Zoo-notable

New episodes are dropping starting January 1!

We have some incredible books lined up:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

It Takes What It Takes by Trevor Moawad

Unbowed by Wangari Maathai

The Tribe of Tiger by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

plus more interviews with authors and friends to "tell me a story."

...and so much more

Subscribe to Zoo-notable and never miss a single note!

It's my last Zoo-notable for 2022. As I prepare to go on my reading break, I thought I'd share some of my favorites from this past year. Here are my top 10 favorite Zoo-notables of the year:

10- The Secret Lives of Bats by Merlin Tuttle

9- Planet Palm by Jocelyn Zuckerman

8- On Writing by Stephen King

7- Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown

6- The Eye of the Trainer by Ken Ramirez

5- Finding Eco-Happiness by Sandy Schwartz

4- Where the Wild Things Were by William Stoltzenburg

3- Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet by Thich Nhat Hanh

2- Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

1- Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols

I also share a special Tell Me a Story where I talk about our move to Tacoma.

Want more Zoo-notable goodness while I'm on break? Join the ZooFit Pride on Patreon, or sign up for my newsletter/blog on ZooFit.

Happy Vet Tech Week. I'm sharing some really insightful and helpful information for animal care technicians from an expert in the field, Dr. Kimberly Pope-Robinson, who has written an incredible book The Unspoken Life. We sat down to discuss what the Unspoken Life is like, how we can be more "spoken for" through self-care and filling our balloons, and go from broken and battered to resilient and rejuvenated.

Kim shared a TON of resources, so check her out at https://1lifecc.com/ to download free worksheets, watch free videos, and stock up on 1LifeConnected items to remind us that self-care is an important aspect of animal care.

Definition of Burnout

Take a Bubble Break

Brown Gauze Moment

1LifeConnected Courses

The Unspoken Life Book and Coloring Book

And check out ZooFit for more ways to provide self-care so we can show up as our best selves for the animals, our community, and the planet. 

To celebrate Indigenous People's Day, I'm sharing the fantastic wisdom from the book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

This is probably the most profound Zoonotable I feel I’ve ever done.

I have always revered Native Americans for their relationship with the earth. But to be honest, I’ve never felt connected to their way of life. It was THEIR way, and while I feel more connected to nature than I do to say, a city, I just didn’t feel I could practice the Indigenous principles. But with Braiding Sweetgrass, I feel as if I’ve been given permission, invited, and encouraged to let the traditions live on. Not to appropriate, but to revitalize a way of living that is pretty attuned with what I believe.

The main idea Robin brings up AGAIN AND AGAIN is that of RECIPROCITY, the two-way relationship between people and the planet. Give, share, and connect. I loved this book so much and I think you will to, so let’s dig in to Braiding Sweetgrass.

Want to grab your own copy? Check out your local library or bookstore:

Find your local library

Order from your local bookstore

Loved this Zoo-notable? I'll be posting bonus material on my Patreon site, where fans can support creators, which will help improve and expand Zoo-notables and other ZooFit programs. 

Connect with me and stay up to date with ZooFit happenings and information- https://www.zoofit.net/

While I have discussed this incredible book before, I'm revisiting it in honor of Butterfly and Hummingbird Day (10/3). This book is essential reading for anyone in the conservation or animal care field, doing what we can to make a difference in the animals' lives and the world around us.

Visit us and become a part of ZooFit's Pride online at zoofit.net or on Patreon

If you are struggling with compassion fatigue, burnout, or anxiety, I am here to help. Contact me through ZooFit, and let's get you on the path to changing the world by taking care of yourself.

We discuss being animalish, not being alone, finding your legacy, being objective, and conservation's long game.

Check out your local library or local bookstore to grab your copy.

Support ZooFit and Zoo-notable on Patreon and at ZooFit.net

Welcome back to Zoo-notable. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve shared a new note, but I’m back for the next month or so before I go on my reading break. This week is National Dog Week, and today’s book is perfect to celebrate our canine best pals. I recently read some of Steven Kotler’s work, who wrote a great book called the Art of Impossible and other books. But I was intrigued by a title in his collection with a cute Chihuahua on the cover. It was titled A Small Furry Prayer with a subtitle Dog Rescue and the Meaning of Life. A peak performance guru talking about dog rescue? I read the back cover, and this prolific writer actually runs a dog rescue with his wife in New Mexico called Rancho de Chihuahua. Wow, I remember thinking, I believe this may be a kindred soul—a true animal loving writer who wants to help change the world.

A Small Furry Prayer is not your typical memoir. Kotler is a journalist by nature, and has interwoven some absolutely fascinating gems about our natural history with dogs (starting with wolves), pet ownership, and what it truly means to be an animal caregiver. He speaks of altruism, empathy, and even the compassion fatigue we can suffer from losing our beloved animals, often too soon.

Find your copy of Small Furry Prayer  at your local bookstore or at your local library

Connect with ZooFit and support our work at ZooFit and on Patreon

August is National Park Month, and what better way to celebrate than by discussing a book which discusses the positive benefits of experiencing nature, Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. Today, we'll discuss Talking the Talk versus Walking the (Nature) Walk, the Bogeyman Syndrome, Our Intelligence Type, Paying Attention versus Being Careful, and Movement Makes Us Smarter.

Learn more about Richard Louv on his website Richardlouv.com

Find Last Child in the Woods, along with several other fantastic books by Richard Louv at your local bookstore, or visit your favorite National Park, Wildlife Refuge, or nature center. 

Do animals feel anxiety? Do they cave under pressure, overeat certain foods, do risky behavior, become addicted to substances? More important than the specific answer to these questions is what can we learn as humans from the idea that wild animals can feel anxiety, cave under pressure, overeat, do risky behaviors, and become addicted to certain substances?

That’s what we’re going to tackle today as we discuss the book Zoobiquity.

Find out more about Zoobiquity and how our health and well-being is connected with animals.

Connect more with ZooFit online to see how our healthy habits can be improved by training like an animal.

To close up National Zookeeper Week, I'm sitting down with my good friend and mentor, Stephanie Miller, to discuss her 30 year career working with animals in Atlanta and Seattle. We discuss empathy, what it means to be a keeper, and how to connect our audience to conservation in meaningful ways. 

Visit Woodland Park Zoo (in-person or online), or find your local zoo and thank a keeper for all their hard work!

Want more Zookeeper Week goodness? Check out ZooFit.net for my daily blogs this past week for zookeeper inspired recipes, workouts, and stories to help you stay focused and promote self-care.

Email me at [email protected] to connect with me, I'm always available to help animal care professionals and conservationists be the best versions of themselves!