Shows / The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Join co-hosts Chris and Ari for a discussion of animal training, behavior, human-animal relationships, and all things NEI-TEC (the Natural Encounters Inc Training and Education Center), and featuring guests from the NEI team and around the professional animal care world! Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com if you have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show!
Episodes
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
S2E3 - Trainer Toolkit with Bradley Moore
Join Lucy and Adam as we welcome the Assistant Supervisor of our macaw show, Bradley Moore, to the show as we discuss a new trainer/keeper's toolkit. In this…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
S2E2.5 - Halloween Special
Surprise episode! Join us for a fun talk about happy little accidents featuring Scott Trauger and Ari Bailey, as we try to not take ourselves too seriously and…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
S2E2- Grandmas House with Kyle Alexander
Join Adam and Lucy as they welcome Kyle Alexander from Bearizona wildlife park. In this episode, we discuss guest experience, sharing our message as an…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
S2E1- Bold Beginnings
Join Lucy and Adam on their first solo episode. We get to learn a little about them and hear some of their stories. Feel free to share any thoughts or feedback…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
S2E0- A New Hope
Join Lucy and Adam in welcoming some familiar voices to the show as we begin a new season of the TEC Talk podcast. We look forward to continuing to share…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
TEC Talk JUMP SCARE: Dave Okapi and the Mystery of the Haunted Hotel (Live from the 2026 ABMA/IAATE Joint Conference in Cincinnati, OH)
As a treat for anyone who's kept their subscription to the show alive, Chris and Ari are proud to present a very special episode of the TEC Talk Podcast! Your…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 300: Follow Your Bliss (with everyone, including your Mom)
In this super secret, extra special bonus episode (actually episode 281, but Chris needed a good round number to end on), Ari rallied as many of Chris’s…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 280: Thank You All For Everything (featuring EVERYONE!)
This is it, the last official episode of the NEI TEC Talk Podcast (at least for now)! With Chris headed off to his new position as Executive Director of the…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 279: Big Changes in TEC Land (with Dr Grey Stafford, Zoo Logic)
Some announcements are so big that you have to bring in another podcast to help make them. Chris and Ari join Dr Grey Stafford on his incredible show, Zoo…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 278: Kids These Days Say The Darndest Things (with Michael Van Horne, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Ari sits down with NEI's own Michael Van Horne this week to chat about what it's like being a young person in the field. Michael talks about his time at…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 277: All Animals Can Speak, We Just Need to Learn to Listen (with Sarah Bonser-Blake, Wild Welfare)
Ari and Chris are joined by their first guest who's had David Attenborough attend their graduation (at least as far as we know): Sarah Bonser-Blake, Animal…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 276: The Art and Science of Outcome-Based Animal Welfare (with Jessica Sheftel, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)
Ari and Chris continue their journey of collecting more amazing people from around the professional animal care world to add to the "NEEU" (Natural Encounters…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 275: Fly-Aways, Swim-Offs, and Reboots (with Ryne Ferguson and Ayrton King, Animal Talk Podcast)
Ari and Chris are absolutely chuffed to be joined by two amazing gentlemen from South Africa, Ryne Ferguson and Ayrton King, co-hosts of the rebooted Animal…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 274: Let's Hope They All Talk About This Over Dinner Tonight (with The Reptile Department of The St Augustine Alligator Farm)
With Chris out of commission after being a pressure washing hero at work and mayyyyybe overdoing it a bit, Ari takes the helm and is joined by Dan Carvalho…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 273: I Guess I'm Gonna Do Fish Stuff (with Melissa Paynter, Georgia Aquarium)
You KNOW we love talking about training animals that people don't always think of when they think about animal training, so we are thrilled to welcome Melissa…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 272: If You Want Them To Care, They First Have To Know You Care (with Dan Blair)
Chris and Ari are thrilled to be joined on the show by NEI Alumnus Dan Blair! Dan catches us up on his current zoo role as Curator of Birds, and shares his…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 271: Happy Jamón Day! (with the Bird and Mammal Team, St. Augustine Alligator Farm)
Are SEVEN people too many to have on a podcast?? Not when it's the Bird and Mammal Team from the St. Augustine Alligator Farm! Chris and Ari are joined by…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 270: The Portal, The Tube, and The Assisted Lift (with Anaka Nazareth, National Aquarium)
Chris and Ari are joined by fellow training enthusiast Anaka Nazareth, Behavioral Husbandry Coordinator at the National Aquarium! Anaka shares the path that…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 269: The "Ponies, Sparkles, and Rainbows" Side of HR (with Dr Taylor Gilley, Houston Zoo)
Chris is joined by NEI's new (but also not really new) Director of Staff Development, Training, and Shows - Ari Bailey - to welcomes Dr Taylor Gilley back to…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 268: A Podcast About A Podcast (Radical Candor's "Leading Through Chaos With Stephanie Chung")
In another in our series of podcasts about other podcasts, Ari and Chris share their thoughts on a recent episode of the Radical Candor podcast with Kim Scott…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 267: Observe, Interpret, Improve (with Joey Golden, Maryland Zoo)
Ari and Chris are back together and excited to be joined by Joey Golden, Curator of Animal Behavior Programs at Maryland Zoo! Chris and Joey both attended the…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 266: Pursue Your Calling! (with Scott Trauger, Supervisor Emeritus, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
While Chris is away at the International Symposium for Zoo Animal Welfare in Chicago, Ari is hosting solo—but she’s not alone! She’s joined by former (but also…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 265: Using Communities to Create Opportunities
Ari catches us up on her time at Croc School before our hosts tackle an email asking for ideas about how to create opportunities in the professional animal…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 264: What Does It Mean To "Prioritize Training"? (Live from the 2025 ABMA Annual Conference)
Ari Bailey is busy doing cool reptile stuff at Croc School at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, so Chris takes the opportunity to share the audio from his…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 263: Zen and the Art of Networking (Live from the 2025 ABMA Annual Conference Zoo Day)
Chris is LIVE from Zoo Day at the 2025 ABMA Annual Conference in Galveston, Texas! Whilst wandering the grounds of our host facility, Moody Gardens, we chat…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 262: A Feedback Loop About Feedback Loops
Chris is in the editing (and possibly scrapping-and-starting-over) phase of his upcoming ABMA workshop "Your Feedback Loop: Evolving the Way We Give Feedback…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 261: Is Your Animal Doing What You Want? (TEC Talk Throwback to The Official Chris Jenkins Super Simplified Guide to Behavior™)
It's consulting time! Chris is back at the Little Rock Zoo working with a team of eight trainers from around the zoo to get everyone working with people and…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 260: The Guinea Pigs Have Arrived! (with Hayley Dougherty and Taylor LaTulipe, Natural Encounters, Inc.))
Chris and Ari share two microphones with their newest coworkers, Hayley Dougherty and Taylor LaTulipe! Hayley and Taylor share their immediate feelings after…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 259: Okay - I'm Going to Get a Degree, Then I'm Going to Come Back and Run This Place (with Kimm Hunt, International Animal Training Certification Board)
Ari sits down with Kimm Hunt, President of the International Animal Training Certification Board (IATCB), to dive into the IATCB certification exam—how it’s…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 258: Don't Panic! Let Your Weird Flagg Fly! (with Josh Flagg, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Chris is off at the AZA mid-year meeting, so Ari is joined by NEI Senior Trainer Josh Flagg for this episode! They dive into the challenges and joys of being…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 257: What Does Goal-Based Enrichment Look Like For People?
Chris once again ambushes Ari with a surprise topic for discussion, thanks to a great email we received: now that the definition of "enrichment for animals"…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 256: What Do Great Trainers Actually DO? (with Steve Martin, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Ari and Chris steal a bit of time out of a busy day to chat with NEI's Steve Martin to follow up on last week's episode and talk about the practical…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 255: Grab Your Trowel, We're Cultivating Trainers!
With Chris busy being immersed in our Immersion Workshop, Ari is joined once more by Adam Geltz (Senior Trainer, Natural Encounters, Inc.) to discuss a…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 254: Changing Jobs and Continuing Connections (with Ramon Castillo, St. Augustine Alligator Farm)
Chris and Ari sit down with Ramon Castillo, who Ari first connected with through NEI’s work with Bearizona Wildlife Park—when he reached out to chat about…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 253: Ego, Influence, and "Extreme Ownership"
With Ari out conferencing in Tennessee, Chris is joined by fellow NEI'er Adam Geltz to talk about their takeaways from Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 252: Accelerate Your Growth Arc (with Adam Geltz and Shay Gruman, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
With Chris busy teaching at NEI's Professional Contemporary Animal Training and Management Workshop, Ari gets some coworker support and is joined by special…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 251: If All You Do Is Grind, When Do You Have Time To Improve? (with Ryan Cartlidge, Animal Training Academy)
Chris is joined by fellow podcaster and all around amazing Kiwi, Ryan Cartlidge, founder of Animal Training Academy! Ryan chats about how a desire for better…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 250: From Timid Fans to Lifelong Friends (with Ken Ramirez, Steve Martin, Susan Friedman, and Tim Sullivan)
HAPPY 250TH EPISODE, TEC TALK! To celebrate this fun landmark, Ari and Chris are joined by four amazing people who've had a huge impact on us and our field…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 249: The Uses and Limits of Anthropomorphism (with Katy Kocisko, Center for Great Apes)
Ya'll know the drill by now: you send us an email, you get invited to be on the podcast, and as a result we get to hang out with Katy Kocisko (not Kocinko…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 248: Off the Cuff (with Susan Friedman, Behavior Works)
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…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 247: Yay, Let's Talk About Grief!
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…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 246: All the NEI Stuff and Things Coming in 2025!
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 TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 245: You're Doing It! You're Living Your Dream!! (with Lacey Zeno, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium)
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…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 244: ....Why Don't We Try It Now? (with Emma Pearce, Hamilton Zoo)
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…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 243: Pursue Your Joy AND Leave Room To Pivot (with Stu Levine, Elevating Impact Consulting)
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…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 242: At the "Chlorine-Splattered Pants" Stage, You're No Longer A Visitor (with Jon Rossi, The Rossifari Podcast)
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…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 241: You Might Fall... But What If You Fly? (with Megan Geddes, Taronga Zoo)
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…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
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)
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…
- The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.
Episode 239: THE BEE IS ALIVE?!?!? (with Morgan Belle, Disney's Animals, Science, and Environment)
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…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 238: What If the Rabbits Just Decided to Be Held? (with Nicky Plaskitt, Shaping Behaviour)
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…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 237: It Really, Really Is a Journey (with Elly Neumann, Jerusalem Zoo)
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…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 236: This Is Who I Am, and This Is Who I Want To Be (with Sidney Campbell, Cascades Raptor Center)
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!…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 235: The Story According to Bob (with Bob Chastain, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and Steve Martin, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
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…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 234: I Can Haz Professional Development Now? (with Greg Peccie, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden)
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…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 233: Hal Markowitz Needed Better PR (with Tim Sullivan Brookfield Zoo Chicago)
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…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 232: Hey, Wolf - Choose Your Own Adventure! (with Khaz Brooks, Roger Williams Park Zoo, and Ryan Talbot, Wolf Park)
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…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Bonus Episode: Voices from the 2024 AZA Annual Conference!
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…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 231: The Bizarre and Circuitous Route of a Lifetime of Learning (with Ken Ramirez, Karen Pryor Clicker Training)
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…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 230: The Endless Pursuit of One's Hedgehog (with Jennifer Charette, Tessere)
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…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 229: The (Not-So) Secret Three (or Maybe Four) Step Plan to Become a Zookeeper (with Sam Griffin, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
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…