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.
Mothering Wildlife
Latest Episodes
Body Image During Pregnancy with Paige Tamayo from the Dallas Zoo
My guest this week is Paige Tamayo, a Lead Zoologist at the Dallas Zoo. Paige and I know each other and used to work together when I was at Dallas. She joined my team in the Middle Wilds right before I moved back to Florida. Having both gone to...
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The Primal Instincts of Motherhood with Clare Belden-Walker from the Seneca Park Zoo
My guest this week is Clare Belden-Walker, an animal keeper at the Seneca Park Zoo. Clare's great love is primates, and she tells us all about her journey into zookeeping through the world of primate conservation!Pregnant zookeepers do s...
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How Pregnancy and Motherhood Impacts Your Team with Charley Shepherd from the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
My guest this week is Charley Shepherd, a Senior Mammal Care Specialist at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Jacksonville, FL. At the time of this interview, Charley was pregnant! She and I talk about the differences between her f...
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Adapting to Different Roles Through Networking with Loren Berry from the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK)
This week, my guest is Loren Berry, a woman who wears many hats within the zoo and aquarium field! A former zookeeper for 17 years, Loren now serves as the Chapter Development Manager for the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK). Additiona...
The "Wet Perspective" on Working Motherhood with Briana Schmidt from Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium
This week I talk to Briana Schmidt, a Lead Aquarist at the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium. Briana offers the "wet perspective" of being a working mom in the zoo and aquarium field. My guests are often of the "terrestrial" sort...
Fan Mail
been listening to the podcast for awhile and just recently returned to the zoo field as a carnivore zoo keeper at the Alabama gulf coast zoo, after 2.5 years of being a stay at home mom. This year I have been navigating a military move, deployments and now returning to work full time, being short staffed- kids entering daycare and being far away from family. So many moving parts!
Rome, New York