Best Macaws Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 248: Off the Cuff (with Susan Friedman, Behavior Works) 26:48

27m ago26:48

26:48

Boy oh boy, did life decide to life all over us today! Today we had a fun recording planned with the amazing Dr Susan Friedman, founder of Behavior Works... and then a surprise USDA inspection stole Ari away from us and threw everything into a tizzy! Chris did get a bit of time to chat with Susan, and though we decided to push our planned recording…

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Episode 247: Yay, Let's Talk About Grief! 36:04

5d ago36:04

36:04

Ari and Chris are back together to talk about everyone's favorite topic in the professional animal care world: dealing with the grief following the loss of an animal in your care. We share some great advice from others, some old attitudes that we think aren't helpful , and some excellent resources to help all of us deal with the worst part of our j…

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Episode 246: All the NEI Stuff and Things Coming in 2025! 18:15

12d ago18:15

18:15

With Chris channeling the year our show was born by being knocked out by COVID, Ari takes the helm for the first podcast episode of the year to chat about all the new webinar, online course, and workshop offerings that NEI has on the books for 2025. Come hang out with us, it'll be a blast! If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question …

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Episode 245: You're Doing It! You're Living Your Dream!! (with Lacey Zeno, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium) 1:01:39

19d ago1:01:39

1:01:39

Ari and Chris are excited to be joined by former NEI'er, secret payroll lover, and reluctant extrovert Lacey Zeno, Curator of Ambassador Animals at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium! Lacey talks about the path that took her from dog training and vet school prep to being Ari's roommate in Dallas (thanks, Amy Robinson!), achieving her goals of working wi…

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Parrot SOS: Diet, First Aid, Plucking, and the Secrets to a Healthier Bird 2:46:05

23d ago2:46:05

2:46:05

In this episode, we dive into the essential tips every bird owner needs to know. From quick first-aid steps for emergencies to understanding the root causes of feather plucking, we cover it all with Dr. Octavio. Learn how to optimize your parrot’s diet with the right balance and discover the importance of sunlight and probiotics for their well-bein…

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Episode 244: ....Why Don't We Try It Now? (with Emma Pearce, Hamilton Zoo) 45:23

26d ago45:23

45:23

Thanks to the magic of technology, Chris is joined from the other side of planet Earth by Emma Pearce, Carnivore Keeper and Animal Training Coordinator at Hamilton Zoo in New Zealand! Emma shares her journey through the animal care field in Australasia (including a brief detour into biosecurity), what it's like to be an "animal training committee o…

1
Episode 243: Pursue Your Joy AND Leave Room To Pivot (with Stu Levine, Elevating Impact Consulting) 51:58

1M ago51:58

51:58

We're excited to be joined by one of Chris' earliest mentors in the professional animal care world, Stu Levine! Stu crushes decades of amazing experiences into less than an hour to talk about being a part of the original "Florida NEI" team that moved Steve and the company from its former home base of Minnesota, the joy of eating lunch with a baboon…

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Episode 242: At the "Chlorine-Splattered Pants" Stage, You're No Longer A Visitor (with Jon Rossi, The Rossifari Podcast) 49:53

1M ago49:53

49:53

Coming back to the show for his first full-episode guest spot, Ari and Chris welcome Jon Rossi to the show! Jon talks about how his world shutting down in 2020 led to the creation of the Rossifari Podcast, his adventures getting to meet the various members of the NEI crew, how a silly joke gone too far got NEI's Amy Fennell killed (spoiler alert: s…

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Episode 241: You Might Fall... But What If You Fly? (with Megan Geddes, Taronga Zoo) 53:43

2M ago53:43

53:43

We are excited for the triumphant return of one of our favorite people (and earlier podcast guests), Megan Geddes! Megan catches us up on her post-NEI life in Australia (where she's currently a Senior Trainer at Taronga Zoo), reminisces about preparing the perfect outfit for her NEI phone interview, quizzes us on our knowledge of Aussie slang, disc…

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Episode 240: When Everyone You Look Up To Says "Read A Book," You Read A Book (with Kaitlyn Wiktor, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium) 1:02:19

2M ago1:02:19

1:02:19

Ari and Chris are excited for the return of Kait Wiktor, Manager of Animal Behavior and Wellbeing at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium! Kait joins us to talk about her recent adventures through all things "Crucial": the resources and certification programs from Crucial Learning, the organization behind our favorite professional (and personal) d…

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Improving Quality of Life through Palliative Care 32:03

2M ago32:03

32:03

No one is ever ready to hear that they have a life-changing diagnosis. For patients and families, this news brings a whirlwind of emotions, fears, and uncertainties. This is especially true for patients who are diagnosed with lung diseases that can make it difficult to breathe, profoundly affecting daily life and leading to significant physical and…

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Episode 239: THE BEE IS ALIVE?!?!? (with Morgan Belle, Disney's Animals, Science, and Environment)) 49:38

2M ago49:38

49:38

A biologist? At Disney?? That's right, it's the return of Morgan Belle, Conservation Programs Manager with Disney's Animals, Science, and Environment! After a brief recap of her history in the field, Morgan chats about life as "everyone's 'bug lady'", the (somewhat controversial) difference between bugs and insects, how improv classes were the scar…

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Episode 238: What If the Rabbits Just Decided to Be Held? (with Nicky Plaskitt, Shaping Behaviour) 59:33

2M ago59:33

59:33

Ari and Chris are joined by one of their favorite Brits, Shaping Behaviour founder Nicky Plaskitt! Nicky chats with us about her path from zookeeper to zoo training consultant, the importance of not being risk-averse, the unexpected academic audiences that her company has connected her too, the importance of establishing and maintaining an online f…

1
Episode 237: It Really, Really Is a Journey (with Elly Neumann, Jerusalem Zoo) 47:08

3M ago47:08

47:08

Ari and Chris are joined by one of their absolute favorite people in the field, Elly Neumann! Elly chats with us about the journey that brought her to her current role as Coordinator of Welfare, Training, and Enrichment at Jerusalem Zoo, the wide spectrum of where animals institutions are at globally in the development of their behavior management …

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Episode 236: This Is Who I Am, and This Is Who I Want To Be (with Sidney Campbell, Cascades Raptor Center) 56:16

3M ago56:16

56:16

Ari and Chris are joined by one of their favorite members of the NEI Expanded Universe: Sidney Campbell, Senior Trainer & Educator at Cascades Raptor Center! Sidney details the path that took her from San Diego elephants to Alaskan raptors, how her interest in non-profits was the perfect partner to working in raptor rehab, the unique way that anima…

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Episode 235: The Story According to Bob (with Bob Chastain, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and Steve Martin, Natural Encounters, Inc.) 1:19:18

3M ago1:19:18

1:19:18

Here's one we've been excited to do for awhile: Ari and Chris are joined by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo President & CEO Bob Chastain and NEI President & CEO Steve Martin to talk about the history of the relationship between the two organizations! We chat about "Bob's side of the story" for CMZ tales Steve's been telling us for years, how the stage was se…

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Episode 234: I Can Haz Professional Development Now? (with Greg Peccie, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden) 48:05

3M ago48:05

48:05

Despite cell phone signals doing their best to keep us apart, Chris AND Ari are joined for the return of Greg Peccie, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden's Director of Animal Care and Welfare! Greg returns to the show to help us dig deeper into the many angles of professional development: developing a shared language for what those two words mean, how "quiet…

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Episode 233: Hal Markowitz Needed Better PR (with Tim Sullivan Brookfield Zoo Chicago) 51:17

3M ago51:17

51:17

Because we thought it might be fun to talk about animals for a change on our animal training podcast, Ari and Chris are joined by Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Tim Sullivan to talk about the history, evolution, and future of environmental enrichment! Inspired by Tim's presentation at the 2024 ABMA Conference, we discuss the shift from "throwing trash in…

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Episode 232: Hey, Wolf - Choose Your Own Adventure! (with Khaz Brooks, Roger Williams Park Zoo, and Ryan Talbot, Wolf Park) 57:36

4M ago57:36

57:36

Want to know more about what control can look like for the animals you work with? This is the episode for you! Ari and Chris are joined by Khaz Brooks and Ryan Talbot to talk about the work they did with (what they learned was) assent training at Wolf Park. They share how research into ABA and control gave them new language for giving their wolves …

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Bonus Episode: Voices from the 2024 AZA Annual Conference! 36:11

4M ago36:11

36:11

Chris is joined by many people using many microphones to talk about the 2024 AZA Annual Conference in Calgary, Canada! What did we learn? Who did we meet? What did we do? Listen and find out! Big thanks go out to Jen Charette (Zoo Community Manager, Tessere), Liz Evans (Manager of Behavioral Husbandry and Animal Programs), Jon Rossi (host/producer,…

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Artificial Itelligence and the Jaw 51:47

4M ago51:47

51:47

For nearly a hundred years, science fiction stories have been giving us an idea of what living with artificial intelligence might be like. But we don't have to look to our favorite sci-fi to see artificial intelligence, also called AI, in action. It's already making an impact in our everyday lives whether we realize it or not. When you ask Alexa or…

1
Birds with Special Needs and Birb Art 1:38:50

4M ago1:38:50

1:38:50

In this episode we fly into the world of birds with special needs, exploring the challenges and care requirements! From splay legs to blindness, we discuss various disabilities that affect birds and the compassionate care they require to live fulfilling lives. Jen also provides us with tips and advice on caring for senior birds, whose golden years …

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Episode 231: The Bizarre and Circuitous Route of a Lifetime of Learning (with Ken Ramirez, Karen Pryor Clicker Training) 56:48

4M ago56:48

56:48

After wayyyyy too much time of talking about making it happen, Chris and Ari finally sit down to chat with the legendary Ken Ramirez! Ken shares his inspiring and unique journey through the animal training field—from his early passion for guide dogs, to his long career in marine mammal training, all the way up to his current role leading up Karen P…

1
Episode 230: The Endless Pursuit of One's Hedgehog (with Jennifer Charette, Tessere) 51:09

4M ago51:09

51:09

In our continuing quest to collect the entire AZA Professional Development Committee on the show, we're excited to be joined by Jennifer Charette, Zoo Community Impact Manager at Tessere! Jen shares her unique path from birthday party host to zoo industry professional, the importance of committee service and understanding your "resource engine", ho…

1
Episode 229: The (Not-So) Secret Three (or Maybe Four) Step Plan to Become a Zookeeper (with Sam Griffin, Natural Encounters, Inc.) 34:32

4M ago34:32

34:32

With Ari away having some extended Labor Day Weekend fun with family, Chris is joined by NEI's Sam Griffin! We chat about the path through the animal care field that brought Sam to NEI (take note, aspiring future animal care professionals), the importance of - and the advantages of working for - smaller zoological institutions, and how the support …

1
Episode 228: Finding the Love in Work (with Shelby Jecius and Kyle Alexander, Bearizona Wildlife Park) 1:05:25

5M ago1:05:25

1:05:25

Ari is busy getting ready to visit our team in Rhode Island, so this week Chris is joined by returning co-host Adam Geltz to welcome back to the show two of our favorite people in the animal care world, Shelby Jecius and Kyle Alexander from Bearizona Wildlife Park! The four of us chat about their recent experience of moving from being supervisors i…

1
Episode 227: Do the Mahi, Earthling (with Rick Hester, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo) 53:20

5M ago53:20

53:20

The TEC Talk Podcast is super excited to invite Rick Hester to the show! Rick joins us to talk about the journey that brought him to his current role as Curator of Behavioral Husbandry at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the important ways his understanding of training and behavior were moved ahead by formative experiences with both NEI and Dr Susan Friedman…

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Episode 226: USE. MORE. WORDS! 29:02

5M ago29:02

29:02

Chris is back from New Zealand and surprises Ari to share (and get her feedback on) the quotes he included in his recent ABMA presentation, "Communication and Teamwork Through the Eyes of a Trainer." Spoiler alert: she thinks they're pretty great, and has lots of great further information to share! If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a …

1
Episode 225: Morepork, Boobook, Mopoke, or Ruru? 47:01

5M ago47:01

47:01

Despite being separated by 8,061 miles and a 16-hour time difference, Chris and Ari are back behind their microphones to chat about the aftermath of Hurricane Debbie and Chris' adventures consulting at Hamilton Zoo in New Zealand. Sweet as! If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggesti…

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The Aviator Bird Harness 🦜🌞 1:23:02

6M ago1:23:02

1:23:02

In this episode, we take flight with the aviator harness for birds! We sit down with the CEO of The Parrot University to explore the story of how this innovative product came to be. Julias shares aviator harness options and guides us through choosing the perfect size for your feathered babies! Learn essential training techniques for getting your bi…

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Implementation Science: Translating Discoveries to Medical Applications 23:54

6M ago23:54

23:54

The goal of biomedical research is to move healthcare innovations, like evidence-based programs and interventions, to places where patients can access them for their benefit. But there are often challenges to making this happen. One study estimates that less than half of clinical innovations make it into routine practice. This can be due to the tim…

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Episode 224: Plants Are Cool, But Animals Are Cooler (with Nathan Hensley, Natural Encounters, Inc.) 31:02

6M ago31:02

31:02

Chris is flying to the future (sort of) as he heads to New Zealand to do some consulting in the land of Hobbits, so Ari hosts this episode without him, but she is not alone! Natural Encounters Senior Trainer, Nathan Hensley, joins her to talk about the many, many things he does with and for NEI. A lover of Science, he found his way into the field a…

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Episode 223: Many Questions for Many People with Many Microphones (Live from the 2024 Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo Field Trip to NEI) 33:56

6M ago33:56

33:56

Earlier this month, NEI had the priviledge of hosting the students and staff of Santa Fe College's Zoo Technology Program for an all-day field trip to our home base facility (aka "The Ranch) in Winter Haven, FL, and leave it to us to find a way to turn it into a podcast. This week's episode is the Q&A panel that Chris hosted, featuring Steve Martin…

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Passionate Conservation with Amazon Parrots, Macaws, Cockatoos & Reptiles👀🐊 1:23:49

6M ago1:23:49

1:23:49

In this episode, I sit down to chat with Adele from Wildlife Unleashed, a passionate conservationist dedicated to creating safe havens for some of the most stunning birds, including Amazon parrots, macaws, Major Mitchell cockatoos, and red-tailed black cockatoos and many other animals! We discuss what it takes to run a sanctuary, free flight tips, …

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Episode 222: What's the Definition of a "Modern Zookeeper"? (with Shane Gorbett, Busch Gardens Tampa) 1:01:27

6M ago1:01:27

1:01:27

With Ari away at the IAATE Midyear Meeting, Chris is joined by fellow ABMA Board Member and animal behavior podcaster, Shane Gorbett, to attempt to answer this question: how do we define a "modern zookeeper"? If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on…

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Episode 221: A Journalist's Guide to Training the Human Animal (with Amy Sutherland, Journalist and Author) 1:12:52

6M ago1:12:52

1:12:52

Well, this one is certainly a blast from the past! On this episode, we are extremely excited to welcome journalist and author, Amy Sutherland! Chris first met Amy 21 years ago (!) when she came to spend time with him and his classmates at Moorpark College's (then-named) Exotic Animal Training and Management Program (aka "EATM") to do research for w…

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Avian Vet Tips for Healthy Parrots! 2:37:38

7M ago2:37:38

2:37:38

Looking for tips from an avian vet tips for healthy parrots? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Octavio to help you with health tips for your parrots! From understanding our parrot's complex needs to shocking bloodwork results and identifying signs of illness early on. Discover the differences between healthy and unhealthy poops, and gain invaluable…

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Episode 220: We're Scientists! We're Doing It! We're Doing the Thing! (with Jeremiah Shon, John Ball Zoo) 53:36

7M ago53:36

53:36

You know what they say: you send Chris and Ari an email, you end up on the podcast. We're super happy to welcome Jeremiah Shon from John Ball Zoo to the show! Jeremiah is a recent NEI workshop attendee who reached out to share some cool training stuff that he and his team have been doing with their birds recently, so we brought him on the show to t…

1
Episode 219: Positivity and Leadership in a Field of "Cultures of Silence" 46:06

7M ago46:06

46:06

Our hosts dig into all forms of media - print, social, and electronic - to discuss the challenge of "cultures of silence" in the zoo field (which, we beg your pardon, involves us repeating a little salty language), and chat about some good advice about how positivity and leadership behaviors can help, courtesy of great recent articles in IAATE's pu…

1
Best Parrot Cages and Bird Travel 40:09

7M ago40:09

40:09

Want to know where to get the best parrot cages? & How to travel the world? In this episode, I share our recent updates and answer questions from a Q&A! I talk about where we got our Mia's cage and explore various options from different brands and places to help you find the best parrot cages! Learn about Parrot ID, including what it is and how it …

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Episode 218: Good Luck Getting Rid of Me! (with Brittni Rice, Natural Encounters, Inc.) 38:10

7M ago38:10

38:10

With Chris stuck in traffic between work locations, Ari is joined by NEI's own Brittni Rice on the eve of her first anniversary with the company! Brittni shares her history in the field, the differences between working as a show trainer and a zoo keeper, the experience of being both a learner and a teacher, why she doesn't want to go back to marine…

1
Genetics and Cancer Research 28:43

7M ago28:43

28:43

We inherit lots of things through our families. Sometimes they’re visible, like the color of our eyes or hair, and other things might not be so apparent, like how you react to caffeine or how athletic you are. These traits come from genes passed to us from our parents – we inherit two copies of each gene, one from each parent, and they act as the b…

1
Episode 217: Can We Talk About This "Charismatic Megafauna" Thing? (with Jessi Krebs and Greg Lepera, Crocodilian Biology and Management Course) 1:03:30

7M ago1:03:30

1:03:30

Ari and Chris are back in the office together and are joined (with the recording gods on our side this time) by Jessi Krebs and Grep Lepera! Jessi and Greg share their paths in the zoo field (we're talking 95 combined years of reptile awesomeness, ya'll), their history with the Crocodilian Biology and Management Course at St. Augustine Alligator Fa…

1
Episode 216: Recognition, Attention, and the Importance of Being Like Kyle 41:31

8M ago41:31

41:31

It's the return of the two-host podcast! Ari takes some time from her vacation to sit down with Chris to talk about the effects of compliments, recognition, paying attention, and the joy that comes from kindness. Awww! Get in here, everyone - group hug! If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode …

1
Pet Chain Stores, Bird Hacks, Cats with Birds, Household Dangers for Birbs 1:22:51

8M ago1:22:51

1:22:51

Join Julie and me as we dive into the behind-the-scenes of birds found in big chain pet stores, share bird hacks, and offer tips for keeping your fids happy and healthy! We'll also discuss crucial topics like the impact of heavy metals on your pets, the importance of regular vet visits, and so much more! Key Points: Stories from Working at Big Chai…

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Episode 215: Dispatches from the NEI Expanded Universe (with the Roger Williams Park Zoo Bird Show Crew) 28:27

8M ago28:27

28:27

We had so much virtual fun with one out-of-state NEI bird show last week that we decided to send Chris out to visit the other one in person! We are so happy to welcome Morgan Lopes, Josh Sanko, Hunter Peck, and Anthony Rossi to the podcast to talk about the ins and outs of our bird show at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Rhode Island, Flights of Fantasy…

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Episode 214: Opening Weekend Eve! (with the Minnesota Zoo Bird Show Crew) 28:12

8M ago28:12

28:12

After an intro in which Chris demonstrates the evils of AI to an unsuspecting and horrified Ari, we're celebrating "Opening Weekend Eve" with Katelyn, Lucy, Meg, Laurel, Emily, Skyler, Emma, Ian, and Dan from the Minnesota Zoo Bird Show Crew! In this guest-packed episode we discuss the final prep going into the training of the birds, the joy of "pl…

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Rescue & Disabled Birds, How to Make Seeds Healthy, Flock of 8, Biting Tips! 1:31:36

8M ago1:31:36

1:31:36

In this episode, we chat with David, a professional parrot trainer, on how he and his partner Sophie manage a flock of eight! David shares their journey of caring for rescue birds, including one with a missing leg! Get insights into providing specialized care for disabled parrots and find out the hard truth about crimson-bellied conures!😮 Plus, lea…

1
Episode 213: When "Helping" Hurts, Revisited (TEC Talk Throwback) 55:26

8M ago55:26

55:26

And lo, the Internet Gods and Goddesses decreed "we shall ruin your recording, thereby preventing this week's uploading of training and behavior content!" But nay, your hosts shall not abide! While Chris and Ari scurry behind the scenes to figure out what the heck went wrong with this week's recording and do their best to fix and rebuild it, we bri…

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Episode 212: Big Fun at Little Rock (with Hannah Baker, Sydney Byrd, LeeAnn Goette, and Kate Neal, Little Rock Zoo) 45:01

8M ago45:01

45:01

The state motto of Arkansas is "Regnat populus" - Latin for "the people rule" - and you know what? The people here DO rule! Chris sits down with Hannah Baker, Sydney Byrd, LeeAnn Goette, and Kate Neal from Little Rock Zoo to talk about all the fun training going on during Chris' 10-day consulting stint, the ways we've all learned to help build (and…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Macaws Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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