Chris welcomes author Robert Moore to the All Creatures Podcast to discuss his book " In Trees: An Exploration " and how trees shape ecosystems, human wellbeing, and environmental solutions. Moore explains “tree thinking” as a non-linear, relational way of understanding life inspired by Darwin’s evolutionary tree, and discusses debates around plant intelligence while cautioning against projecting human consciousness onto trees. They cover evidence that forest exposure (and even images of trees) ...
Jun 03, 2026•1 hr 4 min
Chris and Angie first recorded this in 2020 and it is worth a relisten! Red pandas may look like a cross between a fox, a raccoon, and a teddy bear, but they are actually one of the most unique mammals on Earth. Found in the temperate forests of the Himalayas and southwestern China, these remarkable animals spend much of their lives high in the trees, feeding primarily on bamboo and navigating some of the world's most rugged landscapes. Despite their popularity, red pandas face an uncertain futu...
Jun 01, 2026•1 hr 19 min
Chris explores the heartbreaking story of the northern white rhinoceros, now reduced to the last two surviving females, Najin and Fatu, living under armed protection in Kenya. The episode traces how poaching, habitat loss, political instability, and human demand drove a once widespread animal to the edge of extinction, while contrasting their fate with the recovery of southern white rhinos. Chris also examines the extraordinary scientific efforts underway to create northern white rhino embryos u...
May 27, 2026•1 hr
Chris and Angie revisit one of Africa’s most recognizable — and misunderstood — animals: the warthog. Famous for inspiring Pumbaa in Disney’s The Lion King , warthogs are far more than comic relief. These resilient wild pigs are perfectly adapted for survival on the African savannah, using speed, intelligence, powerful tusks, and even reverse-running into burrows to avoid predators. In this classic episode from 2020, they explore the biology, behavior, and ecology of warthogs, including why they...
May 25, 2026•1 hr 21 min
Angie interviews wildlife conservationist Leif Cocks, founder of the International Tiger Project, about saving wild tigers through large-scale rainforest protection in Indonesia and Laos. They discuss why tiger conservation matters for biodiversity and climate resilience, the extinction of Bali and Javan tigers, and the urgent reality that fewer than 300 Sumatran tigers remain in fragmented habitats. Leif explains the major threats facing tigers (including habitat loss, poaching, prey decline, a...
May 20, 2026•55 min
In this classic episode, Chris and Angie dive into the incredible world of the Humpback Whale — famous for their haunting songs, massive migrations, and spectacular breaches. Once driven close to extinction by commercial whaling, humpbacks are now listed as largely recovering globally, though some populations remain vulnerable to threats including entanglement, ship strikes, climate change, noise pollution, and prey decline. The episode explores how these whales help support healthy ocean ecosys...
May 18, 2026•1 hr 19 min
Chris hosts Stacy and Jeremy Hill to discuss intentional food choices, local and seasonal eating, and reducing carbon impacts from long-distance shipping and food waste. The Hills, based at Gooseberry Bridge Farm in southern Missouri, describe how homegrown tomatoes sparked their journey into gardening and preserving, leading to better flavor, nutrition, lower costs, and improved food security for their family of eight. They explain practical ways to start small, preserve surplus (freezing tomat...
May 13, 2026•53 min
The Sumatran Rhinoceros is one of the rarest mammals on Earth, with fewer than 80 animals remaining. Chris and Angie explore the ancient history of this unique rhino, the devastating threats pushing it toward extinction, and the global conservation efforts racing to save the species before it disappears forever. This episode first aired in 2021. == Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorit...
May 11, 2026•1 hr 9 min
Chris revisits a recent episode on “apathy,” arguing that what looks like not caring is often overwhelm that leads to disconnection and learned helplessness, reinforced by the belief that only governments or corporations can fix environmental crises like the projected 90% decline of endangered emperor penguins. He counters that systems ultimately respond to collective human behavior (what people buy, support, and pay attention to) and that change begins with identity: seeing yourself as someone ...
May 06, 2026•29 min
Chris interviews Dr. Enric Sala, a marine ecologist and Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society, where he leads the groundbreaking Pristine Seas initiative. Since 2008, his work has helped protect over 6 million square kilometers of ocean by combining science, exploration, and policy. By documenting some of the last untouched marine ecosystems on Earth, Sala works directly with governments to establish large marine protected areas—proving that when the ocean is given space to re...
May 04, 2026•1 hr
Chris and Angie revisit emperor penguins, exploring their incredible adaptations, males incubate a single egg through the brutal Antarctic winter, enduring extreme cold, fierce winds, and months without food. But this resilience is being pushed to its limits as melting sea ice causes widespread chick mortality. They unpack the species’ rapid decline from near threatened (2019) to endangered (2026), with projections suggesting up to 90% of colonies could collapse by 2100. Additional threats inclu...
Apr 29, 2026•1 hr 10 min
In this classic episode, Chris and Angie tackle the jaguar. Who is more than just a powerful predator, it’s a keystone species that helps regulate entire ecosystems across Central and South America. By controlling populations of prey like deer, capybara, and even caiman, jaguars maintain balance in the food web, preventing overgrazing and supporting forest regeneration. Currently listed as Near Threatened , jaguar populations are declining due to habitat loss, deforestation, and human conflict. ...
Apr 27, 2026•1 hr 16 min
Chris opens this min episode by arguing that extinction begins with silence and that humans live in “awareness without response,” Citing species decline and ecosystem change, including emperor penguins being upgraded to endangered with a projected 90% decline by century’s end, he frames our current global reality. Chris states apathy, quoted from Dr. Jane Goodall, as a quiet, dangerous gap between knowing and acting, driven by disconnection, distance, and overwhelm. The time to act is now and Ch...
Apr 22, 2026•28 min
In this classic episode, Chris and Angie chat all about Chinchillas. Chinchillas are famous for having the densest fur on Earth, but that same trait nearly wiped them out. Native to the Andes, these incredible jumpers and dust-bathing specialists are now endangered due to hunting and habitat loss. Today, wild populations remain small and fragmented. The long-tailed chinchilla is listed as endangered, while the short-tailed chinchilla is critically endangered, making their survival in the wild in...
Apr 20, 2026•1 hr 4 min
Chris interviews Natalie Madden of Defenders of Wildlife on how noise pollution impacts birds. Drawing on a meta-analysis of 160 studies, she highlights strong negative effects on reproduction, along with changes in behavior, communication, and stress physiology. The episode explores major noise sources, links to broader bird declines, and practical ways at both individual and policy-level to reduce noise and support conservation. Timeline 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:18 Why Noise Pollutio...
Apr 15, 2026•45 min
Originally recorded in 2020, this episode dives into the fascinating world of the American black bear—one of North America’s most adaptable and misunderstood large mammals. From dense forests to suburban neighborhoods, black bears have quietly become one of the most successful large carnivores on the continent. But behind their familiar image lies a highly intelligent, resourceful animal with complex behaviors and a critical role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. In this episode, Chris& Ang...
Apr 13, 2026•1 hr 2 min
Chris reframes migration as a planet-connecting system that moves energy and nutrients and keeps ecosystems in sync—now facing a growing “migration collapse,” where patterns break down before species disappear. He explores three failure modes: disrupted timing from climate change, broken routes from human barriers, and energetic failure when animals can’t find enough food. Through monarch butterflies, gray whales, and salmon, he shows a spectrum from fragile resilience to systems already failing...
Apr 08, 2026•52 min
In this re-release, Chris and Angie highlight why Meerkats may be small, but their world is anything but simple. Native to the arid regions of southern Africa, these highly social mammals live in tight-knit groups where every individual has a role. From babysitters and hunters to vigilant sentinels standing guard against predators. Their cooperative behavior is one of the most sophisticated in the animal kingdom, offering a powerful glimpse into how survival can depend on communication, trust, a...
Apr 06, 2026•1 hr 2 min
Chris draws on his PhD-era experience at Texas A&M—including meeting Dewey, the world’s first cloned deer—to unpack de-extinction and why cloning is far harder and less efficient than headlines suggest. He revisits Dolly’s breakthrough, explains somatic cell nuclear transfer, and highlights low success rates and frequent abnormalities. Chris explores the only true de-extinction attempt, the Pyrenean ibex, which survived only minutes, and explains why mammoths and “dire wolves” cannot be trul...
Apr 01, 2026•58 min
Chris and Angie venture into the darkest depths of the ocean to meet one of the most bizarre and misunderstood creatures on Earth—the anglerfish. In this episode, we explore how these deep-sea predators survive in a world without light, using bioluminescent lures to hunt in the abyss. But it’s their reproduction that truly defies belief, featuring one of the most extreme mating strategies in the animal kingdom. We also unpack what anglerfish reveal about life in extreme environments and why the ...
Mar 30, 2026•1 hr 26 min
Chris welcomes Dr. Sammy Ramsey (“Dr. Bugs”), entomologist at the University of Colorado Boulder, to discuss Secrets of the Bees (National Geographic, Disney+/Hulu). They explore surprising bee intelligence—from navigation using the sun to puzzle-solving, teaching, and even play—alongside fascinating behaviours like the waggle dance and swarm decision-making. Ramsey debunks common myths about honeybees and explains why they’re less aggressive than wasps. The episode also tackles colony collapse,...
Mar 25, 2026•41 min
Bringing back an older episode, but a classic! This week, great news as Monarch Butterfly winter populations have regained 60% of their population numbers vs previous years! Once again, conservation is proving to work and thus, we are releasing this older episode. Chris and Angie delve into their life cycle, migration patterns and unique 'super generation'. They also discuss the butterflies' ecological importance and the role they play in pollination and ecosystems. The hosts share their experie...
Mar 23, 2026•1 hr 31 min
This was our 50th episode we did back in 2018. How far we have come over the years. Sea dragons are among the most extraordinary fish on Earth, found only in the temperate coastal waters of southern Australia. Close relatives of seahorses, species like the leafy, weedy, and ruby sea dragon drift through kelp forests and seagrass meadows disguised as floating seaweed. Their intricate, leaf-like appendages aren’t used for swimming but for camouflage, allowing them to vanish into their surroundings...
Mar 16, 2026•1 hr 9 min
Chris reflects on the state of nature in 2026, where conservation is defined by both loss and recovery. While habitat fragmentation, climate warming, coral bleaching, and Arctic instability continue, meaningful protection efforts are delivering results. He highlights conservation wins, including pandas downlisted to vulnerable, green sea turtles to least concern, tiger recovery in India through reserves and anti-poaching, Gabon’s protection of forest elephants for rainforest integrity and carbon...
Mar 11, 2026•48 min
In this re-release, we revisit one of Africa’s most iconic species ,the Ostrich , the largest living bird on Earth. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, ostriches dominate open savannas and semi-arid landscapes with their towering height, powerful legs, and unmistakable presence. Though flightless, they are built for speed, capable of reaching up to 70 km/h (43 mph), making them the fastest birds on land. Ostriches are evolutionary marvels. They have only two toes per foot, a rare adaptation that incre...
Mar 09, 2026•1 hr 12 min
Chris sits down with Nikki Sharp, Executive Director of Wildlife SOS (US), to explore the organization’s frontline conservation and rescue work in India, with a special focus on Asian elephants. With only 35,000–40,000 Asian elephants remaining worldwide — and India home to roughly 60% of them — the species has declined significantly due to habitat loss, expanding infrastructure, and human-elephant conflict. Nikki shares how Wildlife SOS moved from ending India’s dancing bear practice to rescuin...
Mar 04, 2026•54 min
Punch has taken the world by storm! As a Snow Monkey, Punch comes from a long line of survivors!! Snow monkeys, formally known as Japanese macaques, are the northernmost-living wild primates on Earth. Found across Japan’s mountainous forests, they endure freezing winters and deep snow — conditions no other non-human primate tolerates. Famous for bathing in hot springs, this behavior is learned socially within troops, highlighting their intelligence and cultural complexity. Although globally stab...
Mar 02, 2026•1 hr 14 min
Chris and Angie explore the remarkable aardvark—requested by John, a naturalist in Kentucky—highlighting this truly unique African mammal with no close living relatives. Built for an ant-and-termite diet, aardvarks use a 30 cm sticky tongue, enamel-free continuously growing teeth, and powerful claws to dig extensive burrows that shelter many other species, making them vital ecosystem engineers across sub-Saharan Africa. They cover fascinating adaptations (nostrils that seal shut while digging, a...
Feb 25, 2026•1 hr 7 min
First release in 2020, we are re-releasing our Beluga Whale episode on rewind Monday. Beluga whales are among the most charismatic mammals of the Arctic — known as the “canaries of the sea” for their rich vocalizations and their striking white color. But populations like the critically endangered Cook Inlet belugas are declining due to climate change, industrial noise, pollution, and habitat disruption. Chris and Angie explore what makes belugas biologically unique — from their flexible necks to...
Feb 23, 2026•1 hr 18 min
Chris and Angie explore the fascinating world of guinea pigs (cavies), featuring a visit to Chris’s New Zealand pets, Thor and Prince, with special guest Pip. They unpack what makes guinea pigs unique — tailless rodents with continuously growing teeth, wide vision, sensitive hearing, and a grazing digestive system that requires constant hay and daily vitamin C. The episode dives into their South American wild relatives and conservation status (including the critically endangered Cavia intermedia...
Feb 18, 2026•1 hr 18 min
