Podcasts about amphibians

Amphibians are the most threatened type of vertebrates on the planet since the dinosaurs- and some of the most fascinating. Tom Heap and Helen Czerski are joined by a panel of amphibi-fans to celebrate the very best in frogs, toads, newts and salamanders. What can we do to reverse their rapid decline?Jeanne Tarrant, founder of Anura Africa is an expert on the extraordinary diversity of frog life in South Africa, Jeff Streicher is Head of Zoology at National Museum Cardiff and James Herd is Director of Reserve Management at the Surrey Wildlife Trust.Helen also takes a visit to London Zoo to meet our largest and smallest amphibians and discuss captive breeding programmes with Ben Tapley, ZSL's Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles. Finally we hear from two field ecologists working to save amphibians in the highlands of Cameroon and the tea gardens of Darjeeling. Marina Kameni and Barkha Subba are two of the winners at this year's Whitley Fund for Nature awards.Producer: Beth Sagar-FentonAssistant Producer: Toby Field

A naturally reverberant amphibian chorus with a wide stereo image.  Trumpeting frogs can also be heard throughout the composition.Apenkwa is a new addition to areas in and around Koforidua where wetlands have been highly affected by building and construction activities.Recording by Emmanuel Baffoe, Ghana.Monitoring, Editing, and Mastering by Samuel Kudjodzi, Germany. Emmanuel Baffoe is one of 5 trainees selected for the Soundscape Ecology Education Ghana program organised by Samuel Kudjodzi, founder of CSEM (Center for Soundscape Ecology and Multimedia) @csem_official. This project is supported by earth fm with field recording equipment set.

Datshiane Navanayagam talks to Whitley Fund for Nature winners from India and South Africa who are protecting endangered frogs and salamanders.Dr Barkha Subba is leading the first grassroots protection for the Himalayan Salamander in Darjeeling. The scientific adviser at local NGO, Federation of Societies for Environmental Protection (FOSEP), Barkha is working to restore habitat, remove invasive species and screen for deadly diseases, as well as engage local people in awareness programmes promoting sustainable land use and eco-friendly tourism.Environmentalist Jeanne Tarrant works on protecting frogs and their habitat in South Africa. Almost two-thirds of the country's 135 frog species are found nowhere else. She uses frogs as flagships for habitat protection, contributing to the broader conservation of freshwater and grassland areas that serve as important watersheds and carbon sinks.Produced by Jane Thurlow(Image: (L) Jeanne Tarrant, credit SABC. (R) Barkha Subba, credit Whitley Fund for Nature.)

Amphibians play a vital role in Kentucky's forests and waterways. Join Dr. Steve Price, UK Forestry and Natural Resources Department Chair and Professor of Stream and Riparian Ecology, as he breaks down why these frogs, toads, and salamanders are so important to our forests and streams.   Also on tap: Join Dr. Amanda Gumbert, UK Forestry and Natural Resources - Extension - along with John Pike and Pace Cooke-Emmons from WaterwaysLex as they describe how volunteers can help improve water quality and the work they are doing to organize watershed groups in central KY. 5.13.26 Each episode has a video of the segment at this website.

On Other, Other Life Forms The quest for other life forms must be anchored in the knowledge of why we're even here. Let's get nitpicky. Also, unapologetically religious in nature, though the points stand on merit regardless. This isn't a screed against space travel, for looking up, even beyond, is worthwhile. Rather, the aim is to properly frame our search through understanding what exactly is “other life” and where exactly is “out there.” The terminology “other life” or “other life forms” is presumptuous in nature, as it can only be asked within a vacuum which denies the existence of myriad life forms on planet Earth. Not only are there other life forms aplenty, but the range, capacities, colors, designs, etc., etc., etc., are so diverse and so far-ranging that not a single planet in our system comes anywhere close to dreaming of similar potential. Even more, every part, planet, and particle in space lends to the preservation of life on earth in some way. Almost as if it's all here for us. Per Torahic categorization, there are four general kingdoms in creation. The so-called lowest is “silent”, for the predominately inanimate basics of existence, water, soil, rocks, minerals, and the like that comprise it have a lifeforce so quiet it's barely noted. Thus, we view creations in this kingdom as existing but not exactly alive. The next kingdom is “growth”, essentially plants and all vegetation where growth is usually visible and indicative of the lifeforce within. Third is the “life” kingdom, which includes all creatures from insects to birds to marine life to mammals, as each overtly display an animating lifeforce not only through growth, but also some measure of mobility, intelligence, communication, or similar. The final kingdom is “speaker,” aka man, the only kingdom made in G-d's image. The lifeforce within man is undeniable, not only for all previously specified reasons, but also because, unlike the other kingdoms, man goes beyond a measure of intellect in his ability to communicate ideas, teachings, morality, ethics, and abstractions to others, mainly through speech. For this display of what's deemed higher intelligence, man is considered the highest of the four kingdoms. With that set, our quest for other life begins with understanding why these four kingdoms aren't life forms enough. The “silent” kingdom covers just about everything that isn't obviously alive. For example, the four building blocks of creation, earth, water, air, and fire. The varying parts of our atmosphere which cause the sky to blaze at sunrise and sunset. The very earth from which all things grow, as well as rolling hills, fertile valleys, and majestic mountain ranges. Gentle waters which calm the soul and raging waves which quicken the heart. Rocks which stand against the fiercest winds, but also caves and crevices sculpted over time. Geodes, crystals, stalactites, stalagmites, in shapes and colors man cannot always describe or name. All are “silent” in their steadfast, unchanging existence. In the context of our quest, any discovery within the “silent” kingdom doesn't qualify as an other life, not only because some forms within this kingdom have already been discovered in space, but also because the categories within this kingdom literally don't display signs of life. Never mind that the “silent” kingdom sustains every kingdom above it, revealing it may not be quite so lowly a kingdom as supposed. Either way, our search mandates we find a form that's obviously alive. Ergo, despite the wonders and marvels of the “silent” kingdom, our exploration continues. Does the “growth” kingdom qualify as another life form in our search? Do we seek proof of some sort of life beyond moss and ferns and fungi and flowers and vegetables and fruit and trees? Well, yes and no. We'd be thrilled to find any kind of vegetation, as long as it's not here. In other words, we want what we have here, just somewhere else. Then again, we don't have to find an exact replica of Earth, only something that's entirely like it but on a different planet. Plants show life in their visible growth, and are incredible dynamic doing so. Plants can run rampant and wild, plants can be domesticated and tamed; some thrive in the sun and some only open to the moon. They have no eyes, they have no ears, yet they know the difference between night and day, between summer, winter, spring, and fall. They know when it's time to blossom, to shed, to regrow. Even more, there are plants which heal, plants which harm, plants which flavor, plants which sustain, plants which dominate, plants upholding entire ecosystems, and plants which light the way with their glow. Some plants are beautiful, some terrifying, some cooling, some fragile, some stronger than blades. Some plants tower, some are unnoticed, some provide food, shelter, clothes. The “growth” kingdom climbs and clings, flowers, buds, twists, and bends. The above doesn't even include the incredible array of shape and color, which continually startle and dazzle the eye of the beholder. All this is only part of what we know about the “growth” kingdom, for though we live in a highly advanced world, we have yet to discover the full extent of just how many creations call this planet home. As with the “silent” kingdom which sustains it, the “growth” kingdom provides for the kingdoms above it. But while plants are really, really nice and cool and intricate and beautiful and, and, and, we're still set on looking for other life elsewhere. We'd be thrilled to find any of the “growth” kingdom on another planet, even though, as mentioned, it sure seems everything out there is pretty well-suited to the needs of here, but never mind that. We're rather set on finding something new, something obviously alive out there. Onward to the next kingdom. The range of creatures packed into the “life” kingdom is so immense, we cannot in good faith claim to know its entire. The vast, not yet completely discovered “life” kingdom spreads an umbrella wide enough to include every non-human animate life form between plants and people, including insects, marine life, fowl, rodents, reptiles, beasts, cattle, and all the rest of terrestrial creatures. Every country, every state, every ecosystem has a unique web of animals, insects, marine life thriving in its environs. Scientists are perpetually “astonished” at the new kinds and species discovered around the globe, as if this world of ours could ever fully be known. And even where we think to have catalogued it all, creatures of the “life” kingdom continue to surprise with their levels of intelligence, adaptability, and significant role on this planet we call home. Just spare a minute to consider the animals and plants that flourish in all the places humans can't. Only looking at the life contained in the form of insects is a dizzying proposition, for the thousands and thousands we actually know about which fly, walk, scurry, and roll. Insects that regenerate, insects that burrow in the dark and damp and soil, insects that color gardens and make honey and with strength to carry many times their own weight. Insects hum and call and chirp and buzz, spin silk that can be worn or webs that withstand rainstorms. Insects are harmful and harmless, brainless and multi-eyed, soft, hard, airborne, and pliable. We oft overlook the many we come across each day, but would speak of little else were even one to be found out there. Though we have yet to discover every insect dwelling on earth, not one is the other life we hope to find. A moment away from land to plunge into the sea, a world so vast, vivid, and varied, we haven't nearly plumbed its depths. Beneath the waves, beyond our grasp creatures hide in the sand and glow in the deep no human can withstand. There are creatures so tiny they can hardly be seen, yet enough can feed creatures which cannot be missed. Leaping, breaching, scuttling, wriggling, swimming, floating, preying, and flying, in schools and pods and herds and shoals and consortiums and mobs and runs and swarms. Other kingdoms are also found in the sea, sand and coral, kelp, rocks, salt, and shells. Therein a whole world sustains itself, and the kingdoms above it, as well. And yet, though fathoms remain beyond our current ability to explore, relatively far out of reach as the stars, none are the other life we seek. Finding some collection of water that sustains life would shake the world we know, but only if we find it somewhere that isn't here. Amphibians are forms of both water and land, the slimy, shiny bridge between both sorts of life. As with the others of the “life” kingdom, amphibians aren't known in their entire, and the range of what they can do is as far ranging as the category itself. They also have their own unique twists to the norm, as bright colors aren't signs of aesthetics but warnings of danger. Right alongside them are reptiles, including those that sting, bite, and choke. Ones that can swallow prey significantly larger than they, and ones which instantly camouflage to hide in plain sight. What about the life forms of air? Birds don't fit a single mold, and the multitudes well exceed human count. Birds that fly and birds that can't, birds with vision and hearing much keener than man, birds that build nests without hands. Birds sing and twitter, hum, caw, and shriek. Birds dive and hunt, scavenge and hover. Birds sense shifts in the weather, and birds soar on the air. They're cheery and territorial, colorful as flowers and dark as moonless nights. They're predators and prey, oversized and tiny, imitators and instigators. But birds are also something we know in some form, and what we insist on is something we haven't seen before, or at least, something we haven't yet seen out there. And so, the search for other life continues. Perhaps the rest of the “life” kingdom will qualify? The innumerable animals which roam the deserts, plains, jungles, mountains, and forests. From rodents to beasts, from domesticated to wild, there is hardly a color or kind without peer in the “life” kingdom. Animals hunter and hunted, solitary and social, protective and loyal and vicious and tame. Animals that observe, animals that learn, animals that comfort or guide or guard. Animals that defy the fiercest elements of their topography, and animals that adapt or blend in with impressive speed. Animals with a range of communication and expression, animals soft and hard and furry and rough. Animals weighing tremendous amounts, and animals that can shoulder the burden of even more. Animals endure the harshest habitats and conditions, animals hibernate for months or only wake with the night. Animals symbiotic, parasitic, or with an innate sense for assisting others. Between claw, talon, teeth, and paw, the “life” kingdom is as wild and varied on land as beneath the sea. Yet, as we seek other life, we brush all this aside, for, when we're certain there's so much more to discover and know, why continue to look where we always have? What sort of life forms do we then seek, if not any of the myriad already upon this earth? Much as we'd delight in finding the same creatures on a different planet, we're adamant about finding something we haven't seen before to definitively conclude other life exists. Consider, finding life forms which display some growth, with or without the sun, would be enough to fund space travel for years to come, but growth isn't really enough to satisfy us. When we seek other life forms, we don't want something that grows, or even something that moves with overt signs of life, we want something that communicates, especially in ways we don't. Putting aside every other kingdom and category of creation, including all their unique methods of interaction, we'll declare victory in our search for other life if we discover a species that knows how to communicate with what, sound? Gesture? Semaphore? Dashes and dots? No, no, we want something that communicates as a sign of and sharing of its intelligence. Again, putting aside all other kingdoms we know at present, their various modes of communication and ranges of intellect, our search will be a success only if we find different intellects that communicate with ours. About what's relevant to us? About things that confirm our projections of what life and intellect should be? Assuming this isn't a reference to learning about new languages and cultures, what do we really seek? From all kingdoms of creation, perhaps the closest to “speaker” would be spiritual beings, namely angels. And not the cherubic children or glowing berobed humans with wings and halos, but fiery messengers of the Divine. Then again, unless they take a human form, angels, while other life, are not tangible enough to be discovered, so there's little point in centering them in our quest. The highest kingdom of creation is “speaker,” which is only and entirely mankind. Not because we are the only creations with verbal articulation, but because, as the only kingdom made in G-d's image, we are the only kingdom which seeks and learns and communicates about that which is greater than ourselves. The rest of the kingdoms do not have a mind to challenge their Creator nor the nature He embedded within them. Only “speaker” has the choice to live up to his potential in creation, to fight or embrace his inherent design, to imagine and debate and give coherency to the abstract. Essentially, we're looking for other life forms, but not the other life we already know of heaven and earth. This other life may be almost identical to the life we know, or it may be something entirely different than the thousands and thousands we've already found. And perhaps the inability to know it all is what's truly given us hope that there's more out there waiting to be discovered. The emphasis is less on what we seek than on where we want to find it. Considering what's already been mentioned about the categories of creation, the question is why? Is this exploration driven by a simple desire to know and understand and bear witness to the expansive capacity of the Creator? Or is there dissatisfaction with what we have here, and a desire to have different and more threading through it all? If the latter, nothing found will ever be enough, if the former, at least the premise isn't so far afield. So, we're looking for advanced life forms, yet the question compounds, more advanced than us? We've seen clearly that on this planet there are no other creatures quite like man. Creatures who for all their shapes, sizes, and colors don't include the full package of abilities to communicate, procreate, perambulate, and debate. Other kingdoms have no struggles with moral frameworks around which to understand the purpose of existence. If anything, they already know why they're here, so only man grapples with the existential side effects that come with the dissonance of a spiritual soul animating a physical body. Though man is sustained by every kingdom below him, he also has the capacity to be ruler over them, in the sense that if every part of this vast creation somehow leads back to him, his sustenance, his shelter, his clothing, his appreciation, then it follows all was created to be of service to him. In return, he must use all the other kingdoms enable in a way that will honor them. Think of what man has achieved. Think of what more he could. Think of the wonders that man has wrought from the kingdoms of this earth, and then reexamine our search for other life. What do we expect to find to surpass what we already have here? What else but perhaps a different conglomeration of the capacities we already know? Do we cease exploring? Do we ground all ships to the stars? Such questions can only be answered correctly by those with a clear understanding of what we're doing here, as space exploration literally can't occur in a moral vacuum. SomeOne put us here, and He did so for a reason. That Earth is the only planet to sustain such a teeming array of life isn't a fluke of smashing atoms but a signal of deliberate intent. Inanimate life exists on other planets, but an intricate ecosystem that sustains life doesn't. What does it tell you when every entity we know of, both celestial and terrestrial, somehow serves life on earth? It's almost as if we're the point of it all. Which affects the search for other life, because it can only be sought in recognition that everything comes back to our purpose here. The purpose SomeOne launched all creation for, and that is to make Him known in this world. If these other life forms are out there, what for? Is it only so the Creator can show off what else He can do? After everything He created here, does He really need to? Why do we assume this supposed other life is more advanced if we're the central point of all creation? Why do suspect they're advanced, when every celestial entity and kingdom of creation is here to sustain us? Why do we think they can surpass us, when we are the ones made to fulfill the purpose of creation? It's the “speaker's” job to make the Creator known in this world. Man is the only creation that can. Everything and anything else only exist, or is known to exist, to assist man in his sacred task. Do we even know what we have? Do we appreciate what's known, and what can't be known? That said, now we can explore. “Whatever the Holy Blessed One created in His world, he created only for His glory.”

The Natural History Museum of London is getting ready to move 28 million of its precious specimens to a new state-of-the-art home. Imagine moving tens of millions of delicate animal and plant specimens, gathered from all across the world, over the centuries. Some are as big as a bus, some so tiny you need tweezers to pack them. Some are millions of years old. How to move 350 taxidermy tortoises? The biggest weigh half a tonne. Then there is the ten-metre anaconda. The team may have to get him out through the lift shaft. What if moths get in? What if something gets lost? It is a logistical puzzle on a mind-boggling scale. When the collections eventually arrive in their new home, scientists and researchers present and future will be able to explore the specimens' vast amounts of data, much of it yet untapped, using the latest digital, analytical, and genomic technologies. With Dr Jeff Streicher, senior curator in charge, Amphibians and Reptiles and Richard Sabin, principal curator, Mammals.

During a trip to Dry Tortugas National Park with his wife and two friends, Brandon Reissiger faces a challenging and nerve-wracking water takeoff in his Lake Amphibian.

On this week of And That's Why We're not Together........ We learn how to be a Christian from "esteemed" spiritual guru Russel Brand, we ponder the question of whether crocodiles are more resilient than humans, the possibility of an interplanetery society where we're all sexless amphibians, The Vape Wars continue between Daniel and David with no resolution in sight, David discusses his new t.v and finally should Daniel a cat or a dog? Thank you and like, subscribe and comment plssssss. Classic Horror 1 - Dark World by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What draws a researcher to the murky, hidden world of amphibians? In this episode of the Snake Talk Podcast, Dr. Chris Jenkins sits down with Maddie Zickgraf, a Master's student at the University of Alabama and The Jones Center at Ichauway, to explore the winding path that led her into the world of amphibian ecology and the strange, secretive species that now define her work. Maddie's passion for herps was sparked by childhood days exploring creeks in Pennsylvania. That curiosity grew into a focused academic pursuit, taking her across the country and into a range of field experiences from studying Pacific Giant Salamanders to Chiricahua Leopard Frogs. These experiences ultimately led her to a technician position at the Herpetology Lab at The Jones Center at Ichauway, where she worked with Gopher Tortoises and deepened her connection to southeastern ecosystems. It was during her time at Ichauway that Maddie became fascinated by the movement ecology of sirens and amphiumas, two large, cryptic amphibians that often coexist in ephemeral wetlands. While researching and trapping these elusive species, she began asking new questions about how they move through and persist in these dynamic environments, a curiosity that now shapes her Master's research.  Connect with Maddie at The Jones Center at Ichauway. . Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.Shop Snake Talk merch.If you like what you've been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

I took this episode from an article I wrote for Flying Snake magazine, which was published in December 2020 (Vol. 6, #18). Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. The Great Smoky Mountains is a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, which stretches from the middle of Alabama in the United States north into southeastern Canada. The Appalachians formed when the world's continents crunched together to form the supercontinent Pangaea. The southern Appalachians formed separately and later than the northern Appalachians, around 270 million years ago. The Appalachians were once as high as the Rockies or Himalayas, but by the time the dinosaurs went extinct, they had eroded down to the mountain cores. Sediment weathered from the peaks and filled in valleys. But during the Pleistocene, when massive glaciers covered the northern parts of North America, the weight of the ice pushed the North American plate down, causing the southern part of the plate to rise. Eventually the ancient mountains' roots were a thousand feet (300 m) above sea level again. Rivers that once flowed east into the Atlantic Ocean or west into the remains of the shallow Western Interior Seaway shifted their courses to flow northward. Streams that once meandered across the land now plunged down steep slopes and dug gorges into the rock. And over thousands of years, animals and plants retreating from the ice migrated southward along the mountain range. When the climate warmed some 11,000 years ago and the ice age glaciers melted, many cold-adapted species were trapped in the peaks of the southern Appalachians. One of the highest peaks is Mount LeConte, with its highest point, High Top, measured at 6,593 ft, or 2,010 meters. I hiked Mount LeConte on 7 May, 2016 when the weather in nearby Knoxville, Tennessee was a warm 82 Fahrenheit, or 27.8 Celcius, but there was snow on the mountain that morning. I wrote my name in it. A spruce-fir forest grows on the upper slopes, a remnant of forest that grew throughout the mountains during the last ice age. The climate at the peak of Mount LeConte is more like that of southern Canada than the warm, humid southeastern United States. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established in 1934 to protect the mountains along the Tennessee/North Carolina border. No one lives in the park's 800 square miles (2,072 square km), which receives up to 90 inches [2.29 m] of rain a year, some of it from hurricanes that sweep up from the southern Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico. Large tracts of old-growth forest still remain in the park too. So as you can see, the Smokies are a biodiversity hotspot. In 2018, the park announced its 1,000th species discovered that is new to science, which by July 2020 had grown to 1,025. Overall, 20,000 known species live in the park as of 2019 and scientists estimate that up to 100,000 more are yet to be discovered. The Smokies are heavily forested, of course, but some mountain summits and crests have no trees. Instead, native grasses and shrubs grow. They're called grassy balds and no one is sure why they exist. The prevailing theory is that Pleistocene megaherbivores opened the forests for grazing, and after their extinction, the balds remained open due to bison, elk (wapiti), and deer. When white settlers moved into the area, they used the balds to graze cattle and other livestock. Remains of mammoth and mastodon, musk ox, ground sloth, and other megaherbivores have been excavated from various balds throughout the park. Amphibian enthusiasts call the Smokies the Salamander Capital of the World, with 30 known species. Largest of these is the hellbender, which we talked about in episode 14, a giant salamander that can grow nearly 2 ½ feet long, or 74 cm, and which lives in swift-moving mountain streams. It's most closely related to the Chinese and Japanese giant salamanders, which can grow over twice as long as the hellbender. Twenty-seven of the salamanders found in the Smokies are lungless, in the family Plethodontidae. Instead of breathing with lungs or gills, the lungless salamanders absorb oxygen through their skin. Of these, the red-cheeked salamander is endemic to the Smokies—that is, it's found nowhere else in the world. The red-cheeked salamander lives in forests in high elevations. It can grow up to seven inches long, or 18 cm, and is gray or black with bright red patches on its face. It spends the day in a burrow, then comes out at night to find insects in the leaf litter. But it's hard to tell apart from the imitator salamander, although the imitator only grows a little over four inches long, or 11 cm. The imitator has red cheeks but its body is patterned black and brown instead of solid gray or black. Sometimes its cheeks are yellow, too, while the red-cheeked salamander only ever has red cheeks. Another animal found only in the Smoky Mountains, although it may also be present in mountains outside of the park, is a species of jeweled spider fly called Mary-Alice's emerald (Eulonchus marialiciae). Mary-Alice's emerald has a metallic-green body and yellow legs, and the adults eat nectar. But the larvae eat spiders. Specifically, they parasitize spiders. After hatching, the larva goes in search of a spider, especially trapdoor spiders that live in burrows. When it finds one, it works its way into the spider's body and eats it from the inside out, eventually killing it. Then it pupates in the burrow and emerges as an adult spider fly. It prefers high elevations that are cool and moist. A less horrific animal found in the Smokies is the Carolina northern flying squirrel. It was one of the species whose ancestors migrated south along the Appalachians during the Pleistocene. Then, after temperatures started to warm, the cold-adapted flying squirrel migrated north again. Some populations remained on mountaintops in the Smoky Mountains and have been isolated for thousands of years, evolving into a subspecies of flying squirrel found only in high elevations of the Smokies. It's much rarer than the southern flying squirrel that lives throughout the southeastern United States, and prefers spruce forests instead of the hardwood forests that southern flying squirrels like. But the spruce forests are threatened by climate change, the introduced woolly adelgid insect that kills fir trees, and pollution in the form of acid rain and pesticides that travel to the mountains from other states and even other countries. The Carolina northern flying squirrel has a patagium of furry skin that connects its front and back legs. When it jumps from a branch, it stretches its legs out and uses the patagia to glide to a new perch. It's clumsy on the ground, though, and spends most of its time in trees. It mostly eats fungi, mushrooms, and lichens, but will also eat nuts, insects, bird eggs and even baby birds, and other plant material like tree sap and buds. Bobcats still live in the Smokies, but the cougar, or mountain lion, was supposedly killed off in the area by the end of the 19th century. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the eastern cougar subspecies from the endangered species list in 2018, since it is supposed to be extinct. The last cougar in what is now the park was supposedly killed in 1920. But sightings continue in the Smokies, close to a dozen a year, and some sightings are compelling, like the 2002 report of a cougar crossing a road in the park, spotted by a veterinarian who treated captive cougars in his practice. Considering how seldom seen the bobcat is despite it being relatively abundant, it's possible that a small number of cougars still live in the park—either animals that have moved back into the mountains from elsewhere, or a relict population. The red wolf is native to the eastern United States and was once common in the Smoky Mountains, but was killed off by white settlers throughout most of its range. Where it remained in the wild, it interbred with closely related coyotes, until it was declared extinct in the wild in 1980. Fortunately, by then a captive breeding program was in place. Starting in 1991, 37 red wolves were released in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, following the release of 63 red wolves into the Alligator River Natural Area in North Carolina a few years earlier. But the release didn't go well in the Smokies. Wolves are shy and need enormous territories with lots of game. Before long some wolves were leaving the park and attacking livestock. Others died of parvo virus, especially wolf pups. Worse, this was about the same time that coyotes moved into the area from the west. The wolves started interbreeding with the coyotes, and the coyotes also competed with the wolves for food. In 1998, the Fish and Wildlife Service ended the program and recaptured all but one of the wolves originally released into the park. The North Carolina release went better, with a population peak in 2006 estimated at nearly 130 wolves. But that program was suspended in 2015, and without management of the wild population, the number has dwindled. As of 2019, only 14 wolves remain in North Carolina—and that's the entire population of red wolves in the wild. But sightings of red wolves continue in the Smokies. The trouble is that the red wolf looks very similar to the coyote. It's taller and larger, with a more pronounced reddish shade to its coat, but even experts can have trouble telling the two species apart if they can't get a good look at the animal. Most likely people are seeing coyotes, possibly ones descended from red wolf/coyote hybrids born during the reintroduction program. The biggest mystery in the park is the occasional sighting of a Bigfoot-type creature. Most sightings are probably bears, though. An estimated 1,500 American black bears live in the Smokies, and while some bears get used to hikers and tourists, most are shy and seldom seen. A black bear keeping an eye on hikers or cars will sometimes stand on its hind legs for a better view, and would naturally look like a hulking humanoid if glimpsed. But other sightings aren't so easy to explain. In February of 2009, a photographer named Deb Campbell was hiking the Middle Prong Trail in the snow. The Middle Prong Trail passes three major waterfalls and many smaller ones as it follows along a tributary of the Little River. She had the trail almost completely to herself—she says she only saw one person the whole time. Later she reported, “[A]t some point I am photographing along the stream and I start to smell a gawd awful stench. Not really like anything I had ever smelled before. I look around, see nothing, listen intently…nothing. So I finish up at that spot and go further up the trail.” The smell receded behind her but the snow increased, so finally she turned around to hike out. Around the area where she smelled the stink earlier, she started feeling watched. She stopped long enough to secure her camera gear for much faster hiking in slick conditions, when she heard a deep growl that she described as “very low, not like a cat, almost guttural.” Needless to say, she got off the mountain as quickly as possible. The black bear doesn't truly hibernate since its body temperature remains normal instead of dropping, but it does find a den in cold weather and will sleep for long stretches. It may emerge from its den occasionally during the winter during warm spells, but for the most part it's asleep in its den from around November through March in the Smoky Mountains. But Campbell was hiking in February during a snowfall, with snow already on the ground. A bear would most likely not be out of its den in that weather unless it had been disturbed. And bears don't actually smell bad. During the winter hibernation most bears don't defecate at all. Any feces left in a bear's digestive tract harden to form a fecal plug. If it does feel the need to defecate near the end of the winter, it will do so just outside its den, but the fecal plug has very little odor. Even under ordinary conditions, unless a bear has been eating carrion, it will smell no worse than a dog that needs a bath. Not only that, black bears don't actually growl. They make grunty, huffing noises when warning people away or when males fight in the summer, and a frightened bear will moan, but they don't growl like a dog. It's possible that Campbell hiked past a bear that had emerged from its den early and had found and eaten carrion, possibly roadkill, and that she was so close to the bear without seeing it that she smelled its breath. That's almost more frightening than the thought of passing near a Bigfoot. The growl might have come from a different animal, a coyote or who knows, maybe even a red wolf. Or Campbell might have encountered a creature sometimes called a skunk ape due to its foul odor. The skunk ape is most commonly reported in Florida swamps, but sightings—or smellings—have come from many other states. The smell is sometimes described as that of rotting food and roadkill on a hot day. A bear or other animal that has been rooting around in garbage bins can pick up this odor, especially in hot weather, but it's hard to believe that a bear would be actively foraging so much in winter that it would smell like trash. January and February are the depths of winter in East Tennessee. The bears are hibernating, not foraging. Thanks for your support, and thanks for listening! This is what a couple of fighting bears sound like: [bear sounds]

The other day, while out with my students, we came across four basking snakes on the side of a gravel access road cutting through an Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) forest. Two Eastern Garters (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis), a single Red-bellied (Storeria occipitomaculata), and a Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi). Three of the four stuck around and we watched, told a story, and asked questions about the snakes. Some of the questions I could help the students find the answers, but some I was at a loss. Do multiple species of snakes share a hibernaculum? What is a hibernaculum really? Do all snakes use them? What characteristics are the snakes looking for in a hibernaculum? These and a couple other questions really sat with me for the day. When it came time for the radio show, while I had a lot of interesting sightings this first warm week of Spring, the hibernacula question still held my heart. So I obviously had to look it up and learn more.To learn more : The Snakes of Ontario : Natural History, Distribution, and Status by Jeffrey C. Rowell. Self published, 2012.Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region by James H. Harding & David A. Mifsud. University of Michigan Press, 2017.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Jade Samples and Eva Kerr, recent graduate students from the University of Georgia (UGA) who both study rare amphibians that breed in isolated wetlands. During their time at UGA, Jade and Eva collaborated on statewide surveys to better understand where these elusive species occur and what environmental factors shape their distribution. Jade shares insights from her work on Striped Newt reintroductions, exploring the factors that influence whether restored populations succeed. Eva dives into her research on Gopher Frogs, examining gene flow in different landscapes and describing the ecological model she developed to simulate how disturbance can influence their populations and long-term persistence. Connect with Jade and Eva at Dr. Maerz's Herpetology Laboratory at UGA. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.Shop Snake Talk merch.If you like what you've been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Bob DeMarco shows off his growing Microtech knife collection in Episode 661 of The Knife Junkie podcast. Starting with the SOCOM Elite, which represents so many firsts in his knife life, Bob walks through the SOCOM Elite Auto, the SOCOM Bravo made by Rike Knives, the SOCOM Elite Ram-Lok, the LUDT Gen 3, the Ultratech and Troodon double-edged out-the-fronts, the Stitch (a Borka Blades collaboration), and the new Amphibian with a Ram-Lok. He even pulls out a clone of the Stitch to show the difference between the real thing and a knockoff.Before the Microtech segment, Bob runs through a stacked pocket check featuring the Off-Grid Knives Polaris XL in Vanax steel, the Spyderco MicroJimbo, the Cold Steel Urban Edge push dagger, the TKell Knives Adversary, and the Cold Steel Mayhem. In the Knife Life News, he covers the Artisan Cutlery Trust, the Boker Sledgedog, the Sencut Securis, and two new Buck EDC folders, the Ferrox and the Nomad.The First Tool segment tells the story of the Pesh Kabz, a Persian knife designed to punch through armor. Bob explains how this narrow, reinforced blade became both a battlefield sidearm and a richly decorated status object across Persia, Afghanistan, and India.In the State of the Collection, Bob shows off his Edgy American Junkie knife, freshly returned from Shane of Edgy American Bladeworks with a new finish, a reground CruWear blade, a razor edge from Kyle Conley of Clinging Verks Sharpening, and a new leather sheath from 1931 Leatherworks. He also unboxes the Jack Wolf Knives Gateway Barlow in Miami CamoCarbon from the second production run.Whether you are a Microtech fan already or just getting curious about the brand, this episode gives you an honest look at what makes these knives worth collecting, straight from someone who carries them hard and knows the difference between the real deal and everything else.Find the list of all the knives shown in the show and links to the Knife Life news stories at https://theknifejunkie.com/661. Support the Knife Junkie channel with your next knife purchase. Find our affiliate links at https://theknifejunkie.com/knives. You can also support The Knife Junkie and get in on the perks of being a patron, including early access to the podcast and exclusive bonus content. Visit https://www.theknifejunkie.com/patreon for details. Let us know what you thought about this episode and leave a rating and/or a review. Your feedback is appreciated. You can also email theknifejunkie@gmail.com with any comments, feedback, or suggestions. To watch or listen to past episodes of the podcast, visit https://theknifejunkie.com/listen. And for professional podcast hosting, use our preferred platform: https://theknifejunkie.com/podhost.

Invasive species are well known to damage ecosystems by directly eating other animals and disrupting the food chain. But their impacts can go much deeper, as a new study about seed dispersal by pythons and tegus in the Everglades has shown - they may be contributing to the destruction of rare and unusual habitats. Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Figueroa A, Davis KR, Harman MEA, Bartoszek IA, Easterling IC, Yackel Adams AA, Romagosa CM. 2025. Double agents: invasive Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) and Argentine black and white tegus (Salvator merianae) as potential seed dispersers in South Florida. Journal of Zoology:jzo.70082. DOI: 10.1111/jzo.70082. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Harman MEA, Fuller NR, Baiser B, Blackburn JK, Li X, Currylow AF, Yackel Adams AA, Falk BG, Romagosa CM. 2025. Dietary breadth and ecological plasticity facilitate invasion potential in a large omnivorous lizard. Frontiers in Amphibian and Reptile Science 3:1635085. DOI: 10.3389/famrs.2025.1635085. Sapkota, A., Karki, A., Sapkota, K. R., & Baral, R. (2025). First record of death-feigning behavior in common wolf snake Lycodon aulicus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Nepal. Nepalese Journal of Zoology, 9(2), 85-88. Other Links/Mentions: AmphibiaWeb 2008 Acris gryllus: Southern Cricket Frog University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Feb 24, 2026. Acris gryllus from James W. Beck: https://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?special=call&genus=Acris&species=gryllus  Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com

Science - Amphibian Ark

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Today is Thursday, February 26, 2026. #1 – From WV ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - #YesWV Export Promotion Program supports West Virginia companies selling abroad The West Virginia Division of Economic Development continues helping Mountain State businesses reach global markets through the #YesWV Export Promotion Program. The program offers guidance, financial assistance, and technical support to companies ready to expand exports and connect with international buyers. It's another way West Virginia is opening doors for local businesses on the global stage. Read more: https://westvirginia.gov/yeswvs-export-promotion-program/ #2 – From WV FORESTRY - Trees in winter: What happens during the forest life cycle Even in winter, West Virginia's forests are very much alive. The West Virginia Division of Forestry explains how trees undergo physiological changes during the colder months — protecting cells from freezing, conserving moisture, and storing energy for spring growth. Beneath the quiet landscape, bark, roots, and seasonal processes are hard at work preparing for warmer days ahead. Read more: https://wvforestry.com/trees-in-winter-what-happens-during-the-winter-forest-life-cycle/ #3 – From WCHS-TV - Wild Appalachia: renowned herpetologist on native species and conservation In the Wild Appalachia series from WCHS-TV, renowned herpetologist Thomas K. Pauley shares insights from decades of research on amphibians and reptiles across West Virginia. His fieldwork focuses on ecology, behavior, and conservation, and an updated edition of his field guide, Amphibians and Reptiles of West Virginia, is now available — offering readers a closer look at the state's remarkable biodiversity. Read more: https://wchstv.com/community/wild-appalachia/wild-appalachia-renowned-herpetologist Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty, and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

O que é um animal exótico? Um mesmo animal pode ser exótico em algum lugar mas noutro não? E o que seria um animal selvagem? E silvestre? Essa semana conversamos sobre essas definições todas e como esses animais podem estar presentes no nosso dia a dia. Além disso, quais os impactos de termos esses animais à disposição em nosso país? Como acontece o mercado e quais as consequências para os animais, para o meio ambiente e para nós, humanos? Patronato do SciCast: 1. Patreon SciCast 2. Apoia.se/Scicast 3. Nos ajude via Pix também, chave: contato@scicast.com.br ou acesse o QRcode: Sua pequena contribuição ajuda o Portal Deviante a continuar divulgando Ciência! Contatos: contato@scicast.com.br https://twitter.com/scicastpodcast https://www.facebook.com/scicastpodcast https://www.instagram.com/PortalDeviante/ Fale conosco! E não esqueça de deixar o seu comentário na postagem desse episódio! Expediente: Produção Geral: Tarik Fernandes e André Trapani Equipe de Gravação: Tarik Fernandes, Marcelo Pedraz, Rita Kujawski e Caio Ferreira Citação ABNT: Scicast #680: Animais Exóticos. Locução: Tarik Fernandes, Marcelo Pedraz, Rita Kujawski e Caio Ferreira. [S.l.] Portal Deviante, 23/02/2026. Podcast. Disponível em: https://www.deviante.com.br/podcasts/scicast-680 Imagem de capa: Unsplash Perguntas do Episódio Abdalla, A. V. D. (2007). A proteção da fauna e o tráfico de animais silvestres (Dissertação de mestrado). Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba. http://www.dominiopublico.gov.br/download/teste/arqs/cp055586.pdf Albuquerque, U. P., Araújo, E. L., Souto, A., Bezerra, B., Freire, E. M. X., Sampaio, E., Casas, F. L., Moura, G., Pereira, G., Melo, J. G., Alves, M., Rodal, M., Schiel, M., Neves, R. L., Alves, R. R. N., Azevedo-Júnior, S., & Telino Júnior, W. (2012). Caatinga revisited: Ecology and conservation of an important seasonal dry forest. The Scientific World Journal, 2012, 205182. https://doi.org/10.1100/2012/205182 Anderson, C. (2014). Wildlife poaching: Causes, consequences and solutions. Araújo, V. C. de. (2019). Um retrato do tráfico de animais silvestres em São Paulo e alternativas para combatê-lo. Segurança Ambiental On-line, 5(1), 1–10. https://www.policiamilitar.sp.gov.br/unidades/ambiental/SegAmb/ed5/ed5art6.pdf Araújo, V. C. de. (2021). O tráfico de animais silvestres no estado de São Paulo: aspectos legais, sociais e econômicos do traficante (Dissertação de mestrado). Universidade de São Paulo. https://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/100/100136/tde-19112021-225828/pt-br.php Borges, R. C., Oliveira, A., Bernardo, N., & da Costa, R. (2006). Diagnóstico da fauna silvestre apreendida e recolhida pela Polícia Militar de Meio Ambiente de Juiz de Fora, MG (1998 e 1999). Revista Brasileira de Zoociências, 8(1), 23–33. Brasil. (1998). Portaria n° 93, de 7 de julho de 1998. Ministério do Meio Ambiente. http://www.ibama.gov.br Brasil. (2008). Decreto nº 6.514, de 22 de julho de 2008. Presidência da República. https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2007-2010/2008/decreto/d6514.htm Brasil. Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil de 1988. https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/constituicao/constituicao.htm Chavan, A. S., & Muley, E. D. (2023). Animal trafficking and poaching: A global concern. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 11(5), 45–49. https://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2023/vol11issue5/PartA/11-5-45-197.pdf Cunha, G. B., et al. (2022). Fauna silvestre recebida pelo Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres e encaminhada para o hospital veterinário da Universidade de Brasília. Ciência Animal Brasileira, 23, e-72818. https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-6891v23e72818 Destro, G. F. G., et al. (2012). Efforts to combat wild animals trafficking in Brazil. In Biodiversity (Vol. 1, Cap. XX). ISBN 980-953-307-201-7. Duffus, A. L. J., Waltzek, T. B., Stöhr, A. C., Allender, M. C., Gotesman, M., Whittington, R. J., Hick, P., Hines, M. K., & Marschang, R. E. (2015). Distribution and host range of ranaviruses. In M. J. Gray & V. G. Chinchar (Eds.), Ranaviruses: Lethal pathogens of ectothermic vertebrates (pp. 9–57). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20928-9_2 Doukakis, P., Pikitch, E. K., Rothschild, A., DeSalle, R., Amato, G., & Kolokotronis, S.-O. (2012). Testing the effectiveness of an international conservation agreement: Marketplace forensics and CITES caviar trade regulation. PLoS ONE, 7(7), e40907. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0040907 Duffy, R. (2016). Security and conservation: The politics of the illegal wildlife trade. Routledge. Financial Action Task Force (FATF). (2020). Money laundering and the illegal wildlife trade. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264313565-en Fischer, M. C., & Garner, T. W. J. (2007). The relationship between the introduction of the American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) and the decline of native amphibians in Brazil. Conservation Biology, 21(6), 1551–1560. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2007.00759.x Freitas, V. P. de, & Freitas, G. P. de. (2006). Crimes contra a natureza: De acordo com a Lei 9.605/98 (8ª ed.). Revista dos Tribunais. Hernandez, E. F. T., & Carvalho, M. S. de. (2006). O tráfico de animais silvestres no Estado do Paraná. Acta Scientiarum: Human and Social Sciences, 28(2), 257–266. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/3073/307324782008.pdf Lima, R. (2007). O tráfico de animais silvestres. In RENCTAS (Ed.), Vida silvestre: O estreito limiar entre preservação e destruição — Diagnóstico do tráfico de animais silvestres na Mata Atlântica: Corredores Central e Serra do Mar (pp. 1–79). Brasília: Dupligráfica. Machado, A. B. M., Drummond, G. M., & Paglia, A. P. (2008). Livro vermelho da fauna brasileira ameaçada de extinção (Vol. 1–2). Fundação Biodiversitas. Maximo, A. B., Lima, L. S., & Almeida, C. O. (2021). Exotic amphibians in the pet trade: Risks of invasion and disease transmission in Brazil. Biological Invasions, 23(6), 1825–1838. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02462-4 Mittermeier, R. A., Fonseca, G. A. B., Rylands, A. B., & Brandon, K. (2005). Uma breve história da conservação da biodiversidade no Brasil. Megadiversidade, 1(1), 14–21. Nascimento, C. A. R., Alves, R. R. N., & Mourão, J. S. (2015). Trends in illegal trade of wild birds in Amazonas state, Brazil. Atualidades Ornitológicas, 126, 14. Oliveira, V. M., Matias, C. A., Rodrigues, D. P., & Siciliano, S. (2012). Wildlife trade in Brazil: A focus on birds. TRAFFIC Bulletin, 24(2), 85–88. Pagano, I. S. A., Sousa, A. E. B. A., Wagner, P. G. C., & Ramos, R. T. C. (2009). Aves depositadas no Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres do IBAMA na Paraíba: Uma amostra do tráfico de aves silvestres no estado. Ornithologia, 3, 132–144. Pereira, G. A., & Brito, M. T. (2005). Diversidade de aves silvestres brasileiras comercializadas nas feiras livres da Região Metropolitana do Recife, Pernambuco. Atualidades Ornitológicas, 126, 14. Rehbein, K. D. S. (2023). Tráfico de animais silvestres: Limites e possibilidades de atuação dos órgãos competentes (Dissertação de mestrado). Universidade de Passo Fundo. Rehbein, K. D. S., Martinez, G., & Prestes, N. C. (2023). O combate ao comércio ilegal de animais silvestres no Brasil. Planeta Amazônia: Revista Internacional de Direito Ambiental e Políticas Públicas, 15, 282–301. https://periodicos.unifap.br/index.php/planeta Ribeiro, L. B., & Silva, M. G. (2007). O comércio ilegal põe em risco a diversidade das aves no Brasil. Ciência e Cultura, 59(4), 20–23. http://cienciaecultura.bvs.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0009-67252007000400002 Ruggeri, J., Ribeiro, L. P., Pontes, M. R., Toffolo, C., Candido, M., Carriero, M. M., Zanella, N., Sousa, R. L. M., & Toledo, L. F. (2019). Discovery of wild amphibians infected with Ranavirus in Brazil. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 55(4), 897–902. https://doi.org/10.7589/2018-10-276 Salati, E., Santos, A. A., & Klabin, I. (2007). Relevant environmental issues. Estudos Avançados, 21(60), 107–127. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-40142007000200008 Scheele, B. C., Pasmans, F., Skerratt, L. F., Berger, L., et al. (2019). Amphibian fungal panzootic causes catastrophic and ongoing loss of biodiversity. Science, 363(6434), 1459–1463. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aav0379 Souto, W. M. S., Torres, M. A. R., Sousa, B. F. C. F., Lima, K. G. G. C., Vieira, L. T. S., Pereira, G. A., et al. (2017). Singing for cages: The use and trade of Passeriformes as wild pets in an economic center of the Amazon—NE Brazil route. Tropical Conservation Science, 10, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/1940082917689895 TRAFFIC. (2014). TRAFFIC Bulletin, 26(2). https://traffic.org/publications/traffic-bulletin/ Zardo, E. L., Behrm, E. R., Macedo, A., Pereira, L. Q., & Lovato, M. (2014). Aves nativas e exóticas mantidas como animais de estimação em Santa Maria, RS, Brasil. Revista Acta Ambiental Catarinense, 11(1), 33–42.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

O que é um animal exótico? Um mesmo animal pode ser exótico em algum lugar mas noutro não? E o que seria um animal selvagem? E silvestre? Essa semana conversamos sobre essas definições todas e como esses animais podem estar presentes no nosso dia a dia. Além disso, quais os impactos de termos esses animais à disposição em nosso país? Como acontece o mercado e quais as consequências para os animais, para o meio ambiente e para nós, humanos? Patronato do SciCast: 1. Patreon SciCast 2. Apoia.se/Scicast 3. Nos ajude via Pix também, chave: contato@scicast.com.br ou acesse o QRcode: Sua pequena contribuição ajuda o Portal Deviante a continuar divulgando Ciência! Contatos: contato@scicast.com.br https://twitter.com/scicastpodcast https://www.facebook.com/scicastpodcast https://www.instagram.com/PortalDeviante/ Fale conosco! E não esqueça de deixar o seu comentário na postagem desse episódio! Expediente: Produção Geral: Tarik Fernandes e André Trapani Equipe de Gravação: Tarik Fernandes, Marcelo Pedraz, Rita Kujawski e Caio Ferreira Citação ABNT: Scicast #680: Animais Exóticos. Locução: Tarik Fernandes, Marcelo Pedraz, Rita Kujawski e Caio Ferreira. [S.l.] Portal Deviante, 23/02/2026. Podcast. Disponível em: https://www.deviante.com.br/podcasts/scicast-680 Imagem de capa: Unsplash Perguntas do Episódio Abdalla, A. V. D. (2007). A proteção da fauna e o tráfico de animais silvestres (Dissertação de mestrado). Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba. http://www.dominiopublico.gov.br/download/teste/arqs/cp055586.pdf Albuquerque, U. P., Araújo, E. L., Souto, A., Bezerra, B., Freire, E. M. X., Sampaio, E., Casas, F. L., Moura, G., Pereira, G., Melo, J. G., Alves, M., Rodal, M., Schiel, M., Neves, R. L., Alves, R. R. N., Azevedo-Júnior, S., & Telino Júnior, W. (2012). Caatinga revisited: Ecology and conservation of an important seasonal dry forest. The Scientific World Journal, 2012, 205182. https://doi.org/10.1100/2012/205182 Anderson, C. (2014). Wildlife poaching: Causes, consequences and solutions.  Araújo, V. C. de. (2019). Um retrato do tráfico de animais silvestres em São Paulo e alternativas para combatê-lo. Segurança Ambiental On-line, 5(1), 1–10. https://www.policiamilitar.sp.gov.br/unidades/ambiental/SegAmb/ed5/ed5art6.pdf Araújo, V. C. de. (2021). O tráfico de animais silvestres no estado de São Paulo: aspectos legais, sociais e econômicos do traficante (Dissertação de mestrado). Universidade de São Paulo. https://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/100/100136/tde-19112021-225828/pt-br.php Borges, R. C., Oliveira, A., Bernardo, N., & da Costa, R. (2006). Diagnóstico da fauna silvestre apreendida e recolhida pela Polícia Militar de Meio Ambiente de Juiz de Fora, MG (1998 e 1999). Revista Brasileira de Zoociências, 8(1), 23–33. Brasil. (1998). Portaria n° 93, de 7 de julho de 1998. Ministério do Meio Ambiente. http://www.ibama.gov.br Brasil. (2008). Decreto nº 6.514, de 22 de julho de 2008. Presidência da República. https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2007-2010/2008/decreto/d6514.htm Brasil. Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil de 1988. https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/constituicao/constituicao.htm Chavan, A. S., & Muley, E. D. (2023). Animal trafficking and poaching: A global concern. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 11(5), 45–49. https://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2023/vol11issue5/PartA/11-5-45-197.pdf Cunha, G. B., et al. (2022). Fauna silvestre recebida pelo Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres e encaminhada para o hospital veterinário da Universidade de Brasília. Ciência Animal Brasileira, 23, e-72818. https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-6891v23e72818 Destro, G. F. G., et al. (2012). Efforts to combat wild animals trafficking in Brazil. In Biodiversity (Vol. 1, Cap. XX). ISBN 980-953-307-201-7. Duffus, A. L. J., Waltzek, T. B., Stöhr, A. C., Allender, M. C., Gotesman, M., Whittington, R. J., Hick, P., Hines, M. K., & Marschang, R. E. (2015). Distribution and host range of ranaviruses. In M. J. Gray & V. G. Chinchar (Eds.), Ranaviruses: Lethal pathogens of ectothermic vertebrates (pp. 9–57). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20928-9_2 Doukakis, P., Pikitch, E. K., Rothschild, A., DeSalle, R., Amato, G., & Kolokotronis, S.-O. (2012). Testing the effectiveness of an international conservation agreement: Marketplace forensics and CITES caviar trade regulation. PLoS ONE, 7(7), e40907. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0040907 Duffy, R. (2016). Security and conservation: The politics of the illegal wildlife trade. Routledge. Financial Action Task Force (FATF). (2020). Money laundering and the illegal wildlife trade. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264313565-en Fischer, M. C., & Garner, T. W. J. (2007). The relationship between the introduction of the American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) and the decline of native amphibians in Brazil. Conservation Biology, 21(6), 1551–1560. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2007.00759.x Freitas, V. P. de, & Freitas, G. P. de. (2006). Crimes contra a natureza: De acordo com a Lei 9.605/98 (8ª ed.). Revista dos Tribunais. Hernandez, E. F. T., & Carvalho, M. S. de. (2006). O tráfico de animais silvestres no Estado do Paraná. Acta Scientiarum: Human and Social Sciences, 28(2), 257–266. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/3073/307324782008.pdf Lima, R. (2007). O tráfico de animais silvestres. In RENCTAS (Ed.), Vida silvestre: O estreito limiar entre preservação e destruição — Diagnóstico do tráfico de animais silvestres na Mata Atlântica: Corredores Central e Serra do Mar (pp. 1–79). Brasília: Dupligráfica. Machado, A. B. M., Drummond, G. M., & Paglia, A. P. (2008). Livro vermelho da fauna brasileira ameaçada de extinção (Vol. 1–2). Fundação Biodiversitas. Maximo, A. B., Lima, L. S., & Almeida, C. O. (2021). Exotic amphibians in the pet trade: Risks of invasion and disease transmission in Brazil. Biological Invasions, 23(6), 1825–1838. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02462-4 Mittermeier, R. A., Fonseca, G. A. B., Rylands, A. B., & Brandon, K. (2005). Uma breve história da conservação da biodiversidade no Brasil. Megadiversidade, 1(1), 14–21. Nascimento, C. A. R., Alves, R. R. N., & Mourão, J. S. (2015). Trends in illegal trade of wild birds in Amazonas state, Brazil. Atualidades Ornitológicas, 126, 14. Oliveira, V. M., Matias, C. A., Rodrigues, D. P., & Siciliano, S. (2012). Wildlife trade in Brazil: A focus on birds. TRAFFIC Bulletin, 24(2), 85–88. Pagano, I. S. A., Sousa, A. E. B. A., Wagner, P. G. C., & Ramos, R. T. C. (2009). Aves depositadas no Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres do IBAMA na Paraíba: Uma amostra do tráfico de aves silvestres no estado. Ornithologia, 3, 132–144. Pereira, G. A., & Brito, M. T. (2005). Diversidade de aves silvestres brasileiras comercializadas nas feiras livres da Região Metropolitana do Recife, Pernambuco. Atualidades Ornitológicas, 126, 14. Rehbein, K. D. S. (2023). Tráfico de animais silvestres: Limites e possibilidades de atuação dos órgãos competentes (Dissertação de mestrado). Universidade de Passo Fundo. Rehbein, K. D. S., Martinez, G., & Prestes, N. C. (2023). O combate ao comércio ilegal de animais silvestres no Brasil. Planeta Amazônia: Revista Internacional de Direito Ambiental e Políticas Públicas, 15, 282–301. https://periodicos.unifap.br/index.php/planeta Ribeiro, L. B., & Silva, M. G. (2007). O comércio ilegal põe em risco a diversidade das aves no Brasil. Ciência e Cultura, 59(4), 20–23. http://cienciaecultura.bvs.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0009-67252007000400002 Ruggeri, J., Ribeiro, L. P., Pontes, M. R., Toffolo, C., Candido, M., Carriero, M. M., Zanella, N., Sousa, R. L. M., & Toledo, L. F. (2019). Discovery of wild amphibians infected with Ranavirus in Brazil. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 55(4), 897–902. https://doi.org/10.7589/2018-10-276 Salati, E., Santos, A. A., & Klabin, I. (2007). Relevant environmental issues. Estudos Avançados, 21(60), 107–127. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-40142007000200008 Scheele, B. C., Pasmans, F., Skerratt, L. F., Berger, L., et al. (2019). Amphibian fungal panzootic causes catastrophic and ongoing loss of biodiversity. Science, 363(6434), 1459–1463. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aav0379 Souto, W. M. S., Torres, M. A. R., Sousa, B. F. C. F., Lima, K. G. G. C., Vieira, L. T. S., Pereira, G. A., et al. (2017). Singing for cages: The use and trade of Passeriformes as wild pets in an economic center of the Amazon—NE Brazil route. Tropical Conservation Science, 10, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/1940082917689895 TRAFFIC. (2014). TRAFFIC Bulletin, 26(2). https://traffic.org/publications/traffic-bulletin/ Zardo, E. L., Behrm, E. R., Macedo, A., Pereira, L. Q., & Lovato, M. (2014). Aves nativas e exóticas mantidas como animais de estimação em Santa Maria, RS, Brasil. Revista Acta Ambiental Catarinense, 11(1), 33–42.

Welcome to Monsters on the Edge, a show exploring creatures at the edge of our reality in forests, cities, skies, and waters. We examine these creatures and talk to the researchers studying them.Ken Gerhard is a widely recognized cryptozoologist, author, and lecturer who frequently appears on television.Ken has traveled the world searching for evidence of mysterious creatures including Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the Chupacabra, Mothman, and the Beast of Gevaudan.In addition, he's written six books on the subject of unknown animals. His research has been featured on numerous TV shows including: Missing in Alaska, MonsterQuest, Ancient Aliens, America Unearthed, The UnXplained (with William Shatner) and Legend Hunters.Ken has appeared on major networks including Travel Channel, Science Channel, National Geographic, Syfy and Animal Planet.He can currently be seen on the History Channel series –The Proof Is Out ThereIn this all new presentation titled, “Legendary Creatures of New York,” Ken will cover accounts of Bigfoot, the Lake Champlain Monster, the Cardiff Giant, the Angola Pigman and others.Exploring Cryptozoology Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/ExploringCryptozoologyKen Gerhard's Websitehttps://kengerhard.com/Mystic Scotland Tourhttps://mysteriousadventurestours.com/Ken's Books on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/stores/Ken-Gerhard/author/B00EAFHG2Q?shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=29d5e2a3-ee14-44d3-aefd-cb75bd136109Wisconsin Cryptids, Anomalies and Paranormal Convention Ticketshttps://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/cryptids-anomalies-and-the-paranormal-society/wisconsin-cryptids-anomalies-and-paranormal-convention-capcon-2026-1370766566Click that play button, and let's unravel the mysteries of the UNTOLD! Remember to like, share, and subscribe to our channel to stay updated on all the latest discoveries and adventures. See you there!Join Barnaby Jones each Monday on the Untold Radio Network Live at 12pm Central – 10am Pacific and 1pm Eastern. Come and Join the live discussion next week. Please subscribe.We have ten different Professional Podcasts on all the things you like. New favorite shows drop each day only on the UNTOLD RADIO NETWORKTo find out more about Barnaby Jones and his team, (Cryptids, Anomalies, and the Paranormal Society) visit their website www.WisconsinCAPS.comMake sure you share and Subscribe to the CAPS YouTube Channel as wellhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs7ifB9Ur7x2C3VqTzVmjNQ

In this episode Nate and Bryant are joined by Dakotah Henn to talk about his research with amphibian communities in Costa Rica and the United States. We also talk about his experiences as a keeper. Enjoy!Check out Serpentine Expeditions and use code CK25 at checkout for $100 off your next herping trip! https://www.serpentineexpeditions.com/

A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests the online trade in pet frogs and other amphibians may be larger – and less transparent – than previously understood.

A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests the online trade in pet frogs and other amphibians may be larger – and less transparent – than previously understood.

A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests the online trade in pet frogs and other amphibians may be larger – and less transparent – than previously understood.

The swift population has seen a significant decline in recent years. Now, Scotland has become the first country in the UK to introduce a legal requirement to install swift bricks in all new buildings. Rachel meets Cally Smith of North East Scotland Swifts to discover how the bricks will help to protect the birds.The historic Palm Houses at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh are newly restored and the team are beginning to move the plant specimens inside, starting with the largest. Mark meets Glasshouse Manager Fiona Inches to find out what it takes to move hundreds of specimens.Rachel is at the Herpetofauna Workers Meeting in Glasgow to find out about the work being done to help our reptiles and amphibians. She chats to volunteer Cally Ullman-Smith and his mum Janet of Saving Scotland's Amphibians and Reptiles.Recent stormy weather is causing puffins and other seabirds to struggle and many are being washed up on Scotland's coastlines. Rachel and Mark are joined by Paul Reynolds of New Arc Wildlife Rescue, Aberdeenshire, to discuss the pressures seabirds face.In this week's podcast excerpt, Mark meets master wood carver David Robinson at his studio in East Lothian to learn more about how his work is inspired by nature.Back at the Herpetofauna Workers Meeting, Rachel speaks to ecologist and survey volunteer Stephen Corcoran whose work is related to adders and restoring peatland.Orkney based artist Anna Charlotta Gardiner is undertaking a month long residency in Aberdeen as part of the Royal Scottish Academy's 200th anniversary. Mark meets Anna near Aberdeen harbour to explore how her work takes inspiration from the city's maritime heritage.Mark takes a wander in Aberdeenshire to check out potholes exacerbated by stormy weather.

In order to become better stewards of the natural world, it's vital that we understand how important data from the amphibian hobby can be. As amphibian keepers, we can play an important role in conservation and resource management. By interpreting and understanding trade patterns, we can engage stakeholders and policy makers and make decisions based in science and facts.This week I am joined by Sam Sucre and Devin Edmonds and we discuss their new paper, "Tracking the hidden trade of non-native pet amphibians in the United States" In this episode we discuss 20 years of import data, trends in pricing, the nitty gritty of which species were imported and why, and how trade effects the countries of origin as well as hobbyists in the US. To read and share the paper discussed in this episode, visit:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320726000224And as a supplemental please check out Devin's other paper at:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14888386.2025.2453459Exo Terra is our sponsor this week. For all your amphibian needs visit: Exo-terra.com or visit your local dealer and follow @exoterrausa on social media. To support the podcast by becoming a Patron, please visit: https://linktr.ee/AmphibiCast

 There are 27 different species of reptiles and amphibians in Columbia County, Oregon, according to the first ever herpetological-assemblage report of the region. The report is the work of Jon Hakim, who grew up in Columbia County and has been obsessed with reptiles and amphibians his whole life. It took over 15 months and many volunteer hours to visit every possible habitat type in the county and log all the different species, including 6 never seen before in the county. We talk to Hakim about his work and what he’s learned.

Let's Chat!!Boo, Bitches!

For this piece, multiple layers of synths, strings and other instruments layer on top of one another, performing variations of the same melody, to mimic both the repetition and individual variations within the the frog choruses. Each instrument becomes a voice joining in with the frogs' calls, creating a melodic bed that reflects on the majestic beauty of nature's large-scale gatherings of animals. Night time frog chorus in Goa reimagined by Cities and Memory.

Nepal is home to a rich and diverse range of amphibians and reptiles, yet much of this wildlife remains misunderstood. In this podcast episode, we sit down with Bishal Prasad Neupane, a leading Nepali herpetologist and conservationist, to explore the hidden world of snakes of Nepal, frogs, crocodiles, turtles, tortoises, and lizards. Bishal shares how he became interested in reptiles and amphibians, explains the different types of crocodiles in Nepal, and why crocodiles survived even after the extinction of dinosaurs. The conversation dives deep into frog species in Nepal, frog hunting practices, frog dissection in colleges, and ethical concerns around amphibian conservation. We also cover turtles and tortoises in Nepal, the legal aspects of keeping turtles as pets, and the key differences between turtle vs tortoise. A major highlight of this episode is snakes—covering poisonous snakes in Nepal, snake behavior, whether snakes are aggressive, what snakes eat, what anaconda is, and how snake rescue works in Nepal. Most importantly, Bishal explains what to do if a snake bites, how anti venom in Nepal is made, and common myths surrounding snake bites. This episode is essential for anyone interested in wildlife conservation in Nepal, reptile research, snake bite awareness, and understanding Nepal's herpetofauna. GET CONNECTED WITH Bishal Prasad Neupane: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bishalneupane0/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@nepalisapien7821/videos  

In this episode, we are joined by Mark O' Shea to hear the story of the rough scaled python (Morelia carinata).Mark has written many books includingIn 2000 Mark coauthored the DK Handbook to Reptiles and Amphibians with the late Tim Halliday, this book being rebated Smithsonian Handbook in the UK and republished in at least 14 languages. Venomous Snakes and Boas & Pythons were also published in German, Swedish, Hungarian. He also wrote a book called Nature Watch: Lizards in 2003 and that has come out in various forms since. He wrote chapters for several books ranging from endanged species too snakebite.  He is currently working on the slow-burn revision of my New Guinea snake volume and Snakes of the World, the sister books to Lizards of the World. You can have stocks of The Book of Snakes and Lizards of the World which Mark is signing and selling.Mark's Website--------------------------Follow MPR Network on:FB: https://www.facebook.com/MoreliaPythonRadioIG: https://www.instagram.com/mpr_network/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrEaKcyN8KvC3pqaiYc0RQMore ways to support the shows.Swag store: https://teespring.com/stores/mprnetworkPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/moreliapythonradio ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

As climate pressures intensify and human activity accelerates, Africa’s hidden species — its reptiles, amphibians, plants and lesser-known mammals — are sounding the loudest alarm. Understanding what’s at stake, and how to protect ecosystems in both wild and human-dominated landscapes, has never been more critical.John Maytham speaks to Dr Hayley Clements, Senior Researcher at Stellenbosch University and the University of Helsinki, about what this research means for conservation, policy, and the future of Africa’s biodiversity Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Stan Lake to discuss his new book, Toad in a Glass Jar. Their conversation follows two intertwining paths — Stan's experiences serving in the Army in Iraq and his life as a naturalist and content creator passionate about reptiles and amphibians. Together, they explore how these threads weave through his journey and culminate in a deeply personal collection of reptile and amphibian poetry. The discussion also touches on Stan's broader creative work, including Catching Creation, his books, and his music videos — and features a clip from his song “Ain't No Copperhead.”Connect with Stan at www.stanlakecreates.com. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.Shop Snake Talk merch.If you like what you've been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Axolotls are one of the most charismatic and beloved amphibians out there. But did you know that there's only one place in the whole world where you can find them in the wild? It's Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City.There, scientists are scrambling to save them from extinction by creating refuges, using environmental DNA to track them down, and tag-teaming with the farmers who work on the lake. Luis Zambrano, one of the world's leading axolotl experts, and Alejandro Maeda-Obregón, a molecular biologist, talk with Host Flora Lichtman about their work to protect these beloved amphibians.Guests:
Dr. Luis Zambrano is a leading expert on axolotls and an ecologist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.Dr. Alejandro Maeda-Obregón is a molecular ecologist at University College London who studies rare and endangered species.Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com.  Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Amphibians such as frogs and salamanders are common critters often seen in the Midwest near ponds, creeks, and rivers. These animals are often indicators of water quality conditions. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss common amphibians of the Great Plains, why many of these populations are declining, and steps you can take to help ensure frogs are calling and salamanders are crawling in your aquatic ecosystems.  Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at http://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html Watch the podcast on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@KSREWildlife

Episode 764: October 16, 2025 (special guest Graeme Revell) playlist: Surgical Penis Klinik, "Slogun" (Meat Processing Section) 1979 Side Effects SPK, "Invocation (to Secular Heresies)" (Zamia Lehmanni - Songs of Byzantine Flowers) 1986 Side Effects Socialistisches Patienten Kollektiv, "Despair" (Leichenschrei) 1982 Side Effects Graeme Revell, "The Sleeping Sickness" (The Insect Musicians) 1986 Musique Brut Graeme Revell, "Countess Saladine" (Necropolis, Amphibians and Reptiles: the Music of Adolf Wölfli) 1986 Musique Brut Graeme Revell, "A Cold October Night" (The Crow (Original Motion Picture Score / Deluxe Edition)) 1994 Varese Sarabande Lori Carson and Graeme Revell, "Fall in the Light" (Strange Days: Music From the Motion Picture) 1995 Epic Soundtrax Graeme Revell, "The Mothman" ([unreleased]) 2025 Email podcast at brainwashed dot com to say who you are; what you like; what you want to hear; share pictures for the podcast of where you're from, your computer or MP3 player with or without the Brainwashed Podcast Playing; and win free music! We have no tracking information, no idea who's listening to these things so the more feedback that comes in, the more frequent podcasts will come. You will not be put on any spam list and your information will remain completely private and not farmed out to a third party. Thanks for your attention and thanks for listening.

In Part 2, the Hot Johnsons go from self-help wins to DOS-level WTF real quick. Denai opens up about what happened when DOS came knocking, from the first ask for “collateral” to the gut-check moment that made her walk away. Along the way, the Johnsons (and your favorite culty hosts) revisit the red flags that somehow got normalized — like “masters” and “slaves,” midnight readiness drills, and Lauren peeing on video calls. Yep, you read that right.It's a raw, funny, sometimes NSFW look back at how close Denai came to the brand and why she said no, plus what healing has looked like since leaving. And don't worry — the Hot Johnson sibling banter is still in full swing, complete with merch, lip balm jokes, and more “chaps my ass” wisdom than you probably bargained for.Catch Bron & Denai on their own show, Hot Johnson, where they keep the sibling chaos alive while mixing real talk on health, wellness, and relationships.Also… let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our lovely sponsorsJoin ‘A Little Bit Culty' on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TEDTalkCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Amphibian.MediaCo-Creator: Jess TardyAssociate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media Audio production: Red Caiman StudiosTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on A Little Bit Culty, we're stepping into the crossover world of cults and true crime with Derrick Levasseur—former undercover detective, private investigator, and host of Crime Weekly and Detective Perspective. You may also know him from Big Brother or America's Most Wanted: Missing Persons, where he and Sarah recently worked together on a harrowing case.That case? The mysterious disappearance of six people tied to the University of Cosmic Intelligence (UCI)—a fringe social-media-fueled cult led by self-proclaimed prophet Rashad Jamal. Among the missing: Naaman Williams (28), Gerielle German (26) and her 3-year-old son Ashton Mitchell, Mikayla Thompson (23), Ma'Kayla Wickerson (25), and her 3-year-old daughter Malaiyah Wickerson.From ritualistic chanting and “divine downloads” to bathroom-mirror graffiti scrawled with “I am that I am”, the UCI story reads like a mash-up of sci-fi fantasy and sovereign citizen ideology. But underneath the esoteric claims are real lives at risk—and children who need to be found. Derrick unpacks the law-enforcement challenges of cult cases, why coercive control is so hard to prosecute, and how everyday people can spot the warning signs.We also dive into Derrick's fascinating career—from undercover ops to winning Big Brother, launching Criminal Coffee (a true crime-funded cold case project), and his take on why “every cult has a hook.”⚠️ If you have information about the missing members of UCI, contact your local law enforcement.Follow Derrick for more: IG @DerrickLevasseur • X @DerrickL • officialderrick.com. You can also check out his book The Undercover Edge and his PI firm, Break Investigative Group, where he continues to work cold cases.Also… let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our lovely sponsorsJoin ‘A Little Bit Culty' on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TEDTalkCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Amphibian.MediaCo-Creator: Jess TardyAssociate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media Audio production: Red Caiman StudiosTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode is sponsored in part by Betterhelp.In Part 2 of our conversation with Professor Robin Boyle-Laisure—St. John's University School of Law faculty, ICSA board member, and author of Taken No More: Protect Your Children Against Traffickers and Cults—we dig into the courtroom turning points that changed the way cult leaders are prosecuted. From Patty Hearst to NXIVM, Robin unpacks how sex-trafficking statutes reshaped the legal landscape, and why Keith Raniere's 120-year sentence set a precedent that reverberates through cases like R. Kelly, Larry Ray, and Harvey Weinstein.We also bring the conversation home (literally). Robin shares practical tools for parents: how to raise independent thinkers, what “tricky adults” really look like, and why overly rigid household rules can prime kids for authoritarian groups later in life. She sounds the alarm on the rise of online grooming, sextortion, and predator tactics on gaming platforms, and explains what parents, educators, and law enforcement need to know right now.Catch Robin's new book, Taken No More, this fall, and keep an eye on robinboylelaisure.com for updates. Follow Robin on Instagram (@robin.boyle / @robinboylelaisure) and Facebook (Robin Boyle). Learn more about ICSA at icsahome.com.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of sexual abuse, coercive control, grooming, trafficking, cult exploitation, and online child exploitation.Also… let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our lovely sponsorsJoin ‘A Little Bit Culty' on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TEDTalkCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Amphibian.MediaCo-Creator: Jess TardyAssociate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media Audio production: Red Caiman StudiosTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode is sponsored in part by Betterhelp.What happens when a street-corner “religious” pitch nearly ropes in a teenage girl—only for her to dodge the hook and spend the next three decades dismantling the playbook that tried to claim her? In Part 1 of our conversation with Professor Robin Boyle-Laisure—St. John's University School of Law faculty, board member of the International Cultic Studies Association, and author of the upcoming Taken No More: Protect Your Children Against Traffickers and Cults—we follow the twisted parallels between cult recruitment and human trafficking.Robin breaks down how predators groom, coerce, and control—whether they're fishing for followers in a dorm lounge or luring teens through online games. We talk NXIVM's “collateral” bombshell, the grooming-to-control pipeline, and why charisma is just the sugar coating on a rotten core. You'll never look at “just talking” to strangers online the same way again.Catch Robin's new book, Taken No More, this fall, and keep an eye on robinboylelaisure.com for free downloadable articles and updates. Follow Robin on Instagram (@robin.boyle / @robinboylelaisure) and Facebook (Robin Boyle). Learn more about ICSA at icsahome.com.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of sexual abuse, coercive control, grooming, trafficking, and cult exploitation.Also… let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our lovely sponsorsJoin ‘A Little Bit Culty' on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TEDTalkCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Amphibian.MediaCo-Creator: Jess TardyAssociate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media Audio production: Red Caiman StudiosTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This conversation with former NXIVM members Bron and Denai Johnson was such a hit when we first dropped it here last year that we're doing it again (and yes, Patreon gets it first this time, too). In Part 1, the Johnsons open up about their early days in NXIVM's Vancouver center — from the “too-perfect” community vibes that drew them in, to the personal growth tools they say genuinely changed their lives.They walk us through their POV on ethos classes, SOP weekends, V-Week performances, and the infamous XOSO flop, sharing both the highs and the red flags that finally pushed them to leave. It's a rare, candid look at what NXIVM felt like from the inside, before the headlines, and why it wasn't all bad… until it was.Bron and Denai have moved on to healthier (and much hotter) pursuits — they're now co-hosts of the Hot Johnson podcast, where they mix goofball sibling energy with real talk on health, wellness, and building the kind of relationships you actually want to be in. Follow their adventures and get your dose of Hot Johnson at @hotjohnson.Stay tuned for Part 2, where Denai reveals what happened when DOS came calling.Also… let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our lovely sponsorsJoin ‘A Little Bit Culty' on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TEDTalkCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Amphibian.MediaCo-Creator: Jess TardyAssociate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media Audio production: Red Caiman StudiosTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Katherine Spearing is back—and she's not pulling any punches. A trauma recovery practitioner and founder of Tears of Eden, Kat grew up in the Christian Patriarchy Movement, where obedience was godly, women were walking wombs, and joy was suspicious at best.In this episode, we dive deep into what spiritual abuse actually looks like: body control, purity culture, biblical gaslighting, and the long-term effects of being told your desires are sinful. Kat's new book, A Thousand Tiny Paper Cuts, is part memoir, part manual for healing—and a total middle finger to coercive religion.We talk masturbation, improv, the myth of the one true partner, and why reconnecting with your body might just be the holiest thing you'll ever do.Out in October, her book A Thousand Tiny Paper Cuts is for anyone reclaiming their voice after high-control anything. Find her at katherinespearing.com and @katherinespearing.Also… let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our lovely sponsorsJoin ‘A Little Bit Culty' on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TEDTalkCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Amphibian.MediaCo-Creator: Jess TardyAssociate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media Audio production: Red Caiman StudiosTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Part 2 of our conversation, Jasmin opens up about life after escaping Saudi Arabia—landing in Wyoming, rediscovering autonomy, and slowly unlearning the rules that once governed every part of her existence. She shares how nature, therapy, and motherhood helped her begin to heal, and how writing her memoir The Last Sandstorm gave her the language to process what she'd been through.We also dive into some thorny topics: the culty dynamics within DEI work, what happens when identity politics override lived experience, and how moral absolutism shuts down real dialogue. Jasmin doesn't shy away from the mess... and neither do we.Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of religious extremism, gender-based oppression, political and cultural trauma, and identity-based discrimination.Find more on Jasmin at www.jasminfaulk.com, or follow her on Instagram @jasmin.faulk and YouTube @Jasmin-Faulk. Her memoir The Last Sandstorm is available now wherever books are sold.Also… let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our lovely sponsorsJoin ‘A Little Bit Culty' on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TEDTalkCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Amphibian.MediaCo-Creator: Jess TardyAssociate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media Audio production: Red Caiman StudiosTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week's guest is Jasmin Faulk, an author and advocate who risked everything to reclaim her freedom. Born to a Saudi father and Italian mother, Jasmin grew up in a country where girls were silenced, veiled, and made invisible.In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Jasmin takes us inside the dark realities of growing up under fundamentalist Islam in 1980s and 90s Saudi Arabia—from gender segregation and religious policing, to the suffocating control of male guardianship. We unpack the slow burn of her rebellion, including the moment she pulled off her veil in public, and the dangerous path she navigated to leave her marriage and escape the kingdom altogether.It's a gripping, gut-punching story of survival, defiance, and the fight for a life on her own terms, and a stark reminder that cult dynamics don't always come with a guru or group name. Sometimes, they come wrapped in flags, holy books, and the illusion of tradition.Trigger warnings for those sensitive to stories of systemic misogyny or religious trauma.Find more on Jasmin at www.jasminfaulk.com, or follow her on Instagram @jasmin.faulk and YouTube @Jasmin-Faulk. Her memoir, The Last Sandstorm, is available now wherever books are sold.Also… let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our lovely sponsorsJoin ‘A Little Bit Culty' on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TEDTalkCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Amphibian.MediaCo-Creator: Jess TardyAssociate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media Audio production: Red Caiman StudiosTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're back with Part 2 of our conversation with Lauren and Aaliyah—two former NXIVM coaches and co-hosts of This Juicy Life—as we dig deeper into the tangled mix of growth, gaslighting, and gut-checks they experienced inside (and outside) the cult.This episode unpacks what comes after the escape: the emotional fallout, the tricky process of reconnecting with intuition, and the lifelong work of healing. From toxic hierarchies and skewed polyamory to whispered rumors about poisoned water and public shame, Lauren and Aaliyah don't shy away from the messy middle. We talk about recognizing “Keith-types” in everyday life, the physical toll of suppressing your instincts, and what it really means to find your way back to yourself.Spoiler: it's not all sunshine and sage smudges—but it is deeply human, often funny, and always real.Also… let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our lovely sponsorsJoin ‘A Little Bit Culty' on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TEDTalkCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Amphibian.MediaCo-Creator: Jess TardyAssociate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media Audio production: Red Caiman StudiosTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on A Little Bit Culty, we're diving into the deceptively polite world of Canadian politics—where the optics are polished, but the manipulation runs deep. Our guest is Celina Caesar-Chavannes, a former Member of Parliament and once a rising star in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party. She served as his parliamentary secretary before leaving in 2019, fed up with the gaslighting, tokenism, and isolation she faced for speaking out. Celina pulls no punches as she breaks down the emotional toll of navigating a system that rewards obedience over honesty, and how Trudeau's carefully curated image masks something far less inclusive behind the scenes. We also get into the broader culty dynamics that show up in institutions like politics, and what it takes to walk away with your integrity intact. This episode contains discussion of racism, emotional abuse, and political retaliation. Listener discretion is advised. For more on Celina, find her on instagram @iamcelinacc and check our her book Can You Hear Me Now?: How I Found My Voice and Learned to Live with Passion and Purpose Also… let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad. **PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book here Check out our lovely sponsors Join 'A Little Bit Culty' on Patreon Get poppin' fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TEDTalk CREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Amphibian.Media Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media Audio production: Red Caiman Studios Theme Song: "Cultivated" by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin

This week on A Little Bit Culty, we're diving into the deceptively polite world of Canadian politics—where the optics are polished, but the manipulation runs deep.Our guest is Celina Caesar-Chavannes, a former Member of Parliament and once a rising star in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party. She served as his parliamentary secretary before leaving in 2019, fed up with the gaslighting, tokenism, and isolation she faced for speaking out. Celina pulls no punches as she breaks down the emotional toll of navigating a system that rewards obedience over honesty, and how Trudeau's carefully curated image masks something far less inclusive behind the scenes.We also get into the broader culty dynamics that show up in institutions like politics, and what it takes to walk away with your integrity intact.This episode contains discussion of racism, emotional abuse, and political retaliation. Listener discretion is advised.For more on Celina, find her on instagram @iamcelinacc and check our her book Can You Hear Me Now?: How I Found My Voice and Learned to Live with Passion and PurposeAlso… let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book here Check out our lovely sponsorsJoin ‘A Little Bit Culty' on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TEDTalkCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Amphibian.MediaCo-Creator: Jess TardyAssociate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media Audio production: Red Caiman StudiosTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on A Little Bit Culty, we're back with Laci Bean, host of Deadly Faith, for Part 2 of her story—what came after she left the high-control ministry that tried to own her soul. Laci walks us through her deconstruction journey: questioning her faith, setting boundaries with family, and reckoning with the political beliefs she once held. We talk about the pressure to homeschool, the fallout from voting for Trump, and the trauma that opened her eyes. Now a trauma recovery coach, Laci shares how she helps others heal from religious abuse—and how even recovery spaces can start to feel culty if we're not careful. This one's about finding your voice, reclaiming your identity, and learning to trust yourself again. Also… let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad. **PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book here   Check out our lovely sponsors Join ‘A Little Bit Culty' on Patreon Get poppin' fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TEDTalk CREDITS:  Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Amphibian.Media Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media   Audio production: Red Caiman Studios Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on A Little Bit Culty, we're getting holy uncomfortable. Our guest is Laci Bean, host of the podcast Deadly Faith, for the first of a two-part conversation about her time in a cult-like Christian ministry that pulled her in as a teenager and tried to own her soul. From ages sixteen to nineteen, Laci lived under strict rules that dictated what she could listen to, who she could talk to, and even how she thought about her family. The group promised love and belonging but delivered fear, isolation, and spiritual manipulation, all under the guise of faith. We talk about the emotional hooks that pulled her in, the control tactics that kept her there, and the unexpected kindness that helped her break free. Laci doesn't hold back as she reflects on what it meant to walk away from her so-called spiritual family—and how leaving God didn't mean leaving truth. This one's for anyone who's ever felt trapped by a belief system that promised love but delivered control.  Also… let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad. **PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book here   Check out our lovely sponsors Join ‘A Little Bit Culty' on Patreon Get poppin' fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TEDTalk CREDITS:  Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Amphibian.Media Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media   Audio production: Red Caiman Studios Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're dropping in with a bonus two-parter featuring Lauren and Aaliyah—two former NXIVM insiders who became fast friends while navigating the pressure-cooker world of “life issues,” ranking systems, and weaponized empowerment. In part 1, we talk about how it all starts: the acting classes, the “juicy” coaching, the promises of personal growth… and how that slow creep into cult control messes with your sense of self, your relationships, and your gut instincts. We also take a minute to sound off on some recent headlines—because when powerful men keep dodging consequences (hi, Diddy), it's hard not to draw comparisons to Keith and the crew. And yes, we're still waiting on that Ghislaine Maxwell client list. This one's about gaslighting disguised as growth, friendships forged in the fire, and the red flags that just kept waving. Stay tuned for part two next week. Also… let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad. **PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book here Check out our lovely sponsors Join ‘A Little Bit Culty' on Patreon Get poppin' fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TEDTalk CREDITS:  Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Amphibian.Media Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media   Audio production: Red Caiman Studios Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode is sponsored in part by Betterhelp. This week our guest is Rachael Reign, a survivor of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG). At just 13, Rachael was swept into UCKG's world of fire and brimstone – where teenage exorcisms were a weekly ritual, your mental health struggles meant demons were lurking inside you, and giving your last cent to the church wasn't just encouraged – it was demanded. She shares how she went from being a bright, curious teenager to a youth group leader tasked with recruiting others, cleaning the church floorboards with her tears, and enduring violent “strong prayers” that left her bruised, broken, and questioning her sanity. Behind the gospel music and shiny sermons was a cult built on fear, shame, and draining its members dry in the name of salvation. Rachael doesn't hold back as she unpacks the manipulative recruitment tactics, the psychological torment disguised as faith, and the way UCKG weaponized scripture to justify abuse and financial exploitation. She also takes us through her escape – losing everything she knew, only to rebuild from the ashes into an advocate fighting for cult survivors and legal reform in the UK. Because when your church tells you to give God everything, what they really mean is: give it to us – your money, your body, your mind, your freedom. For more from Rachael, follow her on Instagram @rachaelreign. Also… let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad. **PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book here Check out our lovely sponsors Join ‘A Little Bit Culty' on Patreon Get poppin' fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TEDTalk CREDITS:  Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Amphibian.Media Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Associate producers: Amanda Zaremba and Matt Stroud of Amphibian.Media   Audio production: Red Caiman Studios Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.