
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Welcome to our End Of Year episode, where Jenn & Kate wrap up the year with what impacted us, what was challenging for us, and what inspired us. We are sharing our rose, thorn, and seed with you all in reflection of an amazing year at The Kindred Podcast. We wish you all the best and thank you so much for your years of support. We wouldn't be here without you, and we are eternally grateful for the opportunity to create this podcast for you, and for the incredible flora and fauna we live among that make this planet the most exquisite planet around. And for the humans we are so lucky to speak with, working tirelessly in support of this beautiful blue world. Happy New Year. All the best for your 2026. And as always, lots of love.
In this week’s episode we are speaking with Kojo Baidoo, a naturalist and ecologist, all about the incredible vulture. Kojo received his degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University where he did his senior thesis on black vultures. He is currently working with the Nature Conservancy in Nebraska on the Platte River Prairies learning about land management and conservation on about 4000 acres of protected prairie land.
Kojo is just starting out in his formal career, but he’s been a lifetime birder and is a lover of vultures, and part of his mission is fighting back against the negative PR animals like vultures get through his photography and social media which heavily features vultures. And so we asked him to join us as part of our mini-series dispelling false narratives about many animals.
Thanks for joining us and we hope you share this episode!
Lots of love.
Episode Time Stamps:
Introduction: 00:16
Interview: 7:50
TA: 53:29
Show Notes:
https://www.instagram.com/kojobirder/
🔎 Please find out more info and message us at:
Website: www.kindredpodcast.co
BlueSky: @thekindredpod.bsky.social
YouTube: @TheKindredPodcast
Instagram: @thekindredpod
Facebook: @Kindred
☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.
💚 Thanks.
In this week’s episode we are speaking with Dr. Catherine Macdonald, marine conservation biologist and shark ecologist. Catherine is a scientist and Research Assistant Professor at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science at the University of Miami. She is the Director of the Shark Research and Conservation Program (SRC), which focuses on shark research and public science engagement and education. And she is a co-founder of the Field School, a marine field science training program.
The reason we wanted to speak with Catherine about sharks was to hear about her work focusing on shark ecology and conservation and the marine habitats they live in and keep in balance. It’s really important for us to understand how sharks operate in these spaces because they are major contributors to marine ecosystems and are so critical to maintaining healthy marine habitats. This episode is part of a mini series we are doing this season on deeply misunderstood animals like sharks, possums, bats, and hyenas. We are working to elevate our perceptions of these species and dispel the false narratives that seem to follow them even today.
Please join us in our conversation with Dr. Catherine Macdonald and learn about a new floating mechanism or technique that I feel I’d really benefit from-a swim bladder! Or perhaps a large oily liver if you're a shark!
Lots of Love.
Episode Time Stamps:
Introduction: 00:15
Interview: 8:13
TA: 59:02
Show Notes:
https://journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/121/11/1771/30038/The-importance-of-stupidity-in-scientific-research
https://people.miami.edu/profile/b62f85c42af2751a19bd6ff4a49fe326
https://www.drcatherinemacdonald.com/
https://www.instagram.com/drcatmac/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/sharktagging/?hl=en
https://www.storycollider.org/stories/2020/1/21/code-of-ethics-stories-about-doing-the-right-thing
🔎 Please find out more info and message us at:
Website: www.kindredpodcast.co
BlueSky: @thekindredpod.bsky.social
YouTube: @TheKindredPodcast
Instagram: @thekindredpod
Facebook: @Kindred
☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.
💚 Thanks.
In this week’s episode, we are speaking with Chris Strub, a wildlife rehabilitator who has worked in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation for over 10 years. Chris started out as a volunteer at the Wild Bird Fund in New York City. He then moved to The Schuylkill Center in Philadelphia as the director of their wildlife clinic, and finally to Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center on Long Island.
One of Chris’ favorite animals, and one he has worked a lot with, is the possum. And one of our goals here at Kindred is to educate ourselves on the true nature of animals, especially those that are deeply misunderstood, in order to change our misconceptions of animals like the possum, or hyena, or shark. So we have asked Chris to talk to us all about this sweet and helpful creature to do just that.
And what you think you know about possums and why they behave the way they do, well, get ready to be super surprised!
And without further ado, let us introduce you to North America’s ONLY MARCUPIAL!
And the sweet angel babies of our backyards.
Thanks so much for being here, and lots of love.
Time Stamps:
Introduction: 00:17
Interview: 10:05
Show Notes:
https://schuylkillcenter.org/
https://www.wildbirdfund.org/
https://wildliferescuecenter.org/
https://www.cornell.edu/about/
🔎 Please find out more info and message us at:
Website: www.kindredpodcast.co
YouTube: @TheKindredPodcast
Instagram: @thekindredpod
Facebook: @Kindred
☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.
💚 Thanks.
In this week’s episode, we are diving into all things hyenas! Yep, we’re that excited. And to take us on this deep dive we have asked hyena expert and behavioral ecologist Dr. Kay Holekamp to educate us all about this amazing animal and talk to us about the 30 + years of research and data her team has been collecting.
Dr. Holekamp is head of the Department of Integrative Biology and is director of the Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior Program at Michigan State University.
Dr. Holekamp is recognized as one of the world’s leading behavioral ecologists focusing specifically on the study of the evolution of intelligence, animal behavior, and behavioral neuroendocrinology.
Dr. Holekamp also leads the Mara Hyena Project based in Kenya where she and her team have been collecting data covering 10 generations of hyenas. All the while dispelling false narratives of these amazing animals and replacing them with a deep understanding of the true lives of Hyenas.
We are dedicating this episode to Jane Goodall, and to power houses, like Dr. Holekamp. Deep bow to the women in science and research who have inspired us and who are working tirelessly in conservation in support of our Kindred species.
Lots of Love.
Time Stamps:
Introduction: 00:15
Interview: 6:23
TA: 48:31
Show Notes:
https://www.holekamplab.org/
https://eeb.msu.edu/news/notes-from-holekamp-lab-in-kenya-meet-the-south-clan.aspx
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/spotted-hyenas-queens
🔎 Please find out more info and message us at:
Website: www.kindredpodcast.co
YouTube: @TheKindredPodcast
Instagram: @thekindredpod
Facebook: @Kindred
☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.
💚 Thanks.
As She Rises is back for its fourth season, hosted by Leah Thomas, founder of The Intersectional Environmentalist. This season, As She Rises is exploring rewilding—the practice of restoring ecosystems to their natural state. We’ll hear how communities are letting the land lead, and reimagining what it means to truly coexist with the natural world. Follow wherever you're listening to this so you never miss an episode!
Show Notes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/as-she-rises/id1585244876
🔎 Please find out more info and message us at:
Website: www.kindredpodcast.co
YouTube: @TheKindredPodcast
Instagram: @thekindredpod
Facebook: @Kindred
☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.
💚 Thanks.
In this week’s episode, we are speaking with Deborah Blum, environmental journalist, Pulitzer-prize winning science writer and science columnist.
Let me explain why we have asked Deborah to join us.
In 1962, American marine biologist, science writer, and conservationist Rachel Carson writes a pivotal book in our history, titled Silent Spring, which skillfully lays out the very real life scenario of how and where poisonous chemicals and controls, like DDT, were created and distributed by the US government in hand with major chemical companies and were used in agricultural fields, orchards, and private homeowners.
What consumers didn’t know at the time was that chemicals like DDT were doing immeasurable and great harm to animals, ecosystems, and humans.
We have asked Deborah Blum to speak with us about Rachel Carson because of Blum’s extensive qualifications as a science writer, and for the fact that she only just recently retired as the Director of the Knight Science Journalism program at MIT, and has specialised in toxicology for the last 15 years, writing about poisons and pesticides in our everyday lives.
Time Stamps:
Intro: 00:15
Interview: 9:40
TA: 55:50
Show Notes:
https://deborahblum.com/
PBS with Blum featured
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeJNRaE11A0
A short film on Rachel Carson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezVEzCmiXM4
🔎 Please find out more info and message us at:
Website: www.kindredpodcast.co
YouTube: @TheKindredPodcast
Instagram: @thekindredpod
Facebook: @Kindred
☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.
💚 Thanks.
Kindred is back, hosted by Kate Coffin and Jenn Asplundh. This season, we’re flipping the script on creatures everyone loves to hate — from hyenas and vultures to bats and possums — and showing why they’re fascinating, essential, and surprisingly lovable.
Join us as we explore the hidden connections between humans, animals, and nature, and discover stories that will make you see the world in a whole new way. Follow Kindred wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode!
Learn more, find past episodes, and support the podcast at www.kindredpodcast.co
🔎 Please find out more info and message us at:
Website: www.kindredpodcast.co
YouTube: @TheKindredPodcast
Instagram: @thekindredpod
Facebook: @Kindred
☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.
💚 Thanks.
Originally released July 23, 2024. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in October 2025.
In this week’s episode, we travel to Denmark and speak with author and long time marine biologist Hanne Strager about the incredible and dynamic predator the killer whale, or orca if you prefer.
Hanne specializes in marine wildlife, specifically killer whales, and has recently published her new book titled, The Killer Whale Journals: Our Love and Fear of Orcas.
We wanted to speak with Hanne because we are keenly interested in the relationship humans have with predators and why killer whales have long been persecuted, misunderstood, and even demonised by humans, like MANY predators whether that be on land or sea. We think they are dynamic, highly intelligent, gorgeous, and captivating animals and Hanne tells us why!
What an absolute honor to speak with Hanne. We steeped in her knowledge and experience and mostly her poignant insights on not only killer whales but also her view of the relationship we have with animals like killer whales and other powerful and intelligent predators.
Also, take a listen to this week's introduction to the episode and weigh in on whether my “joke” about killer whales is actually a joke, a riddle, or just a question! Jenn is most definitely unsure! Lols.
Lots of Love.
Episode Timestamps:
Introduction: 00:52
Interview: 5:35
TA: 51:48
Show Notes:
https://hannestrager.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hannestrager/
https://www.thewhale.no/en
Articles:
https://www.raincoast.org/2024/05/southern-residents-salmon-science/
https://www.afar.com/magazine/the-whale-museum-to-open-in-norway-in-2022
https://dortemandrup.dk/work/whale-norway
Amazing video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhmJkIUH_qw
🔎 Please find out more info and message us at:
Website: www.kindredpodcast.co
YouTube: @TheKindredPodcast
Instagram: @thekindredpod
Facebook: @Kindred
☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.
💚 Thanks.
Originally released May 14, 2024. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in October 2025.
In this week’s conversation, we are speaking with William Housty, Associate Director of the Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department in Bella Bella, British Columbia. The HIRMD are in charge of overseeing the management of all natural resources in the Heiltsuk territory, including the beautiful and captivating sea wolves.
There is an air of magic and mystery about these sea swimming wolves that compel you to want to know, who are these beings and what is their story. William Housty tells us that story and what sea wolves mean to not only him, but to the Heiltsuk Nation.
There are moments when you look into the eyes of another species and see into their being and know there is more… there is a story of life, suffering, and beauty, and a deep recognition and resonance. You know all at once you are not separate from or above them, but tied through a millennium of evolution and kinship.
Thank you to William for inviting us into this story of the sea wolf. We are so grateful for the chance to listen and to see.
Lots of Love.
Show Notes:
https://www.heiltsuknation.ca/
🔎 Please find out more info and message us at:
Website: www.kindredpodcast.co
YouTube: @TheKindredPodcast
Instagram: @thekindredpod
Facebook: @Kindred
☕️ Please support us at Buy Me A Coffee or Subscribe on Apple Podcasts.
✏️ Please follow, rate, and review - wherever you listen to your podcasts.
💚 Thanks.
From the publisher's feed

37,658 Listeners

26,831 Listeners

10,425 Listeners

1,255 Listeners

87,116 Listeners

111,799 Listeners

56,447 Listeners

24,539 Listeners

9,271 Listeners

3,415 Listeners

50,432 Listeners

12,486 Listeners

197 Listeners

210 Listeners

181 Listeners