All Creatures Podcast

Chris recounts the recovery of New Zealand’s Chatham black robin (karure/keruru), an island species devastated by habitat clearing and introduced predators like rats and cats, until its range shrank to tiny Mangere Island.

Numbers fell from 18 birds in 1972 to seven in 1976, then to five by 1980 with only one breeding female, “Old Blue,” paired with “Old Yellow,” leaving the species’ future dependent on her.

Chris tells the story of how conservationists and the New Zealand Wildlife Service team, led by figures like Don Merton, combined translocation, predator control, habitat restoration (including planting about 120,000 trees), and pioneering cross-fostering led to this species survival.

Timeline

Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. 

Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.

We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife.

Please contact us at [email protected]

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What kind of animal can see light we cannot and strike with enough force to crack a crab’s shell? In this classic episode from 2022, Chris and Angie meet the mantis shrimp: a small marine predator with extraordinary eyes and one of the most powerful hunting strikes in the animal world. Some species smash hard-shelled prey, while others use sharp, spear-like limbs to catch fish.

“Mantis shrimp” refers to hundreds of species, so there is no single conservation status for them all. Some face pressure from fishing and the loss of the reefs and seabed habitats they call home. Join us for one of our favorite classic episodes and discover why this remarkable creature deserves attention far beyond its famous punch.

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In this classic episode from 2019, Chris and Angie explore the cheetah’s incredible speed, from its flexible spine and gripping claws to the long tail that helps it turn during a chase. But there is much more to this remarkable cat than its sprint.

Cheetahs are currently listed as Vulnerable globally, while the remaining Asiatic cheetahs in Iran are Critically Endangered. Across their range, shrinking and fragmented habitat leaves cheetahs with less space and fewer wild prey. Many live alongside farmers, where conflict over livestock can lead to cheetahs being killed; cubs are also taken for the illegal pet trade.

Join us to discover why the cheetah’s future depends on protecting connected landscapes and finding ways for people and wildlife to live together.

Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. 

Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.

We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife.

Please contact us at [email protected]

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris speaks with Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Drew Kann about Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp and its new status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

They explore the swamp’s blackwater wetlands, remarkable wildlife, and delicate balance of fire and water. Drew explains how a proposed titanium mine raised concerns about water loss, severe fires, and damage to nearby rivers—until public opposition and a conservation land purchase stopped the project. They also discuss the power of local journalism and why continued protection remains essential.

Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. 

Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.

We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife.

Please contact us at [email protected]

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris and Angie will record a special live episode of the All Creatures podcast on Sunday, October 11 at 6:00 PM at the Grosvenor Auditorium in National Geographic’s new Museum of Exploration in Washington, DC. The live 90-minute event will feature National Geographic explorer, photographer, filmmaker, and conservation storyteller Amy Vitale, whose work documents relationships between people, wildlife, and shared landscapes, including major conservation projects. The event includes audience Q&A, images shown onstage, a post-show meet-and-greet, and tickets can be purchased below.

Live Podcast Tickets HERE

You can also visit the National Geographic Museum of Exploration website and search under What's On- Events.

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Chris talks with ecotherapy facilitator Shaz Audibert about how reconnecting with nature can support wellbeing, ease overwhelm, and inspire conservation. Shaz explains that ecotherapy recognizes humans as part of nature and shares accessible ways to reconnect—even in cities—through parks, street trees, houseplants, the sky, and simple practices such as a daily 10-minute mindful walk.

Connect with Shaz:

Or access her Linktree https://linktr.ee/wildhuman.nature

Timeline:

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Chris and Angie explore Cookiecutter Sharks, small deep-sea predators that use suction, sharp teeth, and a twisting bite to leave neat circular wounds on much larger animals.

They discuss their strange appearance, warm-water range, nightly migrations, and glow-in-the-dark underside, which may help them hide or attract prey. The episode also looks at reproduction, rare reported human bites, and why these little-known sharks are so difficult to study. Finally, they place the species in the wider context of shark conservation, including the ongoing impacts of shark finning.

Be sure to monitor National Geographics Museum of Exploration Website for our upcoming live even on Sunday October 11, 2026 HERE

Timeline

Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. 

Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.

We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife.

Please contact us at [email protected]

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this classic episode from 2020, Chris and Angie explore the remarkable sun bear—the world’s smallest bear and one of Southeast Asia’s most overlooked animals.

From their distinctive golden chest patch and extraordinary climbing skills to their love of insects, fruit, and honey, sun bears are perfectly adapted to life in tropical forests. But habitat loss, poaching, and the illegal pet trade continue to threaten these elusive bears. Join us to discover why sun bears matter, what makes them so unique, and why protecting their forest home protects so much more.

Sun bears remain listed as Vulnerable, with habitat loss and illegal trade among their major threats. IUCN Red List, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre

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Ecologist Dr. Amy McEuen joins Chris to discuss How to Think Like an Ecologist and the power of seeing the world as an interconnected system.

They explore ecosystem resilience, the value of nature connection, Amazon tipping-point debates, Indigenous land rights, biodiversity, freshwater, and nature-based climate solutions. Dr. McEuen also explains why misinformation spreads, why facts alone may not persuade people, and how values-based communication and “pre-bunking” can help. The episode closes with practical hope: collective action matters, and planting native species is one meaningful place to begin.

Dr McEuens website HERE

National Geographic Museum of Exploration HERE

Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. 

Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.

We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife.

Please contact us at [email protected]

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this classic episode from 2021, Chris and Angie explore the remarkable mountain goat, a white-coated specialist built for some of North America’s steepest and most unforgiving terrain.

They discuss the species’ extraordinary hooves, thick winter coat, alpine diet, social behavior, and the challenges of raising young high above the treeline. The conversation also considers the pressures mountain goat populations can face, including changing mountain conditions, habitat disruption, and human disturbance. Join us for a return to one of our early episodes celebrating a true master of the high country.

Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. 

Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.

We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife.

Please contact us at [email protected]

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices