Podcasts about San Diego Zoo

In this episode of Skip the Queue, Andy Povey sits down with Jérôme Giacomoni, co-founder and Chairman of AEROPHILE, the world leader in tethered gas balloons and immersive aerial experiences. Jérôme shares the story of how AEROPHILE began with a simple idea, to “make everybody fly” and grew into a global company operating in multiple countries, including France and the U.S.Tune in to hear about the company's signature attractions, including tethered balloon flights, the innovative Aerobar concept, and high-profile projects such as how you can experience flying the Olympic cauldron in Paris. Jérôme also shares how AEROPHILE has leveraged its unique platform to explore scientific initiatives like air-quality and climate-change monitoring and how he Integrates unique revenue streams from sponsorship and advertising.Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden, with co host Andy Povey and roving reporter Claire Furnival.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn. Show references:  https://www.aerophile.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerome-giacomoni-3074b7/Jérôme Giacomoni is co-founder of Groupe AEROPHILE and Chairman of AEROPHILE SAS. Since 1993, he has led the company to become the world leader in tethered gas balloons and balloon flights, operating iconic sites in France, the U.S., and Cambodia, and flying over 500,000 passengers annually. He also pioneered “flying food-tainment” with the Aerophare and Aerobar. Jérôme is a member of IAAPA, serves on the board of SNELAC, and is a Team France Export ambassador, earning multiple awards for entrepreneurship and innovation. Plus, live from the Day 2 of the IAAPA Expo Europe show floor, we catch up with:Rheanna Sorby –Marketing & Creative Director,  The Seasonal Grouphttps://theseasonalgroup.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rheanna-sorby-seasonal/Sohret Pakis – Polin Waterparkshttps://www.polin.com.tr/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sohretpakis/Thomas Collin – Sales Manager, VEX Solutionshttps://www.vex-solutions.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-collin-18a476110/Peter Cliff – CEO // Founder, Conductr.https://conductr.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cliff/Laura Baxter – Founder, Your CMOhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-baxter-4a756466/Josh Haywood – Resort Director, Crealy Theme Park & Resorthttps://www.crealy.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-haywood-68463630/ Transcriptions:  Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, the podcast about the world's best attractions and the people that work in them. I'm your host Paul Marden, and with my co-host Andy Povey and roving reporter Claire Furnival, we're here at IAAPA Expo Europe. In today's episode, I go on a trip on Santa's Enchanted Elevator with the Seasonal Group, and Claire meets Peter Cliff from Conductr. But before all that, let's head over to Andy.Andy Povey: Good morning, everybody. I'm joined today by Jerome Giacomoni from AEROPHILE for our French listeners. I hope I've got that right. Jerome is the chief exec of AEROPHILE and has been the co-founder and president of AEROPHILE. And AEROPHILE supply helium-based balloon observation opportunities. I probably got the marketing on that completely wrong, Jerome. So please, can you share with our listeners what AEROPHILE is all about?Jerome Giacomoni: So AEROPHILE is a company I created with Mathieu Gobbi, my partner, 32 years ago, with a very simple idea, make everybody fly, you know, and we use a balloon to fly. So we have a tethered balloon. We have a huge, big balloon inflated with helium, a gas lighter than air. And we go up to more or less 150 meters high. up to 30 passengers. So we are linked to the ground with a cable, and the cable is linked to a winch. So you have to imagine that you have a winch that— when we go up—pulls when we go down. This is the exact opposite of an elevator because the balloon wants to go higher and higher. We have a lifting force of four tons.Andy Povey:Wow.Jerome Giacomoni:Yes, it's a big one. And so we need a cable to keep it. And thanks to this lifting force, we can fight against the wind.Jerome Giacomoni: And so the balloon can swing when you have some wind because the balloon is just pulled by the cable itself.Andy Povey: And trust me, listeners, they look absolutely spectacular. Just before we started recording, I was admitting to Jerome that I'm scared of heights. So I've stood and watched. The dining balloon, Futuroscope, never managed to pluck up the courage to try it myself.Jerome Giacomoni: This is another concept, Andy. So we have built two concepts. One is a tethered balloon, a real one with helium, with a cable, with a winch, and we fly by ourselves. The balloon flies by itself, okay? We did another concept 20 years after we created our company, so 10 years before now, in 2013, which is what we call the aero bar. It's a flying bar, and you have an inflatable balloon. to cover the gondola, but it's a fake. This is a real elevator, and you have a gondola with some winches and a metallic structure, and you go up and down. So what you saw in Futuroscope is not a balloon. It's a real elevator.Jerome Giacomoni: And the one you can see in Disneyland Paris, Disney World, Orlando or San Diego Zoo are a real balloon named a tethered balloon. So I'm glad you fell down into the trick. You caught me. Yes, I'm glad about that. But we have really two different concepts.Andy Povey: But the concept, the thing that the guest is experiencing, isn't really related to whether it's a balloon or a lift.Jerome Giacomoni: No. i think it's very different okay i think the aerobar is fun and you have the feet in the sky you feel the thrill of height and everything but you stop at 35 meters it's it's quite high for a ride but it's not a real flight And I think the balloon is a real flight. We have a balloon in Paris. We have a balloon in Budapest, Berlin. And you see the city from the sky at 150 meters high, which is very high. So you really experience a flight. With the aerobar, you have a ride, okay? So both of them are related to the sky, are related to the view, but one is really a flight, the other one is really a ride.Andy Povey: That makes absolute sense.Andy Povey: It doesn't reassure me on my fear of heights anymore, that I would like to go up three times, four times taller, higher than the one I saw first. Very interesting. So, listeners, we're often talking about technology and attractions. There's a huge amount of talk about augmented reality, about AI, about motion simulators. The reason, Jerome, we asked you to come and talk to us is because you don't do any of that. No—your experience is fantastic and it's new and it's unique, but there's no technology or very little obvious technology.Jerome Giacomoni: Yes, quite little. You know, it's amazing because we do this for now 32 years, as I told you. The first balloon was inflated in 1994. We have sold 120 balloons in more than 40 countries. And each time with the balloon, you have a magical effect, you know, because the balloon itself is very nice— because the balloon itself is a show from people looking at it from the ground. And because... The flight experience is amazing because you are really in the sky. You are really looking at the ground, at the landscape. You have no noise, you know, when you take a helicopter or plane. You have a lot of noise. You are in an enclosed airplane or helicopter. Here you are outside. You are on a balcony flying at 150 meters. And wherever we are, always we have like a magical effect of the flight. And with the flying bar, we decided to do something different— where we say, 'Why drink on ground where you can drink in the sky?'Jerome Giacomoni: So we add the drink to the ride, you know. So you are on a table and you have what we say in French conviviality. So we share a drink. We go at 35 meters and you have the thrill of the view of the height and also the conviviality of drinking. So this is another concept, but both of them are universal. And wherever we do it, we have sold 20 aero bars worldwide.Jerome Giacomoni: Everybody is very happy to have this kind of ride. I would say we are on the side of the main market. You know, we have two niche products. The balloon is a niche product. And the AeroBar is a niche product where we have another experience than a normal ride, like a roller coaster or a flume or a spinning coaster.Andy Povey: You say you're a nice product, but the balloon in Paris for the Olympics, where you lifted the cauldron, had phenomenal numbers of visitors watching. That wasn't something you could go on.Jerome Giacomoni: Yes, it was an amazing opportunity. You know, sometimes life gives you some presents.Jerome Giacomoni: And imagine that we were contacted by the Olympic Organisation Committee one day, and we believed it was a joke. And they said, 'We need to talk to you.' And then we discovered that instead of flying humans, they asked us to fly a cauldron. So the Olympic cauldron. And we have like one year and a half of design and manufacturing.Jerome Giacomoni: And then, at 11 pm, 25, the balloon has to fly in front of everybody. I can tell you it was a very stressful time. But so nice and so amazing to have experiences. So, yes, the balloon suddenly was visible by everybody. And that's back now in Paris, isn't it? Yes. First of all, the balloon has to stay only twice— 15 days. You know, you have the Olympics and the Paralympics. So we were open only 30 days in total. And the success was so huge that every night, you have dozens of thousands of people coming to look at it. That's why the mayor of Paris and the French president decided to keep it.Jerome Giacomoni: And just after the deflation of the balloon, they call us back and say, 'Jerome and Mathieu, we would like to have the balloon back.' So we work again with the city of Paris and the French presidency, and we agreed to put the balloon.Jerome Giacomoni: Three times, three months. So from June 21st, in France, this is a music event, you know, the Day of Music. To September 14th, which is a day of sport. So every year until the Olympic game of LA, we will operate the balloon for three months in the summertime. Fantastic.Andy Povey: So, Jerome, you operate in lots and lots of different countries all over the world. I think it's 14 countries that you've been.Jerome Giacomoni: No, we sold, but we operate only in the US and in France.Andy Povey: Ah, okay. Interesting.Jerome Giacomoni: We own ourselves, we operate ourselves, six balloons in the 120 we have sold. So we operate three in Paris region. One, the Parc André Citroën, where we have the Generali balloon since 1999. One in Disneyland Paris since 2005. So we are in Disneyland Paris for now 20 years. Time is flying. And the last one, the Cold Run, which is a very specific event that we operate now for one year and for the next two years. And in the US, we operate Disney World Orlando in Disney Spring since 2009, and San Diego Zoo Safari Park since 2005, and Irvine. South of LA since 2007. So we operate now six balloons for a long, long time, except the cold run. And we keep selling balloons.Jerome Giacomoni: We sell more or less five to six balloons every year.Andy Povey: And how do you find the differences between the French culture and you're on either side of America, so the differences between the different coasts of America and France?Jerome Giacomoni: Yes, we... We are in the US, but we are also in Mexico, in a lot of countries in Asia. In the Middle East, we have a beautiful balloon in Dubai. We have a beautiful balloon in Seoul. So we work a lot with very different cultures. You know, it's very interesting to sell the same product to different cultures. So I would say... The main difference probably lies in the contract. It's very funny when you make the contract. I would say a 'yes' is not the same 'yes' depending on the culture. But everybody is, you know, you... You love people when you work worldwide. You learn a lot, you discover a lot. You have to learn with different cultures. And I have the chance in my professional life to experience that and to meet people from all over the world. And, you know, my job is to go on site, and discuss with someone, and see if it's possible or not to have a balloon at this place.Jerome Giacomoni: So it's always a beautiful job because I travel in a lot of countries in beautiful spots.Jerome Giacomoni: We don't succeed a lot because, if not, I would have sold thousands of balloons. We have always constraints with local authority, with food traffic, etc. But always, it's a pleasure to meet people. And once... The balloon is accepted by the local authority when the customer has a finance for it. Then start more or less a one-year work together between installation, work on site, inflation, and training of the team. And after... They fly with their own wings, even if we have no wings with our balloons.Andy Povey: Very good. And I imagine that you don't put balloons into ugly places.Jerome Giacomoni: We did, sometimes for specific contracts. Ugly, I won't use this name, but not very obvious, logical site. But it has happened. Sometimes we do for small events or for specific needs.Jerome Giacomoni: But yes, most of the time, the sites are very interesting.Andy Povey: So there are other things you're doing with the balloons. So the air quality messaging that you have above Paris. Tell us more about your opportunities to influence in other areas.Jerome Giacomoni: Yes, you know, the balloon is not only a ride, a passenger ride, but it's also an amazing opportunity for communication and for advertisement. So in the city center, like Paris, Berlin, or Seoul, the balloon is used also as a giant advertising billboard. So you have two revenues. You have the revenue of the passenger, but you have also the sponsor revenue.Jerome Giacomoni: When we started the balloon in Paris, it was extremely difficult to get the authorisation to have a balloon in Paris centre. We are two kilometres south of the Eiffel Tower. But you remember, we had the famous Millennium, the Y2K. uh and and so the mayor faris was looking for a new idea and we propose a balloon And they gave us only a one year and a half contract. And the investment was quite huge. And we told him, OK, we can do it, but we cannot do it for only one year and a half. Except if you accept that we have a name on the balloon, a naming and a sponsor on the balloon. And the mayor say yes. And we start another business where we put sponsor on the balloon. And this is a very good business because it makes a... activity immediately profitable so we did that in Paris in 1999 and in 2008 the balloon was like 10 years old because when you fly you have your the balloon is huge we talk about a 32 meters high balloon we talk about like a 12-story building.Jerome Giacomoni: So everybody knows the balloon in Paris. Everybody can see it. And so, when we fly, we have 400,000 people who immediately see us. So we decided to give citizen aspect. And we start— pour changer le couleur de la balle selon la qualité de l'air. C'était en 2008. Et parce que nous l'avons fait, nous avons des scientifiques... coming to us and say, 'Hey, this balloon is a wonderful platform to measure air quality because you make like a carrot of the air from zero to 150 meters. Jerome Giacomoni:  Can we bring some scientist instrument on the gondola? And we say yes. And then we start to make science. And then we start to make scientific publications, scientific publications. And then we start a new business where the balloon is not only a tethered gas balloon for passenger, it's only... advertising billboard and now it's only a scientific platform and so this is very interesting and the last things we have done in 2024 no this year in 2025 is to use the balloon for global climate change. As you know, we have two main gas pollutants for the climate change, CO2 and CH4. And the balloon is a perfect platform to measure evolution on CO2 and CH4. So we are working with a European group named ICOS. gathering all the best laboratories in Europe, who are making a huge study on how CO2 and CH4 how they are in each city.Jerome Giacomoni: And Paris has been chosen as a pilot city. So we are very glad to work with them. And so now the Balloon is also working on climate change. And we will have big, big, big LED screen. So we make some technology sometime, as you said, to inform people on the temperature elevation in Europe and in the world. And the news are very bad, as everybody knows.Andy Povey: But that's fascinating. I love the integration you've been able to take from this unique proposition and apply it to different markets, different problems.Jerome Giacomoni: You know, Andy, I think we have to exit from the box. My message to... all people who are listening to us.Jerome Giacomoni: Okay, passenger rides is very important. It's a key market for many of us. But sometimes we can use... another way to find new flow of revenue, like advertising, and we can be also helpful to our other citizens, like working freely for scientists to make measurements on pollutants of the air. This helps with both air quality and also climate change.Andy Povey: It's a beautiful concept, Jerome. I love it. Love it.Andy Povey: So, final question. Your experiences are obviously very unique. What advice would you have for a venue and possibly a smaller venue that doesn't have the resources to be able to build something 150 metres high or put something 150 metres into the air? What advice would you give them on how to make a compelling experience for visitors?Jerome Giacomoni: I really believe that you have to stick on your roots, okay? I mean that people want authenticity.Jerome Giacomoni: And as you know, we are very keen on balloons, as you can imagine. So we make in our, you know, Paris, it's in Paris where you have the first flight. Yeah. In 1783. Montgolfier, brothers. Yes, with the Montgolfier brothers, with Charles, the scientist. So we really stick on our roots. And I think where you are in Brittany, where you are in Japan, you have to follow your own road and your own path. By feeling what could be the good idea, but also what is your feeling inside you. You need to have something different that you feel very confident with.Andy Povey: Beautiful final thought, Jerome, I like it a lot. So listeners, stay authentic and be passionate.Jerome Giacomoni: Exactly, the right word is passionate.Paul Marden: Next up, let's get some soundbites from the show floor.Rheanna  Sorby: My name's Rheanna. I'm Marketing and Creative Director for the Seasonal Group. We are curators of Christmas magic all year round. Wow, wow.Paul Marden: So you make Christmas special?Rheanna  Sorby: We're the Christmas elves.Paul Marden: Awesome, awesome. I can see you've got such a great set of stands. What have you got here that you're exhibiting for the first time?Rheanna  Sorby: We have Santa's Enchanted Express, which is a three-minute experience that transports customers and guests from a very festive train station to the North Pole in just under three minutes. So it's quite a Christmas miracle. And it also transports on nine pallets. So it's a great return on investment for customers there if it's 24 people on. We also have our elevator experience, which went viral last year. And then we have VR, animatronics, and a lot of our famous items, like the snowman here, just dressed as a little, it's some sort of operator.Paul Marden: Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. So we don't have a lot of luck with lifts at the moment because the team got stuck in a lift yesterday for about 45 minutes. Stop it. We got rescued by the... Well, I didn't get in the lift. I walked because there wasn't enough room. But two of them had to be rescued by the fire brigadeRheanna  Sorby: Okay, so this might be triggering. Well, you know.Paul Marden: Oh, no, I found it hilarious.Paul Marden: I was hugely supportive on the outside, yelling into them.Paul Marden: But Santa won't let me get stuck in a lift today, will he? Absolutely not.Rheanna  Sorby: No, there's an emergency exit. Excellent.Paul Marden: So what's new and innovative then about the Santa Express? What are you bringing to market?Rheanna  Sorby: So a lot of our clients, we sell business to business. They're struggling to get people into shopping centres and we're finding that we need to create retail theatre. So that is something I see as a massive trend moving forward. People want nostalgia. They want an experience, something memorable. But also our customers need a way to return investment as well. So they hopefully will spend something with us and then ticket the experience. So that's something that we're pivoting our business towards. Trying to create a brand new experience every year. A lot of people are struggling nowadays, cost of living.Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely.Rheanna  Sorby: It's difficult, so we're trying to find a way that brings the Christmas magic to people's doors.Paul Marden: We are, where are we at the moment? We're in September, so we've still got a couple of months left before Christmas 2025, but that must be over for you.Rheanna  Sorby: No, the quality of the street is on the shelves. It's already happening. The install season starts literally on Monday for us. Really? Yes. When we get back, we land and then we start installing.Paul Marden: And so this is the busy time. So let's talk about Christmas 2026. What are the trends that you see coming along at that point?Rheanna  Sorby: Whimsical, whimsical. So we've got Wicked number two coming out. And we've also had all like the Whoville, that sort of style, the Grinch. So imagine pastels, furry trees, things that don't quite make sense, a lot of whimsical wonderland, I would say, trend-wise. But equally immersive experiences and how we can bring magic to you.Paul Marden: Wonderful, wonderful. Thank you ever so much. Rheanna, it's been lovely to meet you. Thank you for coming on the podcast. And let's go and visit Santa in his lift, shall we? Yeah, excellent.Paul Marden: And here it is. So we are surrounded by suites in an old-fashioned lift. And there's our doors closed.Paul Marden: Oh, how amazing is this? We're going up.Paul Marden: Ice like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Great Glass Elevator. This is amazing. We're up over the clouds. Just stunning. There's a train there. I think we're going to follow into the tunnel after the train. Yes.Paul Marden: Got cold, now we're underground. Now we're in the tunnel.Paul Marden: And I think this might be Santa's factory.Paul Marden: Let's get ready.Paul Marden: Merry Christmas. The big man's chair as well. Can I take a seat in the big man's chair? Ho, ho, ho.Sohret Pakis: Hi, Paul. My name is Shorhet Pakis. I'm the brand ambassador for Polin Waterparks.Paul Marden: What are you launching this year at IAAPA? What's new for you?Sohret Pakis:Last year, we have won two big awards for a themed water slide, which is... Stingray it was in Nantes in France and it was something big because you know it was like Europeans best water slide number one and I have a brass ring award winner about two million number one but last night in Porta Ventura Stingray has won the second time best water slide of Europe award. But we have something new about it. Last year when I was telling about Stingray, it was an eight-person slide. This year we have something new. Now the capacity went up to 10, especially when we're talking about all these queue management issues. So that's something wonderful. And also, you ask, what is new? This year, we have something very exciting. A parrot-themed stingray. It's the same slide, but it's parrot-themed.Sohret Pakis: It's coming to Dubai by January. It's going to be open.Paul Marden: So can I ask you, what makes that innovative? What's new about that?Sohret Pakis: Actually, it's a very specifically themed waterslide. You know that POLIN has been pioneer in RTM manufacturing and U-texture. It's kind of a composite material technology which we can make waterslides look.  Look like a character, actually. We are the company who did this first because we said that storytelling is very important. Yes, but you know, slides are just slides. So we just wanted the slides look like the characters in that story. Of course, behind that, there is huge material technology, composites technology, design technologies. Actually, that's the time when we introduced King Cobra years ago. And now with Stingray, we took it much further. So actually, the team looks perfectly like a Stingray, but at the same time, it's a water slide with so many features. It has two big towers and between the towers, there's a bridge. From each tower, two slides start with a very special mist roofing and very special bridge where you can just see what's happening all over the slide.Paul Marden: So the queuing experience is enriched so it doesn't feel quite so long and boring because you can watch what everyone is doing.Sohret Pakis: It is, yes.Paul Marden: Super impressive. So we have been asking everybody to think about what are their predictions for 2026?Sohret Pakis: Everybody is talking about AI. Everybody is talking about immersive. So AI, of course, will make a huge difference in operation, especially.Paul Marden: In what way?Sohret Pakis: Actually, in guest satisfaction, because personalisation is very important in our industry. Whoever comes to the park, they are the heroes at the park. And so actually, if the park can make them feel that they are the heroes, truly— if that's their birthday, if that's their wedding anniversary, so whatever. If the park can make you feel that you're special, and thanks to technology, now it's possible.Paul Marden: Absolutely. That's so interesting. Thank you so much for your insights and for joining us on Skip the Queue. Thank you.Thomas Collin: I'm Thomas, I'm from VEX Solutions, so we are a VR company at the start, and now we're going to the arcade with mixed reality as well. Okay, so that's a nice link. What are you launching here at IAFA? So here for the first time we are introducing VEX Party Dash. The Party Dash is a mixed reality arcade machine. So automated, people can go on it, play on it. You have two huge screens that are really highly interactive. You can walk on the screen, you can touch the screen. The goal is really to make you moving. So that's what we want to do with the Dash.Paul Marden: That's amazing, isn't it? So we're watching people at the moment. You can see lights up on the floor that they're stepping on and on the wall.Thomas Collin: What is really the key aspect of this product is that it's highly attractive. People, they just go around, they stop by it, they want to try it. Actually, we can say, 'Hey, come and try it,' because we watch you, we see you. So we can say, 'Hey, come and try it.' And people stop by, they play it. It's highly immersive, but also highly active. Yes. You're just not standing on an arcade, sitting down. No, you're really moving around. So, this is really good for kids and families. Absolutely. That's what we see.Paul Marden: So, where do you see this being used? What sort of attractions will take this?Thomas Collin: Actually, with this product, it can go either in the attraction side or either at the arcade side. So, you can play it as one game, and you can play a three-minute game like an arcade, or you can actually book for 15 minutes. Since there is not a single game, but multiple games, you can play different games, you can play different levels inside the main gate. So you have a high replayability. Because we want you to come back, we want to attract the gamers, and then make them come back.Paul Marden: 15 minutes with this much activity sounds like quite a tall order. It's a workout.Thomas Collin: It's a workout. It's a workout. Yeah, yeah, yeah.Peter Cliff: Hi, my name is Pete Cliff. I'm from Conductr. We're here in Barcelona and it's so exciting to be back at IAAPA. Now, what we're super excited about this year is talking about our collaboration with Norwegian Cruise Lines on Great Stirrup Cay. It's their new water park. It's a great project. We're excited to talk to people about it. It's also lovely to be back in Barcelona. It's been, I think, about six years since we were last back here, and it's always one of my favourite European cities for IAPA. It's great to meet with people from the industry, reconnect with old colleagues and friends, and really see what's happening. There's a huge amount of innovation and special projects that are launching all over the show floor. So yeah, great to be back, and can't wait to see what the future of the themed entertainment industry has to offer.Laura Baxter: My name is Laura Baxter. You may know me as the girl with the purple jumpsuit on LinkedIn. I am the head of marketing for Black Gang Shine, but have most recently just announced that I've gone into freelancing and I've launched your CMO.Paul Marden: And I have to say, the jumpsuits work because I was about 50 metres behind you earlier on and I spotted the Your CMO logo on the back of the jumpsuit, so well done for that. We've talked to a lot of suppliers with stands that are exhibiting. From your perspective, this is your first time stepping over to the dark side and coming to an IAPA. What's the experience like for you? What are you here to get out of the show?Laura Baxter: I'd say it's twofold. Mainly it is for networking. Obviously anybody who's anyone in the industry is here. But also, it's inspiration because I want to be able to talk about new and exciting stuff with... Potential clients that I may have and ideas still for Black Gang as well. So, when you walk around show floor, which is just so vibrant and there's so much going on everywhere—you turn, you can draw inspiration from so many of the suppliers here.Paul Marden: What have you seen that's innovative?Laura Baxter: There's a huge amount of stuff being done with tech and it's very interesting because I think that's where a lot of people are going to think that they need to go, because that's the way of the world now, and the next generation don't know life off of a screen and they're expecting to have these incredible digital experiences.Laura Baxter: I'm not convinced that is the way to go. But yes, it's still impressive tech. So for me, there are things that I stand back out and look at and I'm like, 'Whoa, that's really, really cool.'Laura Baxter: I'm not so sure it's potentially what consumers want, though, controversially.Paul Marden: It's really hard, isn't it? Because as a parent of young kids, you want them off the tech as much as you possibly can. But you need a hook. To be able to attract them, don't you? So there's been some amazing stuff here that bridges that gap between the real world and the tech world. So, summer season 2025 is over. What are your predictions about summer 26 and what operators should be thinking about right now?Laura Baxter: It's a really tough market, we all know that. Budgets are tight for households, so there is an awful lot more thought going into their spending and what they're doing and where they're choosing to take that little bit of disposable money that they do have. Therefore actually I don't think next year operators should be thinking about huge innovations or new attractions. I think they need to strip back to basics and nail their customer service. I think guest expectations now are so high. because they're parting with money that is a little bit more precious to them than perhaps if they don't leave at the end of that day having had a good experience they feel ripped off they're going to go straight to review platforms they're going to let it all out and actually you need to be focusing on making sure that every single touch point with that customer is bang on and we're talking pre-visit as well from the your website journey to buying it to the follow-up emails to the pre-visit emails to that first person they meet on front of house to the ride operators to the events team if you have that kind of entertainment on park if you are not nailing your experienceLaura Baxter: You are going to lose out well.Paul Marden: I think we should end it right there. That there is a nugget of gold.Paul Marden: So I am here with co-host Andy Povey and our good friend Josh Haywood from Crealy down in Devon.Josh Haywood: Hello.Paul Marden: It's the end of day two. What have you seen, Josh? What's blown your socks off?Josh Haywood: Good couple of days so far. We're probably into 40,000 steps, which is great. I think technology is the thing that struck me this week so far. Just the small changes that some of the operators and some of the manufacturers are putting into their existing kits. So, for example, I attended a seminar this morning about bowling. and normally temping bowling is temping bowling. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But now there's augmented reality, and they've got features on the lanes, and it's not about just taking all the pins down, it's taking pin one and six out, and all those things they're trying to do to reinvent older, more traditional attractions, which I think I find really interesting. Yeah. I think some of the seasonality stuff, the Christmas and Halloween stuff has been really good. We sat on a train and went on a journey and the seats rumbled and the sound and the visual effects, they were great.Paul Marden: I saw that. There was no room for me to go and sit on that train. It was amazing.Josh Haywood: I thought that was really good. And, you know, I've been really impressed with generally the show. I think you can get around it all as well. It feels really friendly. I think the sun shining always helps as well. It's not too tough, is it?Paul Marden: I mean, the last time we were in Barcelona, we were all wearing face masks. Absolutely, yes. So it's really refreshing to be back here. And not have that.Josh Haywood: Absolutely. And not have to queue to get in as well. I think that was interesting on the first day.Paul Marden: Oh, did they see you and then just wave you through?Josh Haywood: Red carpet was up for, of course, award-winning theme park and resort. Paul Marden: Mr. Hayward. Did you say award? Winnie and obviously you're on the back of your two awards in the theme park awards last week. How was that? And then we've got some really exciting news from Creeley.Josh Haywood: I saw it at the press this morning. Yes, so a couple of things happened last week. So first of all, we had our anniversary 25 years of Maximus the Coaster. The Vekoma Coaster, 25 years. The first coaster in Devon. It was Devon's first coaster, over half a million riders later. It's done 2 million miles around the track. It's great. So we did a sort of event for that, and we used it to sort of make some announcements about future attractions, which I'll tell you about in a minute. But then we went to the Theme Park Awards last week at Wickste Park, where... We've been the recipients of a few bronze and silvers, and we go being little old us and hope for the best. And then the award I really wanted to win was one of two: the best for families and the best for value. And when the family award came up, they said, 'In bronze is such and such, in silver.' And I was like, 'Well, there you go.' That's all that's left for another year. And then when they said the win at gold was cruelly for best for families, we were delighted. I got a bit emotional about it. I think we would just work so hard over the years to be the best in the Southwest, certainly. And certainly since we put Sootyland in as well. We won the award for Toddlers.Josh Haywood: So it was a double wham. And within 10 minutes as well. It wasn't separated. Within 10 minutes, I just got my breath back from the first one. And then we were up on stage again taking that second award. Oh, it's tough, isn't it? Which was great, yeah. Multi-award winning. Multi-award winning theme parking resort. Devon's finest. Most right in Devon. We're just going to... absolutely bleep the hell out of this for the next 12 months because who knows we may not win it again so we'll just shout from the treetops about this and then we also won thanks to martin rose and rose events uh silver for best entertainment event for the city show It's still very popular, the legacy brand. People love the Sooty show. And as I said at the awards, we sell loads of those puppets. People love a Sooty and a Sweep. So it's been a really good collaboration for us.Paul Marden: We were at our first away day for our Merak team back a few months ago down at Creeley, and I found a little sooty puppet underneath the lectern. I was absolutely chuffed to bits. And there he was, just sitting at the front of the away day, watching everything going on with Sue next to him.Josh Haywood: He's still popular. We understood when we put Cityland in, it wasn't going to be Peppa Pig. world and we didn't think for a minute we'd even sort of get to those heights of Thomas Land at Drayton Manor but it certainly hit a chord with the older market certainly the nannies and the granddads who remember such from when they were kids and you know it's a legacy brand and it works but what we have done really well is sort of corner that market for younger children and toddlers and we Sort of took some comments over the last 12 to 18 months that we may be missing the mark when it comes to the 8 to 12-year-olds, which we were pretty good at five or six years ago. So we've decided this year that we're going to invest in some thrill attractions. So we've just launched news that we've got two new rides going in next year. One, I can't tell you exactly because we're still going under. Got some planning issues, but we're going to have the Southwest tallest ride and the Southwest first inverted ride. So a multi-million pound investment going in and hopefully that will give us another boost that we need to kick on again. We've still got new accommodation going in. We'll still be doing new events and shows for next year.Josh Haywood: So it's going to be a bumper year for Crealy. Absolutely.  I really look forward to that.Paul Marden: I look forward to you being on the launch ride.Paul Marden: Me down on the ground watching and videoing.Josh Haywood: What they have said, which is really interesting, we spoke to an operator, there's only one other ride like it in the UK, and that operator said, whatever you do, make sure when you put the ride in, you fit a hose pipe and a tap right in. Because you may be washing the seats down more than you would usually on your current ride. So, yeah, it certainly will add that next level of ride experience to our family market.Paul Marden: Yeah, I think that's super important, isn't it? Mr. Povey, what have you seen today that has blown your socks off?Andy Povey: I'm really looking for the place to go and get some more soft, comfortable socks. I've walked so much. I've stood around and listened to so many fantastic talks, had so many brilliant conversations. I'm done. My feet hurt. I need to sit down and have a beer.Paul Marden: Well, I hate to break it to you, but there's another day left. And there's still more interviews to do. Still more opportunities for us to get some interesting stories on Skip the Queue.Andy Povey: Look forward to that.Paul Marden: Gentlemen, I think we're about done. So thank you ever so much. It has been a joy. And Mr. Povey, see you back here tomorrow. Josh, wonderful as always.Josh Haywood: Maybe see you at OrlandoPaul Marden: Oh. Absolutely, yeah.Josh Haywood: We'll do it againPaul Marden: Thanks for listening to today's episode. If you liked it, leave a comment in Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you didn't, let us know on hello@skipthequeue.fm. Today's episode was a team effort for Sami and Emily from Plaster, Steve from Folland Co., as well as Claire and Wenalyn from Skip the Queue HQ. We're back again tomorrow for more fun from IAAPA, including Andreas Andersen from Liseberg, one of Scandinavia's most visited parks. See you all tomorrow. The 2025 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsTake the Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

The sisters sat down with Abby Hamilton at AmericanaFest to talk about her previous album, "The #1 Zookeeper (of the San Diego Zoo)," her AmericanaFest experience, and what's coming next! If you've spent any time exploring Kentucky's booming music scene, chances are you've heard somebody say, “You've really got to hear Abby Hamilton.” Her latest single, “Midnight Call” was released in August 2025 and follows an acclaimed debut album, #1 Zookeeper (of the San Diego Zoo), released in 2023 via Blue Gown Records—a new imprint run by WhizzBangBAM's Ian Thornton (Tyler Childers) in partnership with Virgin Music. The album was produced by Justin Craig and Duane Lundy and further establishes Hamilton as one of music's most intriguing new voices. Of the record, American Songwriter praises, “infectious…introducing the acclaimed songsmith's captivating blend of folk and indie rock,” while Holler declares, “one of the most refreshingly out of step voices in country music has made one of the year's most genuinely brilliant and beautiful records” and Wide Open Country proclaims, “channels a universal relatability that will aid anyone's journey of self-discovery and healing”.  With influences ranging from the classic country divas to Bruce Springsteen, she wins over audiences with her clever lyrics and entrancing vocals. The born-and-raised in Nicholasville, KY singer-songwriter has garnered a reputation as a can't-miss live performer, opening for acts like Tyler Childers, Wynonna Judd, Deer Tick, Shakey Graves, Kelsey Waldon, Futurebirds, Blackberry Smoke, The Mountain Goats and Justin Wells. She has also performed at several major festivals includingg Bonnaroo, Americanafest, Railbird and Luck Reunion and made her television debut performing on CBS Mornings' “Saturday Sessions.”  Be sure to check out Abby here: IG: Abbyehamilton FB: Abby Hamilton TikTok: Abbyehamilton  

Today, the Safari heads out to Escondido, CA, to the world famous San Diego Zoo Safari Park. I sit down with Marco, one of the two ambassadors of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. We talk about his unique path to his career, how a background in training led to an office job that usually keeps him out of the office, why birds are his first love, and so much more! EPISODE LINKS: @zoologymarco on socials @sandiegozoo on socials @sdzsafaripark on socials sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org ROSSIFARI LINKS: @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok Rossifari.com patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod

The San Diego City Council voted to clear the way for paid parking at the San Diego Zoo. Then, a recent study found that over half of young adults look to online community groups for their local news –we breakdown why. Next, a state program that offers college kids scholarship money. Finally, we share what to expect at Politifest 2026.

The next phase of construction is beginning at San Diego International Airport, as the connecting road between terminal one and terminal two will be closed. Chula Vista has adopted new rules barring children aged 12 and under from ride e-bikes within city limits. Today, San Diego city leaders will look to push forward with new fees at the San Diego Zoo's parking lot.   What You Need To Know To Start Your Monday. 

The Southbound I-5 between SR-52 and Mission Bay Drive is closed until tomorrow morning at 5:00 A.M. as crews install new concrete slabs, improve drainage and restore old culverts. Tomorrow, Airport officials are closing the road connecting terminal 1 and 2. The San Diego City Council could take a big step towards charging to park at the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park.   What You Need To Know To Start Your Sunday. 

Dateline: September 5, 2025. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   We start off talking about the vacation I'm currently on, and my glorious plan to not work during it.  And then you'll find out why that didn't work. We then move on to our births for the week, featuring new panda cubs at Buffalo Zoo and Roger Williams Park Zoo, a baby okapi at the San Diego Zoo, plus additional births at Chester Zoo, St. Louis Zoo, Lincoln Children's Zoo, Kansas City Zoo, Central Florida Zoo, and more!We then say goodbye to animals at Sedgwick County Zoo, Potter Park Zoo, and Oklahoma City Zoo. We have additional Zoo News stories from Oregon Zoo and others. Conservation News stories include CCF helping baby cheetahs, a delay on a major Trump Administration attempt to strip protections from marine areas, and more.And in Other News, we talk about the reclassification of giraffes and a song that repeals mosquitoes!ROSSIFARI LINKS: patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod rossifari.com @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok 

San Diego police homicide detectives are investigating a deadly shooting in the Miramar area. Plans to add paid parking at the San Diego Zoo are expected to move forward because of paid parking plans in Balboa Park. $1.7 Billion is up for grabs in the Powerball jackpot, after nobody won Wednesday's drawing.

A complaint against SDPD Chief Scott Wahl has been filed with the State Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST. Then, a county supervisor is calling for major changes to be made regarding detention facilities in the county. Next, a draft update to the Clairemont Community Plan will now see the neighborhood rezoned, we will bring you those details. Finally, a tribute to the animals that recently died at the San Diego Zoo.

Dateline: August 22, 2025. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   We start off talking about the reaction to my mini Miso tribute episode. Still lots of thoughts to share. We then move on to our births for the week, featuring a global influx of red panda births including cubs at Manor Wildlife Park and Fota Wildlife Park. We also have non-panda births at the Denver Zoo, Jacksonville Zoo, Southwick's Zoo, and the Philadelphia Zoo.We then say goodbye to four animals that had a huge impact on me, including ones at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Henry Doorley Zoo, and the Georgia Aquarium. We also say goodbye to three animals at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, and to a red panda at Hogle Zoo. We have additional Zoo News stories from the Smithsonian, Edinburgh Zoo, Roger Williams Park Zoo, Akron Zoo, and Maryland Zoo. Conservation News stories include info about wind turbines, a mass die off of monarch butterflies, what is being done to save leopard sharks, and more.And in Other News, we talk about whether you should pick up rattlesnakes or not. Spoiler alert: you shouldn't.ROSSIFARI LINKS: patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod rossifari.com @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok 

This week on Livin' in San Diego, Chris kicks things off with a good old-fashioned rant—soccer parents, ants, and why the ump cam just needs to stop.We get into New, To Do, and Adieu

This week we deep dive into the life of Orangutan Ken Allen, the San Diego Zoo's most infamous escape artist and how the drawings of young boy named Onfim gave art historians insight into what life was like for a child in medieval Russia. A listener voice memo explains the origins of Batman and Robin.SUMMER 2025 T-Shirt Drop: Ken Allen has had Kenough!https://www.bonfire.com/500-open-tabs-ken-allen/I'm Me and It's This Game's Fault - Full SDCC Panelhttps://youtu.be/MVjXA_NGnVUEpisode Tabs:Fear of the Animal Planet: The Hidden History of Animal Resistancehttps://www.akpress.org/fear-of-the-animal-planet-e-book.htmlOnfim Wuz Here: On the Unlikely Art of a Medieval Russian Boyhttps://lithub.com/onfim-wuz-here-on-the-unlikely-art-of-a-medieval-russian-boy/Listener Tabs:Comic Books, Dr. Wertham, and the Villains of Forensic Psychiatryhttps://jaapl.org/content/early/2020/10/06/JAAPL.200041-20The trashiest enigma: Alex Jordan and the House on the Rockhttps://thetangential.com/2014/11/30/the-trashiest-enigma-alex-jordan-and-the-house-on-the-rock/Email your closed tab submissions to: 500opentabs@gmail.comSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7aSUPPORT THE SHOW by adding theTab For a Cause extension: tabforanimals.org/opentabs and help end suffering for animals trapped on factory farms today!Get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A suspected drunk driver in a fatal hit-and-run was found and arrested after El Cajon police say he struck a man who was pushing a shopping cart early Sunday morning near the intersection of Chase and Avocado avenues. An unbelievable sight over the weekend on our local freeway  when a small plane crashed into the center divide on the south bound 805 near Carrol Canyon Road in the Sorrento Valley area. A male polar bear at the San Diego Zoo has died at age 24, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.   What You Need To Know To Start Your Monday. 

Video-sharing website, YouTube, began 20 years ago with a 19 second video of one of its founders at the San Diego Zoo. Now, hundreds of hours of content are uploaded to the platform every single minute. There has been a huge shift globally to reign in the social media giants -the UK has introduced age verifications requirements, with Australia to follow suit by the end of the year. Other countries like India, Germany, Spain, Italy and Norway are also investigating exactly how to better protect kids online. So, should algorithms like YouTube's be regulated? And how would we even do it? Today on The Front Page, Victoria University of Wellington Associate Professor Dr Peter Thompson is with us to discuss what New Zealand should do – and whether we're already fighting a losing battle against harmful online content. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ari and Chris continue their journey of collecting more amazing people from around the professional animal care world to add to the "NEEU" (Natural Encounters Expanded Universe), and are pleased to be joined by Jessica Sheftel, Applied Wildlife Welfare Manager at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance! Jessica shares her path from collecting behavior data at Zoo Atlanta to her current role overseeing a welfare program, gives us a peak into being on a team at the forefront of the shift from an input- to an outcome-based system of welfare tracking and assessments, emphasizes the importance of having Deciders and Advisors in effective animal care programs, the vital role of mutual respect between leadership and frontline care staff so that mistrust doesn't turn into misalignment, and the importance of always keeping an open mind. If you have a shout-out you'd like us to share, a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!References from the episode: Enrichment Is Simple, That's the Problem: Using Outcome-Based Husbandry to Shift from Enrichment to Experience - Greg A Vicino, Jessica J Sheftel, Louisa M RadosevichContact Jessica: jsheftel@sdzwa.org

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is a Lucky Day pick called West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. It's based-on-a-true-story historical fiction, which is right up her alley, and maybe yours too. Mentioned: The audiobook version, the history of the San Diego Zoo (toward which the giraffes of the title are traveling).​Terri's random recommendation is an audiobook enhanced by its narrator's performance: Life's Work by TV creator David Milch (of John from Cincinnati, NYPD Blue, Deadwood, and others), narrated by Michael Harney. Mentioned: Butler by Salena Zito, audiobooks narrated by Simon Jones of The Gilded Age.​In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019 on iffy etiquette.Next week's lineup: Lost S3 E9, "Stranger in a Strange Land," on Tuesday, July 29The Gilded Age S3 E1, "What the Papers Say," on Wednesday, July 30Weekly roundup on Thursday, July 31Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.

Katie Heineman works with the San Diego Zoo and is a Program officer with IUCN Species Survival Commission Center. We'll talk about the fascinating "Frozen Zoo".

Dateline: July 4, 2025. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   We start off with a quick catch up on me. Then it's time for our headline story featuring an update on the San Francisco Zoo leadership situation.We then move on to our births for the week, featuring animals from the Akron Zoo, San Diego Zoo, Zoo Miami, Topeka Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Oklahoma City Zoo, and more! We then say goodbye to animals from Buttonwood Park Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo, Kansas City Zoo, and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.We have additional Zoo News stories from SAFE Red Panda, Seneca Park Zoo, the Lake Superior Zoo, the Smithsonian Zoo, Melbourne Zoo, Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, and more! Conservation News stories include seal population decreases, the end of red panda wakeup calls, sea otter conservation, the return of beavers, and the world's largest Marine Protected Area.And in Other News, it's a cute adoption story! ROSSIFARI LINKS: patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod rossifari.com @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok 

What if your childhood love for roller coasters could lead you to build a national empire of amusement parks? If you're leading a business—or dreaming of scaling one—you'll want to hear how John Dunlap, CEO of Five Star Parks & Attractions, turned a hospitality background and a Six Sigma mindset into a high-growth, family-focused entertainment powerhouse. In a post-COVID world with rising labor costs and shifting consumer demands, John shares real-world strategies for thriving in a category many thought was on the decline. Here's what you'll get from this episode: A playbook for balancing operational excellence with guest experience, including how Six Sigma translates to human-centered businesses. The secrets behind scaling through acquisition and development, especially in a fragmented market ripe for consolidation. How to compete with big-name parks by delivering affordable, high-value local experiences that build loyalty (and beat the weather). Hit play now to learn how John turned a childhood game into a national strategy—and how you can apply the same principles to scale your own business with purpose. Check out: [09:32] – From Starwood to San Diego Zoo: The Unlikely Career Pivot John shares how a Six Sigma background in hospitality led him to a surprising call from the San Diego Zoo—and how that jump-started his journey into the world of theme parks and cultural attractions. [26:47] – Solving Seasonality: Why Indoor Parks Became a Strategic Hedge Discover how John and his team countered brutal off-seasons by acquiring massive indoor entertainment centers—and what that did for cash flow, customer base, and geographic reach. [52:10] – Wristbands, VIP Packages, and the Art of Bundling for Value John breaks down their evolving pricing strategy, including how “best value” and “best experience” bundles are designed to fight inflation, increase revenue, and give families more reason to return. About John Dunlap John Dunlap is the CEO of Five Star Parks & Attractions, a rapidly expanding family entertainment company. Since taking on the role in January 2022, he has led the company's growth from three locations to 27 across 13 states. With a background in amusement and hospitality leadership, John has held executive positions at SeaWorld & Sesame Place in California, Iconic Attractions Group, and the San Diego Zoo. He holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, along with executive certifications from Cornell University. Based in Charlotte, NC, John is passionate about creating memorable guest experiences and fostering a culture of innovation in the industry.

Federal immigration agents are trying to hit their quotas of people to arrest and deport and it’s causing some distressing scenes across California. On the eve of big protests, where are we headed? We’ll grapple with it. For the first time in more than 100 years, owners of single family homes in the city of San Diego will have to pay for trash pickup. It almost didn’t happen. We’ll go through the tense meeting. And with that, the city balanced its budget, sort of. The Council wants to take some big risks. Show Notes: The Learning Curve: ICE Arrest in Oceanside Highlights Impact of Immigration CrackdownJob Corps Trump’s Cuts Thrust San Diego Students into Chaos and HomelessnessWhen President Donald Trump’s administration abruptly announced the shuttering of the more than 60-year-old Job Corps program at the end of May, many students who live at the San Diego site didn’t have a place to go. It’s only gotten more chaotic. San Diego City Council Avoids a Whole Lotta Budget Cuts, for Now The city’s budget for the year that begins in July is balanced – at least for now – with the help of assumptions the city will more swiftly pursue paid parking at Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo, move forward with digital billboard ads, charge fees on credit card transactions at parking meters and cut about a dozen additional positions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dateline: June 6, 2025. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   We start off with a quick catch up on meeeeeeee!Our headline story this week features multiple stories about Pride, Pride events at zoos, a zoo that is admitting they need to do better, and how you can help zoos become more inclusive and welcoming spaces for all! We then move on to our births for the week, featuring animals from the Smithsonian's National Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Jacksonville Zoo, Altina Wildlife Park, the Fort Worth Zoo, and Zoo Knoxville. We then say goodbye to animals from Werribee Open Range Zoo, the Denver Zoo, Turtleback Zoo, and the Indianapolis Zoo.We have additional Zoo News stories from the Erie Zoo, San Antonio Zoo, Denver Zoo, the San Diego Zoo, and the San Francisco Zoo. And we start with a look at how Bad Bunny and Brookfield Zoo are partnering together to save toads. Conservation News stories include lynx in Scotland, a fauna escape hatch, two rediscoveries, and the reintroduction of gorillas! And in Other News, we talk about a pet zebra on the loose and how the bird flu may outlive us all.ROSSIFARI LINKS: patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod rossifari.com @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok 

With Nicole off on a well-earned vacation, Rich is joined by his longtime radio pal Niko for a dad-filled takeover of the pod. The two kick things off reminiscing about becoming dads around the same time, how their crew first came together, and the wild ride from those early days to now. They dive into their joint Memorial Day weekend adventure, featuring a whirlwind trip to Legoland and the San Diego Zoo with the families, where carnival games stole their wallets, animals got unexpectedly scandalous, and what their kids declared “fancy”. Niko also shares a bizarre tangent into “conception photography” (you've been warned), and the guys commiserate over the looming question every parent is asking right now: what the heck are we doing with these kids all summer? From the idea of sleepaway camps to letting the kids make their own summer bucket lists, the panic is real, but at least they're in it together. We want to hear from you! Got ridiculous summer plans, wild zoo stories, or a bucket list made entirely of snacks? Hit us up on Instagram @HaveKidsTheySaidPod or leave us a voice note—we might feature it in next week's show! Have Kids, They Said... is a SiriusXM Network Podcast made by Nicole Ryan and Rich Davis.If you'd like to send us a message or ask a question email us at HKTSpod@gmail.comFollow on social media:Instagram @havekidstheysaidpodNicole @mashupnicoleRich @richdavisand @siriusxm

Highlights include the birth of the first Aardvark calf at San Diego Zoo, the opening of the world's first scalable vertical strawberry farm, and groundbreaking AI technology for detecting high blood pressure via voice recordings. The episode also features a record-breaking lawnmower walk by David Rush and the rescue of a rare blue lobster, now named Bandit. Johnny concludes with his personal strawberry success story and a reminder not to balance lawnmowers on one's chin.Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app which seays UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed!  You also get 20+ other shows on the network ad-free!   

Dateline: May 9, 2025. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   We start off with our usual introduction, talking a bit about me. We then move on to our births for the week, featuring animals from Zoo Duisburg, the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, Abilene Zoo, the Bronx Zoo, Aquarium of Niagara, and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo! We say goodbye to beloved animals at Zoo Boise, the Toledo Zoo, Utica Zoo, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and the Oregon Zoo.The rest of our Zoo News stories feature items from Mote Marine Lab, Zoos Victoria, Brevard Zoo, the St. Louis Zoo, the Cincinnati Zoo, and the reveal of the latest SAFE Program! Then in Conservation News we have multiple rediscoveries, multiple stories focused on how new technologies are helping save species, and a discussion about the video game Fortnite!In Other News, we talk about a guy who got bit by a lot of snakes and more! ROSSIFARI LINKS: patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod rossifari.com @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok 

Andrew Dannenberger, Senior Regional Sales Manager for Ferti-lome and horticulture expert with over 35 years of experience, joins us to talk herbicides. From his work at the San Diego Zoo to helping growers nationwide, Andrew shares valuable insight into responsible weed management.We discuss what herbicides do, how to use them safely, and the difference between selective and non-selective types. He also explains common mistakes and how to avoid them so you can protect your plants while staying ahead of the weeds.Whether you care for a lawn, vegetable garden, or wildflowers, this episode will help you make smarter choices for your landscape.Join our gardening podcast and radio show Garden America LIVE every Saturday from 8-10 AM Pacific Time on Facebook. Tune in to ask questions, converse with fellow gardeners, or just enjoy the show.Listen to all of our gardening podcasts here: https://www.gardeningpodcasts.comWEBSITE: https://www.gardenamerica.com/FACEBOOK:   / gardenamericashow  INSTAGRAM:   / gardenamericaradioshow  TWITTER:   / gardenliferadio  TIKTOK:   / gardenamerica  Garden America goes beyond basic gardening advice, diving into the science and culture that create truly rewarding growing experiences. Have gardening questions? Reach out to us or tune in daily for practical tips, innovative breakthroughs, and reliable product recommendations from our expert gardening team.Discover the ultimate gardening experience with Garden America. Stay updated on current trends, explore must-have tools and accessories, and find one-of-a-kind plants that will transform your garden into something extraordinary.Gardening Website Design by https://redideostudio.com/website-des...

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss how just a few weeks ago YouTube celebrated its 20th anniversary. Few could have imagined that a 19-second video of a man looking at elephants at the San Diego Zoo could have led to the creation of a global media powerhouse. With 20 billion videos having been uploaded to date, we thought it was fitting to discuss the countless ways that YouTube has revolutionized media and our culture. Episode Links In today's episode, Dr. White shared a ton of facts and figures on YouTube related to its history, its growth and where it's headed in the future. Here are a collection of articles and blogs that we'd encourage you to take a look at if you're interested in learning more or finding any stats that were shared today: Wendy Lee, “YouTube turns 20 years old. How it changed TV as we know it,” Los Angeles Times. Todd Spangler, “YouTube Says It Now Hosts More Than 20 Billion Videos, Unveils New Features and Easter Eggs in 20th Birthday Celebration,” Variety. Dade Hayes, “YouTube's Revenue Will Top Disney's This Year As It Becomes “The Home For All Things Video”, Analyst Says,” Deadline. James Hardy, “Who Invented YouTube: The Visionaries Behind the Digital Revolution,” History Cooperative. Viraj Mahesh, “20 ways we're celebrating two decades of YouTube,” YouTube Official Blog. “YouTube” 1440. If you're interested in checking out YouTube's first video ever posted, you can click HERE to watch “Me at the Zoo.” And you can click HERE to check out the most-viewed videos of all time on YouTube. And then Dr. White mentioned a recent news article discussing just how much people increasingly trust their peers and the type of content that they release on social media today. You can read “Gen Z increasingly listens to peers over doctors for health advice” found in Axios HERE. Finally, Dr. White turned the conversation to the takeaways for the church, and how we need to meet people where they are at in order to share the message of Jesus with them. He wrote about this in depth in his book, Hybrid Church, which you can order from Amazon HERE. The primary way to meet people where they are in today's culture is through YouTube. If you are interested, here are some of the channels tied to Mecklenburg Community Church that he mentioned in the conversation today, including the link to the Church & Culture Podcast on YouTube if you're interested in checking us out there: Mecklenburg Community Church | @MeckChurch MecKidz Children's Ministry | @MecKidzChurch REALIFE High School Ministry | @REALIFEHSM MAXlife Middle School Ministry | @maxlifemsm7079 Meck Creative | @MeckCreative Church & Culture | @churchandculture For those of you who are new to Church & Culture, we'd love to invite you to subscribe (for free of course) to the twice-weekly Church & Culture blog and check out the Daily Headline News - a collection of headlines from around the globe each weekday. We'd also love to hear from you if there is a topic that you'd like to see discussed on the Church & Culture Podcast in an upcoming episode. You can find the form to submit your questions at the bottom of the podcast page HERE.

Jon starts the show by covering a few news stories you maybe haven't heard yet. Jon then turns his attention to the latest Dem and Rep poll results and why none of it really matters. Jon finds a clip so ridiculous that he has no choice but to break a long-standing promise to listeners.

Annie and Jo are one day away from attending Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter Tour (kicking off in LA on Monday, April 28, 2025), and are coming with concert predictions! Plus, Jo's got a San Diego Zoo review, Annie has a sex dream and they're both dishing on perimenopause and reading into JLo's Instagram stories. ENJOY!Instagram and TikTok - momstomppodcastEmail - thismomstomps@gmail.comVM hotline - 213-640-7494Weekly memo and episode recap (which includes links to all things referenced in the ep) here: https://momstomppodcast.substack.com/

Chaz and AJ spoke to Vincent Cleri of Torrington, who has been dealing with some nightmare neighbors for years. Vincent claims the blight department in town has ignored him, and that he was even arrested for attempting to solve the problem on his own. (0:00)  Theresa Crisci is an expert on stress and anger management, through changing your thought process. Chaz and AJ presented her with a challenge, as each member of the show shared the things that make them upset. (9:40)  Live Nation's Jimmy Koplik was on with Chaz and AJ this morning to talk all things music news, from Alice Cooper to the Rock Hall of Fame inductees, and calls from the Tribe. (26:11)  Can elephants predict earthquakes? Ross MacPhee, an elephant expert, was on the phone with Chaz and AJ this morning to address the viral video of elephants responding to an earthquake at the San Diego Zoo. (50:57) 

The 19 second video features Youtube's cofounder Jawed Karim in front of two elephants at the San Diego Zoo. It is credited as being one of the most important online videos ever created.

In this special crossover episode, Max Trescott, host of the Aviation News Talk podcast, appears as a guest on Dr. Tony Kern's Only Human podcast. The two aviation safety advocates engage in a candid, insightful conversation that bridges their shared backgrounds in aviation, safety culture, and leadership. The episode begins with a segment called “This Week in Safety Land,” spotlighting a tragic helicopter crash involving tourists over the Hudson River. The Director of Operations (DO) at the company involved chose to cease operations pending investigation, only to be overruled and fired by the CEO—prompting FAA intervention. Max and Tony reflect on this as a textbook example of the ongoing conflict between operational production and safety protection, a dynamic familiar in aviation, military, and corporate environments alike. They explore how profit-driven decisions often undermine safety, and how organizations with high-risk operations must prioritize a culture that empowers safety-conscious leadership. Tony shares a story of elephants at the San Diego Zoo sensing an earthquake before it was perceptible to humans—forming a protective circle around the young. Max likens this to the importance of organizational structures that support bottom-up safety communication. Drawing on his early career at Hewlett-Packard, he praises HP's open-door policy that encouraged employees to escalate safety issues when necessary. He stresses that open communication channels are essential, especially in high-risk domains. Max then shares his personal journey from a successful 25-year career at HP to full-time aviation after a layoff. What began as a side hobby teaching flying eventually evolved into a full-time vocation, spurred in part by a deeply personal tragedy: the death of a close friend and five others in a preventable aircraft accident. Max, who arrived on the crash scene within 45 minutes and attended multiple funerals that week, found a new purpose—preventing similar accidents by educating pilots. That experience drove Max to start Aviation News Talk, where he strives to deliver rich, actionable content on general aviation safety. His mission: to save lives by making safety knowledge accessible, engaging, and relevant to every pilot—from student to professional. He explains that his podcast is designed to offer “at least one nugget of value per episode” that listeners can apply immediately. Tony and Max discuss the unglamorous public perception of safety roles—often viewed as dull or punitive. Tony notes that safety officers are often assigned the job after incidents or during grounding periods. Max offers a reframing: don't lead with safety—lead with professionalism. If pilots strive to be excellent in their craft, safety naturally follows. “Do your job well, be curious, be disciplined,” Max says—traits that elevate both personal performance and safety outcomes. They turn to current trends, asking whether aviation is getting less safe. While total accident numbers may be down, Max points out that media coverage is up, and many general aviation (GA) accidents—especially runway excursions involving business jets—suggest continued risks. What matters more than raw numbers, he explains, is the accident rate per 100,000 hours flown, data that lags by over a year. For GA pilots, the accident risk remains significant, especially among newer or less experienced pilots. Looking forward, Max and Tony explore the safety challenges of tomorrow. Max debunks the idea of achieving a static “safe state” and explains that aviation is inherently dynamic—subject to changes in personnel, technology, weather, and processes. He highlights the importance of conducting safety assessments prior to changes in operations, procedures, or equipment. Quoting safety expert Todd Conklin, Max describes accidents as “the unexpected combination of normal aviation variability,” reinforcing the need for ongoing vigilance. Tony adds that while technological innovations—like AI, automation, and real-time training—offer efficiency, they don't guarantee increased safety. Often, humans simply push the margins when given better tools. He uses anti-lock brakes as an analogy: rather than driving more safely, people just drive faster. Similarly, faster, cheaper training methods could reduce experience levels without solving core human performance issues. The conversation closes with Max outlining the timeless characteristics of a great aviator: Judgment – the most critical trait, separating the skilled from the safe. Curiosity – a desire to learn, explore, and seek out knowledge. Discipline and consistency – following procedures and making flights “boring” in the best way. Situational awareness – understanding not just your own position, but what everyone else in the airspace is trying to do. Humility – recognizing that overconfidence kills and that learning never stops. Max emphasizes that aviation teaches life skills: staying humble, seeking excellence, and always being ready to learn. He ends by inviting listeners to consider flight training—not just for fun, but as a profound growth experience. Learning to fly, he says, can change how you see the world and yourself. Tony echoes the sentiment, encouraging listeners to take a discovery flight and explore the possibility. As the episode wraps, both hosts agree: while aviation may be unforgiving, it offers unmatched rewards for those who approach it with professionalism and passion. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1199 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $899Lightspeed Sierra Headset $699 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu Send us your feedback or comments via email If you have a question you'd like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone. News Stories Boeing Sells ForeFlight, Jeppesen and OzRunways Mentioned on the Show Buy Max Trescott's G3000 Book Call 800-247-6553 Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset Giveaway Dr. Tony Kern's Convergent Performance company Only Human with Dr. Tony Kern podcast Dr. Kern's Books Blue Threat: Why to Err Is Inhuman Redefining Airmanship Flight Discipline Going Pro: The Deliberate Practice of Professionalism Darker Shades of Blue: The Rogue Pilot Armored Knight The Ghost of Nathan Hale Dark Wind by Buck Myles (Tony Kern) 13 Bullets: A Blue Walker Action Thriller Series by Buck Myles Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do. Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or Android. Check out Max's Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: https://www.pilotlearning.com/ Social Media Like Aviation News Talk podcast on Facebook Follow Max on Instagram Follow Max on Twitter Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium "Go Around" song used by permission of Ken Dravis; you can buy his music at kendravis.com If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.

An 18-second clip of a young man standing in front of an elephant enclosure at San Diego Zoo in California, describing their “really long trunks” was the first video to be posted onto YouTube in April 2005.It was uploaded by co-founder Jawed Karim, who with friends Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, cooked up the idea for the video-sharing service while working together at PayPal.Twenty years later, it is now available in 100 countries and has almost three billion users around the world.Produced and presented by Reena Stanton-Sharma using archive interviews.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic' and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy's Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they've had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America's occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.(Photo: YouTube web page. Credit: Samantha Sin/AFP via Getty Images)

In this week's episode, Tony and his guest—Max Trescott, host of the Aviation News Talk podcast—discuss prioritizing safety and the tensions between safety and production as seen in the fallout from a fatal Hudson River crash of a New York Helicopter tour on April 10. Following the accident, the Director of Operations prioritized safety by suspending flights, but was immediately fired by the CEO who resumed operations, but the FAA then mandated they stop again. The two also review the situational awareness and security response of elephants at the San Diego Zoo during last week's earthquake, before moving on to discuss the importance of safety amidst the ongoing generational handoff occurring in aviation (and many other industries), and how best to make people care enough to prioritize that often unglamorous but always critical topic. 

On Monday, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake shook Southern California. Surveillance video captured reaction from around the state - but one video in particular went viral: Elephants forming an “alert circle.” Mindy Albright, curator of mammals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, joins us to shares her unique insights into this unique behavior by the family of elephants at the park and the lessons for US during uncertain times. Plus - how you can have a sleepover at the park!  Want More Nonpartisan News?  SUPPORT OUR MISSION   Shop our gear!  If you'd like to help support SmartHER News' mission of a free, independent, nonpartisan press – here's how you can become a SCOOP insider: https://www.scoop.smarthernews.com/get-the-inside-scoop/    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarthernews/  Website: https://smarthernews.com/  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/smarthernews 

Dateline April 18, 2025Rossifari Zoo News is back with a collection of stories that go deeper than usual, but less so than last week! This week we share some personal stories, and then look at three headlines from the field. First, we discuss what an Executive Order signed this week means for animal conservation. Spoiler alert: It's not good. Then we dive into the labor unrest at the San Diego Zoo. And we finish up by taking a look at the negative effect the #AIActionFigure trend had on zoos and aquariums this week, and how some facilities rose above the fray to participate in creative ways.Also, Animal Holidays! ROSSIFARI LINKS: rossifari.com patreon.com/rossifari @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok

Welcome to season 6 Ep: 252 of Hangin with Da Boys Podcast!Thank you for Hangin with Da Boys!In this wildly eclectic episode, we ask the big questions—and the weird ones too. Is the San Diego Zoo really worth the hype (and the price)? What would it take for you to quit working—millions, billions, or just enough to never check Slack again? We also dive into the unpredictable world of stock trading and explore the fascinating (and slightly eerie) reality of companies bringing extinct animals back through cloning. Jurassic Park vibes? Maybe.But we're not just chasing curiosities—we also touch on important issues like Child Abuse Awareness Month, Plus, we uncover whether those elusive “cheap flights” are even real or just internet fairy tales.All that, and more tangents than we planned for. Buckle up.

  Today's Special issue is on San Diego Zoo and Safari Parks Part 2 Today's Mistake-Bodysurfing when the waves are too strong.  Destination: Part 2 of 2 San Diego Zoo and Safari Park San Diego Zoo and Safari Parks is a conservation organization under the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and is a Step 1 or Step 2 destination. The Wildlife Alliance is trying to create A world where all life thrives. They have two front doors. In this episode, we focus on the Safari Park, formerly the Wild Animal Park. https://sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/ https://sdzsafaripark.org/tickets  Connect with Dr Travelbest Drmarytravelbest.com Dr. Mary Travelbest Twitter Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Group Dr. Mary Travelbest Instagram email: info@drmarytravelbest.com Dr. Mary Travelbest Podcast Dr. Travelbest on TikTok Dr.Travelbest onYouTube  

Bob's producer Brendan Thomas talks about the zoo and other issues in San Diego, including the cost of trash pickup!     Click on your podcasting platform below to subscribe to The Bob Siegel Show: Apple  |  Google  | Spotify |  TuneIn  | Blubrry | Deezer | Android  | RSS Feed Subscribe by Email: Click to […]

Send us a textFeeling stuck in your career transition during this economic dumpster fire? You're not alone. In this episode, I'm breaking down five toxic myths that are holding job seekers—especially teachers and mid-career professionals—hostage in a broken system.We'll talk about:Why now is still a good time to pivotHow “overqualified” is code for “we don't know what to do with your brilliance”Alternatives to the traditional 9-to-5The power of the hidden job marketAnd the lie that teaching is “all you can do”This is your reminder that you are not the problem—the system is. So grab a metaphorical trash bag and let's take out the garbage, one mindset shift at a time.

In their reaction to Monday's earthquake, elephants at the San Diego Zoo teach us a thing or two about community and cooperation. Shortly after the Defense Department tried to wipe out his web page, Major League Baseball honors the legendary Jackie Robinson. And L.A.'s Olympic venues are coming into view. The L.A. Local is sponsored by the LA Car Guy family of dealerships.

Lou on all the fuss over the elephants behavior during the earthquake.

Bob's producer Brendan Thomas talks about the zoo and other issues in San Diego, including the cost of trash pickup!     Click on your podcasting platform below to subscribe to The Bob Siegel Show: Apple  |  Google  | Spotify |  TuneIn  | Blubrry | Deezer | Android  | RSS Feed Subscribe by Email: Click to […]

This week, we’re celebrating the show’s 15th anniversary (which was last year, but never mind about that part). Over those 15+ years, we’ve done something north of 3,000 shows. And every one of those shows was intended, more or less, to be about some … thing. Towels or Trump or toast or television or whatever. This hour we do the opposite thing: a show not about a specific something — tapirs. Note: This show features Chion Wolf’s performance of “Let’s Not Talk About Tapirs,” with lyrics by Colin McEnroe and music by Chion Wolf. Also note: We’re idiots. Don’t let the fact that we’re idiots prevent you from finding tapirs as fascinating as we actually do. If you’re able, you might consider supporting the Tapir Specialist Group, which conserves “biological diversity by stimulating, developing, and executing practical programs to study, save, restore, and manage the four species of tapir and their remaining habitats in Central and South America and Southeast Asia.” GUESTS: Carmen Baskauf: Former producer for Where We Live on Connecticut Public Kimberly Hyde: A keeper at the San Diego Zoo; she handles the zoo’s tapirs in its Elephant Odyssey habitat Betsy Kaplan: Senior producer emeritus of The Colin McEnroe Show Jonathan McNicol: The producer of this very episode of The Colin McEnroe Show Carlos Mejia: Former digital producer at Connecticut Public Mike Pesca: Hosts the independent daily podcast The Gist Josh Nilaya: Former producer for The Colin McEnroe Show Susan Piver: Meditation teacher, speaker, and long-time Buddhist practitioner Patrick Skahill: Connecticut Public’s digital editor; producer emeritus of The Colin McEnroe Show The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Colin McEnroe contributed to this show, which originally aired September 5, 2019, in a different form.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, there will be a memorial ride and celebration of life for Cal Fire Captain Rebecca Marodi, how was murdered last month. Catholic Charities has announced it is letting go of dozens of employees who work in two of its migrant resettlement programs. Today is National Panda Day, and the San Diego Zoo is helping you celebrate by giving out panda ears to the first 2,000 kids under 11 years old.   What You Need To Know To Start Your Sunday. 

In this episode of The Reading Lounge Sarah and Cynthia discuss West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. Inspired by a true story, Rutledge takes us on a journey with a pair of giraffes, their caretaker, and our storyteller across the country headed for the San Diego Zoo. A tale told against the backdrop of The Great Depression makes for great discussion. Join us while sipping on this month's cocktail, a Giraffe's Print! 2 oz spicy golden rum1 oz Amaretto1 oz fresh lemon juice1 oz simple syrup2 dashes Angostura bitters1 egg whiteIceOrange peel (we used lemon peel) for garnishAdd rum through bitters into shaker with ice and pour into your favorite cocktail glass. Whip up egg white and add a dollop to top. Garnish with citrus peel. Enjoy!

Dateline: March 7, 2025. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   We start off with where I am now, and wondering why is it so cold?Our headline story is a look at Chappy, the seal pup rescued by Mystic Aquarium that came to national prominence before sadly passing away. What can we learn from all the things Mystic did so, so right? We then move on to our births for the week, featuring animals from Blank Park Zoo, the San Diego Zoo, Jacksonville Zoo, the Indianapolis Zoo, the London Zoo, and Wild Discovery! We say goodbye to beloved animals at Potawatomi Zoo, the Calgary Zoo, and the Toronto Zoo.The rest of our Zoo News stories feature items from the AZA, Zoos Victoria, Zoo Atlanta, Buttonwood Park Zoo, Roger Williams Park Zoo, and more! Then in Conservation News we discuss the latest Trump Administration decisions that affect conservation, some new rediscoveries of species, and the latest update on the quest to recreate the woolly mammoth. In Other News, we talk about a death that wasn't and also a look at how your house cat can be affected by HPAI in new and exciting ways! ROSSIFARI LINKS: patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod rossifari.com @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok 

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria's proposed budget cuts find an ally in the head of the municipal employees union. Plus, Encinitas residents want changes after a series of accidents at a roundabout on Coast Hwy 101. A local historian looks at San Diego's Black queer history and the San Diego Zoo has a new baby koala. All that plus, a look at Sunday's South Bay Zine Fest in Chula Vista.

Reintroducing Hawaii's sacred crow to the wildThe world's most endangered crow, the Hawaiian crow or or ʻalalā, is making tentative steps towards a comeback. After going extinct in the wild, only 120 birds remain in captivity, in two facilities operated by the San Diego Zoo. Over the years, researchers have attempted reintroductions in the bird's native habitat on the Big Island of Hawaii, but those efforts have all been unsuccessful. Recently, the team tried something different - reintroducing the birds to a different island than their native home. The initial release happened in October and so far, the team, including Bryce Masuda, has high hopes and positive signs from their latest attempt.Lasers tell us about the pterosaur's unique tailThe great flying reptiles of the dawn of the age of dinosaurs, the pterosaurs, took flight with delicate but flexible internal tail structure that allowed it to work like a kite. Scientists used recently developed technology to enable them to see a lattice-like structure in the soft tissue in the early pterosaur soft tissue that was otherwise invisible to the naked eye. Natalia Jagielska, a paleontologist at the Lyme Regis Museum in Dorset, England, said their kite-like tail vane would have stood upright and could have functioned as a display and to help them in flight. The study was published in the eLife journal, Evolutionary Biology. How gophers help re-seed volcanic landscape with lifeAfter Mt. St. Helens exploded in 1980 it left a shattered, ash-covered, barren landscape behind. But the one-time reintroduction of gophers to one area led to a remarkably fast recovery of plants and other fauna. Forty-years later, changes to the environment are still being documented by  Dr. Mia Maltz, assistant professor of Microbial Ecology and Soil Earth at the University of Connecticut, and her team. They published their research in the journal Frontiers in Microbiomes.Desert ants' magnetic navigationDesert ants that navigate the endless sands of the Sahara use the Earth's magnetic field to find their way, which is not unusual. But unlike other animals like birds and turtles they don't appear to have an internal compass that aligns north and south. Instead they are unique in that they  use a more subtle cue – the polarity of the magnetic field. A study looking at this led by Dr. Pauline Fleischmann, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Oldenburg in Germany  was published in the journal Current Biology. Celestial body mysteries: dark comets and meteorites from young asteroid families The thousands of small celestial bodies in our solar system are now a bit less mysterious, thanks to several recent discoveries. One group of astronomers have traced back the origins of 84 per cent of all known meteorites that have pummeled Earth to just a few young asteroid families in the asteroid belt. Michaël Marsset, from the European Southern Observatory in Chile, said collisions in the asteroid belt create a collisional cascade that produces fragments, some of which end up raining down on Earth as meteorites. Two of their papers were published in the journal Nature and a third in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Another group of astronomers have identified two populations of stealthy dark comets that are something in between a comet and an asteroid. They've found fourteen of these objects whose orbital motion is comet-like, but which lack a visible tail like regular comets. Davide Farnocchia, a navigation engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, said they've found two types of these unusual solar system bodies: larger ones in an elliptical orbit out to Jupiter and smaller ones in orbit around Earth. Their study was published in the journal PNAS.

I just got back from the San Diego Zoo and there was one animal there that pissed me off. Pissed us all off actually. And I don't care how much they're beloved. I'll tell you what it is and what they didn't do next.

Dateline: January 10, 2025. Rossifari Zoo News is back with a round up of the latest news in the world of zoos, aquariums, conservation, and animal weirdness!   We start off with a huge announcement - The new website is live at rossifari.com ! We then also talk about my life and such.Our headline story this week is about fires raving areas in the US and Australia. We then move on to our births for the week, featuring animals from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Congo Wildlife Ranch, Zoo Miami, the Toledo Zoo, the North Carolina Zoo, and SeaLife Sydney! We say goodbye to beloved animals at Cape May County Zoo, Naples Zoo, the Columbus Zoo, Roger Williams Park Zoo, and then say goodbye to a true icon in the training world. The rest of our Zoo News stories feature items from the San Diego Zoo, Melbourne Zoo, Henry Doorly Zoo, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo, and so much more! Then in Conservation News we talk about a great internet post going viral, the sad story of Tahlequah, and a huge congrats to Jane Goodall!  ROSSIFARI LINKS: patreon.com/rossifari to support the pod rossifari.com @rossifari on socials @rossifaripod on TikTok