Mothering Wildlife
By Elizabeth Johnson
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Category: Parenting
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Episodes: 70
Description
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 every other week 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.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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From Zookeeper, to Mom, to Making the Anonymous Animals Known with Alexis Fitch from Animals Anonymous Apparel
|
Jun 11, 2026 |
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Body Image During Pregnancy with Paige Tamayo from the Dallas Zoo
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May 28, 2026 |
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The Primal Instincts of Motherhood with Clare Belden-Walker from the Seneca Park Zoo
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May 14, 2026 |
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How Pregnancy and Motherhood Impacts Your Team with Charley Shepherd from the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
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Apr 30, 2026 |
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Adapting to Different Roles Through Networking with Loren Berry from the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK)
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Apr 16, 2026 |
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The "Wet Perspective" on Working Motherhood with Briana Schmidt from Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium
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Apr 02, 2026 |
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Learning to Live Your New Norm with Jessica Lelesch from the Akron Zoo
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Mar 19, 2026 |
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My Motherhood Journey with Mothering Wildlife Podcast Host Elizabeth Johnson
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Mar 05, 2026 |
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Boundaries and Balance Are So Important with Kayla Freeman from Blank Park Zoo
|
Feb 19, 2026 |
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Identity Shifts - Embracing Both “Zookeeper” and “Mom” During Different Seasons of Life with Sarah Radecker of the Houston Zoo
|
Feb 05, 2026 |
|
Military Moves and Mom Life with Channing Milchuck of Zoo Atlanta
|
Jan 22, 2026 |
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Raising Raptors and Children with Abbey Krumrie from River Valley Raptors
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Jan 08, 2026 |
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Finding Your Flippers as a Leader and Mom with Hallie Torre from the Aquarium of Niagara
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Nov 27, 2025 |
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“Baby Tonka” - When Our Kids Become Part of Our Zoo Community with Wendy Boulger of Zoo Knoxville
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Nov 13, 2025 |
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Personal Lives Are Important with Kim Castrucci from the Brevard Zoo
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Oct 30, 2025 |
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Relearning Roles After Postpartum with LeShea Cochu from Chattanooga Zoo
|
Oct 16, 2025 |
|
When Skills at Work as an Animal Hospital Keeper Serve You in Your Mom Life with Morgan Duffy from the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
|
Oct 02, 2025 |
|
"Your Identity as a Human Changes When You Have a Baby" with Jess Sorrentino from Cheetah Conservation Fund
|
Sep 18, 2025 |
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The Animal Instincts of Motherhood with Carolyn Mikulskis of the Greensboro Science Center
|
Sep 04, 2025 |
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Zookeeper Doula with Caitlin Rodriguez from Blessed Mother Birth Services
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Aug 22, 2025 |
|
How To Be A Herpetologist Hero and Raise Children with Amie Mercado from the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
|
Aug 07, 2025 |
|
An IVF Journey While Being a Zookeeper with Kirsti Mahon of the Naples Zoo
|
Jul 24, 2025 |
|
Advocating While Pregnant and Navigating Upon Your Return to Work with Chelsie Bedingfield from the Sacramento Zoo
|
Jul 10, 2025 |
|
Patiently Waiting, Observing, Validating Feelings, and Then Finding Solutions - At Home and at the Zoo with Katie Hall from Minnesota Zoo
|
Jun 26, 2025 |
|
Nothing Can Really Prepare You for Motherhood or Even the Feelings of Postpartum with Andrea Porch of Sedgwick County Zoo
|
Jun 12, 2025 |
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From Crustacean Enthusiast to Aquarist Mom with Caroline Dyer of Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
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May 29, 2025 |
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Can Being a Zookeeper Help You Find Balance as a Mom? with Leanne Parker of Niabi Zoo
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May 15, 2025 |
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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
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May 01, 2025 |
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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
|
Apr 17, 2025 |
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Postpartum is Hard! But so is Being a Working Mom with Carly Hornberger from Smithsonian's National Zoo
|
Apr 25, 2024 |
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More Than a Mom and Not Just a Zookeeper with Kristine Duplisea of the Fort Worth Zoo
|
Apr 18, 2024 |
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Working Your Dream Job but Feeling Like You’re Needed at Home with Kristen Beedle, former primate zookeeper
|
Apr 11, 2024 |
|
Kids Will Work for Chocolate Chips with Sarah Kirkman of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
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Apr 04, 2024 |
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Penguins, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Comparison with Lindsay Ireland of the Detroit Zoo
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Mar 28, 2024 |
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Zoo Podcasters Unite! with Jon Rossi from the Rossifari Podcast, and Chris Jenkins from the NEI TEC Talk Podcast
|
Mar 21, 2024 |
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Kids as a Catalyst for Change and Finding a Family First Culture in a Facility with Courtney Janney of the Memphis Zoo
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Mar 14, 2024 |
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Just Don't Drop the Glass Balls with Dr. Lizzy Arnett-Chinn from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
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Mar 07, 2024 |
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An IVF Journey as a Zookeeper with Former Zookeeper Tarah Carpenter
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Feb 29, 2024 |
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The Mixed Bag of Emotions During Maternity Leave with Alyson Proveaux of the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
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Feb 22, 2024 |
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Still at the Zoo! But Doing Something Different with Carolyn Kelly from the St. Louis Zoo
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Feb 15, 2024 |
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A New Baby AND a New Role! with Kendra Bottini of the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
|
Feb 08, 2024 |
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Doing What's Best for You with Allison Malkowski of the Dakota Zoo
|
Feb 01, 2024 |
|
Advocating for Your Child and Parenting the Best Way for Your Family with Adrienne John of Turtle Bay Exploration Park
|
Jan 25, 2024 |
|
You’re Not Alone! Motherhood Transforms Everything - Your Body, Your Brain, Your Life with Kristy Edelen of the Georgia Aquarium
|
Jan 18, 2024 |
|
Moms as Managers, Normalizing Support in the Workplace with Nikki Smith, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
|
Jan 11, 2024 |
|
Transitioning in Your Career Can Be So Hard But Also So Worth It with Carey Richard, former Curator of Marine Mammals
|
Jan 04, 2024 |
|
Creating the Next Generation of Conservationists with Jenny Curtis of edZOOcation
|
Dec 14, 2023 |
|
Moms and Mental Health Support with Hannah Fullmer and Shannon McKinney of GRAZE, Growing Resiliency for Aquarium and Zoo Employees
|
Dec 07, 2023 |
|
From Mothering Your Children to “Momming” Your Coworkers, You Can’t Turn Motherhood Off with Alecia Benware of the North Carolina Zoo
|
Nov 30, 2023 |
|
From Zoo Vet Tech to "Tech Teaching" Her Kids with Molly Waller, former Zoo Veterinary Technician
|
Nov 23, 2023 |
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Mothering from 50 Miles Offshore is a Whale of a Good Time with Naturalist Julie Taylor
|
Nov 16, 2023 |
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Doing It All, Taking It Day by Day, and Remembering It All Will Go On Without You with Katie Gries of Ochsner Park Zoo
|
Nov 09, 2023 |
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The Science of Behavior Change Translates to Motherhood with Arianna Bailey of Natural Encounters, Inc. (NEI)
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Nov 02, 2023 |
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Moms Helping Moms Across Species - How One (Human) Mom's Tea Became an (Ape) Mom's Treasure with Cindy Cossaboon of the Denver Zoo
|
Oct 26, 2023 |
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We’ll Make it Through; Leaning on Your Team and Others for Support During Tough Times with Traci Cameron of SEA LIFE Kansas City
|
Oct 19, 2023 |
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Pumping in the Wild (Like on a Swamp Buggy and Boat!), and Choosing Change with Ashlee O'Connor of Defenders of Wildlife
|
Oct 12, 2023 |
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Not Everyone's Motherhood Journey is the Same with Barbara Suhn of the Oregon Zoo
|
Oct 05, 2023 |
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Motherhood Expectations and Pressures with Zookeeper Laura
|
Sep 28, 2023 |
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Doing Birth With a Doula - Finding Support During Birth and Beyond with Leilani Beaupre of the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
|
Sep 21, 2023 |
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How Being a Zookeeper Prepares You for Children (and in this case, triplets!) with Bethany Jeffrey
|
Sep 14, 2023 |
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Committing to Cloth Diapers with Christina Eastwood of the Dallas Zoo
|
Sep 07, 2023 |
|
Finding Your Community with Jessi Gorman of the Fort Worth Zoo
|
Aug 31, 2023 |
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The Influence of Motherhood on our Careers with Mandy Fischer of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
|
Aug 24, 2023 |
|
The Stages of Parenthood with Zookeeper Jennifer Zuehlke
|
Aug 17, 2023 |
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Pregnancy, Pumping, and Personal Time with Heather Ammann of the Dallas Zoo
|
Aug 10, 2023 |
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A Career on Hold with Jessica Price of Tanganyika Wildlife Park
|
Aug 03, 2023 |
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Postpartum Priorities with Dani Poirier Larson of Southwick's Zoo
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Jul 27, 2023 |
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Putting Family First with Libby Hayes of the Oklahoma City Zoo
|
Jul 20, 2023 |
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Changing Priorities and Changing Roles with Jenifer Joseph of the Dallas Zoo
|
Jul 13, 2023 |
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When Mom Life Meets Zoo Life with Whitlee Turner of the Metro Richmond Zoo
|
Jun 23, 2023 |