Rephonic
Artwork for Just the Zoo of Us
Conservation
Marine Biology
Ecology
Wildlife Conservation
Evolution
African Pygmy Hedgehog
Common Snapping Turtle
Bobcats
Solenodon
Sturgeon
Habitat Loss
Cicadas
Leafcutter Ants
Sea Turtles
Hazel Dormouse
Albatrosses
American Paddlefish
Giant Anteater
Hairy Frog
Endangered Species

Join us, Ellen and Christian Weatherford, while we review your favorite species of animals and rate them out of ten in the categories of effectiveness, ingenuity and aesthetics. More information can be found at justthezooofus.com 😊 Got a species you want us to review? Submit your animal friend to us at ellen@justthezooofus.com and when we review your animal we'll give you a shoutout! 😊 Cover art... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes366Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NatureKids & FamilyPets & AnimalsScience

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Artwork for Just the Zoo of Us

Latest Episodes

Join Ellen & special guest marine biologist Kristyn Plancarte for a review of the world’s wettest weasels. We discuss beluga whales’ fake six packs, the unique challenges of caring for animals who so desperately crave chaos and destruction, dolphin M... more

YouTube

Ellen is blowing up about pufferfish. We discuss what pufferfish have in common with chameleons, seafloor crop circles, culinary applications of deadly neurotoxin, and so much more.

Works Cited:

• “All puffed out: Do pufferfish hold their breath w... more

YouTube

Join Ellen & special guest, journalist and writer Sharon Guynup, for stories from the world of conservation. Our guest’s career has taken her all over the world, from the forests of India to the highways of rural America, where she has experienced bo... more

YouTube

Ellen & special guest Isaac answer questions from young listeners! We discuss bug guts, milking squids, the blobfish's secret Final Form, getting upped, ancient sharks with table saws for faces, and so much more.

Links:

• For more information abou... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Sharon Guynup
Journalist and writer focusing on wildlife and conservation
Mongabay (contributing editor); National Geographic contributor
Episode: 345: Conservation Stories w/ Sharon Guynup!
Dan Werb
Writer, epidemiologist, and researcher
Author of Our Wild Familiars
Episode: 343: Synanthropes w/ Dan Werb!
Ed Britten
Wildlife biologist who works for the government
Illinois wildlife forestry program (Mississippi River corridor)
Episode: Terrestrials: The Trio w/ Lulu Miller!
Nathani Means
Hip hop artist with Indigenous heritage
Indigenous communities (Lakota/Dene)
Episode: Terrestrials: The Trio w/ Lulu Miller!
Crystal Flesher
Amateur birder, associated with the American Eagle Foundation
American Eagle Foundation
Episode: Terrestrials: The Trio w/ Lulu Miller!
Cassandra Fieldson
Science communicator and infectious disease researcher
Seattle Children's Research Institute, Kaushansky Lab
Episode: 341: Elephant Mosquito w/ Cassandra Fieldson!
Rick Schwartz
Wildlife educator affiliated with San Diego Zoo and wildlife education initiatives
San Diego Zoo
Episode: 339: Binturong w/ Rick Schwartz!
Lisa Dabek
Founder of the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program; senior conservation scientist at Woodland Park Zoo
Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program / Woodland Park Zoo
Episode: 337: Tree Kangaroos w/ Lisa Dabek!
Jack Koch
Scientist from Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
Louisiana State University
Episode: 336: Crawfish w/ Jack Koch!

Hosts

Ellen Weatherford
Host of Just the Zoo of Us; co-hosts with Christian Weatherford; known for warm, story-driven animal science discussions.
Christian Weatherford
Co-host; provides complementary scientific curiosity and humor in animal science conversations.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Undeniably best podcast ever

    I haven’t quite been listening from the start, but over the past three to four years I have listened to every episode at least a solid four times. I absolutely love the Ellen-Christian dynamic! Definitely recommend, and it’s by far the number one animal podcast for sure (trust me, I’ve listened to my share). Love the podcast! ❤️🐌

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    🐌Mooraw Fish🍃
    United States7 days ago
  • Love this

    As a person who loves going on Internet rabbit holes and yapping about said rabbit holes.This podcast does the research for me but I can still yap about all the things I learned.thanks Ellen and Christian!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ďżźShade mist
    United States8 days ago
  • Kid question

    Here is a question for the next kid question “how much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood”

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    p CV
    United States9 days ago
  • S tier podcast. The content is information dense, well researched and sourced. It is presented with only a small percentage of digressions and chitchat between the hosts which, being married, have a cozy chemistry. It's on the Maxfun network and has no paid advertising.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Harencar
    9 days ago
  • Free Christian

    Would be five but free Christian and bring back the old theme song

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Christianisthegoat
    United States11 days ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate cross-show collaborations and conservation-focused topics.
Episodes are described as informative, entertaining, and accessible for non-experts.
The show is commended as a reliable, engaging entry in natural world storytelling.
Guest diversity and practical takeaways are frequently highlighted.
Listeners praise the hosts' mix of humor and solid science.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#7
United States/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#67
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#13
Canada/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#29
United Kingdom/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#109
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#173
United Kingdom/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

344: Kid Questions with Isaac!
Q: Eli asks for podcasting tips for a young aspiring podcaster and how much time goes into producing an episode.
Ellen and Christian advise starting with a fun idea, being consistent, and discuss their workflow of researching, recording, editing, and posting, plus the importance of room acoustics and mic technique.
Terrestrials: The Trio w/ Lulu Miller!
Q: Could you summarize what makes this trio biologically possible and socially significant?
The trio shows that cooperative nesting can arise in bald eagles, with two males and a female sharing duties, fending off threats, and parenting together, which expands our understanding of what 'family' can look like in wildlife.
337: Tree Kangaroos w/ Lisa Dabek!
Q: How long do the young stay with the mother in the pouch?
The joeys spend about three months in the pouch with teats, then start wriggling and poking heads out around five months, and are mostly weaned by 14 months, though they may stay with the mother longer in some cases.
337: Tree Kangaroos w/ Lisa Dabek!
Q: What about ingenuity—how do they navigate their forest is particularly impressive?
They climb up to 100 feet, curl up in the rain with a fur gutter, sun themselves when possible, and can leap down up to around 60 feet, which is an extraordinary suite of survival skills for a rainforest marsupial.
337: Tree Kangaroos w/ Lisa Dabek!
Q: Lisa, what do you give Tree Kangaroos out of 10 for effectiveness?
I'd give them an eight for effectiveness because their arboreal adaptations and camouflage are strong, though joeys still have a learning curve and sometimes fall during climbs, which prevents a perfect 10.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Just the Zoo of Us

What is Just the Zoo of Us about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science-forward, lighthearted show that explores a broad range of wildlife topics through engaging conversations with researchers, conservationists, and educators. Episodes balance deep-dive biology with practical takeaways, fieldwork anecdotes, and cultural context, often featuring guests who bring hands-on expertise in animal behavior, conservation, and science communication. The hosts pair curiosity and humor to make complex topics accessible, covering charismatic species, ecological challenges, and intriguing intersections between animals and human culture. A standout element is the mix of field-based insights, cross-podcast collaborations, and real-world actions listeners can take (volunteering, donations, educational outreach). This... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Just the Zoo of Us?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Just the Zoo of Us:

1. Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine
2. Secretly Incredibly Fascinating
3. Let's Learn Everything!
4. Wonderful!
5. My Brother, My Brother And Me

How many episodes of Just the Zoo of Us are there?

Just the Zoo of Us launched 7 years ago and published 366 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 Just the Zoo of Us?

Recent guests on Just the Zoo of Us include:

1. Sharon Guynup
2. Dan Werb
3. Ed Britten
4. Nathani Means
5. Crystal Flesher
6. Cassandra Fieldson
7. Rick Schwartz
8. Lisa Dabek

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