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A community crusher is a person that develops share-worthy content daily, receives massive engagement, is highly referable, and is pumped to network with likeminded community crushers to collaborate, partner & learn even more ways to bring extreme value to their followers. It's more than having a large follower base-- Community Crushers build a sustainable culture, influence buying decisions effortlessly, and provide a platform for conversation at scale. Join me as I interview those you migh ...
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An optimistic, curiosity-chasing show about the wonder and wildness of life, following the threads that connect us to the natural world. The Wild Life is, always has been, and always will be a show about the diversity of life within the animal kingdom, but it's about more than that. It's about connections. It's about how the natural world inspires our culture, movies, and technologies. It's about the patterns that persist throughout not just life, but the universe itself. It's about us. The ...
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What makes a community flourish? How do we build vibrant, supportive online communities? Can brands and organizations facilitate authentic connection through community? If you’ve ever found yourself asking these questions, you’re in the right place. The Community Experience was designed to explore all things community and to help community facilitators design online communities that thrive, whether yours is a niche community based on fandom, or tied to a personal brand or business. Each week ...
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Joining The Wild Life today is Dylan Beckham! She spent two years as a zookeeper caring for all sorts of exotics, including reptiles, invertebrates, fish, emus, wallabies, genets and Eurasian harvest mice. As a herpetology enthusiast, she was surprised to find it was the mice that stole her heart. This led to the development of her independent rese…
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Where there's smoke, there's fire. But when that fire tears through a landscape, what happens next? Today, we dive into the world of pyrophytic ecosystems—those that not only survive but thrive on fire. Our guide on today's journey is Ross Barreto, a master's student studying native plant population dynamics and spatial ecology. He's also an Urban …
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Welcome to The Wild Life! On today's episode, we have a fascinating guest: wildlife cinematographer Jake Davis. Jake’s career began by focusing on the wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Growing up, he spent his summers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where the Teton Range's jagged peaks and abundant wildlife fostered a deep love for nature an…
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In this episode of The Wild Life, animal welfare scientist Maggie Herskowitz helps us navigate the tangled webs society has woven around the treatment of animals, both wild and domestic. Gray areas, moral calculations, trophy hunting, industrial-scale fishing and livestock, and the emerging field of conservation ethics. Our conversation spans a ran…
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The world is full of science and, in turn, scientists, and not enough people who truly have that spark for communicating all of that discovery and wonder to the rest of the world. People like today's guest—Dr Carly Anne York (@BiologyCarly). She's an Associate Professor at Lenoir-Rhyne University, an Animal Physiologist, a Science Communicator, and…
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Welcome to The Wild Life, the podcast where we explore the wonders of the natural world and the science that helps us understand it. In this episode, we have an extraordinary guest: Aidan Branney. When we first recorded this interview nearly a year ago, Aidan was working as the large carnivore scientific aid for the California Department of Fish an…
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17 years ago, I was a 14 year old attending Connor Middle School in Hebron, Kentucky. Small little town, just across the Ohio River. In 2018, I moved away, back down to Houston, TX. But in the few years I was there, I met and became friends with some of the most amazing people, most of which I lost contact with over the years Then one day, sometime…
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From their three hearts to their ability to transform and communicate, discover the extraordinary world of octopuses with host Devon Bowker and special guest Sy Montgomery, the "octopus whisperer" herself, and octopus expert Warren Carlyle, founder of OctoNation®. In a new adventure, Secrets of the Octopus, they dive deep into the secrets of the oc…
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In this episode, Devon (@devonthenatureguy) sits down with Lauren Jackson (@lauren.queenofthewild on Instagram and HERp_trap_queen on TikTok) to chat about becoming a wildlife tech, woodpeckers, federal jobs, the friction of private land, scicomm and education, battles big and small, and above all else, love for the world around us. Support the sho…
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Today’s episode, social media SciComm, all things cephalopod, their super cool brains, their mind-blowing camouflage, RNA editing, peculiar romances, underappreciated "living fossils", and why octopuses are most definitely not aliens. All with special guest Meg Mindlin, Octopus Biologist Meg's Website Save the Ocean, Save the World Hoodie Meg's Sti…
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In this episode, I sit down with Eric Eaton, author of Insectpedia: a Brief Compendium of Insect Lore, Wasps: The Astonishing Diversity of a Misunderstood Insect, and more! Wasps are far more diverse than the familiar yellowjackets and hornets that harass picnickers and build nests under the eaves of our homes. These amazing, mostly solitary creatu…
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This episode, which originally aired on March 24 2018, takes us all the way from Copenhagen to the rainforest of South America, from the belly of the beast to its excrement, as we explore nature’s Vampires. Our guest is Dr Marie Lisandra Zepeda Mendoza, who had recently finished her postdoc in Copenhagen, Denmark and whose recently published resear…
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Sharks are in the water. But is the ocean shark-infested, or shark-depleted? I sat down to talk with Dr Alexandra McInturf to find out. Learn more about Alexandra and her work Papers Referenced: Half a Century of Global Decline in Sharks and Rays Half a century of rising extinction risk of coral reef sharks and rays Global catches, exploitation rat…
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Another stroll down memory lane as I revisit the second-ever guest episode of The Wild Life, Myth-Understood: Busting Bat Myths and Mistruths with Liz Dengate from March 6th of 2018. If you'd like to support the creation of this show, the blog, and my science communication efforts on social media, you can do so for as little as $1 per month at www.…
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This was the first ever episode of The Wild Life back in 2017, and it was never supposed to happen. That's right, The Wild Life, as a podcast, was an accident. The result of a series of unfortunate events. But that's life, isn't it? It happens in the most unexpected of ways. I never imagined that this is where I would be today, and I'm so incredibl…
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It's been awhile. I think it's time for some reintroductions. I've spent a lot of time over the past year, 6 years really, reflecting on the journey so far, the ups and downs, the struggles, the wins, the change (oh, so much change), and I think I've finally landed comfortably with where I am and what I want this to be. I look forward to sharing my…
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Ticks, for as small as they are, strike a disproportionate amount of fear and disgust into our hearts and minds (no matter what good they might do!). Perhaps it’s their arachnid nature. Maybe it’s the fact that they burrow their creepy mouthparts into your body and feast off of your blood. Oh yeah, and there’s Lyme Disease and the ever-increasing r…
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While it's true you should keep your distance, is there any truth to the tale of a tenacious porcupine shooting their quills? Have a question you want answered on the show? Send them over to hello@thewildlife.blog! Have your voice featured on the show when you send a voice memo recorded directly on your phone! Support the creation of The Wild Life …
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Unfortunately, we can’t ask the worms directly, but it turns out that plenty of scientists have been asking this very question for, well, a very long time. Today, we explore the leading hypotheses for what drives worms to the surface for these rainy-day adventures. Have a question you want answered on the show? Send them over to hello@thewildlife.b…
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Star Wars is as much a product of human ingenuity as it is a space odyssey. Just look at how they solved the Puffin Problem. Have a question you'd like answered on The Wild Life? Email me at hello@thewildlife.blog. You can even have your voice featured by sending a voice memo recorded directly on your phone! You can support the creation of The Wild…
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#076 The uncharted waters of online communities have claimed many a landlubber. But, with the right step-by-step plan, we can weather any storm. In this episode, Warren Carlyle shares the 7 C's of building a fanatical community. He is a strategist who has helped thousands of individuals build highly engaged followings. Warren is also the man behind…
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#075 How many new members do you need each month to build a thriving community business? The number is smaller than you think. But are you focused on the right metrics to take full advantage of a slow growth strategy? In this episode, Lisa Barroca of Cultivate joins us to share her best-performing tactics for sustainable membership scaling. Lisa is…
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#074 We'd all like to create bustling communities that seduce members into multiple daily logins. But isn't that just taking a page out of the social media addiction book? In this episode, we take a step back and reconsider the essentials of running a thriving digital space. Joining our endeavor is Noele Flowers, an expert strategic community consu…
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#073 Ever had a joke fall flat online? Robbed of many of the senses we rely on for communication, saying what we mean through text alone is tricky. But how do we cultivate trust as community leaders? How do we create a digital environment where assuming best intent is our member's default reaction? With Ingrid Christensen joining us in this episode…
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#072 At SPI, we are betting big on community-powered courses with our new All-Access Pass. But there's someone on our team for whom the sheer thought of community management on top of course creation is the stuff of nightmares. In this episode, we tackle her concerns head-on! In her role as Senior Solutions Manager, Mindy Peters is the glue that ho…
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#071 Should finishing schools for digital etiquette be a thing? Your answer might be a resounding yes if you've been running communities for any length of time. But, for now, what are the best strategies to manage your member's worst impulses and curb bad behavior online? In this episode, we talk shop with SPI Director of Operations and HR sensatio…
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#070 Churn is one of the biggest issues we hear about from other community builders. Many of us have even come to accept it as part of the cost of doing business. But what are the simple tools and strategies that can increase engagement and retention in powerful ways? This is part of what we explore today in this interview with Casey Hill. He is th…
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We're taking a break from recording for the end of the year (week two of two), so here's another one of Jillian's favorites from 2022! Enjoy, and Happy Holidays! #063 What is the best way to guide online discourse toward compassion and inclusivity? Research shows that it does not matter what you say or how you say it. When discussions go awry, what…
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We're taking a break from recording for the end of the year, so here's one of Jillian's favorites from 2022! Enjoy, and Happy Holidays! #043 Connecting people is valuable. So why are community builders burning out and not making enough money to get by? Today’s guest, Tatiana Figueiredo, teaches people how to scale communities into profitable, susta…
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#069 What would it take for you to double your revenue next year? When asked this question, many of us default to the standard hustle culture fare. But is "grinding" really the most effective way to grow a community business? In this episode, we explore the alternatives with Terry Rice. He is a business development consultant, an Entrepreneur magaz…
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#068 Here at SPI, we're going all in on community as a business model. Now, we're taking our commitment to a new level! Our brand new All-Access Pass, a community-powered education experience, is the ultimate way to learn from every single one of our courses at your own pace while connecting with fellow entrepreneurs on the same path. All for an in…
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#067 Brand deals are a great way to enhance your membership and generate more revenue, but there's a catch. You see, the key to successful sponsorships is that they're win-win-win relationships. Our guest today, Justin Moore, explains that and shares his blueprint for attracting lucrative partnerships that benefit you, your members, and the brands …
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#066 How do you create a digital experience worthy of a high subscription cost? Who are the people most likely to sign up, and how do you find them? What are the common mistakes you should avoid in your first year? In this episode, Tatiana Figueiredo returns to the show to answer these questions. She shares her blueprint for running thriving commun…
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#065 The responsibility of building and managing online communities can be overwhelming. Many of us feel the need to control every aspect of the experience. But the reality is that micromanaging stops us from empowering our members to have a positive role in shaping the space. Today we talk about harnessing the power of collaboration and co-creatio…
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#064 Entrepreneurs are scrambling to jump on the community-powered course bandwagon that’s taking digital learning by storm. But what are CPCs, exactly? Are they the right fit for you? And how do you create experiences that actually enhance student outcomes? SPI CEO Matt Garland joins our host Jillian to answer all of that. Today, we go all in on h…
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#063 What is the best way to guide online discourse toward compassion and inclusivity? Research shows that it does not matter what you say or how you say it. When discussions go awry, what matters is that you say something. Today’s guest, Dr. Evelyn R. Carter, runs cutting-edge studies on detecting and discussing racial bias. She is a social psycho…
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#062 Does the work you put into community actually have an impact on your business? How do you connect the dots between what you do and the bottom line? How do you tell a compelling story that illustrates the value you provide? We tackle all that and more with our special guests, Erica Kuhl and Brian Oblinger of the In Before The Lock podcast. If y…
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#061 Running a thriving online community is no picnic. We often talk about tools and platforms that can help, but what if the answer is empowering your members to manage themselves? Today’s guest, Reina Pomeroy, runs the Good Inside parenting community for Dr. Becky. She has been active at the intersection of marketing, brand, and community for man…
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The Business of Community Summit is a one-day virtual summit focused exclusively on the business thinking, decisions, and strategies needed to reach the economic potential of community for your business. You'll walk away with a clear roadmap for launching your own community this year! Visit SmartPassiveIncome.com/BCS to register for free. See Priva…
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#060 Newsletters are having a moment right now. In fact, people are going wild over the weekly tips, tools, and advice we deliver through Unstuck. But does publishing a newsletter make sense for community builders? Can you use it to grow your membership and drive engagement? Can you do it in a way that’s quick and effective? We ask Dylan Redekop of…
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#059 What happens if you stop participating in your community for a few days? Do your members step up in your absence? This is the ultimate way to test the environment you’re creating. If no one misses you, that’s the sign of a job well done! Although, you might need a good, ugly cry to get over it. Today’s guest, Mathilde Leo, is the Head of Commu…
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#058 Are you bad at your job? Many community managers struggle to measure the true impact of their work. But that’s changing! New tools and resources designed with online memberships in mind are finally coming out. Common Room is a community intelligence platform that helps you measure and deliver next-level experiences for your members. Rebecca Ma…
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#057 Is no one drinking anymore? Mocktails are on the rise, and sobriety is quickly becoming more mainstream. Even major corporations are jumping at the chance to offer high-margin no- and low-alcohol beverages. Imagine that! But is a sober dance party any fun? And what’s there to do in an online membership for people looking to change their relati…
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#056 What are the kinds of behaviors that drive engagement in your community? How do you guide each member through the activities that keep them coming back? Analytic tools are the answer to questions like these, but the metrics you get with most platforms are not that great. Our guest today is one of the true OGs of digital communities. Richard Mi…
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#055 How do you provide your online community with value? You get paid to do it, so you might think you have to be at the center of every activity. But what would happen if you got out of the way and allowed your members to collaborate and build something from scratch? Geraldine Wharry is a fashion futurist who runs The Trend Atelier community. In …
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What do you do if you want to provide your audience members with the value of community, but they're not all at the same level in their journey? We needed to come up with a solution for this at SPI, and by gosh, we’ve done it! Jillian is joined by two special guests today to talk about the launch of our brand new Learner Community. Matt Gartland is…
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Who doesn’t love goats? Especially baby ones. Their gait, their bleat, their tiny horns. But there comes a time in any goat interaction I’ve had where we lock eyes and I’m struck with a mixture of curiosity and unease. On today's episode, why goats have rectangular pupils, their auto-leveling eyes, and a surprising connection to cuttlefish! Transcr…
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#053 Sometimes tough love is the best kind of love, and it might be just what you need if your community is struggling right now. It’s not unusual to see activity slowing down during summer, but what are the hard questions you should ask yourself if your members don’t see the value in coming back? A lone rider for this episode, Jillian shares the s…
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According to a paper published on August 24th, 2022 in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the Dugong is now “functionally extinct” in China. These gentle marine mammals, sometimes referred to as sea cows, are one of four species of the order Sirenia. They are the cousins of the Amazonian manatee, West Indian manatee, West African manatee, and …
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