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Artwork for The Deal with Animals with Marika S. Bell

The Deal with Animals with Marika S. Bell

Marika S. Bell
Animal Welfare
Animal Communication
Animal Behavior
Dog Training
Dogs
Human-Animal Connection
Dog Behavior
Animal Advocacy
Chickens
Sex and Animals
Animal Reproduction
Human Intervention
Aggression
Emotional Connection
Animal Consciousness
Mother Cow
Ethics
Predation Behavior
Animals
Psychology

Humans interact with animals every day of our lives: diet, wildlife, clothes and even medicines, are all intersections we often don’t think about. This is a podcast about the interactions and connections between humans and non-human animals. Our mission is to make research more accessible to the public while sharing the voices and lived experience of our human connection with animals.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes161Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureScience

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Artwork for The Deal with Animals with Marika S. Bell

Latest Episodes

Episode 4 of Series 16: The Captivity Conversation Transcript

Dr. Culum Brown's insights challenge our assumptions about agency underwater and ask us to reconsider what captivity means for animals whose intelligence we’ve long underestimated.

Gues... more

Episode 3 of Series 16: The Captivity Conversation - Transcript

In this episode, animal welfare scientist Lauri Torgerson‑White unpacks how sanctuaries can become true multispecies communities, exploring what agency, choice, and ethical care look l... more

Episode Two of Series 16: The Captivity Question- Transcript (linked)

Primatologist, Andy Gray explains how primate sanctuaries exist to provide lifelong, species‑appropriate care—especially social companionship—for primates who often arrive with tr... more

Episode One of Series 16 : The Captivity Question - Transcript (linked)

Dr. Susan Friedman joins me to explore captivity through the lens of behaviour science — from choice and control to “freeing the operant,” honouring the no, and shaping the yes.... more

The is the Spring Special Episode! Transcript

McConnell describes learning the craft of fiction, developing protagonist Maddie McGowan, for her recently released murder mystery, 'Away To Me'. The conversation also explores what herding teaches abou... more

Wrapping up Series 15: I’m filled with gratitude for the incredible insights shared by researchers on animal communication. From primates to birds, it's evident that the way we connect with animals echoes far beyond what we initially perceive. This s... more

Episode 6 of Series 15: Animal Communications - Transcript (linked)

I’m joined by Dr. Kaeli Swift and Dr. William Feeney to explore how birds learn from one another—sometimes within a species, sometimes across species lines. From crows passing along... more

This is a quick explanation of a phenomenon seen in animals who are considered 'conscious' beings. Essentially the difference between automatic or reflexive responses to their environment and reactions that are thought out.

This was my final project... more

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Recent Guests

Culum Brown
Professor, Fish Lab, Macquarie University
Macquarie University
Episode: 143. The Captivity of Fishes with Dr. Culum Brown
Lauri Torgerson-White
Animal Welfare Scientist and Co-Founder of Operation Angels
Operation Angels
Episode: 142. Creating a Multispecies Community with Animal Welfare Scientist, Lauri Torgerson-White (S16)
Andy Gray
Primatologist and Director of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance
North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA)
Episode: 141. Where Primates Go to Heal with Primatologist Andy Gray
Susan Friedman
Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Utah State University; internationally recognized applied behavior scientist
Utah State University
Episode: 140. Choice and Control with Applied Behavior Scientist, Dr. Susan Friedman
Patricia McConnell
Board certified animal behaviorist, writer, and novelist
Author of Away To Me; former research and teaching roles
Episode: 139. Spring Special! With Dr. Patricia McConnell on on Solving Murders and Herding Dogs
Will Feeney
Research fellow at Griffith University and Max Planck Institute for Ornithology
Griffith University; Max Planck Institute for Ornithology
Episode: 138. Crows, Cuckoos, and the Evolution of Avian Communication with researchers Kaeli Swift and Will Feeney
Kaeli Swift
Behavioral ecologist and avian ecologist
University of Washington
Episode: 138. Crows, Cuckoos, and the Evolution of Avian Communication with researchers Kaeli Swift and Will Feeney
Emily Taylor
Professor of Biological Sciences studying physiology, ecology, and conservation of reptiles and amphibians at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Author of California Herping Guides.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Episode: 137. Under Rocks and Soil: Cutting-Edge Discoveries in Reptile Communication with Dr. Emily Taylor and Dr. Julia Riley(S15)
Julia Riley
Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Integrative Wildlife Ecology at Mount Allison University, leading a lab focused on the behavior and conservation of reptiles.
Mount Allison University
Episode: 137. Under Rocks and Soil: Cutting-Edge Discoveries in Reptile Communication with Dr. Emily Taylor and Dr. Julia Riley(S15)

Host

Marika S. Bell
Host of the show and a researcher/anthrozoologist with extensive experience discussing animal communication, welfare, and ethics.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

142. Creating a Multispecies Community with Animal Welfare Scientist, Lauri Torgerson-White (S16)
Q: What three practical steps should someone take first if they want to start a sanctuary?
1) Do thorough research to understand the scale and implications; 2) Prepare for substantial ongoing financial needs and fundraising; 3) Learn animal welfare science and husbandry to keep animal numbers low enough for individualized care.
142. Creating a Multispecies Community with Animal Welfare Scientist, Lauri Torgerson-White (S16)
Q: What is a good sanctuary to look like in practice?
A sanctuary should have clear criteria across multiple categories, prioritize animal autonomy and welfare, maintain long-term commitments, and ensure governance and funding are structured to support high-quality care while balancing safety and residents' agency.
138. Crows, Cuckoos, and the Evolution of Avian Communication with researchers Kaeli Swift and Will Feeney
Q: How do crows decide when to share information about a predator with others?
Naive birds learn by watching experienced birds respond to threats; there's a real-time, observational learning process that propagates alarm responses across the flock.
136. New Year Special! The Future of Scientific Ethics: Trust and Transparency in Animal Research with Dr. Nuno Henrique Franco
Q: How do you think that we can solve this? Is the public, is there something they can do in order to move this in a more transparent direction?
For the public to do anything about it, the public would have to be aware of it.
136. New Year Special! The Future of Scientific Ethics: Trust and Transparency in Animal Research with Dr. Nuno Henrique Franco
Q: How high is transparency on your list of things you want to talk to them about?
It's really high.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across episodes, conversations center on the human–animal interface, covering topics from how birds communicate and think, to ethics in animal research, to humane dog training and welfare. Listeners are treated to a mix of primary research summaries, field observations, and practical implications for pet owners and conservation-minded audiences. A recurring strength is translating scientific findings into accessible stories and ethical considerations, often challenging human-centric assumptions about animal minds, behavior, and welfare. The show occasionally features practitioners and researchers who bring rigorous methods and lived experiences to bear on contentious topics like animal consciousness, predator-prey dynamics, and the ethics o... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Simplifying Shelter Behaviour
2. Animal Training Academy
3. Enrichment for the Real World
4. Pod to the Rescue
5. Hidden Brain

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this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 161 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Culum Brown
2. Lauri Torgerson-White
3. Andy Gray
4. Susan Friedman
5. Patricia McConnell
6. Will Feeney
7. Kaeli Swift
8. Emily Taylor

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