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Fancy Scientist with Dr. Stephanie Manka

fancyscientist
Wildlife Biology
Conservation
Wildlife Conservation
Community Science
Networking
Ecology
Wildlife Careers
Career Development
Citizen Science
Pollination
Climate Change
Mental Health
Science Communication
Job Applications
Bird Identification
Nature Journaling
Environmental Education
Wildlife Crossings
Childcare
Merlin Bird ID App

Dr. Stephanie Schuttler, the Fancy Scientist, is a wildlife biologist who loves breaking stereotypes and talking about the natural world. In this podcast, she shares her knowledge of animals, experiences as a wildlife biologist, and simple lifestyle choices you can make to conserve nature. Her 17 years in wildlife biology taught her that science alone cannot save species. We need to take collectiv... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes156Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceNatureNatural Sciences

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Artwork for Fancy Scientist

Latest Episodes

As a wildlife biologist, you have incredible moments with animals that are nearly impossible for other people to experience. But you also do some pretty crazy, strange, and downright WEIRD things.

In my 17 years working in the field across four cont... more

AI seems like it’s EVERYWHERE nowadays, and I know if you’re a conservationist like me, you’re concerned about its environmental impacts, and maybe even avoiding it because of them…

But I recently read an article that scared the bejesus out of me. I... more

Do you want a wildlife, conservation, or environmental sciences career, but feel that it is not physically possible for you? Do you have health challenges or a condition that limits you and are worried that it prevents you from working in a field tha... more

Do you have a lingering desire to start a wildlife career, but feel like it might be too late for you? Or maybe you’re working on a wildlife career, but it isn’t working for you, and time just keeps passing by? You got the degree, but then life got i... more

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Recent Guests

Grace O'Dea
Conservation educator, cerebral palsy advocate
Oceanarium Bournemouth
Episode: Not Accepting No! Succeeding at Wildlife Careers with a Disability: Interview with Grace O’Dea
Lynda Moore
Yellowstone Park Ranger
National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park
Episode: Age is Just a Number! Breaking into the National Park Service in Your 50s: Interview with Lynda Moore
Mikayla Magomolla
Wildlife professional focused on bats; involved in rehabilitation, field surveys, and graduate studies
Independent wildlife professional / bat researcher
Episode: From Passive to Proactive: Making Your Wildlife Career Happen When You Feel Stuck: Interview with Makeela Mogomolla
Christina Weber
Wildlife professional student and researcher in NASA-funded project
Community College / NASA NJ Space Grant Consortium
Episode: No Experience, No problem! Building a Wildlife Career from Scratch: Interview with Christina Weber
Andrew Lewin
Host of How to Protect the Ocean Podcast.
How to Protect the Ocean Podcast
Episode: Building a Wildlife Career on Your Own Terms: Interview with ME! Dr. Stephanie Manka
Patrick Raney
Director of Mitigation Programs for Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited
Episode: Plentiful Work in a Competitive Field: Wetland Conservation and Restoration with Patrick Raney
Camilla Price
Early career conservationist, awarded the NSF GRFP grant
Episode: FULLY Fund Yourself for Graduate School: Interview with NSF GRFP Winner Camilla Price
Jamie Bowles
Wildlife biologist at Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Episode: Launching a Successful Wildlife Career After Losing Your Job: Interview with Wildlife Biologist Jamie Bowles
Roseanne Parry
Author of children's nature books, including A Wolf Called Wander.
Independent Author
Episode: From Nature to Novels: Writing Children’s Books with Rosanne Parry

Hosts

Dr. Stephanie Manka
Wildlife biologist and host of the show, focused on conservation, science communication, and practical career guidance.
Dr. Stephanie Schuttler
Wildlife biologist and host, bringing expertise in wildlife behavior, conservation, and science communication.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 62 ratings
  • All Aspiring Conservationists Should Listen

    This podcast is perfect for anybody going into this field. Stephanie provides a ton of good advice to overcome the pitfalls of being in this career and how to be prepared for them. I love that the podcast and all of her Fancy Scientist work is not only inspirational, but that she is honest about the realities of being a wildlife biologist. It’s so different from other careers, other general advice doesn’t really apply

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jen_E_S
    Canadaa year ago
  • Great resource!

    Dr. Manka has so many insightful tips for young professionals and college students.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nature man Ambrose
    United States2 years ago
  • Very inspiring

    Stephanie and her interviewees provide valuable insights into wildlife biology and life in general! This podcast is a perfect combination of encouragement, science communication, and an overall great reminder that it’s important to strategically plan your career.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alan_Marine
    Canada3 years ago
  • This podcast is a goldmine!!

    This is an excellent podcast for those considering entering a job in the wildlife field. When I first found this podcast, I felt like I struck gold in terms of valuable environmental and wildlife job information. It’s been helping me navigate my own career journey at a time that I’ve really needed it. Thank you Stephanie - this podcast is a wealth of information!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KaitlynYee
    United States3 years ago
  • Love the practical advice

    Stephanie gives amazing advice on life and on ways to take back a little control of a situation that feels uncontrollable. Perfect podcast to have while commuting to work in the morning!!! ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    namesalltaken?!?
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise concrete tips like networking and informational interviews.
Thoughtful, practical wildlife career guidance noted by listeners.
Many mention inspiration and realistic expectations for conservation careers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#242
United States/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#93
Italy/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#187
Australia/Science/Nature

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From Passive to Proactive: Making Your Wildlife Career Happen When You Feel Stuck: Interview with Makeela Mogomolla
Q: What strategies helped you move from a low point to graduate school and a focused bat career?
A pivotal shift came from joining a program that taught intentional decision-making, aggressively networking, and leveraging community groups like Bat Brigade; alongside volunteering and building relationships with state biologists, this created concrete pathways to graduate study and funding.
From Passive to Proactive: Making Your Wildlife Career Happen When You Feel Stuck: Interview with Makeela Mogomolla
Q: Tell me about how you got into this field in the first place.
From a young age I was drawn to wildlife, traveling with family and exploring nature; a combination of early exposure and education led me to zoology and then to hands-on bat work through volunteering, which eventually connected me with graduate opportunities.
Plentiful Work in a Competitive Field: Wetland Conservation and Restoration with Patrick Raney
Q: What sorts of experiences should one seek to build a career in wildlife?
Think of your career as a continuum; seek out opportunities that build transferable skills and may align with your career goals.
Plentiful Work in a Competitive Field: Wetland Conservation and Restoration with Patrick Raney
Q: Can you talk about why some positions are hard to fill?
There's a lot of interest in being a biologist for Ducks Unlimited, but there aren't enough qualified individuals entering fields like engineering, crucial for the mitigation banking industry.
FULLY Fund Yourself for Graduate School: Interview with NSF GRFP Winner Camilla Price
Q: What would you have thought if you didn't get it this year? What was your strategy for next steps?
I planned to apply for seasonal positions or continue looking for other master's opportunities if I didn't get the GRFP.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Fancy Scientist

What is Fancy Scientist about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A Practical, career-focused show that centers on turning passion for wildlife into tangible roles. Episodes consistently explore career paths in conservation, wildlife biology, and science communication, with a strong emphasis on networking, internships, mentorship, and strategic planning. Guests range from park rangers and educators to researchers and program directors, sharing actionable advice on resumes, cold emails, informational interviews, and navigating barriers like age, funding, or lack of formal credentials. A notable strength is the mix of personal storytelling with concrete tactics, plus a commitment to inclusion and broad access to opportunities in wildlife fields. The format often blends career coaching with behind-the-scenes... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Fancy Scientist:

1. The Science of Birds
2. Short Wave
3. The Mel Robbins Podcast

How many episodes of Fancy Scientist are there?

Fancy Scientist launched 6 years ago and published 156 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Fancy Scientist?

Recent guests on Fancy Scientist include:

1. Grace O'Dea
2. Lynda Moore
3. Mikayla Magomolla
4. Christina Weber
5. Andrew Lewin
6. Patrick Raney
7. Camilla Price
8. Jamie Bowles

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