Shows / Mothering Wildlife
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 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.
Episodes
- Mothering Wildlife
Mothering from 50 Miles Offshore is a Whale of a Good Time with Naturalist Julie Taylor
Send me a message! Join me this week as I talk to Julie Taylor, a naturalist who spends most of her days on a large boat interpreting wildlife off the coast of…
- Mothering Wildlife
Doing It All, Taking It Day by Day, and Remembering It All Will Go On Without You with Katie Gries of Ochsner Park Zoo
Send me a message! Sometimes we are so heavily involved in our workplace role that we worry if they will be able to carry on without us when we need to take…
- Mothering Wildlife
The Science of Behavior Change Translates to Motherhood with Arianna Bailey of Natural Encounters, Inc. (NEI)
Send me a message! The science of behavior change has many applications; whether it is in your professional career with animal care and welfare or at home with…
- Mothering Wildlife
Moms Helping Moms Across Species - How One (Human) Mom's Tea Became an (Ape) Mom's Treasure with Cindy Cossaboon of the Denver Zoo
Send me a message! It doesn't matter if you're an orangutan or human mom, all moms need a little bit of help sometimes. When an orangutan at the Denver Zoo…
- Mothering Wildlife
We’ll Make it Through; Leaning on Your Team and Others for Support During Tough Times with Traci Cameron of SEA LIFE Kansas City
Send me a message! Have you ever had to just tell yourself, “We’ll make it through”. Motherhood can throw all sorts of wild cards our way - from changing home…
- Mothering Wildlife
Pumping in the Wild (Like on a Swamp Buggy and Boat!), and Choosing Change with Ashlee O'Connor of Defenders of Wildlife
Send me a message! If you’re a breastfeeding mama who has had to pump at work you know the weird and challenging places we often try to accomplish this task…
- Mothering Wildlife
Not Everyone's Motherhood Journey is the Same with Barbara Suhn of the Oregon Zoo
Send me a message! Motherhood looks different for everyone. From the journey to become a mom, to the support network you have (or don’t), all the way to how…
- Mothering Wildlife
Motherhood Expectations and Pressures with Zookeeper Laura
Send me a message! If you have had a long journey into the zoo field you will relate with this week's guest, Laura, as she spends the first bit of the episode…
- Mothering Wildlife
Doing Birth With a Doula - Finding Support During Birth and Beyond with Leilani Beaupre of the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
Send me a message! Finding support and asking for help when you're in the trenches of motherhood is easier said than done. However, during birth and beyond…
- Mothering Wildlife
How Being a Zookeeper Prepares You for Children (and in this case, triplets!) with Bethany Jeffrey
Send me a message! So often we find that the skills we've gained as animal care professionals are applicable to raising children! This week I talk to Bethany…
- Mothering Wildlife
Committing to Cloth Diapers with Christina Eastwood of the Dallas Zoo
Send me a message! Sometimes our professional lives influence the decisions we make in our personal lives. This week I talk to Christina Eastwood of the Dallas…
- Mothering Wildlife
Finding Your Community with Jessi Gorman of the Fort Worth Zoo
Send me a message! Join me as I talk to Jessi Gorman of the Fort Worth Zoo. We talk about her upfront honesty about wanting to start a family when she…
- Mothering Wildlife
The Influence of Motherhood on our Careers with Mandy Fischer of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
Send me a message! Ever been worried about leaving your career to focus on motherhood? Join me as I talk to Mandy Fischer of the Association of Zoos and…
- Mothering Wildlife
The Stages of Parenthood with Zookeeper Jennifer Zuehlke
Send me a message! When you're in the thick of it, that particular parenting stage seems to last forever. Whether it's lack of sleep or an infant's complete…
- Mothering Wildlife
Pregnancy, Pumping, and Personal Time with Heather Ammann of the Dallas Zoo
Send me a message! In this episode I talk to Heather Ammann of the Dallas Zoo. We talk about being pregnant at work (especially in that hot Texas heat), how…
- Mothering Wildlife
A Career on Hold with Jessica Price of Tanganyika Wildlife Park
Send me a message! Getting back into the zoo field once you've left can feel impossible but my guest this week shares her story of how she re-entered the field…
- Mothering Wildlife
Postpartum Priorities with Dani Poirier Larson of Southwick's Zoo
Send me a message! Postpartum life is full of changes - to your body, to your routine, to your family and relationships, and to your priorities. This week I…
- Mothering Wildlife
Putting Family First with Libby Hayes of the Oklahoma City Zoo
Send me a message! Putting your family first can be challenging in a passion field with atypical working hours, high physical labor needs, and other living…
- Mothering Wildlife
Changing Priorities and Changing Roles with Jenifer Joseph of the Dallas Zoo
Send me a message! Sometimes you might need to transition away from full-time animal care to another role within the zoo field. Registrars are animal-adjacent…
- Mothering Wildlife
When Mom Life Meets Zoo Life with Whitlee Turner of the Metro Richmond Zoo
Send me a message! Welcome to the first episode of the Mothering Wildlife podcast! In this episode, I'll explain how this podcast came to be and I'll talk to…