Fancy Scientist with Dr. Stephanie Manka

fancyscientist

Wildlife Biology

Conservation

Wildlife Conservation

Networking

Career Development

Wildlife Careers

Ecology

Mental Health

Nature Journaling

Renewable Energy

Education

Conservation Biology

Solar Energy Development

Zoology

Human-Carnivore Conflict

Non-Lethal Wildlife Management

Wildlife Rehabilitation

Climate Change

Wilderness Preservation

Environmental Conservation

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

62 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	152	Founded	6 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Natural SciencesNatureScience

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Latest Episodes

From Passive to Proactive: Making Your Wildlife Career Happen When You Feel Stuck: Interview with Makeela Mogomolla

How do you actually make your wildlife career happen when you feel like you’ve missed your window? You got the degree, maybe even got some temporary jobs here and there, but you felt like you weren’t getting traction. Or couldn’t see how it could all... more

23 Mar 2026 • 54 min

No Experience, No problem! Building a Wildlife Career from Scratch: Interview with Christina Weber

Christina Weber did what most aspiring wildlife professionals think is impossible: she got every single offer she applied to with absolutely NO EXPERIENCE! How did she do it? That’s what this week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast is all about... more

14 Mar 2026 • 57 min

From Flour Beetles to Forest Elephants: My 20 Year Wildlife Career

I’ve recently gained a lot of new followers, so for this week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast, I wanted to share with you my vast experience that I’ve had working as a wildlife biologist for nearly twenty years, so that you can fully underst... more

8 Mar 2026 • 1 hr 9 min

Building a Wildlife Career on Your Own Terms: Interview with ME! Dr. Stephanie Manka

Normally when I do an interview for the Fancy Scientist podcast, it’s me interviewing a guest. But for this week’s episode, I’m flipping the script and the guest is….yours truly: Me!!

You see, last year I was interviewed by my friend and fellow podc... more

21 Feb 2026 • 1 hr 5 min

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Up First from NPRNPR

The DailyThe New York Times

Recent Guests

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

Matt Howard

Natural Resource Manager for the Department of Transportation in Utah with a wealth of experience in wildlife conservation.

Department of Transportation, Utah

Episode: Wildlife Crossings and Conservation: Interview with Natural Resources Manager Matt Howard

Jon Taylor

Director of Conservation Optimism

Conservation Optimism

Episode: Why Conservation Needs Optimism: Interview with Conservation Optimism Director Jon Taylor

Host

Dr. Stephanie Manka

Wildlife biologist, science communicator, and host with a focus on practical conservation, mentorship, and engaging science education.

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 Statesa year 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
Canada2 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

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Listeners Say

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

Accessible science tales that balance rigor with uplifting motivation.

Engaging host with practical, non-technical guidance for wildlife careers.

Great resource for students and early-career professionals.

Listeners praise actionable career and communication tips for conservation work.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#247	United States/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts	#227	Canada/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts	#25	Saudi Arabia/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts	#92	Russia/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts	#118	Ireland/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 wildlife biology-focused show hosted by a seasoned scientist who blends field experiences, lab work, and science communication to help listeners explore the natural world and conservation in practical ways. Episodes span career guidance for wildlife professionals, citizen science and education initiatives, and approachable explorations of animals and ecosystems, often highlighting how everyday actions can support conservation.

- Noteworthy for its emphasis on mentorship, entrepreneurship in science, and accessible science literacy, including kid-friendly segments and community science projects. The host frequently discusses career pathways, skill-building (GIS, outreach, storytelling), and strategies for effective science communication,... more

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1. Up First from NPR
2. The Daily

How many episodes of Fancy Scientist are there?

Fancy Scientist launched 6 years ago and published 152 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. Mikayla Magomolla
2. Christina Weber
3. Andrew Lewin
4. Patrick Raney
5. Camilla Price
6. Jamie Bowles
7. Roseanne Parry
8. Matt Howard

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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