Shows / Just the Zoo of Us
Just the Zoo of Us
Join us, Ellen and Christian Weatherford, while we review your favorite species of animals and rate them out of ten in the categories of effectiveness, ingenuity and aesthetics. More information can be found at justthezooofus.com 😊 Got a species you want us to review? Submit your animal friend to us at ellen@justthezooofus.com and when we review your animal we'll give you a shoutout! 😊 Cover art by Mrs. Brainbow (Taylor Gordon-Wood). Theme music by Louie Zong.
Episodes
- Just the Zoo of Us
193: Asian Water Monitor w/ Ivan Kwan!
Join Ellen & special guest, naturalist Ivan Kwan, for a review of the scaly friends with the world’s most chaotic energy: Asian water monitors! We talked about…
- Just the Zoo of Us
192: Proboscis Monkey & Sarcastic Fringehead
Ellen nose what's up with the proboscis monkey & Christian sizes up the sarcastic fringehead. We discuss the form and function of a uniquely bizarre nose, the…
- Just the Zoo of Us
191: Fireflies w/ Dr. Sarah Lower!
Join Ellen & special guest, biology professor and researcher Sarah Lower, for a review of nature’s very own glimmering fairy lights: fireflies! We discuss how…
- Just the Zoo of Us
190: Pom-Pom Crab & Mourning Dove
Christian cheers for pom-pom crabs & Ellen explains what makes mourning doves so coo-l. We discuss how crabs clone their own pets, what type of milk pigeons…
- Just the Zoo of Us
189: Freshwater Megafish w/ Zeb Hogan!
Join Ellen & special guest, biologist and host of Nat Geo WILD’s TV series “Monster Fish” Zeb Hogan, for a review of the giants lurking in the waters of the…
- Just the Zoo of Us
188: Brown Pelican & Przewalski's Horse
Ellen dives into the brown pelican & Christian goes wild with Przewalski's horse. We discuss gular pouches, aerodynamics, stud piles, and conservation success…
- Just the Zoo of Us
187: Mangrove Rivulus w/ Brooke Fitzwater (AKA "Oceanfilly")!
Join Ellen & special guest, biologist and science communicator Brooke Fitzwater, for a review of the tiny indestructible ogres of the swamp: the mangrove…
- Just the Zoo of Us
186: Your Questions & Stories!
For the second and final week of the 2023 MaxFunDrive, we're answering your questions and sharing your stories! We get into all of the exciting places the…
- Just the Zoo of Us
185: Megalodon & Thylacine
It's a special trip in the time machine for the MaxFunDrive! Christian chomps on the megalodon & Ellen laments for the thylacine. We ask the important…
Just the Zoo of UsPlanthropology: Grass-Type Pokemon & the Plants that Inspired Them
We're out traveling this week! In the meantime, please enjoy this episode of Planthropology, in which Ellen joined host Dr. Vikram Baliga for a conversation…
- Just the Zoo of Us
184: D&D Classes w/ Eric Silver!
Join Ellen & tabletop roleplaying game podcaster and expert game master Eric Silver for an exploration of Dungeons & Dragons character classes and the…
- Just the Zoo of Us
183: Octopuses w/ Chelsea Bennice, the OctoGirl!
Join Ellen & special guest, marine biologist Chelsea Bennice, for a review of the multifunctional, multicolored, multi-armed aliens of the ocean: octopuses! We…
- Just the Zoo of Us
182: Greater Sage Grouse & Pistol Shrimp
Ellen struts with the greater sage grouse & Christian pops off about the pistol shrimp. We discuss what happens at a lek, whether or not the sage grouse poses…
- Just the Zoo of Us
181: Loggerhead Turtles w/ Jesse Gilbert!
Join Ellen and special guest, President and CEO of the Texas State Aquarium Jesse Gilbert, for a review of the living tanks of the sea: loggerhead turtles! We…
- Just the Zoo of Us
180: Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle & Indian Muntjac
Christian throws down with the Japanese rhinoceros beetle & Ellen goes on a journey through evolutionary history with the Indian muntjac. We discuss the toxic…
- Just the Zoo of Us
179: Spider Monkey w/ Dr. Michelle Rodrigues!
Ellen & special guest, primatologist and biological anthropologist Dr. Michelle Rodrigues, review the ballerinas of the Central and South American rain…
- Just the Zoo of Us
178: Vicuña & Cookie Cutter Shark
Ellen luxuriates in the vicuña & Christian takes a bite out of crime with the cookie cutter shark. We discuss adaptations to life in the Andes, vicuña wool as…
- Just the Zoo of Us
177: American Crocodile w/ Alec Baines!
Join Ellen & paleontology researcher and fellow Floridian Alec Baines for a review of the saltwater guardians, American crocodiles. We discuss the archosaur…
- Just the Zoo of Us
176: Rio Cauca Caecilian & Rubber Boa
Christian attends the caecilian cotillion & Ellen gets friendly with the rubber boa. We discuss life as a humble amphibian wiggling around in the mud and…
- Just the Zoo of Us
175: Cane Toad w/ Bethany Brookshire!
Join Ellen & science journalist Bethany Brookshire for a review of the lumpy little tide pods disrupting ecosystems all over the globe: cane toads. We discuss…
- Just the Zoo of Us
174: Narwhal & Snow Monkey
Ellen dives into the magical world of narwhals & Christian warms up to Japanese macaques. We discuss inside-out teeth, hot tub parties, and how…
- Just the Zoo of Us
79: Reindeer w/ Olivia deBourcier! (REPLAY)
This episode originally aired on December 25, 2020. This version of the episode includes minor updates and audio edits. Join Ellen & special guest, ecologist…
Just the Zoo of Us173: Rats w/ Let's Learn Everything!
Ellen is joined by the hosts of fellow Maximum Fun podcast Let's Learn Everything for a review of the little furry guys leaving tiny pawprints all over human…
Just the Zoo of Us172: American Beaver & Christmas Tree Worm
Christian chews on some facts about the American beaver & Ellen celebrates the festive Christmas tree worm. We discuss giant rodents, ecological engineering…
Just the Zoo of Us171: Chimney Swifts w/ Ralph Crewe!
Join Ellen & science communicator, birder and professional nerd Ralph Crewe for a review of a little bird with the loftiest ambitions: chimney swifts. We talk…
Just the Zoo of Us170: Wild Turkeys
Ellen goes on an odyssey through history with the wild turkey. We discuss their path alongside humans for thousands of years, from prehistoric America to…
Just the Zoo of Us169: Tiger Sharks w/ Melissa Márquez!
Join Ellen & shark scientist Melissa Márquez for a review of the giant garbage disposals of the ocean: tiger sharks. We discuss sharks as links to our world’s…
Just the Zoo of Us168: Velvet Worms & Binturong
Christian sticks to velvet worms & Ellen hangs out with binturongs. We discuss sticky situations, some unconventional means of reproduction, prehensile tails…
Just the Zoo of Us167: Huntsman Spiders w/ Caitlin Henderson!
Join Ellen & special guest, invertebrate photographer, zookeeper and science communicator behind "She's Got Legs" Caitlin Henderson, for a review of the best…
Just the Zoo of Us166: Iberian Ribbed Newt & Australian Ghostshark
Ellen has a bone to pick with the Iberian ribbed newt & Christian channels the spirit of the Australian ghostshark. We discuss insides becoming outsides…
Just the Zoo of Us165: Wasps w/ Johanna Schwartz!
Join Ellen & special guest, entomologist Johanna Schwartz, for a review of animals you may not have thought to appreciate before: wasps. From the world’s…
Just the Zoo of Us164: Bowmouth Guitarfish & Timber Rattlesnake
Christian shreds on the bowmouth guitarfish & Ellen shakes things up with the timber rattlesnake. We discuss the shark-ray spectrum (which is not a laser beam…
Just the Zoo of Us163: The Dodo w/ Natalie Sabin!
Join Ellen & special guest, ecologist and history podcaster Natalie Sabin, for a post-mortem of the dearly departed dodo. We discuss the unique traits that…
Just the Zoo of Us162: Spotted Lanternfly & Crown-of-thorns Starfish
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! This week, Ellen puts the spotted lanternfly in the spotlight & Christian spills his guts on the…
Just the Zoo of Us161: Rufous Hummingbird w/ Alexander Vidal
Join Ellen & special guest, illustrator and author Alexander Vidal, for a review of a tiny bird with an ambitious itinerary: the rufous hummingbird. We discuss…
Just the Zoo of Us160: Marine Iguana & Colugo
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! This week, Christian gets salty over the marine iguana & Ellen glides along with the literally treehugging…
Just the Zoo of Us159: Moon Jellyfish w/ Sophie Wolvin!
Join Ellen & special guest, marine biologist Sophie Wolvin, for a review of the ocean's little jello casseroles full of live bees: moon jellyfish! We’re gonna…
Just the Zoo of Us158: Pallas's Cat & Kiwi
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen lets Pallas's cat out of the bag & Christian probes into the world of the…
Just the Zoo of Us157: Fleas w/ Tom Sharpe!
Join Ellen & special guest, podcaster and invertebrate enthusiast Tom Sharpe, as we leap into the world of the tiny menace: fleas! We discuss the intersection…
Just the Zoo of Us156: California Sea Lion & Giant Isopod
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian barks about the loud wet dog of the Pacific coast, the California sea lion…
Just the Zoo of Us155: Dolphins w/ Drew Smith!
Join Ellen & special guest, anthropologist & cetologist Drew Smith, for a review of the adorable little apex predators zipping through the waves: dolphins! We…
Just the Zoo of Us154: Hognose Snake & Cone Snail
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen brings a flair for drama with the hognose snake & Christian shatters…
Just the Zoo of Us153: Sandhill Crane w/ Tommy Siegel!
Join Ellen & special guest musician from Jukebox the Ghost, comic artist behind "Candy Hearts" and "I Hope This Helps," and birder Tommy Siegel for a review of…
Just the Zoo of Us152: Rough-Skinned Newt & Pumpkin Toadlet
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's poisonous amphibian showcase, Christian takes competition to a whole new level with the…
Just the Zoo of Us151: Nominating the National Bird w/ Nick Lund!
Join Ellen & special guest, science writer Nick Lund, for a special episode nominating our very own top 3 candidates for the national bird of the United States…
Just the Zoo of Us150: Saiga & Alligator Gar
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! This week, Ellen steppes up to the plate with the saiga & Christian gar-ners support for the alligator gar…
Just the Zoo of Us149: Red-Tailed Hawk w/ Maya Higa!
Join Ellen & conservationist, wildlife educator and streamer Maya Higa to talk about one of the toughest, bravest predators in the sky: red-tailed hawks! We…
Just the Zoo of Us148: Japanese Spider Crab & Saharan Silver Ant
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Christian reads the manual to the Japanese spider crab & Ellen turns up the heat with…
Just the Zoo of Us147: Assassin Bugs w/ Ilan Domnich!
Join Ellen & special guest, entomologist Ilan Domnich, for a review of a fascinating family of bugs that are always one slow, methodical step ahead of the…
Just the Zoo of Us146: Hedgehog & Bandicoot
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's trip to the childhood arcade, Ellen rolls around at the speed of sound with the European…
Just the Zoo of Us145: Owl Monkeys w/ Alexi Grousis!
Join Ellen & special guest, zookeeper & host of the We Out Here podcast Alexi Grousis, for a review of a unique and mysterious creature bouncing around…
Just the Zoo of Us144: A Grand Scale Adventure
Join the Weatherfords for a fantasy roleplaying adventure as Christian plays a Dungeons & Dragons homebrew one-shot written by Ellen! In this week's episode…
Just the Zoo of Us143: Muskox w/ Kirsten Engeseth!
Ellen & special guest, herbivore ecologist and researcher Kirsten Engeseth, who joins us all the way from Norway to review the fluffiest, softest living tank…
Just the Zoo of Us142: Questions, Answers and Stories
For the second and final week of the MaxFunDrive, we're answering your questions and sharing your stories! We share some deeply personal intimate details like…
Just the Zoo of Us141: Bigfoot w/ Elliot Helmer!
Join Ellen & special guest, archaeologist and cryptid enthusiast Elliot Helmer, on a search for the truth about our most mysterious neighbor: Bigfoot. We…
Just the Zoo of Us64: Emu & Whale Shark (REPLAY)
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's re-broadcast of an episode from August of 2020, Ellen explains why emus don't bother flying…
Just the Zoo of Us140: Pangolins w/ Jack Baker!
Join Ellen & special guest, conservationist and podcaster Jack Baker, for a review of the charming and humble pangolin! We discuss how the pangolin’s unique…
Just the Zoo of Us139: Joro Spider & Day Octopus
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's sixteen-legged episode, Christian weaves a web of truth about the Joro spider & Ellen pulls no…
Just the Zoo of Us138: Phasmids w/ Shakara Maggitt!
Join Ellen & special guest, entomologist and animal scientist Shakara Maggitt, for a review of the gentle giants of the insect world: phasmids! You may know…
Just the Zoo of Us137: Babirusa & Greenland Shark
Join the Weatherfords for a weekly animal review! In this week's episode, Ellen wallows in the unique charm of the babirusa & Christian gives us a look into…