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Artwork for Mothering Wildlife

Mothering Wildlife

Elizabeth Johnson
Motherhood
Zookeeping
Work-Life Balance
Maternity Leave
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Animal Care
Postpartum Depression
Brevard Zoo
Body Image During Pregnancy
Animals Anonymous Apparel
Caldwell Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Leadership
Wildlife Conservation
Leadership / Management In Zoos
Akron Zoo
AZA Mid-Year Conference
Work-Life Balance In Zoos
Houston Zoo
Blank Park Zoo

Telling the stories of moms who work in zoo, wildlife, vet, and conservation organizations. Working with wildlife brings a unique set of challenges for working mothers. Join me every other week as I interview moms working primarily in the zoo field as we discuss their journey as moms, navigating the mental, emotional, and often physical challenges that come with caring for wildlife and caring fo... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes73Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Kids & FamilyParenting

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Artwork for Mothering Wildlife

Latest Episodes

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms!

My guest this week is Carley Gonzalez, an Animal Curator, from the Topeka Zoo. While Carley currently spends all of her time working wi... more

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms!

This week's episode is a little different. I wanted to bring together two moms within the zoo field who have IVF as part of their mothe... more

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms!

My guest this week is Ricki Roemer, a Supervisor in the Mammals 2 Department at the Caldwell Zoo. At the time of our interview Ricki wa... more

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms!

My guest this week is Alexis Fitch from Animals Anonymous Apparel! Alexis started her career as a zookeeper, however ultimately decided... more

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Recent Guests

Ricki Roemer
Supervisor in the Mammals 2 Department at the Caldwell Zoo
Caldwell Zoo
Episode: A New Baby and a New Role with Ricki Roemer from the Caldwell Zoo
Alexis Fitch
Founder of Animals Anonymous Apparel, former zookeeper
Animals Anonymous Apparel
Episode: From Zookeeper, to Mom, to Making the Anonymous Animals Known with Alexis Fitch from Animals Anonymous Apparel
Paige Tamayo
Lead Zoologist at the Dallas Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Episode: Body Image During Pregnancy with Paige Tamayo from the Dallas Zoo
Clare Belden-Walker
Animal keeper at Seneca Park Zoo
Seneca Park Zoo
Episode: The Primal Instincts of Motherhood with Clare Belden-Walker from the Seneca Park Zoo
Charley Shepherd
Senior Mammal Care Specialist at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Episode: How Pregnancy and Motherhood Impacts Your Team with Charley Shepherd from the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Loren Berry
Chapter Development Manager for the American Association of Zookeepers, event coordinator for Katie Adamson Conservation Fund (Katie's Night)
American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK); Katie Adamson Conservation Fund (KACF)
Episode: Adapting to Different Roles Through Networking with Loren Berry from the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK)
Briana Schmidt
Lead aquarist at Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium
Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium
Episode: The "Wet Perspective" on Working Motherhood with Briana Schmidt from Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium
Jessica Lelesch
Lead keeper over Hoofstock and Primate team at Akron Zoo
Akron Zoo
Episode: Learning to Live Your New Norm with Jessica Lelesch from the Akron Zoo
Kayla Freeman
Large mammal supervisor
Blank Park Zoo
Episode: Boundaries and Balance Are So Important with Kayla Freeman from Blank Park Zoo

Host

Elizabeth Johnson
Host of the show, focused on moms in wildlife fields

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 31 ratings
  • Awesome!

    Wow, I’m so glad this podcast was recommended to me by a coworker. I am an expecting zoo mom and have been really worried about how to balance motherhood and my work. I’m so glad to have found community within this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kcashman15
    United States3 years ago
  • Our wild tribe!

    Thank you Elizabeth for bringing together our wild tribe of animal/conservation/nature loving mothers! It is such a small community and I’m stoked to hear the next episode. I resonated so much with what was said in the first episode and I’m hooked for more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ashlee O’C
    United States3 years ago
  • Wildlife and wild kids!

    The first episode of this podcast has me hooked! Elizabeth is a great host, and it is really amazing to hear the amazing story told in the first episode. I can’t wait to hear future ones and to see this podcast fill this important niche.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jro125283
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Community-focused and authentic storytelling that resonates with listeners
Earnest community for working wildlife moms
Host builds a welcoming, supportive space for candid conversations
Guests share practical, real-world parenting and leadership insights

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Animal Instincts of Motherhood with Carolyn Mikulskis of the Greensboro Science Center
Q: What advice would you give to moms in the zoo field who are navigating work-life balance?
Her core advice is to know your limits and priorities, discuss flexible arrangements with leadership, consider role changes or part-time options when needed, and remember that career shifts do not erase your future in the field—it's about pivoting, not giving up.
The Animal Instincts of Motherhood with Carolyn Mikulskis of the Greensboro Science Center
Q: What was the pregnancy experience like as a zookeeper, and how did you manage work while expecting?
Carolyn shares details about managing pregnancy while continuing animal care, dealing with morning sickness, and navigating tasks like weights and training; she highlights the importance of support from colleagues and volunteers and the decision to keep pregnancy private at first to avoid dwelling on difficulties.
The Animal Instincts of Motherhood with Carolyn Mikulskis of the Greensboro Science Center
Q: How did being a mom influence your career path and leadership style?
She discusses how motherhood redirected her goals toward management, helped her connect with other managers who have families, and reinforced the importance of prioritizing work that aligns with family needs while maintaining passion for the zoo field.
The Animal Instincts of Motherhood with Carolyn Mikulskis of the Greensboro Science Center
Q: Tell me about your professional career and your current role.
Carolyn explains her trajectory from an early internship to becoming the Assistant Curator at Greensboro Science Center, also handling training and enrichment, tiger keeping, and leading a multi-hat portfolio, with a focus on balancing leadership duties with presence at home.
Advocating While Pregnant and Navigating Upon Your Return to Work with Chelsie Bedingfield from the Sacramento Zoo
Q: What was that first day back like after maternity leave?
She explains how the team dynamic had shifted during her leave, the challenge of reintegrating, and the ongoing process of handing tasks back to her, while balancing the needs of her baby and the zoo.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Mothering Wildlife

What is Mothering Wildlife about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful series highlighting moms who work in wildlife, zoo, veterinary, and conservation roles. Episodes center on balancing hands-on animal care with parenting, exploring topics like maternity leave, postpartum experiences, flexible work arrangements, workplace support, and the mental load of leading teams in demanding environments. Listeners can expect candid conversations about identity shifts, boundary setting, and community building among working mothers in wildlife fields. The show often features zookeepers, educators, veterinarians, and nonprofit leaders, offering practical tips for career progression, leadership, and parenting while pursuing conservation work. A standout thread is the emphasis on creating supportive workplaces ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Mothering Wildlife?

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How many listeners does Mothering Wildlife get?

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What are the audience demographics for Mothering Wildlife?

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How many subscribers and views does Mothering Wildlife have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Mothering Wildlife has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Mothering Wildlife?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Mothering Wildlife:

1. Crime Junkie

How many episodes of Mothering Wildlife are there?

Mothering Wildlife launched 3 years ago and published 73 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Mothering Wildlife?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Mothering Wildlife?

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What guests have appeared on Mothering Wildlife?

Recent guests on Mothering Wildlife include:

1. Ricki Roemer
2. Alexis Fitch
3. Paige Tamayo
4. Clare Belden-Walker
5. Charley Shepherd
6. Loren Berry
7. Briana Schmidt
8. Jessica Lelesch

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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