Best Macaws Podcasts (2025)

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Rock Stars: The Handprints, Macaws, and Mysteries of Rio Grande Style Art 24:14

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8d ago24:14

24:14

Send us a text Note: Audio Only, See YouTube for Video Version Craig the Natural Medic explores the Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque, New Mexico, discovering ancient rock carvings etched into volcanic basalt across three distinct canyon areas. • Piedras Marcadas Canyon features hundreds of petroglyphs on a 1.5-mile trail showing animals,…

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Journey Through Valle Caldera 23:26

5d ago23:26

23:26

Send us a text Note: Audio Only, Please see YouTube for the Video Version We explore Valle Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico, a 1.25-million-year-old dormant volcano with a massive magma chamber beneath its surface. The preserve features historic buildings, dramatic weather changes, and breathtaking views of mountain landscapes surrounding th…

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The Hidden Gems of Jemez: Exploring Spence Hot Springs 5:45

5d ago5:45

5:45

Send us a text Note: Audio Version Only, Please See YouTube for Video. Ever stumbled upon a natural wonder that feels like a well-kept secret? That's exactly what awaits at Spence Hot Springs, tucked away in New Mexico's breathtaking Jemez Mountains. Nestled within the Santa Fe National Forest just outside Jemez Springs, these thermal pools offer a…

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Episode 277: All Animals Can Speak, We Just Need to Learn to Listen (with Sarah Bonser-Blake, Wild Welfare) 50:47

6d ago50:47

50:47

Ari and Chris are joined by their first guest who's had David Attenborough attend their graduation (at least as far as we know): Sarah Bonser-Blake, Animal Welfare Field Manager with Wild Welfare! Sarah shares the journey she's taken from getting paid to point at whales to her current role making real change in people that makes change for animals,…

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Rock Art and Room Service: Apartment Living, Ancient Style 6:25

7d ago6:25

6:25

Send us a text Note: Audio Only, See YouTube For Full Video Step back in time with me as we explore the ancient wonders of Tsankawi at Bandelier National Monument. This remarkable archaeological site offers a rare window into the lives of ancestral Puebloan people who made these cliffside dwellings their home centuries ago. Walking through what was…

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Hiking Bandelier's Ancient Canyon 15:45

7d ago15:45

15:45

Send us a text Note: Audio Only, Please See YouTube for the Video Version Step into the ancient world of Bandelier National Monument through this immersive backpacking journey along the Rito de las Frijoles (Bean Creek). What begins as a simple overnight trek quickly transforms into a fascinating exploration of natural wonders and human history nes…

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Episode 276: The Art and Science of Outcome-Based Animal Welfare (with Jessica Sheftel, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) 51:50

13d ago51:50

51:50

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…

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National Zookeeper Week: 2025 39:04

18d ago39:04

39:04

Happy National Zookeeper Week! This podcast, we're chatting with Lands of Change keeper Spring Rommel and Rainforest Revealed keeper Emma Robinson about how their beginnings in animal care and where they are at our Zoo today. Thank you to all of our amazing staff for caring for our animals each and every day.…

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Episode 275: Fly-Aways, Swim-Offs, and Reboots (with Ryne Ferguson and Ayrton King, Animal Talk Podcast) 47:14

20d ago47:14

47:14

Ari and Chris are absolutely chuffed to be joined by two amazing gentlemen from South Africa, Ryne Ferguson and Ayrton King, co-hosts of the rebooted Animal Talk Podcast! Ryne talks about his long history with NEI, how our podcast inspired him to start his own, and how the idea to reboot the show with a new aquarist cohost came about after a 5 year…

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Episode 274: Let's Hope They All Talk About This Over Dinner Tonight (with The Reptile Department of The St Augustine Alligator Farm) 1:01:58

27d ago1:01:58

1:01:58

With Chris out of commission after being a pressure washing hero at work and mayyyyybe overdoing it a bit, Ari takes the helm and is joined by Dan Carvalho, Lydia Dresel, Jordan Garella, Steven Sibley, and Luis Cortes from the Reptile Department of the St Augustine Alligator Farm! The team talks about their amazing dynamics and inside jokes, and th…

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Episode 273: I Guess I'm Gonna Do Fish Stuff (with Melissa Paynter, Georgia Aquarium) 38:52

1M ago38:52

38:52

You KNOW we love talking about training animals that people don't always think of when they think about animal training, so we are thrilled to welcome Melissa Paynter to the show! Mel shares the path that took her from the Moorpark Program to her current role as Assistant Curator of Ocean Journey at Georgia Aquarium, why fish training right now is …

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Exploring North America's Tallest Sand Dunes: A Journey Through Great Sand Dunes National Park 9:49

1M ago9:49

9:49

Send us a text Note: Audio Only, Please see YouTube for the Video Version The tallest dunes in North America reside unexpectedly in Colorado, where wind and water have shaped massive sand formations surrounded by mountain ranges. This remarkable landscape serves as both a natural basin that collects eroded sand and a historic landmark, first docume…

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Essential Backcountry Water Filtration: Your First Line of Defense 4:44

1M ago4:44

4:44

Send us a text Note: Audio Only. Please see YouTube for the Video Version. Craig introduces his countdown of the 10 essential items for backpacking, starting with the most critical: water filtration in the wilderness. We explore why even pristine-looking mountain streams require treatment before drinking and demonstrate how to use the Platypus wate…

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Beat the Heat! Summer Supplements & Safety for Birds 56:26

1M ago56:26

56:26

In this episode, we sit down with Lea from NEKTON to talk all things summer bird care, from avoiding heat stress in parrots and other birds to smart supplement strategies that can make a big difference in the summer. Parrots don’t sweat, and hot days, especially during heat waves, can be dangerous if you’re not prepared. We cover the key signs of h…

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Episode 272: If You Want Them To Care, They First Have To Know You Care (with Dan Blair) 43:57

1M ago43:57

43:57

Chris and Ari are thrilled to be joined on the show by NEI Alumnus Dan Blair! Dan catches us up on his current zoo role as Curator of Birds, and shares his thoughts on the two kinds of respect, what's surprised him most about transitioning from the role of animal trainer to curator, the unique challenge of being brought in as a new cog in an existi…

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Exploring the Continental Divide: A Quick Snowshoe Adventure at Tennessee Pass 4:50

2M ago4:50

4:50

Send us a text Audio only, see YouTube for Video Craig the Natural Medic explores the Tennessee Pass Trailhead where the Colorado Trail and Continental Divide National Scenic Trail intersect. He takes a short snowshoe trek at over 10,000 feet elevation, sharing trail insights and snowshoeing tips during his adventure. • Snowshoeing at Tennessee Pas…

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Shredding Ski Cooper: No Crowds, Great Value 12:16

2M ago12:16

12:16

Send us a text Audio only, see YouTube for full video...Thanks Ski Cooper outside Leadville, Colorado, offers an affordable, uncrowded skiing experience with rich historical connections to the 10th Mountain Division. The resort stands apart from corporate-owned ski areas, offering great value tickets and a meaningful opportunity to honor the vetera…

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Episode 271: Happy Jamón Day! (with the Bird and Mammal Team, St. Augustine Alligator Farm) 53:40

2M ago53:40

53:40

Are SEVEN people too many to have on a podcast?? Not when it's the Bird and Mammal Team from the St. Augustine Alligator Farm! Chris and Ari are joined by Hannah Caster, Jessie Stull, Jordan Hoover, Ramon Castillo, and Shelby McBride to talk about what makes up a cohesive team, the unsung role of the swing keeper, and figuring out the best ways to …

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Catching Up with Our Giant River Otters 33:37

2M ago33:37

33:37

Today, we've invited Rainforest Revealed keepers Anna Foster and Mary Ellis to talk about how we care for our giant river otter siblings, Felix and Ophelia! Our guests tell us all about the giant river otter species, how we train our otters, silly stories and more!By Brevard Zoo

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Episode 270: The Portal, The Tube, and The Assisted Lift (with Anaka Nazareth, National Aquarium) 45:22

2M ago45:22

45:22

Chris and Ari are joined by fellow training enthusiast Anaka Nazareth, Behavioral Husbandry Coordinator at the National Aquarium! Anaka shares the path that took her from America to Austria (a few times) before settling back on the East Coast and eventually into her current role in Baltimore, where she oversees the training of a lot of our favorite…

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Desert Giants: A Birthday Hike Through Saguaro National Park 13:19

2M ago13:19

13:19

Send us a text Note: Audio Only, See YouTube for Video Version Craig the Natural Medic takes us on a meaningful journey through Saguaro National Park in Arizona as he celebrates his 50th birthday. The magnificent saguaros standing sentinel throughout the park create a stunning backdrop while showcasing the resilience of desert ecosystems that once …

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Distemper 5:06

2M ago5:06

5:06

By Dr. Sarah

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Balanced Rocks and Buffalo Soldiers: Arizona's Strangest National Monument 20:33

2M ago20:33

20:33

Send us a text Note: Audio Only, Please see YouTube for Video Version Standing among the towering hoodoos and balanced rocks of Chiricahua National Monument feels like stepping into another world. These extraordinary formations weren't crafted by human hands but by 32 million years of volcanic activity and persistent erosion. Located in southeaster…

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Backpack Essentials: Day Hiking Gear Guide for 2025 7:57

2M ago7:57

7:57

Send us a text Note: Audio Version only, see YouTube for Video Version Craig the Natural Medic shares his comprehensive day hiking gear setup for 2025, highlighting essential items that ensure safety and comfort on southwestern trails. His experience as a paramedic and a former park ranger provides these practical recommendations for hikers of all …

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Episode 269: The "Ponies, Sparkles, and Rainbows" Side of HR (with Dr Taylor Gilley, Houston Zoo) 41:05

2M ago41:05

41:05

Chris is joined by NEI's new (but also not really new) Director of Staff Development, Training, and Shows - Ari Bailey - to welcomes Dr Taylor Gilley back to the show! Taylor shares the path that took her from the education world to her current role as Director of Staff Learning and Development at Houston Zoo, and guides us through a great conversa…

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Walk the Plank: The Dizzying Heights of Gila's Historic Catwalk 24:44

2M ago24:44

24:44

Send us a text Note: Audio only, please see YouTube for video version. Hidden within the rugged terrain of New Mexico's Gila National Forest lies an engineering marvel with a fascinating past. The Catwalk National Recreational Trail suspends visitors along sheer canyon walls, following a path first blazed by silver miners in the 1890s. My journey b…

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The Secret Lives of Beach Mice 1:01:56

2M ago1:01:56

1:01:56

Join us on the podcast today as we learn from two of our amazing conservation experts, Alyssa Rice and Kelly Currier! These beach mice experts fill us in on what it takes to care for dozens of Perdido Key Beach Mice, a species that is at our Zoo as part of an essential conservation breeding program. Learn all about these rare mice and how we are he…

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Episode 268: A Podcast About A Podcast (Radical Candor's "Leading Through Chaos With Stephanie Chung") 38:37

2M ago38:37

38:37

In another in our series of podcasts about other podcasts, Ari and Chris share their thoughts on a recent episode of the Radical Candor podcast with Kim Scott, featuring their guest Stephanie Chung. Chris recently started reading her book "Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You," which gets a great overview in the podcast, and giv…

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Ancient Towers on the Utah-Colorado Border: Exploring Hovenweep National Monument 4:04

2M ago4:04

4:04

Send us a text Note: Audio Only, please see YouTube for Video Version. Step back in time with me as we explore the hidden archaeological wonders of Hovenweep National Monument, straddling the Utah-Colorado border. Few travelers discover this remote treasure, home to remarkable stone towers built by Ancestral Puebloans nearly 1,000 years ago. My two…

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Episode 267: Observe, Interpret, Improve (with Joey Golden, Maryland Zoo) 50:44

3M ago50:44

50:44

Ari and Chris are back together and excited to be joined by Joey Golden, Curator of Animal Behavior Programs at Maryland Zoo! Chris and Joey both attended the recent ABMA and ISZAW conferences, and we wanted to bring him on to chat about the great presentations he gave about his zoo's progress towards "24/7 welfare" for all their animals. We chat a…

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Wild Waters: The San Francisco Hot Springs Trek 7:44

3M ago7:44

7:44

Send us a text Note: This is audio only; please see YouTube for the whole video experience. Thanks! Please send us an email! The quest for natural wonders often leads to unexpected discoveries. My journey to San Francisco Hot Springs, tucked away in New Mexico's Gila National Forest, proved to be exactly that kind of revelation. Setting off from th…

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Parrot Kindergarten: Teaching Birds to Talk with Tech & Trust 1:54:34

3M ago1:54:34

1:54:34

What happens when science, compassion, technology and a parrot come together? In this episode, we sit down with Jen, who took a groundbreaking approach to teaching birds how to communicate using tablets and touchscreens! Her birds are the first documented parrots that can READ AND WRITE!! We explore how to truly understand your bird’s emotions, rec…

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Episode 266: Pursue Your Calling! (with Scott Trauger, Supervisor Emeritus, Natural Encounters, Inc.) 32:04

3M ago32:04

32:04

While Chris is away at the International Symposium for Zoo Animal Welfare in Chicago, Ari is hosting solo—but she’s not alone! She’s joined by former (but also still current) NEI teammate Scott Trauger, who shares what life has been like since he made the big leap to follow his passion outside the animal field. From spreadsheets to showtunes, hear …

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The Gila's Secrets: A Hiker Discovers New Mexico's Hidden Past 12:52

3M ago12:52

12:52

Send us a text Note: Audio Only, please see YouTube for Video Version The weathered footings of a washed-away bridge stand as silent sentinels on either side of the Tularosa River in New Mexico's Gila National Forest. Most hikers would turn back at this obstacle, but those who wade across discover something extraordinary—centuries-old petroglyphs e…

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Wind and Wonder: A Journey Through Arizona's Ancient Landscape 4:29

3M ago4:29

4:29

Send us a text Note: Audio only. Please see Youtube for Video Version. Venture with me along the mesmerizing Blue Mesa Trail, where time itself seems written into the landscape of Petrified Forest National Park. On this brisk March day, I braved the characteristic winds of northeastern Arizona to bring you an intimate tour of one of the park's most…

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Exploring Cedar Breaks: A Snowshoeing Adventure Through Utah's Hidden Winter Gem 7:21

3M ago7:21

7:21

Send us a text Note: Audio only, please see YouTube for video version Snowshoeing through Cedar Breaks National Monument reveals a transformed winter landscape with deep snow and beautiful vistas of the amphitheater from the North overlook. Though faced with a canceled ranger-led hike, this solo adventure showcases the accessibility and beauty of w…

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Episode 265: Using Communities to Create Opportunities 43:13

3M ago43:13

43:13

Ari catches us up on her time at Croc School before our hosts tackle an email asking for ideas about how to create opportunities in the professional animal care field for yourself when 1) you've moved somewhere where the immediately employment opportunities might be limited - or non-existent - or 2) you've taken a temporary break from the field and…

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Episode 264: What Does It Mean To "Prioritize Training"? (Live from the 2025 ABMA Annual Conference) 35:26

3M ago35:26

35:26

Ari Bailey is busy doing cool reptile stuff at Croc School at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, so Chris takes the opportunity to share the audio from his presentation, "What Does It Mean to 'Prioritize Training'?" from last week's ABMA Annual Conference! He shares some antecedent and consequence conditions that he's seen great teams utilize to mak…

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Get to Know Our Dingoes 29:55

3M ago29:55

29:55

Today, Lands of Change Area Supervisor Mic McPherson and Senior Keeper Alyssa Padmos are filling us in on what it takes to care for our two 12-year-old dingoes, Sydney and Victoria. From tunnel time to their daily training walks, there's never a dull day for our two dingo sisters.By Brevard Zoo

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The Macaw Show - Chris Burns 1:02:28

3M ago1:02:28

1:02:28

Jesus from the Back Row! Story Teller returns to share his comedy like no one else can. A great show to get conversations started again.By Sanna Phillips

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The Macaw Show - Michael Farris 1:42:33

3M ago1:42:33

1:42:33

Resounding Resilence #AA A great show to get conversations started again.By Sanna Phillips

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The Macaw Show - Rodney Davis 39:08

3M ago39:08

39:08

Author Rodney Davis A great show to get conversations started again.By Sanna Phillips

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Symbols That Speak: A Journey Through Time at Parowan Gap 11:44

3M ago11:44

11:44

Send us a text Audio only, please see YouTube for the video experience! Walking through the Parowan Gap Petroglyphs in southwestern Utah reveals ancient rock carvings that tell stories of migration, astronomical knowledge, and the spiritual beliefs of Native American peoples who inhabited this area centuries ago. • Located near St. George and Cedar…

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Episode 263: Zen and the Art of Networking (Live from the 2025 ABMA Annual Conference Zoo Day) 44:26

3M ago44:26

44:26

Chris is LIVE from Zoo Day at the 2025 ABMA Annual Conference in Galveston, Texas! Whilst wandering the grounds of our host facility, Moody Gardens, we chat with Chase Alsup from the Colorado State University Zoo, Aquarium, and Animal Shelter Management Graduate Program, Rae Simmons and Aubrey Wilson from the Moorpark College Animal Care and Traini…

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Chaco Canyon: Ancient Engineering and Sacred Alignments 17:54

4M ago17:54

17:54

Send us a text Attn: Audio Only Please see the other post on Youtube for the Video Version, Thanks. Chaco Canyon National Historical Park in northwestern New Mexico preserves remarkable structures built by Ancestral Puebloan people over a thousand years ago, showcasing their sophisticated understanding of astronomy, engineering, and community desig…

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Episode 262: A Feedback Loop About Feedback Loops 39:31

4M ago39:31

39:31

Chris is in the editing (and possibly scrapping-and-starting-over) phase of his upcoming ABMA workshop "Your Feedback Loop: Evolving the Way We Give Feedback to Peers," so he decided to reach out to one of the smartest feedbackers around - Ari Bailey - and see how their notes compared when she was given the assignment to jot down what she considere…

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Public Lands Advocacy: How You Can Help Protect America's Natural Heritage 12:22

4M ago12:22

12:22

Send us a text Note: Audio Only, please see video for visual treats on my Youtube Channel... Our public lands face serious threats from staffing cuts across National Park Service, Forest Service, and BLM as a former ranger explains actionable steps we can take to help preserve these treasured spaces regardless of political stance. • Contact congres…

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An Update on Our Lions 26:51

4M ago26:51

26:51

What does it take to move three lions? Today we're chatting about how we moved our lion trio, Chobe, Karoo and Ruaha, to their new habitat in our Expedition Africa loop and how they've acclimated to the space so far! Joining us are senior Expedition Africa keeper Cindy Watson and Africa keeper Matt Ward.…

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Episode 261: Is Your Animal Doing What You Want? (TEC Talk Throwback to The Official Chris Jenkins Super Simplified Guide to Behavior™) 43:02

4M ago43:02

43:02

It's consulting time! Chris is back at the Little Rock Zoo working with a team of eight trainers from around the zoo to get everyone working with people and animals they don't normally get a chance to, with the hopes that it might help them be better "training trainers" for new staff in the future! This has meant a lot of conversations about how yo…

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Inspiring Animals - Scarlet Macaws 25:41

4M ago25:41

25:41

Send us a text The scarlet macaw is one of the world's largest parrots, and one of the most beautiful animals of the Central American rainforests. During our visits to the Belize Zoo the macaws are one of our favorite stops due to their curiosity and intelligence. In this episode Kayla and Michael take a look at some of the challenges facing scarle…