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Artwork for Talking Animals

Talking Animals

Duncan Strauss
Animal Welfare
Animal Rights
Conservation
Animal Rescue
Animal Behavior
Factory Farming
Safe Paws Rescue
Guide Dogs
Dog Training
Florida
Giant Pandas
Tampa Bay Area
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Amendment 2
Florida Panthers
Hunting
Service Animal Rights
Dog Adoption
Veterinary Care
Bear Hunting

A radio show about animals & animal issues

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes75Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Kids & FamilySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Talking Animals

Latest Episodes

Bill Berloni–renowned for training rescue animals for stage, film, and television in a storied career spanning 50 years—recounts how, as a teenage aspiring theater kid in Connecticut, he was given the opportunity to prepare the dog as the Goodspeed O... more

Owing primarily to Holiday weekend-related snags in booking guests—and retaining guests that had seemed booked–we set aside our typical format, operating guest-free in something of a throwback to the earlier days of “Talking Animals,” when Animal New... more

Deni Elliott–author of the new memoir, “Catching Sight: How A Guide Dog Helped Me See Myself,” and writer or editor of ten previous books—explains the impetus for penning the new one. Befitting a longtime teacher—she’s professor emerita in the Depart... more

Kevin S. Fridy–Professor of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Tampa, and slated after this interview to deliver a talk, “Human Bycatch in a West African Wildlife Corridor,” as part of the Pints of Science lecture series... more

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Recent Guests

Deni Elliott
Author of Catching Sight; Ethics professor emerita; co-director of the National Ethics Project
University of South Florida
Episode: Deni Elliott, author of “Catching Sight: How A Guide Dog Helped Me See Myself”
Kevin S. Fridy
Professor of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Tampa
University of Tampa
Episode: Kevin S. Fridy, Tampa Political Scientist
AJ Sanjar
Biologist researching opossums and Burmese pythons
Key Largo/Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge; Southern Illinois University (MS program); North Carolina Museum of Science (contractor)
Episode: A.J. Sanjar, field biologist studying Burmese pythons and opossums
Laura Hagen
Managing Director of Wildlife, Humane World for Animals (formerly HSUS)
Humane World for Animals
Episode: Laura Hagen, managing director of wildlife at Humane World for Animals
Ronan Donovan
National Geographic Explorer and Visual Storyteller, wildlife biologist turned photographer
National Geographic
Episode: Ronan Donovan, visual storyteller
HH Sherman
Creator of Calico, Sigma Comics, advocate for animal welfare
Sigma Comics
Episode: Ronan Donovan, visual storyteller
Tammy Thies
Founder and executive director of The Wildcat Sanctuary
The Wildcat Sanctuary
Episode: Tammy Thies, founder and executive director of The Wildcat Sanctuary
Mike Birkhead
Co-director, co-producer, co-writer of Legendary Tigers Of India
PBS Nature
Episode: Mike Birkhead, producer-director
Doug Buhr
Organizer of Stand Up for Dogs event for National Dog Fighting Awareness Day
Stand Up for Dogs
Episode: Melanie Sue Bowles, co-founder of Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary & Author

Host

Duncan Strauss
Host of the show, WMNF Public Radio; long-running presence as a knowledgeable interviewer in animal issues.

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 39 ratings
  • Credibility specialist

    I took some time today to listen to your show!! Talking Animals is a fantastic podcast with great info, advice, and perspectives. You won't regret listening to and learning from the podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Credibility specialist
    United States3 years ago
  • Love the information...

    Love the information on this podcast, such interesting stuff!

    Although the communication and interaction with guests is so cringe worthy it makes me turn off the podcast every time I listen. It’s not a natural conversation, it’s always rushed and always cutting guests or phone callers off. It’s so awkward and really ruins the podcast for me.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    imjustine
    Canada6 years ago
  • Mr

    Good app. It's nice

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Nuurdheere
    United States15 years ago
  • Calling all Animal Luvers!

    This podcast is for any and every animal lover out there!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FlamingAsh
    United States18 years ago
  • Upbeat and informative

    What I love about this podcast is the broad range of all-star guests and topics discussed. I'm no vegan or animal rights activist - just an animal lover and pet parent who likes to stay informed on current topics - but I always learn something when I listen to this show. And no matter how serious the topic might be, Duncan keeps it upbeat with music and comedy sketches that always bring me back to my younger days when things were more simple. Duncan's passion for animals and for reaching out to... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    snipeyhead
    United States19 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience enjoys the mix of sanctuary stories, policy talk, and entertaining segments.
Fans appreciate upbeat energy and educational depth, even on serious topics.
Listeners value the diverse guest roster and actionable animal welfare insights.
Some critique the pacing and interview dynamics, noting moments of rapid exchanges with guests.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Deni Elliott, author of “Catching Sight: How A Guide Dog Helped Me See Myself”
Q: How did your own experience with concealing diminishing vision influence your approach to ethics education?
I learned to balance personal vulnerability with professional responsibility, using first-person narratives to teach ethics and encourage safe, civil conversations about disability and difference.
Deni Elliott, author of “Catching Sight: How A Guide Dog Helped Me See Myself”
Q: Can you speak about intelligent disobedience and how dogs decide when to override a human command?
Intelligent disobedience is when the dog, trained to be the eyes, sometimes judges that a human decision isn't safe and acts to protect both parties, a process taught through specific training and reinforced by trust in the dog's judgment.
Deni Elliott, author of “Catching Sight: How A Guide Dog Helped Me See Myself”
Q: But first, as I mentioned in the introduction, you were involved as an editor or co-writer, some 10 books. So what was the impetus for writing this book?
The motivation came from a long academic career in ethics and a recent shift to storytelling that could illuminate the lived experience of guide dog partnerships, making ethical ideas tangible for everyday readers.
Kevin S. Fridy, Tampa Political Scientist
Q: Can you explain the camera traps and what you hoped to learn from them?
Camera traps were used to capture ongoing wildlife activity and human interactions. We planned a year-long deployment to observe patterns of elephants, cattle, herders, and other species, and to understand how communities adapt to wildlife presence.
Kevin S. Fridy, Tampa Political Scientist
Q: What motivated you to study this particular region and topic?
Growing up in rural Florida and later studying West Africa, I found that wildlife and local livelihoods are deeply intertwined, and the corridor between forests could reveal practical lessons for balancing conservation with human needs.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Talking Animals

What is Talking Animals about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show covers animal welfare, conservation, and humane treatment with a focus on practical advocacy, sanctuary operations, and educational outreach. Recent episodes spotlight wildlife rescues, sanctuary design, and policy efforts shaping protections for big cats, elephants, manatees, and marine life, often featuring experienced practitioners and prominent advocates. A recurring strength is translating complex issues into relatable stories, field reports, and calls to action, sometimes balancing serious topics with lighthearted segments and guest-driven deep dives. Listeners are likely fans of wildlife, rescue work, and animal-centered storytelling who appreciate accessible explanations, behind-the-scenes insights, and a spectrum of exper... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Talking Animals?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Talking Animals:

1. Animal Writes - Animal Writers and Best-selling Authors - Pets & Animals

How many episodes of Talking Animals are there?

Talking Animals launched 19 years ago and published 75 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 Talking Animals?

Recent guests on Talking Animals include:

1. Deni Elliott
2. Kevin S. Fridy
3. AJ Sanjar
4. Laura Hagen
5. Ronan Donovan
6. HH Sherman
7. Tammy Thies
8. Mike Birkhead

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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