The Podcast Aquatic

Did you realize the Southeastern United States is home to more species of aquatic life than anywhere else in the temperate world? A lot of people, even those who live here, don't realize they live in the midst of an underwater rainforest that rivals celebrated ecosystems like the Amazon Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef.

In 2023, the Aquarium decided to shine a light on the abundance in its own backyard with its newest gallery, Ridges to Rivers. In this week's episode, meet the aquarists who overcame seemingly endless challenges when designing the centerpiece of the gallery, an 18-foot-long artificial stream. This exhibit is so true-to-the-wild that its residents recently engaged in an unprecedented mating display, but getting to this point was no easy feat.

Episode Cast

• Casey Phillips, communications specialist and host
• Avery Millard, senior aquarist (an aquarist II at time of recording)
• Ben Stenger, senior aquarist

The Podcast Aquatic is made possible by support from The Tennessee Conservationist, the official magazine of Tennessee State Parks.Printed sustainably on 100% post-consumer recycled paper with UV ink, each issue is filled with fascinating stories about Tennessee’s native species, rich history, and unique culture. It’s also your guide to exploring state parks and planning your next outdoor adventure.

Become a Tennessee Conservationist and subscribe at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tnconservationist.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Next year is the 50th anniversary of the movie Jaws, which means Hollywood has been hard at work painting sharks as villains of the deep for half a century.

In honor of Shark Week, we're celebrating the launch of The Podcast Aquatic by gathering together a trio of resident shark experts to set the story straight and explain why these marine predators are really just the victims of exceptionally bad PR.

Episode Cast

• Casey Phillips, communications specialist and host
• Kyle McPheeters, senior aquarist
• Adam Johnson, animal care facility lead
• Thom Demas, vice president and chief husbandry and exhibits officer

The Podcast Aquatic is made possible by support from The Tennessee Conservationist, the official magazine of Tennessee State Parks.Printed sustainably on 100% post-consumer recycled paper with UV ink, each issue is filled with fascinating stories about Tennessee’s native species, rich history, and unique culture. It’s also your guide to exploring state parks and planning your next outdoor adventure.

Become a Tennessee Conservationist and subscribe at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tnconservationist.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Suit up, check your tank, cinch up your dive belt and prepare to plunge into interesting discussions with experts from one of the world's largest and most-popular freshwater aquariums.