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.Episode 108: Downspout Sparrow (with Hardy Kern, American Bird Conservancy)
Join Ari as she chats with longtime listener and friend of the podcast Hardy Kern! They chat about Hardy's transition from the Columbus Zoo to his new role at…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 107: MomCast! (with Lucy Rutt and Katie Bello, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Ari sits down with NEI Senior Trainers and mothers-to-be Katie and Lucy to chat about momming in the animal field. They talk about work/life balance, shifts in…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 106: Seeing "All the Things" During Training Sessions
Ari and Chris convene to talk about what it really means to "see behavior" during a training session. So many nooks and crannies to explore in this one: when…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 105: ...Is This a Restaurant? (with Adam Geltz, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Chris is in Minnesota, but through the magic of technology he is joined, live via satellite from Texas, by Ari and NEI Senior Trainer Adam Geltz to talk about…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 104: Should You "Always End on a Positive Note"?
After discussing scent-based side hustles and the joys of trusting strangers on the internet, Chris and Ari tackle a common belief in animal training: that you…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 103: Telling Stories to Make Connections (with Ron Magill, Zoo Miami)
This is a super exciting episiode - not because Chris and Ari are back together in the same office for the first time in over a month, but because they're…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 102: This Water is 'The Good Blue' (with Meg Meyer, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
The Month of Infinite Travel continues as Ari teams up with NEI Senior Trainer Meg Meyer to talk about the two flights, long drive, and boat trip that got them…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 101: Take Your PTO! (with Lucy Rutt, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
It's another GIRLCAST! This time Ari hangs out with NEI Senior Trainer Lucy Rutt at the Homewood Suites in Tyler, TX, to talk about NEI's ongoing project at…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 100: Here's to a "Play to Grow" Future! (with Steve Martin and the TEC Talks Collective)
We made it! Chris and Ari sit down with Steve Martin to chat about the history of the TEC Talk podcast, to reflect on the special contributions sent in by some…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 99.5: Welcome to the President's Board Room (Live from the 2022 IAATE Conference)
With Chris in California, Ari talks with the attendees of the IAATE 30th Annual Conference as they kick off the week at their Ice Breaker event in this special…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 99: Ya'll, It Has Been a Week (with Sukie Jenkins, Extremely Good Girl)
Chris takes a pause from the madness of the week to walk his dog and share some of the details of what has been a very busy, very interesting week. Have…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 98: Lunch and Learn - The S-Delta, Punishment, and Extinction (with Dr Susan Friedman, Behavior Works)
Welcome to our Lunch and Learn! After last week's questions involving the terminology and procedures that surround the use of the S-Delta, we partnered with Dr…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 97: A Training Plan for Talking About Training (with Adam Geltz, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Ari and Chris are joined by NEI Senior Trainer Adam Geltz to talk about talking about training. We discuss the use of jargon, knowing your audience, when to…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 96: Tales from the (Renovated) Trailer
Ari is back in town, so we play catch up using a new recording setup in our freshly renovated office - who knew taking down a wall and moving some desks around…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 95: Don't Overshoot Your Joy (with Greg Peccie, Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens)
While Ari braves the wilds of Texas, Chris is joined by Greg Peccie, Curator of Mammals at the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens! Greg shares how his animal career…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 94: From Mentee to Mentor to Mentee (with Kaitlyn Wiktor, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium)
Ari and Chris are joined by frequent podcast emailer Kaitlyn Wiktor! After chatting with Kait about the journey to her current position as Manager of…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 93: Let's All Be Dumb Together (with Joe Quadara, Recurver Consulting)
It's "Round 2" as we welcome back studio director, video game dev consultant, and all-around rad dude Joe Quadara! Ari and Chris sit down with Joe to discuss…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 92: The Politics of Open Communication (with Wouter Stellaard, Behavior 360)
Ari and Chris are joined by their friend, mentor, and all-around amazing guy Wouter Stellaard! Wouter tells us about how his journey into the field started…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 91: General Honesty, Reporting for Duty
It's "Tales from the Trailer" time! Ari and Chris carve out a slice of the day to answer your questions about Steve Martin's feelings about Taylor Swift, our…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 90: Your Homework for Winter Break
We're back! With Ari on the mend, we get together (virtually) to assign some "Winter Break Homework" for everyone: our recommendations for articles, books…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 89: A Very Merry COVIDcast (with Ellen Matza, Megan Geddes, and Aaron Rose, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Well...it finally happened. The OhMyCorn variant is no joke and has descended upon NEI. Ari eats some chocolate hoping that her loss of taste means she likes…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 88: Chop the Log! (with Aaron "Rose" Tapia, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Welcome to the TEC Talk Podcast, with your host, Aaron Rose! Aaron asked to take over the podcast so he could grill Ari and Chris about how much we know about…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 87: Who Cares, Just Reinforce It Already! (w/ Dr. Grey Stafford, Zoo Logic)
Ari and Chris are super excited to be joined by animal trainer, author, and fellow podcaster, Dr. Grey Stafford! We sit down to chat about Grey's early days in…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 86: The Birds and the Bees (with Morgan Belle, Almost-Formerly Natural Encounters, Inc.)
With Ari away at the 2021 ZAA Annual Conference, Chris is joined by "newly former" NEI Trainer Morgan Belle! This was Morgan's last week with the company, so…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 85: Birdability! (with Virginia Rose, Birdability)
Ari is joined by Virginia Rose, Founder and President of Birdability, a non-profit organization whose mission is to share the joys of birding with people who…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 84: Leveling Up Your Work Culture (with Joe Quadara, Video Game Consultant)
In one of the best and most random episodes we're ever recorded, Chris and Ari are joined by game dev consultant Joe Quadara! After reading a bit about Joe's…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 83: Live from The Training Game!
Workshop NIGHT! Live from our first in-person workshop in two years, it's the TEC Talk Podcast! With Chris out of town, Ari is joined by the staff and…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 82: At 4 O'Clock, It's Different Soup (with Ellen Matza, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Chris and Ari are joined by fellow NEI-er Ellen Matza to discuss the following training scenario: when you're working with an animal and you're not getting the…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 81: It's All Real (with Dave O'Connell, Bearizona Wildlife Park)
Ari is back and she's brought a guest, Bearizona Wildlife Park's own Dave O'Connell! Dave shares how he got into the field (thanks, Dave's mom!), the job he…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 80: Career Ping Pong (with Sylvia Ronquillo, National Aviary)
They said it couldn't be done: a "Tales from the Trailer" episode that also has a cool guest who's not from NEI! Chris is joined by National Aviary Senior…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 79: TEC Talk Live! (The Pilot Episode)
Two hosts is fun, but what if we just invited...everyone?!? This week's episode is a pilot for a concept we've been kicking around for awhile of opening up the…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 78: We Built a Zoo (with Adam Geltz, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Ari and Chris are joined once again by NEI Senior Trainer Adam Geltz to talk all things fishing, video games, instrumental hip hop, and laziness (which, it…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 77: How DO You Find "The One"?
Tales from the Trailer returns for the second week in a row! Ari and Chris speculate about the possible international names for koozies, take phone calls about…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 76: Retro Big Tex
Tales from the Trailer time! Chris and Ari take a break from shows to read your emails, which leads to a discussion about how we navigate "the calling" of…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 75: Mistakes Were Made... (with Shari Stern, The Raptor Trust)
Ari and Chris are joined by Shari Stern, Education Director for The Raptor Trust, to discuss dealing with mistakes: what we do when we make them, how to walk…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 74: The Pitfalls of "Romanticizing Suffering" (with Brad Moore, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Ari and Chris are joined by NEI Senior Trainer Brad Moore to talk about fishing, his early love of "wed bwested wobbins," and his professional history and…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 73: Of COURSE You Need Your Own Axe! (with Mary Ewers Joyner, Lorain County Metro Parks)
Ari and Chris are joined by Mary Ewers Joyner, Avian Program Curator for Lorain County Metro Parks! Mary shares her history in the field and her facility's…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 72: It's Just Good Humaning (with Amy Fennell, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Ari and Chris are joined once more by NEI Supervisor Amy Fennell to reflect on last week's episode about trust accounts (and to tell HER SIDE of the great "Dan…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 71: We Can Chew Ice, It's Fine (with Dan Blair, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Chris and Ari are reunited by the power of the internet, and they're joined by NEI Senior Trainer Dan Blair! Dan shares his history with NEI and how improv…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 70: Parenting in the Pandemic's Second Wave (with Lisa Haggadone, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Chris sits down with NEI Senior Trainer Lisa Haggadone to talk about her experience as an animal trainer AND mom during this wonderful second wave of the…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 69: Anatomy of a Pilot Program (with Scott Trauger and Corey Derryberry, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Hot on the heels of our show about "moving the needle" (see Episode 67), Chris sits down with NEI Supervisors Scott Trauger and Corey Derryberry to reflect on…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 68: Board Pod! (with the IAATE Board)
Ari takes over hosting duties and is joined by the Board of IAATE! Cassie Malina, Helen Dishaw, Miguel Santos, and Steve Martin share their personal histories…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 67: Begone, Comfort Zones!
Look everybody, I'm gonna need your help with this one. Chris here, recording solo in Arizona and reflecting on some ideas about the importance of getting…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 66: Where Are My Invert Peeps??
Ari goes solo once more to reflect on her early training history with reptiles and encourages listeners to share the cool stuff they're doing these days…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 65: Meditations on Mediation
As they wait in their trailer to be pummeled by their daily afternoon thunderstorm, Ari and Chris sit down to discuss the topic of mediation. While we've spent…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 64: Everyone Should Work Retail
Ari and Chris sit down to chat about the importance of being good partners with the other teams, departments, and organizations we collaborate with. They…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 63: The "F" Word We're Allowed to Say (with Jessica Ruiz, Grey Snow Eagle House)
With Ari on assignment in Nebraska, Chris sits down to chat with Jessica Ruiz, frequent podcast emailer and Aviary Education Specialist at Grey Snow Eagle…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 62: Why Are You Still Here??? (with Corey Derryberry, Natural Encounters, Inc.)
Ari sits down with NEI Supervisor Corey Derryberry on his 13th anniversary with the company! They chat about Corey's path to joining and becoming a leader with…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 61: The Call In Conundrum
As a wave of non-COVID illness washes over their staff, Ari and Chris sit down to discuss a consistent challenge that faces people who work in animal care…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 60: Our Favorite Condor Mom (with Helen Dishaw, Tracy Aviary)
Ari and Chris are joined by one of their favorite people in the zoological world, Helen Dishaw! Helen shares her journey from being an animal-crazy kid in the…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 59: Assessing Welfare for Our Teams
What if we took the AZA definition of "welfare" and applied it to the two-legged creatures we share our days with? Ari and Chris attempt to come up with a…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 58: "Good Communication" Operationalized
"Good communication" as a concept is fine and all, but what does that LOOK like? Ari and Chris put their heads together to discuss some of the observable…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 57: The Flyoff Episode!
Chris and Ari FINALLY make time to sit down amidst the controlled chaos of a one of the most unique parts of bird training: a flyoff! We discuss what it looks…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 56: I Appreciate You! (Live from the 2021 ABMA Conference)
Live from the Happy Hour of the final day of the 2021 ABMA Conference, it's the TEC Talk podcast! Chris is joined by newly minted President Elect of the Animal…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 55: Everybody Has an Opinion on Ghosts (with Kat Donald, Keeper/Trainer)
Ari and Chris are joined by elephant keeper/aquarium builder/horse enthusiast/dog trainer Kat Donald! Kat tells us about her journey to becoming the hardest…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 54: Greetings from NEI West! (with Katie Bello, Amy Zimmerman, and Kyle Alexander, Bearizona Wildlife Park)
It's a cross-country matchup of "Bearizona East" (aka NEI) and "NEI West" (aka Bearizona) as Chris sits down with NEI Senior Trainer Katie Bello and Bearizona…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 53: Why Does This Audience Hate Us???
It's "Tales from the Trailer" time! Ari and Chris share a mic and grab some lunch to discuss that oh-so-wonderful experience of audience interactions that just…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 52: Happy Podcast-iversary!
Happy Birthday, TEC Talk!! Ari and Chris reflect on learnings from a year of change, growth, and innovation. Big thanks goes out to everyone that's followed us…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 51: Cocktails and Conversations (with NYC AAZK)
This time we're the guests! Ari and Chris join John Scott and the NYC chapter of AAZK to talk about guest interaction, improving relationships and…
The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.Episode 50: The "Falcondry" Episode (with Abbey and Joe Krumrie, River Valley Raptors, Inc.)
50 episodes, woo hoo!! Ari and Chris are joined by the founders of River Valley Raptors Inc., Abbey and Joe Krumrie, to talk all things birds of prey! We…