No Such Word as Can’t

Michael Hepher comes on the podcast to talk about his time working with a multitude of different species! He began his career working in the UK and moved to Sweden to work at the Kolmarden zoo with hoofstock. He discusses the challenges involved in moving away from home but the incredible positives that diversifying your experience can bring. 

Dr. Erin Frick talks about animal behavior research, especially on topics of communication and applied animal behavior, having primarily worked with marine mammal species. Currently her main collaborators are Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the Amazon River Dolphin Conservation Foundation. She was the first faculty member hired into Eckerd's new Animal Studies major back in fall 2019, and has been building the program ever since!   More info: https://fablab.eckerd.edu/ https://www.eckerd.edu/animal-studies/ https://www.eckerd.edu/news/blog/horseshoe-crab-conference/ https://www.eckerd.edu/news/blog/cohort-animal-studies/ https://www.eckerd.edu/news/blog/eckerd-college-local-aquarium-dolphin-study/ https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-pinellas/eckerd-college-students-study-species-of-dolphin-rarely-under-human-care  

Samantha Clinch is a British Actress, radio host, and mindset coach! Samantha began her acting career aged 4 and was an extra in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, as well as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. She later was given the part of Eloise Midgeon and went on to film scenes with Dame Maggie Smith and Daniel Radcliffe. Samantha talks about her outlook on life and approach to manifestation helped her to land the role that changed her life.    Find her here: https://www.instagram.com/samanthaclinch/ https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthaclinch  

Emily Yalowsky is a former marine mammal trainer who worked at Marineland of Canada. Her time spent caring for beluga whales and a very special killer whale named Kiska, spurred her on into going back to school for PR. She hopes to marry the two sides of her career and help zoos and aquariums best present themselves for the future of the industry.  Find Emily here: https://www.instagram.com/fintasticem/?hl=af

Jackson Miller - otherwise known as JackSuperToast - is a content creator with a passion for making people laugh, and for books! Currently working on his first high fantasy novel, Jack has been able to follow his passions for making content and make TikTok his full time job while focusing on his novel.  Follow Jack Here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jacksupertoast?lang=en

Tess McKelliget is one half of the podcast Trainer Talks and Tails, as well as being an animal caregiver at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Australia! Tess talks about how she got into the industry, her time working with koalas and educating the public, and now her passion for working with birds of prey!  Lone Pine: https://lonepinekoalasanctuary.com/ Trainer Talks and Tails Pod: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/trainer-talks-and-tails/id1697300598

Sam Willens is the founder of the micro squad who inspire people to workout to music and vibes that they love! With tailored workouts for all fitness and ability levels - find the fit for you. From Star Wars, to Lord of the Rings, to training like a Valkyrie from ACOTAR - there is something for everyone!  Join Sam and her colleagues here: https://themicrosquad.com/valkyrie-squad

Dr. Malin Lilley is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She earned her B.A. in Behavioral Neuroscience with a minor in Biology from Colgate University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Brain and Behavior Science from The University of Southern Mississippi. Her current research projects involve studying the behavioral development of beluga whales, the lateralization of behaviors in marine mammals, and how students' personal and professional goals are impacted by their social identity https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Malin-Lilley https://www.linkedin.com/in/malinlilley/  

Katie Spada is a registered dietician nutritionist who was a synchronized swimmer for most of her adolescent life! As with many sports, the pressure was strong to “look” a certain way as a synchro swimmer. This drove Katie to engage in some unhealthy eating and exercise habits. Now, her career revolves around helping others feel 'normal' around food and support them with the mental struggles of life after sport.    Learn more: https://spadastrongnutrition.com/

Dr. Ames completed her PhD on vocal development in beluga calves in 2019. From the knowledge gained from this study she was able to identify narwhal calf calls in acoustic records. With experience researching both wild and managed care cetaceans - Dr. Ames sheds some light on how collaborative research can help shed light into the behaviour of some of the ocean's most mysterious animals 

Daniel Alexander (better known as @dalecsander on social media) is a BookTok influencer and one could argue budding comedian. Best known for his ACOTAR in sixty seconds skits, he talks about his love for books, what it is like being a prominent booktokker in a female dominated space, and his desire to see more Jewish authors represented to reflect the Jewish culture and experience in the modern day.  https://www.instagram.com/dalecsander99/          

Daisy Barrett is a British Zookeeper living and working in Australia. Having worked at Australia Zoo where she was head of the 'roving' department, she took her passion for training to new levels by transitioning to work with marine mammals. She recently won Best Training Presentation for her training work with Little Blue Penguins at the Australian Society of Zookeeping conference! She also hosts the podcast Trainer Talks and Tails with her co-host Tess which you can find here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/trainer-talks-and-tails/id1697300598

Dr. Austin Allen is a comparative physiologist who studies marine mammals in the wild and in human care. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Duke University's Marine Lab. He is interested in refining technologies and methods by working with trained animals, in order to study the conservation outcomes in wild populations. His research currently focuses on using bio-logging tags and respirometry to study energetics in toothed whales, to quantify the impacts of human disturbance. 

Rachel Hale is a former great ape keeper at Busch Gardens, Tampa. With over a decade of experience in animal care and training, Rachel has worked with many different species, but explains why great apes - and in particular a couple of gorillas - stole her heart. Touching on animal behaviour and communication - she tells us what the animals learned, and perhaps more importantly what they taught her. 

Sister authors Elizabeth and Helen (pen name Elizabeth Helen) give us the details on their series Beasts of the Briar which is taking BookTok by storm! Diving into what it is like to write in tandem with your sister - talking about everything from character arcs, to spicy scenes, they fill us in on their process and how their lives have been changed by BookTok.    Read their books here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elizabeth-Helen/e/B0BSB4VHRH/ref=zg_bsnr_g_279254_bl_sccl_11/000-0000000-0000000

Megan Golightly is one of the most popular organizing and decluttering influencers in North America. She is best known for weaving her psychology background and interest in neuroscience into her approach. She promotes the importance of mental health and positive change while helping her clients to de-clutter and organize their homes to promote healthier habits.  Find out more: https://www.go-simplified.com/

Nicola and Shannon combined their love for reading and their love for family into one enterprise - opening a romance bookstore in Calgary. With a passion for filling their days with the things they love the most, they speak about what they each bring to the table, and how they made their entrepreneurial dreams a reality!   Want to check them out? https://www.slowburnbooksyyc.ca/  

Camelle Zodrow, a marine mammal trainer with decade of experience and 12yrs at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, opens up about her relationship with Winter the dolphin and the importance of recognizing how difficult it is working with animals who become part of the family. Her insight into current research, rescue practices, and how zoological facilities are helping the plight of wild marine animals is refreshing. Want to help CMA? Click below: https://www.cmaquarium.org/?utm_campaign=Sales-Performance%20Max-1&utm_term&utm_medium=ppc&utm_source=adwords&hsa_acc=6794882672&hsa_tgt&hsa_grp&hsa_src=x&hsa_kw&hsa_mt&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_cam=20012668953&hsa_ver=3&hsa_ad&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnrmlBhDHARIsADJ5b_nPEkIsllE8M0iUzdSPGRFkz4S4nODEnwP_smk-adZ-XxF1zHsoXaoaAjWZEALw_wcB

Stacey McEwan is the author of the best-selling Glacian trilogy and currently lives in Australia. Well known for trying to turn her husband into a fictional man on TikTok - she shares her journey to publishing and how BookTok helped to facilitate that.    Get her books here: https://www.staceymcewanbooks.com/

Andreas Fahlman is a comparative physiologist whose research projects revolve around the central question of how animals function in challenging environments. He was born and raised in Sweden, and moved to Hawaii in 1993 to pursue a BSc in Marine Biology. He completed his PhD in Biology from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada in 2000.  His graduate and post-graduate studies ranged from ultra-deep diving physiology; novel methods for reducing the risk of decompression sickness; genetic regulation of respiratory and cardiovascular responses to diving and hypoxia in marine mammals and birds; and molecular and metabolic biochemistry in hibernating mammals. He has devised and implemented remote data logging techniques to measure dive duration and depth, and to estimate the effects of pressure on gas exchange, metabolism, heart rate, temperature regulation, and foraging efficiency in freely-diving sea birds and marine mammals.

Samantha Hankey is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer who graduated from The Juilliard School, where she received both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees and was recognized with several distinctions. A native of Marshfield, Massachusetts, Samantha embraced her passion for music from an early age after performing in a local production of Annie at age six. Now performing in operas worldwide, Samantha sheds some light on what the modern day Opera is like...and why it is an artform for the ages   https://www.samanthahankey.com/

Paula Lafferty is a fantasy author querying her debut novel 'La Vie de Guinevere', and Arthurian retelling set in the present day where Guinevere has no memory of her past. Paula talks about the traditional publishing world and the route to getting a novel published that way - querying, agent rejections, and the elusive book deal! We discuss the importance of resilience in dealing with constant rejection - especially with creative projects. Find Paula Here: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/paula-lafferty-books?lang=en

Shari Tarantino is the executive director of the Orca Conservancy. The orca conservancy is a non-profit which aims to spread awareness as well as actively help to save the endangered Southern Resident killer whales and conserving the area that they call home. Shari talks about her experience working around the Southern Residents and fighting for their rights, as well as her thoughts on the proposed move of Lolita (Tokitae) to her 'home waters' of the Pacific Northwest. If you wish to donate to help save the Southern Residents from extinction then click the link below: https://www.orcaconservancy.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjw1YCkBhAOEiwA5aN4AeVIvgsW10TcOPIFpTdysHbXIP7zD8sYLZhz012yHPUDIzsOvopR7BoCzBQQAvD_BwE   If you wish to get involved with the fight to stop the relocation of Toki and improve her welfare where she is currently, then more information can be found here: https://www.truth4toki.com/  

Rebecca Thorne is a well-known fantasy author, best known for her Tomes and Tea series. She is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things indie publishing and takes us through her journey to publishing, with plenty of tips and advice on how you can do it too. Rebecca has an MFA in Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing from Emerson College. She was the commencement speaker for the School of the Arts in May 2023, and has a fierce passion for publishing education   https://rebeccathorne.net/

We have a repeat guest for this week's episode where I speak to the wonderful Manda Young who just happens to be one of my best friends, for this open and honest conversation about motherhood, the choice to have children, mental health, and the pressures facing women from society. 

Jo Ruxton is a seasoned environmentalist who has worked for the WWF, BBC and is the Founder of Ocean Generation She speaks about her passion for educating the next generation of conservationists through her programs in Ocean Generation, and shares her hopes for the future of marine ecosystems everywhere.    Learn More: https://oceangeneration.org/

Cat Rust is a former marine mammal trainer who has worked at multiple different facilities in the US with dolphins. Now a forensic scientist, she discusses her hopes for the future of the industry, techniques that she feels are outdated and how we can continually strive to put the animals first.    

Marlies and Linda are two friends who have known each other since high school. Coming from the famous bulb region near Lisse, near the Keukenhof in the Netherlands, both ended up marrying flower farmers.  For years they watched their husbands growing tubers and bulbs, which after harvest were sent in batches to wholesale and export companies who in turn sold them all over the world. Marlies and Linda decided that the flowers themselves deserved some recognition, and that they wanted to know where they ended up - and so FAM Flower Farm was born.  Find them here: https://www.famflowerfarm.nl/over-ons https://www.instagram.com/famflowerfarm/?hl=en    

Mark Simmons was one of the lead trainers involved in the failed release of the 'Free Willy' whale Keiko. Despite his best efforts to re-train Keiko for relocation and eventual release - Mark explains why the whale he knew was never the best candidate for the project in the first place. He shares his thoughts on the proposed relocation of Lolita (Tokitae) and his own fears around what could become of her should the proposed plan go ahead.    https://www.truth4toki.com/ https://www.change.org/p/don-t-free-lolita  

Kristina Girod is the founder of the Power + Flow studio and is taking TikTok by storm! Power+Flow was established in September 2020 and Kristina was bent on changing the fitness landscape in the valley. What began as a small dream, quickly turned into a full studio in only one years time. Kristina coaches from the heart while leading her class through both mental and physical barriers that discover their true potential.   https://www.power-flowstudio.com/the-team https://www.tiktok.com/@_powerandflow/video/7131205979856719150 https://www.instagram.com/thekristinagirod/?hl=en  

This special episode focuses on the recent announcement to move Lolita (Tokitae) from Miami Seaquarium to her 'home waters' of the Pacific Northwest. Former killer whale trainers Alli Hagan (whale supervisor, MSQ) and Mary Suppa (Assistant supervisor, MSQ and former head trainer SWSA) tell us about Toki's personality, the issues she has been facing, and their concerns surrounding this proposal.  https://www.truth4toki.com/ https://www.change.org/p/don-t-free-lolita https://www.instagram.com/truth4toki/  

Sam Starns is a professional elopement photographer, specializing in adventure and untraditional weddings! Based in the PNW, she helps couples with free-spirits craft enthusiastic elopements in unique places. She talks about how to plan elopements, stories of things that have gone wrong, and letting go of the expectations that other people have for YOUR big day.   https://www.samstarns.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Elope-Your-Life-Authentically-Unapologetically-ebook/dp/B08MBDP7HJ?ref_=ast_author_mpb  

Cat Sims is a content creator, author, podcast, women's advocate, and the founder of Not So Smug Now! Cat is well-known for her relatable videos about motherhood, sobriety, and prides herself in having curated a 'judgement-free zone' for her community. Her baby record journal 'with attitude' aims to help mothers not feel so alone and is called The First Time You Smiled. Find out more via the links below! https://www.notsosmugnow.com/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/0008526141?tag=&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1 If you or someone you love is struggling with alcoholism or mental health, please reach out to any of the links below: https://www.aa.org/ https://www.mind.org.uk https://alcoholchange.org.uk/    

Aleesha Hansel is a wine writer, presenter and judge and she talks about being a role model for young women of colour who aspire to break into industries that have previously been dominated by white men. Aleesha has successfully made a name for herself by working in journalism, broadcasting, and even modelling! She fell in love with the anthropology of wine and the role it plays in culture and society. Her first book comes out March 2024! If you love a cheeky glass of chardonnay, or even if you can barely stand the taste of wine (like me) this conversation goes far deeper than the grapes!    https://www.aleeshahansel.com/ https://www.instagram.com/aleeshahansel/?hl=en

Andy Schmid is a talented underwater photographer who has spent time in Norway photographing wild killer whales as they feed, play and socialize. He talks about what it had been like to capture special moments with orcas underwater and what it feels like to get into the water next to the ocean's greatest predator. 

Michelle Campbell is the Vice President of Animals for Dolphin Quest and she talks about her experience working with dolphins and watching the industry grow over the years. We discuss the implications of open water training and the possibilities research is giving trainers to help improve the lives of dolphins in managed care!    

Alysia Cole has worked in the wedding business for years and has finally brought her expertise from working in numerous wedding dress boutiques across the US to her own business - Alysia Cole Styling! She shares her passion for making the wedding industry more diverse and inclusive, and her enthusiasm for making every bride feel amazing in her dress.    Find Her: https://www.alysiacolestyling.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@alysiacolestyling?lang=en

Dr. Barb Linnehan is the Director of Animal Health & Welfare for the National Marine Mammal Foundation, leading the veterinary and medical records teams. Barb has worked for the NMMF as a clinical veterinarian since 2017, caring for the Navy's dolphins and sea lions. Her marine mammal medicine experience includes transports, field operations, and advanced technique development. She has participated in the NMMF's wild dolphin conservation work and assisted with the health assessment of dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Barb's particular research interests include marine mammal cardiology, the microbiome, and neurology. 

Francesca Trotman is an incredibly talented underwater photographer, professional scuba diver, and founder of Love the Oceans - a not for profit organization that is supporting work in Jangamo Bay, Mozambique. Francesca talks about how she became passionate about the oceans and what kind of impact Love the Oceans is having for the lives of people and animals in Mozambique.    https://lovetheoceans.org/ https://francescatrotman.co.uk/home/  

Dr. Joel Alves is a conservation veterinarian on the ground in South Africa actively trying to combat poaching and conserve Rhino (as well as other endangered species) through targeted projects like the Rhino De-Horning project.  Joel talks about what it is like to be a veterinarian working in the field with large game as well as talks about some of the highs and lows of the job.  

Isa Brasseur has been a marine mammal trainer for over two decades. Beginning at Boudewijn Seapark in Belgium, she then moved to Marineland Antibes to work with the killer whales. After building a bond with Valentin and Freya, she was lucky enough to get into the water and swim with the whales too. Nowadays, she is the head of conservation, research and education at Marineland - organizing research projects that benefit wild marine animals, as well as ensuring that park visitors are educated by her staff.    Want to know more about Marineland Antibes: https://www.marineland.fr/

Liv Marks is an entertainment reporter and content producer who routinely seems to ask all of the right questions! Whether she is rubbing shoulders with Hollywood elite, or chatting to us on this podcast - she has the gift of the gab! I made sure to record an episode with her before she becomes the next Graham Norton because believe me - this woman is going places!  Find her: @olivialilymarks everywhere https://www.tiktok.com/@olivialilymarks https://twitter.com/OliviaLilyMarks https://www.instagram.com/olivialilymarks https://olivialilymarks.wixsite.com/olivialilymarks  

Part 2 of my conversation with Ken Ramirez where we discuss how animal training can be implemented to benefit conservation efforts. Whether that is training wild animals to alert to the presence of poachers, or re-routing elephant migrations - Ken talks about the importance of studying these animals in human care, to better understand and help their wild counterparts.  A 40+ year veteran of animal care and training, Ramirez is a biologist and animal behaviourist. Ken Ramirez is the Executive Vice-President and Chief Training Officer of Karen Pryor Clicker Training. Ken previously served as the Executive Vice-President of animal care and animal training at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium and is well known for authoring numerous texts on Animal behaviour and training. 

This week I recorded an episode with my mum! You guys had been asking for it so here it is - she shares her own experiences of life, what inspired the name for this podcast, and what it was like supporting her daughter as she tried to make a seemingly impossible dream her reality - enjoy!

Luke is the Executive Director at Island Dolphin Care, Key Largo Florida. Starting out working with horses in the UK, his passion for animals only grew to encompass marine mammals. When he took a leap of faith and applied to intern at Dolphins Plus in Florida, it turned into a career!  He talks about the positive effects of the people he has seen experience dolphin assisted therapy - and how these animals can touch the lives of people who need them most.  Want to learn more about Island Dolphin Care? https://islanddolphincare.org/   So Beautifully Broken: https://sobeautifullybroken.com/

Dr. Kelly Jaakkola is a cognitive psychologist, marine mammal scientist, and Director of Research for DRC. She earned her Master's degree in Psychology from Emory University, where she began her career studying cognition in chimpanzees and human children and received her Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from MIT. Her past research includes studies on number concepts, object permanence, imitation, and communication in dolphins, chimpanzees, and human children. Her current work focuses on dolphin cognition, communication, and welfare.   Art of Amy Michelle: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtofAmyMichelle https://www.facebook.com/artofamymichelle/  

Andy Donaldson is attempting the Ocean Seven challenge - a marathon swimming challenge where he needs to complete the seven most famous channel crossings in the world. Battling dangerous swells, currents, and wildlife - Andy has already completed the freezing waters of the North Sea to swim the Irish-Scottish channel and the furious currents of the English channel from Dover to Calais. Remaining now are the straits of Gibraltar, the Cook Strait, the Moloka'i channel, Tsugaru strait and the Catalina channel.  Andy talks about the importance of resilience and mental health and is completing this challenge in order to aid mental health charity The Black Dog Institute. If you wish to donate or read more about Andy, follow the links below: https://www.teamblackdog.org.au/fundraisers/oceansseven https://www.instagram.com/andy.swimming/    

Part One of my conversation with Ken Ramirez involves discussion around the advancement of positive reinforcement training and the idea of human care being 'non-natural'. Ken Ramirez is a veteran animal trainer and has practically written the book on animal training. I was so privileged to be able to speak with him - enjoy!

Dr. Stephanie King is a behavioural biologist with a primary focus on communication systems, having over a decades worth of experience! She has been studying the dolphins in Shark Bay Western Australia and studies how their communication systems have evolved to help mediate complex social behaviours.    Find out more here: http://www.sharkbaydolphins.org/

Charlie Follet, fresh off the back of her recent European Championship win, sits down to talk about the sport of Modern Pentathlon and what it takes for an athlete to excel in not just one discipline - but five!    So Beautifully Broken: https://sobeautifullybroken.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@sobeautifullybroken  

Wade Brennan is a sport photographer based in the Gold Coast Australia. Having been a competitive swimmer himself, he turned his love of the water into a career by becoming a swim coach. Later his passion for taking photos led to a new career in underwater photography, taking him to the recent Commonwealth Games and beyond!  Find Wade here: https://wadebrennan.smugmug.com/