In this episode of Reflections of the Father's Heart podcast, Sandi Derby interviews Lisa Cynkin-Hardy, the founder of The Lighthouse, a nonprofit organization that provides support and resources for young adults aging out of the foster care system. Lisa shares her personal journey growing up as a messianic Jew and the challenges she faced, includi…

Jessyevell Aggrey shares her powerful testimony of overcoming sexual abuse, rejection, and self-destructive behaviors. She opens up about the grooming and abuse she experienced as a child, the impact it had on her relationships and self-worth, and the cycle of seeking love through promiscuity. Jessyevell also discusses the importance of addressing …

Celebrate Fritz's 2nd birthday with a special episode dedicated to everyone's favorite hippo! Join his keepers, Jenna and Mark, as they share delightful stories about his growth, favorite foods, playful personality, and the fascinating dynamics within his group. Discover fun facts and behind-the-scenes insights that will make you love Fritz even mo…

Taylor Leys, owner of Jesus on Every Screen, discusses the impact of social media on reaching people with the gospel and the need for the church to engage in this space. He highlights the prevalence of social media in the lives of young people and the negative influence it can have, such as increased rates of suicide and depression. Taylor emphasiz…

Ed Owens, Vice President of the Grief Recovery Institute, shares his personal journey of grief and the impact of compartmentalizing emotions. He discusses how his military and law enforcement training taught him to suppress emotions and the price he paid for not dealing with his losses. Ed emphasizes the importance of emotional availability and the…

In this engaging episode, zookeepers from the Cincinnati Zoo share their experiences and insights into the care and conservation of North American river otters. The conversation delves into various aspects of otter husbandry, highlighting the zoo's efforts to provide a naturalistic and enriching environment for these playful animals. The podcast of…

In this episode, Sandi Derby and Curtis Reed discuss the damage caused by toxic religious environments and the importance of healing. They highlight how these environments can lead to a distorted view of God and the merging of the leader with God. They emphasize the need to separate God from the church and leadership and to focus on personal healin…

In this episode, Sandi Derby interviews Thomas Staub, an 18-year-old who wrote a thesis on how the church mishandles mental health. They discuss the issues of shame-based teachings, the rejection of psychology, and the lack of understanding and support for mental health in churches. Thomas emphasizes the importance of pastors being educated in psyc…

This new episode is all about sihek birds! Hear more about this fascinating conservation story from Cincinnati Zoo keeper Aimee! This species is extinct in the wild & chicks hatched at the Cincinnati Zoo will be part of an attempt to re-establish a population on Palmyra Atoll, a Nature Conservancy Preserve and research station. This protected, pred…

Cecy Frazier shares her journey from a challenging childhood to finding faith and navigating the complexities of religious communities. She discusses the impact of trauma, the struggle for self-love, and the dynamics of submission and suppression within religious circles. Her story sheds light on the journey of healing and self-discovery. The conve…

Jeff Nobert shares his journey of surrender, healing, and transformation through his experiences of business ownership, ministry involvement, childhood abuse, and marriage. His deep connection with God and the power of surrender are central themes in his story, revealing the transformative nature of faith and trust in God's plan. Jeff shares his jo…

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a zookeeper? Join Jenna and Mark, experienced keepers, as they share their expert insights and answer all your questions. Tune in now for their invaluable advice on starting your zookeeper career!By cincinnatizoo

Philip Bloeser shares his childhood experiences growing up in a home with an alcoholic mother and a father who buried his pain. Despite the outward appearance of a normal life, Philip's home was filled with chaos, fights, and threats of significant loss. His mother's near-fatal car accident and subsequent addiction to alcohol and prescription pills…

In this conversation, Sandi Derby interviews Jenna Winston, a former prophetic deliverance pastor at Bethel, about her journey of healing and freedom. Jenna shares her traumatic childhood, struggles with addiction, and her encounter with Jesus that led to her transformation. She discusses the importance of understanding the Father's heart and the l…

This new Cincinnati Zoo Tales podcast episode is all about Galapagos tortoises! Uncover the secrets behind these ancient giants and their unique habitats from their keeper. Join the experts as they share amazing stories about this wonderful species!By cincinnatizoo

Karen Shaver shares her journey of growing up in a dysfunctional home with a mentally ill mother and an abusive father. She discusses the impact of childhood trauma on her relationships and the cycle of abuse she found herself in. Karen describes her desperate search for peace and healing, including her experiences with therapy and her spiritual jo…

Dr. Erin and Dr. Emily from CREW are revolutionizing polar bear reproduction research! Discover how they are creating a polar bear pregnancy test, researching how environments are affecting polar bears and how they are able to measure multiple hormones at once —a game changer in wildlife monitoring!By cincinnatizoo

Dr. David Diehl, a chiropractor, discusses the importance of physical health in fulfilling one's purpose. He emphasizes the mind-body-spirit connection and the need to honor God with our bodies. Dr. Diehl explains the role of the nervous system in overall health and the importance of removing nerve interference through chiropractic care. He highlig…

In this conversation, Sandi Derby interviews Thera Storm, a licensed clinical social worker and grief recovery specialist. Thera shares her personal journey and the challenges she faced as a military spouse living in different parts of the world. She discusses the cultural differences in self-description and the impact of identity on her career. Th…

Cody and Tirsha Thornbury, lead pastors of Limitless Church, share their journey of faith and the growth of their church. They discuss the unexpected expansion of Limitless Church, including the establishment of a farm and a homeschool hybrid school. They also recount how they met and the impact of their mentor, Kim Clement. Cody and Tirsha emphasi…

A group of Coexistence Champions from the Cincinnati Zoo traveled to Kenya to meet with the Zoo's conservation partners at SORALO. For over a decade, the Cincinnati Zoo has supported SORALO, where wildlife & people coexist, sharing the same spaces & resources. Learn more about their trip and Kenya in this exciting new episode! Purchase bracelets ma…

Zach and Vanessa LaFontaine share their journey from a life of darkness and addiction to encountering God's love and transformation. They discuss their experiences with New Age and witchcraft, the struggles they faced in their relationship, and the powerful encounter with Jesus that led to their baptism and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Through…

Dive deep into the fascinating world of aquatic health care! The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and Newport Aquarium joined forces to conduct routine comprehensive health examinations on the Aquarium’s 14 female cownose stingrays. Listen to this new episode for an exclusive peek behind the scenes and learn firsthand about the vital work being do…

In this conversation, Seth Dahl owner of Spirit Led Families, Grief Recovery Method Specialist@ and owner of Jesus on Every Screen shares his personal testimony and discusses the importance of emotional health in parenting. He emphasizes the impact of parental influence on a child's perception of God and the need for parents to model a healthy emot…

In this conversation, Austin Noll, author, podcast host and Grief Recovery Specialist discusses his experiences growing up in a fear-based church environment and the impact it had on his relationship with God. He shares how the church's control and shame-based practices affected his view of himself and God. Austin also highlights the lack of freedo…

Dive into the heartwarming world of rescue animal advocacy with Jenna and Mark in this latest episode! Join them as they chat with the incredible team at Cincinnati Animal CARE. Discover the joy of fostering dogs for a day and learn more about other exciting volunteer opportunities at your local animal shelter.…

Curtis Reed, an Advanced Grief Recovery Method Specialist and Transition Coach, shares his journey of healing and growth. He grew up in a broken home with addicted parents and experienced a toxic and dysfunctional environment. After hitting rock bottom, he found faith and joined a church community that initially provided support and transformation.…

In this conversation, Sandi shares her personal journey of encountering the Father's heart and the transformative power of His love. She discusses her background of abuse and addiction, and how God intervened in her life. Sandi emphasizes the importance of healing and sanctification in the Christian journey, and the need to reflect the Father's hea…

Hosts Jenna and Mark talk about what it's like to help raise baby lesser kudu, Maizy!By cincinnatizoo

Keeper Darcee updates us on snow leopards Renji and Nubo! In this episode you'll learn about their unique fur, how to tell them apart, what their favorite foods are and more about the care they receive.By cincinnatizoo

Brian J, manager of the Zoo's Native Plant Program, talks about the Zoo's offsite property at Bowyer Farm! Brian and his team were able to restore the agricultural land back to its native wetland habitat, resulting in hundreds of local wildlife returning to the area! Brian plants native plants and trees by the thousands, hoping to really make an im…

Learn all about the elusive and endangered okapi from keeper Renee! This beautiful and rare species has so many unique adaptations and Renee is here to teach you all about them!By cincinnatizoo

When you think about conservation, you probably think about saving animals. However, did you know the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has a Plant Research Division at CREW dedicated to saving plants? Megan Philpott, Ph.D teaches us all about the work it takes to save endangered plants!By cincinnatizoo

Hear from Fiona's keepers Jenna, Wendy and Mark on Fiona's 7th birthday! What Taylor Swift Era is she? How much does she weigh? What is her favorite food these days? Find out all of this and more in this fun new episode that's all about our princess Fiona!By cincinnatizoo

One of our favorite guests is back! Keeper Cody tells us all about the conservation work he's been involved with recently, especially his work to help save seabirds and piping plovers.By cincinnatizoo

Great Sumatran rhino news! Harapan is a dad! In 2015, we made the very tough decision to send the third Cincinnati Zoo-born Sumatran rhino calf, Harapan, to Indonesia so that he would have the opportunity to contribute to his critically endangered species’ survival. On Saturday, November 25, 2023, a healthy male calf, sired by Harapan, was born! ( …

Two females and two young males are first residents of Elephant Trek at the Cincinnati Zoo! What does it take to get four elephants from Ireland to Cincinnati? Keepers from the Dublin Zoo and Cincinnati Zoo tell us all of the hard work that goes into getting four elephants ready for a big move.By cincinnatizoo

Anthony Stenger joins Cincinnati Zoo's Tara Lay to talk about their work with the Texas Lobo Coalition and wolf recovery programs!By cincinnatizoo

Ian, Manager of Garden Operations at Greenacres Foundation, teaches us about farming and the importance of locally grown food in this new episode of Cincinnati Zoo Tales!By cincinnatizoo

Spooky season is almost over and podcast hosts Mark and Jenna are back to teach you about vultures! This episode is full of fun facts about these amazing animals like Bubba and the rest of the vultures that call the Cincinnati Zoo home.By cincinnatizoo

Spiders are not spooky. We repeat, spiders are not spooky! Learn more about spiders and how they are great for the environment, including helping to keep pesky insect populations in check!By cincinnatizoo

It's October! The perfect time to highlight some animals that may have a bad reputation of being spooky, when really they are gorgeous, and great for the environment! Meet Rob, the yellow-tailed cribo. They are opportunistic and will eat anything from rodents to birds, snakes and lizards! Both adult males and females will grow to be about 10 feet l…

Understanding EEHV. Ahead of the new Elephant Trek habitat opening, Dr. Jess from the Cincinnati Zoo explains the EEHV viral infection that can be fatal to elephants living in both the wild and in zoos. The Cincinnati Zoo has a new lab and technician to help test the elephants and hopefully catch the virus early. Scientists, researchers and elephan…

Keeper Michelle teaches us about the important and complex work she is doing with flower beetles and other insects!By cincinnatizoo

We chat with Lindsey Vansandt of the Zoo's CREW about breakthrough findings that may eliminate the need for spaying domestic cats! The groundbreaking study represents a milestone toward humanely reducing free-roaming cat populations & eliminating shelter euthanasia of healthy cats.By cincinnatizoo

Fritz's keepers recap the little hippo's first birthday party at Hippo Cove and discuss all the behind-the-scenes moments!By cincinnatizoo

Kip is a curious and silly 11-month-old white-cheeked gibbon. His family rejected him and he has since been adopted by sisters Skittles & M&M. Get the update on this special gibbon from his care team!By cincinnatizoo

Dr. Davis strengthens formal science with local perspectives to achieve conservation success! Learn more about his work on conservation issues in the Bahamas.By cincinnatizoo

Keeper Mark M keeps us up to date on skunk and bat-eared fox babies at the Cincinnati Zoo! One of the cutest episodes yet!By cincinnatizoo

Did you know you could go to high school at the Zoo? Hear more about Nhy Aire's unique experience at the Cincinnati Zoo's Zoo Academy program.By cincinnatizoo