Authors | Talking Animals: Recent Episodes
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Occasionally, I jettison the chief component of the “Talking Animals” format–a long form interview with a single guest–to give voice to a broader array of animal organizations and leaders, concerned animal advocates, and others who simply care about animals. That’s what happened today, when I invited listeners to call in (or email) and briefly serve as the […]
The post Callers & Emailers Are The Guests first appeared on Talking Animals.
Veteran science journalist Stephen S. Hall–the author of several books, most recently, Slither: How Nature’s Most Maligned Creatures Illuminate Our World—recounts how he approached writing Slither, a strategy seeking to beckon even those amidst the sizable contingent of people who are creeped out by snakes, hate snakes, or are afraid of snakes. And while only […]
The post Stephen S. Hall, author of “Slither: How Nature’s Most Maligned Creatures Illuminate Our World” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Jessica Farrer–a marine biologist who serves as Research Director at The Whale Museum, and part of the team of scientists working temporarily in Antarctica Peninsula, profiled in “Expedition Killer Whale,” a new installment of the PBS series “Nature”—recalls growing up landlocked in Colorado, moving as soon as possible to Washington state. Speaking in a “Talking […]
The post Jessica Farrer, marine biologist featured in NATURE’s “Expedition Killer Whale” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Hannah Shaw–recognized as an influential humane educator, her specialty is providing instruction in caring for neonatal kittens; she’s also a NYT bestselling author whose latest book “Cats Of The World,” is a collaboration with her husband, photographer Andrew Marttila—recounts how she developed the expertise in caring for neonatal kittens and, along the way, built a humongous […]
The post Hannah Shaw, “Kitten Lady,” new book: “Cats Of The World” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Michael Hingson–blind since birth, acclaimed speaker, and best-selling author whose new book is “Live Like A Guide Dog: True Stories from a Blind Man and His Dogs about Being Brave, Overcoming Adversity, and Moving Forward in Faith”—recounts how the pandemic precluded his then-regular routine of traveling and lecturing, spurring the idea for writing the new […]
The post Michael Hingson, author of “Live Like A Guide Dog: True Stories from a Blind Man and His Dogs about Being Brave, Overcoming Adversity, and Moving Forward in Faith” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Justin Barker–an anti-captivity activist with a compelling narrative, starting with launching his first organization, Citizens Lobbying for Animals in Zoos, at age 13—recalls the family culture his parents cultivated that yielded a teen activist particularly empathetic to zoo animals and other captive wildlife. Barker further notes that a key step in his journey toward becoming […]
The post Justin Barker, anti-captivity activist, author first appeared on Talking Animals.
Peter Singer–the philosopher, professor emeritus of bioethics at Princeton University, and author (including his landmark 1975 work, “Animal Liberation” and the just-published “Consider The Turkey”—explains that his slate of pursuits post-retirement from Princeton includes a stint as visiting professor at the National University of Singapore. He goes on to clarify that while, yes, he did […]
The post Peter Singer, philosopher, professor, author: “Consider The Turkey” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Mara Hvistendahl, a The New York Times reporter who wrote “The Panda Factories”–an extraordinary piece of investigative journalism probing the impact of China’s gambit nearly 30 years ago to send pandas to zoos in other countries, hoping the visiting animals would breed, ultimately resulting in pandas that could be returned to the wild–recounts the genesis […]
The post Mara Hvistendahl, New York Times reporter: “The Panda Factories” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Cathryn Michon–the showbiz hyphenate who co-wrote with husband W. Bruce Cameron “A Dog’s Purpose,” the film adaptation of Cameron’s New York Times bestselling novel, considered the most popular live-action dog movie of all time—reflects on the dizzying number of dog books (including children’s books) and films that constitute the collective Michon/Cameron juggernaut. She goes on to […]
The post Cathryn Michon, author of “I’m Still Here: A Dog’s Purpose Forever” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Gregory Berns—author, neuroscientist, professor of psychology at Emory University (and an M.D.)—addresses the change he was seeking when he and his wife decided to buy a farm outside of Atlanta, a saga that’s among the experiences chronicled in Berns’ new book, “Cowpuppy: An Unexpected Friendship and A Scientist’s Journey into The Secret World of […]
The post Dr. Gregory Berns, neuroscientist, professor, author of “Cowpuppy” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Journalist Joshua Hammer–author of a captivating piece in the current issue of Smithsonian Magazine, entitled “Pablo Escobar’s Abandoned Hippos are Wreaking Havoc in the Columbian Jungle”—recalls how, having been casually aware of the Escobar/hippo situation, he decided to deeply delve into what turned out to be a more complex, colorful saga than anyone could’ve reasonably […]
The post Journalist Joshua Hammer, author of the Smithsonian Magazine piece, “Pablo Escobar’s Abandoned Hippos are Wreaking Havoc in the Columbian Jungle” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Mikel Delgado–a certified cat behavior consultant and author, most recently, of “Play With Your Cat! The Essential Guide to Interactive Play for a Happier, Healthier Feline”—traces the path that preceded her status as a cat expert with a PhD, including dropping out of school and playing bass in punk bands, sharing stages with such […]
The post Dr. Mikel Delgado, author of “Play With Your Cat! The Essential Guide to Interactive Play for a Happier, Healthier Feline” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice–an entomologist by training who’s appeared on the show multiple times, discussing ants, spiders, homing pigeons, and microbes (often tied to a book she’s written on the topic)—acknowledges that writing for young readers has officially become a trend for her, primarily discussing her second, just-published book in this series, while also briefly […]
The post Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice, author of “Your Pets’ Secret Lives: The Truth Behind Your Pets’ Wildest Behaviors” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Melissa Hoppert–a horse-racing writer for The New York Times, and one of two reporter-producers (with Times colleague Joe Drape) featured onscreen in the new horse-racing documentary, “Broken Horses,” a New York Times/FX production streaming on Hulu—recalls becoming enchanted with the horse racing realm as a young girl, after an uncle married into a horse breeding […]
The post Melissa Hoppert, horse-racing writer for The New York Times, reporter-producer “Broken Horses” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Arin Greenwood–a wearer of many hats, mostly animal-related, including Director of Philanthropy Communications at Austin Pets Alive! former animal journalist extraordinaire (HuffPost, Washington Post, The Today Show website, et al), and novelist–maintains a sizable social media presence, posting regularly on Facebook, which in a way, spawned this interview. That is, I was struck by the […]
The post Arin Greenwood on loving & living with dogs first appeared on Talking Animals.
In what might be called The Sequel, this represents the second portion of the interview I conducted on Feb. 12 with Temple Grandin, onstage at the Paramount Theatre in Austin. We covered a wide range of topics last week, though that discussion featured a preponderance of autism talk, hardly surprising given Grandin’s expertise, personal experience […]
The post Temple Grandin, autistic animal scientist and author–The Sequel first appeared on Talking Animals.
Temple Grandin–sometimes referred to as the world’s most famous autistic person, amidst several ways to describe her, including expert on animal behavior, prolific author, longtime professor of animal science at Colorado State University, fervent activist for autistic people, and tireless lecturer—sat with me onstage at the Paramount Theatre in Austin for what became a truly […]
The post Temple Grandin, autistic animal scientist and author first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Daniel Promislow–a biogerontologist, professor at the University of Washington, and principal investigator of The Dog Aging Project, a long-term study of health and longevity in dogs—recounts the genesis of the Project. **NOTE: There is static on the line during the first portion of the interview; it does clear up. He explains that it was […]
The post Dr. Daniel Promislow, principal investigator of The Dog Aging Project first appeared on Talking Animals.
Mark E. Hauber—professor, ornithologist, and author of “Bird Day: A Story of 24 Hours and 24 Avian Lives”—recalls becoming seriously interested in birds at age four or five. This was in his native Hungary, where, as that little boy, he dragged his mother to view the Spring Migration. His passion for birds was precocious and […]
The post Mark E. Hauber, ornithologist & author of “Bird Day: A Story of 24 Hours and 24 Avian Lives” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Carey Theil, executive director of GREY2K USA Worldwide, the largest greyhound protection organization in the world, and Rory Goree, who for many years ran the largest industry-funded greyhound adoption group, Greyhound Pets of America, explain how–as former enemies in the battle to end greyhound racing–they transformed into allies. Goree and Theil (co-author–with Christine Dorchak, GREY2K […]
The post Carey Theil & Rory Goree, greyhound devotees first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Catherine Macdonald–a marine conservation biologist and assistant professor at the University of Miami, who conducts, and oversees, research on sharks—recalls a childhood less enamored of the sea, at first, […]
The post Dr. Catherine Macdonald, shark expert first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Temple Grandin–who truly wears multiple hats: fervent activist for autistic people, longtime professor of animal science at Colorado State University, expert on animal behavior, prolific author, tireless lecturer—discusses her […]
The post Temple Grandin, autistic animal scientist first appeared on Talking Animals.
Gene Baur–co-founder and president of Farm Sanctuary, which Baur helped launch in 1986—responds to the observation that, nearly 40 years later, he could be excused if some days felt “same […]
The post Gene Baur, co-founder and president of Farm Sanctuary first appeared on Talking Animals.
pattrice jones–co-founder of VINE Sanctuary, sprawling across 100 acres in Springfield, Vermont, and a self-described “LGBTQ-led farmed animal sanctuary”—spontaneously describes instances of talking animals’ activity by resident roosters that very […]
The post pattrice jones, co-founder of VINE Sanctuary first appeared on Talking Animals.
Eleanor Spicer Rice, PhD–an entomologist by training, and the author of multiple books, focused on ants and spiders—recounts how she came to write a book about microbes, “Unseen Jungle: The […]
The post Eleanor Spicer Rice, author of “Unseen Jungle: The Microbes That Secretly Control Our World” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Jane Goodall–the ethologist, activist, and conservationist who rose to international attention in the 1960s, propelled by her pioneering work studying chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania—offers her current impressions of young […]
The post Dr. Jane Goodall first appeared on Talking Animals.
John Di Leonardo–president of Humane Long Island, an animal advocacy organization there, where he also oversees its international Duck Defenders project—recalls growing up without family pets, but deeply fascinated by […]
The post John Di Leonardo, president of Humane Long Island first appeared on Talking Animals.
Miyoko Chu– senior director of communications at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology—recalls an outing at age 10 or so with her father, to San Francisco’s Chinatown, where they performed a […]
The post Miyoko Chu, senior director of communications at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology first appeared on Talking Animals.
Captain Paul Watson–a major figure for decades in the realm of animal rights, he founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in 1977—describes what he sees as the initial events that […]
The post Paul Watson, Captain Paul Watson Foundation first appeared on Talking Animals.
Kate Benjamin–whom I suggested you could call a cat lady while noting, in this case, the term would be strictly intended as a compliment, given the scope of her expertise […]
The post Kate Benjamin, Top Cat at Hauspanther first appeared on Talking Animals.
This morning, I once again set aside the customary “Talking Animals” format to deliver the Talking Animals Annual Holiday Animal Song special—that is, a show entirely devoted to Holiday-oriented animal […]
The post The Talking Animals Annual Holiday Animal Song Special first appeared on Talking Animals.
Tom Mustill, who’s a biologist, filmmaker, and author, discusses how he’s forever primarily identified by a 2015 incident: while kayaking with a friend, a humpback whale breached, landing on the pair.
The post Tom Mustill, author of “How To Speak Whale: A Voyage into the Future of Animal Communication” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Shayla Toombs-Withers, who runs a medical clinic in Chattanooga, Tenn. called The Essence of Health Wellness Clinic, describes her plant-based, concierge-style medical practice.
The post Dr. Shayla Toombs-Withers, plant-based doctor first appeared on Talking Animals.
Author Duncan Forgey discusses his inventive novel featuring a pelican hero and protect-environment themes.
The post Duncan P. Forgey, author of “Flyin’ Kai: A Pelican’s Tale” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Ed Yong—a science journalist, staff writer at The Atlantic, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for his coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and author, most recently of An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us
The post Ed Yong, author of An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us first appeared on Talking Animals.
Spencer Conover— Assistant Director of Pasco County Animal Services (PCAS), whose work has received national acclaim, partly accounting for his being viewed as a rising star in the animal shelter […]
The post Spencer Conover, Assistant Director of Pasco County Animal Services first appeared on Talking Animals.
Mark Reinfeld— the award-winning vegan chef and author of numerous books, including “Healing The Vegan Way: Plant-Based Eating for Optimal Health and Wellness”—returns to the show, this time offering more […]
The post Mark Reinfeld, vegan chef, author & educator first appeared on Talking Animals.
Sy Montgomery—the bestselling author of 30-plus books, including “The Soul of an Octopus” and “The Good Good Pig”—discusses what prompted the exploration of raptors and falconry at the core of […]
The post Sy Montgomery, author of “The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice—a North Carolina-based entomologist and author of books on ants and spiders, who, as the product of a family activity, has developed a passion for pigeons and […]
The post Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice, author, entomologist, pigeon proponent first appeared on Talking Animals.
Helaine Olen— an opinion writer for The Washington Post, an expert on personal finance, and author or co-author of books, including “The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn’t Have To […]
The post Helaine Olen, opinion writer for The Washington Post first appeared on Talking Animals.
I’m asking that you support “Talking Animals,” and me–and, really, WMNF!–in our Fund Drive show Wednesday, Feb. 16, 11am-Noon ET–but, ideally, BEFORE then! As always, we have Exclusive Thank You […]
The post Please Support “Talking Animals” (& Me!) During WMNF’s Winter Fund Drive Feb. 16 first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dan Piraro—creator of the innovative, acclaimed, and much-beloved comic strip, “Bizarro,” which he’s drawn for more than 35 years, and in which animals (talking, and otherwise) often play a central […]
The post Dan Piraro, creator of comic strip “Bizarro” and graphic novel “Peyote Cowboy” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Steven M. Wise—founder and president of the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP); an attorney, author, and legal scholar, Wise is leading NhRP’s pioneering effort to free an elephant named Happy from […]
The post Steven M. Wise, founder and president of the Nonhuman Rights Project first appeared on Talking Animals.
Coleen Ellis—an expert on pet loss and dealing with the kind of grief that results from losing an animal companion—recalls how the loss 18 years ago of her beloved dog, […]
The post Coleen Ellis, expert on pet loss and grief first appeared on Talking Animals.
Carol Buckley—a longtime expert in the care of captive elephants, who co-founded The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, moving on to found Elephant Aid International, a nonprofit organization “that creates innovative […]
The post Carol Buckley, longtime expert in the care of captive elephants first appeared on Talking Animals.
Wayne Lynch—science writer, photographer, and author of numerous books, most recently, “Bears of the North: A Year Inside Their Worlds,” a deep and thorough exploration of the four northern bears: […]
The post Wayne Lynch, author & photographer of “Bears of the North: A Year Inside Their Worlds” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Erin Amerman—the founder of Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary, which across two facilities located in and around Gainesville, FL houses some 150 cows, making it, they say, the country’s largest cow […]
The post Erin Amerman, founder of Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary first appeared on Talking Animals.
Melanie Sue Bowles—founder and director of Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary, who alongside her husband, Jim, has shepherded the sanctuary through nearly 30 years of challenges, changes, and relocations, in service […]
The post Melanie Sue Bowles, founder-director of Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary first appeared on Talking Animals.
pattrice jones —cofounder of VINE (Veganism is the Next Evolution) Sanctuary, 100-acre facility in Vermont, a self-described “LGBTQ-led farmed animal sanctuary” we wanted to spotlight as we celebrate Pride Month—outlines […]
The post pattrice jones, cofounder of LGBTQ-led VINE Sanctuary first appeared on Talking Animals.
William Finnegan—a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1987, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and author of extended exploration of horse racing in the current (May 24) issue of the […]
The post William Finnegan, New Yorker staff writer, author of “Can Horse Racing Survive?” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Caleb Smith—who, at 16 years old, is already an accomplished entrepreneur and the author of a memoir of sorts, “Peacebunny Island: the Extraordinary Journey of A Boy And His Comfort […]
The post Caleb Smith, 16-year old entrepreneur, author, & comfort rabbit guy first appeared on Talking Animals.
Peter J. Wolf—who works for Best Friends Animal Society as cat initiatives analyst, which involves helping the organization shape its community cat policies, and has overseen some of its national […]
The post Peter J. Wolf, Best Friends Animal Society’s cat initiatives analyst first appeared on Talking Animals.
Caitlin O’Connell—a noted scientist who’s spent much of her career studying elephants and their communication, and author of several books, most recently “Wild Rituals: 10 Lessons Animals Can Teach Us […]
The post Caitlin O’Connell, author of “Wild Rituals: 10 Lessons Animals Can Teach Us about Connection, Community, and Ourselves” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Ginny Sweet—co-founder (with Harry Toro) of Corsos for Heroes, an organization based in Lutz, Florida, that donates specially-trained service dogs, of the Cane Corso breed, to military veterans who are […]
The post Ginny Sweet, co-founder of Corsos for Heroes first appeared on Talking Animals.
Rob Chaney—a lifelong resident of Montana, a veteran reporter for the Missoulian (and 2020 Nieman Fellow), and author of “The Grizzly in the Driveway: The Return of Bears To A […]
The post Rob Chaney, author of “The Grizzly in the Driveway: The Return of Bears To A Crowded American West” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Sam Anderson—a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, whose latest piece (the cover story) is “The Last Two Northern White Rhinos On Earth,” an account of the week […]
The post Sam Anderson, author of The New York Times Magazine story, “The Last Two Northern White Rhinos On Earth” first appeared on Talking Animals.
This morning, I once again set aside the customary “Talking Animals” format to deliver the Annual Christmas Animal Song special—that is, a show entirely devoted to Holiday-oriented animal tunes.As has […]
The post Annual Christmas Animal Song Special first appeared on Talking Animals.
Sharon Stiteler—who’s so steeped in the birding world, as a blogger, photographer, author of “1001 Secrets Every BirderShould Know,” and more, that she’s also known as “Birdchick”—recalls when the birding […]
The post Sharon Stiteler, birding expert, blogger, photographer–“Birdchick” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Jeffrey Masson—the New York Times bestselling author of books about animals and their emotions, including “When Elephants Weep” and “Dogs Never Lie About Love”—explains how being on the cusp of […]
The post Jeffrey Masson, author, most recently of “Lost Companions: Reflections on the Death of Pets.” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Neal Barnard—founder and president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine, among other notable hats […]
The post Dr. Neal Barnard, founder of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, professor, speaker, musician first appeared on Talking Animals.
Helen Macdonald—the naturalist, poet, and author best known for her acclaimed and award-winning memoir, “H Is For Hawk”; she’s published a new book, “Vesper Flights”—expands on a point she makes […]
The post Helen Macdonald, author of “H Is For Hawk” and now, “Vesper Flights” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Kathleen Edwards—the Canadian singer-songwriter who recently released the critically-acclaimed “Total Freedom,” her first album in eight years—discusses writing the new song, “Who Rescued Who,” and the dog it’s an elegy […]
The post Kathleen Edwards, singer-songwriter-dog devotee first appeared on Talking Animals.
Marc Bekoff —professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder—discusses, in a conversation that traveled from his very latest work backwards, his current research, which […]
The post Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus, expert on animal behavior, animal emotions, and more first appeared on Talking Animals.
Brian Hare —a professor in Evolutionary Anthropology, Psychology, and Neuroscience at Duke University, where he founded the Duke Canine Cognition Center, and co-author (with Vanessa Woods) of “Survival of the […]
The post Brian Hare, co-author of “Survival of the Friendliest: Understanding Our Origins and Rediscovering Our Common Humanity” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Wendy Clark —the publisher of Bird Watcher’s Digest, which is the name of the 42-year-old flagship magazine, but now really also refers to the multi-media enterprise that includes bird identification […]
The post Wendy Clark, publisher of Bird Watcher’s Digest first appeared on Talking Animals.
William Neal —writer-director of “Long Gone Wild,” a documentary that focuses on captive orcas, arriving as a cinematic successor to “Blackfish”—provides an overview of his pre-doc career, a mix of […]
The post William Neal, writer-director of “Long Gone Wild” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Wendy Williams —longtime journalist and author, most recently of “The Language of Butterflies: How Thieves, Hoarders, Scientists, And Other Obsessives Unlocked The Secrets of The World’s Favorite Insect”—recounts why, with […]
The post Wendy Williams, author of “The Language of Butterflies: How Thieves, Hoarders, Scientists, and Other Obsessives Unlocked the Secrets of the World’s Favorite Insect” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Owing to the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing Stay at Home order, I produced and recorded this show remotely from home, the ninth program prepared this way at the Talking […]
The post Carl Safina, ecologist, author of “Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Owing to the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing Stay at Home order, I produced and recorded this show remotely from home, the seventh program prepared this way at the Talking […]
The post Jo-Anne McArthur, photographer, co-editor, and creator of “Hidden: Animals in the Anthropocene” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Owing to the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing Stay at Home order, I produced and recorded this show remotely from home, the third program prepared this way at the Talking […]
The post Karen Davis, founder-president of United Poultry Concerns first appeared on Talking Animals.
Owing to the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing Stay at Home order, I produced and recorded this show remotely from home, the first program prepared this way at the Talking […]
The post Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of “New Day, New Chef” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Ingrid Newkirk—the co-founder and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and co-author (with Gene Stone) of “animalkind: Remarkable Discoveries about Animals and Revolutionary New Ways to […]
The post Ingrid Newkirk, co-founder & president of PETA first appeared on Talking Animals.
Craig Pittman—the veteran environmental reporter at The Tampa Bay Times, and author of multiple books, most recently, “Cat Tale: The Wild, Weird Battle to Save The Florida Panther”—explains why, having […]
The post Craig Pittman, author of “Cat Tale: The Wild, Weird Battle to Save The Florida Panther” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Sue Ettinger—a veterinary cancer specialist, aka “Dr. Sue Cancer Vet”—recalls her road to becoming a vet, after briefly entertaining the idea of pursuing a career involving art history. She […]
The post Dr. Sue Ettinger, veterinary cancer specialist first appeared on Talking Animals.
Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and Kathryn Bowers–New York Times bestselling authors of “Zoobiquity,” whose new book is “Wildhood: The Epic Journey from Adolescence to Adulthood in Humans and Other Animals”—in recalling that […]
The post Barbara Natterson-Horowitz & Kathryn Bowers, authors of “Wildhood: The Epic Journey from Adolescence To Adulthood in Humans and Other Animals” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Arin Greenwood is a “Talking Animals” favorite and a friend of the show. She’s also currently Senior Writer at the Animal Legal Defense Fund, formerly animal journalist extraordinaire—she was the […]
The post Arin Greenwood, ALDF Senior Writer, ex-animal journalist, author of animal-oriented novels first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Alexandra Horowitz—a professor at Barnard College, where she heads the Dog Cognition Lab, a behaviorist, and bestselling author of multiple books on dogs, most recently, “Our Dog, Ourselves: The […]
The post Dr. Alexandra Horowitz, scientist, professor, dog behaviorist, author of “Our Dogs, Ourselves: The Story of a Singular Bond” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Greg Murray—an animal photographer and rescue/pit bull advocate director, whose new book is “Pit Bull Heroes: 49 Underdogs with Resilience and Heart”—recalls his earliest experiences with dogs, growing up as a […]
The post Greg Murray, photographer and pit bull advocate first appeared on Talking Animals.
John Doe—singer/songwriter/co-founder of the band X and author, most recently of “More Fun in the New World: The Unmaking and Legacy of L.A. Punk”—conducts this live interview from the Austin […]
The post John Doe, X Singer-Songwriter & Horse Guy first appeared on Talking Animals.
Teo Alfero—founder and CEO of the Wolf Connection sanctuary, which specializes in rescuing domesticated wolves and dogs with varying degrees of wolf content, and author of “The Wolf Connection: What […]
The post Teo Alfero, founder & CEO of The Wolf Connection sanctuary first appeared on Talking Animals.
Natasha Daly—a staff writer for the National Geographic, where she wrote the June cover story, “The Hidden Cost of Wildlife Tourism”—addresses her role as the magazine’s “wildlife crime reporter,” how […]
The post Natasha Daly, author of National Geographic story “The Hidden Cost of Wildlife Tourism” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. David M. Pena-Guzman—a philosopher and assistant professor at San Francisco State University, who wrote a scholarly paper for the journal Animal Sentience, entitled “Can Nonhuman Animals Commit Suicide?”—recounts how […]
The post Dr. David M. Pena-Guzman, author of “Can Nonhuman Animals Commit Suicide?” first appeared on Talking Animals.
John Cherwa—a sportswriter (or editor) for 40+ years, who covers horse racing for The Los Angeles Times—explains the scene before the race at this year’s Kentucky Derby, especially given the […]
The post John Cherwa, veteran sportswriter who covers horse racing for The Los Angeles Times first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Frans de Waal—the primatologist, ethologist, and prolific author, most recently of “Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us About Ourselves”—cites some stories from the new book, […]
The post Frans de Waal, primatologist and author, most recently, of “Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us About Ourselves” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Bruce Friedrich—the co-founder and executive director of The Good Food Institute (GFI), which promotes plant-based dairy, eggs, and so-called clean meat, as alternatives to those items as produced by animal […]
The post Bruce Friedrich, co-founder & executive director of The Good Food Institute first appeared on Talking Animals.
This unusual edition of “Talking Animals” featured the first portion of an interview with Dr. Temple Grandin I conducted Feb. 1 in front of 1200 people at the Paramount Theatre […]
The post In Conversation With Dr. Temple Grandin–Part One first appeared on Talking Animals.
Cathryn Michon & W. Bruce Cameron—screenwriters of the movie, “A Dog’s Way Home,” based on Cameron’s novel, and which had opened nationwide less than a week before this conversation—discuss the […]
The post Cathryn Michon & W. Bruce Cameron, screenwriters of “A Dog’s Way Home” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Nick Pyenson—the curator of fossil marine mammals at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, and the author of “Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of […]
The post Dr. Nick Pyenson, paleontologist and author of “Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of Earth’s Most Awesome Creatures” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Jason M. Colby—an environmental and international historian, and professor, at the University of Victoria and author, most recently of “Orca: How We Came to Know and Love the Ocean’s Greatest […]
The post Jason M. Colby, author of “Orca: How We Came to Know and Love the Ocean’s Greatest Predator” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Sy Montgomery—the author of numerous acclaimed books about animals, including bestsellers “The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood” and “The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration […]
The post Sy Montgomery, author of numerous books, most recently, “How to Be A Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Kinky Friedman—the singer-songwriter-author-satirist-animal rescuer and veteran cigar-chomping wag—describes how his longtime friend and sometimes advisor Willie Nelson, upon hearing in a 3am phone call that Friedman was watching “Matlock,” decided […]
The post Kinky Friedman, songwriter-satirist-animal rescuer first appeared on Talking Animals.
Matt & Phil Letten—siblings known as The Vegan Bros, and co-authors of “VODKA IS VEGAN: A Manifesto for Better Living and Not Being An Ahole”—recall their formative years, growing up […]
The post Matt & Phil Letten, The Vegan Bros, co-authors of “VODKA IS VEGAN: A Manifesto for Better Living and Not Being An A**hole” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice and Dr. Christopher M. Buddle—a North Carolina writer who holds a PhD in entomology and the author of “Dr. Eleanor’s Book of Common Ants” series, and […]
The post Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice and Dr. Christopher M. Buddle, co-authors of “Dr. Eleanor’s Book of Common Spiders” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Arin Greenwood—a journalist who specializes in writing about animal welfare, and whose sterling new novel, “Your Robot Dog Will Die,” was published Tuesday (April 17)—offers her synopsis of the book, […]
The post Arin Greenwood, journalist and author of “Your Robot Dog Will Die” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Jaret C. Daniels—an entomologist and professor at the University of Florida, as well as accomplished nature photographer, whose new book is ‘Vibrant Butterflies: Our Favorite Visitors To Flowers And […]
The post Dr. Jaret C. Daniels, entomologist, UF professor, author of “Vibrant Butterflies” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Ann Weaver—an animal behaviorist conducting a long-term study of bottlenose dolphins off the coast of St. Petersburg, Florida—talks about the enormous array of species she has worked with directly […]
The post Dr. Ann Weaver, animal behaviorist and dolphin researcher first appeared on Talking Animals.
For this edition of “Talking Animals,” I scrapped the usual format to present two discussions about sexism, sexual harassment and misconduct within the animal welfare world—against the backdrop of what […]
The post Dr. Lisa Kemmerer & Carol J. Adams: Conversations about sexism, sexual harassment and misconduct in animal welfare first appeared on Talking Animals.
Arin Greenwood and Lee Greenwood—siblings who are both lawyers, skillful writers, and engaged in promoting animal welfare, from different platforms—recount growing up in a house that was, unsurprisingly, brimming with […]
The post Arin Greenwood & Lee Greenwood, sibling animal welfare advocates first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Gregory Berns—author of multiple books, including The New York Times bestseller “How Dogs Love Us”—discusses his new book, “What It’s Like To Be A Dog: And Other Adventures In […]
The post Dr. Gregory Berns, author of “What It’s Like To Be A Dog: And Other Adventures In Animal Neuroscience.” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice—an entomologist and writer who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, and who just published four new guides on ants—recalls growing up having a fascination with ants (and […]
The post Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice, entomologist and author of four ant guides, including “Dr. Eleanor’s Book of Common Ants” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Keith Lindsay—the conservation biologist whose career reflects a longstanding dedication to studying elephants—recalls how he got started in 1977 at the Amboseli Elephants Research Project, in southern Kenya, by […]
The post Dr. Keith Lindsay, author of “Solitary Elephants in Japan” report first appeared on Talking Animals.
Jo-Anne McArthur—the acclaimed photojournalist who specializes in documenting animals and their stories—explains how her work, compared with that of most other photographers with similar specialties, is informed by more than […]
The post Jo-Anne McArthur, photojournalist with new book, “Captive” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Shawn Flynn—author of “THE KITTY Who Rescued Me After I Rescued Him”—recalls growing up in a household that had dogs, but not cats, and how he really didn’t have prolonged […]
The post Shawn Flynn, author of “THE KITTY Who Rescued Me After I Rescued Him” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Janet Vorwald Dohner—an author whose specialized books, including “Farm Dogs,” “Livestock Guardians,” and her new one, “The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators,” reflect 35-plus years experience on her small family farm […]
The post Janet Vorwald Dohner, author of “The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators” first appeared on Talking Animals.
W. Bruce Cameron — the New York Times bestselling author of numerous books, including “A Dog’s Purpose,” made into a feature film starring Dennis Quaid —discusses how he decided to make […]
The post W. Bruce Cameron, bestselling author, most recently of “A Dog’s Way Home” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Ellie Laks —the founder of The Gentle Barn, a Southern California sanctuary that houses more than 170 animals that have been rescued from abuse, neglect or slaughter—discusses the ideas and […]
The post Ellie Laks, founder of The Gentle Barn first appeared on Talking Animals.
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau —a nationally-recognized speaker, author (of seven books) and podcaster whose milieu is espousing the virtues of vegan living—describes her earliest efforts as an advocate, the better part of […]
The post Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, author-podcaster-speaker first appeared on Talking Animals.
Lori Shepler—an award-winning former Los Angeles Times photographer who now presides over CityTheKitty.com, among the most informative and influential websites dealing with feline declaw surgery–traces that unlikely path. Shepler recalls […]
The post Lori Shepler, photographer & City The Kitty mom first appeared on Talking Animals.
Kristie Middleton—the Senior Director of Food Policy for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and author of the new book “Meatless: Transform the Way You Eat and Live—One […]
The post Kristie Middleton, author of Meatless: Transform the Way You Eat and Live—One Meal at a Time” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Robert Grillo —an activist and writer who is the founder of Free from Harm, and just published his first book, “Farm to Fable: The Fictions of Our Animal-Consuming Culture”—recounts how […]
The post Robert Grillo, author of “Farm to Fable: The Fictions of Our Animal-Consuming Culture” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Tim Caro —a professor at UC Davis and wildlife biologist whose new book is “Zebra Stripes”—traces some of the arc of his academic career, including how he became interested […]
The post Dr. Tim Caro, professor at UC Davis, wildlife biologist, author of “Zebra Stripes” first appeared on Talking Animals.
For today’s edition of Talking Animals, I jettisoned the usual format and convened a panel discussion about the end of the Ringling Bros. circus. I was inspired to present the panel […]
The post Panel Discussion About The End Of Ringling first appeared on Talking Animals.
Bruce Cameron and Cathryn Michon—the husband-wife team who wrote the screenplay for A Dog’s Purpose, a film starring Dennis Quaid, based on Cameron’s bestselling novel of the same name—discuss how the […]
The post Cathryn Michon & W. Bruce Cameron, writers of the film “A Dog’s Purpose” first appeared on Talking Animals.
Paul Solotaroff—Rolling Stone contributing editor who wrote a wide-ranging, high-profile exposé about the netherworld of puppy mills in the then-new issue of the magazine—discusses how he came to write the […]
The post Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone contributing editor first appeared on Talking Animals.
Dr. Alexandra Horowitz—the scientist, professor at Barnard College, and bestselling author of books about dogs, most recently, “Being A Dog: Following The Dog Into A World of Smell”—discusses Tucker, the […]
The post Dr. Alexandra Horowitz, scientist and author of “Being A Dog: Following The Dog Into A World of Smell” first appeared on Talking Animals.