Hello everyone and welcome to Episode One Hundred and Three!  And while we’re at it, I hope you all remain safe and healthy out there, including all the folks who are recovering in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton.

As always, I am grateful to all the show’s patrons who help to keep the show moving forward. And if you’re out there listening and you would like to kick in a few bucks, it’s easy to do, you simply go to the So Much Pingle Patreon page. You can support the show for as little as three bucks a month – less than a fancy cup of coffee!  PLEASE NOTE:  Starting in November 2024, Apple will be charging a 30% fee for any Patreon transactions made through an iPhone or iPad using the Patreon app.  To get around this, go directly to Patreon.com, or use an Android device. If you already contribute to So Much Pingle, nothing changes, unless you decide to change how much you contribute.  In that case use an Android device or a computer to access the Patreon web site to make your changes, and avoid the ridiculous 30% fee.

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In early October I sat down with Bob Hansen and Jackson Shedd, to talk about their new book, California Amphibians and Reptiles, a Princeton Field Guide.  I’m very excited about this, as I am sure many of you are, because California is most deserving of a good field guide and now I won’t have to rely on Robert Stebbins’ Western Field Guide so much, even though the old Stebbins guide is a masterpiece in its own right. I’ve known for a while about this book, and I made a mental note to check in with Bob and Jackson at the appropriate time to discuss it, which is now, because the book is available for pre-order this week, mid-October 2024, with delivery in January of 2025.

Here is the pre-order link at Princeton University Press

Thanks for talking with me, Jackson and Bob!  And thanks for listening everyone! And as always, please keep the comments and suggestions coming, and please take time to rate the show on your podcast platform! The show email is [email protected], and there’s also a So Much Pingle group on Facebook, for discussion, comments, feedback, suggestions, herp confessions, tips for herping better, etc.

-Mike