The Snakeman's Lair

God, where do I even start. It's been so long that you have probably forgotten all about this podcast by now, but hope always dies last. I do realize that I have a lot of radio silence to make up for, so I brought in a guest that is guaranteed to catch your attention.

Dr. Elodie Freymann @elodiefreymann is a primatologist, filmmaker, illustrator, and a whole list of other things I can't even fit here. Her work has taken her to the jungles of Central Africa and then the Amazon, where she has documented the use of makeshift medicines by apes and monkeys- yes, you read that right. They can cure themselves. Hell, we might even have taught and learned from them. Need I say more?

This is an episode you don't want to miss. Away with the dust and cobwebs- The Snakeman's Lair awaits you once again.

A rocky start of the year, but The Snakeman's Lair is never truly closed. This time, the gates are wide open to welcome the wisdom and energy of an amazing guest. Harrison Carter is... Well, a lot of things really- investment management consultant, conservationist, herpetologist, advocate, PhD candidate, and the list goes on. Believe me, it was hard to keep track of it all when I had the pleasure to listen to him. From venomous snake relocations in Sri Lanka to building lion-proof fences in Kenya and restoring temperate rainforest in Cornwall, Harrison has experienced all sides and aspects of wildlife conservation at such a young age. And rest assured, he does not shy away from strong takes on what is needed for it all to work. I know you are dying to hear more, so come on in and meet us in the lounge of The Snakeman's Lair!

Did you miss The Snakeman's Lair? Fret not, because we are back!

People far and wide, meet Amalia Espinoza Regalado , a rising star in herpetology and conservation now busy researching wildlife in her native Ecuador. Snakes, spiders, scorpions, lush rainforests and arcane caves- Amalia's passion has taken her a long way in such a short career so far. Growing up in a science-minded household, the constant fight against mining companies in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and filming a documentary with Will Smith are just some highlights of her interview here on The Snakeman's Lair. You don't want to miss it. We will be here waiting for you!

Bottom of the sea? Check. Scorching desert? Check. Frosted Steppe? Check. Afterlife? You could say, check.

This seemingly nonsensical list is actually a summary of the life of Dr. Gino Caspari, whom I have welcomed into The Snakeman's Lair as this episode's guest. Dr. Caspari is an archaeologist whose quest towards understanding how ancient people lived and believed led him on several expeditions around the globe. One constant of his work has been the awareness that civilizations have always been constrained and shaped by the environment while also heavily modifying and exploiting it for their own benefit.

As a case in point, Dr. Caspari and colleagues recently published the sensational discovery of a burial mound in Siberia where a clan of ancient Scythians (nomadic horsemen from the steppes of central Asia) showed the unbreakable bond they shared with their horses in a most spectacular way. To hear all about this and much more, all you have to do is join us in The Snakeman's Lair!

Now that the holidays are finally here, what better way to relax than listening to incredible stories from trailblazers in science and conservation?

For our Season 2 premiere, The Snakeman's Lair welcomes a visionary biologist who just can't seem to ever have a bad idea. From humble beginnings in northern Italy (relatable), Dr. Martina Panisi moved abroad after high school (also relatable) and went on to win grants from The Explorers Club and National Geographic (unfortunately not relatable).

Always passionate about invertebrates, Dr. Panisi worked on the conservation of giant snails in the island of São Tomé off the coast of west Africa before switching to biodiversity monitoring in the Arabian peninsula. To hear all about this and much more, all you have to do is tune in. Welcome back to The Snakeman's Lair!

The Snakeman's Lair has reached its first season finale, but before we move forward I thought it was high time we had a look back- way back. Today our doors open to welcome paleontologist Adele Pentland, who does pretty much what any child in their right mind dreams of: live in the middle of the Australian outback and dig up fossils from a time so remote it is hard to even picture. Adele's work mainly involves fossilf from the Cretaceous, the last period of the age of the dinosaurs, which is scarcely known here in Australia. She has already described two new species of pterosaurs (flying reptiles) and much more is on the way- I mean, I couldn't pick just *anyone* to close off the season. Other than that, Adele will also tell us all about what life as a paleontologist really is like beyond Jurassic Park, the role of natural history museums, and the bond between life and the land. All you have to do now is tune in and join us in The Snakeman's Lair!

When we think about evolution, we imagine impossibly long time scales stretching back to tens or even hundreds of million years ago. Which is true, make no mistake- but far from the whole story. Evolution can be incredibly fast, with new traits and adaptations sprouting seemingly out of absolute nowhere. In this episode, The Snakeman's Lair welcomes world-renowned evolutionary biologist Prof. Menno Schilthuizen, whose interests range from adaptations of wildlife (especially invertebrates) to urban environments to the evolution of sex organs- and trust me, if that doesn't blow your minds I don't know what will. And there's more- have you ever thought about how new species are described? Well, look no further, because the next one might even be described by you. Now that we have your attention, all you have to do is tune in and join us in The Snakeman's Lair!

Studying spiders and scorpions is already a poorly rewarded job on its own- now imagine spending your life doing that while at the same time facing war and workplace discrimination. This is the story of Dr. Manal Siyam, who joined me in The Snakeman's Lair to talk about scorpion envenomation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) as well as the taxonomy of scorpions and spiders. Powered by an undying love for these animals and passion for science, Dr. Siyam broke barriers as a woman and mother in science from her homeland of Sudan to Germany and now the United Arab Emirates. At the AMSAAL venom facility in Dubai, Dr. Siyam and her colleagues are now working to find new treatments and prevention for scorpion stings, paving the way for local scientists to reclaim the biodiversity of their homeland. To hear all about this and more, you need only tune in and meet us in The Snakeman's Lair!

The Snakeman's Lair is once again open to all - and snakes themselves are finally reclaiming the spotlight. Joining us today is Jenna Palmisano, a herpetologist and parasitologist based in Florida, where she is investigating a silent invasion of Asiatic lung worms (Raillietiella orientalis) in the endangered dusky pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri). Florida is a global hotspot of invasive species, which have already altered the local environment beyond repair. But all is not lost. Come on in as Jenna reveals the dangers and hopes for Florida's snakes from the very front lines of science and conservation. We are waiting for you in The Snakeman's Lair!

Creatures of striking appearance, awe-inspiring yet frightening at the same time, with power beyond our human limits. Plenty of animals fit this description, but crocodiles sure embody it. Brandon Sideleau knows it all too well after a lifetime spent studying them and their relationship with humans. Evil murderers to some, benevolent deities to others, crocodiles never fail to make an impact.

And yet, in the end they are "just" animals, with needs and instincts and thought. There is so much more to them than size, teeth, and leather. Today, The Snakeman's Lair is proud to welcome Brandon for a masterclass on all things crocodile- after which, I hope, you might feel more confident as to where to draw the line between monsters and gods.