons of Motherhood, Seasons of your Career, and Seasons of Work/Life Balance with Melissa Farr Dacumos of Utah’s Hogle Zoo
My guest this week is Melissa Farr Dacumos, Associate Director of Animal Care at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. Her and I spent a fair amount of time talking about pregnancy while working in animal care, her postpartum period during Covid, and returning to ...
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Episode 42
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1:08:28
Postpartum is Hard! But so is Being a Working Mom with Carly Hornberger from Smithsonian's National Zoo
My guest this week, Carly, and I talk about the postpartum period. There are so many changes that occur during that "4th trimester". As you approach the end of your maternity leave you might find yourself excited to return to work b...
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Episode 41
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57:30
More Than a Mom and Not Just a Zookeeper with Kristine Duplisea of the Fort Worth Zoo
As a working professional, when you suddenly step into the world of motherhood, it can sometimes feel as if you now have two identities. Motherhood, and in the case of most of this podcast's guests, zookeeper. My guest this week, Kr...
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Episode 40
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1:00:31
Working Your Dream Job but Feeling Like You’re Needed at Home with Kristen Beedle, former primate zookeeper
Animal care professionals work so hard to get into the zoo field. Internships, commutes, low pay, time spent away from family and friends - all this because they love what they do and oftentimes consider it their passion. They can’t imagine doi...
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Episode 39
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56:00
Kids Will Work for Chocolate Chips with Sarah Kirkman of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Can you train your kids the same way you train zoo animals? My guest this week, Sarah Kirkman, is a zookeeper at the Columbus Zoo and mom to two small children and she has a great story about putting her animal training skills to use!...
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Episode 38
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50:02
Penguins, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Comparison with Lindsay Ireland of the Detroit Zoo
My guest this week, Lindsay Ireland, is a penguin keeper at the Detroit Zoo. We talk a bit about being pregnant while working with penguins and then dive into how as a new mom it can be so hard not to compare oneself to other mothers and ...
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Episode 37
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49:18
Zoo Podcasters Unite! with Jon Rossi from the Rossifari Podcast, and Chris Jenkins from the NEI TEC Talk Podcast
Join me this week for something a little bit different - Zoological Podcast Summit 2024! Myself, Jon Rossi from the Rossifari Podcast and Chris Jenkins from the NEI TEC Talk Podcast spend some time talking about hosting zoo-focused po...
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Episode 36
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1:43:18
Kids as a Catalyst for Change and Finding a Family First Culture in a Facility with Courtney Janney of the Memphis Zoo
My guest this week, Courtney Janney, and I spent so much time talking about women in leadership and how having children changed her professional priorities. When her first daughter was born, her new attitude about work/life balance pervad...
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Episode 35
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51:08
Just Don't Drop the Glass Balls with Dr. Lizzy Arnett-Chinn from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Often, we feel like we are juggling so many things in life - kids, work, to-do lists, projects, etc. My guest this week, Dr. Lizzy Arnett-Chinn, has a great way of looking at how to prioritize all the things she is juggling. It's si...
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Episode 34
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56:07
An IVF Journey as a Zookeeper with Former Zookeeper Tarah Carpenter
My guest this week, Tarah, and I dive a little bit into her journey with IVF to become a mom. At the time, she was the only mom amongst animal care staff at her facility. We also talk a bit about what it’s like to be the only mom on staff and t...
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Episode 33
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48:30
The Mixed Bag of Emotions During Maternity Leave with Alyson Proveaux of the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Maternity leave can be uncharted territory for new moms! My guest this week, Alyson, and I explore the emotions of maternity leave. Some women feel anxiety about stepping away from their job for months knowing that, especially in the zoo field,...
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Episode 32
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47:36
Still at the Zoo! But Doing Something Different with Carolyn Kelly from the St. Louis Zoo
Children can be the catalyst for many changes in our lives and sometimes they are the reason why we seek out new roles in our careers. We've talked a lot on the podcast about women who have transitioned into new roles after becoming a mom...
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Episode 31
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58:49
A New Baby AND a New Role! with Kendra Bottini of the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Sometimes change happens gradually and sometimes it happens within a short span of time. My guest this week, Kendra Bottini, knows what it feels like to have many life changes happening all at once! She had a baby, came back from maternit...
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Episode 30
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44:36
Doing What's Best for You with Allison Malkowski of the Dakota Zoo
We hear so much advice as parents - how much time to take after baby arrives, when to call out from work, etc. However, only you know what you need and what is best for you. And this might be different from the norm! Can we ag...
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Episode 29
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51:28
Advocating for Your Child and Parenting the Best Way for Your Family with Adrienne John of Turtle Bay Exploration Park
Every parent has to make the decision about what is best for their family and how they are going to parent. Sometimes those decisions are hard but they always include considering the needs of your child. My guest this week, Adrienne John, and I...
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Episode 28
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47:18
You’re Not Alone! Motherhood Transforms Everything - Your Body, Your Brain, Your Life with Kristy Edelen of the Georgia Aquarium
What did you expect motherhood to be like? Was it easier or harder than you imagined? What surprised you the most? As my guest this week, Kristy Edelen, and I discuss, motherhood is transformative in so many ways. Your body, your brain, your me...
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Episode 27
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51:28